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<p>The season-long build-up to the World Junior Championship is finally in the rearview mirror. Now, it’s crunch time.</p>



<p>If you follow prospects, you likely spent the first half of the season preparing for the WJC. And it ended up being one of the best we’ve ever seen, as <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2023-world-juniors-the-top-25-standouts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I broke down here.</a> But now it’s back to reality, and some quality hockey was played while the rest of the world focused on the action in Halifax and Moncton.</p>



<p>Here’s a look at 10 prospects that have been making noise as of late:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ahl"><strong>AHL</strong></h2>



<p>– It’s been a trying few years for <strong>Joseph Woll</strong>, who, had injuries not gotten the best of him last year, likely would have had an extended stay with the <strong>Toronto Maple Leafs </strong>– and perhaps a shot as the team’s backup this year. After missing training camp and the first month and a half of the 2022-23 season, Woll has been incredible with an 8-0-0 record to kick off his season with the Toronto Marlies – tying a franchise record run in the process. His 56-save effort against Laval on Sunday was also among the best save counts in franchise history. The Marlies have a complicated goalie situation with four currently on the roster, but paired with Erik Kallgren’s struggles, Woll has taken his spot as the top call-up option once again.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="235"></div>



<p>– The <strong>Chicago Blackhawks </strong>are having the terrible season everyone expected, so they weren’t worried about rushing up top talent this season. They’ve been patient with <strong>Lukas Reichel</strong>, who, after putting up a point-per-game with the Rockford Icehogs last year, is going to crush that as a sophomore. Reichel has played three games with the Blackhawks this season, and he had three points against Calgary in easily the best game of his NHL career to date. He’s the only U-21 AHLer with over 30 points (36) and he’s only two points behind Calgary’s Matthew Phillips among U-25 scorers.</p>



<p>– Since going 42nd overall to the <strong>Nashville Predators</strong> in 2020, <strong>Luke Evangelista </strong>has managed to take his game to all-new levels. He had a 14-game stint with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves in 2020-21 while COVID-19 shut down junior leagues across Canada, and he followed it up with an OHL-leading 55 goals last season. Now in his first full pro campaign, Evangelista sits second behind Reichel in U-21 scoring with five goals and 25 points in 32 games. He’s known more as a playmaker, and one that can handle himself defensively. Evangelista has worked on rounding out his game at all ends of the ice, and his play is paying off as the Predators look toward the future.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="216"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ECHL</h2>



<p>For the first time this season, the ECHL gets some love! The league’s newest franchise, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, are downright awful this season – but at least they look good at the bottom with their slick neon green threads. They’ve also been bailed out a few times thanks to the play of <strong>Isaiah Saville</strong>, a<strong> Vegas Golden Knights </strong>draft pick from 2019. He has an ugly 4-12-4 record but has an impressive .921 save percentage, building upon a great end to the 2021-22 season that saw him go 6-1-0 in the AHL. Saville turned pro after his third season with the University of Nebraska-Omaha and has looked excellent ever since. He’s only 22 and might factor into the team’s plans over the next few years. And, hey, the ECHL route worked out perfectly for their current starter, Vezina Trophy candidate Logan Thompson.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="143"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OHL</strong></h2>



<p>– <strong>Bryce McConnell-Barker </strong>is on one heck of a heater right now. The <strong>New York Rangers</strong> prospect was named the OHL’s player of the week after recording eight points in three games, and he’s now up to 15 points in his last seven games. With 47 points in 37 games, he’s just two shy of his rookie season output from a year ago and should hit the 40-goal mark. The Greyhounds’ captain could play a huge part in the team’s Memorial Cup effort if they get the tournament in 2024, but that’s for another day. For now, the Rangers should be happy with what their strong center prospect is putting up right now.</p>



<p>– <strong>Matthew Maggio</strong> has had an excellent season with the Windsor Spitfires, with the captain projected to finish with just under 100 points this year. He’s about to get some extra scoring punch with the arrival of Shane Wright, who was acquired by the Spitfires from Kingston on Monday. Maggio had a fantastic December with 20 points in 11 games, highlighted by a five-goal effort on Dec. 15 in a 6-3 win over Erie. You’re always going to expect big things from a 20-year-old in the O, but after getting selected in the fifth round by the <strong>New York Islanders </strong>as an overager in 2022, Maggio is looking good.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="222"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">QMJHL</h2>



<p>– Did <strong>Zachary Bolduc</strong> take getting cut by Canada personally? Since returning to the Quebec Ramparts roster on Dec. 16, Bolduc has 19 points in his past eight games, highlighted by a hat-trick effort last Wednesday. The <strong>St. Louis Blues</strong> prospect was just a victim of too many strong middlemen at Canada’s camp, but he’s been a standout all season long in the QMJHL. Only Columbus’ Jordan Dumais with a league-leading 71 points has more among NHL-affiliated players this season. There are some high hopes for the 17th overall pick from the 2021 Draft.</p>



<p>– Injuries kept <strong>Riley Kidney</strong> off Canada’s roster for Halifax, a disappointment since he was on the summer’s gold medal squad. In just his second game back, Kidney had a four-point game with Acadie-Bathurst before getting traded to Gatineau on Jan. 6. Kidney had a quiet debut with his new club, but he had three points and five shots the night after in an overtime victory over Quebec. He’s up to 48 points in just 33 games this season which is nothing to sneeze at, but it’s still a bit of a step down from his 100-point campaign a year ago. Still, the <strong>Montreal Canadiens </strong>second-rounder plays an intriguing game and will be one to watch when he ultimately turns pro as a potential bottom-six candidate down the line.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="223"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHL</h2>



<p>– <strong>Denton Mateychuk</strong> was a surprising cut from Canada’s World Junior effort, given his excellent play as one of the top-scoring defensemen in the CHL. Mateychuk is up to 39 points in 34 games – putting him on pace for roughly 75 points – and recorded six in three games over the past week. Given he was the second offensive defenseman picked by the <strong>Columbus Blue Jackets</strong> in 2022 – at just the 12th pick – he’s looking mighty fine right now as a solid investment. Seriously, the Blue Jackets have an intriguing future.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NCAA</strong></h2>



<p>– While his older brother was busy winning bronze for the United States at the world juniors, <strong>Cruz Lucius </strong>– an 18-year-old <strong>Carolina Hurricanes</strong> prospect – was busy vandalizing his name all over NCAA scoring sheets. He has a pair of four-point games over the past 10, and he now sits at 23 points in 22 games as a freshman with Wisconsin. Lucius is a strong playmaker that should factor into USA’s top six at the 2024 World Junior Championship. Chaz might be a higher-profile prospect, but Cruz has exceeded expectations early on in his college career.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="191"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Recently by&nbsp;</strong>Steven Ellis</h2>



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