Scouting report – CanucksBanter

Independent scouting for NHL, QMJHL, OHL, WHL, USHL and NCAA teams

Scouting Report written by Paul Zuk

Danny (Daniil) Zhilkin is one of the top OHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft slated to take place this July in Montreal. Zhilkin is a dual citizen of both Russia and Canada, as he was born in Moscow, but moved to Ontario when he was ten years old. He moved to the Greater Toronto Area and played his youth hockey within the Burlington Minor Hockey Association.

After playing with the Toronto Jr Canadiens AAA program for a few seasons, Zhilkin made the switch to the Toronto Marlboros U16 AAA team which plays in the GTHL. He enjoyed success in his first season with the Marlboros in 2018-19, tallying 43 goals and 37 assists for 80 points in 102 games across all competitions. Playing behind teammates Wyatt Johnston and Jack Beck, Zhilkin managed to catch the eye of the OHL, and was later selected 14^th overall by the Guelph Storm in the 2019 OHL Draft.

Zhilkin played his rookie season in the OHL in 2019-20, scoring seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 60 games, but unfortunately the remainder of his season, as well as the entire 2020-21 campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was able to earn a role on Team Canada’s U18 team for the U18 Worlds in Texas, where he played up and down the lineup. He added two assists in seven games on his way to a gold medal, playing for one of the more notable U18 teams to ever play in the tournament.

The 2021-22 season was truly Zhilkin’s first full one in the OHL, and he didn’t seem to disappoint. He started the season on quite a tear, registering 15 points in the first 16 games off the hop. NHL Central Scouting raised his grade from a B to an A on their “Players to Watch” list shortly after. Zhilkin finished the season with 55 points in 65 games, but unfortunately the Storm were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in five games by the Soo Greyhounds, a series in which Zhilkin scored one goal and one assist for two points in 4 games played.

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Independent scouting for NHL, QMJHL, OHL, WHL, USHL and NCAA teams

Scouting Report written by Paul Zuk

Buried almost smack-dab in the middle of the United States, the state of Nebraska has only had 1 player selected in the NHL Entry Draft. That statistic is likely to increase at this summer’s NHL Entry Draft, as center Rutger McGroarty is eligible to be selected. McGroarty hails from the Nebraska state capital, as his father Jim was an assistant coach for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL when Rutger was born. Jim McGroarty hails from Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, and currently serves as the General Manager for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.

McGroarty played his minor hockey wherever Jim’s work took him, as he played for several top-quality programs in Michigan from the 13U ranks, all the way up to his time with the NTDP. His 15U season in 2019-20 was an absolute eye-opener for scouts, as he racked up a staggering 82 goals, 78 assists for 160 points in only 63 games. Such a monstrous season at a high level garnered the attention of the NTDP, thus beginning McGroarty’s tenure in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In his first season suiting up for the NTDP U17’s, McGroarty impressed a lot of people, as he amassed 32 goals, 28 assists for 60 points in 83 total games with both the U17’s and U18’s. He also played for the USA in the IIHF World U-18’s, where he was held pointless in five total games.

This season as a full-time member of the U18’s, McGroarty’s draft-stock has risen very fast, as he’s having an incredible season thus far. As of March 14^th, 2022, McGroarty has tallied 27 goals, 34 assists for 61 points in 54 games between Development Team and USHL play.

FOR MORE ON Rutger McGroarty, HIT HERE