OHL Prospects

Game Report: Storm and Spitfires from January 19

2012-01-20T18:30:00.006-05:00

I had such high hopes for this one. A battle between two of the league's youngest and most talented rosters. While things this year have been up and down (due to the inexperience of the team's core players), you'd be hard pressed to a find game featuring more talent available for the 2012 Draft. Between the two teams, they had 14 players listed on Central Scouting's midterm rankings.

But it truly was a stinker. I'm glad I caught this one on t.v. as opposed to being there live as the Spits laid quite an egg. I read that after the game, Bob Boughner said it was among the worst losses he's ever been a part of. Pretty strong words.

The Storm got off to a quick start by scoring two goals in the first three minutes, and four in the first period. They never looked back from there, nearly doubling the shot total of the Spits in the process. Considering how important the game was (the Spits and Storm are among four teams battling for the final three playoff spots in the West), you'd have to worry about the effort level of Windsor. The final score was 6-0 for Guelph.

Guelph Storm

#3 - Andrey Pedan (Drafted by the New York Islanders)
I continue to be impressed with Pedan this season. I think he's definitely a solid pro prospect. His biggest asset is definitely his mobility in combination with his size and physicality. He's a very in your face player and was all over the Spits tonight, taking away time and space. But his offensive game has really improved this year, especially his confidence in rushing the puck. He's a very dangerous puck carrier because he's very strong on the puck and hard to strip once he gets going at full speed. One of his rushes lead to Scott Kosmachuk's 2nd period goal, where he took the puck from his own zone, blew past Alex Khokhlachev and fed a streaking Kosmachuk at the blueline (where Kosmachuk fired home a wrist shot once entering the zone). The last couple of times I've seen him, he's cut down on some of the undisciplined penalties too. But I'm told that this is still a bit of an issue at times. When he finds that happy medium between smart aggression and over aggression, he's at his best.

#4 - Matt Finn (Draft Eligible in 2012)
Had a really terrific game, showcasing his talents at both ends of the ice. Offensively, he was solid. He did a good job of moving the puck and is very poised with the puck in his own zone. When the Spits still had some fight in them in the first half of the game, he shook off the forecheck with ease, and never had any issues skating the puck out of trouble. On the powerplay, he has great vision and is a terrific playmaker. This was showcased on the last first period powerplay for the Storm. Finn took the puck at the point and fired a hard pass to an open Francis Menard near the faceoff dot, who then found Mitchell in the slot for the goal. Defensively, his most impressive play was definitely his breakup of an Alex Khokhlachev breakaway in the first. The Khok snuck behind the defense, but Finn hustled back (showcasing great closing speed) and lifted Khokhlachev's stick at the last second, stealing the puck away from him before he even got a shot away. The fact that he didn't have to take a penalty on the play was fantastic. Finn is inching ever so close to Cody Ceci for me in the race for the league's top draft eligible d-man.

#8 - Zach Leslie (Draft Eligible in 2012)
Had an absolutely fantastic game. I'm not sure he's as good as Craig Button thinks he is (been ranked in Button's top 50 for the better part of two months), but he's definitely better than CSS thinks he is (NHL Central Scouting didn't rank him). He's very cool with the puck and I think he's got a strong head on his shoulders when it comes to the offensive side of the game. I really liked how he got his point shot towards the net in the game. He got one assist from this (and should have had a second). In the first, he walked the line and fired a low hard shot on net, which Tyler Bertuzzi redirected past Jaroslav Pavelka. Later in the period, it was nearly an identical play, except this time his shot bounced around near the crease until Justin Auger cleaned up the garbage. He was also a little more physical than I had seen him previously. Leslie actually got into a fight with Kerby Rychel in the third after he was all over Rychel as he tried to carry the puck over the blueline and towards the net. After finishing him off along the boards, a visibly frustrated Rychel dropped the mitts. It wasn't a long fight, and Leslie was mostly hanging on for life, but it showed gumption. Leslie's defensive game is still a little bit raw, but he's turning into a real diamond in the rough for this draft.

#19 - Hunter Garlent (Draft Eligible in 2013)
Honestly, outside of Aaron Ekblad, I'm not sure there has been a more impressive 2011 draft pick in the league this year. I'm really not sure about his NHL draft ranking at this point, because he's a little guy, but he's certainly impressive. Garlent actually reminds me a lot of how Gemel Smith looked last year. He's so noticeable because of how hard he works on and off the puck. He may be small and young, but he's fearless of high traffic areas and loves to get his nose dirty. Look no farther than him taking Nick Ebert to school along the boards in the first period, coming away with the puck and driving to the net for a flying, crease crashing goal. He seems to be a really smart player too and I think profiles well as a skilled playmaker.

#20 - Justin Auger (Draft Eligible in 2012)
I really like this kid and he's sneaking very close to my top 30 for the draft. He's got 6 goals and 3 assists in his last 9 games and is really coming into his own in the league. Best of all, he's a legit 6'7 and could stand to add more size to his frame. Auger is a really interesting player because he's not really your typical 6'7 forward. He uses his size to his advantage, but he's definitely not what I would call an in your face behemoth. So while he's not out there laying bone crushing hits, he uses his size to his advantage in the offensive zone. Especially in the cycle game, and in driving hard to the net. Every time I've seen him, he's been noticeable because of how well he works the boards down low and uses that big stick to dig out pucks and keep the play alive. His line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Ryan Horvat really tired out the Spits defense in the first couple of periods with their puck possession game. He also scored in the first, taking a pass from Tyler Bertuzzi in a goal mouth scramble and taping it into the back of the net. On the play, he beat Nick Ebert to the front of the net, showing how hard he is to move from his desired path. His skating isn't really all that bad either. Kind of wide and awkward looking, but he seems to find space relatively easy. If he keeps up a point per game pace for the rest of the year, there's no way he'll be taken where CSS currently has him ranked.

#23 - Zack Mitchell (Draft Eligible in 2012, second year eligibility)
Every other time I've seen Mitchell this season, I haven't really noticed him (to be honest), despite the fact that he leads Guelph in scoring. But he was definitely noticeable in this game. I was impressed by how he kept plays alive in the offensive zone with his stick handling ability. The Spits had a really tough time taking the puck off him as he had a real elusive/slippery quality about him. His two points showcased his high skill level too. On his first period goal, he took a quick pass in the slot from Francis Menard and quickly buried a wrist shot top shelf on John Cullen (who had replaced Pavelka). The puck wasn't on his stick long and he got a lot of mustard on the shot. In 2nd, he drew an assist after getting partial breakway and driving hard to the net. He was stopped, but Menard was there to clean up his garbage. Playing for a guy like Scott Walker is only going to help him round out his game (away from the puck and defensively), so you have to like his chances of getting drafted this year.

#24 - Scott Kosmachuk (Draft Eligible in 2012)
There's no denying that I love the way this kid plays the game. I went so far as to put him ahead of Jarrod Maidens in my midterm rankings. He's a really solid north/south kind of guy who plays both ends of the ice and has the skill the create and finish scoring chances. Most impressive on the night was his defensive play actually. He had a couple really nice plays coming back to tie up Windsor forwards to prevent scoring chances and won nearly all of his battles along the boards in his own end. He scored in the 2nd period on a wrist shot, although it wasn't the prettiest of plays. He took a pass from Andrey Pedan, cruised into offensive zone, cut to the middle to unleash a shot, but fanned on it. This actually helped him out because defender Adam Bateman overcommited on the play, so when he fanned on the shot, he actually found himself open in the slot with the puck still on his stick. Then he fired a low wrister through Cullen. He also earned an assist on Hunter Garlent's first period goal.

#40 - Garret Sparks (Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs)
Sparks was solid on the night. To be honest, he wasn't really tested a ton. But he did a good job of making sure Windsor didn't get themselves back in the game. Particularly impressive was his handling of the rebounds...or lack there of. He swallowed up the puck and looked good squaring up shooters from the point. Sparks has progressed well this year with increased ice time and looks like a solid selection by the Leafs. Next year will be a big test for him, when the Storm have a chance to be one of the better teams in the West.

Windsor Spitfires

A disclaimer before the Windsor reports. Definitely a hard game to give a ton of positive feedback about, so most of the Windsor reports are going to be pretty bleak or short.

#12 - Ben Johnson (Draft Eligible in 2012)
I felt like he and Brady Vail were probably the two best Spitfires on the night. He had a couple of noticeable shifts in the first couple of periods, where he kept the Storm pinned in their own zone by working hard along the boards. He's a noticeably quick skater and a hard worker away from the puck. Not really much else to say on the night.

#16 - Kerby Rychel (Draft Eligible in 2013)
Wasn't really noticeable in a good or bad way. Had a tough time finding space to operate offensively on the night and took his frustration out on Zach Leslie in a third period scuffle.

#17 - Michael Clarke (Draft Eligible in 2012)
Really didn't have a good game. In fact, Clarke has been going through a really tough stretch the past couple of months. He's got only a goal and an assist in his last 17 games and is a -11 through that. After such a strong start, it's possible he's hitting a wall in his first full OHL season. He was a -3 in this game...and was actually on for four goals against (one was a powerplay goal). The powerplay goal by Mitchell was actually a direct result of a poor play by Clarke. When Mitchell received a pass in the slot, Clarke was slow to tie him up and really didn't do much to prevent him from getting his shot off. Offensively, he really didn't do much at all. If he doesn't start picking up his game, he'll really begin to tumble down the draft charts in the 2nd half.

#22 - Nick Ebert (Draft Eligible in 2012)
Ebert was visible for all the wrong reasons on the night. The last time I saw Windsor play, it looked like he was starting to turn the corner a bit. But he was...really quite bad in the Guelph game. Three of Guelph's 6 goals could be directly tied to him. In the first, he was muscled off the puck in the corner by the 5'9 Hunter Garlent, who then escaped his clutches to take the puck hard to the net uninterrupted for a goal. Also in the first period, he failed to tie up Justin Auger as he drove to the net for a goal on a goal mouth scramble. Lastly, in the 2nd period he got caught out of position and Zack Mitchell broke in for a partial breakway. Ebert did well to get back, but didn't tie up Mitchell enough to prevent him from getting off a shot. Offensively, it was much of what I saw in the first couple of months of the season. A lot of forced long passes that failed to connect, and rushes up the ice that saw him create little. The biggest thing that has disappointed me about Ebert this year has been the disappearance of his physical game. Last year, he came into the league as a 16 year old not afraid of pushing bodies around in front of the net and capable of laying out bodies in the defensive zone. This year, I just haven't seen that element to his game.

#61 - Chris Marchese (Draft Eligible in 2012)
Invisible. Pretty clear the consistency issues that plagued him in Erie have followed him to Windsor. I know Windsor fans have been quick to point out that he may have conditioning/endurance issues. I saw nothing tonight to dispute that.

#89 - Alex Khokhlachev (Drafted by the Boston Bruins)
I kind of felt bad for the Khok in this game. He came out with a fair amount of energy and I felt like he was one of the only Spits to actually create things offensively in the first. But after he had that breakaway attempt thwarted by Finn in the first period, things kind of went downhill. He was less and less noticeable until he let Andrey Pedan go by him in the neutral zone late in the 2nd period. This obviously resulted in the aforementioned goal by Kosmachuk. From then on out, I don't think he saw much ice time then was apparently sent to the dressing room to sit out the third.

#97 - Brady Vail (Draft Eligible in 2012)
As I alluded to earlier, I felt like he and Ben Johnson were probably the best Spit forwards on the night. Vail looked good along the boards and on the cycle and had a few shifts where it looked like he might be close to getting Windsor on the board.

Unfortunately Tanner Richard and Brandon Devlin weren't playing in the game, as I would have loved to get another look at both of them. Richard is nursing some minor injuries, while Devlin has been suspended (controversially) for his apparently degrading marks towards Guelph's Tyler Bertuzzi.

Chat With McKeen's Draft Guide Guru David Burstyn

2012-01-19T21:47:00.001-05:00

Recently, I had a chance to chat with the scouting director of McKeen's hockey, David Burstyn. David is a current OHL scout and a former NHL scout (for the Atlanta Thrashers) who is always great to talk to about the draft and provides some insightful information. If you frequent the blog, we've talked to David in the past and it's terrific to bring him back into the fold.

Of course, David's McKeen's produces one of the best Draft Guide's on the market and you'll find some information below on how to order it. One thing is for certain, now is a great time to be a fan of amateur hockey and the NHL Draft, with the bevy of terrific publications out there for purchase. Everyone always talks about how The Hockey News' Draft Issue has gone down hill in recent years. But what people a lot of people don't realize is how many terrific products there are out there now. Between blog friends McKeen's and Future Considerations (Dan Stewart, Aaron Vickers, and Sean LaFortune), along with places like Redline and Hockey Prospect, there are a vast amount of draft guides available for your purchase and worth every penny (if you're draft junkie like myself).

Here's a transcript of what Dave and I had to talk about:

Brock Otten: "It’s probably best to start off by asking you a question about the top candidate for first overall this year, Nail Yakupov. Why is he such a special talent?"

David Burstyn: "Yakupov can break open a game as his offensive hockey sense is the strongest in the draft. He has been playing ahead of his age group internationally for quite some time but really helped to solidify his stock following a terrific OHL rookie season in which he beat Steven Stamkos record for most goals by a Sting rookie. Yakupov has all the tools NHL teams covet in terms of skating and his ability to manufacture offence. He showed last year and this year that he would not be intimidated by the OHL as there is also push-back in his game. He used the WJC tournament as a forum to showcase layers to his game with a tournament high 9 assists in the WJC (surprisingly no-goals) and was arguably the best player against Canada as he set-up each one of Kuznetsov’s goals. His durability has been a slight concern for NHL teams but he has a good foundation to add weight and should be able to bulk up next year. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Patrick Kane both weighed less than him in their draft years. Yakupov has the complexion of young Ilya Kovalchuk, a player who loves to score and can at will."

BO: "Hypothetically speaking, if Alex Galchenyuk doesn’t tear up his knee, does he compete with Nail (and Grigerenko for that matter) for first overall?"

DB: "I have an advantage as I was part of the scouting staff in Sarnia that drafted Alex first overall and saw him play quite often as a member of the Chicago Young Americans and last year in his OHL rookie season. Galchenyuk has elite skills and marries it with a competitive streak that is unrivalled by his peers. In addition to his scoring exploits, as he was the highest scoring 94 in the OHL last season with 83 points in all 68 games, he is an incredibly smart-two player. He simply hates to loose and his training regime is second to none as he is very committed off ice. There is speculation that he may return at the end of February as he is rehabbing his knee twice a day and making special trips to London for treatment. Should he return it would be great for the Sting and the league as he is worth the price of admission."

BO: "So with that in mind, just where do you stand on Galchenyuk? If you’re an NHL team with a top 10 pick, do you draft him?"

DB: "Brett Connolly only played 15 games in his NHL draft year and was selected 6th overall by Tampa. Should Galchenyuk fall outside the top 10, I think one team gets an absolute steal. Galchenyuk had only an average Ivan Hlinka tournament but his accomplishments from last year and his high character level should be enough for him to fall inside the top 10. I know that we will not take him outside of our top 10 ranking and NHL teams that are picking in that range will be keeping close tabs on his recovery."

BO: "The injury bug, as a whole, has been just nasty to the 2012 Draft. I honestly can’t remember a draft year so riddled with serious injury. Whose injury issue concerns you the most. Galchenyuk? Marcantuoni? Koekkoek? Maidens? I mean…lots to choose from!"

DB: "Sadly this problem also exists in the other CHL leagues as Morgan Reilly and Ryan Murray have missed considerable time and Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads is only returning now from concussions. All of these injuries hurt their draft stock and it is hard to pin point one however I think Koekkoek’s injury hurts his team the most and that may be the best pure indicator as to who is most valuable. I was fortunate to see Peterborough often in the first few months to get reads on Koekkoek. He came into the season with considerable fanfare after a strong showing (as an under-ager) at the U18 in April. He has a lot of ingredients that can make up a player. Maidens injury is not season-ending although he has been battling a concussion since the end of November. Sadly he will have to miss the Top Prospects game as a result but Owen Sound look like they are in good position to make the playoffs so there is time for him to still make an impression."

BO: "Just how much will these injuries affect the rankings of certain guys? I mean, Marcantuoni was having a disappointing season and is now gone for the year."

DB: "Kitchener is such a central location that it is often scouted often and heavily. Marcantuoni came into the season as a top prospect largely in part to his accomplishments as an under-ager when scouts were flocking to see Ryan Murphy and Gabriel Landeskog last season. He did not do himself any favours with his sub-par play this season as a majority of his points were collected on the PP. He is a dimensional skater and shows little to no fear however too many question marks about his offensive hockey sense and durability have come into question. This is the second consecutive time that his season has been cut short to injury. He was also forced to miss the gold medal game at the Hlinka due to concussions. This history of injuries will certainly scare off many teams as he has been unable (at this point) to survive the OHL."

BO: "Just like every other league this year…it seems that the OHL has a plethora of talented defenseman available. At this point, I think Matt Finn and Cody Ceci are starting to separate themselves from the pack…what are your thoughts?"

DB: "I would agree and both are talented players in their own respect but Ceci in my opinion is a better pro prospect. Ceci is currently ranked 17th on our overall list and has continued to get better as the season has worn on. He logs close to 30 minutes a game on the 67’s that are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference. He has all the tools to be an NHL player, size, skill and a booming point shot. The late birth has helped in his development but even last year he was on Hockey Canada’s radar as he played on the U18 squad. Ceci needs to work on his defensive zone coverage and hockey sense however he shows confidence with the puck and generally makes good decisions. Matt Finn has certainly benefitted with the coaching change of Scott Walker and you could see that late last season. He was one of the better defenseman in their opening round playoff loss to Saginaw. This year he has put together a fine offensive season. He plays a good two-way game and is a skilled defenseman as he can do many things well in all three zones, including landing several open ice hits. His size and lack of skating hold him (at this point) just outside of our top 30."

BO: "What’s your position on Tanner Pearson? He certainly seems to have cemented himself as a top 60 selection on most lists."

DB: "I would agree with you Brock! Pearson put up good point totals last season on the second line with Smoskowitz and Beranek. Smoskowitz actually scored 20 goals last season but is no where near those totals this year since Pearson has been shifted to the top unit. Pearson has uncanny offensive hockey sense. He has soft hands and can find the open man with ease. He was piling up the points even when Scheifele was auditioning for the Jets and since Scheifele’s return to Barrie, I would say that the line of Pearson, Scheifele and Telegin is the most dangerous line in the OHL, possibly the entire CHL. Pearson also had the distinction of being the first un-drafted player to play for Team Canada at the WJC since Danny Syvret and fared well in the bronze medal game against the Finns."

BO: "Let’s talk about goaltending. Just how good is Malcolm Subban, and is he candidate to go in the first round?"

DB: "I am a big fan of Subban. It’s hard to believe that he did not start to play the position till he was 12. He is an exceptional athlete whose reflexes, skating, quickness and positioning are one of the best in the draft. With many good goalies emerging it should be interesting to see where Subban ends up however at this point we only have Andrei Vasilevski higher than him on our January lists. Subban covers the net well and is adept at tracking pucks in traffic. Since he is always square to the shooter and remains in the centre of his net at all times. It is uncommon for him to be out of position and as a result he expends little to no energy to make a save which frustrates shooters to no end. Despite the fact that he has missed some time with injuries I do not think that will take away from his natural ability as he has flat out stole games for Belleville and it is not surprising that since he has been injured that Belleville has been playing sub-par hockey."

BO: "Outside of Yakupov (and Galchenyuk), who do you see as the top forward available?"

DB: "Brendan Gaunce would be the next best forward available, but Radek Faska is not that far off. Gaunce offers many intangibles but he is also inconsistent and needs to work harder away from the puck. He has all the attributes that NHL teams covet and will undoubtedly be a better pro than he is a junior as he grows into his body and adds strength. Gaunce is a projection pick that teams will need to be patient with however he does have the size and hockey sense to be a difference maker. Faska approaches the game a little bit differently than Gaunce in that he uses his size down low to make plays. I draw the comparison of a young Tomas Holmstrom when I watch him play as he does so many little things well in traffic and his board play is exceptional."

BO: "But a lot of people seem to be questioning the upside of Brendan Gaunce. I know that I’m high on him and am a believer that he can be more than a “checking line” center. Do you see high end offensive upside?"

DB: "Gaunce would have to play in your top six for you to get the maximum return on investment. In all likelihood he is a top 15 pick at this point and teams drafting a player in that range will look for him to centre one of their top two lines and be a PP player. Gaunce is incredibly gifted with the puck and understands his positioning in the offensive zone. He reads and reacts to plays and anticipates better than his peers. His only issue is his skating at this point however if NHL teams can not make a player bigger, stronger and faster with various off-ice programs designed to improve foot speed and conditioning than they are not doing their job."

BO: "I have to ask you about Nick Ebert. Have you soured on him as much as some of the other scouting agencies have…such as NHL Central Scouting?"

DB: "To be truthful I have not been a fan of Nick Ebert dating back to when I saw him as an under-ager playing for Waterloo of the USHL. I think his high rating with other scouting services was the fact that they simply did not go out to see him play and believed the hype of a player which is the worst thing you can do as a scout. Ebert is dubbed as an offensive defenseman but only has three goals through 44 games and gets ample time on the PP. He can skate into dead-ends with the puck as his puck decisions constantly come into question. Additionally he struggles against bigger, faster players down low due to his lack of size and defensive hockey sense."

BO: "Has there anyone else you’ve been disappointed with this season? Perhaps a few guys who just haven’t taken as large a step forward as you thought they would?"

DB: "Two players come to mind and those would be Chris Marchese of the Windsor Spitfires and Gianluca Curcuruto of the Sault Greyhounds. I liked both of these players in their OHL draft year and they had decent rookie seasons, even though Marchese’s was cut short due to injury after the U17’s. Marchese has the size and skill but lacks the work ethic. He picks his spots and does not always want to make the requisite sacrifices away from the puck. He started the season ok with Erie until the wheels fell off and he was subsequently traded to Windsor. He has fared a little bit better with the Spitfires. He has a great shot but has only managed to score 15 goals thus far in his brief OHL career. His goal total would surely double if he was willing to pay the price to get his shot off but he elects to play the perimeter. Curcuruto has struggled this season and is a woeful -14. He has great feet but his lack of courage at times in defensive situations is unsettling."

BO: "Conversely, who have been the two or three guys who have just blown you away this year…in terms of their growth as players? For me, it’s probably Gemel Smith as I thought it’d take him a little longer to start putting up the kind of offensive numbers he has."

DB: "Gemel was one of the higher point producers in his OHL draft playing on a very poor North York Rangers team. Last year he did not get a chance to be anything more than a shut-down player as the Attack were loaded up front and won the OHL Championship. With several graduations Smith has been given a chance to contribute and has not disappointed this year. I would agree with you that even I was surprised that he is producing at a point a game clip but he gained a considerable amount of confidence playing at the Ivan Hlinka. He is a dimensional skater and can make plays at high rates of speed. He has a tricky release and can converge on loose pucks quickly and has the hand skills and vision to see and make a play. I am a big fan of Joel Wigle of the Ice Dogs. He is a consummate role player who oozes character and will do whatever is asked of him. He is a little raw at this point but he gets buried on a deep Niagara team. Nonetheless Wigle will go hard to the net, fight and more importantly keeps the game simple and gives you honest shifts. Another player who I am impressed with would be Adam Pelech. The youngest of the Pelech group, he may have the most character out of all of them and it shows in his play. He plays upwards to 30 minutes a game on an Erie team that has only won 5 games all year. He competes hard on every shift, finds his outlets and plays in all situations. Pelech is a virtual shoe-in for the U18’s in Brno this year and should be able to show scouts what he can do on a better team."

BO: "Give us a couple of guys to watch in the second half of the year. Guys who people aren’t really talking about right now, but would could really surprise come draft day."

DB: "I have already mentioned Wigle and I think scouts may warm up to him as Niagara should make a deep run into the playoffs especially with the additions they made at the OHL trade deadline. Another player that sticks out for me is Cody Payne. Similar to Wigle in that he gets buried on a deep Plymouth team, who arguably could be the best team in the OHL. Payne competes, fights and has good hand skills. He was unhappy in Oshawa but has found a role in Plymouth and has played admirably in recent weeks. When Rakell and Miller were out for the WJC he stepped in as the number one centre and did not look out of place."

BO: "Last but not least, how can people purchase your draft guide this year?"

DB: "We are really excited to offer our Draft Package this season which includes a January and March Draft Newsletter and our final Draft Guide in May. Our January newsletter is over 20 pages and includes in depth-scouting reports on over 80 players from the WJC and U17. This guide is available now for people who have bought the package and it is immediately sent to them in pdf form. Our March newsletter will feature top performers from all CHL leagues, USHL, Minnesota HS, NCAA and Europe. Finally our May Draft Guide will have a list of 100 prospects with comprehensive scouting reports on them including 25 Honourable Mentions and Sleepers. We will also rank and rate the top 30 for the 2013 draft and the top 10 for the 2014 draft as everyone is always looking forward to the next crop of prospects. The package can be purchased at :

THIS LINK

Our scouting reports are incredibly in-depth and scratch the surface of the player to paint an accurate portrayal of them. We offer tremendous insight as we have a team of dedicated scouts who actually go to games and understand what to look for in a prospect. McKeen’s Hockey has been producing an annual yearbook since 1994 and have been the Industry leaders in the world of on-line scouting. Our Draft Package is affordably priced at $30, which when broken down is $10 per guide; a fantastic value for the plethora of information that we include.

Thanks to Dave for taking the time to answer some of my questions. I wish I could ask him a million more to be honest. There seems to be so much parity in the draft this year. Something blog friend Dom Tiano talked about recently here.

2010 Draft Picks Still Without an NHL Contract

2012-01-14T10:38:00.002-05:00

It's the new calendar year and the OHL regular season is well into its second half. It's a perfect time to take a look at what 2010 NHL draft selections have yet to receive their NHL contract. Of course, these players must sign before June 1st, or said NHL team relinquishes their rights (and they go back in the draft or become free agents...depending on their birth date).

Phil Lane - Phoenix Coyotes (52nd overall)
Lane has taken great steps forward offensively this year to go with the in your face, physical, grinding style he brings to the table. With all his intangibles, he could make a solid 3rd/4th line guy. I can't see the Yotes passing on signing him.

Brock Beukeboom - St. Louis Blues (from Tampa) (63rd overall)
The Blues acquired his rights in the Eric Brewer deal, and even with all the injury problems he's had, I think he's taken a step forward this year in Niagara. He's refined his physical approach and is much more disciplined. Defensively, he's looked solid with the Dogs and considering he was a piece of the Brewer deal, I can't see the Blues letting him go.

Scott Wedgewood - New Jersey Devils (84th overall)
A no brainer really. One of the top netminders in the OHL and a member of Team Canada. Considering New Jersey has the oldest netminding duo in the NHL, it would be a good idea to continue to add goaltending prospects.

Austin Levi - Carolina Hurricanes (85th overall)
Another I'd be surprised about if he went unsigned. He's got the size, nastiness and mobility you like to see in NHL defenseman and his defensive game has progressed very well in Plymouth.

Julian Melchiori - Winnipeg Jets (87th overall)
Already playing as an overager after getting sent back by the Jets, you have to wonder if he's in their plans (a carry over draft pick from a previous regime). He's got size and is fairly steady defensively, but his offensive game never really developed as one would have hoped.

Brandon Archibald - Columbus Blue Jackets (94th overall)
Another guy who hasn't really developed into the player many thought he'd become. His numbers have regressed every year. But he does have size and mobility on the back end. Still think he's a longshot to get signed.

Stephen Silas - Colorado Avalanche (95th overall)
I've always been a fan of Silas' game and he's had a solid bounce back year after a disappointing one last year. He has two way potential at the next level. But he isn't the biggest guy and there may be some concern as to what type of player he profiles to become at the NHL level.

Geoffrey Schemitsch - Tampa Bay Lightning (96th overall)
Injuries have really hurt Schemitsch's development in the OHL. He's going to need a big second half with the Oshawa Generals (his new team) in order to get signed I think. Another one of those guys, who I'm not really sure what type of role he'd play in the NHL.

Steven Shipley - Buffalo Sabes (98th overall)
Another guy who just hasn't really progressed in the OHL. He's essentially the same player he was when the Sabres drafted him two years ago. Still inconsistent offensively and doesn't use his size away from the puck as much as he should. Depends on whether the Sabres still see potential in him.

Andrew Yogan - New York Rangers (100th overall)
He's finally healthy and it's showing in Peterborough this year. Mind you, he's playing as an overager, but on many nights he's been Peterborough's best forward. The size and skill package is as alluring as it was on draft day and I'd be surprised if the Rangers didn't sign him.

Gregg Sutch - Buffalo Sabres (143rd overall)
Still a strong, physical checker, but the offensive game never really arrived as many thought it would when he was a highly touted Midget player. He can be an entertaining OHL player to watch (I've always been a fan), but I'd be surprised if he got an NHL contract at this point.

Sam Carrick - Toronto Maple Leafs (144th overall)
Has really taken a step forward this year...in nearly every area. He definitely profiles as an NHL player in the Burke system and I'd be surprised if the Leafs let him go.

Joe Rogalski - Pittsburgh Penguins (152nd overall)
Playing as an overager with the Soo, Rogalski hasn't had a terrific year. He can still have some difficulty defensively, and the offensive game hasn't really progressed from the point it was when he was drafted. I think he's a long shot to get signed.

Corey Durocher - Florida Panthers (153rd overall)
Good size, but the offensive game just never really developed to the point I'm sure Florida was hoping for. And he's not a physical guy or a terrific forechecker, so I don't see his game transitioning well to the NHL level. A project pick that just never really materialized.

Reid McNeill - Pittsburgh Penguins (170th overall)
I think he has a better shot than Rogalski of getting signed by the Pens, but McNeill's game hasn't really developed a whole lot either. He's solid defensively and does have some size, but the offensive game hasn't taken any steps forward really. Is he good enough defensively to be a stay at home guy at the NHL level?

Alex Friesen - Vancouver Canucks (172nd overall)
Even if the Canucks sent him back for an overage year, I think they'd be foolish to let Friesen slip away. He profiles well as a checking line center at the next level because of his speed, tenacity and faceoff capabilities.

*of note Rob Flick has to be signed by Chicago, and Tony DeHart has to be signed by the New York Islanders. Both are former OHL'ers playing on AHL contracts this season.

Any predictions as to which of these guys gets a contract by June 1st?

NHL Central Scouting Releases Midterm Rankings

2012-01-11T19:26:00.003-05:00

NHL Central Scouting released it's midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft today.

Below is how players from the OHL stack up.

Skaters
1. Nail Yakupov (1)
2. Radek Faksa (4)
3. Olli Maatta (6)
4. Brendan Gaunce (11)
5. Matt Finn (15)
6. Cody Ceci (16)
7. Slater Koekkoek (17)
8. Daniel Zharkov (19)
9. Gemel Smith (20)
10. Jarrod Maidens (21)
11. Tanner Pearson (22)
12. Scott Kosmachuk (23)
13. Andreas Athanasiou (24)
14. Brady Vail (32)
15. Thomas Wilson (33)
16. Scott Laughton (40)
17. Matia Marcantuoni (42)
18. Trevor Carrick (45)
19. Dane Fox (48)
20. Ben Johnson (49)
21. Dylan Blujus (52)
22. Adam Pelech (54)
23. Artur Gavrus (56)
24. Tanner Richard (58)
25. Garrett Hooey (61)
26. Chris Tierney (63)
27. Michael Clarke (66)
28. Nick Ebert (70)
29. Max Iafrate (78)
30. Connor Brown (85)
31. Jake Dotchin (88)
32. Chris Marchese (97)
33. Kris Kontos (99)
34. Marcus McIvor (113)
35. Troy Donnay (115)
36. Jesse Graham (119)
37. Matthew Campagna (120)
38. Patrick Watling (121)
39. Chase Hatcher (125)
40. Liam Maaskant (134)
41. Brock McGinn (135)
42. Patrik Machac (147)
43. Gianluca Curcuruto (148)
44. Charlie Dodero (152)
45. Josh Anderson (161)
46. Alex Gudbranson (167)
47. Ty Bilcke (169)
48. Joshua Brown (176)
49. Justin Auger (179)
50. Joel Wigle (182)
51. Brandon Devlin (183)
52. Joseph Blandisi (195)
53. Cody Payne (200)
LV - Alex Galchenyuk
LV - Evan McEneny

Goalies
1. Malcolm Subban (1)
2. Matt Murray (2)
3. Jake Paterson (5)
4. Daniel Altshuller (7)
5. Frank Palazzese (11)
6. Matej Machovsky (17)
7. Clint Windsor (20)
8. Michael Houser (22)
9. Jaroslav Pavelka (27)
10. Andrew D'Agostini (29)
11. Mike Morrison (32)
12. Keegan Wilson (35)

Links to the full lists can be found here and here

Some general thoughts...

- Galchenyuk's inclusion as a "limited viewing" candidate...right at the end of the first round of North American skates would suggest that Central Scouting still seems him as a first round talent. Kind of odd though, to be honest. I'd say...either actually rank him...or put him at the bottom of the list with Evan McEneny (also out for the year with a knee injury).

- If Scott Laughton continues to play as he has lately, no way he remains at number 16 for the OHL (and number 40 in NA) on the final list. Way too complete of a player with offensive talent to be that low.

- Nick Ebert's ranking should come as no surprise seeing as CSS lift him outside the top 25 of the OHL on the preliminary list. At this point, I think it's safe to assume Ebert has dropped himself out of contention for the first round.

- Gianluca Curcuruto's ranking really jumped out at me. He's had a disappointing season, but that seems a bit low to me.

- Brandon Devlin also got a low ranking. He's got too much potential at both ends of the ice to be that low IMO.

- Interesting that Eric Locke didn't get ranked. He's number 27 on my list. Locke's lack of ranking just goes to show you how divided the scouting community can be on a player. I know that Redline Report previously had Locke in their first round (not sure where he ranks now on their list).

- The lack of the Rupert twins is also shocking. They may be small, but they've got pretty much everything else going for them. I didn't expect them to be high (with the penchant placed on size on CSS's rankings), but not ranked is odd. I certainly don't agree with it.

- If Justin Auger continues to score goals and put up points, there is absolutely no chance he remains that low. Nearly 6'7 and heating up offensively...sign me up for his hype train.

What are your thoughts?

Game Report: Majors & Battalion from January 6

2012-01-07T10:37:00.004-05:00

Got a chance to see the new look Mississauga Majors play against the (at the time) Eastern Conference leading Brampton Battalion last night.

I say new look Mississauga Majors because the team has undergone quite the dramatic overhaul in the past few days. Gone are veterans (and important members of last year's Memorial Cup squad) J.P. Anderson, Joseph Cramarossa, and Derek Schoenmakers. In are a whole slew of draft picks and Kris Kontos and Brandon Maxwell. This probably isn't the last of the deals too, as I'd expect that the likes of Riley Brace and Jordan Mayer are still on the market.

Some saw these trades as a rebuild. But, really (and as the team's performance last night indicated), it's more of a retool. By trading the above guys, the Majors aren't going to suddenly be the worst team in the Eastern Conference. If anything, I'd argue that Kontos could even be an upgrade over Schoenmakers, while Maxwell and Anderson aren't separated by much at this point. And Cramarossa, thanks to injuries and suspension, has barely played for Missy this year. General Manager (and Head Coach) James Boyd definitely did a great job with these trades so far.

It was definitely a good game with a high intensity level and some great back and forth action. Perhaps most disappointing for me were some of the injuries in the game. Obviously I knew Stuart Percy would be out as he continues to nurse the injuries he suffered thanks to Andrew Crescenzi's hit from behind (sprained wrist mostly). But Brampton was missing two of the guys I was hoping to see most, defenseman Marcus McIvor and rookie forward Brandon Robinson. McIvor is apparently out with a high ankle sprain he got working out, while Robinson remains sidelined with a concussion he incurred at the Under 17's.

The Majors ended up winning the game 3-2 in a shootout, backstopped by some excellent goaltending from Brandon Maxwell in his Mississauga debut. The win moved the Majors ahead of the surging Oshawa Generals (5 game winning streak) into 8th in the East...for now. With all their injuries and trade requests (Austin Watson), it wouldn't surprise me if the Petes were the ones falling out of favor in the Eastern playoff race come March.

Some player reports...

Brampton Battalion

#6 - Dylan Blujus (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
Blujus picked up two assists in the game, although neither was particularly pretty. The first was a point shot that went well wide (not purposely) and came back to Barclay Goodrow for his first goal. The second was off a dump in from the point that Ian Watters got possession of, only to hand off to Goodrow for his second of the game. Blujus does show good smarts on the point and can make a good first pass. But he's definitely not a dynamic player. Defensively, he wasn't noticeable, good or bad. But he didn't really get a ton of ice time 5 on 5, paired with rookie Brenden Miller (while his regular partner Marcus McIvor is out). He did play on the penalty kill though and looked fairly solid there. But he's definitely an awkward skater and could use to be more assertive along the wall and in front of the net in the defensive end...especially given his size.

#10 - Philip Lane (Drafted by Phoenix)
I didn't notice him as much as the last time I saw Brampton play this year, but he definitely looks better this year. His best work was done on the penalty kill, where he was aggressive on the forecheck and did good to make it very hard for Missy to gain the zone. Brampton has the best PK in the league, and there's no doubt he's been a big part of that. He's playing on the team's 2nd line with Patrik Machac and Mitchell Porowski and didn't get a ton of help from his linemates. Even if the stats aren't saying it, it's been a good year for Lane after last year's disappointing effort.

#11 - Patrik Machac (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
Honestly, outside of a nice shootout goal, he was pretty invisible. I saw him earlier in the season and was very impressed, but it appears he's in a bit of a funk. Hasn't scored in his last 14 games. The speed, tenacity, and energy I saw at the beginning of the year just wasn't there.

#16 - Sam Carrick (Drafted by Toronto)
The best player on the ice for Brampton. He looks great...and more focused this year. In the past I've been critical of him because I felt like he was spending too much time running around the ice being a pest and fighting...and not enough time using his offensive gifts. This year when I've seen him, he's managed to find that great balance. Firstly, he looks a lot faster. In the first, he took the puck near Brampton's net, turned on the burners up to the red line, and worked a give and go with Barclay Goodrow that saw Carrick take the puck hard to the net for a scoring opportunity. He used his speed all night to drive the outside, hard to the net and created a lot of scoring chances from it. He worked the boards and the cycle effectively and was a real menace for Mississauga's defenseman. He also looked great defensively and on the penalty kill and was really all over the ice. It's great to see him taking that step forward as last year really wasn't a strong one for him. He finished the game with a secondary assist on the first Goodrow goal.

#23 - Barclay Goodrow (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012, second year eligibility)
I was surprised that Goodrow didn't get drafted in the later rounds last year. Size and a goal scorer's touch are often a good enough combination to have your named called...even if you have some skating concerns like Goodrow. This year Goodrow looks great. It's clear he worked on his skating in the offseason. He's still not a burner, but his acceleration and ability to find holes appears stronger. He's also upped the physical play (absolutely destroying a Majors player...either Kuptsov or Kopstals in the first period). The subtle improvements in his game this year could have him get his named called this time around. The first goal he scored, he took a carom off the end boards and put it home using two whacks at the side of the net. The second was more of a finesse play, taking the puck from behind the net, swinging around and rifling a wrister to the far top corner over Maxwell.

Mississauga Majors

#2 - Dylan DeMelo (Drafted by San Jose)
I thought DeMelo was better with the puck last night, than he has been in my other viewings this year. He only had one minor turnover in the first, and did a pretty good job of handling Brampton's stiff forecheck the rest of the game. He's not afraid to jump up into the rush and had a couple of nice scoring opportunities by being the trailer on the play. I did feel like he struggled defensively though. He and partner Alex Cord had a really tough time containing the Carrick, Goodrow, Watters line and were getting pushed around a lot in the corners and in front of the net. On Goodrow's 2nd goal, DeMelo was caught stuck behind the net after he made a weak effort to try and stop Goodrow's progress. He did earn a secondary assist on Jamie Wise's powerplay marker in the second.

#4 - Trevor Carrick (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
I thought he was the best defenseman on the ice for either team on the night. Saw him earlier in the year, and came away lukewarm. This time, he was dynamite at both end's of the ice. He saw a LOT of playing time too, dare I say the most of any Majors' defenseman. Defensively, he was rock solid. He had a couple of nice hits and defended the front of the net well. I was also impressed with his mobility. In the third, his brother (Sam) got a burst of speed to the outside, but Trevor stayed with him, angled him towards the boards and finished him hard...separating him from the puck. Offensively, he didn't look like a guy with only 4 points on the year. He was up on the rush quite frequently and looked comfortable controlling the point on the powerplay. I know Majors fans have been impressed with him this year (and obviously Central Scouting since they had him high in their preliminary rankings), so perhaps it's a case of stats not telling the whole story.

#13 - Sergey Kuptsov (NHL Draft Eligible in 2013)
A late birthday, Kuptsov isn't eligible until next year. At the beginning of the year, I was incredibly impressed with his play. But the last few times I've seen him, he's been virtually invisible. He was much better last night though. I just wish he got more ice time. Don't really understand why he's not on the powerplay. Regardless, he was very active on the forecheck and is quite a good skater for a big guy. In the third, he came into the Brampton zone hard, forced a turnover in the corner and went straight to the net where he deflected a Jacob Graves point shot. He's definitely a big fan of going hard to the net and I think he's got the hands to be a good goal scorer in this league. James Boyd, get this guy some more ice time! I'm interested to see where his development takes him next year.

#16 - Kristoff Kontos (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
More proof that stats don't tell the whole story. Kontos was the best player on the ice for the Majors. Not sure what happened in Sudbury, but he has to be happy with the fresh start, where he was slotted onto the first line with Riley Brace and Jordan Mayer. The trio had instant chemistry and created a ton of great scoring chances on the night. Kontos looked great working off the rush and used his speed to go wide on Brampton's defenders (showing perhaps a bit of an extra gear I didn't know he had). Had a couple of great chances beating Brampton's defenders to the net. He was also solid along the boards in gaining possession of loose pucks and keeping possession in the offensive zone. One play in particular stands out, where he forced a turnover on the forecheck, kept possession long enough to feed a streaking Brace who created an odd man scoring opportunity. A very impressive debut.

#21 - Scott Teskey (NHL Draft Eligible in 2013)
The Majors first rounder from this year's priority draft, Teskey appears to be coming into his own a little bit. He's shown better and better every time I've seen him. He was playing with Kuptsov (on what appeared to be the team's 3rd line) and the two seem to have good chemistry. Both are very quick and show well on the forecheck. Another guy I wanted to see more, but who received little ice time despite his solid play. He looks like a real bright spot for the Majors moving forward.

#25 - Riley Brace (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012, third year of eligibility)
With the year he's having offensively, I've had people ask me about his chances of being drafted this year as a re-entry (or draft overager, whatever you want to call him). Truthfully, I'm not particularly sure. Brace is a different player this year. The past few years, he's been a hard working, strong two way winger who you could have called a stereotypical grinder. This year, the offensive game has flourished, but has it come at a price? He remains a great penalty killer, but in the times I've seen him this year, I think he's taken a bit of a step backward in his play away from the puck...to increase his offensive output. Take last night for example, for every excellent play he made offensively to create a chance (usually off the rush), he had a turnover in the neutral or defensive zone. At times, I feel like he's trying to do too much offensively (probably because he has to on a team with little difference makers). But he's definitely shown he's got some good hands and offensive instincts this year. He worked very well with Kontos on the night and the two were very dangerous off the rush. It'll be interesting to see if he's still a Major, this time next week.

Midseason Top 30 for the 2012 NHL Draft

2012-01-02T10:31:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year everyone. It's a great time of the year for hockey fans. The World Juniors are in full swing. The Winter Classic is on today. And, as always, Central Scouting will release its midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL draft sometime in the next few weeks.

It's also past the half way point in the OHL season, which makes this a perfect time (and a predictable time) to release my own updated top 30 for the NHL Draft.

For reference sake, here is my early season Top 30 (released in October). Also, just for a little history, here are my midterm rankings for 2011, 2010 & 2009.

Here we go.

1. Nail Yakupov
At this point, Yakupov is the most clear cut top pick from the OHL since Patrick Kane (even Stamkos had Doughty). At the beginning of the season, there were some faint Galchenyuk supporters, but with his injury that now seems like years ago. Yakupov is as dynamic of an offensive talent as you can find in the draft. He is an offensive machine. Really not much more that can be said.

2. Brendan Gaunce
When I had Gaunce this high in October, a lot of people told me it was too high. But he's definitely deserving of it. Gaunce has been incredibly consistent this year and brings everything to the table that you'd want in a center. Size (check). Uses his size (check). Plays both ends of the ice (check). Great hands (check). Offensive feel for the game (check). I could go on. One of the more underrated aspects of Brendan's game is his big shot. Man can this guy shoot the puck. When the Top Prospect's Game skills competition results get released, don't be surprised to see him near the top of the list of the hardest shot. The one drawback I keep hearing about Gaunce is his skating. It's true, he's not the fastest guy on the ice. But he's efficient. His brother Cameron was a worse skater when he was drafted, and he managed to improve his footwork a lot over his OHL career. No reason to think that Brendan can't.

3. Cody Ceci
Easily one of the most improved players in the OHL this season. The biggest contribution to that is probably confidence. Ceci takes charge out there offensively now and isn't afraid to take chances offensively. A lot of people were actually calling for him to make Team Canada after a solid camp. His defensive game has grown a lot too. Still more growing to do, but he definitely has to the potential to develop into a premier two way defenseman. I'm sure a lot of people would love to see him use his size more defensively to punish people. But that's not his game. Although there is no question that the size will help him make a quicker transition to the NHL. When you've got a 6'3, 220lbs powerplay QB, you know you're doing alright.

4. Alex Galchenyuk
There's talk of his return sometime for the playoffs (or at least potentially for the Under 18's). This would be huge for Alex. I'm hesitant to believe it, but you never know. As expected, he's starting to slip in the rankings now, as he drifts farther from people's memory banks. It hurts even more that his last performance was the Ivan Hlinka where he was (apparently) disappointing. Talented offensive centerman don't grow on trees and you just know someone will take him high, as long as his knee tests out alright.

5. Radek Faksa
In a lot of ways, Faksa is a very similar player to Gaunce. Big, offensively talented center who plays both ends of the ice. So what separates him from Gaunce then? IMO, Gaunce's hockey sense is just a tad above Faksa's. Gaunce is also a more physical player and his two way game probably translates a little better at the NHL level. But, conversely, I think Faksa is a better puck carrier and skater. He's very aggressive in driving to the net with the puck and has a lot of success doing it. He's been a great find for Kitchener this year and has probably been the team's best and most consistent forward.

6. Matt Finn
Before the start of the season, Yahoo's Neate Sager asked me "Who do you think are some breakout candidates for the draft?" (his, as always, great article is here). Finn was one of the ones I suggested. But I also suggested him with a warning. That I was worried he'd try to do too much offensively, just as Scott Harrington did with London last year (and it hurt his draft stock). The Storm needed him to step up, and he has done just that. Considered a terrific defensive player, Finn's offensive game has exploded this year. He's already a legitimate two way defender. The only real drawback is his size, which is only average. But he's finally starting to turn some heads and is starting to creep into the first round of a lot of lists, where he belongs.

7. Olli Maatta
Maatta is an excellent defense prospect for the NHL. I really like his game. I'm not sure he has as much potential as some of the other guys slated for the first round, but he's one of those safe bets to play in the league. He's got size. He's a great skater. He plays both ends. He's also got a bit of a nasty side to him, that I'd love to see used a little more consistently. He recently suffered a concussion at the WJC's (on the receiving end of a Boone Jenner hit), so we'll have to monitor that. Hopefully he returns to the London line up soon and it's not one of those lingering concussions.

8. Malcolm Subban
Perhaps the first real surprise on my list, I think Subban deserves to be up this high. It's tough to include goaltenders in the loop with position players for lists like this. But I think Subban deserves consideration for the mid to late first round, and that's where this ranking puts him. He's as pure an athlete as you can find in the goaltending position. He's raw, and perhaps a tad unorthodox in his delivery, but he gets the job done. The guy has been just tremendous this year and has the Bulls in the hunt for the division and the conference (a place not many people had them). I think he's definitely a legitimate goaltending prospect and probably the best the OHL has produced for the draft in quite some time. In terms of potential and ability, I'd certainly take Subban over Visentin and Thomas McCallum (among first rounders from the O in recent years) at the same age.

9. Slater Koekkoek
Another victim of the injury curse that has fallen upon the 2012 Draft, Koekkoek's return to play this year is up in the air. He dislocated his shoulder at the end of November, and a recent MRI apparently showed some significant deep tissue damage. If he requires surgery, he'll be out for the rest of the season. At the very least, his participation in the Top Prospect's Game looks like a severe long shot. Koekkoek is the classic case of potential. He has some great nights, and some bad nights. And while he might have a ways to go before becoming an NHL defenseman, his package of two way play and dynamic ability make him a serious candidate for the top half of the first round.

10. Daniil Zharkov
Since returning from a broken collarbone suffered in the preseason, this Import has done nothing but climb the charts. And with good reason. Zharkov is an absolutely dynamic goal scorer. His puck handling ability and speed make him a threat to score off the rush. And his shot and strength make him a dangerous threat in the slot and near the crease. Best of all, he's 6'3, 200lbs. He's not afraid to use that size too and will compete away from the puck. At times, I think he can overhandle the puck, and he'll need work defensively. But his goal scoring ability, paired with his size and speed package make him a very intriguing package.

11. Scott Laughton
After such a weak start to the season (what Generals player can't we say that about), Laughton has been absolutely sensational lately. In his last 13 games, he has 5 goals and 11 assists. In a lot of ways, Laughton reminds me of former Kitchener Ranger Mike Richards at the same age. He competes hard at both ends of the ice and wears his heart on his sleeve. The hard work away from the puck has finally started paying off in the recent month or so, as the above stats suggest. I'd be surprised if he doesn't keep up this type of play for the rest of the season, especially now that the rest of his teammates are starting to get hot too.

12. Gemel Smith
Whenever I see Smith play, I always think of Thomas the Tank Engine. Smith, truly is the little engine that could. He's always one of the most noticeable players on the ice because of his compete level. Not the biggest (although not the smallest either, at pushing 5'11), Smith brings pretty much everything you could ask for...to the table. Last year, I wasn't certain he had the puck skill and offensive creativity to put up these types of numbers, but that certainly isn't the case. He's proved this year that not only does he have skill with the puck, but he has the hockey sense and drive to make anyone he plays with better. There's no doubt in my mind that Smith will develop into one of those guys every team just hates to play against at the next level.

13. Nick Ebert
I'm not ready to drop him as much as some of my contemporaries have, but I do admit that I've been disappointed with his play this season. To me, he screams of someone who's been under the microscope for too long and as such is trying to do too much. Not to mention, he had a lot of pressure put on him this season, in replacing the legend that is Ryan Ellis. When you watch him play, it really is a lot of mental errors that look like a guy trying to do too much. Bad pinches. Bad passes up the middle of the ice. Trying to force things that aren't there. He's also gotten away from some of the things that made him a dependable player in his own end, like big hits and tenacity in front of the net. But he's started to look a little better and more comfortable the past month or so. Too much potential to right him off yet.

14. Scott Kosmachuk
As I said earlier, I'm not entirely sure why Kosmachuk hasn't been getting the type of praise he deserves for this draft. He's been an incredibly consistent performer for a Guelph team a lot of people had written off before the season had even begun (myself included). At this point, he's more of a complimentary offensive player, but he's got enough offensive skill to be a game changer. He really is a complete offensive player, and is the type of guy who likes to get his nose dirty for goals. Every time I've seen Guelph play, I've come away impressed with his effort and skill combination.

15. Jarrod Maidens
This is higher than I had Maidens before (20th in October), but still not as high as some have him. I actually do really like Maidens as an NHL prospect. I'm just still not quite sure what separates him from someone like Guelph's Scott Kosmachuk (who I've got ahead of Maidens). He's one of those guys that's always in the right spot at the right time, which speaks volumes to him thinking the game at a higher level than his peers. He's just a solid player. But I'm not sure I see the upside in him to put him any higher than this. He's also been out since the end of November with mysterious "flu like symptoms." Makes you wonder what the real issue is. Could be mono (which always strikes down a few draft eligibles each year). Hopefully not a concussion. Maidens is the type of guy who could really use the Top Prospect's Game to elevate his status, so hopefully he returns before that.

16. Andreas Athanasiou
There is no doubting that Athanasiou has a ton of potential as a goal scorer at the next level. He has tremendous hands, a great skating stride, and a good shot. But the consistency issues are a real concern IMO. Not enough strides have been made in his play away from the puck to warrant placing him higher. At this point, he's that true boom or bust selection. One game he looks like a million bucks. The next he's invisible. At the next level, he's going to have to get his nose dirty to score goals. That's not to say that he's afraid of using his speed to drive hard to the net with the puck. That wouldn't be the case. What I'm saying is that right now his game is manufactured around his speed and ability to carry the puck. If he's going to score at the next level, there has to be more than that.

17. Adam Pelech
I feel bad for Adam Pelech. It truly is tough to play on a REALLY terrible team in your draft year. Less scouts come to see you because they don't really want to see other high end players play (or beat up on) your team. But he's actually been a real bright spot since he returned to the line up from a wrist injury suffered in the opening week. He's got 10 points in 14 games on the season, and almost miraculously, is only a -2. On a team populated with guys at -30, that's pretty crazy good...especially considering how much Pelech plays. He's a solid two way guy with size and good mobility (most definitely better than Matt or Michael at the same age). Can we pencil this guy in on Team Canada's Under 18 team right now?

18. Thomas Wilson
Not too often you see a guy with 5 goals on the year rated this high. But Wilson makes a very intriguing pro prospect. He's that rare "pure" power forward prospect. Offensive potential, size, and pure and utter physical domination. Even if he hasn't been scoring much (only 2 assists in his last 14 games), he does other things that make him a valuable player. And don't let the stats fool you, he does have offensive potential. He still plays on a scoring line in Plymouth (frequently paired with Mitchell Heard and a bevy of wingers). Now if he continues this offensive funk into March, we'll be talking about a ranking drop. But for now, he does enough good things (paired with his size) to warrant a semi high ranking.

19. Brady Vail
Vail is one of those stereotypical "he was born to be a great third liner" types people pigeon hold every draft year. Vail is already a very complete player, seeing ice time in all situations for Windsor. His defensive game is very polished for such a young player and he's often one of Bob Boughner's shutdown forwards. His offensive game has really exploded the past couple of months, as he's averaged nearly a point per game in his last twenty (9 goals, 9 assists). This definitely suggests that his offensive potential shouldn't be underrated. He can put the puck in the net and actually had a good shot and goal scoring instincts. He's the type of guy who always goes higher in the NHL draft than what his ranking from people like me would suggest.

20. Gianluca Curcuruto
I really thought Curcuruto's offensive game would blossom this year. He's actually been as big of a disappointment as Nick Ebert for me. Defensively, he remains solid. He's even stepped up things in the physicality department. But the offense just hasn't really been there. In fact, he doesn't really even take many chances and at times, looks content to play that stay at home role. With Ryan Sproul out with a broken jaw, the Hounds are going to need Curcuruto to step it up in the puck carrying and powerplay quarterbacking areas, so it'll be interesting to see how he responds.

21. Dane Fox
It seems a lot of people are a little anxious at putting Fox higher considering some of the things that happened off the ice in the past year. He was sent home late last year but returned for the playoffs. Then he was sent home again during training camp this year. But on the ice, Fox has been a tremendously consistent performer for London. He's a hard working, agitator type who actually has a lot of skill with the puck. He's a tough guy to play against because he'll shut you down at one end, but then come right back and score against you at the other. Offensively, he's patient with the puck and really sees the ice well in setting up his teammates. There's definitely a lot to like about his play on the ice, if you can be comfortable with the things that have happened off it.

22. Matia Marcantuoni
All the talk and spotlight has been on Nick Ebert as the faller of the draft from the OHL, but IMO, no player has fallen farther than Rangers forward Marcantuoni. He's continued to have injury problems this year and it has really effected his game. It's caused him to be more tentative away from the puck and made him a more one dimensional player. Problem is, that one dimension also hasn't really been clicking from him this year. Rangers fans seem to attribute that from a lack of drive towards the net, and in my viewings, I'd probably agree with that. He's made the shift to the wing in recent weeks, perhaps to take some pressure off him and make the a game a little more simple. Hopefully he can stay healthy and turn things around in the second half, because he obviously has the potential to be much better than he has been.

23. Dylan Blujus
Blujus has had an excellent start to the season offensively. The 6'3, 200lbs defender is definitely an interesting prospect. He's kind of awkward on the ice, which has a lot to do with his skating inefficiencies. He definitely will need work on his mobility, as it can affect him at both ends of the ice. I'd also love to see him be more physical in the defensive end and use that size. But there are a lot of positives. He's got a big shot from the point which he gets through to the net quite well. He also makes a good first pass and makes solid decisions with the puck and when to pinch. Recently I heard someone refer to Blujus as a "Moneyball hockey player." For those unfamiliar with the baseball term or novel, it was meant to suggest that Blujus isn't the prettiest on the ice, but he is very effective. For that reason, he's kind of a hard guy to peg and probably explains his lack of true support for this draft (such as his exclusion from the Top prospect's Game).

24. Matt Murray
The Jack Campbell trade certainly hasn't helped his cause, taking away crucial playing time from him. But Murray certainly hasn't played as bad as his numbers would suggest. There's no doubt that with his size in net (6'4), he's going to draw interest from NHL teams. On a lot of nights, the Hounds defense just hasn't done enough for him, which would explain some of the absolute stinkers he's endured this season (he's given up 6 goals or more on 5 occasions already). The Top Prospect's Game will be a good opportunity for Murray to show what he's capable of.

25. Michael Clarke
Even if he's gone ice cold as of late (1 goal, 1 assist in his last 11 games), I think he's still a solid prospect. He plays both ends of the ice well (like fellow Spitfire Brady Vail) and is a very smart player. But there's no doubt that he'll have to start putting up some points again to keep this high on scouting lists (heck he was in the first round of some lists a month or so ago). This is because he's not the world's best skater, and because he's not a huge guy (5'11). That lack of size combined with a lack of elite skating talent, can sometimes be a kiss of death for draft prospects. Hopefully he can pick it up a bit.

26. Brandon Devlin
Back to back Spits, Devlin is an interesting case. He was jettisoned by the Colts because he couldn't crack their line up on a consistent basis (even though he often looked solid IMO), he's become a workman for Windsor. Devlin is a very well rounded defender who does pretty much everything well. Since joining Windsor, he's been a more physical defender, which is great to see. He's also been taking more chances offensively and isn't afraid to jump up into the play. I think he's got a lot of potential in this league and should make a quality draft pick somewhere in the middle rounds.

27. Eric Locke
The newest member of the Saginaw Spirit (in a deal for Ryan O'Connor and Anthony Camara) has had a bit of a tough year so far. He's battled injuries (a concussion and a knee injury, separately), and just never found a rhythm in Barrie's crowded line up. He was finally starting to get going in December (4 goals, 4 assists in his last 10 games) and now gets traded to Saginaw. There is no doubt that Saginaw will present him with a greater opportunity to get ice time, especially on the powerplay. Locke is a quality offensive player who is very good skater and can really put the puck in the net, but injuries, in combination with his lack of size, have him barely in my top 30.

28. Daniel Altshuller
Altshuller's season hasn't really gone according to plan so far. Brought in by Oshawa to be the team's starter in their quest for an Eastern Conference title, the rookie seemed a little overwhelmed to start the year. This is especially true considering how cold the rest of the team was in front of him. But he's slowly earning the starter's job back and has been very good over his last six games (3-3, .926Sv%). He's obviously got a lot of potential, so hopefully he can get himself in a consistent groove for the rest of the year (as long as the Generals don't trade him...or trade for an experienced starter).

29. Max Iafrate
Iafrate is another guy who has improved a lot as the year has gone on. He's worked hard to simplify his game, and has gained a lot of confidence in his offensive game. He's definitely got a lot of good things going for him. He's big. He's mobile. He's mean. And his offensive game shows promise. And don't forget the bloodlines (although let's hope he stays away from Al's mullet look). Considering how much he's improved already this year, I'm interested to see where his game takes him.

30. Ryan Rupert
I really did think about having the Rupert's share a spot on this list again (as I did in October), but I figured I'd ignore the cop out. So, if someone had a gun to my head and made me pick one, it'd probably be Ryan. But maybe that's only because brother Matt has been out for the past few weeks with a shoulder injury (so he's not fresh in my head). I think I prefer Ryan because he's a tad meaner, and I think he might have a better all around offensive game. But both twins provide a lot of spark and offense, despite their lack of size.

Honorable Mention

Matt Rupert
Jesse Graham
Artur Gavrus (he'd be on the list if he can come back from his concussion)
Matthew Campagna
Chris Tierney
Marcus McIvor
Ben Johnson
Kris Kontos
Zach Leslie
Justin Auger
Joseph Blandisi

Trade Deadline Preview

2011-12-26T09:12:00.003-05:00

I thought about doing this article as a Sunday Top 10, but decided against it. Mostly because the trading situation in the OHL this season is bound to be incredibly complicated and difficult to predict. There are as many as 10 teams who could be legitimate sellers, depending on what direction they take. Just the same, some of those very teams could actually end up as buyers (like the Oshawa Generals or Owen Sound Attack). Too many teams on the bubble, which also leaves us with an interesting buying scenario. The parity in the league is quite fascinating.

As any of you who follow the OHL know, trading can also be complicated due to the restrictions on overage players. Teams can dress only three every game. So the first thing I'll breakdown is who has the room to acquire an overager. RED means they won't (in all likelihood) be acquiring an overager. Green means they could. Only going with possible buyers here.

Barrie Colts - They have an excess of overagers, but really Daniel Erlich and Colin Behenna are the only key ones. Even if Norm Ezekiel is a favourite of Dale Hawerchuk, he's by no means a surefire OHL'er.

Belleville Bulls - Three overagers playing a key role already, including captain Luke Judson.

Brampton Battalion - They'll already have too many when Ian Watters returns from injury.

Kitchener Rangers - Three solid OA's including captain Mike Catenacci.

London Knights - Playing with only one overager right now, the newly converted to defense Colin Martin. If they decide to buy, they've got a ton of wiggle room.

Niagara IceDogs - Already have three of the best overage forwards in the league.

Oshawa Generals - Just acquired Peter Hermenegildo to fill their remaining OA spot.

Ottawa 67's - Are currently carrying three OA's, but only Marc Zanetti is a truly worthy one. Ben Dubois is useful too, but Daniel Broussard is expendable.

Owen Sound Attack - Three solid OA's, but Scott Stajcer is still a possible trade target. Too complicated to give a green light.

Peterborough Petes - Yogan, West, and Jasper make up a solid OA group.

Plymouth Whalers - Maybe the best OA group in the league with Bathgate, Devane, and Schmitz.

Sarnia Sting - Acquiring Brett Thompson earlier this season maximized their OA situation.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - Three contributing OA's, but if an upgrade over Mike Schwindt is available, they could likely be enticed.

Examining the above would suggest that, at the very most, it is possible that 5 overagers could be moved between now and the deadline. Let's look at some names.

Mike Cazzola - Injuries have killed him this year, and he's out again with a broken wrist. But he's scheduled to come back after the Xmas holiday. He's a very talented offensive player and would generate interest if the price tag isn't too high (because of the injury woes this year). He'd look great in a place like Ottawa, where he could help provide secondary scoring.

Stephen Gaskin - Playoff experience with Barrie two years ago, Gaskin is a solid defender who could provide leadership to a defense that may need it. He might look good in London, or as an upgrade over Schwindt in the Soo.

Tyler J. Brown - Solid two way player who's upped the offensive ante this year. He'd look good in any of the above destinations (except London where he's ineligible to go due to a trade restriction).

Andy Andreoff - ONLY if the Generals are selling, which I don't think they will. But obviously he'd provide a huge boost to any of the above lineups, especially a team like London who could use the size.

Scott Stajcer - None of the above teams need a goaltender, which makes trading Stajcer hard. Which is probably why it hasn't happened yet. Oshawa is the most talked about destination, but they'd have to move a guy like Andreoff or Maggio first (or in exchance for Stajcer).

Josh Shalla - I'm not convinced Saginaw is selling because their playing well again. But if they do, Shalla's goalscoring talents would look great in any of the above destinations, especially in a place like the Soo...who desperately need goal scoring help.

Josh McFadden - McFadden's pure offensive ability make him a terrific powerplay QB and an effective 5 on 5 player if paired with a stay at home guy. Doubt he moves though.

Adrian Robertson - Even if he's become the whipping boy of Spits fans, he's still a solid defenseman who's being asked to do too much right now. He can play in all situations and has the playoff experience with Windsor from last year. He'd be a perfect pick up for a team like Barrie who could use another experienced defender.

Outside of OA's, you've got the three BIG guns on bad teams that everyone has been talking about moving for the past few months.

Greg McKegg - With how bad Erie is this year, they'd be absolutely insane to not move McKegg. In return, they'd likely get at least one very solid young player to help build a solid young core for the future.

Ryan Spooner - Ditto for Spooner in Kingston. However, his bout with mono complicates things. It might have lowered his trade value a bit, but he should still bring back a King's ransom.

Brandon Saad - Again, I'm not convinced Saginaw is a seller, but if they are, Saad is a damn attractive piece for any team to add. So long as he can avoid the injury bug like he hasn't been able to this year so far.

Then we have two teams who COULD be sellers...or even buyers. The Mississauga Majors got off to such a strong start, but have floundered lately (more like come back to Earth). But they have some solid pieces if they want to start the youth movement early. While the Oshawa Generals have been the biggest disappointment in the league. They too have some VERY attractive pieces, if they decide to start a rebuild (already mentioned Andy Andreoff above).

Riley Brace - While he's cooled lately, Brace has had an excellent season and has turned himself into one of the better two way forwards in the league. He should definitely be back for an overage season, making him a guy who should have a fairly high price tag.

Joseph Cramarossa - While he's a 92 and a recent draftee, I'd be surprised if he wasn't back in the OHL next year. Like Brace, he's a solid two way forechecker and a guy who could definitely help fill out a line up in a second or third line role.

J.P. Anderson - The market for goaltenders isn't exactly there right now. But if made available, I'm sure he'd generate interest...such as if Oshawa decides to buy.

Devante Smith-Pelly - Does he go back to the NHL after the WJC's? Or return to Mississuaga? Who really knows. If he does come back to the OHL (If I was a betting man, I'd bet against it), he would likely be among the most attractive trade pieces in the league.

Christian Thomas - Dynamic scorer who finally turned a corner in December. He could bring back quite the load in a trade.

We'll all know soon enough, when the trade deadline hits us in a few weeks. Any predictions from the readers out there?

2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters Announced

2011-12-15T18:31:00.002-05:00

As the headline suggests, the participants of the 2012 CHL Top Prospects Game were announced today.

You can find the rosters HERE.

Remarkably enough, the OHL has 21 players involved in the prestigious event. That's just over 50%. Just for comparison sake, The QMJHL has 9 players involved, while the WHL has 10. Pretty crazy stuff.

Really no surprises on the roster. Great to see Tanner Pearson get an invite.

Which team looks stronger on paper? Orr or Cherry?

Team Canada Named for the 2012 WJC's

2011-12-14T16:10:00.002-05:00

The final cuts were made this morning, leaving us with the finalized Team Canada roster for the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships.

The roster includes 10 OHL Players. You can find it HERE

What makes the selection camp and team unveiling so exciting, is the unpredictability about it. Three guys I had identified as longshots prior to camp (Wedgewood, Jenner, Harrington), all cracked the final roster.

Congrats to all those that made it and good luck in Edmonton/Calgary. Be sure to tune in on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) when Canada takes on Finland to open the tournament!

Team Canada Selection Camp - What are the Odds?

2011-12-04T13:40:00.002-05:00

The selection camp for the 2012 version of Team Canada at the World Junior Championships will begin next week. Last week, Hockey Canada announced the roster of those who will be competing for spots (HERE).

So let's take a closer look at it. Who has the best odds of making this team? Who are the longshots? Let's not forget that there are no locks. Anybody who follows the World Juniors knows that nobody's spot on this team is guaranteed.

Virtual Locks (While nobody is a lock, these guys have to be considered as close as you can get).

Mark Visentin
Some may be surprised to see Visentin in this category. But here's my thinking. Visentin has a lot of things going against him. He hasn't played terrific this year. And everyone still blames the Gold medal game collapse on him from last year. But let's not forget he was the team's starter last year. And he was the goaltender of the year in the OHL last season. He is talented. And as rough as his start to this season has been, he's been much better lately (.927 Sv % and a 5-2 record in his last 7). And if there is one thing that Mark Visentin is, it's mentally tough. He's a very focused young man and he'll be determined to get that starter's job again and prove all of his doubters wrong.

Dougie Hamilton
Not only does he have a terrific chance of making this team, he has a chance to be the team's top defenseman. Hamilton is having an absolutely fantastic year. He's running away with the defenseman scoring race in the OHL...and he's tied for 6th in the entire OHL in scoring. He's also stepped up his defensive game and is playing like a man among boys out there on most nights. His fantastic mobility and ability to play both ways make him a terrific option from the back end.

Mark Scheifele
Good enough to start the year in the NHL...good enough for team Canada? That argument likely holds some ground. But you can add to the fact that since returning to the OHL, Scheifele is up near the top of the league in points per game and has looked fantastic at both ends of the ice. His versatility makes him that much stronger of an option. He's a likely fit for one of the top two lines, but his strong play away from the puck also makes him an option on a checking line should Hockey Canada feel that they have too many pure scoring options.

Ryan Strome
I'm not sure he's as much of a lock for this team as many people are suggesting, but he's still a pretty good bet. He hasn't had a terrific year thus far and it appears that he hasn't made the significant strides from last year that many expected. He's going to have to win a spot on one of the team's top two lines to be effective. One thing that is heavily in his favor is that he is fully capable of playing the wing, and looks comfortable there at times...which is more than you can say for some centerman.

Good Chance

Ryan Murphy
He's back...and he's dangerous. Murphy's puck carrying ability and offensive production from the back end would be a huge boost to Team Canada. Now that he's fully healthy, a lot of people are just assuming he'll be on the team and probably should be on my above list of virtual locks. But let's not forget that Hockey Canada has never been the biggest fan of Murphy and that his offensive style can be a bit risky at times. When you have guys like Hamilton, Nathan Beaulieu, Brandon Gormley, Ryan Murray, etc, who can play both ends of the ice equally, you wonder if Hockey Canada is interested in a purely offensive guy? Or at least...a guy still developing his defensive game.

Jamie Oleksiak
From what I've seen of him this year, I'm really not sure he deserves to be in this category. But I've got him here based on what I'm hearing. And Hockey Canada apparently loves this guy and the simplicity with which he plays the game. He's huge and can actually skate, which makes him a potential defensive stalwart at the international level. He's also smart in using his size, which makes him less of a penalty risk than some of the hulking defenders Canada has brought in the past.

Freddie Hamilton
I think Hamilton has a terrific chance of making this team because of his versatility. He has the hands and offensive smarts to play in the top 6, but he could also be a terrific role player for this team on the checking lines. Hockey Canada has traditionally loved these types. Pair this with his excellent performance at the Subway Super Series event, and I think Hamilton could definitely be on the final roster.

Tanner Pearson
He's got a better chance than people are giving him credit for. And I'd absolutely love to see him make the team because of the story it would supply. Pearson has become just a terrific offensive player. When he's on the ice, things happen. Plain and simple. He'd also make the team's powerplay that much stronger. Couple that with the chemistry he has with Mark Scheifele and I think we could easily see him, not just on the team, but on a scoring line.

Christian Thomas
Thomas has a lot of things going for him. He's obviously one of the best pure goal scorers at the camp and could easily slot on one of the team's top lines. But he's also a tenacious forechecker and energy guy who could just as easily slot in on one of the team's checking lines to provide speed and energy. Again, his versatility makes him a very attractive option. He hasn't had a terrific year, with his slow start and suspension, but he's picking it up as of late (with 6 goals and 4 assists in his last 5 games).

Tyler Toffoli
Toffoli is an interesting case. On a lot of prognostications for the team, I'm seeing him on the first or second line...or I'm not seeing him on the roster at all. I'd say that's probably pretty accurate. Toffoli is what he is. He can score with the best of them, but he's not someone who will likely find success on your checking line. So he'll need a strong camp to make this team (but then again, who doesn't).

Longshots

Scott Wedgewood
There is no doubt that the goaltending spots for Team Canada this year are wide open. But there is also no doubt that Wedgewood is the biggest underdog among those attending. He's a solid goaltender and he's been better as of late (after starting the year slow). But I just can't help but think he could be a bit over his head.

Cody Ceci
Ceci is a terrific NHL prospect for this year's draft. He's also older than most of the other 2012 eligibles (with a 1993 birth date). But I just don't think he's ready for the prime time yet. His defensive game has come a long way, but it's still developing. And offensively, there are better options right now...or at least more experienced options (like Ryan Murphy).

Scott Harrington
I'll relate Harrington's situation to Ceci's. Harrington is having a solid bounce back year, as he's simplified his game again and found his confidence. But he won't be on this team for offensive reasons. At this point, he's strictly a defense first guy. But does Canada have better (and bigger) options for the stay at home spots. Or do they have more well rounded guys who can play defense, but also chip in offensively. I would say yes.

Boone Jenner
Jenner is a solid checking line center. But he's playing for a position on the team that is the hardest to achieve. Canada is always deep at the center position and despite all things Jenner can do for you...there are currently guys available who can do more and have more experience.

Ryan Spooner
I think he's probably less of a longshot than the guys I've got listed ahead of him. I originally had him in my "Good chance" category...but I switched him at the last second. Why, you ask? I think Spooner is a bit of a tweener on this team. He's been red hot lately, but I think there are guys who are better offensively available to this team. And while he works hard away from the puck, I think there are guys available who are better defensively and away from the puck. In essence, he seems like a guy without a role.

What do you think?

Sunday Top 10 - Draft Players to Watch

2011-11-27T09:22:00.004-05:00

Today's Top 10 looks at some under the radar draft eligible players to watch as we inch closer to the half way point of the 2011/2012 OHL season.

Last month, I released my Early Season Top 30 for the 2012 Draft. It's definitely safe to say that in just a month, that list has changed a lot. But you'll have to wait until the new Year for an abridged version (my midseason list).

Until then, the following 10 guys (actually 11, I'm cheating today) are starting to make a name for themselves. And none of them appeared on my early season top 30. Just a year ago, the likes of Ryan Sproul, Andrew Fritsch, and Alan Quine did not appear on my early season top 30...and all three were NHL draft picks (Sproul and Quine inside the first three rounds). So there's a great chance that a couple of these guys will end up being significant NHL draft picks.

Here's the list (in alphabetical order)...

Joseph Blandisi - Owen Sound Attack
An OHL rookie, Blandisi earned his spot on the Attack roster this season by showcasing a work ethic on the ice similar to that of some other great Attack forwards in recent years (Gemel Smith, Mike Halmo, Andrew Shaw, etc). He's not the biggest guy, but he's always in on the play and works hard at both ends of the ice. Despite not getting a ton of offensive responsibility this season, he's currently 8th in scoring for the Attack. Instead of centering the third line, he's actually seen some time on the wing with Dan Catenacci and Jarrod Maidens of late, and he's got 2 goals and 2 assists in his last three games. He's definitely got some offensive ability and the hands to score in close. If he continues to get a chance on a top line, he could end up with a nice little season.

Brandon Devlin - Windsor Spitfires
How do the Spitfires keep stealing players from other teams? I never understood why the Colts weren't playing Devlin (or playing him at wing), because every time I saw him on defense, he looked strong. No co-incidence that since moving to Windsor he's blossoming into a solid two-way defenseman. I think he has the make up and skill set to develop into a very strong defensive first guy. He moves well and defends off the rush well. He's gaining more confidence in his physical game. And he can make a solid first pass out of his zone. As he gets more comfortable, it's definitely possible we see him taking more chances offensively. But with how many minutes he's playing in Windsor right now, he won't be under the radar for long.

Artur Gavrus - Owen Sound Attack
He's become "the guy Tie Domi's kid rocked," but that shouldn't be why we were talking about him. It's unfortunate for Gavrus that people are only talking about him now because of his injury, and not because of his offensive creativity and ability. For my money, Gavrus has scored the best goal in the league thus far, against the Spitfires in October. (FIND THE GOAL HERE, Watch the video labeled "Attack Beat Spits"). Offensively, he has it all. He's got speed to burn. He's not big, but he's certainly not afraid of the front of the net. And he has very good hands that allow him to make moves (like the above), that create time and space for himself and his linemates. Here's hoping he recovers from his concussion soon and returns to the ice in full form.

Max Iafrate - Kitchener Rangers
Iafrate has the toolbox to develop into a great stay at home defenseman. He's got the size, intensity and physical ability, and the skating ability to be a dominant defensive first guy. The problem, thus far, is that people compare him to his father. Thus far into his OHL career, Iafrate has looked like a guy without a real role. He's been trying to use his skating ability and shot to be an offensive guy, but it hadn't been working out. Since coming to Kitchener, Steve Spott has had Iafrate working on being a defensive first guy and there have been massive improvements to his game. He's looking more and more comfortable, and that confidence has translated to his offensive game of late. He's picking his spots better to turn on the offensive game and making better decisions with the puck in his own end. Now all he needs is a mullet.

Ben Johnson - Windsor Spitfires
What a difference a month can make for an OHL rookie. Johnson is proof that it can take a little while to get used to the speed and strength of this game. It took him 24 games to score his first OHL goal, but since he's got 4 goals and 4 assists in his last 5 games. He's got a ton of speed to burn and is starting to gain the confidence to utilize it offensively, as opposed to just being a forechecker. Johnson is also a complete player who thrives on the physical game. He's developed some massive chemistry with Alex Khokhlachev in the past two weeks, so look for him to continue to put up points.

Kristoff Kontos - Sudbury Wolves
Another player with strong NHL bloodlines (son of former Ranger and King, Chris Kontos), has been playing well with the Sudbury Wolves this year. A late 1993, Kontos' problem has been consistency. He started well last year too, but then fizzled. This year, he had a terrific October (averaging a point per game). But now he's only got 2 goals in his last 11 games and has gone cold again. His offensive production is directly correlated to his determination away from the puck. He'll need to find a way to get things back on track offensively and become more of a consistent front of the net presence, using his size to put points on the board.

Zack Leslie - Guelph Storm
A talented offensive defenseman, Leslie has slowly established his place on Guelph's blueline. He's now playing a top four role and seeing time with both Matt Finn and Andrey Pedan on the powerplay. He's also improving his defensive game to the point where he's seeing some penalty kill time. He skates well, has some size and can move the puck. All things NHL teams love in their blueliners. The key will be confidence in rushing the puck and taking some chances, without sacrificing the work he's put in to improve play in his own end. He has six points in November and should continue to put up some points so long as he sees powerplay time.

Eric Locke - Barrie Colts
It's been a tough season for the speedy Colt's winger. After such a promising year last year, which saw him put up over 50 points between Windsor and Barrie and play a key role for Canada at the Under 18's, Locke has been injury riddled this season. He started the year on the shelf with a concussion. Then returned, scored two goals, and injured his knee. He's only recently returned again, hopefully for good this time. Since returning from the knee injury, he's got only one assist in three games, but he's seeing a lot of ice time. With Barrie's strong supporting cast, it's only a matter of time until Locke starts scoring again. The question surrounding Locke is, just how much does his speed and skating ability offset his lack of size? I know Redline Report are HUGE fans of his (I think they have him in their first round), but I haven't seen anyone else with him nearly that high. Locke is definitely a wild card.

Warren Steele - Kingston Frontenacs
After starting the year so poorly, the Fronts are actually playing .500 hockey of late. Steele has been a huge part of Kingston's improvement. He's playing a ton of minutes as (essentially) an OHL rookie and looks like a four year vet on most nights. He seems to be one of those jack of all trades guys. Can do a little bit of everything and do it well. The key for Steele, to earn serious draft attention, will be to take his offensive game to the next level. He's not a big guy, so putting up some more points on the board will be key. Working under Todd Gill can't be a bad thing, for how many years he patrolled an NHL blueline.

Brady Vail - Windsor Spitfires
Vail has been a model of consistency this year. His tenacity with and without the puck is contagious, and whatever line he's on, always seems to be among the best on the night. He definitely profiles as a very strong two way winger at the next level and is starting to really increase his physical output as he gains more and more confidence. With guys like Vail, Clarke, Johnson, among others, playing so well, it's no coincidence that a Windsor rebuild isn't exactly the same as any other team's rebuild in this league.

Daniil Zharkov - Belleville Bulls
While the wait was substantial (after suffering a broken collarbone in the exhibition season), Zharkov appears to have been worth the wait. He's been absolutely fantastic since joining the Bulls' lineup. He has developed instant chemistry with Brendan Gaunce on the team's first line and looks like an unstoppable force at times. Zharkov is the complete package. He has size, speed and skill and just oozes potential. If he continues to put up close to a point per game, and the Bulls continue to win, he might just start creeping up into consideration for the first round. He's right up there with Radek Faksa and Olli Maatta.

Great Article on Head Checking in the OHL

2011-11-24T17:11:00.003-05:00

If you've got the time and you want a great read, check out Yahoo's Sunaya Sapurji's article about the state of body checking in the Ontario Hockey League. One of the best and most thought provoking articles I've read in a while.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

What are your thoughts on the state of physical play in our great league?

Sunday Top 10 - Early Season Media Top 10

2011-11-20T12:10:00.002-05:00

It's time for the first edition of our media/scouting agency top 10 for 2012.

Helping out for the early season list are Dominic Tiano (2012 OHL Draft Eligible Players), Future Considerations Chief Scout Dan Stewart and contributor Sean Lafortune, Corey Pronman (Hockey Prospectus), Scott Campbell (The Scouting Report), and Nathan Fournier (The World of Junior Hockey). I also incorporated my list into the discussion.

10. Matt Finn - Guelph Storm
Received Votes From: 4 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 5 (twice)/Outside of the Top 10 (thrice)
Comments: Finn still seems to be flying under the radar, despite his solid start to the OHL season. One contributor loves the maturation of his offensive game this year. "Already known for his defensive work from his rookie season, he has found the offensive side of his game this year. He's calm under pressure in his own zone never seeming to panic. He gets quality power play time, has an accurate shot and a great passer." However one contributor says he needs to prove that his offensive performance thus far isn't just a hot start. "He has helped the upstart Storm to a far better record than most predicted they would have coming in. The real trick is sustaining that nice start through the Christmas break which at that point he will start to prove to scouts that this is not just a hot start where he is playing above his head." Another contributor agrees. "He and Andrey Pedan have been a HUGE reason as to why the Guelph Storm are playing way better than people thought they would. How he's not getting a ton of credit for that from the scouting community, I don't know."

9. Andreas Athanasiou - London Knights
Received Votes From: 4 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 4 (once)/Outside of the Top 10 (thrice)
Comments: One contributor said it best. "I just love the skating and puck skills as both are high-end traits, but he does need some work around the edges." No question Athanasiou has gotten off to a slow start and has the potential for more. The question is why hasn't he performed better this year? "I've been unimpressed by the lack of development in his overall game," says one contributor. "He's still a one trick pony to some extent and he'll need to figure out how to adapt to get the most out of his innate offensive abilities." But one contributor says "you just have to be enticed by the type of ceiling he has several years down the road." Another used the word "untapped potential." Now it's just a matter of whether he can start tapping.

8. Gianluca Curcuruto - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Received Votes From: 5 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 7 (once)/Outside of the Top 10 (twice)
Comments: The Hounds are playing well and their defense has been a big part of that. But Curcuruto's offensive game hasn't really played a large part of that. Expected to really take that next step this year, he's on pace for well under what he did offensively as a rookie last year. One contributor isn't worried. "Curcuruto is a real smart, do-it-all type of defender that could see his name really rising up draft lists fast if he starts producing more offense on a consistent basis. He is a real competitor, and the rest of his game is pretty strong already as he improved his mobility and consistency from last season." Another contributor says "he's getting better every time I see him." One contributor praises his defensive game. "He's a beast in his own zone and quite possibly the best of the bunch listed here defensively." Definitely high praise. But there is one contributor who is slightly concerned with his lack of offensive production. "I'm starting to wonder about his high end potential. He's a rock solid defender, but there are so many quality defenders available this year. He's starting to look more like a second rounder than a first for me."

7. Brendan Gaunce - Belleville Bulls
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2 (once)/ 9 (twice)
Comments: Gaunce is the type of guy where what you see is what you get. "Quite possibly the best power forward available from the OHL in 2012. Has made improvements where he's needed to, although I think he could work on his skating a little more. Plays a solid two way game and his defensive game is as close to NHL ready as they come," says one contributor. Another describes him as "a potential beast at the next level. I think he's got more potential than people are giving him credit for." But not everyone is convinced. "Everything that I have seen suggests that he will be a strong NHL player, but I may not be as high on him as others are. I’m still concerned about his consistency and his ability to always bring his best level of play, but the potential is there." Another contributor agrees. "Gaunce is one of those prospects that you either really like him or you have your doubts about his projected role at the next level. I tend to lean to the later as he does have the size, and willingness to be involved but I am just not sure that he has high end offensive potential or that his skating will not be a detriment at the next level. Right now he looks like a potential solid third liner to me, if he improves those feet." I'll end with a strong statement made by another contributor. "What is it about draft eligible players who are already strong two way players? We always hear the same crap about them and their lack of offensive potential. Heck, it happened with Landeskog last year. At the end of the day, we've got a second year player leading his surprisingly good team in scoring...and we're talking about his lack of potential? Please."

6. Nick Ebert - Windsor Spitfires
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3 (once)/ 8 (once)
Comments: Pretty good timing on our part to rank Ebert 6th among OHL players, considering NHL Central Scouting doesn't believe he's part of the top 25...let alone knocking on the door of the top 5. One contributor sums it up well. "It’s been a disappointing season so far for Ebert who is struggling with the loss of Ryan Ellis, among others. Ebert hasn’t really played well defensively, and his offensive game has suffered as well. He’s still a very talented player but he needs to simplify his game and avoid trying to do to much. There’s a lot of hockey left, and if he can focus on making better decisions with the puck and playing within his means, he’ll see a lot more progress in his play." However one contributor is still a believer. "I know a lot of people have been frustrated by Ebert's progression this season, but to be honest I view his as another Sean Couturier. A player who has been in the spotlight for 3-4 years who we have had the opportunity to nitpick. His intelligence with and without the puck, his puck skills and his projectable tools make him one of the best defenceman in the draft." Another somewhat agrees. "Hes not off to the season he wanted and thats why I have him where I do. With that said, I think this is another case of a kid being in the spotlight and under the mircoscope for two full years now onto his third year."

5. Olli Maatta - London Knights
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3 (once)/ 8 (once)
Comments: Here's a guy who has definitely lived up to the hype. "He's got way more offensive talent than the numbers suggest right now. He's the real deal at both ends of the ice," says a contributor. Another applauds his hockey sense. "I really like how advanced his mental game is and how well he controls possession from his end outward." And while many of the contributors talk about his high end skating ability and puck rushing poise, one contributor feels the smoothness of his skating is masking a lack of high end speed. "The more I see him the more I like the quiet Finn and his understated game. He is a smooth, yet slow footed skater that needs to pick up the pace skating wise before he can be considered one of the top defenders in 2012." A few other contributors use the phrases "safe" and "not sure about his high end potential." But one contributor loves him and thinks people are underrating his offensive ability. "Maatta has become an early favorite of mine. Coming into the season, We all knew of his high end intelligence and his strong positional play. What we wondered about was his offensive abilities. In early viewings, Maatta has eased a lot of those concerns. He shows strong vision with the puck and makes strong, crisp outlet passes. He skates well both with and without the puck. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time."

4. Slater Koekkoek - Peterborough Petes
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3 (once)/ 8 (twice)
Comments: As many know by now, Koekkoek oozes potential. "Koekkoek is a player who brings a high upside. He can do whatever you want. He can play a strong defensive game, an elite puck moving game or a shut down style. He is at his best with his head up, skating the puck out of his end and distributing it on the rush. Of all the players that I have seen this year, he may have the highest ceiling / potential level," says one contributor. But it's all about consistency. If he were to put it all together by the end of the year, he could go very high. "Has shown the potential at times that he could be the best defenseman taken in the draft and other times you'd think he was a late rounder. But no question the talent is there. The question really is can he put it all together consistently? Going to go with a yes here and say potential wins out." Another contributor agrees. "You watch a Peterborough game and Slater really jumps right out at you as a skilled two-way defender with impressive upside. His potential is that of a top pairing guy at the next level, however, he slips a little because much of his game is still a work in progress. Consistency in his play in both zones will go a long ways in improving his draft stock." One contributor makes an interesting comparison. "Zach Bogosian was the 4th pick in 2008, and in my opinion, Slater Koekkoek is a better player. He played 30 minutes a night at 16, and it looks like he’s pushing 35 a night at 17. I think Koekkoek is a pretty complete package who is only going to get better as he continues to fill out his frame. The ceiling is very high with this player."

3. Cody Ceci - Ottawa 67's
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2 (thrice)/ 6 (once)
Comments: Ceci definitely received some high praise from our contributors. "In my opinion, without question the best all around defenseman available from the OHL at this point. He is playing with confidence in the offensive zone and has put up points at a better pace than I expected without hurting his defensive game," says one contributor. Another contributor loves the fact that he just continues to get better. "Ceci is a player who's progression year over year continues to impress. He always has been strong in his own end both positionally and physically, however we always wondered about his offensive ability and mobility. When I originally saw him at his years NHL Prospect Combine, he looked to really have improved on both of those issues. His footwork and lateral movement looked quite improved, while he was much more aggressive and assertive with the puck. His progression this year has been excellent, and easily is the highest riser of the group." But he's not without some bruises. One contributor wonders about his ability to use his size in the defensive end. "The only thing now holding him back in the eyes of scouts is his lack of consistency with his physical play despite his impressive stature. But he has the size, the mobility and the on-ice awareness to be a top-four NHL defender before too long."

2. Alex Galchenyuk - Sarnia Sting
Received Votes From: 7 out 7
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2 (thrice)/ 4 (twice)
Comments: I'm sure the comments here will be pretty predictable and pretty much everyone said the same thing about him. It's a case of weighing his serious knee injury and lost year of development, against his insane offensive talent level. Nearly every contributor said "it was really hard to place him." As another contributor said, "it will really depend on the medical reports teams and scouts get closer to the draft." A lot of contributors also point to his poor performance at the Ivan Hlinka tournament this summer. "Based on pure talent and offensive ability, it could be argued that he is the second best player in this draft, and should be a top five draft selection. However, given his knee injury and his iffy performance at the Ivan Hlinka earlier this year, projections will be all over the board on him. That said, I'd be shocked if he fell out of the top 10." But scouts do have a long memory as another contributor says. "If NHL scouts have on thing it is a long memory for exquisite talent and the thoughts of Alex dashing up and down the ice making plays and using his frame and hands to beat d-men should be enough to keep him in the top five overall of this impressive draft class." In the end, it's all about his projection at the next level, injury or no injury, as one contributor says. "I see a lot of Evgeni Malkin in Galchenyuk, and while he’s going to miss most (or all) of the season, I would still take him in the Top 5 right now. Galchenyuk has a strong presence on the ice and has that deceptive ability that Malkin has to drift in and out of traffic. Has a great shot, terrific offensive instincts, and a ton of potential moving forward even with the ACL injury."

1. Nail Yakupov - Sarnia Sting
Received Votes From: 7 out of 7
Highest Placement: 1 (seven times)
Comments: Come on, we've all heard it by now. This dude can play the game and he has the potential to be right there with some of the best players the OHL has had to offer in recent years (Stamkos, Tavares, Hall, Seguin, Kane, etc). So instead of boring you with the same ol' comments. I did something interesting. I took all the comments I got about Yakupov and put them into WORDLE (a very cool program if you've never used it) to give us a collage highlighting the most consistent words used to describe the Sarnia Sting rocket.
FIND IT HERE

Honorable Mention:
Jarrod Maidens (two votes)
Matia Marcantuoni (two votes)
Tom Wilson (one vote)
Dylan Blujus (one vote)
Matthew Murray (one vote)
Michael Clarke (one vote)

Thanks to all those that contributed!

Preliminary Central Scouting Rankings for 2012

2011-11-19T11:57:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, NHL Central Scouting released their preliminary league rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

There were some rather large surprises related to the OHL list, which I'll talk about more below. But for now, here are the rankings in case you haven't already seen them.

Skaters:
1. Nail Yakupov
2. Alex Galchenyuk
3. Olli Maatta
4. Radek Faksa
5. Jarrod Maidens
6. Andreas Athanasiou
7. Brendan Gaunce
8. Scott Kosmachuk
9. Skater Koekkoek
10. Cody Ceci
11. Thomas Wilson
12. Gemel Smith
13. Trevor Carrick
14. Dane Fox
15. Matthew Finn
16. Matia Marcantuoni
17. Gianluca Curcuruto
18. Michael Clarke
19. Brady Vail
20. Chris Tierney
21. Dylan Blujus
22. Tanner Pearson
23. Kristoff Kontos
24. Joel Wigle
25. Artur Gavrus
LV - Adam Pelech
LV - Evan Mceneny
LV - Daniil Zharkov

Goaltenders:
1. Malcolm Subban
2. Jake Peterson
3. Matthew Murray
4. Clint Windsor
5. Daniel Altshuller
6. Andrew D'Agostini
7. Jake Patterson

Some comments:

- Obviously the biggest surprises are the omissions of Nick Ebert, Scott Laughton and to a lesser extent Jesse Graham. Ebert just doesn't make a lot of sense. Yeah, he hasn't had a great start to the year and there are whispers of some attitude/work ethic concerns. But let's not forget what this guy did last year as a rookie and the skill set/potential he brings to the table. How can he be considered a first rounder by so many other scouting organizations (ISS, Craig Button's list, FC, etc) and then NOT be considered among the top 25 of what the OHL has to offer by Central Scouting? Something doesn't add up.

- Really surprised to see Cody Ceci listed so far down still, considering how tremendous of a start he's had.

- Obviously the biggest surprise among goaltenders is how low Daniel Altshuller is ranked. He hasn't been able to live up to the hype this year in Oshawa and is actually riding the pine to Kevin Baillie right now.

- I don't really get Trevor Carrick being so high. I've been impressed with his composure as a rookie this year, but he doesn't jump out at you as having the type of potential some of the other defenseman ranked below him do (Curcuruto, Finn, Blujus, Ebert).

- Awesome to see Tanner Pearson on the list. He's had a tremendous year and looks like a legit NHL prospect. He was fantastic during the two Super Series games.

- Also cool to see Evan Mceneny's name on the limited viewing list. As you know from my preliminary rankings, he's out for the year following knee surgery. But he's a legitimate prospect. If I was an NHL team, I'd totally use a 7th on him (after checking out his knee closer to the draft to make sure everything looks great).

What are your thoughts on them?

Here is the link to the official release, in addition to the rest of the rankings.

Team Ontario for Under 17 Challenge Named

2011-11-19T11:50:00.002-05:00

This past week, Team Ontario's roster for the 2012 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge was named. The tournament is being played in Windsor this year and begins on December 29. Team Ontario is the defending champion, on top of winning gold 3 of the past 4 years.

Here is the roster (from Hockey Canada's website).

Goaltenders:
Jordan Dekort
Spencer Martin

Defense:
Darnell Nurse
Chris Bigras
Jordan Subban
Aaron Ekblad
Trevor Murphy
Alex Yuill
Adam Bateman

Forwards:
Brandon Robinson
Stephen Harper
Bo Horvat
Hunter Garlent
Nick Baptiste
Jordan Maletta
Max Domi
Ryan Kujawinski
Brent Pedersen
Cole Cassels
Nicholas Ritchie
Mitchell Dempsey.

Game Report: Bulls and Generals from November 13

2011-11-13T20:42:00.003-05:00

I decided to watch this one on the OHL Action Pack tonight...in hopes that I'd see a terrific goaltending match up between two of the league's top draft eligible netminders (Subban vs. Altshuller). Not to mention that sole possession of 5th place in the East was on the line too. But Kevin Baille started for Oshawa, ruining my initial hopes (although the goaltending match up was still solid).

Overall, the game wasn't very good. Not really a lot of solid scoring chances, some undisciplined penalties, and a general lack of pep. But the Bulls hung on to get the win in the shootout (thanks to Subban) and have now won 4 in a row and are suddenly one of the hottest teams in the East.

Some player reports:

Belleville Bulls

#10 - Austen Brassard (Drafted by Winnipeg)
Liked what I saw from Brassard. I had heard he had become a lot more committed to his play away from the puck and had improved his consistency from shift to shift...and I saw evidence of that tonight. While he wasn't great offensively in terms of creating chances (what player was tonight?), he worked hard away from the puck and was up on the forecheck forcing a few turnovers, throwing some good hits and working well along the boards for loose pucks. He also made a couple of very nice plays on the backcheck. We know he's got offensive skill and can bury pucks around the crease, but the progression of his overall game is very encouraging for his NHL potential.

#14 - Luke Judson (Overage Free Agent)
I've always been a fan of Judson's and I'm at the point now, where I'm just not sure if he'll end up earning a professional contract (be it NHL, AHL, or what have it). But he's had a solid start to the year, in a season where he had a lot to prove as Belleville's captain...after last year's disappointment. Always a hard worker and one of the best two way wingers in the league...Judson has added an element of speed this season. This is promising for his future as a hockey player, because with the type of hard nosed game he plays, it was crucial that he improve his footspeed, which it looks like he has this offseason. He scored Belleville's lone goal (non shootout) by taking a pass from Brendan Gaunce, beating Colin Suellentrop to the outside with speed, and cutting back towards the net to tuck it under Kevin Baille's legs.

#16 - Brendan Gaunce (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
I've had some questions about Gaunce's ranking on my early season top 30. A lot of people just don't see him being as high as I have him. And that's fine. But he does so many little things well. He's not flashy, and perhaps that's the reason he doesn't get as much respect. He definitely needs to work on his ability to carry the puck at top speed and receive passes in motion. He's not going to dipsy doodle around defenders like Ryan Strome or Nail Yakupov. But he's just a very solid, power center. I think of a guy like Keith Primeau when I see Gaunce play. Just a very smart player. His passing game is very underrated. A lot of people talk about his ability to score close to the net...and his heavy shot. But he's a center for a reason...and he's very patient with the puck and he knows how to create offensive chances for his linemates. He's also a stalwart on the penalty kill and a terrific backchecker. He forechecks hard, finishes his checks and wears an A already. His skating isn't an issue like many are saying it is. Without the puck, he moves very well and is quick to close on defenders on the forecheck. With the puck, he moves a little slower because he isn't the world's most confident looking puck handler...which is perhaps where this lack of skating talk comes from (or maybe it's that his brother Cameron was never the world's most gifted skater from the blueline). I look at Gaunce and see a guy who'll probably play 1000 games in the NHL and make someone very happy.

#24 - Garrett Hooey (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
After the amazing preseason he had, I think a lot of people expected Hooey to really break out offensively. But he hasn't been terrific thus far...and was pretty unnoticeable in this game.

#26 - Stephen Silas (Drafted by Colorado)
He's having a very good season thus far and is really starting to blossom as a defensive leader. The Bulls were relying on him to be that last year, but I just don't think he was ready...and as a result...he took a lot of flak. But the Bulls are playing strong defensive hockey this year and Silas is right in the middle of it. He looked very solid tonight. Moved the puck quickly and efficiently. Covered off in his own end. He's increased his physical output this year too and seems more confident in pushing forwards around near the net (maybe as a result of improved conditioning?). He's not one of those guys you notice a lot, but on the back end that's a good thing sometimes. He needed a solid year to get signed by Colorado (in all likelihood)...and he's doing a great job of making an impression thus far.

#30 - Malcolm Subban (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
Since returning from that ankle injury that caused him to miss a month of action, Subban has been a brick wall. He's given up 5 goals in 4 games and hasn't lost. And that includes his solid performance in Oshawa tonight. He's definitely an unorthodox goaltender. One of those hybrid types of relies on his pure athleticism to stop pucks (not quite as wild as a Tim Thomas, but perhaps more like LA's Jonathan Quick). He's a fantastic skater in the crease, and that's one of the first things you always notice about him. He moves laterally, and north/south very effortlessly. And he's also very quick to get down in that butterfly...which combined with his flexibility and quickness, make him damn near impossible to beat along the ice (think former Bulls goaltender Mike Murphy). But he definitely cheats a bit at times and can go down early and leave space up high. It's obvious that this "scouting report" has gotten around the league because when teams play the Bulls with Subban in net, they spend all night trying to go high...just as the Generals did tonight. They finally beat him in the 3rd when Nicklas Jensen weighted him out at the side of the net, got him to commit to the butterfly and roofed a wrister over his shoulder. As he moves forward to the NHL level, they'll have to get him to stay up longer otherwise NHL forwards will feast on him. But the athleticism is the obvious draw. Nothing shows this off more than the shootout. Subban stopped all six shooters tonight and is now a perfect 9 for 9 this year. He moves so well in his crease that he's hard to beat one on one. With the way he's returned from his injury, it might be hard to argue against the fact that he's reclaimed his goaltending crown from Altshuller and Murray as the league's top draft eligible netminder.

Oshawa Generals

#12 - Mark Petaccio (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
I saw the Generals play a few weeks ago when Petaccio first returned from injury and he was a lot better in that game...but he still wasn't terrible tonight. He played on a pretty effective third line with Sebatian Uvira and Cole Cassels. The line did well to work the cycle along the boards and even drew a penalty or two from their consistent pressure. As a guy with size, he's intriguing. I'm just not sure how much offensive potential he has.

#15 - Andy Andreoff (Drafted by Los Angeles)
I've heard some criticism about Andreoff's play since he came back from Kings (and Monarchs) camp (although I think Oshawa fans have been pretty disappointed by the play of most of their players this year). And to be honest, I wasn't incredibly impressed with him tonight. I loved the way Andreoff played last year. Simple, hard, and straight through people. His power game and tenacity generated his offensive scoring chances. Tonight he seemed to be playing too cute with the puck at times. And while he remains a solid two way forward, I felt like he was trying to do too much.

#17 - Nicklas Jensen (Drafted by Vancouver)
Jensen had a solid game. Generated a few solid scoring chances using his solid puck carrying/protection ability. Shook off a few checks while maneuvering behind the net with the puck, and put a pass right on Andy Andreoff's stick in front of the crease, but he rifled it high. Jensen scored on the powerplay to send the game to overtime. He took a pass from Andreoff at the side of the net, took his time, baited Subban to the butterfly and rifled it top cheese over Subban's shoulder. I'd still love to see him become more involved without the puck (on a consistent basis)...and more physical. But he's a solid goal scoring prospect for the next level.

#21 - Scott Laughton (NHL Draft Eligible in 2012)
Laughton had an excellent game and was probably Oshawa's most dangerous offensive player on the night (despite being held scoreless). He had a couple of very dangerous rushes, where he used his speed to beat defenders across the blueline and to the net. One in particular in the first period gave Oshawa one of its best chances to score on the night, when he grabbed the puck, flew past Brady Austin and put a snap shot on Subban who just got a piece of it. He was physical. He played well on the penalty kill. The criticism about Laughton I was hearing at the beginning of the year was that he was focusing too much on trying to put up points and as such was not as effective as an all around player. But he seems to have gotten back to playing a more straight ahead game, while keeping that intensity level high. If he continues to play hard, the points will start to come.

#38 - Lucas Lessio (Drafted by Phoenix)
Lessio has been great so far this year, one of the few players who hasn't underachieved on Oshawa to start 2011. He appears to have figured out how to harness his speed to his advantage and is finishing off his scoring chances with more consistency. Part of that comes from an increased willingness to play that dirty role in front of the net...the prototypical crease crasher. He had a couple of nice rushes tonight, although nothing that created a serious scoring chance. Although one did draw a penalty, as he got hauled down on a partial breakaway. As long as he continues to play with high energy every shift, Lessio will continue to be an impact player.

That's it for the game. Stay tuned this week as NHL Central Scouting will release their preliminary rankings...and I'll have the first version of the Media poll rankings I always do.

An Argument to Raise the Number of Imports

2011-11-10T19:56:00.002-05:00

I can already hear you saying it. In fact, I'm prepared to read your comments that tell me just that. I'm going to try and convince you that the OHL (and CHL) should increase the number of Import players allowed on each team's roster.

Let's take a look at the straight facts. OHL teams are allowed to carry two Import players on their roster (or even just their rights). That's just under about 8% of the players in the league.

As of Thursday night (the 10th), Import players made up 10 of the top 50 scorers in the league. That's 20%. Now I realize that's bias by simply examining the skaters. So how about the goaltenders? Imports held three of the top ten spots in SV%, G.A.A, and wins. That's 30%. Considering that Import players make up only 8% of the league...the fact that they are so heavily saturating the league's top performance charts speaks volumes as to their talent quality.

The question is, would the league not benefit from increasing the quality of its talent base? If every team was allowed to carry just one more Import player, they would now make up about 13% of the league's players. If that happened, could you not expect to at least have 15 guys in the top 50 of league scoring instead of 10? And maybe another goaltender in the top 10 of SV% and wins?

I know, I know. That's under the assumption that those extra players coming over from Europe are actually half decent. The league has a hard enough time drafting in the second round of the Import draft, let alone adding a third. But, if we allowed more Import players to come over, would more of Europe's top talent look to come over to join their buddies? Would the draw be larger, especially since so many players coming over are finding success and are drawing the gaze of NHL clubs? If the London Knights, or the Windsor Spitfires, or the Kitchener Rangers were given an extra pick, would they be able to lure those players over?

I can already hear you traditionalists though. In the vein of Donald S. Cherry; by creating another Import spot, we're taking away a spot from a good Ontario (or Canadian) boy. But is that really the case anymore? Let's be honest...if the Ontario Hockey League was concerned about the good ol' Ontario boy losing his spot in the league...wouldn't we have restrictions on the amount of American players in the league? Before the trades of Jack Campbell and Craig Duininck last week, the Spitfires had half their roster "imported" from the United States.

Now I'm not arguing that we should have a cap on the amount of players in the league from the United States. I'm simply asking, what makes an import from Europe different than one from the United States? The fact that we have teams based in the United States? It's still the Ontario Hockey League though...a branch of the Canadian Hockey League. I just think it's a tad ridiculous to limit the amount of Europeans on a team when certain teams can already ice a nearly entirely "non Canadian" team.

Would the league not benefit from the potential of adding more talent? Watching this Subway Super Series and enjoying the contributions of this year's outstanding Import crop certainly makes me believe so.

What do you think?

Early Season Top 30 for the 2012 NHL Draft

2011-10-29T08:40:00.003-04:00

It's been a really interesting season in the OHL so far. The two teams everyone (including me) expected to be leading the pack at this point (Niagara and Plymouth) are hovering around the .500 mark. Meanwhile, the upstart and young London Knights are the best in the league. There have been serious injuries, large suspensions and myriad of surprises and disappointments.

But with a full month of OHL action under our belts, I think it's fair to take an early look ahead to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Over the coming weeks, you'll start to see a lot of scouting lists thrown at you, eventually leading up to the release of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's Preliminary list in November.

There will be a lot of changes on this list over the course of the season. For instance, Mark Scheifele was 17th on my October list last year. A list like this is simply meant to outline some of the strong contenders to this point.

Here's the list!

1. Nail Yakupov - F - Sarnia Sting
This really should come as no surprise. Yakupov is an electrifying talent and right up there with some of the best the league has produced in recent seasons (Stamkos, Kane, Tavares, Hall, etc). Everyone knows how good of a goal scorer he is, but he's really improved the rest of his offensive game this season. With defenses focusing in on him, it's allowed his passing game to really come to life and it's made him one heck of a complete offensive threat...and his team (the first place Sarnia Sting) that much better.

2. Brendan Gaunce - F - Belleville Bulls
Perhaps a bit of a surprise, I think there is a lot of parity between this number two spot (with Galchenyuk's injury) and the rest of the top 10. At any point this season, 2 through 10 could easily flip upside down. For now, I'm going with a big, strong, power center who was made to play in today's NHL. He's improved his skating a lot from last year and it's made him that much more of a dynamic threat. He plays hard, hits hard, plays both ends of the ice and is slowly becoming quite the load to handle for OHL defenses. Considering how much his brother improved over his OHL career (Cameron), I think you have to assume that things will only continue to get better with Brendan too.

3. Cody Ceci - D - Ottawa 67's
Is Cody Ceci the perfect example of how an extra year of development can really benefit those late birthday guys in the draft. Last year, Ceci probably would have been a borderline first round pick. This year, he's pushing himself into top 10 consideration. He's playing with a lot more confidence this year, especially offensively, and it's showing up on the stat sheet. He's got the size, mobility and strong two way presence that NHL teams look for in their top pairing defenseman. At this point, the only thing holding him back from being a virtual lock for the top end of the draft, is his inconsistency in using his size to push people around.

4. Alex Galchenyuk - F - Sarnia Sting
In terms of talent, I don't think there is any question that Galchenyuk is number 2 on this list. He's a magician with the puck and a bonafide offensive superstar in the making. If he were playing this year, I have no doubts that he'd be right up there with Yakupov in the OHL scoring race. But, as you probably know, he's more than likely lost for the season with a torn ACL. At this point, I just can't possibly put Galchenyuk at number 2 with the likelihood that he never plays a game this season. Not to mention, the recovery to a serious injury looming over him. For me, it'll be really interesting to see just how far he falls (if at all), when some of the other draft eligibles start to turn it on and impress. The NHL Draft is totally all about, "what have you done for me lately."

5. Matt Finn - D - Guelph Storm
Last year, Finn was one of the best rookies in the OHL...despite not really getting a lot of fan fare for it. He was so poised in his own end and looked like a very solid and reliable defensive first kind of guy. This year, he's taken his game to a whole different level. He's been a fixture on the powerplay and he's fifth in defenseman scoring (with 4 goals and 8 assists). While he doesn't have elite size, he's stocky enough and such a smart all around player, that he deserves to be near the top of the fantastic defenseman crop available from the OHL this year.

6. Olli Maatta - D - London Knights
I've been extremely impressed with this Import this season; he's come as advertised. Very solid at both ends of the ice. Very calm and cool. His addition to London's back end has been a big reason as to why they're sitting at the top of the league right now. His offensive statistics have been a little deceiving up to this point, as he can really carry the puck and is aggressive in jumping up in the play.

7. Nick Ebert - D - Windsor Spitfires
Another great two way defenseman you can throw right in there with the above guys. Defensively he's become a rock and he's definitely not afraid to throw his weight around. I've been a little disappointed with his offensive play so far this season, as he does not have his first goal of the season yet (after 11 last year). He's got a lot of pressure on him right now, trying to replace Ryan Ellis on the Windsor powerplay (which has been off to a slow start). But he's a great prospect and someone I expect will get better as the season goes along, and he becomes more comfortable being that go to guy.

8. Slater Koekkoek - D - Peterborough Petes
Unlike the defenseman listed above him, Koekkoek is still a bit of a work in progress. IMO, he's definitely the least refined of the top end defenseman available from the OHL. But he may also have the most potential. To start the season, he's been as inconsistent as the Petes team he plays for. Some nights he looks like a perennial all star, and others he looks like he's out there trying to do too much. But with his skating ability (which may be among the best of this high end group), in combination with his size, aggression and two way potential, he could easily creep up to the top of this list.

9. Gianluca Curcuruto - D - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
While I've definitely been a little disappointed with his offensive production this year, there's no question that Curcuruto's defensive game is garnering him notice. He makes such smart decisions in his own end and is quickly becoming one of the better shut down defenseman in the league. I'd love to see him take more chances offensively, because he does have a lot of talent with the puck.

10. Andreas Athanasiou - F - London Knights
At this point, I think Athanasiou is this high based on his potential to get better. I've been disappointed with his lack of progression this year. He's damn fast and he can really play with the puck on his stick. That combination of speed and puck skill is lethal coming down the wing. But it's his play without the puck and his shot quality that haven't really improved much, making his game still solely based on his speed. Not that, that's a totally bad thing, it's just that he needs to round out his game a bit if he wants to be a first round pick in June.

11. Matia Marcantuoni - F - Kitchener Rangers
Another guy off to a really disappointing start. He's certainly getting his offensive chances (currently playing on arguably Kitchener's top line with Radek Faksa and Tobias Rieder). But things just aren't going his way. He remains a very alluring prospect because of his speed, energy and tenacity. It's the skill level that hasn't really shone through quite yet. At this point, he's a almost a glorified energy forward. At this point, I just can't say that he looks like a future scoring line center at the NHL level. But that's why we play 68 games. He's got a lot of time to turn things around.

12. Adam Pelech - D - Erie Otters
Out with a wrist injury since the beginning of the season, maybe Pelech has been lucky (draft stock wise) that he hasn't been a part of the wretched mess that is the Otters right now. But then again, maybe they're just missing the steady influence he brings to the back end. He's got the size and mobility to become a real quality stay at home defenseman. But he can move the puck too, a quality I really want to see shown this year. Here's hoping that when he returns, the Otters are playing a bit better and he's given a fair shake.

13. Dylan Blujus - D - Brampton Battalion
A very intriguing prospect, is this tall, lanky, Brampton defender. He can look kind of awkward at times, and definitely needs to improve his mobility, but he has a lot of interesting qualities that scouts look for. Raw would be the correct word. As evidenced by his 4 goals and 6 assists so far this season (good for top 10 in defenseman scoring), Blujus can move the puck and can run a powerplay. I'm sure scouts would tell you that they'd like him to use his size more defensively though. An interesting prospect for sure.

14. Jesse Graham - D - Niagara IceDogs
Graham...like the rest of the IceDogs...got off to a very slow start this season. But he's turned things around lately. With 2 goals, 3 assists, and a +6 in his last 7 games, he's starting to show why people like me might have him rated so highly. As as regular readers of this blog know, Graham is one of my favourite prospects from this draft class. He may not be huge (5'11), but he's one of the best skating defenseman in the OHL. He'll have to keep making strides defensively, and begin to turn some of those mesmerizing rushes up ice into legitimate scoring chances to keep draft momentum in his favour.

15. Michael Clarke - F - Windsor Spitfires
I saw a comparison made recently to former Spitfire Adam Henrique. I'm not one for comparisons usually, but I really liked that one. Clarke may not be the flashiest draft prospect available this year, nor is he the quickest, but he's certainly getting the job done. He's playing in all situations for Windsor right now, and looking like a 4 year veteran while leading the team in goal scoring thus far. This, when he's really playing in his first OHL season. Definitely impressive.

16. Daniel Altshuller - G - Oshawa Generals
Oshawa definitely hasn't been as good as many thought they would be, but I don't think that's really been the fault of Altshuller. He's definitely raw, but there is a lot of potential in him. He's quite big so he takes up a lot of the net. But he needs refinement in some of the finer aspects of goaltending, and can be beaten low. Scouts won't forget his performance for Canada at this summer's Ivan Hlinka and he hasn't played bad enough for Oshawa thus far to really condemn him.

17. Radek Faksa - F - Kitchener Rangers
Faksa is off to a solid start in the OHL and there is a lot to like about him. He's quite big (6'3, 200lbs) and he uses every inch of that size. He takes the puck hard to the net, he's a good forechecker and he works the boards well. And he's actually a pretty good skater for a big man, which makes him hard to contain in the offensive zone. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on for the rest of the season.

18. Gemel Smith - F - Owen Sound Attack
I have to admit, I don't really know what to make of Smith as this point. He's a pure energy guy who's hard work, speed, and hockey sense have lead him to a tremendous statistical start to the season (almost a ppg). He's not the biggest, but he doesn't back down from anyone. Perhaps a future potential pest. I'm just not sure how much offensive potential he's got at the NHL level, because he's never really wowed me with his skill level. But if he continues to score and generate scoring chances the way he has, can we not say that he'll continue to do that at the NHL level?

19. Thomas Wilson - F - Plymouth Whalers
It's not too often anymore that you see that "traditional" power forward come through the junior ranks. Wilson is certainly that. He's one of the hardest hitters in the league, and at 6'4, 200lbs, he hits damn hard. He'll drop the mitts too (with 4 already this year). He's creating offense this year with his size, and while you'd like to see the goal total higher, he's got the skill to score.

20. Jarrod Maidens - F - Owen Sound Attack
Just a real meat and potatoes kind of player. He works hard, is smart and he capitalizes on his scoring chances. I've seen him quite high on a lot of lists lately, which I'm not sure I totally get because I'm not sure he has the high end potential of some of the guys I've listed above him. But he's certainly a very solid player who's deserving of consideration in the first two rounds come June.

21. Matt Murray - G - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Like Altshuller, Murray is an absolute behemoth in the net. At 6'4, he's pretty hard to beat when he's got the angles covered. The Hounds are playing some inspiring hockey and a lot of that has to be contributed to the improvements made by this sophomore. At this point, perhaps the only thing separating Murray and Altshuller is exposure.

22. Dane Fox - F - London Knights
Fox doesn't come without his baggage. There was an incident this summer that caused him to be sent home from London, leaving his OHL career in limbo. But he was eventually allowed to rejoin London and looks great this year (this third in the league as a late 1993). He's a physical, energy guy who can do a little bit of everything. He's playing in all situations for London (similar to a guy like Michael Clarke) and playing hard.

23. Malcolm Subban - G - Belleville Bulls
Unfortunately for Subban, so far this season we're left with a bit of a sour taste in our mouths. He started off the season blandly and then injured his ankle and hasn't played in a month. With two bigger and younger goaltenders playing...and playing well, it's hard to argue that Subban should be right up there with him at this point. But he remains an athletic specimen with great potential. We just need him to play to see it.

24 & 25. Ryan Rupert & Matt Rupert - F - London Knights
At this point, it's still hard for me to tell he and his brother apart on the ice. So I've put them together. Both are off to tremendous starts and have tons of offensive talent, to go with an extreme tenacity (which has landed them in the doghouse a few times for undisciplined penalties). But when you're only 5'9, you've got to play with a chip on your shoulder to get noticed by NHL scouts. Hard to imagine that they aren't looking.

26. Scott Laughton - F - Oshawa Generals
Another guy who's kind of earned the benefit of the doubt up to this point, despite his lack of offensive production. He really hasn't taken hold of a scoring line spot as many thought he would, and he should be shouldering some of the blame for the team's cold start. He's a hard nosed center who can play both ends of the ice, but he'll need to step it up offensively soon.

27. Scott Kosmachuk - F - Guelph Storm
Another meat and potatoes kind of guy, Kosmachuk is a hard working, net crashing winger who's off to a great start for Guelph. He currently leads them in goal scoring and is starting to make a name for himself. He probably deserves to be up with the likes of Gemel Smith and Jarrod Maidens, but I'm just not as familiar with him as of yet. Another guy to really look out for.

28. Matthew Campagna - F - Sudbury Wolves
Another guy who's kind of working off his reputation and hype at this point. He hasn't been terrible to start the year, but he hasn't been great either. We're all still waiting for that elite skill level to translate to consistent point production. Sudbury could certainly use the secondary scoring he has the potential to provide. The fact that he's a little undersized won't go in his favor either, if he continues to under produce.

29. Chris Marchese - F - Erie Otters
Forget the fact that he's nearly a league worst -17 to start the year...Marchese is a good player. He has real power forward potential, and despite his -17, he can actually play both ends of the ice. He hits, he'll fight, and he can score goals around the net. Hopefully Erie can start playing a bit better so he doesn't get buried by the "bad team itis" that can plague quality draft eligible players on terrible teams.

30. Patrik Machac - F - Brampton Battalion
There were truly a handful of guys I considered to close out this list. So I went with the one whom I've maybe been the most impressed by...even if I'm not yet convinced NHL scouts are drooling over this guy. He's small (5'9), but he's very quick and elusive. He can handle the puck with the best of them and he's been the main reason Brampton has been off to a great start IMO. Brampton had been lacking a true skilled forward to create scoring chances for some of it's hard working guys (like Carrick, Lane, Watters and Goodrow), and Machac is that guy. This little water bug deserves some attention.

Honorable Mention:
Artur Gavrus - F - Owen Sound Attack
Brady Vail - F - Windsor Spitfires
Chris Tierney - F - London Knights
Erie Locke - F - Barrie Colts
Warren Steele - D - Kingston Frontenacs
Marcus McIvor - D - Brampton Battalion
Troy Donnay - D - London Knights
Kristoff Kontos - F - Sudbury Wolves
Garrett Hooey - F - Belleville Bulls

Special Honorable Mention (for bad luck)

Evan McEneny - D - Kitchener Rangers
One of the most underrated defenseman from this draft crop, I thought McEneny had a real chance to show that he was a potential quality NHL draft pick. Size, smarts, and two way play make him an asset on the blueline. He was off to a great start too, but then he torn his ACL and is now done for the season. Without the high profile attached like Galchenyuk, I doubt someone takes a chance on him in June. A real bummer.

Stay tuned soon for the first Media Poll Draft list of the season. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to my list (which might be unconventional at this point).

OHL Arena Review

2011-10-29T08:28:00.002-04:00

Every so often I get an email from someone who is looking to go to an OHL game, but doesn't know where to go to watch one. This brings me to a link I was supplied with recently that would help out the casual fan who's looking for that ideal OHL experience.

Over at Stadium Journey, they review arenas for that purpose. Their most recent one was of the Sleeman Centre in Guelph.

Head over and check it out!

Game Report: Majors & Knights from October 19

2011-10-19T21:25:00.002-04:00

The first game report of the year comes from this beauty of a match up between the top two rated teams in the country right now (according to this week's BMO CHL rankings). London and Mississauga clashed at the Hershey Center (in front of a very weak crowd), with the top rated Knights coming out on top by a score of 6-3.

It was a great game that was a lot closer than the 43-26 shot advantage (for London) would make you believe. Turnovers and stupid penalties cost the Majors big as the Knights were able to capitalize on both. London looked fantastic offensively. Their forwards forced turnovers, created off the rush and controlled play along the boards. And the Knights came through with the win despite being severely undermanned on the backend. Captain and Habs first rounder Jarred Tinordi remains out with an eye injury suffered in a fight, while Kyle Flemington is suspended. Overage forward Colin Martin played a regular shift on the blueline (which isn't a crazy thought considering he's been quarterbacking the powerplay for a few years now).

Some player reports:

London Knights

#2 - Olli Maatta (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
My first real look at Maatta and I was impressed. Seems like a really solid two way defenseman. Engaged forwards in the corners and in front of the net. He was able to win one on one battles in the corner and was composed with the puck. In the offseason, when I spoke to a European scout for my Import Draft review, I was told his skating needed some work. It looked pretty solid tonight, I thought. He's not to be confused with Ryan Murphy, but he seems to move pretty well. He had a few nice rushes up ice with the puck and was fine moving backwards and laterally on his defensive assignments. I was actually surprised with how involved he was offensively, considering his somewhat modest stat totals thus far. He was very aggressive in jumping up on the rush, in one case creating a goal finished off by Matt Rupert. He crept up into the slot area, showed some nice hands by sticking with a bit of a sloppy pass from Ryan Rupert and getting it to the front of the net following a 360 spin, which allowed the other Rupert to finish off the play in front of the net. The only negative was a bad turnover of his that resulted in a goal. He cut up the middle of the ice to rush the puck, but was stripped at the blueline by Sergey Kuptsov leading to a goal by Derek Schoenmakers.

#6 - Scott Harrington (Drafted by Pittsburgh)
A pretty solid game for Harrington who seems to have gotten back to the things that made him such a strong player in his first OHL season. Just keeping things simple. Played solid defensively, and didn't force plays up ice. Playing with a confident puck mover like Maatta probably helps a lot because it takes the pressure off him to be a big time offensive contributor.

#16 - Max Domi (Eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft)
The best player on the ice tonight. Domi was simply fantastic. He's going to be a star in this league, if he isn't already. Was incredibly impressed with all facets of his offensive game. He reminded me a lot of Steve Stamkos in the way that his quickness, elusiveness and skill combination makes him a threat to go from gliding around to putting a puck in the back of the net. He has those quick bursts of energy that make Stamkos such a special player. While Domi finished with only one assist, he set up numerous scoring chances and was constantly buzzing. The assist was actually on his least flashy play of the game, was he wristed a shot on net that generated a big rebound for Jared Knight to capitalize on. Perhaps the most impressive play was on a 3 on 2 where he showed tremendous poise with the puck. He took a drop pass at the blueline, carried the puck in, sucked in one of the defenders (showing tremendous patience) and then fed a beauty pass to Scott Harrington with the defender draped over him, to which Harrington blasted a shot on net that nearly beat Anderson. The only negative (which I'm sure he heard about on the bench after) was a play that you just can't make at the OHL level. Coming around the net with the puck in the offensive end, he threw a blind pass through the legs to the front of the net. Problem was none of his teammates were there, which lead to the puck escaping the zone for a 2 on 1 for the Majors (which fortunately for Domi, did not result in a goal).

#18 - Vladislav Namestnikov (Drafted by Tampa Bay)
Namestnikov had a very good game. He looks stronger on the puck this year to match his great speed and puck carrying ability. Namestnikov is especially dangerous on the powerplay, where he gets more room to work and he does such a good job of finding holes in the zone and his patience with the puck makes him very dangerous. He finished with an assist on Matt Rupert's second goal of the game.

#46 - Matt Rupert (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
If I wasn't looking for numbers, I don't think I would have been able to tell Matt and Ryan apart on the ice. They seem to play very similar games and have a similar skill set. Both were excellent on the night. Matt finished with two goals and an assist, the one off the aforementioned Olli Maatta 360 pass. He seems to be at home in front of the net and in the slot, which is great considering he's undersized. He also showed a real solid passing touch. The Rupert's combined for the first goal of the game on the powerplay on a very nice give and go. Ryan passed off to Matt at the side of the net, who then returned the favor to a cutting Ryan for the one timer.

#64 - Ryan Rupert (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
As mentioned, tough to tell the two apart when they're on the ice. Ryan had a goal and an assist. The goal was off the aforementioned give and go with his brother. Showed some great hands finishing off the play. He was also making some good passes with the man advantage, moving the puck quickly and efficiently. He earned his assist on the aforementioned play to Olli Maatta, finding him cutting to the net with a hard pass (that was a little behind him). The Rupert twins have definitely carried over their strong play from last season when they exploded onto the scene in London.

#71 - Chris Tierney (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
I was actually impressed with Tierney in the minimal time I saw him play last year in an injury plagued season. This is like his first OHL season, essentially. He's had a great start to this season and he had a very good game. The one thing that always stands out to me about Tierney is his stickhandling ability. He really has the puck on a string and is constantly maneuvering around the opposition. He was very active on the forecheck tonight and was out there forcing turnovers. He had a big role in Dane Fox's unassisted goal, even if he didn't get an assist on the play. Tierney did draw an assist on Andreas Athanasiou's third period goal though. He also saw substantial penalty killing time and looked good doing it.

#74 - Dane Fox (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
I was actually really disappointed when Fox was sent home this offseason because I was quite impressed with his play at times last year. But fortunately, he was welcomed back to the team and has gotten off to a great start this season. Like Chris Tierney, Fox was very active on the forecheck and helped to force a lot of turnovers. He capitalized on some terrific work by his line (Tierney and Horvat) at the tail end of the first, when he took a terrible dump attempt from Stuart Percy and put it to the back of the net with a nice top shelf back hand. He's always in on the rough stuff too and plays the game on the edge. He's a very effective player and definitely a potential top 3 round draft pick this year IMO.

#77 - Josh Anderson (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
While he was held scoreless, I liked what I saw from Anderson tonight. He looks to definitely have some offensive potential at this level (as his preseason performance would indicate). He's definitely got some speed coming down the wing and he's not afraid to pay the price in front of the net for scoring chances (he looks a little bigger than the 6'1 he's listed at). He had a bit of a tough time controlling the puck at times and is going to need to add some strength to make him a more consistent offensive threat, but there's definitely potential there.

#86 - Andreas Athanasiou (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
I was a little bit underwhelmed by Athanasiou tonight. At this point, I'm not seeing a huge progression from him last year, to him this year. That's not necessarily a terrible thing. But I was kind of hoping he'd round out his game a little bit. He's still most effective off the rush where he can use his speed to beat defenders to the outside. But he wasn't as visible when the offense set up in the zone. He also got outmuscled off the puck in the corners a few times. He's a terrific goal scoring prospect, but I think there's a reason why he's gotten off to a bit of a slow start (at least slower than what many had anticipated, myself included). And that reason is that he hasn't really rounded out his game to the point where he can be a consistent offensive threat. He'll need to find a way to use his speed when the game slows down/bogs down.

#97 - Jared Knight (Drafted by Boston)
Knight was definitely terrific tonight. He was typical Knight. Buzzing around the puck, throwing the body around, and putting the puck in the net. He found a juicy rebound in the slot off a Max Domi shot to deposit his lone goal in the game. A definite highlight was his thunderous bodycheck on Dylan Demelo in the neutral zone. You could have measured the distance DeMelo flew with a walking meter stick. Knight looks quicker and stronger this year and is going to have a monster season.

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

#2 - Dylan DeMelo (Drafted by San Jose)
DeMelo had a really rough game with his partner Stuart Percy. The first goal was his fault, as he failed to follow his man (Ryan Rupert) to the net on the give and go. He had a really rough time with the Knights' forecheck and just couldn't get the puck out of his zone or win a battle along the boards.

#4 - Trevor Carrick (Eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft)
Liked what I saw of Carrick tonight. He kept things simple and did a good job of moving the puck quickly out his zone to avoid the London forecheck. He was also relatively sharp in running the point on the Mississauga powerplay. While the points haven't really been there yet, if he keeps playing well, they should come. He certainly has the bloodlines (Jake and Sam) to be a legitimate OHL player.

#13 - Sergey Kuptsov (Eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft)
Wow, this guy is a beast. He is absolutely huge. And as a late birth day, he's got the potential to get even bigger. His first few steps aren't incredible, but once he gets going, he's actually quite an elusively quick player. Not to mention that he's damn hard to stop. He had a couple of plays where he just powered himself to the front of the net with the puck, generating a scoring chance. He seems to love parking himself in front of the net and makes a giant screen for the opposition. But he's also got hands and made a few really nice passes. He was physical, played both ends of the ice (including the PK), and earned an assist by forcing a turnover by cutting off Olli Maatta as he cut up the middle of the ice and feeding the puck to Derek Schoenmakers for the breakaway. Very impressive performance.

#28 - Stuart Percy (Drafted by Toronto)
I'm a huge Stuart Percy fan. This was the worst game I've ever seen him play. I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell you that he flat out stunk tonight. He had three bad turnovers in his own end, one of which lead to the Dane Fox goal. He had a ton of trouble with the Knights forecheck and speed. He also took a bad penalty when Andreas Athanasiou got him flat footed and took him to the outside, leaving Percy no choice but to trip him up. Just not a typical Percy performance. On the positive, he looked much better on the powerplay where he seems to be doing a better job of getting his shot on net and making quicker decisions with the puck.

Also on a Majors note, it is now obvious to me as to why Riley Brace has gotten off to such a good start this year. He's grown possibly the greatest mustache in the league (visual evidence here, although I'm not sure it does it justice). A little Movember power?

Sunday Top 10 - Surprises of the Opening Weeks

2011-10-09T13:58:00.003-04:00

The 2011-2012 OHL season is now almost three weeks old. Many teams have played around 10% of their season thus far, and things in the league are starting to round into form.

So let's take a look at some of the things that have caught everyone by surprise and opened up some eyes so far. There isn't any order to this week's list, just a collection of ten facts that may be interesting about the start to the new season.

The Guelph Storm Are Winning Games
The Storm were the preseason favourites to be the worst in the West after losing Taylor Beck, Peter Holland, and Michael Latta (among others). They had a good preseason, but I'm not sure a lot of people put stock into it. But now Scott Walker (new assistant for Canada at the WJC's) has the Storm playing well to start the regular season. The team's collection of hard working forwards are wearing down opposing defenses and they're actually the second highest scoring team in the league (per game) behind London right now. I'm not even sure Guelph fans anticipated this type of start.

Niagara and Oshawa Struggling
In pretty much any preseason prognostication, one of three teams were bend pegged to win the East. The 67's, who are off to a great start. And the IceDogs and Generals who have looked quite poor thus far. For Niagara, it could be the absence of Ryan Strome (NHL) and Mark Visentin (injury). For Oshawa, who knows. Both teams could be suffering from the post NHL camp malaise that often plagues players who return to the OHL from long stays in NHL/AHL camps. Either way, these two beasts of the East have looked more like basement dwellers thus far and that has to be a surprise.

Joey Hishon Still Not Healthy
After suffering a concussion at last year's Memorial Cup, Owen Sound's star center Joey Hishon is still out with post concussion syndrome. There is no time table for his return. In a lot of ways, this has been a bit of a surprise in the past month or so because of how well hidden the extent of Hishon's malaise was. If Hishon is able to recover at some point this season, it may actually be a blessing to the Attack...as well as Hishon. Many were expecting he would turn pro this season and play in the AHL. But with no NHL camp time and a long recovery ahead of him, if he comes back at all this season, you'd have to assume it'd be with Owen Sound (instead of throwing him straight to the wolves in the AHL/ECHL). Which would give their line up a HUGE boost.

Christian Thomas' Slow Start
Yes, the Generals are struggling, as has already been mentioned. But maybe part of that lies with Christian Thomas who hasn't looked great (save the last game) since returning from New York Rangers camp. As a popular preseason pick to lead the league in scoring (as he came close to doing last year), it has to be surprising that prior to yesterday's two goal effort, Thomas had only 1 goal in 5 games to start the year. It looks like he's turning things around now, which is great news. But his slow start is definitely still news worthy.

Kerby Rychel, Scorer Extraordinaire?
If I had said to you that one of the top scoring 1994's in the OHL after the first three weeks would be Kerby Rychel, would you have called me crazy? Considered a hard nosed player with limited upside, Rychel has exploded offensively this season and is still top 10 in league scoring, and 2nd in goals scored. Would anybody care to call him a reach in the OHL Priority Draft first round anymore?

Peterborough Petes, East Division Leaders
Granted, a lot of people expected the Petes to be much better this season (myself included), but leading their division thus far has to be considered a solid feat. Even more surprising has been the play of goaltender Andrew D'Agostini. Offseason acquisition and supposed starter Mike Morrison has been shaky thus far and D'Agostini has taken the bull by the horns.

What's Going On With the Draft Eligible Players?
Some of the OHL's supposed top talent for the NHL Draft this year have struggled out of the gate statistically. In fact, thus far, only 2 of the league's top 20 scorers thus far are first year draft eligible players (Yakupov and Rychel). The likes of Matia Marcantouni, Scott Laughton, Andreas Athanasiou, Jesse Graham, among others are struggling to find their groove. In net, Malcolm Subban is losing starts to offseason acquisition John Chartrand, who is outplaying him by leaps and bounds. Now I'm sure that most of these guys turn it around, but it wouldn't be shocking if a few continued this into a year long funk.

The Perfect Mississauga Majors
Memorial Cup hangover? Loss of the team's top 8 scorers from last year? Devante Smith Pelly in the NHL. Yet...the Mississauga Majors have been the best team in the league thus far with a perfect 7-0 record. Many of the team's veteran players have stepped up huge, and the team's young/inexperienced defense have looked like a group of 4 year veterans. If the team gets Smith-Pelly back eventually...and even gets a surprise OA return (Flemming, Shugg?), could they be Memorial Cup contenders yet again? A 68-0 season?

7 Players Stick in the NHL
If this list were in a specific order, this fact would likely be number one or at the top of the list. It was assumed many of the league's top picks this season were simply not NHL ready. That certainly hasn't been the case. Gabriel Landeskog (who was a lock to make the NHL), Ryan Strome, Ryan Murphy, Mark Scheifele, Brandon Saad have stuck from the 2011 Draft, while Erik Gudbranson (another lock) and Devante Smith-Pelly have made it from the 2010 crop. Who knows how many or who sticks past the maximum games requirement, but some of these players are significant losses to their OHL teams. If Niagara doesn't get Strome back until sometime in November, they could already be out of the Division race by then.

Tanner Pearson, Zach Hall, and Colin Behenna
Mark Scheifele who? These three linemates in Barrie are absolutely tearing apart the league. Pearson is on pace for a 200 point season, and the three amigos are on pace to score close to 200 goals alone, as a unit. Talk about finding a first line with chemistry to start the year. Best of all, Barrie is in 4th place in the East and look to be a force to reckon with. Now that's a quality rebuilding effort.

Future Considerations' New Look

2011-09-29T18:18:00.001-04:00

In case you don't visit their website regularly (which you should), the boys over at Future Considerations (like Aaron Vickers, Dan Stewart, and Sean Lafortune, who have helped me out at this blog numerous times) have a new look. They have redesigned their website and it looks great.

CHECK IT OUT

Buzzing the Net's New Video Endeavours!

2011-09-28T18:07:00.002-04:00

Blog friend and the fantastic Neate Sager over at Yahoo Sports, sent me a little note the other day to tell me about Buzzing the Net's new endeavour.

Neate is going to try to have his wonderful Draft Tracker segments done through video (as well as in script on his blog).

Here's the first crack at it, with Belleville's Brendan Gaunce.

CHECK IT OUT!

The Experts Weigh In on the 2011-2012 Season

2011-09-20T16:53:00.002-04:00

I sent off a survey to the league's foremost experts in advance of the beginning of the regular season. Here's what the experts have to say about the 2011-2012 OHL season!

Dominic Tiano (2012 OHL Draft Eligible Players)

1. Right now, who's the best team in the East?

If Ryan Strome and Dougie Hamilton are back in Niagara they are the team to beat in my opinion. Oshawa should be up there and Daniel Altshuller looks like the real deal and can carry Oshawa a long way especially after last years playoff failure. Ottawa will be a tough opponent as well.

2. Right now, who's the best team in the West?

I Like Sarnia in the West. Just the thought of what Yakupov and Galchenyuk will do this season makes them an intriguing team. Can't overlook Saginaw and Owen Sound though.

3. Which team is everyone overlooking right now (most underrated headed into the season)?

Has to be the London Knights. Great move drafting Maatta and bringing in Domi. Jared Knight should be back along with Namestnikov. In my opinion, seriously underrated in some circles.

4. Which eligible OHL player (outside of Landeskog) is going to stick in the NHL?

Ryan Strome. One of the biggest surprises in 2010-11.

5. Who's the best 2012 Draft Prospect from the OHL?

Nail Yakupov. His rookie season was off the charts. Some believe Galchenyuk is the more complete player and will challenge Yakupov, and that may be. But I expect Yakupov to dominate the OHL this year. I am currently surveying OHL GM's as to their top 3 by position and surprisingly, 2 don't have Yakupov on their list. There are names like Laughton, Kea and Athanasiou on some lists, and while they could be in the top 3, I don't think you can include them over Yakupov

6. Who's your pick for the Eddie Powers Trophy (leading scorer)?

Nail Yakupov. Was up there last year as a rookie and will easily out do what Hall, Seguin, Akeson and Strome did before him.

7. What's the one storyline you're looking forward to following the most?

Interestingly enough, the Kingston Frontenacs. Curious to see what Doug Gilmour does there this season. If the likes of Spooner and Gudbranson return from NHL camps, and I expect they will, Gilmour will probably be trading them to a contender for assets. And with more than a couple of teams in serious contention, we could see Gilmour hauling in some serious assets for the Fronts. Surprisingly, I have the over/under on Kingston wins as 15.5. I don't expect it will be long before Gilmour starts to deal.

Neate Sager (Yahoo Sports, Buzzing the Net)

1. Right now, who's the best team in the East?

"It's probably not going out on a limb to say the Niagara IceDogs appear to be the class of the East so long as they have Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Strome back. Beyond the big names with those two NHL first-rounders and third in goaler Mark Visentin, they're deep in 19-year-old and overage talent with the likes of Brock Beukeboom, Freddie Hamilton and Andrew Agozzino. Marty Williamson also has the trade chips to add a veteran scorer to replace Darren Archibald."

2. Right now, who's the best team in the West?

"That's like asking to predict the worst movie ever made by Happy Madison productions; there's a lot of parity. Process of elimination, looking at the four teams who won a playoff round a year ago and did not lose too much, would say the Plymouth Whalers merit being the top-ranked team in the west. Well-coached, no problems in goal with the Wedgewood/Mahalak tandem and I'm eager to see what Stefan Noesen does in his post-draft season."

3. Which team is everyone overlooking right now (most underrated headed into the season)?

"You mean who is this season's Owen Sound? Tough call, since in the West, Plymouth, London and Sarnia have each generated plenty of preseason buzz with their off-season additions, so none could count as underrated.

4. Which eligible OHL player (outside of Landeskog) is going to stick in the NHL?

"Erik Gudbranson would have stuck last season were it not for a contract issue with the Florida Panthers. Don't see any of the first-round picks from June -- Hamilton in Boston, Strome with the New York Islanders and Ryan Murphy with Carolina -- doing it this season.

5. Who's the best 2012 Draft Prospect from the OHL?

"Nail Yakupov over Alex Galchenyuk, taking the goal scorer over the distributor."

6. Who's your pick for the Eddie Powers Trophy (leading scorer)?

"Nail Yakupov. He might lose time to the Russian world junior team, but 101 points in his first go around and now the Sting have more talent around him and the Western Conference might not be as deep. It was tempting to joke Reid Boucher might lead the league just cleaning up while playing with Galchenyuk and Yakupov.

"Ryan Strome, even if he only plays 58 or 59 games, has a good shot, too. Ottawa possibly keeping the RST line intact -- Ryan Martindale, Shane Prince and Tyler Toffoli -- is another factor in the scoring race."

7. What's the one storyline you're looking forward to following the most?

"Just to see if Jacques Beaulieu can turn Sarnia from an intriguing on-paper team to bona fide contender. So many elements there -- a coach going against his former bosses in the Hunters at London who's also trying to build a winner after only getting to start the job in Saint John, and doing it with a franchise which has historically sputtered.

There's some good off-ice stuff with the Central Division teams in southern Ontario. Namely, seeing what, if any, Memorial Cup bump there is for Mississauga and Brampton, along with the glacial progress toward replacing the Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines."

Patrick King (Sportsnet)

1. Right now, who's the best team in the East?
Niagara IceDogs. Quite simply the best team on paper heading into the season. Factor in that they acquired a boatload of picks from Windsor in the Bateman trade and they're ready to go shopping. This team should be the first Eastern Conference team to win the league in six years.

2. Right now, who's the best team in the West?
Plymouth Whalers. One thing I've learned in my years covering the OHL is to never look past the Whalers. This year's team is loaded. Head coach Mike Vellucci is one of the best and knows how to get the most from his players. Sounds like a recipe for success.

3. Which team is everyone overlooking right now (most underrated headed into the season)?
Sudbury Wolves. Remember that sweep over Ottawa? This team now knows how to win. Head coach Trent Cull is one of the bright, young, up-and-comers in this league and will have this team ready to play. Michael Sgarbossa should have a huge year.

4. Which eligible OHL player (outside of Landeskog) is going to stick in the NHL?
Erik Gudbranson. Had it not been for a contract dispute last season, he would have already been in the NHL. Florida could ease him into the lineup, which may be better for his development at this point than rejoining a rebuilding Frontenacs squad.

5. Who's the best 2012 Draft Prospect from the OHL?
Nail Yakupov. Hands down. The WHL borrowed the first-overall pick with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins last season, Yakupov will take it back this season.

6. Who's your pick for the Eddie Powers Trophy (leading scorer)?
See above (Nail Yakupov). We all know how dynamically skilled he is. The first-overall spot is his to lose at this point, which should provide all the motivation he needs to have a great season.

7. What's the one storyline you're looking forward to following the most?
In some ways, it's a make or break for both Saginaw and Sarnia. Neither team has a rich history in winning. With these two teams, I need to see it to believe it. Sarnia has some holes on defence while the Spirit have much to prove. None of the big three (Windsor, Kitchener and London) are in a position to take the West, so the door is wide open this season. There's no better chance for these two teams than now.

Dan Stewart (Future Considerations)

1. Right now, who's the best team in the East?

Niagara, Ottawa and Oshawa all lead the pack from the East right now. Niagara could have a great squad if they get all NHL-drafted bodies returned, Ottawa has well rounded talent as well as likely the OHL’s top goaltender and Oshawa has some great weapons up front, some solid veterans returning on the back-end and an elite goaltending prospect in the crease. My pick for top team in the East, and likely a surprise pick for some, has to go to Oshawa at this point.

2. Right now, who's the best team in the West?

Plymouth, London and Sarnia all lead the pack from the West. Plymouth has a healthy amount of returning talent and some top level goaltending, London has emerged full of talent after a one-year semi-rebuild and Sarnia, well what can be said of Sarnia that hasn’t been already this off-season. Although Sarnia will be the scouting paradise for 2011-2012, my pick for top team has to be London for the West.

3. Which team is everyone overlooking right now (most underrated headed into the season)?

The London Knights are a talented bunch that could surprise with scoring not being an issue as forwards Vlad Namestnikov, Seth Griffith and Jared Knight lead the way. Also 2012 eligible Andreas Athanasiou is poised to have a breakout year. Chris Tierney, the Rupert twins and rookies Max Domi and Bo Horvat all look to make a positive impact. On defense they have some skill in import and fellow 2012 eligible Olli Maatta as well as Montreal draft pick Jarred Tinordi and Pittsburgh selection Scott Harrington as well as overage stopper Michael Houser. With all the talk about the potential powerhouse in Sarnia, Niagara, Saginaw, etc I would say London could really challenge for top team in the O this season.

4. Which eligible OHL player (outside of Landeskog) is going to stick in the NHL?

Not sure any of them will; maybe Ryan Strome or Mark Scheifele as it is easier to impress as a forward prospect than it is as a defender in say Dougie Hamilton or Ryan Murphy’s case. Although Murphy, Strome and Scheifele offer something that their NHL organizations are currently lacking, all three in my opinion would be better served to develop one more season in the OHL. If I had to pick on I guess Ryan Strome would be my pick.

5. Who's the best 2012 Draft Prospect from the OHL?

Nail Yakupov is the best of the bunch but the OHL again has a healthy amount of talent to scout. Nail’s elite hockey sense, his quickness with not only his hands but also his feet as well as his natural finishing ability make him extremely dangerous every time on the ice.

With high end two-way defensemen, elite scoring forwards and a couple goaltenders to watch, the O will again be a hot spot for NHL scouts as they help compile their teams draft lists heading into June 2012.

6. Who's your pick for the Eddie Powers Trophy (leading scorer)?

It is between Nail Yakupov, Ryan Strome (if he makes it back to Niagara from the Islanders camp) and Christian Thomas (same thing but Rangers) in my opinion. Again, Sarnia Sting sniper Nail Yakupov would be my pick. I would project Nail producing 140+ points with 60+ of them goals. This is not only possible but more than likely probable not only because of Nail’s own elite offensive skills but also because the impressive firepower assembled around Yakupov in Sarnia for the 2011-2012 season.

7. What's the one storyline you're looking forward to following the most?

As always, for me anyways, the most intriguing storyline in any league is always based on draft eligible prospects and how they perform night after night in front of the scouts. I want to see the ongoing competition between the Yakupov’s and Marcantuoni’s; Gaunce’s and. Maidens’; Ebert’s and. Maatta’s; Subban’s and Altshuller’s, and how they all perform for the next seven months.

Thanks so much to Dominic, Neate, Patrick and Dan for helping out. You can visit their respective websites at the links beside their name.

Also, just to the guys over at Future Considerations, make sure you check out their new and improved website which is set to launch at the end of September.

Sunday Top 10 - Performers of the 2011 Preseason

2011-09-18T13:09:00.002-04:00

The 2011 OHL preseason wraps up today when Oshawa and Peterborough face off. With only one game remaining, we can take a look at some of the stronger performances in today's Top 10.

Here are the preseason standings (minus the OSH/PBO game).

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Barrie Colts - 4-0-2 - .883%
2. Belleville Bulls - 4-2 - .667%
3. Ottawa 67's - 2-2-1 - .500%
4. Niagara IceDogs - 1-1-1 - .500%
5. Brampton Battalion - 2-3 - .400%
6. Oshawa Generals - 1-2-1 - .375%
7. Kingston Frontenacs - 1-2-1 - .375%
8. Mississauga Majors - 1-3-2 - .333%
9. Peterborough Petes - 1-3 - .250%
10. Sudbury Wolves - 0-4-2 - .167%

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Sarnia Sting - 4-1-1 - .750%
2. London Knights - 3-1-1 - .700%
3. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - 3-1-1 - .700%
4. Guelph Storm - 3-1-2 - .667%
5. Kitchener Rangers - 3-2 - .600%
6. Owen Sound Attack - 2-2-1 - .500%
7. Plymouth Whalers - 1-1-2 - .500%
8. Windsor Spitfires - 1-2-2 - .400%
9. Saginaw Spirit - 1-3 - .250%
10. Erie Otters - 1-4 - .200%

I know a lot of people would love to jump to conclusions based on the results of the preseason, but it just isn't logical. With the large majority of the league's "star" players away at NHL camps, it's just impossible to determine whether these above results mean anything.

Just the same, individual player results can sometimes be deceiving. Who are these players racking up points against? A team full of first year OHL players? Against a goalie who was just drafted and has never faced OHL competition? It's a mix bag. Accumulating correct stats is also mind numbing and excruciating. Some teams post full box scores. Others don't even mention who scored all the goals in a game. So consider the below accumulation of stats to be extremely unofficial.

That being said, the preseason does often give us some great indications of players who'll have big years in the OHL...who aren't already attached to NHL teams. This generally means overagers (who aren't at a camp on a tryout), draft eligible players looking to break out, and rookies looking to establish themselves. Last year, some of the league's top preseason performers were Nail Yakupov, Ryan Strome, and Alex Khokhlachev. So it does give us some idea of who's going to "explode" if you will.

10. Brock McGinn - Guelph Storm
The Storm had a very solid preseason thanks in part to the strong play of the team's core group of 1994's. Brock McGinn was one of those who played very well, leading Guelph with 5 goals. With Beck, Holland, and Latta gone, Guelph is going to need balanced scoring from all their offensive players if they want to avoid the basement in the West. This performance from McGinn (and the other younger forwards in Guelph) would suggest that maybe, just maybe, things won't be as bad in Guelph as they appeared prior to the preseason.

9. Josh Anderson - London Knights
A terrific story, Anderson spent the majority of last season playing midget in Burlington and was a free agent acquisition of London this offseason. A '94 forward, Anderson showed a terrific scoring touch with 5 goals in the preseason to earn himself a serious look on a scoring line. You have to wonder where London always finds these talented, overlooked gems.

8. Scott Laughton - Oshawa Generals
In only four games thus far, (the Gennies play their final game today), Laughton has been fantastic with 2 goals and 5 assists. The Generals have been missing nearly all of their big offensive weapons this preseason, which has allowed Laughton to show off the improvements he's made this offseason. Going into his draft season, Laughton appears to be primed for a breakout season, possibly centering one of the team's top lines.

7. Tanner Richard - Guelph Storm
The son of former OHL star Mike Richard, Tanner was the Storm's Import selection this year and took no time making himself known as an offensive weapon in Ontario. Passed over in last year's draft, Richard will be looking to make a name for himself in order to get called this time around. With a 2 goal and 7 assist preseason, Richard appears well on his way to doing that. And just like McGinn, he'll be one of several players counted on to score by committee in Guelph.

6. Ryan Hanes - Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury did not have a good preseason, thanks in part to their core players being away at NHL camps, and because they got suspect goaltending. But the one bright spot was the emergence of defenseman Ryan Hanes. With Josh McFadden away at Montreal Canadiens camp, Hanes was able to be the team's premier offensive defenseman and powerplay quarterback. He finished the preseason with 4 goals and 4 assists. The 19 year old defenseman will definitely push for more playing time if he can keep up this level of play.

5. Garrett Hooey - Belleville Bulls
When the Bulls picked up the scrappy Hooey from Sarnia this offseason, I'm not sure they expected him to be one of the team's premier offensive players. But that's exactly what he was this preseason. With 5 goals and 5 assists, Hooey (and some of his Belleville teammates) was dominate. In his NHL draft year, Hooey will be looking to prove that he's a legit prospect and appears to have really improved prior to his second OHL season.

4. Sean Monahan - Ottawa 67's
Something tells me that NHL teams are going to be salivating over Monahan this year. Unfortunately for them, his late birth date makes him ineligible until 2013. The 67's aren't complaining as the strong two way center will be with them for at least another two seasons. One of the leaders of Canada's Ivan Hlinka team, Monahan had a sensational preseason with 3 goals and 6 assists. One has to wonder if he could end up centering Tyler Toffoli, regardless of whether Ryan Martindale returns or not.

3. Brett Findlay - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Even if the Hounds spent most of their preseason beating up on the Wolves, they deserve some credit for persevering in the face of losing several players to NHL camps themselves. One of the few players who was passed over last year and failed to get an invite to an NHL camp, Findlay was the offensive leader for the Hounds this preseason. He had 2 goals and 6 assists. Findlay is going to be counted on to be the team's second line center behind Nick Cousins, so hopefully he can continue his strong play.

2. Luke Judson - Belleville Bulls
The second Bull to make the list (and there probably could...and should have been more), the Bulls overage captain is going to need a bounce back season. After a disappointing season on a personal and team level, Judson is being counted on to have a big year. The strong all around winger had a simply dominate preseason with 5 goals and 6 assists. Originally considered to be an NHL prospect, Judson is going to need a big year to try and earn an NHL contract in 2012.

1. Nail Yakupov - Sarnia Sting
Even if you discount his dominating 4 goal, 1 assist performance against Windsor to close out the preseason, Yakupov was just as effective throughout the entire preseason, helping Sarnia to a very strong 4-1-1 record. With 6 goals and 9 assists, Yakupov looks poised to make a run for the Eddie Powers trophy yet again this year. The Sting sure are going to be exciting to watch this season!

Honorable Mentions (broken down by team)

Barrie Colts
Barrie had a fantastic preseason, finishing undefeated. It would appear they may be a tad better than some were giving them credit for. Before leaving for Winnipeg camp, Mark Scheifele looked like a man among boys with 1 goal and 2 assists in his lone game. Import goaltender Mathias Niederberger was excellent in net, posting several wins and a shutout.

Belleville Bulls
I could have included several players from Belleville on the list, but decided to spread around the wealth a little bit. Rookie Jordan Subban was terrific in the preseason with 3 goals and 3 assists. He looks poised to take over from where P.K. left off. Draft eligible center Brendan Gaunce had 3 goals and 6 assists and looks poised to have a big season offensively

Brampton Battalion
Big winger Matt MacLeod will be looking to finally cement himself in an OHL line up and had a good enough preseason (3 goals) to earn a look on a scoring line. Import forward Patrik Machac was as good as advertised too, with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Erie Otters
The Otters did not have a good preseason, with most of their star players away at NHL camps. One of the lone bright spots was the play of former first rounder Chris Marchese, who had 3 goals and 3 assists.

Guelph Storm
Another of the team's solid 1994's had a good preseason, and that was forward Scott Kosmachuk. He had 3 goals and 3 assists and looks poised for a breakout with Brock McGinn.

Kingston Frontenacs
Things are probably going to be pretty rough in Kingston this year, but there were a few bright spots in the preseason. Picked up in the offseason, Darcy Greenaway appears to be a possible diamond in the rough. The smaller offensive forward had 4 goals and an assist during preseason play. Another offseason pick up, Import Petr Beranek, was also effective with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Kitchener Rangers
Everyone in Kitchener is talking about the return of defenseman Ben Fanelli, who was solid in the preseason with 1 goal and 2 assists. Young forwards Matia Marcantuoni (1 goal, 3 assists), Ben Thomson (2 goals, 1 assist), and Radek Faksa (2 goals, 1 assist) were all effective.

London Knights
Max Domi was excellent in the preseason and looks poised to have a big offensive season (dare I say the Emms Family Award front runner?) after putting up 1 goal and 4 assists. Overager Colin Martin was also solid with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Mississauga Majors
Import selection Sergei Kuptsov made an immediate impact in a depleted Majors line up, putting up 1 goal and 5 assists. Scrappy wingers Riley Brace (2 goals, 2 assists) and Derek Schoenmakers (3 goals, 1 assist) also had solid preseasons.

Niagara IceDogs
The Dogs really didn't play much in the preseason and when they did, they were missing their big guns. When they played, Ryan Strome (2 assists), Freddie Hamilton (2 assists), and Mark Visentin (a shutout) all looked strong.

Oshawa Generals
Tough guy Emerson Clark had a great preseason with 4 goals and 2 assists. Any offense they get from him on the bottom two lines will be a great bonus.

Ottawa 67's
After a great year with Smith Falls last year, and a terrific preseason, winger Ryan Van Stralen appears to have earned a spot on the 67's. With 4 goals and an assist in the preseason, Van Stralen could be a classic late bloomer.

Owen Sound Attack
Rookie Holden Cook had a solid preseason with 2 goals and looks to be able to be one of those guys Owen Sound needs to step up to fill some voids offensively.

Peterborough Petes
The little Swiss magician Lino Martschini had a good preseason with 1 goal, and 3 assists. He could have a big year offensively.

Plymouth Whalers
Import defenseman Dario Trutmann appears ready to take on a larger offensive role this season after scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in the preseason.

Saginaw Spirit
Overager Michael Fine was the strongest performer on an undermanned Saginaw team this preseason, scoring 3 goals and adding one assist. Could he finally be poised for that breakout season we've always been expecting from him?

Sarnia Sting
Defenseman Jack Kuzmyk was picked up from Owen Sound last year with little fan fare, but he looked terrific in the preseason with 4 goals and 2 assists. Sarnia is going to need a few defenseman to step up and he could be one of them. New acquisition Charles Sarault looks to make a name for himself now that he's out of Kingston, and he's got Sarnia fans excited with a 6 point preseason (1 goal, 5 assists). And former first overall pick Alex Galchenyuk was solid with 2 goals and 4 assists.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
As mentioned before, the Hounds had a very solid preseason thanks to some strong performances from returning players. David Quesnele paced the team in the goal scoring department with 4. Gianluca Curcuruto had 1 goal and 4 assists from the blueline. And veteran (at least in age) Rudy Sulmonte had 3 goals and 3 assists.

Sudbury Wolves
Second year forwards Brody Silk (3 goals) and Matthew Campagna (1 goal, 3 assists) had solid preseasons. The Wolves are going to need a strong sophomore effort from them on a second scoring line.

Windsor Spitfires
Rookie center Michael Clarke looks poised to break into the OHL full time with a 3 goal preseason. And second year forward Kerby Rychel is perhaps showing he has more offense to his game than people give him credit for, with 3 goals and an assist.

That's it folks. Stay tuned for an "experts make their picks" article that will be appearing in a few days. Otherwise, get ready for the regular season!

Apperance on The Pipeline Show

2011-09-07T17:28:00.001-04:00

Was privileged enough to be on "The Pipeline Show" again last night, with Guy Flaming. We discussed the upcoming OHL season.

Check it out!

2011-12 Season Preview - Award Predictions

2011-09-05T13:03:00.002-04:00

I bring you part three, award predictions time! It's definitely likely that not a single one of these predictions come true!

Red Tilson Trophy (MVP) - Ryan Strome
The OHL has so many quality forwards in the league this year, the race for the Red Tilson has to be wide open. I think Strome has to be the front runner right now, as long as he doesn't make the New York Islanders (which I don't think he's ready for). The IceDogs are set to be one of the league's elite teams this year and Strome is their most important offensive player. He nearly won the scoring title last year and should be equally as beastly this year, even if he does miss time at the World Juniors. There are a number of other forwards who could garner serious consideration like Nail Yakupov, Christian Thomas, Tyler Toffoli, among a few others. The only non forward I could see getting mention is Ryan Murphy, as long as he doesn't make the Hurricanes. He'll be the key to Kitchener's success this season and will have a Ryan Ellis like impact on that team.

OHL Goaltender of the Year - Mark Visentin
I'd be really surprised if Visentin doesn't repeat as goaltender of the year. Again, the Dogs are going to have a very good team and Visentin is the best goalie in the league. Plymouth should be the class of the West and Scott Wedgewood is poised for a big year. He could get consideration, especially if Plymouth's solid defense can really get that GAA down. A wild card has to be John Gibson of Kitchener. He comes into the league with the same hype Jack Campbell did, but I think he'll have less of a learning curve. Michael Houser of London could also get some votes if the Knights can win their division.

Max Kaminsky Trophy (Defenseman of the Year) - Ryan Murphy
If Murphy returns to the OHL (which I think he will, and should), this award is his to lose. He's arguably, the most important player to his team's success (maybe even at any position) and should have a monster offensive season. Dougie Hamilton (if he returns) will get some votes too. Nick Ebert in Windsor should have a monster year in his draft season and could be the odds on favourite if Murphy and Hamilton end up in the NHL. A couple of overagers could work their way into discussion too. Josh McFadden is going to put up a ton of points in Sudbury, it's whether people view his defensive knocks as a strike towards this award. And I think this is the year that Beau Schmitz really explodes offensively in Plymouth.

Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year) - Max Domi
Pretty wide open field this year I think. I've heard tremendous things about Domi coming out of London thus far and with the offensive firepower they're surrounding him with, I think he could have a big year. I really wanted to pick Daniel Altshuller here. Oshawa is going to ride him and they should be a very good, division leading team. The only problem is that the odds are stacked against him. Only one goalie has ever won the award, Bruce Dowie in 1980. Another "true" rookie I'm hearing great things about so far is Brandon Robinson in Brampton. He's going to get a ton of playing time and could help ignite the Battalion's offense. And let's not forget the Euro's, who've won the award 2 of the past 3 years. I think Kitchener's Radek Faksa and London's Olli Maatta are the two best options on that front.

Leo Lalande Trophy (Overager of the Year) - Taylor Carnevale
As always, the competition for the Overager of the year will be intense. There are always a ton of great 20 year old's in this league, making huge contributions. I think Carnevale in Sarnia is in the best situation to put up some big numbers. He'll have some serious firepower on his wings and plays in all situations. Previously mentioned Josh McFadden and Beau Schmitz are serious contenders on defense. If Ryan Martindale returns to Ottawa, he could easily win this award while playing with Toffoli and Prince again. Andy Andreoff in Oshawa should have a big year and is an all situations type of player. A true wildcard could be Euro Andrei Kuchin who finished off last year in terrific form.

Matt Leyden Trophy (Coach of the Year) - Mike Vellucci
As I've stated, I think the Whalers are the cream of the West heading into the season. I see the Dogs as the cream of the East. But I like Vellucci to beat out Marty Williamson for coach of the year, based on the fact that Plymouth finished a little lower in the standings last year, and that people seem to like Vellucci a bit more. If the Sudbury Wolves can be as good as I think they will, Trent Cull will deserve a lot of votes too. As will Jacques Beaulieu in Sarnia if they end up being as good as everyone anticipates.

Eddie Powers Trophy (Scoring Leader) - Ryan Strome
A lot of people put a lot of emphasis on the WJC's when selecting the potential scoring champion. Usually that's the case. And it very well could be if one of the league's premier offensive juggernauts fails to make their WJC team (certainly possible). But in the event that the likes of Strome, Christian Thomas, Tyler Toffoli, Nail Yakupov, etc are all playing elsewhere in December and January, I like one of the heavy favourites to still capture the scoring title. I'm going with Strome.

Goal Scoring Leader - Christian Thomas
I'd be really surprised if one of Thomas, Toffoli, and Yakupov aren't the league's top goal scorer. They finished in the top three last year and are back and surrounded by just as much team talent. I'm picking Thomas because I see Oshawa having the best season (of those three teams) and because he's such a consistent workhorse. Greg McKegg in Erie could have a big year too, as could a couple of the league's premier snipers, who are now overagers; Brett Thompson, and Josh Shalla. Tom Kuhnhackl in Windsor could be a bit of a wildcard here too.

All Star Teams

1st All Star Team
C - Ryan Strome
LW - Tom Kuhnhackl
RW - Christian Thomas
Defense - Ryan Murphy
Defense - Dougie Hamilton
Goaltender - Mark Visentin
Coach - Mike Vellucci

2nd All Star Team
C - Greg McKegg
LW - J.T. Miller
RW - Tyler Toffoli
Defense - Nick Ebert
Defense - Beau Schmitz
Goaltender - Scott Wedgewood
Coach- Marty Williamson

3rd All Star Team
C - Alex Galchenyuk
LW - Freddie Hamilton
RW - Nail Yakupov
Defense - Josh McFadden
Defense - Ryan Sproul
Goaltender - John Gibson
Coach - Trent Cull

That's it folks. Bring on the 2011-2012 season. Anyone case to post their award predictions?

2011-12 Season Preview - Western Conference

2011-09-03T09:19:00.004-04:00

I bring you the second part of my season preview; a rundown of the Western Conference.

1. Plymouth Whalers
The Whalers have set themselves up for a tremendous season and are looking like a serious Memorial Cup contender. Plymouth is a very deep and balanced team, who has both the desire and talent, in combination with the pedigree for winning. At forward, this team is as deep and talented as any in the league. The additions of JT Miller and Andy Bathgate were definitely great. Better yet, the core of this team's offense should be around for another year after this, making this team a force to be reckoned with over the next two seasons. The defense is anchored by overager Beau Schmitz, who should have a tremendous year as he aims to get an NHL contract. In goal, the Whalers have perhaps the best goaltending tandem in the league with Scott Wedgewood and Matt Mahalak. Never a bad problem to have, even though I'm sure both goaltenders will want starting time. Plymouth is one of the surest bets to be among the league's elite this year too, because they don't really have any serious threats to make the NHL or AHL, like Niagara (for instance) does.

2. London Knights
The Knights should return to the top of the West again this year, after a one year hiatus (don't you wish your OHL team could say that?). The backbone of this year's Knights team will be goaltender Michael Houser, who will play workhorse for the team yet again and is one of the more underrated players in the league. In front of him, is a likely improved defense with a more confident Jarred Tinordi and Scott Harrington, as well as top import Olli Maatta. At forward, the team is returning all major players and have a deep line up. Expect a big year from second year forward Andreas Athanasiou. The true key for London may be the return of their powerplay to dominance. Any good London team has a strong powerplay, and last year's was among the worst in the league. With Olli Maatta and a recovered Jake Worrad, this year's unit should be much improved with comfortable quarterbacks on the line.

3. Sarnia Sting
I have to admit, I'm a little bit leery putting Sarnia this high. While they have a ton of talent on paper, I'm not sure their defense and goaltending is quite good enough (especially with Connor Murphy's injury) for them to put forward the consistency that would be needed to finish this high in the West. But like everyone else, I'm enamored by the potential of the team's forward group. You thought they were electric last year? What about adding Taylor Carnevale, Reid Boucher, and Ludvig Rensfeldt...in addition to the inevitable improvements made by the team's current young stars. So the team will be able to put the puck in the net. They were able to do that last year. In net, veteran Brandon Maxwell is going to have to have a big year and be more consistent than he was in Kitchener. The team's new look defense will have to gel and new faces like Alex Basso and Anthony DeAngelo will need to play big roles while Connor Murphy recovers from injury. While I've got Sarnia high, it wouldn't surprise me if giving them home ice advantage is a bit premature and some of the more veteran and more well rounded teams like Kitchener and Saginaw end up finishing ahead of them.

4. Saginaw Spirit
I've seen a lot of comments about Saginaw being a bit overrated going into the year based on the goaltending questions they're facing. And sure, neither Tadeas Galansky or Jake Paterson is a sure bet to prove to be a competent starter this season, so the criticism is valid. But if there's a team who can get by this year with average goaltending, it's Saginaw. They have one of the strongest and oldest defenses in the league, and the addition of Jamie Oleksiak won't hurt one bit. Not to mention, that the team's forward unit is one of the most dedicated defensive groups in the league, who play hard at both ends. Really, the team is returning all major players on offense from last year, except Ivan Telegin. So chemistry should be high, as long as you bank on improved seasons from the likes of John McFarland and Brandon Saad. If this team's goaltending surprises and one of Galansky or Paterson emerges as a legit starter (or the team trades for a quality goaltender), I could actually see Saginaw push Plymouth for the West.

5. Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener is a really interesting team this year. I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. 1. Can the team's set of younger forwards take that next step, especially Matia Marcantuoni? If the answer is yes, Kitchener should have a solid offensive team. Keep an eye on import Radek Faksa, who I've heard great things about. 2. Is Ryan Murphy going to make the NHL? If the answer is yes, this team will not finish 4th in the West. I don't think he's ready, and if Kitchener has his dynamic ability on the back end, it makes them better 5 on 5 and on the powerplay. 3. Is John Gibson going to have similar growing pains as Jack Campbell did last year? He comes in with the same kind of hype and same kind of international pedigree. Something tells me that this guy is the real deal though, as he exudes a real calm about himself on and off the ice. 4. Obviously everyone is going to be following Ben Fanelli this year and rooting for him to succeed and fulfill the potential that was robbed of him. While I'm not sure his on ice success has a huge impact on Kitchener's season, he makes for an intriguing storyline to follow. If the answer to the above questions is negative in nature, than Kitchener could actually struggle this year and find themselves closer to the bottom of the West.

6. Windsor Spitfires
Spits management has hinted that this season is to serve as a rebuilding year for the team, but what is a rebuilding year for Windsor really? A rebuilding year for the lined pockets of Windsor isn't exactly the same as the one Barrie went through last year. This team still has a lot of talent at every position, even if depth appears to be a moderate concern for the time being. With Alex Khokhlachev, Tom Kuhnhackl and likely Kenny Ryan at forward, this team should be able to put the puck in the net with some regularity. Kuhnhackl, in particular, should have a big year. The defense is going to look a hell of a lot different without Ryan Ellis for the first time in four years, but Nick Ebert showed last year that he's ready to carry the torch. And in net, Jack Campbell is determined to erase the inconsistency issues that plagued him last year. Mind you, there's a chance the Spits start trading some of these guys to gain picks and younger players, but as of right now, I still think this team is a playoff team.

7. Owen Sound Attack
The reigning OHL champions have lost 7 of their 8 top playoff scorers from last year's run (with only Mike Halmo scheduled to return). And while the Attack do have some nice young forwards like Jarrod Maidens and Gemel Smith, and did acquire Daniel Catenacci, asking the players they currently have to fill that lost production may be a tad excessive. Owen Sound should continue to have a strong defense, who'll be the backbone of this year's team thanks to veteran contributions from the likes of Matt Petgrave, Geoff Schemitsch, Keevin Cutting, and overager Jay Gilbert. Likely, the team will rise and fall with the play of Jordan Binnington, who showed flashes of brilliance at times last year. With a young and unestablished forward group, the defense and goaltending is going to have to carry this team to the playoffs.

8. Erie Otters
I'm not really understanding the lack of love the Otters are receiving this year. Every prediction I've seen, seems to have them finishing outside the playoffs in the West. Now granted, I don't think this is an exceptional team or anything. But I think a team returning as many core players as Erie is, deserves some credit. Teams with a solid core of overagers and 19 year old players, rarely struggle in this league. And with Greg McKegg, Brett Thompson, and Mike Cazzola returning at forward, the mystery of Sondre Olden, and some capable youngsters like Luke Cairns and Chris Marchese, this team should be able to score some goals. Defensively,things could be a little rougher. Derek Holden and Adam Pelech are steady and capable, but outside of them the team is relying on younger, inexperienced players. In goal, things are complicated. Ramis Sadikov is back...for now, complicating the team's already complicated overager situation. Not to mention the team acquired Tysen Teichmann this offseason to be their starter. Sadikov is almost certain to be dealt, even if he's the best of the bunch.

9. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
I've seen the Hounds a lot higher on other predictions, but I'm not buying it. I think this is a solid team, but not without question marks. I think they're right in that mix with Windsor, Owen Sound, and Erie, battling for the bottom spots of the West. But of those teams with serious question marks, I think the Hounds are least likely to have theirs answered. There is no question that Sault Ste. Marie has a great defense lead by the likes of Ryan Sproul and Gianluca Curcuruto. But I'm not convinced they won't have any better luck scoring goals as they did last year when they finished second last in the West in goals scored. The teams in this league who score goals (and really in any league) are those that have dynamic players down the middle. The trading of Daniel Catenacci really hurt (even if Andrew Fritsch is a solid player). I like Nick Cousins, but I don't think he's a premier playmaker in this league. And in net, I'm not convinced Matt Murray is ready to take a team to the playoffs (or Chris Perugini if the team decides to keep him on for the roster for the long run). This team could easily slide into the top 6 of the West, if things work out for them. But I think they could just easily finish out of the playoffs yet again.

10. Guelph Storm
I look at the Storm and see a team pretty similar to the Greyhounds. They're built from the defense out. Andrey Pedan, Tim Campbell, Matt Finn, and Stephen Gaskin (likely) form a solid top four, and the Storm have some solid younger talent to fill the remaining spots. In net, Brandon Foote is generally solid and will provide some veteran leadership. It's at forward, where this team will struggle. Like Kingston in the East, Guelph has only one forward who has scored more than 15 goals in an OHL season (Cody McNaughton). Unlike Kingston though (sorry Fronts fans), the Storm actually have some quality young players who have potential. But potential is the key word. Will the likes of Zack Mitchell, Brock McGinn, and Scott Kosmachuk, etc, be excellent OHL players eventually? More than likely. But will they be good enough next year to lead this team to the playoffs? The answer to that seems pretty unlikely at this point.

Stay tuned for Part 3, Award predictions!

2011-12 Season Preview - Eastern Conference

2011-09-01T17:27:00.002-04:00

Another Ontario Hockey League season is upon us. That means it's time to play the role of prognosticator, predictor of the future. The season preview will come in three parts. This is part one, an examination of the Eastern Conference. The other two parts will look at the West and at the awards to be handed out in 2011-2012.

The thing that makes predicting outcomes in the OHL so difficult, is the uncertainty surrounding the return of certain star players. You've got several players in the league who are candidates to play in the NHL next year. You've also got a lot of overage players trying to earn contracts or the chance to play in the AHL. The return or departure of these players can make a big difference. For example, what happens to the Eastern Conference favourite Niagara IceDogs if Ryan Strome and Dougie Hamilton make the NHL, and Alex Friesen impresses enough at Canucks camp to earn a contract and a spot in the AHL? Are they still the favourites of the East? The unpredictability is exciting (and nerve racking) for fans and league executives alike.

Here's my preview of the East.

1. Niagara IceDogs
While the Generals and 67's should have terrific teams this season, I think it's safe to say that Niagara is the favourite to win the East right now. And why shouldn't they be? Their offense is anchored around an extremely veteran presence. Besides Ryan Strome, their top 6 forwards will be comprised of 19 and 20 year olds. They've got a very well rounded defense that is anchored by lottery pick Dougie Hamilton, and playing in net is arguably the league's best goaltender, Mark Visentin. The core of this team has been through a couple fairly long playoff runs and they know what it takes to win. Couple that with the fact that they've got a large advantage when playing in the smaller confines of the Jack Gatecliff. The only thing stopping them is the potential departure of Ryan Strome or Dougie Hamilton to the NHL. The loss of either would be a significant blow, although one would have to think that Marty Williamson would be quick to fill the void via trade.

2. Oshawa Generals
The East Division should be a real dogfight this season, between the 67's and Generals. Two very dangerous offensive line ups, but I'm giving the nod to Oshawa because I think their veteran laden defense (anchored by overagers Scott Valentine and Danny Maggio) will stand up to the rigors of the OHL season a tad better. Their forward group is damn scary and possibly the best in the entire league. Just how much better will players like Nicklas Jensen, Lucas Lessio, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, etc be this season? It was a young line up last year and this year they should be stronger and more consistent. The real wild card for the Generals is...or at least was in net. The acquisition of Daniel Altshuller should help Oshawa fans sleep a little more easy. But as much as he's accomplished this early in his career (Gold at the Under 17's and at the Ivan Hlinka), is he truly ready to be a top flight goaltender in this league?

3. Ottawa 67's
With Tyler Toffoli and Shane Prince (and maybe even Ryan Martindale), the 67's will definitely be able to put the puck in the net. Sean Monahan is a potential break out candidate if he ends up centering that dangerous first line. In net, the 67's have the energetic Petr Mrazek, who has proven himself to be one of the better goaltenders in this league. He'll be playing in his third OHL season and should have a fantastic year. I think the question mark lies in the team's defense. Overager Marc Zanetti will be the anchor with Cody Ceci providing solid support in his draft season. But can enough of the young guys step up to fill in the gaps like Ryan Shipley or Taylor Fielding, or can Jake Cardwell or Michal Cajkovsky really up their game?

4. Sudbury Wolves
IMO the Wolves are one of the most intriguing teams going into the season. They finished last year with a lot of momentum and are returning most of their critical components. Team chemistry is huge and if the Andrei Kuchin, Michael Sgarbossa, Josh Leivo first line can really find that magic again, Sudbury would be provided with a dynamic offense. The defense is identical to last year, and again, chemistry will play a large part (like the solid duo of Justin Sefton and Frank Corrado). The big question mark will be in net. Import and Blackhawks draft pick Johan Mattsson comes after having success in Sweden, but who really knows how well he adapts to the OHL? If Mattsson plays well and some of the team's younger forwards (Kontos, Silk, Schutt, Campagna, etc) show significant improvement, I could actually see the Wolves challenging for 3rd in the Conference.

5. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
There is absolutely no denying that the Majors will not be as good as they were last year. As what happens with most Memorial Cup challengers the following season, the team is faced with filling the voids left by several key contributors of 2010-2011 (such as captain Casey Cizikas). But, I don't think this is a full on rebuilding year...at least not yet. The Majors still have veterans Devante Smith Pelly, Stuart Percy, and JP Anderson (among others), and should get increased offensive contributions from the likes of Joe Cramarossa, Mika Partanen, and Jordan Mayer. Import Sergei Kuptsov has been turning heads in camp so far too. But there is some uncertainty surrounding the team. Just how well does the team play without Dave Cameron (even if James Boyd employs a similar system)? What happens if Devante Smith Pelly makes the Ducks (as some Anaheim fans are envisioning)? The Majors should be good, just not great this year.

6. Peterborough Petes
I think everyone was disappointed with the season the Petes had last year. Goaltending was terrible. Injuries plagued the team. Key players failed to take steps forward. So what makes them resistant to a repeat performance again this season? I think you have to point to a few good things that happened this offseason. One was the acquisition of Mike Morrison from Kitchener, who proved himself a very capable goaltender last year and is now a solid veteran presence. The second was the selection of Peter Ceresnak in the import draft, who should help to solidify the team's defensive situation (along with an improved Slater Koekkoek and hyped second rounder Steven Varga). This will be a big year for Matt Puempel and Austin Watson, who shouldered a lot of the blame for last year's poor performance. Hopefully these two can have excellent offensive seasons and get the Petes back some respect.

7. Brampton Battalion
I thought Brampton would have been one of the worst team's in the league last season. And even though they were atrocious offensively, they won games thanks to the always dependable defensive system employed by Stan Butler. Of course it always helps when you've actually got a great defense like Stan Butler should have this season. While they're young, they have the potential to be one of the league's best defenses in a few years. Offensively, the team will likely still be challenged to score on a consistent basis, even if the team's forwards are a largely veteran group. They'll need a better performance from the likes of Sam Carrick and Phil Lane if they want to finish higher than the bottom of the East.

8. Belleville Bulls
You have to be curious about the Bulls and their progression as a team. This is a young team with a lot of good young talent. But also a team that appears to be surrounded by a bit of turmoil. Gone are four of the players that they team hoped would really explode as OHL players last season (Andy Bathgate, Tyson Teichmann, Steven Strong, Alex Basso), however the team is still left with a lot of quality young talent...especially at forward with the likes of Austen Brassard, Michael Curtis, Brendan Gaunce, and Carter Sandlak. The question is whether these players finally take that next step or not. One thing is for sure, the Bulls believe they've got a quality starting goaltender in Malcolm Subban. I'm quite curious as to how he handles a full season as the team's unquestioned starter. Really, the Bulls could finish anywhere from home ice in the first round (if the team's young talent explodes), or out of the playoffs (if those same young players falter again).

9. Barrie Colts
There is absolutely no denying that this year's Colts' team is better than last year's. There is also no denying that being better than last year's team is pretty damn easy. But the team made some very shrewd moves this offseason which should definitely make Barrie a contender for a playoff spot. They added Ivan Telegin to give Mark Scheifele some help down the middle and added Reid McNeil and Derek Hartwick to provide veteran presence on the blueline. It also remains to be seen just how large of an impact Aaron Ekblad will have, considering his age and the position he plays. But with the aforementioned Scheifele and Telegin, along with Colin Behenna, Eric Locke, Steven Beyers, amongst others, Barrie's offense could actually be quite strong. I think, like most teams, one of the keys will be in net. Seems like Clint Windsor will probably be relied upon as the starter, with other characters looming in the shadows. If Windsor shows solid progression and can play consistently, Barrie could be a surprise team.

10. Kingston Frontenacs
I'm sad to say it, but I think it's going to be a very ugly season in Kingston this year. I just don't see any way that this team can be a playoff team. On defense, the team has a total of two players who have over 10 games experience in the OHL (Alex Gudbranson and Jeff Braithwaite). Offensively, the Fronts have only one forward who's scored more than 15 goals in a season (Ryan Spooner). And in net, the team is relying on Igor Bobkov, who despite all the hype, was quite bad for London last year. For my money, Kingston has to be front runner for the Jack Ferguson Award winner of 2012.

Stay tuned for Part 2 in the coming days.

Sunday Top 10 - Unheralded Rookies Who Could Make an Impact in 2011-12

2011-08-14T17:01:00.002-04:00

The offseason doesn't give us a lot to talk about, so this is a feature I love to run on this blog every year; the examination of some rookies who could make an impact in the OHL next season.

Now, by rookies I don't mean fresh faced, newly drafted 1995's. We're talking about some of the 1994's (and possibly even 1993's) who didn't make the OHL full time last year, but who have the potential to make a real big impact in 2011/2012. Every year, players like this emerge to become quality, even star players, in this league (see Mark Scheifele, Phil Lane, Geoffrey Schemitsch, etc). And every year, I put together this list with the help of someone who's able to see the Tier 2 and midget level a hell of a lot more than I do. See, 2010 and 2009's lists, with the help of former Mckeen's head honcho David Burstyn (who's now working for an NHL team).

This year, I enlisted the help of Sean Lafortune, a new contributor for Future Considerations, who is very well versed on the "goings on" of Tier 2 hockey in Ontario. Sean has put together a list of 10 guys (with a few wild cards) that are worth keeping an eye on this season.

Here is his write up in no particular order...

Daniel Altshuller - Goaltender - Belleville Bulls
Nepean Native Daniel Altshuller is a goaltender who has an impressive resume, and in my humble opinion, is the best draft eligible goaltender in Canada. His resume includes the top goaltender award at the World Under 17 Challenge, and more recently being named to Canada's entry into the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in the Czech Republic, where he helped Canada to yet another gold medal. He is everything that scouts look for in a goaltender in 2011. He is well sized, and displays excellent focus and mental strength. He never seems rattled or phased in any situation, and always seems to remain calm. He displays strong athletic abilities, including his lateral movement while in the butterfly, as well as his reflexes. He is very strong positionally, and always is square to the shooter, taking away open space in the net. The question is whether he actually plays in the OHL next season. It recently came out that he's not interested in battling Malcolm Subban for playing time in Belleville and won't be reporting there (thus the Bulls' acquisition of John Chartrand). So if he ends up playing in the OHL next season, it'll have to be for another team (hello Oshawa, you need goaltending!)

Justin Auger - Forward - Guelph Storm
Coming off a strong season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) Auger is an intriguing prospect. He combines size and skill and is a prototypical north to south winger, who's game is tailored for the OHL. Despite his size he is actually a fairly effective skater, who has above average footwork and mobility. He is at his best without the puck driving to the net, as well as working the cycle along the boards in the offensive zone. Although he is well sized, he is not overly physical and will have to continue to work on really maximizing his physical play.

Ray Huether - Forward - Barrie Colts
Stratford native Ray Huether is one to watch this season. Originally drafted by the Saginaw Spirit, Barrie acquired his rights this summer with the expectation that he will become an offensive force for the Colts. Huether is an offensive minded forward who has a lot of natural skills. He is a strong skater and is at his best with the puck in the offensive zone. He has a very accurate, effective shot, and has that ability to score timely goals. He is well sized, but does not always use it to his advantage, and could improve his aggression both on the forecheck as well as along the boards. Currently slated to start in the Colts top two lines, with either Mark Scheifele or import Ivan Telegin, once should expect him to be given every opportunity to succeed in Barrie.

Trevor Carrick - Defense - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Carrick is an intelligent two way defenceman who was one of the top 1994 aged players in the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season. He is a strong, physical defender who is at his best in his own end, playing an aggressive and smart defensive game. This season in Stouffville he displayed improved puck handling and offensive instincts with the puck, and although there is still some room to grow with his puck handling, his progression over the past 12 months has been impressive. Carrick should be a key member of a rebuilding Majors team, and hopefully follow the lead set by brothers Jake and Sam.

Holden Cook - Forward - Owen Sound Attack
After losing Joey Hishon, and the expected losses of Garrett Wilson and Andrew Shaw, scoring will be an issue for the Owen Sound attack this season. One solution to that problem could be winger Holden Cook. Playing last season with the Whitby Fury, Cook is an intelligent winger who is at his best with the puck on his stick. He rarely will panic with the puck, and is willing to let a play develop around him before making a decision. His best asset is his footwork and acceleration. He also respects his defensive responsibilities, and is strong positionally in all three zones. He is willing to mix it up physically, however he could be stronger down low in the offensive zone. He has a good accurate shot, however that is another area that he could improve on. Expect him to start on the third line, and move up as he proves himself at the Ontario Hockey League Level.

Zac Leslie - Defenseman - Guelph Storm
After a successful season in with the Gloucter Rangers of the Central Jr A Hockey League, Zach Leslie is a player who appears ready to move up a level to the Ontario Hockey League. Leslie brings offense from the back end. He is a strong skating defenceman who is strong at moving the puck with poise, and is also proficient at skating the puck out of danger and into an area where he can make a smart play with it. He makes strong stretch passes if available, or can simply make a smart play by finding an open man in the neutral zone. He has some room to grow with both is positional play, as well as his lower body strength, which will help him in battles for loose pucks in the defensive zone. Given Guelph's lack of depth on the blue line this season, one can expect him to come into the league and play a top 4 role with the storm, play second line power play and develop as the year plays out.

Drake Caggiula - Forward - Erie Otters
After spending a year in the Ontario Junior A Hockey League, there is no doubt that Pickering native Drake Caggiula is ready to take on another challenge. Caggiula is an intelligent centre iceman who is very creative offensively. He reads the ice well in both the offensive and neutral zone, and is strong at distributing the puck on the rush. He is not what you would call a natural goal scorer, but his strong positional play does put him in the right place at the right time. He is a very strong skater who maximizes his stride and acceleration. His size and strength will be an area that he must work on moving forward. He is not physically intimidated, however he can struggle against bigger and stronger defenceman. Caggiula does have options, as he was a pick of the Des Moines Buccaneers in the recent USHL Entry Draft, however the expectation is that Caggiula will be an Otter by the start of the season.

Michael Clarke - Forward - Windsor Spitfires
Windsor's second round pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, Clarke is a hard working two way forward who projects out as a solid second line centre at the OHL level. After spending last season with his hometown London Nationals, Clarke should be poised to become a key building block for the Spitfires. He is strong with the puck and distributes it well in the offensive boards, and is more of a playmaker then a pure finisher. His best assets include his intelligence, his competitiveness, as well as his positional play in all three zones. Although he may not wow you with his puck handling, he is the kind of player who every team needs to have in order to win. Should be able to step in and play a third line centre role with the Spitfires, and have the opportunity to move up the ladder as the season moves forward.

Adam Lloyd - Forward - Brampton Battalion
Lloyd is an effective offensive forward who is at his best in the offensive zone. He sees the ice well and makes strong decisions with the puck, both at a stand still and at a higher speed. Undoubtedly his best asset is his offensive skill. He shows good creativity with the puck, and although he may not be a pure goal scorer, he has the overall offensive tools to be a strong offensive player in the Ontario Hockey League. He is a strong skater who has good footwork and accelerates well. He should step into the Battalion's lineup in a top 9 forward role, play some second line power play and add some secondary scoring. At times he can struggle with his consistency, as well as his physical play.

Josh Brown - Defenseman - Oshawa Generals
Brown is a big, strong physical defenceman who had a strong year in Whitby with the Fury. He is strong positionally in his own end, and aggressive down low and along the boards. He is at his best playing in his own end, using his reach to close down passing lanes, as well as battling for position in front of the net. Despite his size he moves well and has good mobility and footwork. He has shown in the past that he can make strong plays with the puck, however he still does have some room to develop that skill. Already signed with Oshawa, his biggest issue this season will be getting playing time on a defence core that is expected to have most of its defence core back, minus Tony DeHart and Calvin De Haan.

Wildcards

Cristoval Nieves - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
Nieves is one of, if not the best 1994 aged forward not yet in the Ontario Hockey League. Neives is a well sized, offensive minded forward who displays a high ceiling, and is currently expected to be a first round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. His OHL rights are held by the Niagara Ice Dogs, however all reports have him playing the season at Kent Prep School (or with the Indiana Ice of the USHL), which is an interesting proposition for a forward of his skill set. He is expected to follow through on his Michigan commitment and step on the ice for the Wolverines next season. Check out this goal he scored from the currently happening Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

Robert Polesello - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
Polesello spent last season with the Vaughn Vipers of the OJHL, where he was named rookie if the year. He was projected as a top pick in the 2010 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, however made an early commitment to Boston College, one that appears to be strong. His current OHL Rights are held by the Kingston Frontenacs, and he has committed on to play with Indiana Ice of the USHL this season.

Riley Barber - Forward - Windsor Spitfires
Barber is a smart two way forward who displays strong intelligence and offensive ability. Although it appeared early in the summer that he was close to committing to Windsor, Barber has committed to the US National Team Development Program for the 2011 season. Barber is not committed to any NCAA College at the moment, and he is expected to be a early to mid 2nd round draft pick in the 2012 NHL draft.

Honorable Mentions (a few to keep an eye on that didn't make Sean's list and report).

Nathan Pancel - Forward - Sudbury Wolves
The CJHL Rookie of the Year last season, playing for Gloucester, Pancel is a gifted offensive winger who already got a taste of the OHL last season during the playoffs. He didn't look out of place then, and with an offseason dedicated to training, he should be ready to grab a top 9 role on the Wolves.

Kurtis MacDermid - Defenseman - Owen Sound Attack
Brother of former Attack tough guy (and current Boston Bruin prospect) Lane MacDermid, Kurtis brings a lot of the same things to the table from the back end. He lead Owen Sound (of the GOJHL) in defenseman scoring this past year too, which suggests that he could bring some offensive elements to the table as well. The Attack have a young team with some openings and perhaps he could grab one.

Jake Worrad - Defenseman - London Knights
A 1993, Worrad essentially lost a year to injury in 2010, after it was expected he would come in and be a big part of the Knights young defense. Still equipped with a lot of offensive potential, Worrad could return this year and make a substantial impact (especially on the Powerplay).

Special thanks to Sean for helping out with this article. You can follow him on twitter HERE. And be sure to check out Future Considerations in the future for Sean's work.

Sunday Top 10 - Jumping Ship to the OHL - Part THREE

2011-07-24T14:51:00.002-04:00

This has become a bit of a tradition here at the blog. Where we examine the possibility of certain players (mostly American) leaving their current teams or commitments to play in the Ontario Hockey League.

I do not include any 1995's on the list, as these guys were just drafted and as such, there has to be some assumption that they'll play in the OHL if they're a higher draft selection (even though a guy like Anthony DeAngelo probably would make a lot of sense for this list).

For reference sake, here is last year's list & here is 2009's list.

The timing of this list is perfect, as this past week it came out that J.T. Miller and Jamie Oleksiak will likely be playing in the OHL next season. They'll appear on this list.

Just a very quick disclaimer. While some research has been done for this article, the players listed here are not DEFINITELY coming to the OHL. And in some cases, some of them haven't even been mentioned in rumours as to be considering the OHL. The purpose of this article is to inform OHL fans of possible players that could be joining their line up in the future. It's all here say, and is in no way (for the most part) substantiated.

Here's the list.

10. Zachary Aston Reese - Kitchener Rangers
Reese is currently slated to head to Brown in 2012, and played last season with Lincoln of the USHL. He was a draft selection of the Soo Greyhounds in 2010, but had his rights traded to Kitchener this offseason. The Rangers are trying to work out a deal to bring the talented offensive forward into the fray, but there is apparently some distance between the two sides on a contract. If he heads to Kitchener, Reese has the potential to find an offensive role with the team and be an important player moving forward.

9. Matthew Peca - Kingston Frontenacs
It's not too often that we say a top prospect's rights have been traded away from Windsor, but that's the case for undersized, offensive forward Matthew Peca. Slated to head to Quinnipiac next year, Peca was drafted by the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning this year and it has appeared to have changed his perspective on things. Not to mention that Peca's rights were traded from Windsor to the Kingston Frontenacs, a significantly closer to home option for the forward. Peca is currently mulling over his options, so we'll see what happens. But if he does join Kingston, Peca could be an impact offensive player in the league. He won a Junior National Championship (RBC Cup) with Pembrooke of the CCHL last year, where he was named the tournament's MVP.

8. Jacob Trouba - Kitchener Rangers
At this point, Trouba is an extreme long shot to play in the OHL next season. He was recently named to the U.S. Under 18 team for next year, a commitment few back out on. The more likely scenario would have Trouba play out his draft year in the USHL and then join Kitchener next year (as he has yet to make an NCAA commitment). Trouba is considered to be a potential top 15 draft selection in 2012 and is a legitimate two way defenseman who could be an impact player in this league.

7. Riley Barber - Windsor Spitfires
Like Trouba, Barber is a long shot to play in the OHL next season because he's slated to play on the U.S. Under 18 team. Also like Trouba, Barber has no NCAA commitments and seems almost destined to play in the OHL in 2012-2013, after his draft season. Barber is a potential first round talent for the 2012 draft and is a scrappy offensive forward who would fit in very well alongside the likes of Kerby Rychel and Brady Vail.

6. Jordan Schmaltz - Windsor Spitfires
If the Spitfires were smart, they'd continue to work on getting this talented offensive defenseman in a Windsor jersey. With the loss of Ryan Ellis, Schmaltz would be a fantastic addition on the blueline. He was one of the best defenseman in the USHL last year, and as an October 1993 birthday, he's eligible for the 2012 draft, where he's expected to be a potential top 15 pick. When Schmaltz de-committed from Wisconsin, everyone figured it was to join Windsor. But recently, Schmaltz committed to North Dakota and now seems like a long shot to ever play in the OHL. Should he change his mind, he could probably jump into the league as a top 10 defenseman.

5. Scott Mayfield - Kitchener Rangers
Long rumoured to be courted by Kitchener, Mayfield has rejected the advances thus far. Playing the past two years in the USHL with Youngstown, Mayfield is set to attend the University of Denver in the fall. A big, hulking, physical defenseman, Mayfield would no question help out Kitchener's defense and give them a tower to pair with Ryan Murphy. Just something to think about. Mayfield was a draft pick of the New York Islanders this year (34th). The Islanders just got burned by a loophole that allowed two of their better NCAA prospects, Jason Gregoire and Blake Kessel, to become free agents. Any chance they're feeling a little bitter towards the NCAA currently and ask Mayfield to play in the OHL?

4. John Gibson - Kitchener Rangers
During the two years he played with the U.S. Development program, Gibson was a winner. He won Under 17 gold, where he was the best goaltender in the tournament. Last year, he won Under 18 gold, where he was again, the top goaltender in the tournament. That winning pedigree has to interest Kitchener, who traded away their starting goalie (Brandon Maxwell) this offseason. While Mike Morrison definitely seems capable of being a solid starter, there is no question that adding Gibson would be preferential. A second rounder of Anaheim this year, Gibson is set to be a Michigan Wolverine come September, which doesn't bode well for him in the OHL, but you truly never know.

3. Tyler Biggs - Oshawa Generals
Just what Oshawa would need, another top flight forward in their line up. Set to be one of the elite's offensive juggernauts next season, Oshawa would love to add the power forward Tyler Biggs to their top 9. The question is, where do the Toronto Maple Leafs want Biggs to play? After spending a first rounder on Biggs this year, the Leafs will likely have a lot of say as to whether they want him in Oshawa or at Miami-Ohio. The real kicker is that Biggs' father (Don) is in the top 10 of career scoring for the Generals and is one of the better players to ever don an Oshawa jersey. It'll be interesting to see where Biggs is next year. I think it could go either way.

2. Jamie Oleksiak - Saginaw Spirit
After a solid freshman season with Northeastern University, the 6'7 physical blueliner seems set to play in the OHL next year, after being drafted 14th overall by Dallas. After his head coach, Greg Cronin, left for a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Oleksiak apparently started to really give the OHL route some thought (probably with a nice push from Dallas). While it's not confirmed yet, it does appear Oleksiak will be a Spirit next year. The question is, what type of player will we be getting in the OHL? A bigger, physical defenseman who'll struggle to adapt like Jarred Tinordi did last year. Or a beast who'll jump into the league as one of the league's best rearguards. The Spirit could definitely use the later next year. I know Ryan O'Connor would certainly look great next to Oleksiak and give him a bit more freedom offensively.

1. J.T. Miller - Plymouth Whalers
The first player this offseason to de-commit from an NCAA program (North Dakota) and join the OHL, Miller is poised to make a large offensive impact in Plymouth. The 15th overall pick by the New York Rangers, Miller is a solid two way player who'll fit right into the Whalers line up alongside the likes of Stefan Noesen and Rickard Rakell. For those who watched the Under 18's last year, I felt like Miller was the U.S.' best forward at the tournament and I look forward to the energy he's going to bring next year.

2011 CHL Import Draft Review

2011-07-05T17:26:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, June 30, the Canadian Hockey League held its annual Import Draft where CHL teams got the opportunity to add import talent to their teams. There is two rounds of the draft, and a team can pass on or trade their pick at any time. Just to remind you, CHL clubs are permitted to carry only two import players on their team or protected list every year.

While the Import Draft can be a bit of a crap shoot, many of the players drafted do come over and can have an impact. Let's breakdown the results of the 2010 Import Draft.

26 of 26 players selected came to the Ontario Hockey League (100%)
21 of 26 players selected lasted the entire OHL season with their clubs (81%)
10 (open for debate) of 26 players had a significant impact on their OHL teams (38%)

Looking at these results, last year's Import Draft was a very significant one for the OHL. 10 real impact players were added to the league, of which the majority are sticking around for the 2011-2012 season. Also, over 80% of the picks managed to be useful enough players that they spent the entire season with their clubs. Contrast that with 2009, which was around 50%, and you've got a very successful draft.

You never really truly know what you're getting in these players, despite what scouting reports or first hand accounts may tell you. Is this year's Import Draft a good one? Let's examine some of the selections with the help of some foreign hockey experts.

1. London Knights - Olli Maatta - Defenseman
Leading up to the draft, there was a lot of hype about the Knights possibly selecting potential first overall pick in 2012 Mikhail Grigorenko. When it came out that Maatta was going to be London's guy, some Knights fans appeared to be a little disappointed. But they shouldn't be. Maatta is a legitimate contender for the top half of the first round in 2012 and is a guy on everyone's radar. HF's Chapin Landvogt even goes as far as to compare him to Janne Niinimaa ("but with more heart"). He looks like the perfect compliment to London's current defense, which is missing a confident offensive creator.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says, "He's a thoroughbred. Not always the most economical skater, but logged tons of minutes at the U-18 and was safe and sound in all three zones. Hustles and is always awake out there. Seemed to always take the body as his first choice when defending. A coach's dream player. Good at deciding when to skate with the puck, when to pass it and when to just dump it in the zone or shoot it. Usually quite crouched and concentrated when handling the puck in the offensive zone. Reminded me a wee bit of a Janne Niinimaa - but with a heart. Has good jump, although it sometimes looks like there's something in his pants holding him back. Sounds funny, I know, but it jumped out at me. His stance has his legs generally far apart. Has skyrocketed in development. Wasn't even on the charts last year at this time and likely had the most ice time of any defenseman for Finland. Was also the youngest player on the WJC team. Definitely a kid you see improving in leaps and bounds once he gets used to the NA style." Here's an interview Chapin did with Maatta this season. Here's what our anonymous European scout had to say. "Excellent prospect, has made great improvement during the season(I was lucky to see him at fourth tourneys throughout the season). For me top 15 for 2012. Simply said, heart and soul player, just leader on ice, great passion and determination, excellent stamina. Great ability to skate the puck out of zone under pressure, makes quick decision with puck in all zones, has vision. Heavy shot. His skating looked better and better every time I saw him. Loves to lead the rush and doesn´t miss opportunity to join the rush. Still I don´t remember situations when he would be late on backcheck into his D-position, has strong instinct and knows when to go and when to stay back. Strong in battles, tights forward up along the boards, banger, tough and physical.Very decisive handling the puck, excellent in moving the puck out of zone distributing the puck quickly on forwards, very accurately. Passes are crisp and accurate. Heavy low shot from point. Moves well on PP at the point, can do both, move the puck as QB or be used as triggerman. Attacks opposing forwards early, angles them to the board, good gap. Has improved skating throughout the season, especially footwork, very strong on skates, has power in stride."
Stats Link

4. Peterborough Petes - Peter Ceresnak - Defenseman
A draft pick of the New York Rangers this year (6th round), Ceresnak is a big defenseman from Slovakia who should help to shore up Peterborough's defense this season. The 6'3, 210lbs rearguard served as the captain of team Slovakia at the Under 18's this year and even has some experience playing against men in the Slovakian men's league.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous source that scouts in Europe said this, "Not a big fan of him, I don't consider him as NHL prospect, should be good player for Peterborough though. Well built physically, very strong on skates. Feet are a bit slow and heavy, line skating, stride is okay. Has some ability to skate the puck out of zone under pressure and make good firm, first pass. Strong in battles along the boards, fights forwards up there, can play physical games but lacks timing on his hits at times. Not really smart positionally, doesn't read the play well in own zone, could be beaten 1 on 1 down low and gets out of position looking for hit. Not instinctive or creative player offensively, lacks ability to lead PP from point. Shot is heavy but release is a bit slow. Doesn't read the play quickly enough to make right play with puck under pressure at times."
Stats Link

7. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - Egor Malenkikh - Defenseman
With their first Import pick, the Hounds went for big Russian defenseman Egor Malenkikh, a 6'3 rearguard who plays with Russia's 1994 select team. Interestingly enough, he was the 4th overall pick in the 2011 KHL Draft by SKA St. Petersburg. So there has to be some doubt as to whether he reports, although with the NHL draft success Russian players have had the past few years could sway his stance. He's already on NHL Central Scouting's radar as they have him listed as a player to watch for 2012 (here). It seems like if he does come over, he could make a pretty reasonable impact.
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso provides us with a scouting report. "He's a big guy and a good skater who has very good puck skills. He plays first pairing hockey with Team Russia 94. A very good player, but as far as I know he's not too interested in reporting, but we'll see." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Big, physical, solid skater, has mobility for his size. Average skills and not really smart with puck. Strong on skates, likes to get involved physically. Heavy shot but lacks accuracy. Thought process with puck is questionable, reading is a bit slow, makes turnovers regularly."
Stats Link

10. Brampton Battalion - Patrik Machac - Forward
The Battalion have added a talented offensive center, but one who lacks size. Machac played well for the Czech Republic at the Under 17's this year (leading his team in scoring) and is listed as a player to watch for the 2012 from the Czech Republic by NHL Central Scouting (here). As we all know, Brampton was an offensively challenged team last year, so here's hoping Machac can add some dynamic ability to a line up that needs it.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous European scout had this to say, "undersized center plays much bigger than his size. Plays a very intense and competitive game. Strong skater with speed, acceleration, agility, shifty. Skilled and creative, strong stickhandler and puck control in tight. Has vision and passing touch. Not afraid to play in high traffic and takes hits to make play."
Stats Link

13. Belleville Bulls - Danill Zharkov - Forward
Zharkov split this past season between the MHL (Russian Junior League) and the USHL. His midseason departure to North American suggests that he's likely a sure thing to report. He has good size at 6'3 and based on the scouting report I have received below, he seems like a guy who could find success on the big ice in Belleville.
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso says "He's a very fast player with a good offensive skill set. Zharkov is not a superstar but can get his job done." Meanwhile, TSR's Scott Campbell got a few looks of Zharkov this season, but said he didn't really stand out and was receiving limited ice time in Tri-City. Also, TSR's main USHL contributor Rich Michalowski had this to say. "The big Russian joined the Storm mid-way through the season. He has the look of a player who has the talent and potential to be considered a top 120 pick in 2012. Zharkov skates hard and with a purpose and has good speed that will improve as he refines his skating just a bit by lengthening his stride. Offensively, Zharkov has the awareness and ability to get the puck to his teammates as well as an above average shot. However, his one on one skills and creativity are his strengths. Zharkov displayed those skills often when I watched him and while on some occasions his hands weren’t as quick as his legs, he made some sick plays with the puck and beat several players one on one. Plus, Zharkov showed not only a willingness to throw his weight around but also finished his checks and at times was a dominant player in both ends. Zharkov also appeared to score points with his teammates when he went after a player who took a run at one of the Storm and appeared ready to drop the gloves if the other player obliged. Zharkov is a player to watch for sure."
Stats Link

16. Mississauga Majors - Sergey Kuptsov - Forward
There's no question that once he arrived, Maxim Kitsyn had a profound impact on the Majors offense and was one of the team's most consistent scoring threats. With this pick, they seem to have targeted another Russian player who brings some of the same things to the table.
Scouting Report: Kuptsov is a very solid all around player and a potential power forward prospect. "He's a good player," says Alessandro Seren Rosso. "He's big and fast and can play decently also on defense. I think he's a very good pick as he can score and play physical too."
STATS: Salavat Yulaev 94, Russian junior regional leagues, 32 GP, 21+19, 38 PIM (stick tap to Alessandro for digging these up for me)

19. Sudbury Wolves - Johan Mattsson - Goaltender

22. Kitchener Rangers - Radek Faksa - Forward
It would appear that the Rangers did quite well for themselves with this selection. Even if it meant giving up the rights to Gabriel Landeskog (who has to be considered all but a lock to play in Colorado this year), Kitchener fans should be happy. Faksa played a lot in the Czech U20 league this year, as a 16/17 year old and is listed as one of the top players from the Czech Republic for the 2012 draft...and a possible first round selection.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous European scout says "Excellent pick by Kitchener, Faksa is very good NHL prospect, right now I see him as late first or second round prospect. Versatile, two-way forward who can play successfully both, as center or at the wing. Smart and instinctive with puck. Good puck skills and very good hockey sense and vision. Can handle the puck in speed and solid hands. Makes creative sets-up around the net and good finishing touch. Competitive, good heart and character. Needs to add strength and improve balance but still able to overpower and compete against stronger players along the boards. Wins battles down low and not afraid to take huge checks to make a play. Strong in puck pursuit on forecheck and on backcheck. Drives the net and finishes checks hard. Solid speed and acceleration, needs to improve agility."
Stats Link

25. Barrie Colts - Mathias Niederberger - Goaltender
An interesting selection by the Colts, only because their selecting a goaltender to add to their growing collection of netminders. With John Chartrand, Clint Windsor and Josh Malecki already with the team, you have to wonder what the motivation is. Niederberger is someone who already has experience playing against men in the DEL and is likely being brought in to try and create some healthy competition. May the best man win.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says "Well, Niederberger is a BIG surprise. His father was a big time pro in the German scene well into the 90s. He's been playing with the Düsseldorf organization in recent years. Didn't know he'd even be considered outside of the country."
Stats Link

28. Guelph Storm - Tanner Richard - Forward
Looking to help counter the loss of forwards Peter Holland, Taylor Beck, and Michael Latta to the pro ranks (more than likely), the Storm went with a forward in the Import draft. Richard is the son of a Canadian, playing in Switzerland (father is former OHL star Mike Richard...not Richards). Guelph is going to need all the help they can get offensively this year so I'm sure they're hoping he'll come over rather than make money in the NLA.
Scouting Report: Hockey's Future's Rafik Soliman gives us his report. "Tanner Richard is the son of former North American pro Mike Richard and due to his bloodlines Tanner is blessed with a high hockey-IQ. Although a playmaking type forward, he possesses a nice, accurate and hard shot which he doesn’t hesitate to use. Has an average frame for a forward, but isn’t afraid to use is. Is an ok skater, but his speed and intensity level should suit the North American game well. Can lose his composure and take penalties due to undisciplinary behavior. It’s still not 100% clear if he’s making the trip to the OHL, since his hometown pro-team, the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, are fighting hard to have him in their team."
Stats Link

31. Erie Otters - Sondre Olden - Forward

34. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - David Elsner - Forward
With their first pick, the Hounds tried to hit a home run, but with this second pick the Hounds seemed more focused on drafting an older player who can likely step into their line up and play a depth role. Elsner is one of the few NHL Draft picks part of this crop (Nashville 7th in 2010), but isn't likely to have a ton of offensive potential.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says "Elsner is a bit of a surprise as well, but he is a Nashville draft pick and didn't really take the step in development he was hoped to last year. Should he head over, I can't imagine he'll have a big impact. Average sized boy who plays a chippy game. Just doesn't show much offensive upside." Here's what our anonymous European scout had to say: "I liked his energy, competitiveness, work ethic but . Checking line winger even at level of junior competitions. Finishes checks, competes hard in puck pursuit, skates hard all the time, battles for puck in corners. However he brings little offensively. Skills, hockey sense, vision, instincts, creativity are very modest. Decent hands for puckhandling though."
Stats Link

37. Erie Otters - Vladimir Tkachev - Forward
The Otters are hoping they found something a little better than Timofei Tankeev last year. Tkachev was eligible for this year's NHL Entry Draft, but was not even ranked by Central Scouting. He performed admirably for Russia internationally and could be a bit of a diamond in the rough.
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso says "He has potential. He's no Mikhail Grigorenko, but he has good offensive instincts and is disciplined." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Looks smaller than listed. Good vision and creativity in offensive zone, makes nice sets-up from the board, good passing touch. Some skills, handles puck well in tight. Purely finesse player, lacks any physical aspect in his game but at least not afraid to go into high traffic."
Stats Link

40. Owen Sound Attack - Michael Schumacher - Forward

43. Saginaw Spirit - Vadim Khlopotov - Forward
Khlopotov is an undersized offensive forward who spent some time in the MHL and with the Russian Under 17 team this season. The biggest question will be whether he's able to fight through checks and is strong enough to put up offensive numbers next season.
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso says "Khlopotov is a very gifted offensive player who simply has size issues. He can also be aggressive at times. He's a good project pick who'll need to get stronger." Our anonymous Euro scout says this, "Good skills, some scoring instinct and goes straight to the net. Can hit pretty hard, one of few Russians who can play at least a bit physical. Good hands and hockey sense. Solid competitor at both end. Skates well, has speed, acceleration, agility, balance."
Stats Link

46. Oshawa Generals - Sebastian Uvira - Forward
Uvira is a scrappy offensive winger who made a bit of a name for himself with solid play at this year's Under 18's. If he comes over, he could fit in very nicely with the group of forwards Oshawa has accumulated for next season. But he apparently has a contract with Augsburger of the DEL for next season, which clouds the likelihood that he comes over.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says "Uvira is the interesting one. Very solid kid who is responsible in a two-way capacity. Decent size. Opened eyes at the U-18. Actually had a very solid all-round season for the German junior champions. Could have an impact similar to the one the recently drafted Noebels had in Seattle. It's possible that he'll not be good for more than 35 points though." Here's what our anonymous European scout had to say: "Son of former Czech national team D Eduard Uvira(World champion in 1985) has dual citizenship(Czech and German). There are some intriguing tools. Has smooth stride with good speed and acceleration. Good size and willing to use it, plays with energy, initiates contact and finishes his checks hard. Can beat d with speed and finesse moves, quick hands/stick. Unfortunately, he has got little hockey sense, he isn´t instinctive and creative player, his decision making with the puck is very questionable and he is poor without the puck."
Stats Link

49. Sarnia Sting - Ludvig Rensfeldt - Forward

52. Niagara IceDogs - Jaroslav Pavelka - Goaltender
Was the third ranked goaltender in Europe by NHL Central Scouting for the 2011 NHL Draft, but went undrafted. With a solid year in North America, I'm sure Pavelka is hoping he can turn some heads. With a solid camp, he sets up to be the back up to Mark Visentin in Niagara, a very important job seeing as Visentin will be missing some games (likely) for the WJC's this year.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous European scout says "Nice natural tools and skills, flexible, athletic, good size but technique, anticipation and mental toughness is lacking. Good reflexes, quick glove and moving across the net, skates well. Challenges shooters hard, but tends to overplay the first shot and lacks poise and patience. Many acrobatic saves as results of being often out of position and lack of anticipation, many wasted moves in net. Good balance, competitive, never gives up on shot, vocal, plays with temperament. Likes to go out of net to handle the puck but he is not good puckhandler. Decent absorbing shots by his body but kicks out some big rebounds with his pads. With good goaltending coach, he could surprise some people."
Stats Link

55. Owen Sound Attack - Artur Gavrus - Forward
The little Belarussian Gavrus would appear to be a pint sized offensive dynamo, after the performance he put on at the Division 1 Under 18's this year (as a 17 year old). He lead his team in scoring and was named one of the top player's in the tournament. But at only 5'9 (and an apparent 150lbs), can he play in the OHL?
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso says "Gavrus is someone who's been scouted by CHL teams for over a year now. He can do it all offensively, score and set up linemates for good scoring opportunities."
Stats Link

58. Sudbury Wolves - Jiri Sekac - Forward
If the name sounds familiar, it should. Sekac was a 2009 Import selection by Peterborough...and a major disappointment who lasted all of 8 games with the Petes before being cut. But after a very solid offensive season, the 19 year old Sekac is hoping to give the OHL another try. He lead his USHL team (Youngstown) in scoring last year, so there's a chance he's another Kuchin for the Wolves (hopefully without the slow start).
Scouting Report: TSR's Scott Campbell isn't quite sold that Sekac's second tenure in the OHL will be much different. "Sekac is better than he was 2 years ago, but I don’t think he’s going to be much of an impact player in the OHL. He’s got a weird stride and he gets knocked off his game by physical players." TSR's main USHL contributor, Rich Michalowski agrees to some degree, "Sekac improved alot from the previous season and was without a doubt Youngstown's best and most consistent player besides Mayfield. He easily had the best skill set of the Phantoms and would be a contributor at one of the better NCAA programs had he taken that route. He's not overly physical but yet showed a willingness to get feisty at times. I've seen him fight before and while not a great fighter, did not show any fear. That said, I am anxious to see how long it takes him to adapt to the OHL level in what will be a physically grinding schedule."
Stats Link

I WILL UPDATE AS I GET MORE INFO. WAITING ON STUFF FROM A SWEDISH & SWISS CONTACT.

2011 NHL Entry Draft Results

2011-06-25T14:36:00.003-04:00

The results are in! The 2011 NHL Entry Draft is complete. A successful draft for the Ontario Hockey League as 46 players were drafted (4 more than last year and the same as 2009). That's about 22% of all players drafted.

Below you can find the results for OHL players, as well as my draft ranking before the draft (for comparison's sake).

My Rank	Player Name	PO	OHL Team	NHL Team	RD	Pick
1	Gabriel Landeskog	F	Kitchener	COL	1	2
2	Ryan Strome	F	Niagara	NYI	1	5
3	Dougie Hamilton	D	Niagara	BOS	1	9
4	Ryan Murphy	D	Kitchener	CAR	1	12
5	Mark Scheifele	F	Barrie	WPG	1	7
6	Alex Khokhlachev	F	Windsor	BOS	2	40
7	Nicklas Jensen	F	Oshawa	VAN	1	29
8	Brandon Saad	F	Saginaw	CHI	2	43
9	Matt Puempel	F	Peterborough	OTT	1	24
10	Boone Jenner	F	Oshawa	CBJ	2	37
11	Stefan Noesen	F	Plymouth	OTT	1	21
12	Vladislav Namestnikov	F	London	TBL	1	27
13	Brett Ritchie	F	Sarnia	DAL	2	44
14	Ryan Sproul	D	SSM	DET	2	55
15	Stuart Percy	D	Mississauga	TOR	1	25
16	Daniel Catenacci	F	SSM	BUF	3	77
17	Rickard Rakell	F	Plymouth	ANA	1	30
18	Lucas Lessio	F	Oshawa	PHX	2	56
19	Vincent Trocheck	F	Saginaw	FLA	3	64
20	Shane Prince	F	Ottawa	OTT	2	61
21	Joe Cramarossa	F	Mississauga	ANA	3	65
22	Nick Cousins	F	SSM	PHI	3	68
23	Seth Griffith	F	London
24	Andrew Fritsch	F	Owen Sound	PHX	6	155
25	Tobias Rieder	F	Kitchener	EDM	4	114
26	Alan Quine	F	Peterborough	DET	3	85
27	Scott Harrington	D	London	PIT	2	54
28	Josh Leivo	F	Sudbury	TOR	3	86
29	Matt Mahalak	G	Plymouth	CAR	6	163
30	Craig Duininck	D	Windsor
31	Mitchell Theoret	F	Niagara	NYI	7	185
32	Andrey Pedan	D	Guelph	NYI	3	63
33	Jordan Binnington	G	Owen Sound	STL	3	88
34	Mike Morrison	G	Kitchener
35	Garrett Meurs	F	Plymouth	COL	5	123
36	Barclay Goodrow	F	Brampton
37	Keevin Cutting	D	Owen Sound
38	Justin Sefton	D	Sudbury	SJ	3	89
39	Austen Brassard	F	Belleville	WPG	5	149
40	Matej Machovsky	G	Brampton
41	Frankie Corrado	D	Sudbury	VAN	5	150
42	Dario Trutmann	D	Plymouth
43	Michael Curtis	F	Belleville
44	Anthony Camara	F	Saginaw	BOS	3	81
45	Colin Miller	D	SSM
46	David Broll	F	SSM	TOR	5	152
47	Carter Sandlak	F	Belleville
48	Spencer Abraham	D	Brampton
49	Ben Thomson	F	Kitchener
50	Colin Suellentrop	D	Oshawa	PHI	4	116

1	Andy Andreoff	F	Oshawa	LAK	3	80
2	Michael Houser	G	London
3	Matt Petgrave	D	Owen Sound
4	Josh Shalla	F	Saginaw	NSH	4	94
5	Ramis Sadikov	G	Erie
6	Taylor Carnevale	F	Windsor
7	Andrew Shaw	F	Owen Sound	CHI	5	139
8	Adrian Robertson	D	Windsor
9	Mitchell Heard	F	Plymouth
10	Steven Beyers	F	Barrie

1	Andy Bathgate	F	Belleville
2	Brandon Maxwell	G	Kitchener
3	Scott Valentine	D	Oshawa
4	Michael Zador	G	Owen Sound
5	Daniel Maggio	D	Oshawa
6	Barron Smith	D	Peterborough


N/A	Alex Lepkowski	D	Barrie	BUF	5	137
N/A	Dylan DeMelo	D	Mississauga	SJ	6	179
N/A	Garret Sparks	G	Guelph	TOR	7	190

N/A

Tyler Graovac

Ottawa

MIN

197

N/A

Derek Mathers

Peterborough

PHI

206

Some general comments:

First of all, congratulations to all the players who got drafted. All your life's hard work culminated with this event. To all those who went undrafted (much to your disappointment I'm sure), stay strong and persevere because many players earn contracts after the draft at training camp (ask Tyler Hostetter), get drafted the second or third time around (ask Andy Andreoff), or end up signing an NHL deal as an overager (ask Jason Akeson). There is more than one way to get to the NHL.
Biggest surprise in terms of a player going undrafted has to be Seth Griffith. He may not be big, but he does a lot of things really well.
Also very surprised to see Michael Houser and Matt Petgrave go undrafted again. Petgrave is good enough to get an invite to Team Canada's summer camp (over many drafted players), but isn't good enough to get a call from an NHL team? Interesting indeed.
Really happy to see Mitchell Theoret get drafted. Been pumping his tires all year and was starting to think I was a little bit crazy. The Islanders got a good pick there.
Also really happy to see Andrew Shaw get drafted. He deserved it after his Memorial Cup and playoff performance. Should make a great 4th line energy guy at the next level
For the rest of the draft results, go here.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts and comments on draft weekend.

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft

2011-06-23T16:42:00.002-04:00

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft starts tomorrow, so it's time to prep you with the information you need.

My Top 50 From the OHL
50-31
30-11
10-1

Top Draft Re-Entries

Unsigned Players Re-Entering the Draft

OHL Media Members Pick the Top 10

Final NHL Central Scouting Rankings

Good luck to all the OHL players hoping to get drafted this weekend!

Sunday Top 10 - The Media Picks the Final Top 10

2011-06-19T11:46:00.004-04:00

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft is less than a week away. I'd say it's about time we completed the trilogy we started back in October.

Firstly, here are the previous two lists compiled by various members of the OHL media.

EARLY LIST DONE IN OCTOBER

MIDSEASON LIST DONE IN JANUARY

For the final list, we got our best participation yet. The following contributed to this article: Corey Pronman (Hockey Prospectus), Dominic Tiano (2011 OHL Draft Eligible Blog), Guy Flaming (The Pipeline Show), Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News), Scott Campbell (The Scouting Report), Nathan Fournier (The World of Junior Hockey), Stephen Clark (TV Cogeco Niagara), Kirk Luedeke (Bruins 2011 Draft Watch), Patrick King (Sportsnet) [Who by the way is hosting a live chat on sportsnet.ca during Friday's first round], Dan Stewart (Future Considerations), and last, but not least, yours truly.

Without further ado, here's the list.

10. Boone Jenner - Oshawa Generals
Received Votes From: 8 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 6 (twice)/Outside the Top 10 (thrice)
Preliminary Ranking: 10
Midseason Ranking: Honorable Mention
Comments: The hard nosed, two way center seems to have firmly entrenched himself in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Jenner has been knocked for his somewhat ugly skating stride, but one contributor believes that to be overstated, "Skating has improved enough for him to be a 1st-rounder." Another knock seems to be his NHL potential. Is he more than a 3rd line center at the NHL level. "While there are more skilled players available, Jenner has the size and potential that NHL teams love," says another contributor. Another contributor feels that his offensive potential has been a little undersold. "Jenner actually put up more points than Jensen in Oshawa this season. And next to Landeskog, probably the most complete player from the OHL." Which brings us to an interesting comment from another contributor. "I'm not sure what it is about players like Jenner at the draft. If you're a solid two way center in junior, but you don't have dynamic offensive skills, you get pigeon held as this future 3rd line center. I remember people saying the same things about Mike Richards in his draft year. Jenner can produce offensively and he has skill to match his overall game. Why couldn't he develop into a 60 point player in the NHL?"

9. Alex Khokhlachev - Windsor Spitfires
Received Votes From: 8 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3 (once)/Outside the Top 10 (thrice)
Preliminary Ranking: 5
Midseason Ranking: 7
Comments: Interestingly enough, The Khok continues to slide in our media rankings. Considering the season he had, what's the reason? "I'm just not convinced his body holds up against the rigors of the NHL. He's skilled, but with his aggressive style of play, I'd like him to be a lot bigger than he is," says one contributor. Another contributor points to the lack of improvement in his defensive game, "Love the skill and production, but he needs to round out his game." But he does have his fans. "Russian players can be enigmatic at times, but Khokalachev seems more grounded than talents such as Vladimir Namestinikov and Nail Yakupov, who will likely be a top two or three pick next year. He's a consistent player," says one contributor. Interestingly enough, despite the fall in our rankings, one contributor feels he got better as the season went on. "He won me over with his playoff performance. Some nights he took a lot of abuse, and some nights that abuse translated into a meaner, fiercer offensive machine."

8. Matt Puempel - Peterborough Petes
Received Votes From: 8 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 5 (twice)/Outside of the Top 10 (thrice)
Preliminary Ranking: 4
Midseason Ranking: 6
Comments: Another guy who has fallen in our rankings over the course of the season. A lot of that can be attributed to two things; his hip injury and the Petes' brutal season. But one contributor feels that the abuse he has taken is unfair. "Unfairly forgotten because of where he played and the hip injury. Could be the best pure scorer of anyone in this group. In the end, the average tool kit (other than the shot and hockey IQ) is what dropped him, but he won CHL Rookie of the Year for a reason and is underrated." But another contributor isn't as convinced. "Puempel has natural scoring ability and a good shot but so did long time AHL scorer Donald Maclean, and that is were the fear comes in. Puempel has to improve his intensity shift by shift to make sure that does his career does not take that road." The key question, of course, is did Puempel really improve this year after his ROY season? "I think the answer is yes," says one contributor. "I think Puempel actually took some big steps forward and became more of an impact player on his own. Was creating on his own a lot more and seemed to be more dynamic than he was as a rookie. Still has one of the best shots and releases of anyone in the draft and I think if this guy is on a line with a half-decent center, you’ll have a 30-goal scorer."

7. Brandon Saad - Saginaw Spirit
Received Votes From: 9 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 5 (once)/Outside of the Top 10 (twice)
Preliminary Ranking: 2
Midseason Ranking: 3
Comments: Perhaps the player who fell the most this year. Going from the consensus 2nd and 3rd best player available from the OHL to a guy who wasn't even ranked on two lists! What the heck happened? "He just didn't take that step forward in the second half of the season. At the beginning of the year he was playing well, but not great and people were saying let him get adjusted to the OHL before we start criticizing him. Then the second half rolls along and there weren't any improvements. I think he's just an overly hyped player who is good, but not as good as many pegged him to be," says one contributor. Another contributor agrees. "I'm hesitant to even put him this high. His ability as a goalscorer is there, but at this point I believe it's more based on potential than production. I was really excited to see him in the OHL this season and left wanting more, but not in a good way. His disappearing act in the playoffs likely hurt his draft stock the most." Does anyone still believe in him? "No question that Saad's stock has dropped but one cant help but be intrigued with the potential that exists. He has size and is a very good skater with excellent speed. But he needs to find his consistency more than anything. When he's on his game he can drive the net, battle and win, and create opportunities. The problem he's had this season though is finding that consistency. And if he finds it, could be a steal in the draft," says a contributor.

6. Nicklas Jensen - Oshawa Generals
Received Votes From: 10 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 5 (once)/Outside the Top 10 (once)
Preliminary Ranking: 9
Midseason Ranking: Honorable Mention
Comments: The Great Dane of Oshawa, Jensen exploded onto the scene of his first OHL season. While he wasn't always the most consistent player, at least one contributor believes in his potential (just so happens to be the one that ranked him 5th). "Can score at will with that big-time shot of his and was threading the needle with pinpoint passes. Also played chippy, physical game and was involved in his own end, hustling and moving his feet. I know the consistency hasn't been there, but if he can flip the switch and keep it on, this kid could be brilliant." "He needs to add weight," says another contributor. "Once he fills out to 200lbs or so, he could be a real presence." "I think the OHL playoffs were a perfect indication of the player he currently is," says one contributor. "He was outstanding in round one. But in the second round against Niagara, he disappeared. Those wavering consistency issues are his biggest problem. I think it's a fitness/strength issue. Add me to the list of people who think he could be a damn good player once he fills out a bit."

5. Mark Scheifele - Barrie Colts
Received Votes From: 11 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 5 (five times)/9 (twice)
Preliminary Ranking: Absent (no votes)
Midseason Ranking: Honorable Mention
Comments: Scheifele is probably the OHL player who rose the most in the rankings in the second half of the season. A large portion of that has to be attributed to his great performance at the Under 18's. "This kid really opened some eyes in Germany," says one contributor. "He came in with a lot of question marks after playing on such a poor Barrie team. But he showed how much skill he truly has when paired with some higher skilled players. Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see him go in the Top 10." Another contributor agrees. "Lots of raw, projectable potential with this one. Saw him as more of a "safe" guy based on what I heard and saw, but Scheifele really stepped it up over the 2nd half. His stock is definitely on the rise." The only real negative against him is that some don't really see him having first line talent. "Scheifele proved he can put up the points, but I don't get the impression he has first line talent. He may be on the verge of an unremarkable but long and fruitful career, doing all the small things as a secondary player on a championship-winning team." But is there anything really wrong with that?

4. Ryan Murphy - Kitchener Rangers
Received Votes From: 11 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2 (thrice)/4 (six times)
Preliminary Ranking: 1
Midseason Ranking: 2
Comments: The question everyone has on their minds; just how high will this guy go? He's really the true draft enigma. "I could see him going anywhere from the top 5, through to around 15th. He won't fall farther than that though. Too many teams need that strong powerplay presence," says one contributor. One contributor who has him ranked right behind Gabriel Landeskog, had this to say: "Had to give him the nod over Hamilton when all was said and done because of the skill and what he did in Germany with Team Canada. Simply too talented and dynamic to not have up there near the top- can't say enough for his abilities and production. Game-breaker who reminds me of both Paul Coffey and Phil Housley whenever I see him. On the right team, he'll be a killer." Definitely high praise. But just how poor is his defensive game...really? "It's hard to fathom he slid this far after the season he had as a rookie, but it's more a representation of the three ahead of him than it is a lack of ability in my opinion. I think his defensive play has been emphasized far too much and overshadowed the dynamic talent he has in carrying the puck and starting the rush. While we are seeing far more defencemen that can bring the puck up the ice, Murphy's ability to do so is just too good to overlook," says a contributor. Another contributor sums it up nicely. "Murphy is the type of player who gets scouts fired. If he becomes the next Housley or Larry Murphy and a team passes him up to pick a future 3rd line grinder, that's how jobs are lost. Forget the dynamic offensive ability, his high end hockey sense and drive to constantly improve make a believer out of me."

3. Ryan Strome - Niagara IceDogs
Received Votes From: 11 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 1 (once)/4 (thrice)
Preliminary Ranking: 8
Midseason Ranking: 4
Comments: Outside of Ryan Murphy, Strome is definitely the most electrifying player available from the OHL. You've seen his youtube clips. But have you really seen him play? "He's more than just a human highlight reel. He can really play...and think the game. I love this kid," says one contributor. The one thing that seems to split some people is whether he has boom or bust potential, or is a safe pick. "Strome has NHL hit or miss written all over him for me. I love his skill and willingness to take the puck to the net. Don’t love how he can be stopped rather easily when going up against more physical defenses," says one contributor. Conversely, "With his speed and creativity, I don't see any way he busts at the next level. Took it to a completely different level and a sucker punch cheated him of what should have been the OHL scoring crown as a 17-year-old. Ton of upside and I like his off-ice demeanor as well. Winner," says another contributor. The only black spot on an otherwise perfect season? His playoff performance against Mississauga. "Was really disappointed with his performance in round 3. He disappeared. If he had taken the Dogs on his back and lead them to the Mem Cup, we'd be putting him right up there with Huberdeau as a potential top 3 pick. But I think he blew it a bit and is now more a 7-10 guy. Nothing to be ashamed about, but I think he proved himself to be a small step below some of the other top guys," says a contributor.

2. Dougie Hamilton - Niagara IceDogs
Received Votes From: 11 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2 (six times)/4 (twice)
Preliminary Ranking: 6
Midseason Ranking: 5
Comments: Steady as she goes, Hamilton has been slowly rising up this year's charts. Bottom line is this; defenseman with size who can skate and who play both ends of the ice, do not grow on trees. Love the way one contributor put it; "It's a scary thing when size, natural ability and intelligence are found in one package. I don't expect many teams will pass on this very rare opportunity to draft a player that addresses so many vital aspects in today's game. Hamilton is basically a one-stop shop for NHL teams." As the top defenseman available from the OHL, it's interesting to compare him to Murphy (consider them 2a) and b). "He's going to get drafted ahead of Murphy (despite my ranking of Murphy ahead). Still a fine, fine player and prospect in his own right with all the things like size, reach, strength that Murphy won't ever be able to obtain no matter how hard he works," says one contributor. Like Strome, the Dogs difficulties in round 3 against Mississauga might have left a bit of a sour taste in some mouths. "He was horrendous against Mississauga. I think they exposed some weaknesses in his game, like his ability to handle the forecheck. He's a great prospect, but I'm just not sure I'd take him in the top 7 or 8," says a contributor.

1. Gabriel Landeskog - Kitchener Rangers
Received Votes From: 11 out of 11
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 1 (ten times)/5 (once)
Preliminary Ranking: 3
Midseason Ranking: 1
Comments: A near perfect score for Landeskog. Only one contributor feels he's not the top of his class. In fact he feels he's not a top 10 prospect. Let's start with his explanation. "I will start off by stating that I do not think Landeskog is a bad player. Landeskog does a ton of things well and/or at an above-average level. He can skate, shoot, thinks the game well, is a physical beast, and has off-the-chart intangibles on top of other things. There is just one thing he can't do, which is his puck skills and it's the most critical quality needed to control possession. It keeps him from being a top puck-possessor and hurts his offensive ceiling. To summarize, I think Gabriel Landeskog will be a fantastic player at what he does, but what he does is not something I think will be of higher value compared to other prospects above him." What do the others think? You'd be hard pressed to find anything sour. From, "For my money still the best complete package in terms of a power forward who is going to give you every ounce of what he has and is a total leader/perfect teammate. Not buying that he has a limited ceiling, either. I think that kind of stuff rings hollow when you consider he scored 36 goals and was on pace for 48 had he not gotten the high ankle sprain." To, "character and all-around game will have him as high as second overall." To, "the most NHL ready player in the entire draft." The consensus certainly rings true, Landeskog is the best player available from the OHL this year, but remember it only takes one team to prefer someone else on this list at their draft position.

Honorable Mentions

Vladislav Namestnikov - London Knights (7 votes)
Stefan Noesen - Plymouth Whalers (2 votes)
Stuart Percy - Mississauga Majors (1 vote)
Brett Ritchie - Sarnia Sting (1 vote)
Jordan Binnington - Owen Sound Attack (1 vote)

Thanks to all those that contributed!

Kirk Luedeke's Combine Videos

2011-06-16T20:12:00.002-04:00

Blog friend Kirk Luedeke over at the BDW2011 was fortunate enough to attend the Draft Combine. He's been slowly putting up all the videos and interviews he did while there and they are a must watch (in addition to his blog being a must read). I've accumulated all of the OHL interviews for you to take a gander at.

Brett Ritchie

Vladislav Namestnikov

Brandon Saad

Nick Cousins

Boone Jenner

Dougie Hamilton

Ryan Murphy

Ryan Strome

Nicklas Jensen

Mark Scheifele

Abraham a Draft Day Sleeper

2011-06-09T14:52:00.005-04:00

If you remember, back in April, I spoke to Future Considerations head scout Dan Stewart about the OHL players available for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Well in case you weren't aware, FC has released its Draft Guide for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. I've got a copy and I must say that I'm very impressed with it. It's slick in appearance and jam packed with a ton of great reads (including draft rankings, mock drafts, player profiles and a look at next year's draft).

Managing Editor Aaron Vickers decided to send over a little nugget for my readers on a potential draft day sleeper; Brampton Battalion defenseman Spencer Abraham. Read ahead and be sure to order their draft guide!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Abraham a draft day sleeper
By Aaron Vickers

He’s not the biggest dog in the fight, but he may still bark just loud enough to wake the neighbours.

Spencer Abraham stands at just five-foot-11, but the Brampton Battalion defenseman made noise in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League. The 18-year-old finished with 31 points in 67 games, third in rookie scoring among defensemen in the OHL behind Nick Ebert and Ryan Sproul.

Slotted 168th overall in Future Considerations’ final rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, it’s Abraham’s offensive prowess that could make the Campbellville, ON. native a jumper on draft day.

Available now! Purchase FC’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft Guide!

Preview FC’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft Guide!

“Offensively, his game is that of a puck rushing defenseman who keeps his head up, makes smart passes to his line mates and can carry the puck from his zone to the opponents,” Future Considerations’ chief scout Dan Stewart said of the blueliner.
“His transition from defense to offense and ability to set up the quick strike offensive is another asset that should have NHL teams contemplating him as a mid-to-late option.”

His game isn’t without holes though.

Weighing in at 177-pounds. Bigger, stronger forwards have at times, overwhelmed Abraham.

“(His) downside is that he often gets overpowered when put into situations where he needs to use his physical strength to win puck battles.”

Still, the good outweighs the bad and Abraham, which will have teams looking at him later in the draft.

“NHL teams will contemplate him as a mid-to-late option.”

Which will put the dog in the fight.

Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickersFC. Follow the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed at www.twitter.com/FCHockey, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/futureconsiderations and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FCHockey

Passing of the June 1st Deadline

2011-06-04T12:08:00.002-04:00

June 1st has come and gone and we have his year's crop of unsigned NHL draft picks.

The following were unsigned and will re-enter the NHL Draft:

Andy Bathgate
Brandon Maxwell
Scott Valentine
Michael Zador
Daniel Maggio
Barron Smith

The following is unsigned and is now an unrestricted free agent:

Phil Varone

The only real surprise for me was Scott Valentine going unsigned. Apparently he wasn't happy with what Anaheim was offering him and decided to not sign and instead re-enter the draft. I hope this works out well for him. Occasionally, this type of tactic can backfire on players who give up contracts assuming they'll be re-drafted...and it doesn't happen. Valentine is a solid prospect who has made great strides in his OHL career, but he's not a can't miss prospect.

The Goaltending Carousel in Owen Sound

2011-05-27T22:41:00.002-04:00

Like many of you, I was quite surprised to see Scott Stajcer starting the tie-break game between Owen Sound and Kootenay last night. The decision really didn't (and still doesnt) make a ton of sense to me.

Inspired by a discussion with a co-worker today, I decided to send out a few feelers around the league to get some more feedback on the decision. Here's what I got...

"I think I understand why it was done. No Hishon. No Wilson. With the two best players and leaders of the team out, Stajcer was probably put in for a veteran moral boost. But I don't think it was the right decision."

"An obvious ploy to rally the Attack around a veteran player giving it his all, it's just too bad that Stajcer just wasn't up to the task. He can't be solely blamed for the loss, but he certainly wasn't as good as Binnington was previously."

"The decision to start Stajcer was a real head scratcher. What was Reeds thinking? You play the goalie who gives you the best chance of winning the game and that goalie wasn't Scott Stajcer. Binnington has been standing on his head all the way back to Game 6 of the OHL Final. I don't get it."

Basically, these people have summed up what I've been thinking. I think I understand the reasoning behind it, but I certainly don't agree with it. It all comes down to the fact that I'm not convinced that Scott Stajcer is completely healthy and rehabbed, because he hasn't looked very good in these playoffs. With Binnington playing sensationally, why would you not ride the hot goalie?

I also feel pretty bad for Stajcer. It's been a damn tough year for him and to give up 6 goals (why did it take so long for him to get the hook too?) in a season ending game, you could just tell how frustrated and upset he was.

So what are your thoughts OHL fans? Why do you think Stajcer started? Did you agree with the decision?

Apperance on The Pipeline Show

2011-05-25T07:12:00.001-04:00

Was fortunate enough to be on "The Pipeline Show" again last night.

Chatted with Guy about a bunch of things, like the 2011 NHL Draft, and players from the OHL still without an NHL contract.

Check out the audio clip here.

Who STILL Needs to Be Signed by June 1

2011-05-23T13:38:00.003-04:00

Back in February, I took a close look at all the prospects from the OHL who needed to be signed by NHL clubs by June 1st, in order for their rights to be retained.

Well we're about a week and a half away from that deadline, so let's revisit that post and see who's been signed and who still needs to be.

For reference sake, here's the original post from February.

Of the players appearing on that list...the following have signed contracts:

Ethan Werek (With Pheonix after a trade from New York)
Richard Panik
Ben Chiarot
Scott Stajcer
David Shields
Tyler Randell

Of the players appearing on that list...the following still need to be signed:
Casey Cizikas
Marcus Foligno
Garrett Wilson
Kenny Ryan
Jordan Szwarz
Andy Bathgate
Brandon Maxwell
Scott Valentine
Phil Varone
Michael Zador
Daniel Maggio
Cody Sol
Barron Smith
David Pacan (uncertain he has to be signed)

As you can see there is a lot of solid talent without a contract.

Here is what I'm thinking.

I'd be really surprised if Casey Cizikas and Garrett Wilson aren't signed following the completion of the Memorial Cup. My hunch tells me it's a case of two players not wanting to be distracted with contract negotiations during the playoffs. Both are solid NHL prospects who had excellent years and their NHL teams (Islanders and Panthers) would be foolish not to get their signature on the dotted line.

Given how Marcus Foligno developed this season, and his father's long standing connections to Buffalo, I'd also be shocked if he isn't signed. I'm pretty surprised it hasn't happened yet actually.

Then things get murky.

Kenny Ryan developed pretty well this year as a grinder type/two way forward. Considering he was such a high draft choice and the Leafs don't have the league's most talented farm system, it would seem odd if they don't sign him IMO. I don't think he has a high NHL ceiling, but everyone needs players like Ryan in their line up (think of the things a guy like Darroll Powe does for Philly).

Scott Valentine has NHL potential and I think he's developed very well since he was drafted. I know I'd sign him if I was an NHL organization.

The rest kind of seem long shots at best right now. Szwarz is a good player who does a lot of things well, but I'm just not sure he's a guy you look at and say "future NHL player." Brandon Maxwell just never really developed much consistency in his OHL career, and the Avs already have two solid goaltending prospects (Calvin Pickard and Trevor Caan) slated for the AHL next season. Andy Bathgate was given an ATO with Pittsburgh's AHL team to close out the season, but didn't really do anything with it. I'm guessing that was his final test.

I'll be sure to recap and discuss this further when June 1st arrives, for now, just keep checking a site like CapGeek for your latest contract news.

My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft - Part 3: 10-1

2011-05-17T14:31:00.000-04:00

Drum roll please...I present to you my top 10.

10. Boone Jenner - Forward - Oshawa Generals
While some prospects can suffer from overexposure, Jenner is the type of guy you have to see a ton to appreciate. Quite often draft players like him are looked at as potential third line centers. But why is that? Why is it that a draft eligible player who's already a very complete player, is always pigeon held as a future third liner? If it's me, I'm betting on a guy who scored over a point per game in his draft season to improve offensively and become a little bit more than that. Which is why drafting a guy like Jenner is smart. Here you've got a very smart, hard working player who could definitely play in the NHL in the future, but who also has room to grow offensively. People said the same things about Mike Richards in his draft year...Anyway, enough ranting. Jenner is a really intelligent player who makes good decisions with and without the puck. He is intense and will do anything to win (he'll definitely wear a letter sometime in his career). Look no further than his performance in this year's playoffs, where he upped his game. He is the complete package. Yes, his skating is a little choppy and he'll need to improve his explosiveness (something he even admits with Neate Sager in his Draft Tracker segment). And yeah, he's not the most offensively creative player available. But he's efficient. Jenner is a safe pick, but also someone with upside and that's why he'll go in the NHL first round (IMO). Be sure to have a listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

9. Matt Puempel - Forward - Peterborough Petes
Puempel's an interesting player available for this draft. I think the fact that he hasn't slid further in most rankings, is a testament to his talent level and potential. The Petes had a dreadful season and Puempel has to shoulder some of that blame (a large reason CSS has him lower on their list). Puempel also had to have season ending hip surgery, causing him to miss the Under 18's. But the good news is that the surgery on his hip isn't for a debilitating condition and he will recover. If Brett Connolly can still go high in the lottery with his injury trouble, Puempel has a chance too. Puempel is definitely one of the better goal scoring forwards available in this draft. Some guys were just born to be goal scorers. He's got a great shot and he can unleash it anywhere on the ice. He's also a very intelligent player and seems to find his way to loose pucks in front of the net. The next step for him will be improving his ability to take the puck to the net and create offense from that...like any good goal scorer does. He'll also need to refine the rest of his game (play along the boards, backchecking, intensity). But you can't teach the skills he has. I think whoever takes Puempel will need to be patient with him (much like the Coyotes have been with a guy like Brett MacLean), but he definitely has top 6 NHL ability. Be sure to listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

8. Brandon Saad - Forward - Saginaw Spirit
Perhaps the player who disappointed me most this season. Maybe the expectations were set too high, but a lot of people (myself included) expected him to transition rather flawlessly to the OHL. But after failing to post a point per game, I really did come away (on the whole) rather underwhelmed by a guy originally thought to be a potential top 10 pick. Saad does have a lot of strengths. For one, he's already a committed two way player who kills penalties. He's also not afraid to take the puck to the net and obviously has the speed and skill to create offense for himself and his teammates. Perhaps he was a bit unlucky. He had a lot of games this year when he looked good, but failed to hit the score sheet. A lot of people see him as a future power forward, but I think that's a misnomer. He's big, but he's not a power forward. And perhaps that's where some of the disappointment comes from. He needs to improve his play away from the puck offensively by getting more involved in the cycle down low, by winning more battles for loose pucks, and by being a big body presence in front of the net. He had a very good series against Windsor to close out Saginaw's season, which definitely helped save his stock a little bit. I think more than anything, I'm a little bit confused as to the type of player he'll be in the NHL. Is he offensively talented enough to be a consistent top 6 forward? Does he battle hard enough to be a good 3rd liner? Perhaps next year, we'll get to know a little bit more about who the real Brandon Saad is. To find out a bit more, check out his Draft Tracker 5 questions segment with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

7. Nicklas Jensen - Forward - Oshawa Generals
Jensen intrigues the heck out of me. I really like a lot of the things he brings to the table. For one, he's an absolute bull on the puck. I'd be really surprised if when the NHL combine results are released, he doesn't grade incredibly high on all the leg strength tests. His balance and ability to protect the puck are outstanding. He's also a very agile guy and it allows him to not only be strong on the puck, but elusive with it (check out this awesome goal). Secondly, he's got a terrific shot and has good goal scoring instincts. While he is a pretty solid two way player (in terms of the backcheck), it's his play away from the puck that leaves the most to be desired IMO. For a guy who's so strong with the puck, I'd love for him to be more aggressive on the forecheck and in retrieving dump ins. Often times, he'll be coasting in front of the net looking for a pass, instead of doing the dirty work in the corners. To be fair, there are times when he's a factor in those areas, but it's a work in progress. Once that part of his game comes around, I'm really not sure how good he could be offensively. I think there is a lot of potential to his game and he could definitely go higher than many currently predict. Here is his Draft Tracker segment with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

6. Alexander Khokhlachev - Forward - Windsor Spitfires
The real wild card of the NHL Draft. He's a guy you either love or you hate, depending on how you think his game will translate to the NHL level. He's not big and he definitely needs to add strength. While fearless, he does get pushed off the puck rather easily at times and it can really limit his effectiveness and creativity. But he's one of the youngest players available in the draft, so there's a ton of time for him to mature physically. He has a ton of fire to his game and he's always going hard to the net (almost in a pest like capacity) and isn't afraid to take a beating to score a goal. He's a complete offensive player who can put it home with a good wrister, but also has the vision and ability to make a good pass. The real question is whether you think he's able to play this feisty offensive game, at his size in the NHL...and survive. And if he has to change his game to being more of a finesse player, will he be as successful. I always look to see how those guys with size concerns, perform in the playoffs because the games are closely checked. And The Khok was one of Windsor's best players in the postseason. As I said, he's the real wild card of the draft. He could go as high as the top 15 (where Redline has him), but also fall deep into the second round (where CSS has him). We'll find out in June, but I'm a believer.

5. Mark Scheifele - Forward - Barrie Colts
There's no bones about it. No player did more for their stock than Scheifele at this year's Under 18's. He was consistently Canada's best forward and showcased a real complete offensive ability. He can really do it all. At the beginning of the year, he was definitely more of a playmaking, possession center. But as the year wore on and he gained confidence, he became a much more complete player. By season's end, he was a beast at both ends of the ice (just like he was at the Under 18's). He'll take the puck and drive hard to the net, and stay there taking abuse. He's become a physical player who will participate on the forecheck and fight for pucks along the wall. He can score. He can set up teammates. He plays both ends of the ice. His skating is good for a big guy, but can get even better with added strength and conditioning. Scouts always say, they look for guys with an upward trajectory. Well Scheifele got better and better with each passing month. I have to say, in a wide open year, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him go in the top 10. Here's his Draft Tracker segment with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

4. Ryan Murphy - Defenseman - Kitchener Rangers
Don't take my ranking of Murphy at fourth to be a slight towards him. If I could, I'd probably rank Murphy, Hamilton, and Strome as 2 a, b & c. But nobody likes a cop out! I put him fourth because I do still have some reservations as to whether he'll be able to excel at both ends of the ice. I have confidence that his defensive game will improve to the level it needs to, for him to be a big time minute eater (and so does Murphy, as stated in his 5 questions segment with Neate Sager). But I don't think it'll take him to that level where he's going to be considered among the most valuable defenseman in the league. Hopefully that made sense. Murphy's dynamic performance at the Under 18's, had to make believers out of even his toughest critics. Dynamic is the word to use too. He has that innate ability that allows him to dictate the pace at which the game is played. It's not just his skating, but his poise with the puck and ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates. He's not just a flashy guy who skates the puck in, only to have nothing come of it. He's patient with the puck and almost always creates a scoring chance from his rush. His powerplay quarterbacking ability really improved this season too, as his shot from the point improved and he stopped forcing passes and let the play come to him. Defensively, a lot of people compare him to Ryan Ellis. I don't think that's a fair comparison. Ellis is a much gritter player and isn't afraid to push people around. Murphy uses his skating to keep forwards in front of him so that he doesn't have to be physical. In today's NHL, elite puck moving defenseman are at a premium. So why not draft one? Be sure to check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

3. Dougie Hamilton - Defenseman - Niagara IceDogs
There have been some tremendous defenseman to come out of the OHL in recent years, from Alex Pietrangelo to Drew Doughty. And Hamilton is right there with them at the same age. He's built for today's fast paced, yet physical NHL. He's big, yet agile. There's a reason he was named the best skater in this year's OHL Coaches Poll (for the East). Not only can he stay with forwards off the rush, but he's mean and physical and hard to elude in coverage. With that size comes a long stick, which he uses in an almost Chris Pronger like fashion, to separate a lot of forwards from the puck. Defensively, he could turn into a real stalwart at the NHL level. But offensively, he's very strong too. He's a very smart player who makes good pinches and is a very sneaky player. I don't know how many goals he scored this year by sneaking in from the point to receive a cross ice pass around the net. He's worked hard to improve his first pass, and can also skate the puck out of his end. To cap it all off, he's got a cannon from the point that creates a lot of offensive chances for his team off rebounds. The only negative, is that he had a weak Eastern Final performance against Mississauga, which could have possibly left a bad taste in some scouts mouths (if they're discussing a tough decision). But Hamilton should develop into a top pairing minute eater (like a Brent Seabrook) at the NHL level. Check out his Draft Tracker segment with Neate Sager. Also, have a listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

2. Ryan Strome - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
Few players have had the meteoric rise that Strome had this season. From offensive depth player to nearly winning the OHL scoring title in one year. Strome is an absolutely electrifying offensive player. He can make moves at top speed and will make one defenseman look like a fool nearly every game. He is a very complete offensive player who can really wire the puck (especially on the one timer ala Steve Stamkos), but he's also a very good playmaker. He works hard in the offensive end and really slows the game down to give his linemates good opportunities to score. Strome is tenacious away from the puck and goes hard into the corners looking for loose pucks. He'll even drop the mitts if he has to (and has some general pest like qualities to him). But he's not without his flaws. He'll need to improve his two way play in order to play center at the NHL level. I think he could also stand to add another gear to help create even more offense off the rush. Strome was also a little bit disappointing in this year's playoffs for me. He never really found a groove offensively. That being said, I see him having a TON of offensive potential at the NHL level. He's the type of dynamic player you build your first line around. Check out his Draft Tracker segment with Neate Sager. Also, be sure to listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

1. Gabriel Landeskog - Forward - Kitchener Rangers
Compare him to whoever you want to compare him to (be it Jarome Iginla, Mike Richards, Brenden Morrow), Landeskog is the most complete draft prospect I've seen come out of the OHL. I have a lot of confidence that he'll walk right into the NHL next season and make a consistent impact. His offensive game improved leaps and bounds this season. Yeah, he can hit (one of the best and hardest hitters in the OHL). Yeah, he can kill penalties and play both ends of the ice. Yeah, he wears the "C' for Kitchener. But he developed into, at times, a very dominant offensive player. On a lot of dump and chase opportunities, he looked like a man among boys out there. Once he gets going, he's pretty damn hard to slow down. His wrist shot really improved, especially off the rush. He handles the puck well and takes passes at full speed. He's become smarter with the puck and is patient when setting up teammates. Is he going to challenge Crosby for the Art Ross? Probably not. But when you get the opportunity to draft a player who can impact your team on so many levels, you don't pass up that chance. For more, have a listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

Well that's it folks. Have at it!

My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft - Part 2: 30-11

2011-05-16T18:04:00.000-04:00

The second part of the unveiling of my Top 50 eligible OHL prospects for the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Here are prospects 30 through 11:

30. Craig Duininck - Defenseman - Windsor Spitfires
Duininck doubled his point total from last year on route to a solid developmental season. This included some playing time alongside Ryan Ellis in critical situations for the Spits. He's built well to be a solid stay at home guy in the NHL, already at 6'0, 200lbs. While he can be a physical player, he'll have to continue to refine this part of his game. Learning how to pick his spots for big hits, and becoming more consistent in punishing forwards in front of the net. But he skates well for a stay at home guy, and can really handle forwards off the rush with solid backwards and lateral mobility. He's also pretty smart with the puck in his own end and transitions well up the ice. He'll break up an offensive chance and get the puck to a forward quickly to turn the play up ice. He also saw some powerplay time (in a secondary role) and is improving offensively. He has a pretty hard shot and is learning how to get it on net more effectively. While he may not profile as a high end offensive defenseman at the NHL level, he'll likely be a pretty productive offensive player by the time his OHL career is over (think Jacob Muzzin, Marc Cantin, etc). There are a lot of quality stay at home types like Duininck available this year, but I think he's done enough to put himself at or near the top of this group.

29. Matt Mahalak - Goaltender - Plymouth Whalers
IMO, Mahalak is the top goaltender available from the OHL this year. If you saw him in the first four months of the season, you probably left with a sour taste in your mouth. Through December, Mahalak was 1-6 with a 4.86 GAA and a .848 SV%. And since the New Year (January), Mahalak has been 7-6 with a 3.05 GAA and a .924 SV%. Talk about a boost in production. Mahalak is a big athletic goaltender at 6'3, again something NHL scouts love. He makes himself big in the net and when he goes down in that butterfly, he's tough to beat. He's still a bit unrefined in using that size and can give up some big rebounds. And he'll also need to work on getting down his angles and anticipating plays better. But the athleticism and size are there to work with, and judging by the midseason improvements, there is a lot of potential there. If you want more info on Mahalak, check out Neate Sager's Draft Tracker 5 Questions segment.

28. Joshua Leivo - Forward - Sudbury Wolves
Call me a believer. I was absolutely blown away by Leivo's play towards the end of the regular season and into the OHL playoffs. If you include the playoffs, in Leivo's final 40 games of the season, he had 15 goals, 20 assists and was a +20. This type of production from a 6'2 winger who plays both ends of the ice? You might ask, what was he doing in those first 35 or so games? The answer; becoming a complete player. He worked hard in a checking line role, developed his two way game and eventually got the chance on a scoring line. Leivo is a good skater with an extra burst that he uses to beat defenders to loose pucks in the offensive zone and on the forecheck. He'll drive hard to the net with the puck on his stick and creates scoring opportunities for his teammates from good board work. And as mentioned, he's a very good two way player who's the first one back in the defensive zone and seems to have a knack for intercepting passes and anticipating the opposition's next move. I've heard a few people call him a power forward prospect. I'm not sure I'd go that far, as I don't see him developing in that capacity. But he's certainly someone with a huge learning curve and a lot of potential as a two way scoring threat. How Central Scouting left him off their list, I'll never understand.

27. Scott Harrington - Defenseman - London Knights
Perhaps the player who fell the loudest from the OHL this season. Projected to be a first round pick at this time last year, Harrington is now finding himself in that mid round range after a rather disastrous season. I think it's the classic case of a prospect trying hard to be something he's not...or at least not ready to be yet. Now granted, I put a lot of blame on the Knights in this instance because it was they who failed to go out and get a quality puck moving defenseman and thrust Harrington into that role to start the year. When he's focusing on his defense, Harrington is a valuable defenseman. He's got the size, mobility and intensity to be a quality stay at home guy at the NHL level. But he's limited offensively (at the current moment). Through the first half of the season, he struggled trying to be the primary puck rusher and just didn't look comfortable in the role. Just the same, because he was trying to do too much offensively, it took away from his defensive game. It's not often that a defenseman is better defensively in his 16 year old season, but that was the case with Harrington. Next year will be huge for him. He needs to spend the first half of next year getting his confidence back and really focusing on becoming a premier, physical shut down defender. Check out Harrington's Draft Tracker 5 questions with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

26. Alan Quine - Forward - Peterborough Petes
No one has ever doubted Quine's offensive abilities. It's his play away from the puck and in traffic that often leaves scouts wanting more (and he's the first to admit that in Neate Sager's Draft Tracker 5 Questions). That being said, I thought he had an excellent Under 18's, where he showed an increased dedication to play without the puck. He was great along the boards, battled for loose pucks and was attacking the net with and without the puck. If he can carry over that style of play to the OHL next season, he'll be a much improved player. As it is, Quine's best asset offensively is his shot, which he can get off quickly and in traffic. He's a very elusive player, but could definitely benefit from a summer in the weight room to make himself stronger on the puck. To be successful, I think Quine's going to have to develop a waterbug style of play. If he can find that edge, in combination with his skill, he could make the NHL team that takes a chance on him quite happy.

25. Tobias Rieder - Forward - Kitchener Rangers
The tale of Tobias Rieder can be divided into two parts. The first part was the Rieder from the first part of the season who was a highly skilled energy player. He was dangerous on the forecheck, got his nose dirty to score goals, and showed a lot of skill in the offensive end. The Rieder from the second part of the season (including the playoffs) was largely invisible, easily muscled off the puck and largely ineffective. Playing in his first OHL season, it seemed Rieder really tired. He definitely has skill and could be a big time point producer in this league. It's his size (5'10) that will likely scare off some teams, in combination with how ineffective he was later in the year when teams became more physical with him. Hopefully a summer of offseason training will allow Rieder to have the conditioning necessary to play the style of game which makes him effective. Kitchener will definitely be counting on him offensively next season. Here's his Draft Tracker 5 questions segment with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

24. Andrew Fritsch - Forward - Owen Sound Attack
You'd think an offensive winger with over a point per game, playing for the Western Conference champions, would generate a bit more draft buzz. Perhaps it's because he's not really a flashy player, but Andrew Fritsch is effective. Playing with Joey Hishon for a large portion of the year, Fritsch was not just a piggy back. He's a hard working offensive player and a very good goal scorer. He makes smart plays in the offensive end and he gets himself in great scoring position. One of those guys the puck just gravitates too as he gets open in the slot. Fritsch is actually a very good skater too and has some serious wheels. The next step for him will be to improve his strength and ability to protect/handle the puck to capitalize on that offensively and begin to generate more offense himself. He also needs to improve his play away from the puck (defensively, along the wall). Unfortunately for him, he's been injured most of the playoffs and hasn't had an opportunity to show his stuff on a larger stage. But he remains a quality pick anytime after the 2nd round IMO, as a potential secondary scorer at the next level. Here's his Draft Tracker 5 questions segment with Neate Sager.

23. Seth Griffith - Forward - London Knights
I'm kind of torn on him personally. I like him, but I don't love him. Why I like him: He's a very intelligent offensive player who can line up at any forward position and look good/make things happen. He's definitely more of a playmaker than goalscorer, and he's got great vision. His skating is good too, which is the first thing you look at in a smaller forward. I wouldn't say he's a burner or anything, but he's strong on his feet and can play both off the rush and once the offense sets up in the zone. He's also a very dedicated two way player and plays the PK for London. Just a solid all around forward. What's preventing me from "loving" him? I think it's that far too often we've seen players like Griffith in the OHL who have struggled to find a niche at the NHL level. He's one of those "good at everything, but not great at anything" kind of guys for me. While he's definitely a solid two way player, I'm not sure I see him as a 3rd or 4th line center at the NHL level because of his lack of size and because he isn't a physical player. Which means (IMO) he has to profile as a top 6 forward. And while he's a very intelligent offensive player and he definitely has skill, I'm not sure it's enough to slot him in for a future 50-60 point NHL player. He could fall into that "tweener" category that kills so many NHL prospects. That being said, would I draft him? Absolutely.

22. Nick Cousins - Forward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
I have to admit. Before the Under 18's, Cousins was much lower on my list (in the 30's). His performance there opened up a lot of eyes, not just mine. I was previously a little unsure as to what type of player Cousins would be at the NHL level. But the tournament helped to give me that vision, I think. He doesn't have elite size (5'11), but he's a scrappy little player with a big motor. He's a tireless worker in the offensive end and does well to get himself open in front of the net. He'll also pay the price to score a goal and doesn't get pushed around in the slot despite his lack of height. In the OHL this year, his defensive game left a lot to be desired at times (a tendency to float a bit), but at the Under 18's, I felt like he did a great job backchecking. Again, carrying that over to next year would be great for his development. The key to Cousins' development will be the maturation of his play without the puck. As an energy player with hands, he'll have a lot of value. But in order to do that, he'll need to make a concentrated effort to improve his board play and forechecking consistency. Here's his 5 questions segment with Neate Sager. Also, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

21. Joseph Cramarossa - Forward - Mississauga Majors
Definitely a favourite of mine for this year's draft. He managed to put up 32 points this year, despite playing largely on the 4th line with the likes of Jamie Wise, Mika Partanen, Corey Bureau, Gregg Sutch, etc (no offense guys). Cramarossa is your prototypical grinder, but he's damn good at it. He's a quick skater and he uses his speed to play both ends of the ice very well. His speed really helps him negate odd man rushes defensively. I don't know how many times this season, I saw him skate back to lift the stick of a player on a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2. He's physical and punishes defenders on the forecheck. He'll drop the gloves to protect a teammate, or increase his team's energy level. Best of all, he's actually a pretty good offensive player. He can skate with the puck and has very good vision. He's also got a good wrist shot and creates space for himself in the offensive zone. There's a reason Central Scouting has had a guy with his offensive stats, around the top 60 all year. Check out his Draft Tracker 5 questions with Neate Sager to find out more about him.

20. Shane Prince - Forward - Ottawa 67's
While I'm not the most staunch Prince supporter, I do see the value of him as a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick. Prince is definitely skilled with the puck and has the vision to be a valuable playmaker on an offensive line. He's certainly not the best skater (not the worst either), but he also gets a lot of flak for being the third wheel on a line with Tyler Toffoli and Ryan Martindale. On a lot of nights, Prince was the motor that made that line tick though. I think the main concern I have with Prince, is the transfer of his skill set to the NHL. It's just not that common you see a winger who's primarily a playmaker at the next level. And just the same, while Prince isn't tiny (5'11), he's not strong enough or quick enough to create the space for himself required to make those feeds (IMO). He'll have to be paired with a big center who creates space for his linemates, like Ryan Martindale did for Prince this season. He's a smart player and he competes hard, but I'm just not convinced he can be an effective scoring option in the NHL. But just like Seth Griffith, yes I'd absolutely draft him. There are always exceptions to every rule and Prince has certainly performed well enough this year for someone to roll the dice on him. For more, have a listen to his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

19. Vincent Trocheck - Forward - Saginaw Spirit
Trocheck's ranking might be a bit misleading. I definitely like him as an NHL prospect. But his faults...and ultimately high end potential, keep him from being a bit higher. Trocheck is a very smart, hardworking center who was probably Saginaw's most consistent player this season. He's not big (5'11, 180lbs), but he's tenacious, fearless and even has a bit of grit to his game. Despite that lack of size, he's actually effective in the corners and is able to create plays for his linemates through persistence and good vision. He kills penalties very effectively and he's strong on the draw. Basically, a very solid all around player. His biggest flaw is his lack of extra gear to give him separation off the rush (which he admits to Neate Sager in this 5 questions segment). That lack of dynamic speed, combined with his average height could cause him to drop on draft day. Especially when considering that he doesn't have a truly remarkable characteristic and probably profiles as a 2nd/3rd line tweener. Wherever he ends up getting drafted, that team should feel happy with the selection. Be sure to check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

18. Lucas Lessio - Forward - Oshawa Generals
Right now, he's probably the most "raw" forward available from the OHL this year. What I mean by that is, you're looking at a player with all the tools, but who just hasn't put things together yet. The consistency in his game definitely picked up in the second half of the season, but he remains an enigma to a degree. Just what does the future hold for Lessio? He can be quite the dynamic player. He can skate with the best of them and has an absolutely explosive first few steps. He uses that speed quite effectively in taking the puck to the net. He'll be aggressive on the forecheck and at times, looks very good protecting the puck along the wall. He's prone to overhandling the puck a bit and could definitely stand to use his linemates better. He shows flashes of being a more complete player, both defensively and physically. But I'd love to see that tenacious spark more consistently. I think it all comes down to whether you believe the hands will catch up with the skating, and whether he has the hockey IQ to be a consistent scoring threat. Worst case scenario, I think you draft him anticipating you're getting a guy who'll develop into a solid 3rd line energy guy. Best case scenario, he figures everything out and you get a budding offensive contributor on a scoring line. For more on Lessio, check out his 5 questions feature with Neate Sager.

17. Rickard Rakell - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
He seems to be stereotyped as one of those future grinders by a lot of scouting companies. But I think he's got offensive potential at the next level. He definitely has hands (check out this goal) and he is very skilled with the puck. That puck skill was on full display at this year's World Junior Championships, where he performed very well. For whatever reason, some of those slick moves and the offensive skill hasn't translated to eye popping offensive numbers. Some people suggest it could be a lack of hockey sense, which at this point might be a valid argument. The reason he's getting that grinder tag is because he actually is a hard working player at both ends of the ice and he does take the body and forecheck hard. It remains to be seen as to whether he'll play center or wing down the line. He looked pretty good down the middle in the new year for Plymouth on a line with Stefan Noesen. I think another thing that hurt him was that he only scored 2 goals in his final 15 games...and then missed pretty much the rest of the season (save a game in the playoffs where he came back too early) with an ankle injury. It's the, what have you done for me lately tag. He definitely looks like a pretty safe pick in that early 2nd round range though, but he's got more potential than some are giving him credit for.

16. Daniel Catenacci - Forward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Anytime you watch Catenacci play, you see how much passion he has for the game. He's definitely a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. Depending on when you catch him, he can wow you with his speed, tenacity and skill. Or you can come away a little disappointed as he becomes a little self centered and struggles to generate offense. I think he definitely hurt himself with his performance at the Under 18's. It was a tough tournament for him as he started out in an important scoring role, but some undisciplined penalties dropped him to the 13th forward spot. That was a big tournament to show people what he could do outside of the Soo. But while that tournament was a bust for him, scouts shouldn't forget how well he played at the Top Prospect's Game. Bottom line is this...if Catenacci's offensive skill level never really translates to a scoring line forward in the NHL...is that really that poor of a selection in the round 2? Would you not take a Darren Helm (who has been fantastic for Detroit this year) in that area? I can totally see where scouts get the lack of hockey sense and selfish play from. When things aren't going well for him offensively, he can tend to overhandle the puck, or force things. But I think he makes a great selection somewhere in round 2, as a player who may mature offensively and become a complete player...or at the worst is a tenacious forechecking third line center. For more on the Cat, check out his Draft Tracker segment with Neate Sager.

15. Stuart Percy - Defenseman - Mississauga Majors
Just call him steady Eddy. Percy is one of the most consistent and reliable players available in this draft. Defensively, he is a rock. He's hard to beat off the rush (and he'll sit you on your ass if you try to get by him), and he's equally difficult to lose in zone coverage. While playing on such a strong team, his +/- (+50) is no fluke. The best thing about Percy is not that he's so strong defensively, it's that he also makes good decisions with the puck and gets it out of his zone very quickly. That transition from good play on defense to puck up the ice to start the offense is the key to Dave Cameron's success in Mississauga and Percy does it as quickly and efficiently as anyone. Offensively, I think he has more potential than many give him credit for. He can lead the rush and skate the puck out of his zone and his powerplay quarterback skills improved this season. Cameron's system doesn't exactly inspire it's defenseman to be flashy, or to take chances offensively, so that's a big part as to why his numbers are lower. Check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

14. Ryan Sproul - Defenseman - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
One of the biggest risers of this OHL season, Sproul had a fantastic second half that really made him a curious target for NHL scouts. Let's be honest, 6'4 offensive defenseman with great wheels do not grow on trees. As a defenseman, he's raw. He has a ways to go defensively in this league (as he admitted in his interview with me), but the improvements he made in just one OHL season point to Sproul being a very teachable player. His biggest asset would definitely be his booming shot from the point. He scored 14 goals this year, and that was pretty much in half a season. As mentioned, he's also a terrific skater who can take the puck end to end, but he's still learning when to pick his spots and can get sucked in by a two man forecheck (leading to turnovers). While he'll probably never be a physical defender who takes advantage of his natural gifts, his height and long stick could make him a very effective defender if he's taught to play the angles well. This is especially true given that strong skating ability. Keeping forwards in front of him so that he can utilize that long reach will be a key to his defensive game moving forward. That and settling down in defensive zone coverage. I know I've got Sproul higher on my list than others (have for the majority of the season), but I believe strongly that he has a ton of potential is the type of gamble that could make a scouting director look like a genius in a few years.

13. Brett Ritchie - Forward - Sarnia Sting
The tale of two seasons for Brett Ritchie. Through the opening months, he did not look great. But just around the holidays, things really started to heat up for him. I saw him play during that extreme hot streak and he was a beast. He was physical, playing both ends of the ice, driving hard to the net and putting home the puck. But then came the bout with mono that really crushed the momentum he had created for himself. The Under 18's were a great tournament for him though. He started a bit slow, but by the end of the tourney, he was one of Canada's top forwards. He looked great along the wall and was really working hard to create havoc in front of the net. He has the hands to be a terrific power forward scoring threat in the NHL. The question for scouts is, have I seen enough of him (playing well) to spend a high selection on him? I think the answer will be yes for at least one team. Bottom line is this...if Ritchie doesn't get mono and continues that hot streak through to the end of the year, we're talking about Ritchie as a sure fire first rounder. Sometimes you've got to roll the dice. For more, check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

12. Vladislav Namestnikov - Forward - London Knights
Namestnikov is a very crafty player. His playmaking ability is definitely his biggest asset. He has the stickhandling ability to slow the game down in the offensive end, is patient enough to allow the right play to develop, and has the vision to find open teammates. He is also very deceptively quick. He'll skate casually down the wing with the puck, and then all of sudden turns on the afterburners and will beat defenders to the outside. In terms of his overall ability, it's not bad. He has some feistiness to him and is generally unwilling to become physically intimidated. He's also a fairly solid two way player and will make an effort to backcheck. That being said, I found that he could become invisible during stretches. He's not an incredibly "flashy" player and a guy you're going to notice on every shift. To be honest, being a late birth date, I thought he would have had a more consistent season in London. Moving forward, I'm just not sure he'll develop into an elite offensive talent. Being slightly undersized, and lacking a pure dynamic ability in his game, I don't see him becoming a number one offensive center you can lean on. But he has enough talent and smarts to be that number 2 guy every team needs. A guy you can pair with a bigger forward and a talented goal scorer and have a productive unit.

11. Stefan Noesen - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
Sometimes guy's get that "underrated" tag so much, that calling them that becomes a little redundant. I will admit that Noesen's lack of prime time exposure for this draft is a little bit confusing. He's really progressed this season, from energy 4th liner last year to prime time offensive force this season. He's another guy who's been unfairly tagged as a future 3rd liner at the NHL level. He is a very talented offensive player and definitely has scoring line potential. For one, he has tremendous hands. He scores more tip in goals than anybody I can think of. That shows a willingness to stand in front of the net, taking abuse and I think it's a precursor to the type of goal scorer he'll be in the NHL. But he's also a smart goal scorer and understands how to read and react to situations on the ice (especially without the puck). His skating is also a strong suit, as he can explode down the wing and has really developed into a solid puck carrier. That part of his game is underrated (here I go using that word). He has one on one moves and can dangle, but he also has power and does well to protect the puck from defenseman. I think the other parts of his game are inconsistent right now. He can be a solid defensive player, but can also get caught cheating up ice. He can play a physical game and can be a disruption on the forecheck, but at times he looks more interested in trying to be a goal scorer. He can overhandle the puck and turn it over in the offensive zone. When Noesen can combine his offensive skill with the puck and the ability to be a consistent tenacious force, creating scoring chances off of turnovers, he'll be an even better player. Check out Neate Sager's Draft Tracker 5 questions with Noesen. Also check out his appearance on The Pipeline Show.

Stay tuned for the Top 10!