Nico 2.0? Halifax Moosehead's strong world junior play fuelling NHL draft hype

Hockey scout Chris Mooring sees a lot in common between Halifax Mooseheadsstar FilipZadinaand former Moosehead Nico Hischier, who was drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils at the 2017 NHLdraft.

"This time last year, we were moving Hischier up in our rankings," he said.

Mooring is the head Atlantic Canada scout for International Scouting Services (ISS), a scouting company for hockey prospects. It currently has Zadinaasthe fourth-best prospect.

One yearago,ISShadHischierpegged as the third-bestprospect for the 2017 NHLdraft.

"I'm not saying that's going to happen with Zadina because there's some good talent in front of him," said Mooring, but he said Zadina could go top three.

A year ago, Hischier was playing for Switzerland at the world junior championship.

The tournament brings together the world's elite junior hockey players and a strong showing can help boost a prospect's draft rankings. At this year's tournament, Canada won gold after a late-game goal against Sweden in the championship on Friday.

Zadinawasat the tournament, suiting up for the Czech Republic, which lost to the U.S.9-3 in the bronze-medal game.

Still, Zadinadidn't disappoint.

"He was sensational," said Brett Slawson, a writer for the hockey websitethehockeywriters.com.

Slawson said Zadina'sskatingand his accurate and hard shot have been impressive.

"What stood out most to me is his confidence with the puck. He's very creative, he's never pressured into making plays, doesn't turn the puck over a whole lot, so just his confidence and maturity in the game really stood out to me," said Slawson.

In the website's listof the top 31 NHLprospects for January, Slawson has Zadinapegged as theNo. 3 pick, but said he could see him being selected second overall.

Zadinahas made an immediate impact upon joining the Mooseheads this season. The 18-year-old rookie leads the team in scoring with 24 goals and 46 points in 32 games.

Zadina appears poised to continue theremarkable run Halifax Mooseheads players have had at the NHLdraft. Some recent selections include:

• Nico Hischier, drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2017.
• Timo Meier, selected ninth overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2015.
• NikolajEhlers, picked ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2014.
• Nathan MacKinnon, drafted first overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013.
• Jonathan Drouin, selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013.

Zadina isn't the only player with ties to Nova Scotia who turned heads at the world junior championship.

Drake Batherson, who grew up in New Minas, N.S., suited up for Canada and was arguably the biggest surprise of the tournament for Team Canada. A fourth-round pick by the Ottawa Senators in last year's NHLdraft,he wasn'teven invited to Team Canada's summer selection camp, but made the team.

Leading up to Friday's semifinal and final games, American Kieffer Bellows was tied for the tournament lead with seven goals. Who was he tied with? Zadina and Batherson.