JOAKIM KEMELL

2025-05-19

Scout: Chris Collier

Skating:

Good

+Strong edgework and acceleration allow him to create separation.

+ Agile in small spaces

- Lacks top end speed

Passing/Handling:

Average

+ Very good hand-eye coordination, often using his stick to bat the puck down for a shot/ pass

+ Displayed some impressive deking ability

- Lacks creativity as a passer; tends to opt for low-danger shots instead of distributing effectively.

Shooting:

Very Good

+ Elite one-timer with scoring threat from nearly any distance.

+ Excellent shot off the toe drag.

+ Hard, powerful wrist shots with fluid release

- Takes some low-percentage shots that may not translate well against NHL goaltending.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Good

+ Strong off-puck presence; stays in open ice and crashes the net selectively (rebounds, scrums, or when a teammate has possession behind the net).

+ Skates with his head up, maintaining awareness.

+ Uses shot threat to manipulate defenders and create passing lanes.

+ Good at shooting for rebounds and deflections. Large number of his assists come in this manner.

+ Excellent at drawing penalties.

Forechecking:

Above average

+ Effective when engaging in board battles.

+ High motor

- Lacks explosive closing speed; needs positioning advantage to pressure opposition.

Defense:

Slightly below average

+ Physical for his size; delivers explosive hits along the boards but relies on stick checks in open ice.

+ Strong in puck battles along the boards.

+ Anticipation helps him intercept passes and disrupt cross-crease plays.

- Can get caught flat-footed and slow to react.

- Struggles against bigger players when defending the crease.

- Occasionally loses defensive focus, sometimes cheating toward the neutral zone to jumpstart the rush.

Best Asset:

Shot

Biggest Concern:

Defense. While not outright poor, his defensive game lacks the refinement needed for consistent NHL success.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Tier 2 – Top-Line Winger (PP1) – 35G, 40A – High shot and hit volume

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Already a consistent offensive contributor and goal-scorer. With defensive improvements and slight playmaking growth, he could become a bona fide top-line winger and consistent goalscoring threat

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Tier 3 – Middle-6 Winger (PP1/2) – 25G, 30A – High shot and average hit volume

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

If defensive issues persist, he may become a sheltered scoring winger and power-play specialist.

Stylistic Comparable:

Viktor Arvidsson (tenacious, shoot-first winger with PP upside)

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Kemell’s elite shooting and offensive instincts give him top-six upside, but his defensive game needs polish to avoid a specialist role. His floor is a middle-six power-play weapon, while his ceiling is a 35+ goal scorer if he rounds out his play.

Games Scouted:

Final half of 25 AHL season

2024-06-11

Scout: William Vezeau

Skating:

He’s pretty average. I haven’t seen him get beat by a mile in a race for the puck but he hasn’t beat any defender by a mile as well. He doesn’t have any big weakness in his skating but it won’t be one of his strengths either.

Passing/Handling:

He’s a dual threat, his passing is impressing. On the Powerplay, he often plays the right flank despite being a righty. He’s very patient for the right passing line and can either release or set up a teammate. I would say his hands are above average. He’s fast and can get retrieve pucks off the board easily.

Shooting:

Here’s where he excels. If the Preds are looking for scorers, he could see Top 9 minutes next year. He has 2 main weapons. The first one is the toe drag shot, not at the Bedard level but he can place that shoot very well. With a screen off the rush or on the PP, he can place it in that small corner. The second is his one-timer. That thing is a bomb. Despite averaging 5-6 shot attempts per game, I feel like he’s underutilizing his shot. I think with this shot he could reach 30 goals in the NHL.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He anticipates the space quite well in the offensive zone. He’s good at making the defence forget him and then find the open space. His vision is one of his strength. He can be deceptive while faking a shoot. and open a passing lane.

Forechecking:

He wont retrieve every pucks but he loves to get in the Dman face with either a quick check or a small slash.

Defense:

He won’t be a PK guy. He uses his vision a lot on defense to anticipate where the play wille go but I find him often too passive. He can at time just sit at one spot and watch the play develop around him. On the other side, he’s very active in the O-zone at taking the defenseman spot.

Best Asset:

His shot, he has always been a scorer at all levels but he has also developed a very good passing game.

Biggest Concern:

Finding the right fit. I highly doubt he can drive a line on its own but if he’s placed with talented players he could really perform.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Top 6 + PP1

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

Like I mentioned earlier if he find the right fit, he could be a 30 goals scorer but he will need a play driver on his line for that to happen.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Top 9 scoring winger

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

No matter what fit he will find he will play an offensive top 9 winger in the NHL in my mind. Could be on a Power play 2.

Stylistic Comparable:

Trevor Moore

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

With the need of adding a scoring forward, Nashville could promote Kemell to the NHL next year or the year after. With the right playmaker, Kemell could reach a ceiling as high as a 30 goals scorer. Kemell was surprisingly a good cats guy with a good shot volume in the AHL and good amount of hits. He should play at least as a Top 9 guy for his whole career.

Games Scouted:

AHL Games