Thoughts on Ottawa and Belleville from December 2

Who wants to watch the Toronto Raptors get blown away by the Atlanta Hawks on a Wednesday night? Not me. Instead, I tuned into this East Division match up between the Ottawa 67's and the Belleville Bulls. Unfortunately since this game was delayed by a half hour due to a late arrival by Ottawa (their bus had some mechanical problems), I did have to sit through an opening quarter of the Raps game that saw them concede 33 points. When the game did get played, the 67's continued their red hot play by coming into the Yardmen Arena and stealing this one by a score of 4-3. The victory was Ottawa's 8th in their last 9 games. It's about time this team started climbing the standings in the Eastern Conference.

It was actually a very entertaining game. While Belleville never had the lead in this one, they showed a lot of heart by climbing back to tie the game twice before giving up the game winning goal with 37 seconds to go in regulation. The game saw the match up of two 2010 eligible goaltenders, both imports. Of course I'm talking about Petr Mrazek of Ottawa (and the Czech Republic), and Phil Grubauer of Belleville (and of Germany). Both goalies were excellent in the game and made a lot of quality, point blank saves. In the end, it was Belleville's inability to get the puck out of their end that cost them the game. Turnovers in their own end led to 2 of the 4 Ottawa goals, including the game winner.

Some individual player thoughts:

Ottawa 67's






Tyler Toffoli (2010)
Came into this game red hot, riding a 6 game point streak where he had put up 16 points in that span. But he was surprisingly quiet in this one. He made a couple of nice plays off the rush to generate scoring chances. Had a really good scoring chance himself by sneaking past the Belleville defense and taking a pass in the slot, but couldn't get enough on the one timed shot to beat Grubauer, shooting it right into his chest. On the negative, it seemed like he might be trying to do too much with the puck. In a way, I felt like he played a bit of a selfish game, turning the puck over a few times by trying to make one too many moves or by holding on to it too long. But then again, a player coming in as red hot as Toffoli is going to be playing with a lot of confidence and be looking to try and create. I'm just saying I think he needs to be a bit smarter in doing so. I keep trying to catch Toffoli on a good game, but I've yet to do so. It's obvious he's having them, I just need to see it for myself.

Anthony Nigro (STL)
Whenever I see Nigro with the 67's, I'm always so shocked at how different a player he's become in Ottawa. In Guelph he was a forecheck and cycle machine, a guy who generated his scoring chances by outworking the defense in the offensive zone. In Ottawa, he's become a much different offensive player; one that generates his offense primarily off the rush and on the drive to the net. Not necessarily a bad thing, but just an observation. Nigro had a very solid game tonight. Scored a beauty of a goal in the 2nd period to open the scoring. Took a pass in the slot, lost control of it momentarily on the backhand but managed to spin around and fire it home on the forehand with a top shelf wrister just under the cross bar. Earlier in the game, he created a very nice opportunity to score for Cody Lindsay but using the toe drag on the way to the net to draw the ire of the 67 defenseman, only to pass the puck to a streaking Lindsay who fanned on the shot, allowing Grubauer enough time to get over and make the save. Nigro also had the primary assist on the game winning goal by Lindsay. Thomas Nesbitt stole the puck along the boards, put it to Nigro who then slipped it to Lindsay alone in front of the net for the shot five hole. Was a tic-tac-toe play that showcased some excellent playmaking ability from Nigro. Considering all the different sides he's shown in the OHL, I do wonder which one is the Nigro we'll see at the next level.

Julien Demers (SJ)
Truthfully, I didn't really notice Demers tonight. And I think that's a good thing. A quality defensive defenseman, I think he got caught up with trying to do too much offensively at the beginning of the season and as a result he struggled (injuries played a part too). When Demers is at his best, he's playing the body, quietly effectively defensively and making quick passes in the defensive end. And he did that tonight.

Tyler Cuma (MIN)
First off, obviously the biggest news of the day is his omission from the Canadian WJC tryout camp (TSN has an excellent piece on Cuma's disappoint here). To his credit, and he admits this himself in the TSN article, I think he's been playing a lot better hockey the past month or so (obviously correlated with Ottawa's improvements in recent weeks). Defensively, he was a stud tonight. Nobody from Belleville was able to get past him tonight, and playing on the big ice, that speaks volumes to his skating ability and mobility. He took the body hard too, really rubbing out a Belleville player along the boards (I can't remember who exactly)...although he took a boarding penalty on the play. Nice to see him playing inspired physical defensive hockey though. On the downside...I think he's still struggling with his confidence offensively and with the puck. Looks hesitant to rush the puck up ice and when the puck hits his stick, he's quick to dish it off. Evidence of this was his near costly delay of game penalty in the third period that allowed Kyle DeCoste to tie the game at 3. Before his injury, Cuma was a very capable puck rushing defenseman and a guy who showed flashes of being a very capable two way defenseman. Since, his offensive production has really slipped and I think it's directly related to confidence and timing. I do think it's only a matter of time before he gets it back though. Once he becomes comfortable again defensively and things start becoming a little more automatic, I'm sure we'll see his passes become more crisp. And I'm sure we'll see him take more chances on the rush.

Ryan Martindale (2010)
I thought Martindale played an OK game, probably better than Toffoli was tonight. With Dalton Smith out of the line up (apparent upper body injury, but not serious), these two played a TON tonight; this had to be taxing on them. While he was fairly invisible offensively tonight, the one thing I do really like about Martindale is that he's able to get his shot off in traffic. He does well to use his size to give him a bit of time and space to shoot. I think this bodes really well for his production at the next level, even if his skating needs improvement (which was obvious on the big ice tonight).

Petr Mrazek (2010)
The Czech Import played a heck of a game tonight. With a shutout through the first two periods of this game, he ended up with a 7 period shutout streak. Unfortunately, this was broken in the third when he gave up 3 goals. But this is the third time this season I've been very impressed by Mrazek. He's very athletic, he challenges shooters, he takes away the bottom of the net, and he reacts well to the play. Not sure what else you could ask of a goaltender. Made several point blank saves tonight, all because he was able to cut down the angle by challenging at the top of the blue ice and then held on to the puck and didn't give up a big rebound. The goals that did beat him, he didn't have that much of a chance on, save maybe Kyle DeCoste's first goal where he bit on the pass fake and exposed his five hole on a side of the net opportunity. If anything, I think he needs to commit later to the play, as in the two previous viewings he was scored on in similar fashions by getting him down to the ice on the flop. The 2010 OHL crop of goaltenders is looking like a solid group, however it's also a group without a definitive number 1 candidate. I think Mrazek has the potential to seize that top spot, if he can continue to get playing time. He made 34 of 37 saves for the victory.

Belleville Bulls






Bjorn Krupp (MIN)
Not a good night for Bjorn Krupp. Then again, I don't think I've ever seen him have a good one. Bulls fans, help me out here? He does have good ones right? I will come out and say that Krupp has potential as a stay at home defenseman. He handles forwards on the rush quite well and is hard to get around. He made a very nice defensive play on Cody Lindsay as he tried to get by him and take the puck to the net. Krupp knocked the puck away with his stick first and then knocked Lindsay to the ice shortly after. It's his play with the puck that's just atrocious. He's a complete liability on the ice with the puck on his stick. Two turnovers led to Ottawa goals tonight. And not just that, I'm not sure he hit a single Belleville forward with a crisp pass up ice. The first turnover was on a brutal clearing attempt in the second period. It was knocked down by an Ottawa forward, only to be stolen back again by Kyle DeCoste, only to have him give it away to Joe Carnevale for the goal. But the original turnover that led to the goal was Krupp's. The game winning goal was worse. Krupp tried to carry the puck out from behind his net, lost control, panicked and fired a weak clear off the boards that was intercepted by Thomas Nesbitt, who then fed Nigro who then fed Lindsay to the back of the net. I don't want to sound harsh, but professional hockey players would eat Krupp alive on the forecheck. He makes Wade Belak look like Sidney Crosby. But there is hope, his defensive awareness and ability is solid, he just needs to drastically improve his play with the puck.

Alex Basso (2011)
With such a quality group of 1993 defenseman this year in the OHL, Basso is a guy that gets overlooked. He didn't crack the Under 17 team, but only because the 7 defenseman who did are all outstanding. But Basso is a guy that has impressed me. He can skate, especially with the puck on his stick. And he's got a lot of confidence in his ability to move the puck, he really doesn't hesitate to try and make an offensive play. Defensively, he's learning. Made an error on the first Cody Lindsay goal as he got caught standing still, and Lindsay cut back to the middle of the ice causing Basso to fall and Lindsay to roof it top shelf. But I like his willingness to take the body. In the other times I've seen him this season, he's been eager to throw that open ice hit, especially at the blueline. We'll see how his game progresses as the season goes along.

Shawn Lalonde (CHI)
Had a tremendous game tonight. Was all over the ice creating scoring chances. At the Yardmen arena, he's so effective. That extra space is like gold to him. Very aggressive in bringing the puck up the ice, had several very nice end to end rushes tonight. He made some good pinches too, although because he makes a lot of them he can be prone to getting caught. Scored his goal by joining the rush and picking up a loose puck, only to roof it top shelf as he out waited Petr Mrazek and Tyler Cuma as they went down to block the shot. Made a couple beautiful passes tonight too and creates so well in transition. Defensively, he was mistake free from what I could tell too. Had a couple bad passes in his own zone, but as I said, when you take chances you're bound to make some mistakes. I think he's the perfect defenseman for today's NHL game. We'll see how he does at the Canadian WJC camp. Finished the game with a goal and two assists.

Andy Bathgate (PIT)
I was actually quite excited to see Bathgate tonight. Last time I saw him, he was in quite the slump to the start the season, but he turned it around with an outstanding November (7 goals and 7 assists in 13 games). However, he didn't really do much tonight. Had one nice rush up ice where he made a good pass off to Luke Judson as the side of the net for the open tap in, but Judson fanned on it. Outside of that, I truthfully didn't notice him for the good or the bad.

Kyle DeCoste (TBL)
Averaging a point a game since the trade from Sault Ste. Marie, he trade to Belleville has re-invigorated DeCoste's offensive game. He definitely had an interesting one tonight. It was kind of split into two parts. The first part, which happened in the first two periods. And the second part, which happened in the third period. The first part was ugly...real ugly. Turnover in the defensive zone that led to Joe Carnevale's goal in the second period. Wasn't looking, tried to make a pass across ice and Carnevale picked it off and took it in alone on Grubauer. This turnover happened about 2 minutes before he took a terrible, lazy defensive zone penalty for a hook on Ryan Martindale. Nothing was going his way. In the third period, things changed. He started to become more active on the forecheck and thus was able to make a contribution on the scoresheet by scoring two goals. First one, took a pass from Shawn Lalonde, took it right to the net, faked the pass (getting Mrazek down in the butterfly), and then jammed it under his pads. Second goal was a one time shot off a feed from Adam Payerl to the slot. The thing is, DeCoste needs to remember that at the next level, he's going to have to play that energy, physical, pesky forward role at all times because his offensive skills aren't going to be winning him a job at the NHL level.

Stephen Silas (2010)
I continue to be impressed by Silas. I just think he's a very cool, calm, and collected two way defenseman. The thing I like most is his anticipation of the play and his smarts with and without the puck. Made a couple very nice plays defensively tonight, by simply using his stick. One was off a dump in by Joe Carnevale. Carnevale clearly had Silas beat to the puck, so Silas let him get it first but then chipped it right off his stick and to his defensive partner Alex Basso. While I've seen him play physical in the past, he wasn't tonight. I'm wondering if this could develop into a consistent portion of his game in the future. Offensively, he makes smart, quick passes in transition and he has the ability to rush the puck up ice. Had a nice play to join into the rush as the trailer and put a good shot on net that was stopped by Mrazek. However the shot generated a juicy rebound that sent the 67's back the other way on an odd man rush. However Silas got back to the defensive zone quickly and defused the situation. Quite often with young defenseman, you'll see them get caught up ice in instances like that, but not Silas. I think there is a lot of potential with him.

Alex Aleardi (2010)
Perfect situation for him. Speedy forward meets the big ice. Like the perfect marriage of player to environment. He seems to be getting a lot of playing time in Belleville too. I thought he was excellent tonight. All over the ice on the forecheck and was causing a lot of problems for Ottawa's defense both on the rush and in the zone. While nothing came of his chances, the writing seems to be on the wall for increased offensive production (even if he hasn't shown it yet). I'm not sure he's an NHL draft prospect quite yet, but in the future if his hands can catch up to his skating ability (similar to the way Alex Friesen's have this season in Niagara), he'll be on someone's radar.

Phil Grubauer (2010)
Despite taking the loss, I thought Grubauer played a good game tonight. Got hung out to dry by his defense a few times and ended up giving up goals on the play. Two other shots beat him just below the crossbar, perfectly placed. He made some big saves tonight to keep his team in the game. Like Mrazek, he made some big saves off point blank opportunities in the slot. He challenged the shooter, made the save and managed to give up few rebounds. Like Mrazek, he's also an athletic goaltender who has the ability to make the acrobatic save. Despite the fact that two shots beat him upstairs tonight, I think he's actually got an excellent glove hand which was on display in the game with two very good glove saves off slap shots in close. Grubauer is right in there with the likes of Mrazek, Anderson, Visentin and O'Hagan for that top OHL goaltender for 2010. He made 29 of 33 saves and took the loss.

Thoughts?

Ottawa 67's Year in Review

Sean Keogh has provided us with his season review of the Ottawa 67's and its players.

Check it out...

The Ottawa 67s’ season, along with Brian Kilrea’s coaching career, ended 13 seconds into overtime in Game 7 of their first round series with the lower seeded Niagara Ice Dogs. A more upsetting and uncomfortable end to a hockey game I have never experienced. Kilrea said after the loss however, that he considered this team to have overachieved this year, and the first round loss did nothing to change how he viewed a very successful season. Forty wins for a team which regularly dressed three rookie blueliners, not to mention losing an NHL first round pick in Tyler Cuma for the season in December, is in fact impressive.

The strong year can be attributed to the outstanding play of Logan Couture, an outstanding first powerplay unit, and great offensive depth. The 67s led the Eastern Conference in goals and had 7 players score at least 23 goals, and it would have been 8 if Tyler Toffoli had played a full slate of games. Moreover, almost every player on the 67s had a much better 2008/09 season than they had 2007/08, not the least of which would be their captain Logan Couture. With that in mind, the following is an overview of all of the notable 67s players.

Logan Couture – Draft by San Jose in 2007, 1^st round, 9^th overall.

When Couture arrived in Ottawa as a 16 year old, he came with great expectations after being the consensus first pick in the OHL draft until John Tavares was granted exceptional player status. Entering his second year, he was considered a potential first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft, only to drop over the course of the year. Throughout his four years in Ottawa, at times plagued by injuries and illness, Couture was a consistent but underwhelming producer. In his final year, particularly after Christmas, he put it all together and emerged as an all-round star for the 67s. In almost every game I saw, both live and on television, he was their best player, not simply offensively but all-round. Fans expecting Couture to electrify may be disappointed, but that is not because Couture is not an outstanding offensive player. He has very smooth and fast hands, a great release and most of all great playmaking and distribution skills. Moreover, he is extremely capable of creating offence not only for himself, but his linemates, thanks to the above-mentioned skills, as well as great work along the boards and impressive puck protection skills. Both Corey Cowick and Anthony Nigro exploded offensively after being placed on his line this year, and that line’s success and chemistry was entirely predicated on Couture’s superior offensive abilities. What separates Couture from other offensive forwards though is his strong defensive play and his ability to play in all situations at all times. His defensive awareness and back-checking skills allowed him to break up plays with great regularity, and the fact he was consistently on the first penalty killing unit is confirmation that Kilrea appreciated this as well. It is important for a prospect of Couture’s caliber to improve over the course of their career in junior hockey and emerge as an elite player. I wondered going in to the year whether Couture would be able to take that next step, and was pleased to see he did just that this season. San Jose is a very deep team, particularly down the middle, so he may begin next year in the AHL, but there is no reason to believe he is not capable of being a legitimate scoring line center for that club in time. Couture will need to continue to work on his skating, as well as keeping his motivation level where it was in the second half this year, but after injuries, illness and slow development, he is now firmly and confidently on the right track.

Anthony Nigro – Drafted by St. Louis in 2008, 6^th round, 155^th overall.

Perhaps the turning point in the 67s season was the trade that sent Michael Latta to Guelph for Nigro and Travis Gibbons. While Latta was a good player with great potential, the two players received in return both stepped in and became major contributors. In Guelph, Nigro was a checking center, tasked with playing a more defensive role, whereas soon after arriving in Ottawa he ended up on the first line alongside Couture. His offensive game took off thereafter, and he finished with 30 goals and 69 points on the year. Although he remained a solid all-round player, Nigro was more of a triggerman when playing the wing in Ottawa. His quick release became a major part of the Couture line’s offensive game plan, and his solid board work helped that line cycle. Although not a particularly big or fast player, Nigro’s effort can never be questioned, and that suggests he will work hard to improve his game. The season was undoubtedly a success for Nigro, and next year he will be expected to shoulder a bigger load in creating offence with Couture gone, perhaps returning to his natural center position. While I like Nigro, I question his NHL projectability. Other than his shot, his offensive skills are not outstanding, and the 67s have had better shooters like Chris Hulit and Miguel Delisle go nowhere after junior. Although I could perhaps see him develop in to a versatile, dependable third line player, that will require several more years like this one for Nigro.

Corey Cowick – Undrafted

The run-away winner of the most improved player category in the Eastern Conference coach’s poll, Cowick used a trade from Oshawa last summer to go from third line role player to first line goal scorer. He got off to a torrid start and briefly led the league in goals before finishing with 34, as well as another seven in the first round of the playoffs. Undrafted last year, he has a good chance to get picked this time around. He has good size, although he is neither physically imposing nor impressively strong. While he is a capable finisher at this level, he is not a gifted offensive creator either, and benefited greatly from playing with Couture. What Cowick has going for him is good defensive ability, a good overall make-up and enough size and skating that he might have NHL potential as a role player. He can bang and crash, but does not do so consistently. This season can be considered nothing less than a huge success for him, and while I am not sold that Cowick has the tools to stick at the NHL level, his evident improvement means somebody probably will be impressed enough to take him in the late rounds of the 2009 draft.

Thomas Kiriakou – Undrafted

Although Couture was the captain, Kiriakou might as well have been the co-captain. In his fifth and final season with the 67s, Kiriakou was everything an overage player should be. His effort was consistent, his leadership unquestionable and he was a contributor in all zones and situations. Already an outstanding penalty killer, superior face-off man and responsible defensive player, he became a capable offensive contributor this year, potting 29 goals and 65 points. What the future holds for the fan favourite I am not sure. If Kiriakou was going to get an NHL contract on the merits of his overage season, he probably would have received one by now. He has options in the minors, in Europe and with Canadian universities, like most good undrafted overagers. I would put his chances of becoming an NHLer at remote, but not nonexistent. Although not tall, he is well built and has the defensive abilities and character to keep improving, but his skating could hold him back. I wish him the best of luck in whatever direction he chooses to pursue.

Tyler Toffoli – 2010 Draft Eligible

The 67s’ first round pick last year, Toffoli had a strong rookie season, which earned him a spot on the First All-Rookie Team at year’s end. He produced at near a point per game pace, and despite battling some injuries, actually might have played his best hockey at the end of the year and in the playoffs. Toffoli is neither big nor a speedster, but he is a well-rounded offensive talent who will only improve as he gains confidence and strength. What I found intriguing was how Toffoli started playing with an edge by the end of the year. He was not shy about taking a few runs at Alex Pietrangelo in the playoffs, and showed some moxie for a 16 year old. At this point he is a very strong bet to go in the first round next year, and could very well be a lottery pick if he plays well.

Ryan Martindale – 2010 Draft Eligible

Martindale was one of the few players who definitely peaked early in the year. He thrived out of the gate on the Kid Line with Latta and Toffoli, but his second half was forgettable. After Latta left, the lines were shuffled, Martindale eventually contracted mononucleosis and he was not the same when he returned. He still scored near a point per game, including 23 goals in 53 games. He is not eligible for the NHL Draft until next year thanks to a late birthday, and that could work to his advantage. Martindale is a tall center at 6’3”, and has the kind of offensive ability that makes a player of that size a good bet for the first round in any year. In some ways he is advanced, because he is fairly responsible defensively, but he also needs to improve his skating and learn to use his body more. Depending on who returns and what position Nigro plays, Martindale could be the first line center next year, so he will have every opportunity to emerge as a top prospect.

Thomas Nesbitt – Undrafted

Passed over in last year’s draft, Nesbitt’s break out season was largely overshadowed this past season by the improvements of players like Couture and Cowick, but it was nonetheless a strong year for the former second round pick. Offensively he improved significantly, scoring 23 goals and 49 points, easily besting his previous career highs. More importantly, he displayed a strong all-round game, including good defensive play, great penalty killing and tons of energy. Few players were as consistent in their effort from one game to the next as Nesbitt. I would say that if Nesbitt had more size or better skating ability, he might get a sniff at being drafted, but it is unlikely at this point. That being said, his improvement should land him a NHL rookie camp tryout next fall, which at least puts you on the radar for certain teams.

Cody Lindsay – Undrafted

Lindsay is in a similar boat to Nesbitt in that in his third year in the OHL, he took a major step forward, more than doubling his point production from the previous year. A consistent presence on the second line, Lindsay is an undersized forward who uses a low center of gravity and good speed to his advantage and has good lower body strength for his age. He is probably a bit more creative and is a better skater than Nesbitt, but is not quite as strong defensively. Although Central Scouting ranked him at some points last year, he was undrafted and I would be quite surprised if he was selected this time around, despite a strong third season. At 5’9” he simply needs a few more big steps forward before he is guaranteed to receive NHL interest.

Tyler Cuma – Drafted by Minnesota in 2008, 1^st round, 23^rd overall.

The season began with great promise for Cuma, who had a fantastic training camp with Minnesota a couple of months after they used their first round pick on him. Upon returning to the 67s, he was to be their undisputed number one defenceman, and was also a strong candidate to make the Canadian World Junior team. Unfortunately for Cuma, his season was washed out in the December camp for the WJC, where he suffered a knee injury. He made his return in mid February, but re-injured his knee in the second period and that ended his season. Even in that game, he did not look back to his old self anyways. Overall Cuma suited up in only 21 games for the 67s. For that reason, Cuma is no further ahead in his development than he was a year ago. He remains a good all-round blueline prospect, with great mobility in all four directions and room to improve his offensive contribution. It sounds like Minnesota might plan on keeping him next year, but I believe he would be better served returning to junior for another season. What Cuma has yet to do at the junior level is assert himself as a star player, and make that transition from talented prospect to elite junior player, just as Couture finally did this year. Taking his game to the next level at the OHL level would be a valuable piece of his development, but Minnesota has rushed teenage prospects before.

Julien Demers – Drafted by San Jose in 2008, 5^th round, 106^th overall.

When Cuma went down, Demers became the undisputed number one blueliner on the 67s. The other turning point for his season was the acquisition of Travis Gibbons, who thrived when placed on the top pairing with Demers. A strong, thick blueliner, Demers was known for his big hitting last year, but this year was a more complete and consistent force. He played 30 minutes a night, quarterbacked the league’s best powerplay and was a pillar on the penalty kill. In turn his production rose, as Demers notched 42 points in 61 games, as well as an impressive +28. There is much to like about the package Demers provides. He has size, strength, offensive potential, defensive ability and a history of being a physical presence. If there is one thing that he needs to work on it remains his skating. His stride is somewhat similar to Couture’s, not awkward but also not explosive, but Demers is heavier on his skates. Demers has good offensive instincts, enough so that he could be more of a puck carrier if he improved his skating, but it is more important for his defensive ability that he gets quicker. A late birthday, he could return next year as an overager if San Jose either does not sign him, or gives him a contract but decides another year in Ottawa would be better than him playing in the AHL at such a young age. In my opinion Demers is a legitimate NHL prospect, a late bloomer who simply continues to improve, very similar to former 67s blueliner and fellow Sharks prospect Derek Joslin.

Marc Zanetti – 2009 Draft Eligible

Like Joslin and Demers before him, Zanetti is a late round OHL pick who has emerged as a regular contributor as a 17 year old. Moreover, like those two before him, he has a good chance of being drafted this summer, being ranked 139^th by Central Scouting. Zanetti is less dynamic and offensively talented than the other two. He put up only 17 points this year, though his 102 PIMs hint at his style of play. Zanetti is first of all a stay-at-home blueliner. Although not any taller than 6’0”, Zanetti has broad shoulders and a good build. His one-on-one defensive abilities are very good, and he is a willing battler who will block shots and take on all comers. This year, his all-round play was dependent on his level of confidence. When he struggled, he was a liability with the puck, but more often than not he made a solid first pass and showed some offensive potential for this level. I believe Zanetti should get drafted, but he is not quite on the same level as Demers or Joslin. Both players developed into outstanding OHL blueliners, and I am not sure Zanetti is capable of doing the same. Brock has compared him to Marc Methot, who was always very good in his own zone and instead of becoming an all-round star in the OHL, simply transferred his defensive abilities extremely smoothly to the professional game and is now a regular in Columbus. My concern is that Zanetti, at only 6’0”, 200lbs, may not be able to smoothly transfer his stay-at-home style to the professional game as the much bigger Marc Methot has. In my mind, right now Zanetti does not project as a physical monster that can lean on players in the defensive zone. I do believe he is worth being drafted, but I am less confident of his NHL potential than I was Joslin and Demers.

Travis Gibbons – Undrafted

Anthony Nigro was considered the biggest piece acquired in the Latta trade, but I believe Gibbons made the bigger impact, even though Nigro was impressive. While the 67s had depth up front, once Cuma went down, Demers and erratic second year import Martin Paryzek were the only veterans on the blueline. Gibbons arrived and immediately stepped on to the first pairing with Demers, and from then on that first pairing paced the 67s all the way. In every situation Demers played, so did Gibbons. After only 4 points last year, Gibbons was passed over in the NHL draft, and he will likely be again. At 5’10”, a blueliner has to have an exceptional skill to be an NHL prospect, whereas Gibbons is more of an all-round player. His offensive skills are not elite, he doesn’t have the skating to dictate the tempo or electrify and he does not play much bigger than his size. It is unfortunate that there is no room in the NHL for intelligent, all-round blueliners at that size, but such is the reality. If he improves his strength and skating, I could see Gibbons eventually getting a contract, but like Nesbitt and Lindsay, in the meantime he will be a very good junior player for the 67s.

Chris Perugini – 2009 Draft Eligible

Goalie prospects for the NHL do not come much smaller than Perugini anymore. Listed at only 5’10” and 147lbs, Perugini’s stature will always make him an underdog. If nothing else though, he is a battler, as shown when he wrestled the starting job away from last year’s starter, the much bigger and NHL-signed Adam Courchaine. Perugini played in 49 games and posted a very impressive 27-10-3 record. The only blemish was his nervous play in the first round against Niagara, which resulted in Courchaine taking back his job if only for the last few games of the year. Perugini is ranked 16^th by Central Scouting among goaltenders, but higher ranked goalies have gone undrafted before. Perugini is a hard working, focused and highly athletic goaltender, and this year he improved in reading the angles and making himself as big as possible. However at his size, his rebound control needs to be much better because he is not as acrobatic as a guy like Mike Murphy. Goaltenders are harder to predict, but after his poor playoff showing, Perugini is not a lock to be selected.

Adam Courchaine – Signed by Boston

This past season had to be disappointing for Courchaine. After being rewarded with an NHL contract for his strong season in 2007/08 as a starter, Courchaine’s consistency issues plagued him much of the year. He was outplayed by Perugini and only in the playoffs did he seize on an opportunity to steal back some playing time. The local product has the size and athleticism NHL teams want in a goalie, but I have to wonder whether he will stick with the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence next year after taking such a noticeable step backwards. Goalies take a long time to develop, so Courchaine cannot be counted out simply based on one bad year, but at this point he would have to be considered a long shot prospect.

Outlook

Personally I very much enjoyed watching the 67s this year. Having lived out in Nova Scotia over the past five years, as well as in Central America for the latter half of 2008, it was the most I had been able to see of the 67s in about five years. The 67s’ organizational philosophy is that they will not sacrifice the future to make a run in the present, and that achieving consistent competitiveness is the best environment for developing teenage hockey players and young adults. It is for that reason that the 67s almost always have intriguing prospects, but never field a roster that will make the London Knights or Windsor Spitfires too nervous.

Next year is shaping up to be the same, with key variables being whether key players like Cuma, Demers and Cowick return. Cuma could be in the NHL, and both Demers and Cowick could be in the AHL, but neither have professional contracts yet. With Logan Couture gone, the future of the 67s offence is now Tyler Toffoli and Ryan Martindale, both of whom are potential first round picks in the 2010 NHL Draft. The defence will depend on Demers and Cuma, but rookies like Zanetti will still be a year older and hopefully better. How the 67s perform under new coach Chris Byrne is perhaps the most intriguing question, and one not asked in a very long time. But like the impressive roster of players who have come through the 67s organization over the past 30 plus years, Byrne, an assistant coach this year, is also a product of Kilrea’s tutelage, and as such 67s fans can expect more of the same this year.

Thoughts on Ottawa from the Postseason

The first round of the OHL playoffs wrapped up yesterday with the Ice Dogs thrilling overtime victory over the Ottawa 67's in game 7. It was a back and forth series with neither team able to win back to back games.

It's always great to catch teams in the playoffs, in particular because you want to see their top players step up their game. It was also interesting because I had seen Ottawa several times during the regular season and by seeing them over an extended period, it provided a closer and perhaps more accurate look at some players.

Here are my thoughts on some of the Ottawa players during the series...

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

Demers had a fantastic series. He finished +4 with 11 assists, and actually lead the 67's in scoring during the series. He's a very smart defender who doesn't take liberties with the puck in his own end and who makes a solid first pass. He does an outstanding job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone, especially on the powerplay. His offensive anticipation is quite excellent. Defensively, he's solid positionally and does a good job of staying with his man. Demers is just a solid all around presence. If he could have played the full 60 minutes, Ottawa would have won this series. On the negative side, I'm not sure his skating has improved a whole lot this season. To an extent it limits his ability to be more involved offensively because he can't be as effective as a puck rusher. Also, he wasn't nearly as physical in the series as I've seen him before. However I know the coaching staff has been working with him on picking his spots better with the hits, as he had a tendency to take himself out of the play looking for the big hit. But I feel that removing that edge from his game isn't the answer either.

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

Couture had a solid series as well. Previously, I had never really been impressed with him, but he made me a fan in the series. He's a solid two way player who is incredibly smart on the ice and appears to be thinking the game on another level compared to his peers. He was nearly a constant offensive threat throughout the series. His speed and acceleration have definitely improved and he has the ability to deceive defenders with his change of pace and puckhandling ability. Couture is especially effective in working the cycle and putting himself in the "Gretzky" area behind the net, where he looks to find open teammates with great vision and playmaking ability. As mentioned, defensively he's a rock and is constantly supporting his blueline unit. The only downside for Logan in the series was that he did not have a good game 7 and you could tell it really killed him. He was considerably upset after the conclusion of the game, perhaps because he felt like he let Kilrea down in his last game. But he has nothing to feel shame about, every player has his off nights and he played hard and left it all on the ice.

Anthony Nigro - Drafted by St. Louis in 2008/155th

It's interesting comparing the Nigro from Guelph to the Nigro from Ottawa. They appear to be different players. Whether that points to an identity crisis or his flexibility, remains to be seen. The Nigro who played in Guelph was primarily a board and cycle player who was first back defensively and a stud penalty killer. The Nigro in Ottawa has become more of a crash the net power winger who does the dirty work for his teammates and gets into scoring lanes. Because Ottawa also has so many penalty killers, Nigro doesn't really see a lot of PK time either. He's still a responsible two way player though. Because of this difference, I'm not really sure what to make of his potential at the NHL level now. He probably still profiles best as third line winger, but with Logan Couture gone next season, it'll be interesting to see if he's the one who steps up offensively for Ottawa.

Corey Cowick - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009 (but born in 1989)

Cowick is eligible one last time for the NHL Draft this June and it'll be interesting to see the results. He's had quite the breakout season and has shown that he has a definite ability to deposit the puck in the net. Cowick finished the series with 7 goals, 6 of them on the powerplay. He's very elusive on the ice and seems to find the holes behind the defense that give him scoring opportunities. Skating is average, not a fault, but not a strength either. I think he has a chance of being one of those guys who is drafted as a re-entry in the later rounds. Should he not, well then he'll likely have a strong overage season next year in hopes of earning a contract.

Tyler Toffoli - NHL Draft Eligible in 2010

Toffoli was really impressive in the series, especially for a 1992. Sometimes these guys can get worn out due to the length of the season and tolls it can have. But Toffoli was playing the best hockey I've seen from him. It seems like Kilrea really trusted him too, as a few times when the Couture line was struggling, he would throw Toffoli up there to try and give it a spark. He's not a big guy right now, so at times he can look overmatched physically, but you can tell the skill level is there. Once he gets stronger, he's going to give himself more time and space to use his skill, which is ultimately going to increase his point totals. I think he's definitely one of the top 92's in the OHL and could be a good bet to lead Ottawa in scoring next season, his draft year.

Thomas Kiriakou - NHL Free Agent and Overager

Kiriakou had a good series too, netting 6 goals. As stated in my post about the top available overagers, I like Kiriakou, but I do question his NHL potential. He works hard at both ends of the ice, is great on faceoffs, and has some ability to put the puck in the net. He also increased the level of his physical play during the series, which was good to see. If he's going to get a shot in the NHL, he's going to have to improve his skating and increase his willingness to be more physical. In today's NHL, teams are looking for role players who can skate hard, play physical and chip in occasionally on offense, more so than the years before where teams iced 4th liners who they trusted simply not to screw up. With the shift to speed and energy, Kiriakou is going to have to prove he can score enough to play third line minutes, or bring some energy intangibles to the table in a depth role.

Ryan Martindale - NHL Draft Eligible in 2010

A late born 1991, Martindale actually really disappointed me in the series. But I'm going to keep in mind that he has recently come back from mono and isn't likely in top shape. I found him struggling to keep up with the play and finding ways to contribute. But in previous viewings, I liked his use of his size to create scoring opportunities for him and his linemates. We'll see how things go next year where he's got a chance to be a high pick if he can improve the consistency in his offensive game.

Marc Zanetti - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

I'll be honest here. Zanetti did not have a strong series. He took some dumb penalties, he looked sloppy with the puck in his own zone, and seemed to lose the confidence of Kilrea throughout the series. He has some qualities you like to see in that he's a big guy who is mobile, physical and has shown some ability to handle the puck. I also find him to actually be a very solid one on one, positional defender. But as mentioned, he really struggled with making the right decisions with the puck in his own zone, and with attempting to carry it out of the zone. He also took a lot of lazy penalties that cost his team. Going into the series, I had Zanetti firmly in my top 30 for the OHL, but I'm not sure he's still there now. He has potential, but he really needs to refine his game.

Adam Courchaine - Signed by the Boston Bruins

Courchaine relieved Chris Perugini in game three of the series and didn't give up the starter spot the rest of the way. He was generally very solid and kept the 67's in some games. He's a big goaltender who likes to challenge shooters and who makes himself big in the net. His rebound control is generally pretty solid. However, his mobility looks somewhat questionable at times, as he appears slow to react to the play. It's hard to find those big, athletic netminders, and if you do, they generally aren't signed as free agents like Courchaine. So he's shown that he has some capabilities at the professional level. I'd expect him to be in the ECHL next year where he can really find his groove and work on some things.

Chris Perugini - NHL Draft Eligible in 2009

Like Zanetti, Perugini was a guy I had in my top 30 before the series, but has played himself out of it now. He did not have a strong series and he has a lot of holes in his game. On the positive, he is an incredibly athletic goaltender who can make some saves look easy with his mobility and anticipation. On the downside, his rebound control and overall technical ability really hurt him. He gives out so many juciy rebounds, his defense just can't clear them all. He needs to learn how to direct those into the corner and away from danger areas. His size has to be a concern as well, as the Dogs were really looking to go high on him while he was in net. At this point, I'm not sure if he's an NHL draft pick this year.

A New Contributor and His Thoughts on Ottawa/London from February 1

First I would like to introduce you to Sean Keogh. He will be joining Ryan and I to bring you even more coverage of OHL prospects. Sean is a former writer for HockeysFuture and an avid CHL, not just OHL, follower. He currently lives in Ottawa so the game reports he will supply us with will come from watching the 67's take on opponents at the Ottawa Civic Centre.

Below is his report...

The London Knights are probably the most hyped junior team in the country yet again, and for good reason considering all the talent they have. In today’s game the 67s neutralized their skill for the most part and outworked them en route to a huge 4-3 victory. The star of the game was Logan Couture who was dominant in every aspect of the game, and the biggest disappointment was arguably John Tavares. Below are my thoughts on selected players for both teams.

John Tavares – YOB: 1990 - Draft Eligible 2009

Obviously Tavares needs no introduction or talent analysis because he’s a known commodity. In this game however, he was unimpressive, if not poor. Although he scored a goal to tie it up in the third period, he struggled the rest of the game. He tried several cutesy moves that were easily stopped, was routinely stifled one-on-one by Julien Demers and displayed a measure of frustration as the game wore on. As a result he started yapping at opponents and got involved in some skirmishes. His goal showed again that with some time and space he can and will score, but more was expected. His skating has improved but he will need to upgrade his balance and lower body strength as a professional. Although he had a goal and an assist, it was an underwhelming performance from JT.

Nazem Kadri – YOB: 1990 – Draft Eligible 2009

Was probably London’s most impressive player in the first half of the game, then got a diving call and a ten minute misconduct and was a bit off his game afterwards. His skating, particularly his acceleration, is good, and he’s fairly elusive with the puck. Although I have seen his slick stickhandling on display before, it was not too evident in this game. Also, Kadri displayed nice energy and his usual willingness to play physical hockey. The questions about his hockey sense and finishing ability again came up in my mind. Kadri is very good at breaking out and coming through the neutral zone, but little comes of it. At worst he’s a third line center though, but that’s not what you want in a top ten pick, as he is projected to be.

Phil Varone – YOB: 1990 – Draft Eligible 2009

For the second half of the game, Varone was probably London’s most impressive forward. He had several nice bursts, and is willing to drive to the net when he gets a step on a blueliner wide. It was he, not Tavares or Kadri, who was arguably the catalyst for the Knights’ third period surge. He had a goal and an assist, but also took a late hitting from behind penalty, ending London’s hopes of tying it up. I would want to see him again from a different perspective in the rink to get a grasp of just how high I would take him.

Phil McRae – YOB: 1990 – St. Louis 2^nd round pick, 2008.

It seems as though Tavares’ arrival has resulted in less ice-time and responsibility for McRae. While he was generally uninvolved and had little impact on the game, McRae still demonstrates the tools that he has. Along with good size and solid all-round skating ability, he ripped a couple of nice shots. I could see why St. Louis took him so high last year, but he did not appear to be a core player for London.

Zac Rinaldo – YOB: 1990 – Philadelphia 6^th round pick, 2008

Rinaldo’s performance was not exactly what I expected from him. He had one big hit but was not a pest or a shift disturber in the Stefan Della Rovere or Patrick Kaleta way. On the powerplay he played the front of the net and got a goal, albeit a weak one, as a result. Overall he played reasonably well as a complimentary player on a scoring line.

Daniel Erlich – YOB: 1991 – Draft Eligible 2009

It’s impossible to be invisible when you are as small as Erlich is. Even his listed 5’6” might be exaggerated. He was fairly involved in the play and showed good offensive ability. Thanks to having to survive in spite of his size, he always has his head up and sees the ice well. The decision to play him on the point of the powerplay is questionable though, as he is far too small and weak to defend at all and it almost cost the Knights a couple of goals. Unfortunately for Erlich, he is half a foot too small, and at least 40 pounds too light, to be a legitimate prospect.

Justin Taylor – YOB: 1989 – Washington 6^th round pick, 2007

Of all the notable forwards on London, Taylor was the least visible. Perhaps I was just focusing on too many other players to notice him, but he certainly did not stand out in any way.

John Carlson – YOB: 1990 – Washington 1^st round pick, 2008

I had high expectations going in, but Carlson was only mediocre. It was evident that he has all of the tools, great size, good skating ability, overall offensive tools and a willingness to play the body. However he never asserted himself or made a huge impact on the game, and he was a underwhelming when playing in his own zone. In the neutral zone he intercepted passes nicely, but was beaten to loose pucks and made some bad reads defensively, including on the winning goal. Part of that is definitely acceleration, but it displayed either or both a lack of effort and questionable in-zone awareness.

Michael Del Zotto – YOB: 1990 – New York Rangers 1^st round pick, 2008

For such a gifted offensive player, Del Zotto was fairly quiet tonight. He had an assist but did little on the goal. His break-out passing was only average and he is certainly not gifted defensively, but he was neither dynamic offensively nor adventuresome defensively in this game.

Trevor Cann – YOB: 1989 – Colorado Avalanche 2^nd round pick, 2007

Although the 67s outshot the Knights, Cann faced far fewer quality chances than his counterpart Adam Courchaine. Aside from perhaps the winning goal, none were his fault although he did not make any game saving stops from what I could see. It was an average performance.

From the 67s…

Logan Couture – YOB: 1989 – San Jose 1^st round pick, 2007

Quite simply Couture was the best player on the ice by a country mile. Moreover, it was perhaps the best game I have ever seen him play. He was in on all four goals, sniping two and directly creating and setting up the two others. Neither of his linemates, Cowick or Nigro, were as dynamic or creative as Couture. What was most impressive about his game, however, was that for a player much-maligned for his effort, he was a force in all zones. He was outstanding on the penalty kill, threw several big hits including almost destroying Tavares, and showed impressive puck control along the boards. Particularly notable is the fact that he got better as the game went along, and all three times London scored in the third period, Couture led his line out there to respond soon after. If Couture had played like this he would have made the World Junior team as well, and I can only hope for his sake that it’s the beginning of a great finish to the season for him. He was the first star of the game and for extremely good reason.

Anthony Nigro – YOB: 1990 – St. Louis 6^th round pick, 2008

Without a doubt the Michael Latta trade with Guelph has worked out very well for Ottawa. Nigro has been very good since arriving, first on the second line and now as a winger on Couture’s line. He has supplanted Cowick as the trigger man on that line, and shows good finish, hands, shot and cycling ability. I’m not sure he’s more than a good junior player at this point, because he’s not likely to have NHL scoring line upside and in Ottawa is not showing the all-round game that I expected. It was definitely a strong game from Nigro though, getting in on all three goals in the third and being named third star.

Corey Cowick – YOB: 1989 – Draft Eligible 2009.

For the game Cowick had no points, but he played very well. Although known for his goal scoring ability, Cowick’s best work this game was defensively and on the penalty kill. His defensive game has improved a lot and he has good awareness. His skating is fine for a player his size, but he lacks explosiveness. Pittsburgh considered signing him after he was invited to their camp in the fall, and Cowick could definitely be drafted this summer in the late rounds if a team sees third line potential in him.

Thomas Nesbitt – YOB: 1990 – Draft Eligible 2009

Nesbitt had a very strong game, despite not putting up any points. He played with great energy and work ethic, won a lot of races and battles, and generated a few chances as well. After being passed over last year, it is possible he gets picked up this year but I doubt it. He is not a gifted offensive winger but he’s a classic Kilrea-style player.

Julien Demers – YOB: 1990 – San Jose 5^th round pick, 2008.

Essentially Ottawa’s #1 blueliner with Tyler Cuma still out, Demers and his partner Travis Gibbons, must have played over thirty minutes in this game. Overall, Demers had an up and down game. On the plus side, he was matched-up against Tavares and was outstanding in playing him one-on-one and frustrating him at every turn. He plays the man very well and uses his size, strength and lateral mobility to his advantage very nicely. Offensively, he had a good game, notching three assists and getting some nice shots off. On the down side, he took a couple of penalties and it was his mistake that led to Tavares’ goal. He still needs work on his first-step quickness but he’s a very good defenceman at this level and has definite NHL potential in my opinion.

Adam Courchaine – YOB: 1989 - Signed by Boston

Courchaine had a strong game, particularly in the first two periods. Although he did not face a ton of shots, most of them were of the difficult variety. Courchaine has great size and moves well for a big man at 6’3”. He has a bit of trouble in close though and has certainly been inconsistent this year. I will be interested to see how he does if he plays in for the AHL’s Providence Bruins next year.