The Sunday Top 10 - Overagers Worth Signing to an NHL Contract

One of the blogs I follow and read is "Coming Down the Pipe," by Guy Flaming and Dean Millard. The blog serves as a venue for great junior hockey discussion, in particular for the Western Hockey League.

One feature that Guy and Dean bring to their blog is something called "Top 5 Tuesdays." Every Tuesday, Guy and Dean compile a list of the top 5 of a specific category. For example, here is the latest top 5 Tuesday post where they looked at the top 5 draft eligible players who are small in size but big on skill.

I think that this idea is absolutely fantastic, so every Sunday, I'll be posting a Sunday Top 10 during the playoffs and offseason. Guy and Dean, hopefully you guys don't sue me, since I'm giving you credit for coming up with the idea!

For the first Sunday Top 10, I'll be looking at the Top 10 OHL Overagers this season who absolutely deserve a chance to play professional hockey, at least in my opinion.

10. Matthew Kang - Brampton Battalion
Kang is an absolute wizard with the puck. He could dangle inside a phone booth. He uses his strong puckhandling ability to help maintain puck possession in the offensive end and is especially effective on the powerplay. Kang isn't the biggest player, but he's generally not afraid to get his nose dirty too. The main drawback to Kang is his somewhat one dimensional play. He's not going to be confused for John Madden any time soon. And while Kang has always had the talent, he's never really been able to become a top point producer in the OHL. Either way, you have to admire the speed, energy and creativity he can bring to the table and maybe that gives him a chance to earn a professional contract next season.

9. Thomas Kiriakou - Ottawa 67's
One of the strongest defensive forwards in the OHL, Kiriakou took big steps forward offensively this season too. He's a great penalty killer and very strong on faceoffs and could make an NHL 4th line some day as a penalty kill specialist. He's not the most blessed skater or offensive player, but he can bury chances when they arise, and he's strong on his skates. Kiriakou is also having a strong first round for Ottawa in the OHL Playoffs.

8. Ben Shutron - Windsor Spitfires
Originally a top 100 selection of Chicago in 2006, Shutron was not signed after a poor and injury plagued 2007/08 season. However, he has bounced back very well this season, splitting the year between Kitchener and Windsor. Shutron is a smart puck moving defenseman who is a valuable powerplay quarterback. Over the course of his OHL career, he's also proven that he can play strong defensive hockey as well. While his skillset likely doesn't translate to becoming a top 4 NHL defenseman, he could at least be a solid depth player one day. Now that he's proven he's healthy again, I wouldn't be surprised to see him latch on to a professional team next season, whether that be an NHL contract or an AHL contract.

7. Rob Kwiet - Windsor Spitfires
Exploded offensively this season on Windsor's blueline and I would think that a lot of people could have Kwiet higher on a list like this. A big body, Kwiet has shown a willingness to use it well. He's also obviously very talented offensively. However, I think Kwiet's average skating ability, questionable decision making and lack of defensive ability may ultimately hold him back from becoming much of an NHL defenseman. However, with a solid skill set, and size, I'd be willing to bet he at least gets a few looks from an NHL team this summer. He does deserve it.

6. Jared Gomes - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Once a very promising young OHL player, Gomes had failed to take that step forward throughout his OHL career...until this season. Prior to 2008/09, Gomes best offensive season was still his rookie year in 2005-06 with Sarnia. But he had never taken that step forward and went from being a promising NHL draft prospect, to now an unheralded overager. However, Gomes exploded offensively this season, potting 31 goals, and has been outstanding for Mississauga in the playoffs thus far. He's a strong two way player who works hard, isn't afraid to take a hit to make a play and actually has good goal scoring instincts. His skating isn't the greatest, and he likely doesn't have the skill to be anything more than a depth player at the NHL level, but I still expect him to get some looks.

5. Jack Combs - Saginaw Spirit
Combs will never be described as a speedster, but he brings other things to the game. Good size, aggressiveness, outstanding playmaking ability and a quality shot. He'll also never be described as a strong two way player, but his ability to generate offense can not be overlooked. Combs almost caught on in the AHL this season instead of returning as an overager, but I'm sure he will next year. A big body who can move the puck, generate offense and control the tempo in the offensive end can be a good commodity to have.

4. Cory Tanaka - Belleville Bulls
At a generous 5'10, 188, Tanaka certainly doesn't bring size to the table. What he does bring is energy, energy and more energy. Tanaka is widely considered to be the best defensive forward and penalty killer in the OHL. He anticipates the play incredibly well and is a tenacious forechecker. Offensively, he isn't likely to bring a whole lot to the table at the next level, but his work ethic and ability to play both ways should translate to a shot at the NHL somewhere down the line.

3. Matt Caria - Plymouth Whalers
The OHL's hottest player down the stretch, as he averaged over 2 points a game in January and February, as the red hot Plymouth Whalers stormed into the playoffs. Caria has long been a player I had expected to be drafted into the NHL, but he never got the call. Caria is not the best skater in the world, but he's a scrappy little player who'll do anything to make a play. He's a very talented all around offensive player and he makes those around him better too. With the outstanding second half he had, and the strong playoffs he's having thus far, I would be incredibly surprised to see Caria not earn an NHL contract.

2. Brandon Mashinter - Belleville Bulls
The only player on this list who has actually already signed an NHL deal earlier this month (link) Mashinter is a former OHL heavyweight who has turned himself into a very respectable threat at the offensive end. He's an effective big body to plant infront of the net, and his skating vastly improved over the course of his OHL career. He's also a strong two way player. As the complete package, Mashinter has the chance to develop into a serviceable NHL 3rd liner similar to another former Kitchener Ranger, David Clarkson.

1. Chris Chappell - Saginaw Spirit
Named as one of the West's most underrated and improved players, this Saginaw Spirit forward and captain has come a long way this season. At 6'4, 210, Chappell is a load to handle for opposing defenseman, as he uses his strength to outmuscle defenders for the puck. At his size, Chappell is also actually an excellent skater who loves to take the puck hard to the net and whose overall offensive ability has taken huge steps forward. Chappell has definitely been the most impressive overage player I've seen this season, and I'd be very surprised if a big man with the talent he has, does not get an NHL contract this offseason.

Stay tuned for the next Sunday Top 10!

Results of our Coaches Poll Contest

In case you missed it, we decided to have a friendly competition in order to see which of us (Sean, Ryan, or myself) could predict the outcome of the OHL Coaches Poll most accurately.

Well here are the results...(drum roll please!)

1st: Sean Keogh
2nd: Myself (Brock Otten)
3rd: Ryan Yessie

The scoring worked as follows...
1 point for nailing a player on the list
1 point for nailing a player in his correct spot
Bonus 2 points for nailing all the correct players in a category
Bonus 3 points for completely nailing a category, placement and players

So here is the breakdown:

Myself - 62 points
Eastern Conference: 23
Western Conference: 39
Link to my full predictions

Sean Keogh - 70 points
Eastern Conference: 35
Western Conference: 35
Link to his full predictions

Ryan Yessie - 49 points
Eastern Conference: 26
Western Conference: 23
Link to his full predictions

Some interesting thoughts about our predictions...
1. How the hell did I end up nailing the Western Conference so much better than the East, considering how little I see the West (unfortunately) compared to the East. I'm almost embarrassed to do so poorly in the East.
2. It's interesting that the three of us all nailed the "Most Dangerous in the Goal Area" category for the West. I suppose it was pretty predictable for Tavares, Terry and DiBenedetto to be selected there.
3. Congrats to Sean for taking home the bragging rights.

Some thoughts on the Poll itself...
1) How the hell did Tony Romano not find himself somewhere in the most improved category for the East? Here's a guy who struggled hard to pot 12 goals with London last season, after coming over from Cornell University with incredibly high expectations. He looked absolutely terrible in my viewings of him in London during the 07-08 season. Hands of stone, speed to burn but no idea how to use it. This year, he leads Peterborough in scoring, pots 36 goals and helps the Petes to the playoffs. Completely different player this season. If he's not most improved, I guess I just don't understand the category then.

2) How does Logan Couture not make it in the best playmaker category for the East? He was 2nd in voting in 2007-08, yet somehow fails to make the list in 2008-09. For my money, he might be the best playmaker in the OHL. Ottawa's offense at times is completely set up around his ability to make plays for his teammates. A tremendous playmaker.

3) Incredibly surprised to not see Alex Pietrangelo's name anywhere on the Eastern Conference's list, not even in either of the best defenseman categories. Hard to believe that a top 5 NHL draft pick and someone who started the year in the NHL, isn't one of the top players in one of these categories.

4) Great to see Chris Chappell in both the most underrated and most improved categories for the West. I haven't seen a more impressive overager this season and I hope he can earn himself an NHL contract. He's having a very solid OHL playoffs thus far as well.

5) Can't believe I didn't think to put Brett Bellemore on the list for best defensive defenseman in the West. Perhaps because he returned to the OHL so late this season, I just didn't think of him. But he's a beast and absolutely deserves to be at the top of that category. Ditto for Dan Kelly, whom I did nail. He's a very underrated defender and is someone I expect to earn an NHL contract at the end of his OHL career.

6) And the Michael Del Zotto fan club continues to shrink. Here's a guy who was a first round pick, highly touted, and highly hyped. Was on the list last year as best offensive defenseman. Yet this year, he fails to crack any category. If this guy isn't one of the best offensive defenseman in his conference, how much value does he hold considering his short comings at the defensive end?

2008-09 OHL Coaches Poll Announced

Eastern Conference:

Most Underrated Player
John Kurtz, Sudbury (21)
Mike Pelech, Mississauga (18)
Luke Pither, Belleville (12)

Most Improved Player
Corey Cowick, Ottawa (33)
Scott Tanski, Brampton (21)
Brandon Mashinter (12)

Smartest Player
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (43)
Eric Tangradi, Belleville (11)
Calvin de Haan, Oshawa tied Logan Couture, Ottawa (10)

Hardest Worker
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (41)
Eric Tangradi, Belleville (17)
Kory Nagy, Oshawa tied Logan Couture, Ottawa (7)

Best Playmaker
Matt Duchene, Brampton (28)
P.K Subban, Belleville (24)
Calvin de Haan, Oshawa (12)

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
Evgeny Grachev, Brampton tied Brett Parnham, Oshawa (30)
Tony Romano, Peterborough (11)
Eric Tangradi, Belleville (7)

Best Skater
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville (27)
Evgeny Grachev, Brampton (18)
Alex Hutchings, Barrie (12)

Best Shot
Brett Parnham, Oshawa (31)
Evgeny Grachev, Brampton (26)
Nic Palmieri, Belleville (18)

Hardest Shot
P.K Subban, Belleville (33)
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (20)
Brett Parnham, Oshawa (12)

Best Stickhandler
Matt Duchene, Brampton (33)
Tony Romano, Peterborough (23)
William Wallen, Mississauga (9)

Best on Face-offs
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (33)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (27)
Mike Pelech, Mississauga (18)

Best Body Checker
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie (41)
Zack Kassian, Peterborough (23)
Brandon Mashinter, Belleville tied Julien Demers, Ottawa (6)

Best Defensive Forward
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (36)
John Kurtz, Sudbury (19)
Logan Couture, Ottawa (11)

Best Penalty Killer
Cody Hodgson, Brampton (30)
Cory Tanaka, Belleville (26)
Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa (16)

Best Offensive Defenceman
P.K Subban, Belleville (39)
Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga (22)
Calvin de Haan, Oshawa (17)

Best Defensive Defenceman
Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga (31)
P.K Subban, Belleville (19)
Julien Demers, Ottawa (17)

Western Conference:

Most Underrated Player
Matt Kennedy, Guelph (31)
Justin Taylor, London (27)
Chris Chappell, Saginaw (10)

Most Improved Player
Matt Hackett, Plymouth (39)
Chris Chappell, Saginaw (23)
Matt Clarke, London (12)

Smartest Player
Ryan Ellis, Windsor (30)
John Tavares, London (28)
Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia (10)

Hardest Worker
Matt Kennedy, Guelph (27)
Tyler Murovich, Saginaw tied Matt Martin, Sarnia (17)
Lane MacDermid, Windsor (12)

Best Playmaker
Joey Hishon, Owen Sound (31)
Andrei Loktionov, Windsor (22)
Ryan O’Reilly, Erie tied John Tavares, London (13)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area
John Tavares, London (45)
Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia (15)
Chris Terry, Plymouth (14)

Best Skater
Taylor Hall, Windsor (39)
Mark Katic, Sarnia (29)
David Kolomatis, Owen Sound tied T.J Brodie, Saginaw (5)

Best Shot
John Carlson, London (27)
Ryan Ellis, Windsor (24)
Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia (16)

Hardest Shot
John Carlson, London tied Ryan Ellis, Windsor (24)
Jamie Arniel, Sarnia (15)
Adam Comrie, Saginaw (12)

Best Stickhandler
Joey Hishon, Owen Sound (29)
Nazem Kadri, London (26)
Andrei Loktionov, Windsor (17)

Best on Face-Offs
Adam Henrique, Windsor (19)
Ryan O’Reilly, Erie (18)
Marcus Carroll, Owen Sound (14)

Best Body Checker
Zac Rinaldo, London tied Matt Martin, Sarnia (26)
Luke Gazdic, Erie (12)
Kaine Geldart, Plymouth (11)

Best Defensive Forward
Scott Timmins, Windsor (39)
Matt Kennedy, Guelph (15)
Tyler Murovich, Saginaw (13)

Best Penalty Killer
Ryan O’Reilly, Erie (18)
Matthew Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie (17)
Dan Kelly, Kitchener (13)

Best Offensive Defenceman
Ryan Ellis, Windsor (43)
Mark Katic, Sarnia (24)
David Kolomatis, Owen Sound tied T.J Brodie, Saginaw (10)

Best Defensive Defenceman
Brett Bellemore, Plymouth (20)
Dan Kelly, Kitchener (17)
Steve Ferry, Sarnia (15)

Link to the official release from the OHL can be found here.

Ryan Yessie's OHL Top 30 for 2009

In case you haven't been following the blog regularly, I have done 2 OHL top 30's so far this season, one at the beginning, one at the halfway mark, and I'll be putting out my final one sometime after the OHL playoffs have finished.

Blog contributor Ryan Yessie has decided to compile his final OHL top 30 recently and has decided to share it with us. This is Ryan's ranking of the top 30 available players from the OHL for the 2009 NHL entry draft.

One minor difference you may notice between Ryan's and mine is his inclusion of some of the draft re-entry guys in his top 30. I have kept those guys out of mine, ranking only the first year eligible players. My reasons for this I will share with you when I release my final top 30.

Without further ado, here is Ryan's final top 30...

1 - John Tavares - Center - 6’0” - 190 - London (OHL)
2 - Matt Duchene - Center - 5’11” - 194 - Brampton (OHL)
3 - Peter Holland - Center - 6’1” - 178 - Guelph (OHL)
4 - Ryan Ellis - Defence - 5’10” - 175 - Windsor (OHL)
5 - Nazem Kadri - Center - 6’1” - 177 - London (OHL)
6 - Zack Kassian - Right Wing - 6’3” - 205 - Peterborough (OHL)
7 - Edward Pasquale - Goaltender - 6’3” - 215 - Saginaw (OHL)
8 - Ethan Werek - Left Wing - 6’3” - 195 - Kingston (OHL)
9 - Taylor Beck - Left Wing - 6’1” - 207 - Guelph (OHL)
10 - Matt Hackett - Goaltender - 6’2” - 170 - Plymouth (OHL)
11 - Calvin De Haan - Defence - 6’0” - 170 - Oshawa (OHL)
12 - Taylor Doherty - Defence - 6’8” - 220 - Kingston (OHL)
13 - Michael Latta - Center - 5’11” - 192 - Guelph (OHL)
14 - Ryan O’Reilly - Center - 6’0” - 205 - Erie (OHL)
15 - Marcus Foligno - Left Wing - 6’3” - 195 - Sudbury (OHL)
16 - Matthew Clark - Defence - 6’3” - 205 - Brampton (OHL)
17 - Casey Cizikas - Center - 5’10” - 188 - Mississauga (OHL)
18 - Alex Hutchings - Left Wing - 5’10” - 170 - Barrie (OHL)
19 - Phil Varone - Center - 5’10” - 187 - London (OHL)
20 - Brett Flemming - Defence - 5’10” - 165 - Mississauga (OHL)
21 - Tyler Randell - Right Wing - 6’1” - 195 - Kitchener (OHL)
22 - Scott Stajcer - Goaltender - 6’2” - 185 - Owen Sound (OHL)
23 - Peter DiSalvo - Goaltender - 6’0” - 190 - Barrie (OHL)
24 - Jordan Szwarz - Right Wing - 5’11” - 183 - Saginaw (OHL)
25 - Michael Zador - Goaltender - 6’2” - 175 - Oshawa (OHL)
26 - Jaroslav Janus - Goaltender - 6’0” - 185 - Erie (OHL)
27 - Ben Chiarot - Defence - 6’2” - 205 - Guelph (OHL)
28 - Jesse Blacker - Defence - 6’1” - 190 - Windsor (OHL)
29 - Matthew Tipoff - Right Wing - 5’11” - 175 - Belleville (OHL)
30 - Simon Gronvaldt - Defence - 6’2” - 179 - Kitchener (OHL)

Honourable Mention
Miroslav Preisinger
Beau Schmitz
Bjorn Krupp
Ben O’Quinn

OHL Coaches Poll - Sean Keogh's Predictions

In before the bell is Sean Keogh with his predictions for the OHL Coaches Poll. Sean has decided to throw his hat into the ring with Ryan and I, in order to see whom is sharing the same brainwaves as the OHL coaches.

Here are Sean's predictions based on the action he's seen this season...

Eastern Conference

Most Underrated Player:
1. Brett Parnham, Oshawa
2. Luke Pither, Belleville
3. Travis Gibbons, Ottawa

Most Improved Player:
1. Tony Romano, Peterborough
2. Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie
3. Brandon Mashinter, Bellevile

Smartest Player:
1. Cody Hodgson, Brampton
2. Logan Couture, Ottawa
3. Eric Tangradi, Belleville

Hardest Worker:
1. Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie
2. Cory Tanaka, Belleville
3. Thomas Nesbitt, Ottawa

Best Playmaker:
1. Logan Couture, Ottawa
2. Cody Hodgson, Brampton
3. Eric Tangradi, Belleville

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area:
1. Eric Tangradi, Bellevile
2. Bryan Cameron
3. Brett Parnham

Best Skater:
1. Shawn Lalonde, Belleville
2. P.K. Subban, Belleville
3. Matt Duchene, Brampton

Best Shot:
1. Bryan Cameron, Bellevile
2. Cody Hodgson, Brampton
3. Akim Aliu, Sudbury

Hardest Shot:
1. Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara
2. Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga
3. Kaspars Daugavins, Mississauga

Best Stickhandler:
1. Cody Hodgson, Brampton
2. Logan Couture, Ottawa
3. Nathan Moon, Kingston

Best on Face-Offs:
1. Luke Pither, Belleville
2. Cody Hodgson, Brampton
3. Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa

Best Body Checker:
1. Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie
2. Zack Kassian, Peterborough
3. Brandon Mashinter, Belleville

Best Defensive Forward:
1. Cory Tanaka, Belleville
2. Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa
3. Cody Hodgson, Belleville; Logan Couture, Ottawa

Best Penalty Killer:
1. Cory Tanaka, Belleville
2. Thomas Kiriakou, Ottawa
3. Jesse Messier, Mississauga

Best Offensive Defenseman:
1. Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara
2. P.K. Subban, Belleville
3. Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga

Best Defensive Defenseman:
1. Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara
2. Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga
3. Julien Demers, Ottawa

Western Conference

Most Underrated Player:
1. Jason Akeson, Kitchener
2. Chris MacKinnon, Kitchener
3. Brandon Buck, Guelph

Most Improved Player:
1. Matt Hackett, Plymouth
2. Chris Chappell, Saginaw
3. Scott Timmins, Windsor

Smartest Player:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Chris Terry, Plymouth
3. Scott Timmins, Windsor

Hardest Worker:
1. Taylor Beck, Guelph
2. Matt Martin, Sarnia
3. Scott Timmins, Windsor

Best Playmaker:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Ryan Ellis, Windsor
3. Chris Terry, Pymouth

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia
3. Taylor Hall, Windsor

Best Skater:
1. Mark Katic, Sarnia
2. Matthew Lyall, Sault St. Marie
3. Taylor Hall, Windsor

Best Shot:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Ryan Ellis, Windsor
3. Taylor Hall, Windsor

Hardest Shot:
1. John Carlson, London
2. Ryan Ellis, Windsor
3. Adam Comrie, Saginaw

Best Stickhandler:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Nazem Kadri, London
3. Taylor Hall, Windsor

Best on Face-Offs:
1. John Tavares, London
2. Jamie Arniel, Sarnia
3. Scott Timmins, Windsor

Best Body Checker:
1. Zac Rinaldo, London
2. Matt Martin, Sarnia
3. Dale Mitchell, Windsor

Best Defensive Forward:
1. Scott Timmins, Windsor
2. Matthew Lyall, Sault St. Marie
3. Andrew Wilkins, Owen Sound

Best Penalty Killer:
1. Ryan O’Reilly, Erie
2. Scott Timmins, Windsor
3. Andrew Wilkins, Owen Sound

Best Offensive Defenseman:
1. Ryan Ellis, Windsor
2. John Carlson, London
3. Michael Del Zotto, London

Best Defensive Defenseman:
1. Dan Kelly, Kitchener
2. Harry Young, Windsor
3. John Carlson, London

OHL Coaches Poll - Ryan Yessie's Predictions

If you didn't read the post with my predictions on it, here is what is happening. Ryan and myself have entered a friendly competition to see who could predict the results of the OHL Coaches Poll the best. Mine are posted below.

This is how Ryan sees the Coaches Poll playing out, according to his observations this season...

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Most Underrated
1 - Luke Pither - Belleville
2 - Thomas Nesbitt - Ottawa
3 - Brett Flemming - Mississauga

Most Improved
1 - Luke Pither - Belleville
2 - Andrew Agozzino - Niagara
3 - Thomas Nesbitt - Ottawa

Smartest Player
1 - Cody Hodgson - Brampton
2 - Eric Tangradi - Belleville
3 - Matt Duchene - Brampton

Hardest Worker
1 - Eric Tangradi - Belleville
2 - Matt Duchene - Brampton
3 - Cameron Gaunce - Mississauga

Best Playmaker
1 - Eric Tangradi - Belleville
2 - Matt Duchene - Brampton
3 - Logan Couture - Ottawa

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
1 - Cody Hodgson - Brampton
2 - Eric Tangradi - Belleville
3 - Tony Romano - Peterborough

Best Skater
1 - Stefan Della Rovere - Barrie
2 - Stephen Johnston - Belleville
3 - Tyler Toffoli - Ottawa

Best Shot
1 - Cody Hodgson - Brampton
2 - Logan Couture - Ottawa
3 - Stefan Della Rovere - Barrie

Hardest Shot
1 - Alex Pietrangelo - Niagara
2 - Cody Hodgson - Brampton
3 - Drew Schiestel - Niagara

Best Stickhandler
1 - Cody Hodgson - Brampton
2 - Eric Tangradi - Belleville
3 - Logan Couture - Ottawa

Best Body Checker
1 - Stefan Della Rovere - Barrie
2 - Zack Kassian - Peterborough
3 - Anthony Peluso - Brampton

Best Defensive Forward/Penalty Killer
1 - Anthony Nigro - Ottawa
2 - Jesse Messier - Mississauga
3 - Cory Tanaka - Belleville

Best Offensive Defenceman
1 - P.K. Subban - Belleville
2 - Cameron Gaunce - Mississauga
3 - Calvin De Haan - Oshawa

Best Defensive Defenceman
1 - Alex Pietrangelo - Niagara
2 - Tyler Cuma - Ottawa
3 - John Quarrie - Oshawa

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Most Underrated
1 - Chris MacKinnon - Kitchener
2 - Brandon Biggers - Erie
3 - Brandon Buck - Guelph

Most Improved
1 - Matt Hackett - Plymouth
2 - Brandon Biggers - Erie
3 - Chris MacKinnon - Kitchener

Smartest Player
1 - John Tavares - London
2 - Adam Henrique - Windsor
3 - Mark Katic - Sarnia

Hardest Worker
1 - Matt Martin - Sarnia
2 - Adam Henrique - Windsor
3 - Brandon Biggers - Erie

Best Playmaker
1 - John Carlson - London
2 - Ryan Ellis - Windsor
3 - Tyler Seguin - Plymouth

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area
1 - Taylor Hall - Windsor
2 - John Tavares - London
3 - Justin DiBenedetto - Sarnia (Tied)
3 - Chris Terry - Plymouth (Tied)

Best Skater
1 - Mark Katic - Sarnia
2 - Taylor Hall - Windsor
3 - Michael Latta - Guelph

Best Shot
1 - Peter Holland - Guelph
2 - Jamie Arniel - Sarnia
3 - Taylor Hall - Windsor

Hardest Shot
1 - Ryan Ellis - Windsor
2 - A.J. Jenks - Plymouth
3 - Adam Comrie - Saginaw

Best Stickhandler
1 - Justin DiBenedetto - Sarnia
2 - Taylor Hall - Windsor
3 - Joey Hishon - Owen Sound

Best Body Checker
1 - Matt Martin - Sarnia
2 - Zac Rinaldo - London
3 - Harry Young - Windsor

Best Defensive Forward/Penalty Killer
1 - Nazem Kadri - London
2 - Steve Reese - Sarnia
3 - Eric Wellwood - Windsor

Best Offensive Defenceman
1 - John Carlson - London
2 - Ryan Ellis - Windsor
3 - Mark Katic - Sarnia

Best Defensive Defenceman
1 - Dan Kelly - Kitchener
2 - Milan Doczy - Owen Sound
3 - Harry Young - Windsor

MAY THE BEST MAN WIN!

OHL Coaches Poll - My Predictions

With the 2008-09 OHL regular season wrapped up, the Ontario Hockey League should be set to announce the results of this years Coaches Poll sometime this week (perhaps even tomorrow).

With that in mind, Ryan and I have decided to enter a friendly competition to see who could predict the results better.

Here is how I think it could possibly look, based on my observations this season.

Eastern Conference

Most Underrated Player:
1. Jared Gomes
2. Brett Parnham
3. Chris DeSousa

Most Improved Player:
1. Tony Romano
2. Corey Cowick
3. Andrew Agozzino

Smartest Player:
1. Cody Hodgson
2. Bryan Cameron
3. Cameron Gaunce

Hardest Worker:
1. Stefan Della Rovere
2. Anthony Nigro
3. Cory Tanaka

Best Playmaker:
1. Logan Couture
2. Eric Tangradi
3. Pat Daley

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area:
1. Eric Tangradi
2. Bryan Cameron
3. Brett Parnham

Best Skater:
1. Shawn Lalonde
2. Evgeny Grachev
3. Tony Romano

Best Shot:
1. Cody Hodgson
2. Bryan Cameron
3. Evgeny Grachev

Hardest Shot:
1. P.K. Subban
2. Alex Pietrangelo
3. Cameron Gaunce

Best Stickhandler:
1. Cody Hodgson
2. Logan Couture
3. Matt Kang

Best on Face-Offs:
1. Luke Pither
2. Cody Hodgson
3. Anthony Nigro

Best Body Checker:
1. Stefan Della Rovere
2. Julien Demers
3. Chris DeSousa

Best Defensive Forward:
1. Cory Tanaka
2. Thomas Kiriakou
3. Anthony Nigro

Best Penalty Killer:
1. Cory Tanaka
2. Thomas Kiriakou
3. Kale Kerbashian

Best Offensive Defenseman:
1. Alex Pietrangelo
2. P.K. Subban
3. Cameron Gaunce & Shawn Lalonde

Best Defensive Defenseman:
1. Alex Pietrangelo
2. Cameron Gaunce
3. Marc Cantin

Western Conference

Most Underrated Player:
1. Jason Akeson
2. Matt Kennedy
3. Ryan Hayes

Most Improved Player:
1. Matt Hackett
2. Chris Chappell
3. Peter Holland & Chris MacKinnon

Smartest Player:
1. John Tavares
2. Ryan O’Reilly
3. Peter Holland

Hardest Worker:
1. Taylor Beck
2. Matt Martin
3. Adam Henrique

Best Playmaker:
1. Taylor Hall
2. Ryan O’Reilly
3. Jack Combs & Jason Akeson

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area:
1. John Tavares
2. Chris Terry
3. Justin DiBenedetto & Greg Nemisz

Best Skater:
1. Mark Katic
2. Nazem Kadri
3. Taylor Hall

Best Shot:
1. John Tavares
2. Ryan Ellis
3. Taylor Hall

Hardest Shot:
1. John Carlson
2. Ryan Ellis
3. Adam Comrie

Best Stickhandler:
1. John Tavares
2. Nazem Kadri
3. Taylor Hall

Best on Face-Offs:
1. John Tavares
2. Jamie Arniel
3. Adam Henrique

Best Body Checker:
1. Zac Rinaldo
2. Dale Mitchell
3. Luke Gazdic

Best Defensive Forward:
1. Ryan O’Reilly
2. Scott Timmins
3. Matthew Lyall

Best Penalty Killer:
1. Ryan O’Reilly
2. Scott Timmins
3. Andrew Wilkins

Best Offensive Defenseman:
1. Ryan Ellis
2. John Carlson
3. Michael Del Zotto

Best Defensive Defenseman:
1. Dan Kelly
2. John Carlson
3. T.J. Brodie & Mark Cundari

It should be interesting to see how close 'my votes' are to the actual results. In years past the results have been released on the Wednesday or the Thursday after the regular seasons completion, so whenever those are released, I'll get them posted here.

I'll have Ryan's up later today.

OHL Playoff Predictions - Round One

Today the OHL playoff picture was set after a number of meaningful games were completed, in particular action involving Sudbury, Oshawa, Sarnia, and Guelph.

The following are your first round matchups, as well as my analysis and predictions.

Eastern Conference

1. Belleville Bulls vs. 8. Sudbury Wolves
Season Series: Bulls 3-1
My Analysis: I can't see this series being very close. The Wolves limped into the playoffs and appeared to be doing everything they could over the course of the last month in order to not make the playoffs. Where as Belleville worked hard to earn first in the Conference and comes in winning their last 5. Sudbury has some talent and a relatively balanced scoring attack, but the defense and goaltending just won't be able to stand up against such a powerful Belleville forward group. This could be really ugly folks.
Prediction: Belleville in 4

2. Brampton Battalion vs. 7. Peterborough Petes
Season Series: Battalion 4-0
My Analysis: Another one I don't expect to be incredibly close. However, the one wild card could come in the form of goaltending. Peterborough worked relatively hard in order to find their way back into the playoffs and they occasionally get some brilliant goaltending from behemoth Jason Missiaen. In the end, I think Brampton is just too talented and look for Cody Hodgson to completely take over this series (on the strength of his recent cover shoot for the THN Future Watch issue). I think Missiaen and the underrated Petes offense is able to muster one game from the Battalion, likely at home in order to give thanks to their fans.
Prediction: Battalion in 5

3. Ottawa 67's vs. 6. Niagara IceDogs
Season Series: IceDogs 3-1
My Analysis: Likely to be an incredibly hard fought series. It matches two teams heading in completely opposite directions at the end of the season. Ottawa comes into the playoffs riding a 5 game winning streak. Niagara comes in riding a 5 game losing streak. Ottawa is the more talented hockey club, and is becoming healthier by the day. However, for whatever reason, the IceDogs seem to match up incredibly well against the 67's. The speed of the Dogs has generally given the 67's some trouble defensively. This one likely comes down to goaltending where inexperienced Chris Perugini is matched up against the very experienced Jeremy Smith. While the 67's have to be motivated to make one last gasp for coach Kilrea, I think the season trend continues in this one.
Prediction: Niagara in 7

4. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors vs. 5. Barrie Colts
Season Series: Tie 3-3
My Analysis: A battle of two very physical teams, which may not be great for the winner of this series as they could get warn out should the series prolong. The Majors have been playing some great hockey of late, 8-2 in their last 10. Adversely, the Colts have gone somewhat cold, going 3-7 in their last 10. I really like the depth that Mississauga has, especially at forward. They have the ability to roll four solid lines, three of which are serious scoring threats. However, I'm still uncertain as to whether I think Chris Carrozzi can be the big game goaltender the Majors need to win this series. At the other end of the ice is Michael Hutchinson whom I do have faith in as the type of guy who can steal hockey games. In a close series, the best goaltender usually wins and that's why I'm going with Barrie.
Prediction: Barrie in 7

Western Conference

1. Windsor Spitfires vs. 8. Owen Sound Attack
Season Series: Spitfires 3-1
My Analysis: If I were to tell you that I thought this series had a chance to be close, would you believe me? What if I told you that all four games this season between Windsor and Owen Sound were decided by one goal? Ok, what if I told you that in Owen Sound's last game of the season, they defeated Windsor 3-2 on the strength of a 52 save performance from Scott Stajcer? Can Windsor be upset in the first round yet again? In short, no I don't think so. But I do think that Owen Sound is going to play them very hard and give them a run for their money. Owen Sound has to be coming into the series with a ton of confidence after that win to end the regular season too. However, Windsor is just too talented to be beat in the first round this year, at least I think...
Prediction: Windsor in 6

2. London Knights vs. 7. Erie Otters
Season Series: Knights 6-0
My Analysis: Would you call me crazy if I thought this series was going to be closer than you think too? Well, call me crazy then. The Knights are red hot, coming into the playoffs on a 9 game win streak and took the season series against Erie in convincing fashion. However, two things lead me to believe that Erie could give them a real run for their money. The first is the Otters' OHL leading penalty kill. The Knights do the vast majority of their damage on the powerplay, and should the Otters shut them down with the man advantage, they could have some trouble scoring. The second is that the Otters have Jaroslav Janus manning their crease. I shouldn't have to tell anyone about his ability to steal a hockey game. In the end, I again think London is too talented to go down, but I think they'll be given a run for their money.
Prediction: London in 6

3. Saginaw Spirit vs. 6. Guelph Storm
Season Series: Tie 2-2
My Analysis: Likely two teams that match up very well against each other and should result in a close series. Both teams have well rounded offenses that get contributions from a handful of different players. Both teams also play solid defense. Both teams also rely on inexperienced goaltenders. The one thing that I think decides this series is experience in other areas. At forward, Saginaw relies heavily on its two overagers Chris Chappell and Jack combs, while at forward they rely on three great 1990's in T.J. Brodie, Adam Comrie, and Nick Crawford. The other thing that I think sways the series in Saginaw's favour is ultimately goaltending. While Pasquale and Foote are both inexperienced, I think there is no question as to who the better goalie is right now, and that is Pasquale. Just like the Majors/Colts series, I think Pasquale's better goaltending wins this series.
Prediction: Saginaw in 6

4. Plymouth Whalers vs. 5. Sarnia Sting
Season Series: Whalers 4-2
My Analysis: Plymouth was one of the hottest teams in the second half of the OHL season, while Sarnia also finished off the season strongly. A battle of two hot teams should make for quite an entertaining series and you shouldn't expect less from a 4/5 matchup. To end the season, Plymouth beat up on Sarnia 6-1, which has to give them some confidence. This is the toughest series for me to predict. I like Plymouth's offensive ability and overall forward depth better than Sarnia. However, I like Sarnia's goaltending better, having the experienced Dan Spence manning the crease. In some of the other close series I went with the teams whom I felt had the more experienced and better goaltender, however I'm going to buck that trend here. I think Matt Hackett is more than up to the challenge here and should be able to get more than enough support from the talented offense.
Prediction: Plymouth in 6

Now let's see how I do!

Sean Keogh's Thoughts on Sudbury from March 8

Sean was able to catch the Sudbury Wolves and the Ottawa 67's in action this past weekend. Here is his report...

This afternoon the Sudbury Wolves were in town for a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Ottawa 67s. Of the games that I have attended at the Ottawa Civic Centre this year, this was probably the least competitive so far. The 67s scored early and often, en route to a 6-2 victory in which they peppered Sudbury netminder Alain Valiquette with 58 shots. A lack of discipline was the biggest problem for the Wolves. They took four minor penalties in the first eight minutes of the game and handed the league’s best powerplay eight opportunities over the course of the night. That the 67s only converted one of those eight suggests the final score could have been much worse. Another major factor was that the 67s top line completely outplayed the top line of the Wolves.

The 67s were dominant in spite of some adversity. They went in to the game still without two of their top defencemen, Tyler Cuma and Marc Zanetti, and lost their de factor number one blueliner Julien Demers mid-way through the game. It was another strong performance for Logan Couture, who put up two goals and an assist and was the first star. Once again the 67s also showed off their scoring depth, as all three of their top lines were dangerous and eleven players recorded at least one point. One of the highlights of the game was also a big time fight between Pieter Schinkelshoek and Kyle Tarini in which both players landed numerous serious shots. With the victory, the 67s moved closer to clinching third in the Eastern Conference, and the loss hurt the Wolves’ chances of solidifying a spot in the post-season as well.

The following are a few thoughts on some Wolves players:

Eric O’Dell – YOB 1990: Anaheim 2^nd round pick, 2008.

I was expecting more from O’Dell, who was playing in his hometown and had been traded just this past week at the NHL Trade Deadline. Suffice to say I have seen him play better. While O’Dell is always a solid player in his own zone, he was largely invisible offensively and did absolutely nothing to assert himself in any way. His line was completely outplayed when matched up against the Couture line, and he finished the game a -3. I like O’Dell has a player, but am unsure of what his offensive potential is. For a center, I have questions about his playmaking ability, and also would like to see him improve his skating, particularly his explosiveness, to make himself more dynamic. More upper body strength would also be an asset. That being said, this game was obviously not a good demonstration of his ability.

Akim Aliu – YOB 1989: Chicago’s 2^nd round pick, 2007

Few second round picks are as well known, if not infamous, as Aliu. I have always been impressed with Aliu’s skill set, but am certainly not alone in questioning his focus. I would say he was probably Sudbury’s best player in this game, particularly from the second period onwards, and picked up an assist on the second Sudbury goal. His combination of size and skill is impossible to ignore, and he was the only Sudbury player who could take over entire shifts in the offensive zone. I do question his offensive awareness at times though because while he is dangerous off the rush with his size, skating, strength and hands, in the offensive zone he seemed a bit less sure of what to do. In that way, his offensive success at the NHL may depend on playing on a transition-oriented team. Obviously his off-ice troubles aside, Aliu’s raw skill has never been questioned though and that was evident even as his team was dominated this afternoon.

Jared Staal – YOB 1990: Phoenix 2^nd round pick, 2008.

From a game review standpoint, Staal actually fared well this afternoon. He set up the first Sudbury goal and potted the second, although John Kurtz did most of the work. Moreover, he finished even in a near blow out game, so it was a decent game for Jared. I have to be honest though I was not overly impressed with him from an NHL scouting standpoint. In many ways Jared reminds me of his brother Marc more than Jordan or Eric, in his skating stride and lack of offensive creativity. Although Jared goes to the net and has the size to put up some points by doing so, he is neither dynamic nor particularly inventive offensively. In short, I am not sure I see anything that suggests Staal has scoring line upside at the NHL level, although he shows characteristics that make it likely he will get a solid chance to stick as a role player in due time.

Marcus Foligno – YOB 1991: Draft Eligible 2009.

Often out there with fellow large bodies Staal and Kain Allicock, Foligno displayed his good work along the boards a few times. He did not notch a point but did pick up four penalty minutes. It is hard not to compare Foligno to his older brother Nick. They wear the same number and have a similar skating stride. While Marcus has better size, which he could use even more to be imposing, and is rawer than Nick was in his draft year, he is not as good of a skater or as offensively gifted as his older brother. Being an August birthday though, his offensive ability could come with more time, but at this point he displays little offensively. His size, physical play, good board work and favourable bloodlines should guarantee he will get drafted in the first three rounds though.

Daniel Maggio – YOB 1991: Draft Eligible 2009

It was not a good game for any Wolves defenceman, and Maggio is no exception. He took an unfortunate delay of game penalty in the first minute of play and that set the tone for the rest of the game. Overall, he did not have a strong game offensively or defensively, but he has good size, reasonable mobility and had brief flashes of offensive ability from the backend. I am a bit surprised he is not currently ranked by Central Scouting, but his play tonight did not make a convincing argument that they were wrong.

John McFarland – YOB 1992: Draft Eligible 2010

This was my first good live look at McFarland and his performance was mixed. On the one hand, he showed why he was the first overall pick in the OHL Draft last year and will likely go quite high in the 2010 NHL Draft. McFarland is a great skater with a high overall skill level and the ability to electrify with his stickhandling ability at top speed. Nothing came of it tonight though, and he was far less visible as the game wore on. Moreover he seemed disinterested defensively at times, and finished a -3 on the night. The only other concern I had was he showed a tendency towards selfish play offensively. At times McFarland opted to try to dangle when the better option was to use his teammates better, and he did not consistently fight for possession or bother to cycle the puck, suggesting a disinterest in bothering to do the dirty work. There are a few possible explanations for this, and it is not the place to speculate on the explanation. That being said, it did become something of a recurring observation throughout the game, without going in to the game with any expectation of such questionable tendencies.

Sergei Sheleg –YOB 1990: Draft Eligible 2009

Sheleg is a rookie import OHLer from Belarus who went undrafted last year and opted to come to the OHL. He played on the first pairing for the Wolves and was utilized in all situations, which is not common for a rookie import. Sheleg stood out to me because he is massive at 6’5”, and is actually quite a fluid and mobile player for that size. That combination alone is enough to get a player drafted, even if they are a year older. As I focused on Sheleg more, it was evident that he is extremely raw at this point. His decision-making is slow and questionable, he does not utilize his size enough, nor has he really started to fill out his frame. Although he is not ranked by CSB at the moment, I would not be shocked if he got picked up in the late rounds of the NHL draft considering his skating and mobility.

Thoughts on Brampton from March 5

Last night the red hot Brampton Battalion took on the Niagara Ice Dogs at the Gatorade Garden City Complex. The Battalion largely dominated the first two periods and held on for a 5-2 victory on the strength two goals from Cody Hodgson.

Here are my thoughts on some of the Battalion...

Matt Clark - 2009 Draft Eligible

Playing in his first OHL season, this 6'3, 200lbs defenseman has quickly risen up the draft charts. He showcases excellent mobility and speed for a big guy. He also does not appear to be afraid to play physical and take the body, especially along the boards. He reminds me a fair amount of the way Adam Comrie looked last season for Saginaw (his first in the OHL). On the downside, I felt like Clark's defensive positioning was somewhat exposed. He was beaten to the outside a few times because he got caught standing still or missing on playing the body. I think these are things which can be improved as his OHL career progresses. I do wonder as how to much offensive potential he has, although he did look impressive in making decisions with the puck and showcasing some playmaking skill.

Matt Duchene - 2009 Draft Eligible

I'm not going to say a lot on Duchene. He didn't have a great game really, but even when he's slightly off and not contributing offensively, he still showcases his outstanding skating ability and his growing awareness of his defensive responsibilities.

Matt Kang - Overager and NHL Free Agent

Kang is currently a free agent, and this steady OHL contributor should be able to get a professional contract somewhere, likely not at the NHL level, but probably at the AHL/ECHL/European level. He has good speed for a slightly undersized forward, especially his first step which is explosive. The thing that always sticks out about Kang is his puckhandling ability. No question that Kang is one of the best 'danglers' in the OHL. However, sometimes I feel like he can get caught up in making the moves rather than finding and using his teammates. I also wish that he was more aggressive in playing in traffic and going hard to the net. A lot of the moves he makes are once the offense has set up in the opposing end, and used to keep puck control. I wish he was use his puckhandling ability to take the puck to the net off the rush and make more of his gift.

Evgeny Grachev - Drafted in 2008 by the New York Rangers/75th

I've made no qualms about letting people know on this blog, about how impressed I've been with this guy this season. He had another solid game finishing with a goal and an assist. I really don't know if I've seen a forward his size with that explosive of a first step. He just takes off and has a ton of power in his stride. But let's forget about everything I've already mentioned before in terms of his dynamic offensive ability. The most impressive thing Grachev did in this game was break up a 2 on 1 by showing a lot of tenacity on the backcheck. The Battalion turned the puck over on the powerplay and Chris DeSousa started down the ice on a 2 on 1. Grachev skated hard from the offensive zone (he wasn't the one who turned it over at the blueline), caught DeSousa and rubbed him out of the play, completing negating the 2 on 1 chance. I seriously think this guy has Marian Hossa like potential.

Cody Hodgson - Drafted in 2008 by the Vancouver Canucks/10th

I think a lot has been said about Hodgson, to the extent that everyone knows how talented this kid is. He works hard at both ends of the ice, he's a good skater, makes moves at top speed, takes the puck to the net, uses his teammates well. Just the complete package. I will mention the beautiful goal he scored tonight though. He completely undressed Drew Schiestel not once, but twice on the way to the net, and deposited the puck behind Dogs tender Mark Visentin. It's impressive because Schiestel has NHL quality skating at the backend, and even still Hodgson got by him and beat him to the net. Check the clip posted and go to about the 1:50 mark to see his goal.

Anthony Peluso - Drafted in 2007 by the St. Louis Blues/160th

Peluso has responded very well to his new playing environment in Brampton. He has 15 points in 22 games since the trade, posting that many points in the 36 games before the trade from Sault Ste. Marie. He had a very solid game tonight, working incredibly hard on the forecheck. He finished with a goal and an assist, with the goal being the one that 'broke the camels back,' putting Brampton up 4-2 with under 2 minutes left. This was especially crucial because Niagara had been putting a ton of pressure on Brampton during the 3rd period, outshooting the Battalion 13-2 in the frame. The goal came after Battalion forward Stephon Thorpe forced a turnover in Niagara's end, and found Peluso streaking hard to the net. Peluso wasted no time in roofing the puck top corner. It appears he really wants that contract from the Blues. While he's not really a threat to have an impact on the top 2 lines, probably even the top 3 lines, Peluso could still make an impact in the NHL as a bottom line energy forward who can fight, forecheck and provide occasional offense.

Thomas McCollum - Drafted in 2008 by the Detroit Red Wings/30th

Since returning from a rather disastrous showing at the WJC's, and a very shaky two games to start January, McCollum has been nothing short of fantastic. Since January 11, McCollum has been playing with a GAA under 2 and a SV% above .930. He was quite excellent in this game. The most impressive thing about McCollum is his quick feet work as he works hard to take away the bottom part of the net. He gets in and out of the butterfly very quickly and moves side to side incredibly well. He made an absolutely amazing save on Matt Sisca to essentially preserve the victory. This save has to be a contender for save of the year in the OHL and can be found at around the 5:15 mark of the posted clip. On the downside, I think McCollum has some things he really has to work on, especially before he can find success at the next level. Firstly, like any butterfly goaltender in the junior ranks (for the most part), he needs to not go down so early. Because he takes away the bottom part of the net so well, he can tend to expose the top part of the net. In the OHL, players aren't as adept at picking that top corner and quickly, but in the NHL, he's going to have to wait longer before hitting the butterfly in order to not run into trouble. Secondly, his rebound control needs work. He coughs up a lot of juicy rebounds, especially directly in his crease. Fortunately for him, McCollum is so great at covering the bottom half because a lot of these second chances get turned away. However, again this is something that will hurt him heavily at the next level. But hes athletic and knows how to make the big saves. Some fine tuning and perhaps some mental fine tuning, and he'll be on his way.

POSTED CLIP

At the 1:50 mark the Hodgson goal.
At the 5:15 mark the McCollum save.

Thoughts on Ottawa from March 1

In an effort to reach out to fans across the Niagara region, the Ice Dogs played the Ottawa 67's at the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena this afternoon. It was a great game for fans to see as the Dogs defeated the 67's 5-3 in a hard fought game. With the 67's currently sitting third in the Eastern Conference, and the Dogs sitting 6th, these two teams are looking at a potential first round playoff match up.

Here are my thoughts on some of the 67's...

Marc Zanetti - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

Essentially an OHL rookie this season, Zanetti has been able to play an important role on the 67's blueline this season. This has caught the eyes of NHL scouts as he was listed at 139th in NA by the CSB. I think that arguably, he'll be drafted higher than that in June. He's a big guy, but he skates adequately and can keep up with the play. He's beginning to see more responsibility on the ice and played a fair amount on the powerplay today, earning an assist on a Tyler Toffoli goal. I think there is some offensive potential as he looks comfortable with the puck at times, and the fact that Kilrea is giving him PP time suggests that. On the defensive side of things, which is clearly where he focuses the majority of his attention, he takes his man hard and does a real good job with man coverage and protecting the front of the net. He was also very solid along the boards, as I'm not sure he lost a puck battle all day. I think he's a really underrated prospect and he reminds me a lot of former London Knight Marc Methot, who's finding success as a fixture on the blueline of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Tyler Toffoli - NHL Draft Eligible in 2010

Toffoli has definitely made a name for himself this season. Whether it was his 4 goal, 5 assist performance for Team Ontario on the way to gold at the 2009 Under 17 World Hockey Challenge, or his 40 points as a rookie this season, the 7th overall selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Draft is looking like a potential first round draft pick for 2010. He had 2 goals tonight and showcased a great shot and an ability to get it off under pressure. His first goal on the powerplay was a rocket. He showcased good speed in entering the zone. Like any 16 year old, he's got to get stronger and continue to work through the physical side of the game. But he has the offensive skills to be very successful in this league.

Julien Demers - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2008/146th

Demers is a solid two way defenseman who plays with his heart on his sleeve. He plays the point on the powerplay and takes lead on the penalty kill. Since Tyler Cuma went down with an injury, Demers has stepped up in order to lead this defense. He has good puck skills and is generally smart with the puck. And while he didn't really showcase it in this game, Demers is one of the most feared bodycheckers in the OHL. It's clear that Coach Kilrea has been working on his positioning, as before he could get caught out of position going for the big hit and earlier in the season I was seeing that. Today, he was calm and collected and played a safe game. The only downside to Demers' game is his skating. If he was a better skater, he would have been a much higher pick than 146th. The discouraging thing is that I haven't really noticed a difference in it this year, so I can't say it has really improved. Even if he is to succeed at the NHL level, he's going to need to improve his skating, and more specifically his acceleration and closing speed. But I do like him as a player and hope that he can get the necessary training at the next level to improve.

Logan Couture - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2007/9th

I had been hearing from a lot of people that Couture was playing the best hockey of his junior career currently. And the stats support that. The guy had 23 points in February. However, other than an impressive burst of speed to create a partial breakaway (of which he was stoned by Jeremy Smith), Couture was completely invisible for me. Maybe it was because it was the 67's 3rd game in 3 days and he was tired. But in all the times I've seen him play, he's yet to ever really dazzle me. Hopefully the Sharks can keep him motivated at the next level and he can find success suitable of his high draft selection.

Chris Perugini - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

Perugini has been solid for the 67's this year, taking over the starting job from Bruins signee Adam Courchaine. He's very agile and athletic and is a great skater for a goaltender. He can get from the butterfly to stand up very quickly and reacts well to the play. He takes away a lot of the bottom of the net with the butterfly style and he also does a good job of controlling rebounds. I have some concerns though. The most critical is size. The OHL lists him at 5'10, but he looks much smaller than that in the net. He's not exactly Darren Pang, but it's clear shooters are aiming top of the net everytime they take a shot on him. This is obviously a concern as in the NHL, undersized goaltenders aren't exactly the apple of a scouts eye. On top of that, I find Perugini's willingness to be aggressive and challenge shooters, wildly inconsistent. At times, he comes way out to where an undersized goaltender should be, while in other instances, he gets caught too deep in his net and his size is exposed. An undersized goaltender should be coming out to challenge everytime in order to maximize the size they do have. But his raw athleticism and fundamental ability should at least get him drafted.