Preseason Top 30 for the 2014 Entry Draft

Last year was the first year that I posted a ranking before the start of the next season, due to the fact that I was being asked where I had certain players slated going into the year. I've decided to keep that going and make it a tradition. In a lot of ways it's fun to look back at your early list and see what changes occurred (here's 2013's preseason list).

And changes will occur because so many of these players are going to hit massive growth spurts in their game this year. Some expected, others unexpected. The jump from the 16 year old to the 17 year old season is huge. Many of the things I'm currently saying about these players could be moot come October. Timid, perimeter rookies become physically aggressive sophomores (just as one example). Not to mention all the other players who'll make this list come next June, who haven't even played a minute in the OHL yet (such as a U.S. Import like Ryan MacInnis, a Euro import like Alex Lintuniemi, or a 2012 draft pick who had yet to make his debut like Matthew Mancina).

One thing I will say is that RIGHT NOW, I feel like this is one of the strongest crops of talent the OHL has produced in some time, possibly even since 2003. There are so many high end talents available. I've seen some lists suggesting that the OHL could make up about half of the first round in 2014. This is no exaggeration, as the talent level is that strong.

On to the list!

30. Dylan Diperna - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs 
DiPerna has a lot of potential moving forward. He could be a very complete defender if he develops properly. He's a bigger guy, but moves well for his size and doesn't seem to have a lot of issue defending off the rush or skating the puck out of his own end. He's got a howitzer of a point shot, but he's still learning how to use it/get it on net. He showed flashes of being a very difficult defender to play against last year and I think he can develop into a very physical player who can clear the net and the corners. His decision making in his own end could use a bit of work and he went through some stretches where he struggled this year. But, I see a defender with potential to be a solid player at both ends of the ice.
 
29. Patrick Sanvido - Defense - Windsor Spitfires
I really liked what I saw from this rookie defender last year. It certainly wasn't an easy season for blueliners in Windsor, but he definitely held his own. He's got great size (~6'5, 220lbs) and he uses it well in the defensive end. He's already a physical player who will only become more effective as he gets stronger and more confident. He also moves well and can defend off the rush. Offensively, he's a work in progress right now. He seemed to have a bit of issue getting the puck out of his own end last year and will need to add an extra gear if he wants to become more effective at skating away from the forecheck. But I definitely love the upside he has defensively.

28. Devin Williams - Goaltender - Erie Otters
It's pretty tough for a netminder on a last place club to stand out, but Williams did that this year IMO. He's a late '95, so he's a bit more experienced than the other goalies on this list, but I think he has just as much potential. Williams isn't the biggest goalie (~6'0), but he's very aggressive in challenging shooters. He's very agile and athletic and makes a lot of "highlight reel" esque saves. In the games that he played, I thought he kept his team in a few that they had absolutely no business being in. Erie should be better this year and hopefully he's still able to find playing time alongside Oscar Dansk.

27. Mike Amadio - Forward - North Bay Battalion
Amadio is an offensive forward who didn't get a ton of ice time with Brampton this past year. He did enough to impress me though and I think he's got a lot of offensive potential. He's certainly a creative puckhandler and is able to make decisions and plays with the puck at top speed. He needs to get stronger though, as he was often overmatched physically this year in the offensive end. The rest of his game also needs work, as he'll need to learn to play without the puck. But if there's a coach in the league who can teach a forward how to play defense and in the corners, it's Stan Butler.
 
26. Zach Bratina - Forward - Saginaw Spirit
It was an interesting season for Bratina, as he was traded (in the Trocheck deal) from Plymouth, and also battled some injuries. But he did enough to impress me. I thought he showed a willingness to compete for the puck and play hard that was supposed to be lacking in his game (call it the Mike Vellucci effect). He's clearly a very talented offensive player, as he'd occasionally make a play with the puck, to create a scoring chance, that would make you take notice. His skating is also very strong and makes him a weapon off the rush. He definitely needs to add strength to make him more effective away from the puck, but I think Saginaw got a good one in the Trocheck deal.

25. Brent Moran - Goaltender - Niagara IceDogs
Quite frankly, I thought he really struggled last year. He's a big guy, but he's still got a lot of holes in his game as OHL shooters were able to pick him apart with relative ease. BUT, he's certainly still scratching the surface of his potential. Once he gains some confidence at this level, and works on his angles and timing, he has the makings of becoming a quality netminder. He's certainly agile for a bigger guy and flashed the ability to make big saves. I remember thinking the same thing about Spencer Martin last year at this time, so I'll give Moran the benefit of the doubt for the time being. He'll certainly get a lot of starts in Niagara this year if he's up to it.

24. Eric Cornel - Forward - Peterborough Petes
One of the most underwhelming performances of a 2012 Priority selection last year was Cornel's in Peterborough (after being taken 3rd overall). It was said that he was a work in progress and someone who'd take time to adjust, but I don't think scouts figured it'd be that severe. Cornel does have a lot of potential though. He's a big center who skates very well and who sees the ice well and projects as a playmaker. But he's got a lot to work on (getting stronger, becoming more aggressive, gaining confidence) before he lives up to that draft spot. There's no question that he wasn't one of the top 30 most impressive rookies in the OHL last year, but he's got too much to offer to leave him outside of a preliminary Top 30. It'll certainly be interesting to see his progression this coming year.

23. Alex Peters - Defense - Plymouth Whalers
The type of defender who was born to play for Mike Vellucci in Plymouth. He's a big guy (6'4) who is already physical and mean in his own end. As he gains strength, this aspect of his game will only get better. I thought he also showed excellent defensive awareness and confidence for a rookie and he seems like the type of guy Vellucci can lean on in important defensive situations moving forward (call him the Austin Levi, Colin MacDonald replacement). There were a few times I saw him this year where he looked like he might have some issue defending off the rush, so his overall agility and mobility will need to improve. But he was pretty poised with the puck in his own end and seems to have a good head for the game. Not sure how much offensive potential he has, but he certainly looks like a very solid defender.

22. Jaden Lindo - Forward - Owen Sound Attack
Lindo was very impressive in the first half of the season, but seemed to tire in the second half. He's a workhorse on the ice who battles hard without the puck to create scoring opportunities for his linemates. He has the potential to develop into a very good board player and forechecker at this level. Offensively, I'm not sure how much potential he has. He certainly looks to have a pretty good head for the offensive end, but didn't show a ton of skill or shooting ability this year. Could be a crash and bang type of guy who gets points out of hard work and energy.

21. Brendan Lemieux - Forward - Barrie Colts
A chip off the ol' block is the expression that fits Brendan, son of Claude Lemieux. He plays the game very hard, just as his father did. As a rookie this year, he showed absolutely no fear in the corners, in front of the net, or after the whistle. He projects as a terrific energy player, but he's also got a fair amount of skill and hockey sense in the offensive end. I think he's got goal scoring potential at this level because he seems to know how to get open and where to find scoring chances. His skating did look a bit rough last year, but he works so hard that you don't really notice it too much. I think he's got more potential than just a 3rd line checker.

20. Matt Schmalz - Forward - Sudbury Wolves
It wasn't until the deal to Sudbury (in the Frankie Corrado swap with Kitchener) that his game really started to blossom. He looked a little overwhelmed in Kitchener (and under utilized), but was much more confident in Sudbury. He's a big center (6'4) who looks to have the potential to control the pace of play. He seems to like to have the puck on his stick and certainly has enough skill to make things happen in the offensive end. He flashed some aggressiveness at times and I think he does have the potential to be a more physically engaged player. But as of right now, he can be a bit too invisible without the puck. A lot of standing around waiting for things to happen. But once he gains more confidence, he could have a lot of potential as a big, power center.

19. Brandon Prophet - Defense - Saginaw Spirit
Prophet showed signs of strong two-way potential this year. Defensively, he's physically aggressive and wasn't afraid to push forwards around in front of the net or in the corners. I thought his defensive zone coverage was also solid. Offensively, he's a good puckhandler who has confidence in skating out of his own end and was at times aggressive in jumping up in the play. His overall mobility could stand to improve as he can have some issues defending off the rush, and I think it also limits his effectiveness as a puck carrier. He can also be prone to making a bad pass in his own end and will need to improve his decision making with the puck. But overall I thought he showed flashes of being a terrific two-way defender and a guy to keep an eye on.

18. Brandon Robinson - Forward - North Bay Battalion
Robinson (a late '95) didn't have quite the second year in the OHL that many people expected (myself included), but I still have a lot of confidence in his abilities moving forward. He's a big winger who flashes a good power forward game. While this aspect of his game is not yet consistent, he will throw his body around and look to go hard to the net with and without the puck. He's also got a very good shot and profiles as a goal scorer at the next level. As he gets stronger, he's going to become even more difficult for defenders to handle in close to the net. His skating still needs some work and I think holds back his game to some extent, but I did see some improvement from the start of last year to the end. I think he needs to be a 25 goal scorer this year to really keep his name in the top 20.

17. Brendan Perlini - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
Really liked what I saw from Perlini at the end of the year with Niagara. Mind you, he was playing a lot with Strome and Ritchie, but he more than held his own. He's a big winger but has the potential to be a very good north/south type player. He skates very well for his size and flashes the ability to be a very good puck carrier, and the type of guy who could be a load for defenseman to handle off the rush. He's also got a good and heavy shot which profiles him as more than just a crash and bang guy. Would like to see him play a bit more physical and use his size without the puck, but he's got a lot of potential and will see a ton of ice time in Niagara this year.

16. Robby Fabbri - Forward - Guelph Storm
An absolutely terrific offensive player who thrives with the puck on his stick. He is effective both off the rush and below the hash marks because he works hard without the puck too. In particular, Fabbri is a fantastic skater who really can push the pace of play and put pressure on opposing defenses. He profiles best as a playmaking center, but I think he has more goal scoring potential than he showed last year. Really the only thing going against him at this point is size, as he's only about 5'10. He'll definitely need to bulk up without sacrificing his speed, in order to draw the attention from scouts and get consideration for the first round.

15. Aaron Haydon - Defense - Niagara IceDogs
I thought he improved so much from the start of the season to when his season was cut short in Febuary with a broken jaw. Haydon provided way more offensively than I thought he would, after he was billed as primarily a shutdown type of defender at the draft. He showed flashes of being able to carry the puck, lead the rush, and jump up in the play effectively. And all this is gravy since he was also very strong in his own end. Haydon has great size and is already a terrific player in his own end, who is physically aggressive but also smart positionally. I'm really looking forward to seeing how his game develops this year, perhaps most out of any player on this list.

14. Joshua Ho-Sang - Forward - Windsor Spitfires
I'll admit that this ranking is probably a little lower than others might have him, but I do stand by it. While Ho-Sang is undeniably a terrific offensive talent, his game requires a lot of growth before he deserves to be up with the other top end forwards from the OHL this year (Clarke, McCann, Ritchie, Dal Colle, Bennett, etc). With the puck on his stick, Ho-Sang can be an electric player whose speed and skill combination makes him very difficult to contain off the rush. But, I found him to be way too narrow centric this year and he was forced into a lot of turnovers by hanging on to the puck too long and not using his linemates effectively. I also thought his game without the puck left a lot to be desired. If he shows improvement in these areas, he has the potential to rocket up this list, but as of right now, I think he deserves a lower ranking.

13. Jake Middleton - Defense - Ottawa 67's
It certainly wasn't a terrific year for Middleton, as he battled injuries, got traded and played only 29 games in the league. In the OHL, he certainly wasn't incredibly effective looking. It was at the Under 17's that I thought he really shined, as one of Team Ontario's best defenseman, and as one of the top defenseman in the tournament. This year he'll be able to start fresh in Ottawa and get a ton of playing time, where his game will undoubtedly grow. He has the potential to be a complete package on the back end. He has size, physicality, skating ability and offensive instincts. 

12. Alex Nedeljkovic - Goaltender - Plymouth Whalers
Can't say enough about the job Nedeljkovic did for Plymouth last year. One of the more impressive performances I've seen from a 16/17 year old netminder in the league. There's no coincidence that once Nedeljkovic established himself as the team's starter, the Whalers' started to play their best hockey. His play at the Ivan Hlinka tournament also showcases how important he can be to team success. He's a calming influence in the net who has a terrific confidence level for a young netminder. He's not the biggest goalie, but he's very solid in all aspects and projects as a top flight starter in this league.

11. Matthew Mistele - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
Mistele is a budding power forward prospect who has just played his 2nd year in the OHL (late '95) where he put up 34 goals on a deep and talented Plymouth team. He's a very hard worker away from the puck who's aggressive in the corners and in attacking the net. He reads plays well offensively and gets himself in good scoring position. As he gains confidence, I expect his ability to be a factor off the rush to improve and for him to develop into a great all around offensive player. This is of course on top of the physicality he brings, and the effort level at both ends of the ice. A terrific all around player.

10. Anthony DeAngelo - Defense - Sarnia Sting
Oozes offensive talent from the backend. As a late '95, he finished third in defenseman scoring last year, and lead the league in assists from the back end (49). He has a ton of confidence bringing the puck out of his own end and is incredibly aggressive in trying to gain access to the opposition's zone. He's also aggressive offensively without the puck and will look to pinch and join the breakout whenever he can. He controls the point well on the powerplay, but could stand to improve the consistency with which he gets his point shot on net. And while he's not the biggest (a shade under 6'0), he plays larger than that in the defensive end and will look to engage physically. There's no question that he does have some concerns in the defensive end though. His aggressive offensive nature will occasionally leave his d-partner to cover for him. He can also be prone to mistakes in defensive coverage. And at times, he can try to force plays up ice (be it a rush or a pass) that lead to turnovers. But as an offensive defenseman, there are few in the OHL who can match his ability.
 
9. Spencer Watson - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
Fresh off leading the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial in scoring (10 points), Watson will return to Kingston to build off of a solid rookie season. He's one of the most exciting and dynamic young scorers in the league. He skates very well and is most effective when he has the puck on his stick entering the zone. He's very elusive with the puck, and despite being undersized and lacking strength, did a good job to be a consistently effective offensive threat in his rookie year. His play without the puck is solid offensively, as he works hard to get himself open and doesn't need much room to operate in close to the net. His hockey sense in the offensive end is fantastic. The rest of his game needs some filling out, as he'll look to improve his defensive play, as well as his ability to fight in the corners. While he's definitely undersized (~5'11), his size didn't seem to hurt him a ton in his first OHL season. I expect big things from him this year.

8. Nikolai Goldobin - Forward - Sarnia Sting
While he wasn't able to beat out Connor McDavid for the Emms' (ROY), he did edge him in the rookie scoring race. Goldobin is a highly electric offensive player who'll be entering his 2nd season in the OHL as a late '95 Import. His hands and ability to beat defenders one on one are among the best in the entire OHL. He's incredibly elusive and very effective off the rush. What I liked about him is that he's also not a perimeter player and will look to go hard to the net without the puck. While his defensive game and physical components need work, he's certainly a fantastic offensive player. It'll be interesting to see how he does in Sarnia this year as the go to offensive guy.

7. Sam Bennett - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
One of the most complete players of his age group, Bennett is a treat to watch. He is an incredibly aggressive player without the puck who looks to attack on the forecheck and engage in the corners. And while he's certainly effective and eager to do the grunt work on a line, he's also incredibly skilled. He is a terrific skater who has excellent acceleration and separation ability. He can handle the puck in traffic and does a great job to create space for himself to use his shot, which is terrific. Defensively, he improved a lot over the course of the season and has the makings of developing into a great two way player. Quite frankly, the top 7 on my list are all pretty interchangeable at the current moment. I could see any of them challenging for a position in the top 10 of the 2014 draft.

6. Roland McKeown - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs
A jack of all trades defender, and I mean that in the best way possible. McKeown can do it all and he makes it look relatively easy. Defensively, he's already very solid and logged a ton of minutes for Kingston this past year. He is excellent in coverage and has a really high IQ in his own end. He's not the most physical guy, but he has terrific positioning and is already tough to beat one on one. McKeown is also calm with the puck in his own end and doesn't make many bad passes or decisions, even if the forecheck is putting pressure on him. He's still learning how to be a good offensive defender in the OHL, but that's to be expected I think. He's not really a dynamic offensive player though, nor do I think he'll ever develop into one. But he can still be a solid offensive defenseman who can control a powerplay and help start the breakout.

5. Michael Dal Colle - Forward - Oshawa Generals
While I might not agree with the power forward tag some people are throwing around, Dal Colle is certainly an interesting package of skill and size. He's already incredibly strong on the puck and hard to separate from it. In close to the net, his size, strength, and hands make him very difficult to contain. This is especially true when you consider his ability to think the game and get himself in good scoring position. The one thing holding him back a bit at this moment is that he's not the world's best skater. His first few strides could use some work and would make him a much more dangerous player in taking defenders to the net. But the rest of his game is elite. It'll be interesting to see whether the Generals let him return to his natural position of center this year, or continue to play him on the wing where he had a lot of success as a rookie.

4. Nick Ritchie - Forward - Peterborough Petes
To be honest, I wanted to put Ritchie a bit further down on this list because of all the trouble he's had staying healthy. But I just couldn't, considering the potential he possesses. He's the complete package and a true forward prospect. Think Brett Ritchie (a terrific player in his own right), but a better skater and puckhandler. When he's on, Ritchie can control all facets of the game, offensively, physically, and on the backcheck. He's incredibly difficult to contain with the puck in transition and is very aggressive in looking towards the center of the ice. His hands in close are fantastic, but he's also a great playmaker who sees the ice and can make his linemates better. For Ritchie, it's all about staying healthy in his 3rd OHL season (he's a late '95). If he's forced to play the game with less conviction to avoid injury, he'd lose his some of his effectiveness.

3. Jared McCann - Forward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Along with Sam Bennett, McCann is the best and most complete player of his age group. His hockey sense is ridiculously good at both ends of the ice, as he's already terrific on the backcheck and a great penalty killer. In the offensive end, he has great vision and is able to create opportunities for his linemates, both off the rush and below the hash marks. While McCann is a great playmaker, he's also a potential goal scoring threat with a great wrist shot which he requires little room to release. Lastly, he's a fantastic skater who looks to put pressure on the opposition through the forecheck. I expect big things from him in SSM this year.

2. Blake Clarke - Forward - North Bay Battalion
Clarke is a big power forward who is just starting to scratch the surface of his abilities. For such a big guy, he has a terrific finesse touch with the puck and is able to make defenders miss off the rush, or on the way to the net. He's also a great playmaker for a power forward, who doesn't just barrel his way to the net when he has the puck, but instead looks to create in other ways and has great vision. In general his hockey sense in the offensive end is very good and he finds himself in scoring position quite often by reading and reacting well to the play. His skating is only average at this point, but it could definitely get better. I'd also like to see him play physically more consistently, as it adds another element to his game. Very high ceiling with Clarke.
 

1. Aaron Ekblad - Defense - Barrie Colts
What more is there to say about Ekblad? Fresh off captaining Team Canada to a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka, I think it's clear that Ekblad is still the top rated prospect of his age group. I was left particularly impressed by the way he played during last year's playoff run, where he really put the Colts' on his back defensively. He's an absolute rock in his own end and is already one of the most difficult players to beat one on one in the league because of his size, mobility, and physicality. And while he's certainly not a natural offensive player, he has enough skill and sense to put up points and be an effective offensive player at the next level. His shot and first pass are both still above average, even if his ability to rush the puck never really translates. This year, I want to see him really up the physical intensity in his own end and start tossing people around in the corners and in front of the net. 

Honorable Mentions

Damian Bourne - Forward - Mississauga Steelheads
A mammoth forward at about 6'4, 210lbs, I expected more from him in Mississauga last year. He was really only noticeable as a punishing checker, but struggled to find his way in the offensive end. His skating really needs work as he looked a step behind in a lot of situations. High potential still as a power forward.

Darby Llewellyn - Forward - Kitchener Rangers
He drew in and out of the Rangers' line up this year, but showed enough to suggest that he's got a pretty high ceiling. While I don't think he was given the opportunity to really show what he was capable of offensively, I did notice him as a forward who can have some success in the corners and on the forecheck. I think there's more than meets the eye here.

Brett Hargrave - Forward - Sarnia Sting
A big potential power forward who came into the year with higher expectations. Really wasn't very noticeable when I saw Sarnia play last year and will need to up his physical intensity. Will get more ice time this year, let's see what he does with it.

Niki Petti - Forward - Belleville Bulls
Petti had a very inconsistent first season with Belleville. On some occasions, he looked like an aggressive, high energy offensive player, while on others he was invisible and seemed to have trouble outmuscling older players. With a summer of strength training, we'll likely be able to tell how effective of an offensive player he can be.

Tyler Hore - Defense - Sarnia Sting
Hore is an interesting late '95 defender who played well with Sarnia after the trade from Oshawa. He's got great size (6'3), moves well, and has potential to play at both ends of the ice. Still very raw but could be a player.

Will Be Appearing Soon (Haven't Played in the OHL yet)

Ryan MacInnis - Forward - Kitchener Rangers
Kevin Labanc - Forward - Barrie Colts
Connor Chatham - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
Alex Lintuniemi - Defense - Ottawa 67's
Alexander Protapovich - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
Adrien Kempe (if he reports) - Forward - Barrie Colts

30 Teams in 30 Days - Carolina Hurricanes

Next stop, Carolina.

Ryan Murphy - Kitchener Rangers
This was the first season since his rookie year that he didn't average at least a point per game. In fact, his offensive numbers have declined every year since his draft season. That's precisely why no prospect in the OHL is more widely discussed (often in a negative manner). Opinions are definitely split on Murphy. Where does my opinion lie? Probably somewhere in the middle. On the negative side, I don't think Murphy took many steps forward over the course of his OHL career. His defensive game is still prone to lapses. He still can be prone to trying to force plays offensively and making bad pinches. And he can still get outmuscled in the corners and in front of the net. On the positive side, he's still a dynamic offensive defenseman whose skating ability and shot make him a valuable weapon. And even if his defensive game isn't great, I don't think it's quite as bad as some make it out to be. Bottom line is this. Murphy didn't have a good year. I thought he looked disinterested and "over the OHL" at times. But that doesn't mean he can't develop into a useful NHL player. The evidence is how quickly he was able to make an impact at the AHL level following the completion of the OHL season. It remains to be seen whether he's in the NHL or the AHL next year, but I do think that eventually he'll make an impact in the NHL. If his minutes are sheltered as an offensive specialist, he could probably have a nice little season in the NHL (~25 points). In the AHL, I'd expect him his offensive numbers to be quite strong, in excess of the 30-35 point mark.

Austin Levi - Plymouth Whalers
Even though his offensive numbers took a big hit, I think it was a smart choice for Carolina to send Levi back for his overage year. His offensive contribution took a hit because he was clearly more focused on playing a safe, defensive first game. When he wanted to, he could hit a forward with a breakout pass, and he's not one to fumble the puck in his own end. But his days of trying to lead the rush and jump up offensively were behind him. He excelled defensively this year in that shutdown role and made himself into a very difficult defenseman to match up against. Moving forward, it'll be about adding even more muscle to his frame so that he can push forwards around in front of the net, and win battles in the corners at the pro level. He has the make-up of a solid 5-6 defenseman at the next level, but he might take a few years to adapt to the speed of the pro game. 

Brock McGinn - Guelph Storm
McGinn had a fantastic year in Guelph, playing in all 68 games this year (refreshing considering his injury problems in his draft year). He's a high energy guy who also has the offensive skill set to contribute on the score sheet. He crashes the net hard and is the perfect guy to put on a top line with more skilled players, so that he can create more room for them and get possession along the wall. He's also a terrific forechecker and someone who makes his presence felt physically. Next year Guelph will be returning most of their key forwards (minus Tanner Richard and Cody McNaughton), so they should have a solid offensive team. McGinn will be right in there again. I'm hoping he can take his offensive game to the next level and be more assertive with the puck. Would like to see him take more chances and look to make things happen himself, rather than playing the strict puck retrieval, crash the net game. Diversify his offensive skill set. Given the type of production he had this year, I'd be very surprised if he's not a 30 goal scorer next year.

Daniel Altshuller - Oshawa Generals
In his first year as starter, Altshuller was solid for Oshawa. He was largely very consistent and kept his team in games, a large reason as to why they were able to start the playoffs with home ice advantage. He's a big body and he takes up a lot of the net. Both his rebound control and his lateral movement improved this year I thought, two things that were outlined as areas of need during his draft year. Next year, the Generals will be losing a lot of talent, which will mean he'll have to play an even more crucial role in his team's success. I was a bit surprised that he didn't get an invite to Hockey Canada's summer camp for netminders (19 were), but there's no reason to suggest that he can't put himself back on HC's radar with a strong start to his 2013/2014 campaign.

Trevor Carrick - Mississauga Steelheads
Even though his offensive numbers jumped considerably, I felt like Carrick's game didn't develop a ton from the previous year. He's still prone to mistakes in his own end, both with and without the puck. Turnovers and bad passes are a real issue right now. As are bad pinches where he gets himself trapped up ice. I felt like his defensive game actually took a bit of a hit this year at the expense of trying to produce more offensively. On the positive side, his point shot is pro caliber and he generates a lot of scoring chances with it. He also looked a bit quicker this year and that allowed him to jump up in the play more effectively. Next year, he'll be the go to guy on the back end, thanks to the graduations of Stuart Percy, Dylan DeMelo, and Alex Cord. It'll be interesting to see how he handles it and whether the Steelheads choose to pair him with young phenom Sean Day.

Brent Pedersen - Kitchener Rangers
I liked this selection for the Hurricanes. Pedersen is a big bodied winger with power forward potential. He was pretty inconsistent this year, but he also saw fluctuating ice time and little special times action. Next year, the Rangers will be losing much of their talent on the wing, which translates to an increased role for Pedersen should he want it. I think he's talented enough offensively to be a winger on one of the Rangers top lines next season and should see a nice increase in his offensive numbers. I think he's a pretty likely candidate for at least a 25-25 season. 

Tyler Ganly - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
No Ryan Sproul. No Colin Miller. That means a seriously increased role for Ganly on the Hounds blueline next year. With those two out nursing injuries at the beginning of the season, Ganly actually played some of his best hockey filling in for them. That bodes well for his future contributions I think. As does the fact that the Hounds already named Ganly as an assistant captain for next year. This offseason he'll have to focus on getting quicker and more agile. That will allow him to take that next step as a defender off the rush, and as someone who can occasionally jump up and make an offensive contribution. The hockey sense and dedication are obviously already there. I think he'll definitely be able to crack the 25 point mark next year.

*of note, the Hurricanes elected not to sign Plymouth goaltender Matt Mahalak, making him a free agent.

OHL Coaches Poll - My Ballot (2013)

The results of the OHL coaches poll are likely to be released sometime this week. With that in mind, it's always fun to take a crack at how they might look. If I was voting, here's what my ballot would look like.

Most Underrated Player

EAST
1. Zach Hall
2. Matthew Campagna
3. Michael Moffat

WEST
1. Colin Miller
2. Cameron Brace
3. Dalton Young

Most Improved Player

EAST
1. Tyler Graovac
2. Anthony Camara
3. TIE - Mitchell Theoret & Scott Sabourin

WEST
1. Eric Locke
2. Jordan Binnington
3. Reid Boucher

Smartest Player

EAST
1. Mark Scheifele
2. Ryan Strome
3. Sean Monahan

WEST
1. Vincent Trocheck
2. Scott Harrington
3. Nick Cousins

Hardest Worker

EAST
1. Boone Jenner
2. Scott Laughton
3. TIE - Barclay Goodrow & Anthony Camara

WEST
1. Ryan Hartman
2. TIE - Tom Wilson & Brock McGinn
3. Garret Ross

Best Playmaker

EAST
1. Ryan Strome
2. Sean Monahan
3. Scott Laughton

WEST
1. Charles Sarault
2. Vincent Trocheck
3. TIE - Tanner Richard & Nick Cousins

Most Dangerous in the Goal Area

EAST
1. Brett Ritchie
2. Boone Jenner
3. Barclay Goodrow

WEST
1. Reid Boucher
2. Seth Griffith
3. Kerby Rychel

Best Skater

EAST
1. Jesse Graham
2. Andreas Athanasiou
3. Alan Quine

WEST
1. Ryan Murphy
2. Alex Aleardi
3. Daniel Catenacci

Best Shot

EAST
1. Mark Scheifele
2. Ryan Strome
3. Barclay Goodrow

WEST
1. Reid Boucher
2. Ryan Sproul
3. TIE - Seth Griffith & Kerby Rychel

Hardest Shot

EAST
1. Ryan O' Connor
2. Michal Cajcovsky
3. Barclay Goodrow

WEST
1. Ryan Sproul
2. Cody Ceci
3. TIE - Andrey Pedan, Colin Miller & Kerby Rychel

Best Stickhandler

EAST
1. Ryan Strome
2. Alan Quine
3. TIE - Matthew Campagna & Riley Brace

WEST
1. Vincent Trocheck
2. Max Domi
3. TIE - Ryan Murphy, Charles Sarault & Nick Cousins

Best on Face-offs

EAST
1. Boone Jenner
2. Mark Scheifele
3. Scott Laughton

WEST
1. Daniel Catenacci
2. Bo Horvat
3. TIE - Brady Vail & Mitchell Heard (not sure if Heard has played enough games this year to earn this)

Best Body Checker

EAST
1. Anthony Camara
2. Mack Lemmon
3. TIE - Matt Petgrave & Zach Bell

WEST
1. Tom Wilson
2. Nikita Zadorov
3. David Broll

Best Shot Blocker

EAST
1. Zach Bell
2. Boone Jenner
3. Cameron Wind

WEST
1. Scott Harrington
2. Cody McNaughton
3. Zach Nastasiuk

Best Defensive Forward

EAST
1. Boone Jenner
2. Sean Monahan
3. TIE - Erik Bradford, Scott Laughton & Barclay Goodrow

WEST
1. Cameron Brace
2. Ryan Rupert
3. TIE - Rickard Rakell & Josh Leivo

Best Penalty Killer

EAST
1. Boone Jenner
2. Joseph Cramarossa
3. Ryan Strome

WEST
1. TIE - Vincent Trocheck & Cameron Brace
2. Eric Locke
3. Tobias Rieder

Best Offensive Defenseman

EAST
1. Jordan Subban
2. Matt Petgrave
3. Ryan O'Connor

WEST
1. Ryan Sproul
2. Cody Ceci
3. Ryan Murphy

Best Defensive Defenseman

EAST
1. Cameron Wind
2. Geoffrey Schemitsch
3. Alex Lepkowski

WEST
1. Scott Harrington
2. Nathan Chiarlitti
3. TIE - Austin Levi & Tommy Hughes

Best Puck Handling Goalie

EAST
1. Malcolm Subban
2. Daniel Altshuller
3. Andrew D'Agostini

WEST
1. J.P. Anderson
2. John Gibson
3. Jake Paterson

Best Shootout Shooter

EAST
1. Tyler Graovac
2. Ryan Strome
3. TIE - Jonatan Tanus & Jordan Subban

WEST
1. Seth Griffith
2. Radek Faksa
3. Cameron Brace

Best Shootout Goalie

EAST
1. Mathias Niederberger
2. Malcolm Subban
3. Spencer Martin

WEST
1. John Gibson
2. Jake Patterson
3. Jordan Binnington


So, what do YOU think?

OHL Trade Deadline Review

The OHL trade deadline has come and gone. And what a busy one it was. Over the past week, big names like Tyler Graovac, Cody Ceci, Frankie Corrado, Josh Leivo, Alex Aleardi, Alan Quine, Justin Sefton, Mitchell Theoret, Vincent Trocheck, Slater Koekkoek, and many more changed addresses.

Let's take a look at how each team did:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Barrie Colts
The Colts were definitely active, adding Mitchell Theoret, Jake Dotchin and Devon Rymarchuk. I think they definitely addressed some needs here. Theoret gets ragged on a lot for "riding the coattails of Strome and Ritchie," but he's been great this year. There's no doubt that playing with those two has elevated his production slightly, but he's done his part on that line to help them too. He's a very difficult player to contain in puck protection down low, and he helps to tire out defenses and open up space for more skilled linemates. I'm interested to see where he slots into their lineup. At the price they gave up, I can't see them using Theo on the 3rd line. He might look good as a running mate for Andreas Athanasiou. But there are suggestions he's going to start on the top line with Scheifele and Camara. Dotchin gives Barrie some much needed experience and physicality on the blueline. He'll slot into the top four with O'Connor, Ekblad and Lepkowski. And Rymarchuk is a good buy-low candidate. Big kid with a high motor whose offensive game hasn't really grown in the league thus far. For all those three, the only player given up on the roster was recent first rounder Brendan Perlini. He's got lots of skill but hasn't been much of a factor this year because he's not strong enough yet. Barrie fans didn't seem to be too happy with giving up Perlini for Theoret, and I would agree it's a bit of an overpayment. But I also think Barrie fans are underrating Theoret and the types of things he can bring to their hockey club. He wore an "A" on Niagara and was a serious candidate for their captaincy. He also averaged a point per game (4 goals and 3 assists) while Strome and Ritchie were away at the WJC's. Now they just need to see the Jets send back Mark Scheifele and everything will be OK.

Belleville Bulls
Belleville was able to significantly boost their offense with the acquisitions of Tyler Graovac and Alan Quine. Graovac has already fit in incredibly well, forming a dynamic first line with Brendan Gaunce and Austen Brassard. That will be a very tough line for defenses to contain because of how big they are. Quine should fit in well on the big ice and will give their second line a much needed boost (the Bulls have scored the least amount of goals in the Eastern Conference this year). Quine probably sees action with some combination of Zharkov, Curtis, Cramarossa, Sandlak, or Hooey. It certainly makes them a deeper team. It did cost them Sergey Kuptsov, who I do like and who I think was one of their more consistent forwards this year. But he's not as much of an impact player as Graovac is, so that trade was a no brainer for them to make. Much like Barrie, the Bulls have made themselves a better team. They also don't run the risk of losing their best player to the NHL.

Brampton Battalion
The Battalion weren't expected to make a ton of moves, but I'm glad they pulled the trigger on a deal to improve their OA situation. They picked up Francis Menard from Peterborough (one of three deals I predicted correctly in my trade deadline preview), which is a very underrated move. Menard has been (arguably) Peterborough's best player this year. He put up 60 points in the league last year and is on pace for similar production this year. He deepens Brampton's forward group, giving them another skilled forward to generate offensive chances. Menard's work ethic and two-way abilities also fit well into Stan Butler's system. You take Menard's 15 goals this year and add them to the Battalion line up, and Brampton becomes the third highest scoring team in the East (hypothetically). Love the move, as subtle as it was.

Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston made a few minor moves. They dealt Mitchell Fitzmorris to Niagara. Fitzmorris is a former 3rd rounder who was playing in his first OHL season. He gets a fresh start, although the return Kingston got for him is a bit underwhelming (has to hurt to trade a recent 3rd rounder for a 7th and a 12th). They also acquired goaltender Lucas Peressini from Saginaw for a 4th. He's a '95 who has played very well for Newmarket in Junior A this season. This is a move for next year, as I'm assuming the Fronts believe Peressini can contend for a roster spot and provide competition to Colin Furlong and Blake Richard. Could end up being one of those subtle moves that makes a big impact. The starter's job in Kingston, going into next season, is definitely up for grabs.

Mississauga Steelheads
There seemed to be a lot of rumours surrounding the Steelheads being possible sellers (the likes of Brace, Percy, etc) going into the deadline, but I never really believed it. I'm certainly not surprised that they stood pat. With a new owner and new "product" on the ice (Steelheads name change), it's pretty clear that Mississauga intends to make the playoffs and try to generate fan interest and revenue. Next year, they'll be the only team in the GTA and hopefully will gain some fans from Brampton. If you put the season tickets holders together from both teams, you'll actually have a semi-respectable turnout to the Hershey Center! The only negative thing to affect the team recently was the announcement that 2nd rounder Jared Walsh has committed to the University of Michigan. He's one of the top 96's not playing in the league this year.

Niagara IceDogs
All things considered, I thought the Dogs did incredibly well for themselves this deadline. They got the screw job thanks to the new NHL CBA. There was no way anyone was going to give up anything significant for Strome and Hamilton, since there's a good chance they'll be in the NHL. And Brett Ritchie apparently gave Marty Williamson a pretty short list of teams he'd be willing to go to. Dealing Mitchell Theoret hurts a bit, since he was a great locker room presence and one of the team's most consistent players this year. But the return was too good to pass up. Getting back first rounder Brendan Perlini is a coup for the Dogs. He's a little over-matched in the league right now, but the skill set is there (which obviously brings about the Ryan Strome analogies). The Dogs also picked up Jordan Maletta and Mitchell Fitzmorris, two former high draft picks who haven't exactly worked out well for their former clubs (Windsor and Kingston). A change of scenery might bring out the best in them, and as '95's, they'll have a long time to develop (and get the ice time to do it). The Dogs also dealt Joel Wigle to Erie for a 2nd and a 4th. Wigle is a former high selection too, and someone I've always liked. But he's had a pretty dreadful year and hasn't been getting the ice-time he needs. It's a win-win for him and for the Dogs. Niagara recoups a few high draft picks for a player who hasn't working out. And Erie gets an underachieving potential goal scorer. Niagara should be commended for making the best out of a bad situation.

Oshawa Generals
The Generals made a few moves right close to the passing of the deadline. They picked up pugilist Johnny McGuire from Erie, which was a good deal. They've got a very physical group of skilled forwards, and it'll be important to protect them should the need arise. The Generals also swapped imports with Plymouth, acquiring Simon Karlsson for Sebastian Uvira. Uvira never really found his offensive game in Oshawa, and the Generals badly needed to add defensive depth to their line-up. They've been ravaged by injuries this year. Finally, along the same lines of the McGuire pick-up, Oshawa added Justice Dundas from Sarnia (for Tyler Hore). Dundas is more than just a scrapper. He's a hard worker and a good forechecker. By the time he's finished his OHL career (he's only a '94), I think he'll be a 20 goal scorer in this league. The only other move Oshawa made was dealing the underachieving John Urbanic to Ottawa for a late round pick. Oshawa only really needed to address two areas, depth on defense and toughness at forward. They did both of those today and should be commended for it.

Ottawa 67's
I absolutely love what the 67's were able to do in the past week. Ottawa isn't in a position to rebuild very often, but they did it right. Out are Cody Ceci, Tyler Graovac, Steven Janes, and Remy Giftopoulous. In are Jacob Middleton, Sergey Kuptsov, Joseph Blandisi, and three high draft picks (2nd, 3rd, 4th). Middleton is an absolutely terrific prospect IMO. He impressed the hell out of me at the recent Under 17's. Once he gets stronger, he could be a big factor at both ends of the ice. Kuptsov and Blandisi are two 94's who'll jump right into Ottawa's line up and help produce offense. They'll make the team deeper and better next year too. Right now, the 67's are skating them on a line with Sean Monahan. Speaking of Monahan, Ottawa ultimately decided to keep him around, hoping that he doesn't crack the NHL next year. Ottawa also picked up a couple of forwards, John Urbanic and Mark Petaccio, pretty cheaply. They will be given a look the rest of the year and do have the potential to be contributors down the line.

Peterborough Petes
It'll be absolutely impossible to know how well Peterborough did, for quite a few years. Most of Peterborough's haul (from trading Koekkoek, Quine, Menard, and Schoenmakers) came in the form of draft picks. But you do have to love the amount of high end selections they acquired. 5 second rounders, 1 third, and 1 fourth. If the Petes draft well, that will certainly help to get this team back to respectability. Peterborough also acquired Michael Clarke in the Slater Koekkoek deal, who will jump right into their top 6. He hasn't had the best of years in Windsor, but when he's on his game, he's a potential impact two-way center who can mix things up physically. He's just been incredibly inconsistent thus far in his OHL career. I have to admit that I'm a tad underwhelmed by the return for Koekkoek, and that I think Peterborough would have been better served trying to pick up a top end 95 or 96 born player. But, all in all, hard to argue with the amount of draft selections picked up.

Sudbury Wolves
The Wolves made two trades, both pretty big ones. The first one was the blockbuster deal with Kitchener that saw Frankie Corrado, Josh Leivo, and Joel Vienneau head to the Rangers. In return, the Wolves got back first rounder Matt Schmalz, solid goaltender Franky Palazzese, and physical defender Cory Genovese. I have to admit, I like this deal a lot more for Kitchener than I do Sudbury. That's not to say that it's a terrible deal. I'm just not sure I think Sudbury got the value they could have gotten if they had split up Corrado and Leivo on the trade market. Schmalz is a talented first rounder and he'll get more of an opportunity in Sudbury than he did in Kitchener. And Palazzese will provide steady goaltending this year, and likely next year as an overager. And Genovese is a solid depth defender. It's too bad that Jacob Middletown refused to report to Sudbury, because I would have much preferred that deal for the Wolves. They could have then dealt Leivo for likely another quality young player, perhaps a younger goaltender. In the other deal, the Wolves picked up Kevin Raine and a 4th for Justin Sefton. Don't like this deal at all. Raine is an OK defender, but based on what a few other players brought back, the return is underwhelming. Raine and Sefton are the same age, but Raine is a guarantee return as an OA, while Sefton is a long shot. The only real explanation for these trades by the Wolves is that they believe they can contend for the Eastern Conference title next year. So they deal some big guns who won't be back for some players who can make their team better next year, and not in 2-3 years. We'll see if they're right.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Erie Otters
Erie made a few minor moves, picking up Joel Wigle and Jack Kuzmyk, while dealing off Johnny McGuire. Kuzmyk has never really found his niche in the league, but he does give the Otters another experienced defenseman to help them with their late playoff push. He'll have a chance to battle it out with the likes of Spencer Abraham and Jimmy McDowell for an overage spot next year on the blueline. Wigle was impressive in a checking line role last year for Niagara, but hasn't been able to replicate that success this year. A change of scenery could do him well, as he does have some goal scoring potential. As a '94, he'll have a few years still to try to realize that. I'm not sure I like the amount the Otters gave up for him though. A 2nd and a 4th is a steep price to pay for a '94 with three goals this year. By comparison, the IceDogs gave up slightly less to get Jordan Maletta, a younger forward with more potential. I'd expect Erie to be more aggressive on the trade market this offseason and into next year as they gear up for a push to earn home ice advantage in round one.

Guelph Storm
The Storm were relatively quiet, as I think most people expected them to be. 2013/2014 is going to be their big year, so they were smart to play it safe. That said, they did make a few small moves which I think can be beneficial. Picking up Saverio Posa from Windsor for relatively cheap was a savvy move. He was Windsor's captain and brings great work ethic to Guelph. He'll be able to slide onto their 3rd pairing and help out a guy like Ben Harpur. He also gives them better defensive depth. With the addition of Posa, the Storm cut Keegan Wilson loose (OA limit), and brought in former OHL goaltender Michael Nishi to serve as Garret Sparks' back-up. I think Nishi is capable of doing a better job as the back-up than Wilson or DaSilva have been doing. That said, if the Storm intend to contend next year (which they should), they'll have to really look at their goaltending situation going into next year. Quite frankly, I think they'd be better served sticking with DaSilva as their back-up, or signing Matthew Mancina, to give either of them the development time and experience they'll need to lead next season's ship.

Kitchener Rangers
I absolutely loved what Kitchener did at the deadline. It was smart for them to realize that this is their year to really make a run, thanks to the goaltending of John Gibson. Let's examine the Corrado/Leivo deal first. HUGE win for the Rangers in this one. They trade Franky Palazzese, who wasn't going to help them in the playoffs this year (although who would have provided solid goaltending next year as an OA), Matt Schmalz (their first round pick from 2012, but a guy who has been their 2nd best '96 behind Darby Llewellyn this year), and Cory Genovese (a solid depth defenseman, but someone who wasn't going to play in their top 4 this year, or next year). In return, the Rangers add, IMO, one of the top five defenseman in the entire league, and one of the premier two-way forwards in the entire league. Corrado will help to stabilize the blueline and take some pressure of Ryan Murphy offensively. Leivo is an incredibly underrated player. His ability to disrupt on the forecheck and to create offensive chances off the rush will fit in well in Kitchener's line-up. It's no secret that some of Kitchener's best players (like Murphy, Radek Faksa, and Tobias Rieder) haven't had the best of seasons, so I'm also hopeful that this trade wakes them up a bit and lights a fire under their ass. Another thing that's not being talked about much from that deal was Kitchener being able to flip Plymouth's import selection for Sudbury's in 2013. This is a great move for the Rangers, as that pick could end up being a 30 or so spot improvement. The Rangers will need to fill at least one spot next year with Tobias Rieder leaving for the pro's, and possibly two if Radek Faksa doesn't return. In addition to the above trade, the Rangers also picked up overager Derek Schoenmakers from Peterborough for Nick Czinder and a 4th. Schoenmakers is a very valuable player, and he'll bring more energy and goal scoring ability to the line-up than Czinder did.

London Knights
I honestly expected London to do a bit more, after so many of their competitors improved. Did London really need to do anything? Probably not. You don't go on an extended winning streak without having one of the league's most talented rosters. That said, I figured the Hunters would want to keep that competitive advantage over their rivals. Not filling that final OA spot is a huge mistake IMO. And I also think London should have tried to get a bit bigger at the forward position. Josh Anderson is really the only guy who can physically outmuscle opposing defenses on a consistent basis. Bo Horvat has the potential to do that, but he's not that dominant power forward yet. Once the playoffs hit, that lack of size up front could hurt. And yes, I know, that many of the Knights forwards are tenacious and hard working (see the Ruperts, see Chris Tierney, Broadhurst, Welcyhka, etc), but adding just one more bigger forward with skill (like Saginaw's Garret Ross, or Josh Leivo) could have really put this team over the edge. That's not to say London stood by and did nothing. Adding Justin Sefton for practically nothing was a great move. His physicality and size makes this London defense even more difficult to play against. A top 6 of Maatta, Harrington, Zadorov, Hughes, Mermis, and Sefton is the best in the league. That brings us to the additions of Mermis and Anthony Stolarz. Mermis is already paying dividends on the back-end since leaving Denver. He looks like the offensive defenseman that the Knights have needed this year. Where as Stolarz can push Jake Patterson in future years. He's an NHL 2nd rounder and a recruit from Nebraska-Omaha with a ton of potential. From the conversations I've had with people, we shouldn't expect a ton from him this year, but the potential is sky high. Overall the future remains bright in London, I just wonder if some of the other teams in the West were able to make moves to shorten the gap and really give London a run for their money this year.

Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound made their big splash a few days prior to the deadline by adding Cody Ceci and Steven Janes. They also picked up a 3rd rounder in the deal. Going the other way were first rounder Jacob Middleton and Avalanche draft pick Joseph Blandisi. Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this deal for the Attack. I'd rather have Blandisi in the line-up than Janes, but I do understand their desire to inject more size into their forward group. The obvious factor is how well Ceci plays in Owen Sound. He`s had a rough year in Ottawa (too much pressure on him to lead a lacklustre defensive unit). And Middleton is going to be one of the league`s top defenseman by the time he graduates from the league. If Ceci begins to round into form, this definitely addresses a need for Owen Sound, by injecting more offense into their blueline. This is particularly important for improving the Attack`s woeful powerplay. I just can`t help but ponder how much better the Attack would be if the deal for Corrado had gone through. He would have improved their offensive situation and the powerplay, but at the same time provided a more steady defensive approach than Ceci. On top of adding Ceci and Janes, the Attack improved their roster through the return of Artur Gavrus and the defection of Daniel Milne from the University of Michigan. Gavrus is a very skilled player and someone who already has chemistry with the team, having played last year. But he needs to stay healthy. Milne was a 3rd rounder of the Attack in 2010, who McKeen`s scout and TheScout.ca director Sean LaFortune calls ``a hard working, intelligent forward who can play multiple roles, who has a great snap shot, is willing to block shots, and can play both ways.`LaFortune also says he expects Milne to jump right into Owen Sound`s top 9. Can`t argue with improvements in depth. The other movement the Attack were involved in, was sending Jake Dotchin to Barrie. They were able to recoup some quality draft picks in exchange for him. He had fallen down a bit on the depth chart this year, so it`ll be a great opportunity for him to have a fresh start. The addition of Ceci made him a bit expendable. Overall, like what the Attack have done, but I'm not sure I love it.

Plymouth Whalers
The Whalers were faced with an interesting predicament when Mitchell Heard was sent back to the OHL, as it left them with four overagers. Heard's return is a blessing for the Whalers, as he's a terrific and very valuable player at both ends of the ice. His faceoff ability is also a key factor to their penalty killing and defensive efforts. But someone had to go, and that someone was Alex Aleardi. Aleardi has been a solid offensive contributor for Plymouth since being acquired from Belleville several years ago. It ultimately came down to Aleardi or Austin Levi, but the Whalers decided they needed the defensive depth over forward depth and I think they made the right decision. Coming back for Aleardi was forward Zach Lorentz, who moves to his 4th OHL team THIS season. He's proven before to be a capable secondary scoring option, but he never really fit in, in Windsor. Hopefully he's able to find more of a comfort zone with the Whalers. Next came the big one, with Plymouth acquiring Vincent Trocheck from Saginaw in exchange for draft picks and first rounder Zach Bratina. I think Bratina has a bright future in this league, but this was absolutely the right move to make. The one thing I've felt the Whalers have been missing this year is a true playmaker at the center position. Someone to help get pucks to, and create chances for Plymouth's bigger scoring forwards. Trocheck is absolutely that guy. He's also a very valuable two-way player, and a guy who fits well into Vellucci's aggressive system. With the return of Heard, and the acquisition of Trocheck, you could make a pretty good argument that Plymouth has the best group of forwards in the entire league (as long as Rakell returns from Anaheim). Being aggressive at the deadline was the right call too, because the Whalers' window for a Championship is closing after this year IMO. They should still be a solid team next year, but not a Championship contender IMO. Lastly, towards the passing of the deadline, the Whalers flipped imports with Oshawa, acquiring Sebastian Uvira for Simon Karlsson. Karlsson hadn't been great for the Whalers this year, and Uvira hasn't been great for Oshawa. Consider it a change of scenery for both players. Uvira is at least a big, physical guy who can fit in somewhere on Plymouth's 3rd or 4th line.

Saginaw Spirit
I'm torn on how I felt the Spirit did at the deadline. I do like the deal with Plymouth involving Vincent Trocheck. Trading him was the smart move. I think they did well, value wise for him. I like Zach Bratina and I've been impressed with his play in small sample sizes this year. I think he has a lot of offensive upside. It also gives Saginaw one of the strongest groups of 96's in the league, with Bratina, Brandon Prophet, Jeremiah Addison, and Brandon Lindberg. The reason I'm torn is that they decided to (or at least couldn't find the right deal) keep Garret Ross. I understand that he's setting a positive example for some of their younger forwards and that Saginaw still has a chance to make the playoffs this year. But by not dealing Ross for another player who can help them next year and beyond, they've done a disservice to their partial rebuild. This Spirit team could be VERY good next year. They'll have two very strong overagers in Eric Locke and Dalton Young. They'll have great goaltending from Jake Paterson. They've got a lot of young players on the upswing. Why not deal Ross and get another player who can contribute to that upswing next year? I think Spirit management dropped the ball on that one.

Sarnia Sting
The trade deadline just wasn't very kind to the Sting IMO. First came the news that the NHL lockout was over. That means, potentially, no more Alex Galchenyuk. It seems that he has a pretty good shot of making the Canadiens and that has to be a scary thought to Sarnia fans. Then came the news that defenseman Connor Murphy would be lost for the season thanks to another knee injury. That means that the Sting could be playing out the rest of the season without their (arguably) two most important players. Very tough. The Sting did make a couple of minor trades, sending out Justice Dundas and Jack Kuzmyk, and bringing in Tyler Hore. The Hore acquisition, obviously made in response to the news about Murphy. But there was nothing major done to help offset these potential losses. Considering that I can't see the Sting being a very solid team next year (no more Charles Sarault or JP Anderson, likely no more Reid Boucher and Connor Murphy), I think this team is missing their window.

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Don't look now, but the Hounds are surging (no thanks to the strong play of Ryan Sproul, who has only been held pointless during one game in the past 3 months!). They've got a legitimate chance at capturing the West Division if they can continue to play well down the stretch. A lot of people were talking about them as sellers, but I never bought it. Just didn't make sense considering how well they'd been playing lately. Ultimately the Hounds stood their ground, save for sending Mark Petaccio to Ottawa; a minor depth move. The other big news in Hound land lately was the signing of defenseman Kyle Jenkins, who many seem to believe is one of the top 96's not playing in the OHL this year. He'll finish the year off with Oakville in Junior A though. I think Kyle Dubas was right to play things conservative this year, after last year's Jack Campbell debacle.

Windsor Spitfires
I have to admit, I absolutely loved what Windsor was able to accomplish this deadline. A lot of people seemed to expect them to be sellers, but they went and did the opposite of that. Perhaps the main reason for that was the confirmed return (long rumoured) of Alex Khokhlachev. This makes Windsor better in so many ways. They've really been missing that dynamic, playmaking center this year. His presence will also help to take some of the pressure of Kerby Rychel. The blockbuster that they involved themselves in was the acquisition of Slater Koekkoek for Michael Clarke and draft picks. With the return of The Khok (if you read the blog regularly, I've always liked this nickname better than Koko), Clarke would have moved down the depth chart. And he hasn't had a terrific year either. A change of scenery will do him well. Meanwhile, the acquisition of Koekkoek helps to take the pressure of Nick Ebert (and to some extent Trevor Murphy) offensively. He has the potential to be one of the OHL's top defenseman, a feat he could still achieve next season, when he returns to a Windsor defense that will be returning all of its members. The Spits also acquired Remy Giftopoulous from Ottawa. He's had a good year for Ottawa and will provide some depth and grit to Windsor's forward unit. Also acquired was Alex Aleardi, who IMO, is a much better fit offensively than Zach Lorentz was. Lastly, the Spits sent out captain (and overager) Saverio Posa to Guelph for a 4th rounder. The Spitfires managed to make themselves significantly better this season, without sacrificing much in the way of Rychel's push for a Memorial Cup bid in 2014. It's a pretty hard feat to make yourself better this year and next, in this league. So Bravo Windsor.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

WINNERS
1. Kitchener Rangers - I think they've really pushed themselves to the top of the West by adding the players they did. You just can't waste having a goaltender like John Gibson.
2. Windsor Spitfires - As I mentioned, it's a pretty impressive feat to make yourself better this year and next. I certainly wouldn't want to play Windsor in the first round.
3. Ottawa 67's - I really like what they were able to do with their trades, both in the players they acquired for next year, and in the draft picks.

LOSERS
1. Niagara IceDogs - I feel a bit guilty putting the Dogs on here. On one hand, Marty Williamson did a great job with the hand he was dealt. But on the other, the hand they were dealt (the NHL lockout ending) killed their opportunity to add pieces for a push towards being competitive when the new arena opens.
2. Sarnia Sting - Potentially losing their top two players for the rest of the year, without really adding much. I can't see them hanging on to the division lead.
3.Sudbury Wolves - I think the Wolves blew an opportunity to really help their rebuild by combining Corrado and Leivo in one deal. With Middleton refusing to report, that hurts.

What are your thoughts on how things shook down?

Sunday Top 10 - Under the Radar Draft Eligibles for 2013

 We're inching ever closer to the Christmas break and the halfway point to the 2012/2013 season. You've seen draft lists from pretty much every major scouting organization (CSS, ISS, McKeen's, FC, Craig Button at TSN, etc). In about a month's time, NHL Central Scouting will release it's midterm list; their first which amalgamates all leagues in North America. In my opinion, it's a perfect time to highlight some guys who are flying under the radar right now. Guys we're not hearing much about, but who are slowly turning themselves into NHL (some considerable) prospects.

It was hard to narrow this down to ten players (thus I've included several honorable mentions). This list is also in no particular order of ranking; as I've used alphabetical order. An argument could certainly be made about the criteria used to separate the "under the radar" players. No question it was quite subjective. But I didn't include a guy like Justin Bailey based on how much "hype" he's been receiving from the media as of late (deserving of it too).

Here's the list:

Nicholas Baptiste - Sudbury Wolves
He was nearly universally seen on top 10 draft lists for the league prior to the start of the season. The former 6th overall priority selection teased us last year with the potential to take over games physically and offensively. But this season did not start well for him. Little improvements were shown in his game and he started with a single goal in the first 15 games. This caused him to plummet on draft lists, to the point where he didn't even crack NHL Central Scouting's preliminary top 25. But look out, he's averaging a point per game over his last 10 (4 goals, 6 assists), is getting more powerplay time and is using his size more effectively offensively. If this sort of output continues (key word is consistency), he'll find himself rocketing back up draft lists by June.

Josh Burnside - Mississauga Steelheads
I've talked about Burnside many times on this blog and you know I'm a huge fan. But he's still not getting a ton of credit. He sees a ton of ice time on Missy's first line with Riley Brace and Dylan Smoskowitz and he creates a lot of room for those two by going hard to the net and doing the dirty work in the corners. His speed is also quite impressive and keeps defenses honest. Would I like to see him play a bit more physical? Yeah. Do I have concerns about an under 6 ft crease crasher? Some. But he's consistently been one of Mississauga's top forwards all season long and he deserves more credit than he gets.

Remi Elie - London Knights
The offensive output hasn't really been there, but he's an impressive physical specimen. He moves around constantly in the London lineup, used as a spark plug to get a particular line going. His tenacity away from the puck is impressive and he's a great forechecker. A perfect example of this was a play from Friday night's game against Niagara, where he forced a turnover by crushing Jesse Graham near the boards, leading to a goal by Matt Rupert. At this point, I'd like to see more in the goal scoring department, but his torpedo-esque style is certainly fun to watch.

Tyler Ganly - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
An OHL rookie, Ganly has been a pleasant surprise for the Hounds this year. During their bout with injuries and suspension (when Sproul and Miller were absent), Ganly saw his ice time increase and he didn't look out of place. At this point, he's primarily a defensive first kind of guy, but he does make good decisions with the puck in his own end. He's got size and is aggressive in throwing his weight around. As he gains more confidence, we could see even bigger things from him offensively. He'll need to improve his skating to do that though. Reminds me a lot of Plymouth Whaler, Austin Levi, in his sophomore season.

Charlie Graham - Belleville Bulls
The coming month is going to be huge for Graham. He's been terrific in a limited role thus far, serving as Malcolm Subban's back up (.903 SV% thus far). But with Subban gone at the WJC's, he'll get upwards of 7 starts to show what he can do with an increased workload. He's not the biggest goaltender, but similar to Subban, he tracks the puck well and uses his athleticism to make saves. If he can help Belleville to a good record without Subban, he's going to throw his name in the ring for the title of second best draft eligible goalie behind Spencer Martin.

Nick Moutrey - Saginaw Spirit
If you throw out his first six games where he was held pointless, you've got a 6'3, 200lbs winger with 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists) in his last 24 games. And only one of those points has been with the man advantage. We're looking at a power forward with terrific offensive potential who is starting to learn how to create his own goal scoring opportunities. A nice package of size, and skill. There's no doubt that the fact he plays in Saginaw is limiting his exposure to certain lists (heck I've only seen Saginaw play once this year).

Nick Paul - Brampton Battalion
Another big winger who is starting to come into his own. Paul is playing in his first OHL season after being passed over in the priority draft following his minor midget season. He's a big body who controls the wall well and helps his linemates by creating space for them. He's been playing on the Troops top line (with Goodrow and Lewis) of late and looks comfortable out there. His skating needs work, but here's another guy with size and skill.

Brent Pedersen - Kitchener Rangers
I had him ranked pretty aggressively on my preseason rankings (14th) after being impressed with him during his freshman year. I had high expectations for him this season. Similar to Baptiste (above), he started the year off very poorly (1 goal in his first 15 games) and has fallen off the radar (failed to be ranked by Central Scouting). But I've caught the Rangers a few times in the last few weeks and he's looking MUCH better out there. He's back to the basics of creating offense through hard work, and physicality. He also looks more confident with the puck and is starting to try and create his own opportunities by going hard to the net. If he can continue to string together consistent performances, like Baptiste, he'll get his name back into NHL draft consideration.

Brody Silk - Sudbury Wolves
Similar to Baptiste and Pedersen, great things were expected of him this year but he started off the season poorly (goalless in his first 11 games). As a late '94, playing in his 3rd year in the league, that lack of production was alarming. He needed to be better, and he certainly has been of late. 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in his last 14 games. He's certainly not a fun player to play against, some might even call him a bit of a "dirty" player. But as long as he's playing an in your face style and producing offensively, he's going to regain his draft hype.

Carter Verhaeghe - Niagara IceDogs
Reminds me a ton of Windsor's Brady Vail from last year. A real hard working, blue collar centerman. He works his butt off in the offensive end, and does a great job of coming away from scrums with the puck. Niagara's secondary offense has been inconsistent this year (mostly because they're relying on a lot of inexperienced forwards), but Verhaeghe has been the team's most consistent forward outside the big three (IMO).

Honorable Mentions:

Greg Betzold - Peterborough Petes
Big guy with skill who can take the puck to the net. Goal scoring numbers need to improve in order to stand out more on a struggling Peterborough squad.

Jordan DeKort - Windsor Spitfires
I admit that I haven't seen him play yet this year, but the stat line is impressive for (essentially) a rookie goaltender. Have to love the size. Hope he starts to play more as season goes on.

Anthony DiFruscia - Niagara IceDogs
Scrappy goal scoring winger who generally keeps things simple and goes to the net hard. Needs to gain strength coming from Prep school.

Michael Giugovaz - Peterborough Petes
I actually like him a lot, and wanted him on the above list. But I forced myself to limit it to 10. He's been keeping the Petes in a lot of games they don't deserve to be in. I worry that he'll get tired as the season goes on though and his production will plummet. Peterborough will need to be cautious with his psyche if they don't start winning consistently.

Mitch Jones - Plymouth Whalers
Stats aren't impressive, especially for a 5'11 defenseman. But every time I've seen Plymouth play this year, he's been a rock defensively.

Miles Liberati - London Knights
Slowly gaining confidence offensively in his rookie OHL season. He has the potential to be a solid two-way defenseman with a mean streak.

Trevor Murphy - Windsor Spitfires
The trade to Windsor was great for him. He's a terrific puck moving defenseman and he's getting a ton of powerplay time in Windsor. So far, 5 points in 7 games. We'll need to continue that production to get his draft stock back on track.

Danny Vanderwiel - Plymouth Whalers
He hasn't scored a goal yet this year, but it's only a matter of time. He's a big guy who can skate and throw his weight around. He gets his fair share of chances but has been snake bitten.

Thomas Welsh - Mississauga Steelheads
A lot of hype around his recent signing in the OHL. A real stocky, physical defenseman who has offensive potential. His skating will need work to adjust to the pace of the OHL, but once he gets accustomed, he could be a late season riser. Heard great things.

Sunday Top 10 - Jumping Ship to the OHL - Fourth Edition

 This one has been a little overdue, but I've been busy with the 30 Teams in 30 Days feature. This entry has become a tradition at the blog, where we look at some of the players leaving their current teams or commitments to play in the Ontario Hockey League. Some are certain, others are not.

Just a very quick disclaimer. While some research has been done for this article, some of 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.

Let's look at the list.

10. Justin Bailey - Kitchener Rangers
A bit of a stretch for this article, considering he saw only a couple games in the USHL last year, but Bailey is a great recruit for the league. It was announced recently that Bailey would be joining the Rangers this year and not suiting up for the Indiana Ice of the USHL. Bailey will be playing for the U.S. at the upcoming Ivan Hlinka tournament, where we'll likely find out a lot about the type of impact he can make next year. He's got great size and is apparently very skilled. The Rangers could have a bit of an opening on their 2nd line for the coming year, perhaps Bailey will be the one who seizes the opportunity and grabs that spot.

9. Blake Clarke - Brampton Battalion
The Battalion's 1st round pick at this year's priority draft, has committed to playing for Brampton next year. He spent some time in the USHL last year, seeing action in 13 games for Fargo. Clarke will be one of the youngest players in the OHL next year, with a late December birth date. Through the first three months of action, he'll be 15 years old. So I'm not too sure how much we can expect him to contribute. But Sean Lafortune and the Scout.ca believed him to be a top 10 talent for the draft, and a budding power forward with a lethal shot. Lots of potential for the future.

8. Adam Clendening - London Knights
This is definitely a long shot, but it's still worth mentioning. The talented offensive defenseman signed with Chicago this offseason, leaving Boston University after his sophomore year. The intention is obviously to have him play for Rockford of the AHL. But...if he ends up getting overmatched there, the Hawks would still have the option of sending Clendening to the OHL for his overage season. It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. If he's in the OHL, Clendening would obviously end up being one of the league's premier defenseman. As I said, it's an extreme long shot, but the possibility, however tiny it is, is still there.

UPDATE - I totally spaced on the whole "Mike Van Ryn" rule. Because Clendening did not play in the OHL (or the CHL) as a 19 year old, he is ineligible to play in the OHL as an overager. The same thing kept Vinny Saponari from playing for Kitchener in 2010. So it'll be Rockford, the ECHL, or the Chicago Blackhawks for Clendening this year. Thanks to a reader for pointing out the brain fart.

7. Devin Shore - Barrie Colts
While the possibility of Shore heading to Barrie decreases with each passing day, it does still remain. Shore seems committed to playing for Maine next year, and the Stars (and the pro NCAA Joe Nieuwendyk) seem content with that decision. But there is absolutely no denying that the Colts are desperate to add the Stars 2nd round pick to their line-up and I'm sure they'll be pushing the envelope right up until the start of the season. Shore is a well rounded offensive winger who has a very high hockey sense. In Barrie, he'd help to ease the losses of Tanner Pearson, Ivan Telegin, and possibly Mark Scheifele. It does seem like an extreme long shot at this point though.

6. Riley Barber - Windsor Spitfires
Barber has long been attached to the Spits, but each year he spurns Windsor and plays elsewhere. The Capitals draft pick in 2012 appears ready to head to Miami University next year and again spurn the Spits. But, as we all know by now, things can change when it comes to commitments. If Barber does decide to play for Windsor, he'd likely step right into the team's top 6 and be an impact player. His aggressive and high energy style would fit right in.

5. Alex Broadhurst - London Knights
Even though he hasn't officially signed with London yet, all signs are pointing to the Hawks draft pick playing for the Knights next year. London took Broadhurst in the 2nd round this year, which caught a lot of people off guard. But, he's a terrific offensive talent, as his production in the USHL indicates. He finished 3rd in USHL scoring and gained a lot of notoriety for his 3 shorthanded goal game this year (LINK). I'm sure the Knights are expecting him to jump right on to one of their top two lines, and play in all situations.

4. Connor Carrick - Plymouth Whalers
After acquiring Carrick's rights from Guelph, the Whalers quickly signed the U.S. Under 18 team standout. Carrick, a draft pick of Washington this year, is a solid two-way defenseman who I thought was great at the Under 18's this year. Plymouth is losing Austin Levi, Beau Schmitz, and Dario Trutmann on the blueline, so they badly needed to inject some talent into their backend. Carrick should be able to play in all situations, including taking Schmitz's spot as the quarterback of the first powerplay unit. I think he'll have a very solid year and I'm excited to see him play.

3. Tyler Biggs - Oshawa Generals
Will he or won't he? We were having this same discussion at this point last year, but Biggs (the Leafs first round pick) ended up going to Miami University where he had a mediocre freshman campaign. The Leafs then signed Biggs this offseason, pouring gasoline back on the Biggs to Oshawa fire. It appears that the Leafs' first choice is for Biggs to play for the Marlies in the AHL. But a lot of people seem to think that he's not ready offensively for that next step. Sending him to Oshawa, where he can get first line minutes and all the powerplay time he can handle, could be a smart move to increase his confidence with the puck. The Generals sure could use this big, power forward in their top 6.

2. Patrick Sieloff - Windsor Spitfires
Adding Sieloff this offseason was an absolutely massive move by the Spits. Last year, their inexperienced defense really let them down. They were missing that true shutdown type. Sieloff is that guy. The Flames 2nd rounder is a physical beast who thrives in his own end. I thought he was fantastic at this year's Under 18's and I think he'll make a terrific partner for Nick Ebert. That could be huge for the Spits in the sense that Sieloff could help to stabilize Ebert and get him back on track.

1. Ryan Hartman - Plymouth Whalers
The Whalers did great this offseason to land Carrick and Hartman as recruits. Hartman is a physical, power winger who is also offensively talented. He's a late birth date 1994, so he shouldn't need much time to adjust. Hartman is currently projected as a first round pick in 2013, so there's no doubt that he'll be expected to perform in the Whalers' top 6 forwards. Based on what I saw of him at this year's Under 18's, I definitely think he can handle it. This guy was born to play for Vellucci.

Honorable Mention

Jacob Trouba - Kitchener Rangers
It'd be crazy to write this article and not mention Trouba. Of course, everything points to Trouba going to Michigan and being a Wolverine for 2012/2013. There's also the ugly lawsuit going on between Kitchener and a Michigan newspaper for a report about a money offer. Needless to say, if Trouba HAD decided to join Kitchener, he'd immediately become one of the league's top defenseman and a potential two way beast. Alas, it doesn't appear meant to be.

30 Teams in 30 Days: Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes are next.

Ryan Murphy - Kitchener Rangers
It's players like Murphy who make me wish there was some type of exemption for playing in the AHL (in certain circumstances). When players aren't challenged offensively, they can fall into bad habits and get a tad comfortable. And that's what happened to Murphy this year, at least through the first two thirds of the season. When Murphy is on his game, his puck rushing ability makes him nearly unstoppable offensively. His skating ability and puck carrying skill allow him to enter the offensive zone with relative ease. When Murphy was sent back this year, I felt like he struggled a little bit. He was taking too many chances and really neglecting the defensive side of things. Rangers fans were all over him through most of the year for his penchant for committing mistakes out of trying to force plays. I mean, in terms of a statistical analysis, Murphy had another great year. But when you consider what he's done in his OHL career so far, I felt like he stagnated this season and really didn't improve much. It wasn't until he was slighted by Hockey Canada (yet again), that his play really took off post WJC, but he was slighted for the very reason Rangers fans were all over him. This year, he'll be back in the OHL yet again, barring him making the Hurricanes roster to start the season. Upon returning to Kitchener, he's going to need to really focus on improving his defensive game, and picking his spots better offensively. I thought this same thing happened to Ryan Ellis in his 3rd year in the league, and he came back to have his best season yet in his 4th year. So hopefully Murphy is able to channel his energy in the right direction in 2012-2013.

Austin Levi - Plymouth Whalers
I felt like Levi really grew a lot in his four years in the OHL. He was drafted as a huge project, as a big guy who could skate and push people around, but couldn't do a whole lot else. But his offensive game and his defensive game grew tremendously since being drafted. This season, everything took a step forward yet again. Defensively, his in zone coverage really improved and he stopped looking for big hits, allowing the game to come to him and his long reach. He also was more effective in clearing the crease. Offensively, I felt like he handled the forecheck better (something he had trouble doing in previous seasons) and was able to move the puck quicker and more efficiently to start the breakout. He definitely cut down on the turnovers in his own end. Moving forward, he still remains a project though. While all of these things improved at the OHL level, he'll have to continue to work on them in the AHL where decisions need to be made quicker. For a big guy who's a fluid skater, he can be prone to getting beat to the outside because he seems indifferent on whether to take the body or use the stick check. These types of things only come with increased confidence and comfort. It seems like the Canes have a lot of guys on defense at the AHL level, so he might have to play part of this season in the ECHL if the learning curve proves too steep for him to start.

Matt Mahalak - Plymouth Whalers
Mahalak had an absolutely terrific season, even if he spent it splitting time with Scott Wedgewood. In fact, in the games I saw Plymouth play, Mahalak was the better goaltender. He looked much more comfortable in the crease and was able to string together a very consistent season . I felt like he was able to use his size in his crease more effectively this year, but was also able to control his rebounds more. He transformed himself from being purely a puck stopper, to a guy who controls his rebounds and anticipates the play better. He's very athletic too and can make the highlight reel save to keep his team in the game. He stopped 14 of 16 shootout attempts this year, a testament to his agility and ability to stay with shooters. This coming season is the big one for him. Plymouth is set to return a lot of their major players and should have a terrific team. A team that will belong to him as the starter. He could easily be one of the breakout stars of the OHL this coming year.

Beau Schmitz - Plymouth Whalers
With their connection to the Whalers organization, it came as no surprise to me when the Canes signed Schmitz after his overage year. After all, they did invite him to their prospect camp last year. He had an absolutely terrific overage year and really took his game to the next level in every aspect. He looked way more confident at both ends of the ice. While he's always been a solid OHL defenseman, he was on another wave length this year. Offensively, he was way more aggressive in joining the rush and looking for scoring opportunities. In particular, his work on the powerplay looked much comfortable. Defensively, he was way more physically aggressive, which resulted in him winning more battles in the corners and in front of the net. He's not a big guy, but this year he started playing much bigger than he is. My guess is he'll start in the ECHL next year and gain some confidence at the pro level. I'm still not really sure what type of defenseman he'll be at the next level, but his progression in his overage season was definitely very encouraging for his long term potential.

Brock McGinn - Guelph Storm
After battling some injuries this year, McGinn was still drafted in the 2nd round for his combination of energy, tenacity and goal scoring ability. This season, McGinn will look to stay healthy and establish himself in the top 6 of the Storm. Guelph will be returning its entire group of forwards for this year, many of whom have a ton of potential. Needless to say, competition for ice time will be very fierce in Guelph. It'll be interesting to see where McGinn ends up slotting in.

Daniel Altshuller - Oshawa Generals
The Gennies had a brutal year (considering the expectations surrounding them), and Altshuller was definitely part of that. He had huge expectations (perhaps unfairly) coming into his first season in the league after leading Canada to Gold at the Ivan Hlinka. His play was widely erratic, to say the least. But he's a big goaltender with a lot of potential (as evidenced by his high draft selection by Carolina). The good news is that the starting job in Oshawa will be his to lose. Kevin Baillie isn't likely to return as an OA, so Altshuller will be the main man. Oshawa is losing some key talent up front, but they should still remain a competitive team. If he can turn in a solid performance, the Gennies could secure a top four standing in the Conference. And quite frankly, I do expect him to be a lot better this season.

Trevor Carrick - Mississauga Steelheads
I'd expect big things from Carrick this year in Mississauga. He really came into his own during the 2nd half of the season, especially offensively. By the playoffs, his confidence with the puck had hit a real high point. By this time, he had also formed a pretty good partnership with Toronto first rounder Stuart Percy on the team's top pairing. This union should continue this year where the two should play in all situations together. Percy's strong defensive play could also allow Carrick to take more chances offensively and really put up some nice numbers.

Sunday Top 10 - Defensive Players

With the release of the OHL coaches poll around the corner, I thought it'd be a great idea to preview one of the categories of the poll. Today I'm going to look at ranking the top defensive players in the Ontario Hockey League.

Instead of doing two top 10 lists, I will have a top 5 forwards and top 5 defense (totaling 10).

Forwards

5. Sean Monahan - Ottawa 67's
Maybe a bit premature to have him on this list, but I'm such a big fan of his. One of the most complete younger players I've seen in this league. His size makes him such a terrific defensive player, as he wins battles in the corners and is great at tying up his man on the backcheck.

4. Radek Faksa - Kitchener Rangers
Again, maybe a bit premature, but Faksa's defensive game has impressed me so much this year. He's a really smart player and is so dedicated to playing in his own end. Again, his size makes him very tough to match up against.

3. Sam Carrick - Brampton Battalion
I think Carrick is one of the most improved players in the league and has been the main reason why the Battalion have had a very solid season. The key to excelling in Stan Butler's system is to play both ends and Carrick does that so well. He's physical and in your face all the time and always seems to get his stick into scoring lanes.

2. Boone Jenner - Oshawa Generals
There's no question that Jenner is one of the top defensive players in the league. He's so smart at both ends of the ice and his size makes him very difficult to beat in loose puck battles. He's also very committed to playing in his own end and is incredibly physical. He leaves it all out there on the ice.

1. Alex Friesen - Niagara IceDogs
The only player left in the league who received votes in last year's coaches poll for top defensive forward, Friesen is about as good as you can get in your own end. His speed, physicality, and intelligence makes him such an integral part of Niagara's defense, and their penalty kill (which is the league's best).

Honorable Mention:
Vincent Trocheck, Mike Halmo, Riley Brace, Austin Watson, Jared Knight, Mitchell Heard, Michael Catenacci, Freddie Hamilton, Luke Judson

Defense

5. Austin Levi - Plymouth Whalers
Levi has developed into one of the league's top shutdown defenseman. He's so hard to get around because he's so big and such a good skater. He stays with you off the rush and can finish you off with a hard check, or by using his long stick.

4. Dougie Hamilton - Niagara IceDogs
His place on this list might be questioned by some because of the amount of risks he takes offensively, but he's such a good skater that he's able to negate any chances his pinches and rushes give up the other way. He's also physical and won't let you get space on him in front of the net.

3. Jamie Oleksiak - Niagara IceDogs
Hamilton's teammate in Niagara, Oleksiak is simply a beast. He's absolutely massive out there and because of that he's really hard to get around and his long stick does such a good job of interfering with passes into the slot. And while he's not as physical as you'd assume a guy his size would be, that doesn't make him any less effective as a shutdown defenseman.

2. Cody Sol - Kitchener Rangers
Sol has had an absolutely fantastic overage season and has been the rock to Ryan Murphy's roll all season long. He's consistently been among the league leaders in plus minus and doesn't take crap from anyone. Definitely one of the most aggressive defenders in the league and a guy that really enjoys punishing you in the corners and in front of the net.

1. Jarred Tinordi - London Knights
Easily one of the most improved players in the league this year. I was quite disappointed in his play last year, but he's made up for it this year. There's a reason why he's the league leader in plus minus right now. He's just flat out been a beast this year.

Honorable Mention:
Stuart Percy, Scott Harrington, Jay Gilbert, Cody Ceci

Because this list is so subjective, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.