As we kick off our summer prospect series, the rundown of how we came to these rankings will give you an idea of what you will see in the days and weeks ahead.
A triumvirate of myself, Dan Dukart and Paul Berthelot put together these rankings and we used a weighted average system to rank each player. If one person had a player higher on their list, it gave that player a distinct advantage in the final rankings.
We also ranked mostly on upside more so than anything else. We did not have an age restriction either. If you no longer qualify for the Calder Trophy, you are disqualified – meaning players like Sonny Milano and Pierre-Luc Dubois are considered graduates.
All three of us watch a lot of hockey. Specifically, Paul watches plenty of international tournaments as well as the CHL as a whole. Dan and I catch more NCAA hockey along with the international tournaments as well. It may be reflected in these rankings.
To start off our list at #20, we have the newly minted Ohio State Buckeye, forward Carson Meyer.
Reason For Ranking
One of us left him off of their list completely. He is solid all-around, but it is tough seeing a pathway to the NHL. Solid skater and the unknown of where his development is now due to his illness last year makes him tough to rate.
Projection
Tweener NHLer. What Alex Broadhurst has done for his career is similar to how it feels Meyer might perform. With that being said, a sizeable developmental jump should take place for Meyer as he plays on an Ohio State team that has a chance to be one of the best clubs in the nation.
Best Case Scenario
Bottom-six mainstay.
It will need to be a large jump for him to be an everyday NHLer but having already dealt with adversity counting him out is foolish. A lot will need to happen to put him in that place. It also says a lot about the Blue Jackets pipeline that one of their prospects even at best doesn't really project that well to the next level.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Meyer can skate well and has solid hockey sense. The problem is that he doesn't have one skill that genuinely shouts out to you that he has a place in the NHL. He is an older prospect as well, meaning that he is getting closer and closer to what he is going to be as a player.
It will be a make or break season at Ohio State this season; it could help him climb this list or have him fall off of it entirely.
