Sean Keogh's Top 20 OHL Players for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

2009 Top 20 OHL Prospects
by Sean Keogh

I promised Brock that I would submit my own attempt at an OHL-based draft preview, and the fulfillment of such a promise is what follows. However I would like to be clear that that my viewings of some Western conference teams were limited. As a result I have to admit that on a couple of players near the end of my list, part of the basis for my evaluation of them comes from second party information, particularly Brock himself.

To further preface this piece, it is important to note that my approach was to try and offer my perspective on the skills, styles and potential of the players. This blog being the resource that it is already has much of the statistical information about these players, everything from position to vitals to point production. Therefore I felt that in order to allow for more complete and substantive commentary on each player, I did not include much of that. Moreover, my intent was not so much to provide a fixed ranking of players, and certainly not to predict the order in which these players will go, because at points I feel some players are almost interchangeable, and at other points there are drop-offs.

1) John Tavares

I will readily admit that I am in the camp with those who have concerns about John Tavares’ ability to be a true impact player at the next level. His scoring ability and hockey sense need no description or introduction, and there is little reason to doubt he will put up points at the next level. However, I have concerns about his skating, his ability to produce off the rush and his potential to develop an all-round game. Certainly watching Dany Heatley in Ottawa, there are significant similarities between the two, and no team would turn down the kind of production a player like Heatley gives the Senators year after year. However Heatley is not a well-rounded scorer or a true creator and I wonder if Tavares will struggle in that way as well. A question I come back to as well is whether Tavares is better suited to the wing than center as an NHLer. If my evaluation of his skill set and the style of play I think he will play at the next level is fair, that Tavares is more of a natural finisher and less a dominant puck-carrier, he is better suited on the wing. On the other hand, if Tavares sticks as a center, he will need to be more of a distributor and creator to be effective down the middle, which also means being a more assertive player in all three zones. All of that is not to be taken as a criticism of Tavares himself. I personally do not buy a lot into the questions of his character because of a lacklustre playoff performance, rather I simply see his skill set as being limited in some ways, but he is certainly worthy of the high praise and hype he has received.

2) Matt Duchene

Many of those who focus on the flaws of Tavares seem to, almost as an equal and opposite reaction, promote the strengths and assets of Matt Duchene, and there is little doubt that Duchene’s rising stock is at least partially tied to the question marks attaching themselves to Tavares. In my case however, I am not leading the Duchene fan club either, though I certainly like him as a player. I do not doubt he is legitimately worthy of being a top five pick this year. He has a wide range of skills, including impressive all-round skating ability, good offensive ability and a mature awareness in all three zones. That being said, I am not quite as enthusiastic about his top end potential as some. Every two-way OHL center projected to go in the top five of the draft is inevitably compared to Steve Yzerman or perhaps Joe Sakic, and Duchene is no different. For me I see some Stephen Weiss is Duchene though, a good all-round player who was an Yzerman-type player in the OHL, but I never felt was a truly dynamic offensive prospect. I see a lot of Duchene in Weiss, who is a good young NHL player, but not capable of impacting the game the way his more-maligned but also more highly touted 2001 draft-mate Jason Spezza can in the NHL. Obviously I see no reason to doubt that Duchene will be a very good player, nor does anybody else. However, I can not rank him ahead of Tavares without being sold on him as a potential all-star level scorer.

3) Ryan Ellis

To say Ryan Ellis’ last twelve months of hockey have been amazing would still not do his accomplishments justice. Everything he has touched has turned to Gold, both for him and his team. It is also a good time to be a dynamic offensive defenceman, thanks in large part to the Mike Green factor, a most common comparison for and potential justification of the selection of Ellis. One can be nearly certain that Green’s name will come up in TSN’s instant analysis after Ellis is drafted in Montreal. Offensively-speaking, Ellis has almost all of the tools. He is a good skater, outstanding puck-handler, smooth passer and has an impressively lethal shot from the point, perfectly complemented by off the charts instincts. However, the disagreement on Ellis stems from concerns about his size and defensive play. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about such concerns. On the one hand he is a small player, and does not really play much larger than his size. He does not compensate for a lack of size with outstanding lower body strength or a great sense of timing physically. While that could come with time and work, it will be no easy task for Ellis to turn himself in to a well-rounded rearguard. I am not convinced he will ever be more than a powerplay quarterback and offensive specialist; however, it is possible he goes in the top ten if a team is convinced he will be.

4) Calvin de Haan

It is somewhat curious to me that de Haan has not firmly found a place as a project first round pick by this point in the year. After his performance after Tavares and Del Zotto left Oshawa, and particularly his strong turn at the U18s, I see plenty of reason to move him in to the back half of the first round. The natural, inescapable comparison for de Haan as an undersized offensive blueliner is to the aforementioned Ellis, but I see them differently. De Haan is not as dynamic or as pure an offensive player as Ellis, and therefore his impact upside is lesser as well. However I believe strongly in his all-round awareness, patience and poise, and believe that he has better and safer pick to be a complete defenceman. His size is a limiting factor, and no doubt it will take de Haan some time to upgrade his strength, but the big steps he has taken over the last year give me reason to believe he has room to improve in that area. Although de Haan’s upside is not as an impact player, and he is not going to be compared to Mike Green, I do think he has the potential to be a solid puck-moving rearguard for a long time, and with the premium placed on such players, I would have no hesitations selecting him in last third of the first round. If Brock did not also have him at fourth, I might wonder if my Ottawa-area bias was getting in the way of things, but obviously that is not the only reason to be high on de Haan.

5) Peter Holland

My list deviates from Brock’s at this point, and it appears Hockey Canada and I have different views as well on Peter Holland. At mid-season having Holland ahead of Kadri and Kassian would have been an easier sell, but I will do my best to explain my view at this point. It is true that Holland so far OHLer has been something of an enigma in the OHL, at times passive, and other times very impressive, but certainly if nothing else inconsistent. While I do not dispute that Holland had a weak second half and can at times play a quiet perimeter game, I also see a lot in his tool box that I like. For one thing his combination of height and skating is noteworthy, and he moves with and without the puck with coordination and ease. I also like his hands, vision, offensive potential and all-round hockey sense. Where some see passive, indifferent play, I also see an intelligent young player who thinks on the ice. Over-thinking the game can cause inconsistency for many young players, and I suspect that relates well to Holland. I will not go as far as to say he has the kind of upside Jeff Carter has displayed, but I think they have similar skill sets and for that reason have Holland ahead of the next three forwards.

6) Nazem Kadri

It would seem as though ripping on Nazem Kadri has become something of a fad in recent months. Dating back to last season Kadri has been highly touted for this year’s draft, but he has seen his stock fall in the second half for a variety of reasons and in spite of an impressive playoff performance. Personally my concerns about Kadri are not related to his character or perceived selfish play, but rather the same questions Brock has addressed regarding his offensive upside. While Kadri has fancy moves and the occasional electrifying rush, those are not likely to work at the NHL level, and I am not convinced either that his offensive skills, specifically his hockey sense, will make him a consistent scorer at the next level. I actually see a fair bit of grit and effort in his game, and believe he could be a good role player at the next level, even a tweener second/third line type of guy, much like Antoine Vermette. For that reason I would not have him as a top ten pick, and would hesitate to take him over guys with more definite upside, but I would start looking at him around the middle of the first round, even if I can see how some might feel differently.

7) Ethan Werek

Joining de Haan on this list as an OHL rookie is Werek, a well-rounded forward with underrated upside. What I like about Werek is he has a versatile skill set. He can play center or wing, power or finesse, playmaker or finisher, although he is a master of none. In Kingston he performed better on the wing and I think his true potential is as a complete complimentary winger on a scoring line, kind of as a cross between Chris Kunitz and Mike Knuble. Werek’s skating is definitely his weakness, but I like his stride and see room for improvement. He is capable of making plays with the puck and on the rush; he simply needs to work on his acceleration, which is not surprising for a player who is one year removed from Junior A. While he is not flashy like Kadri or powerful like Kassian or smooth like Holland, I like his all-round combination and the fact he has a lot of elements in his game and was productive at the OHL level on a garbage team and at the U18s in a different style of game.

8) Zack Kassian

I appreciate that slotting Kassian here is likely the hardest ranking to justify. To some he is the third best available OHLer after the obvious two, and to those who value power forward prospects highly he is an exciting young player. Part of the reason I rank him here is because I do not fall in to the latter group. There is no doubt that Kassian has NHL size and strength, and that he has the potential to play a power game on more than a fourth line. He goes to the net, cycles the puck well and has some finish. However, I have serious concerns with not only his skating but his ability to create offence with the puck and on the fly. At the U18s, when the pace was quicker, the opponent more talented than the OHL, he seemed to have very little utility offensively other than as a big body down low. In the NHL, this would limit the number of systems where he could really have an impact. Now that is certainly not a useless skill, and Hall of Famers have made careers out of being exceptional in that area, but it is the reason I have Kassian behind the three forwards ahead of him, although any reconfiguration of them can be solidly justified in my opinion.

9) Ryan O’Reilly

It must be said that Ryan O’Reilly won me over at the U18s. Previously I saw a player with average size and talent and below average skating, but his intangibles shone through clearly to me at the tournament. There is little O’Reilly is not able or at least willing to do on the ice. He can score, hit, play defence, win faceoffs, kill penalties and in general play in almost any situation. At the next level, I do not see big offensive potential, but would be surprised if he does not make the NHL in some capacity. The limiting factor with O’Reilly is his skating. Not only is he not that quick, but his stride is technically weak, leaving him without much room to improve his power, acceleration, balance or agility. At the OHL and U18 level he can keep up, but it would take a lot of work to get his skating to the level where he can unlock any greater potential he may have. The natural counter-argument is that a guy like Mike Richards kind of did just that, improving his once average OHL skating and below average mechanics enough to make him a great NHL player with deceptive speed, but that is far, far easier said than done. I would not be shocked if O’Reilly slips in to the first round, but he is best suited as an early second rounder in my opinion.

10) Alex Hutchings

The only other player I firmly believe is worthy of a top two round selecting is Hutchings, the underrated and undersized Barrie forward. My confidence in Hutchings comes from the fact I like his skating for a smaller player. No doubt he is a good offensive player who buzzes around and is willing to go in to the tough areas despite limited size. However, every year there are several undersized forwards available for the draft from all different junior leagues and only a few separate themselves from the rest. What Hutchings has going for him is a good low drive, and a stride and puck-carrying style that allows him to use his lower center of gravity nicely. This kind of allows him to bump off defenders instead of shying away from them, an important asset for an undersized player without elite offensive skills. That does not mean that Hutchings can or will be able to necessarily play that game at the next level, that will require continued focus on adding strength and power to his frame, but I like his chances if he can do that.

11) Edward Pasquale

This is the first player I will have to admit I do not have a well-developed view of, and by extension not a prospect I have a strong opinion on. What I do know is that Pasquale is a big, technical goaltender who makes the saves he needs to but lacks the athleticism to make a lot of saves he should not. He is coming off a very strong year on an average team, and the fact he has already achieved success at the OHL level is an important step for a young goalie. Between his size, maturity and solid technical skills, he is a good goalie prospect in a draft weak at that position, so it is entirely possible he is the first tender taken in Montreal. Whether he has significant upside as a starting goaltender is the question that teams will have in deciding just how high they take him.

12) Taylor Doherty

I noted above that personally I do not have the common preference for power forwards, and the same would be true for jumbo-sized blueliners. Case in point, it already looks like I underestimated Tyler Myers last year. Although Taylor Doherty is not Myers, and he is not a first round prospect at this point, I do actually like him as a prospect. Playing on the same bad team as Werek in Kingston, Doherty had an up and down season, but the tools are unmistakable. He is extremely tall and has room to fill out, and has some good skating ability for a player his size. Laterally he struggles, but straight line he moves fairly well, which suggests that there is room for improvement in his skating in all directions. While he does not handle the puck like a grenade, he really does not have much offensive skill to speak of, which is why I like him to an extent. He projects very simply as a stay-at-home guy at the next level, and he could be a good one with some patience and refinement. I am surprised he is ranked as low as he is by Central Scouting to be honest.

13) Matt Clark

Matt Clark is an interesting case of a player who has simply kept improving since being drafted in to the OHL. A late round pick in to the OHL, and a late birthday in 1990 who narrowly missed being eligible last year, Clark was an 18 year old OHL rookie this year. That his draft stock steadily rose throughout the year is a testament to how well he played for Brampton. What Clark has going for him is size and mobility. At 6’3” and over 200lbs, he can handle big forwards, and his mobility allows him to cope with quicker ones as well. Clark also has some offensive skills and a willingness to jump in to the play at times, which suggests he has some all-round potential. In his own zone though, he needs some work with positioning and general awareness, as he can get caught scrambling at times. I am also not quite sure what kind of blueliner he projects to be at the next level. Although he has some interesting tools, I am not sure exactly what his niche will be because he is not particularly gifted offensively and is not overly refined defensively. Whereas a team picking Doherty knows exactly the kind of prospect they are working with, I am not so sure Clark is the same way.

14) Scott Stajcer

It has become fairly common for a handful of OHL goalies to be taken in the first three rounds each year, and Scott Stajcer is a decent bet to do the same. Unheralded coming in to the season, Stajcer managed to wrestle the starting job away from Tyler Beskowranny, an impressive feat considering the talent level of the Dallas Stars second rounder from 2008. Style-wise Stajcer is a bit more raw than Pasquale, showing similar size and a bit more athleticism, but also more inconsistency, which is a challenge in evaluating goalies. It is certainly not unusual, and perhaps even quite natural, for first or second year junior players to struggle with their consistency. However, what often separates the good goalies from the bad, the Steve Masons from the Craig Hilliers, is improving or outgrowing that consistency. An NHL team who was able to see more of Owen Sound may be convinced it was really simply the predictable ups and downs of a player in his first complete OHL season, and for that reason I would not be surprised in the least if Stajcer went fairly high.

15) Michael Latta

I would say that Michael Latta was a favourite of mine coming in to this year, and to an extent that is still the case. As a 16 year old he flashed nifty dangles and some nice grit, and early this year seemed to take a major step forward offensively. Not knowing the reasons for his surprising trade from Ottawa, I am not docking him on those grounds, but my doubts about Latta have grown as I have focussed increasingly on his skating. While he has nice moves and some offensive potential, he too often has to make extra moves or throw away the puck because his skating does not allow him to gain separation or create space. He cycles well, goes to the net and plays with some grit, but his size does not project as a true banger at the next level. His skating is not doomed by awful technique, so the potential for improved power and acceleration is there, and if he does that his NHL potential increases dramatically. There is some offence and some grit there, and while he will never impose physically, he has a solid stocky build and I would say his size is decent. I would consider him as a late second rounder, and think he would be a good third round pick for any team.

16) Jesse Blacker

I saw Windsor play several times this year, probably the most of any team other than Ottawa, and I still feel I do not have a great sense of what Jesse Blacker is capable of. Part of the reason for that is certainly the fact that after the trade deadline he was probably the sixth blueliner on the eventual Memorial Cup champions. In fact I found myself looking for him at times for just that reason. What I saw was a decently sized blueliner with nice skating ability and solid defensive positioning. Occasionally he showed some puck-rushing ability, but overall his offensive instincts, and in fact his involvement offensively in general, was average. In his own zone Blacker seemed to be fairly solid for a young blueliner, and I thought he improved as the season went along. Perhaps an important question is what role Blacker will play going forward with Windsor. Although Kwiet and Shutron will certainly graduate, with Ellis, Cam Fowler and Mark Cundari in the fold, will his offensive game be allowed to develop. I wonder what his upside is in his own zone as well, but there are some nice tools there, and for that reason he is an intriguing potential third rounder.

17) Jordan Szwarz

I have to admit I wish I saw more of Szwarz because in my limited viewings, I did not get a good read on the offensive skill others like Brock are convinced he has. While he bounced around in the offensive zone and reminded me a bit of Hutchings, in my viewings he did not create a ton. Moreover, I did not see a particularly well-rounded player, nor does his size suggest he has much potential in that regard. Therefore I am limited in what I can offer on Szwarz, and while I have seen hints at his offensive potential, he certainly never showed to me what others believe he is capable of doing. Of course, that seems to also be the knock on him, because he would have scored a fair bit more than he did if consistency was not a concern. I rank him here because I believe the upside of available prospects begins to drop off at this point.

18) Taylor Beck

Taylor Beck is a hard player for me to evaluate. As someone who is very focussed on skating, particularly the technical aspects, Beck is not my favourite prospect available. I have serious concerns that his skating, awkward as it is, and already average at best in the OHL, limits him a fair bit. On the other hand, he does have good size and decent offensive skill, particularly hand-eye-coordination. The question is whether or not Beck will be one of those players who does not look pretty, but nonetheless seems to get to where he needs to be in order to be effective. If I saw more top end offensive skills I would be more inclined towards the latter, but I am not sure that is the case. Although he is a hard working offensive forward, he does not seem particularly well developed as an all-round player. Beck is neither a strong defensive player, nor a bruising physical specimen, despite decent size and some willingness to use it to protect the puck offensively. His skating would be less of an issue if he projected better as a third line player at the next level, but I am not entirely satisfied of that yet. A team will likely draft him in the third round, maybe fourth, and I think will see him as a bit of a project, but it is always easier to be patient with those types of players if the effort level is already there.

19) Marcus Foligno

I have mixed feelings on Marcus Foligno, particularly because it is hard not to compare him to his brother. On the one hand he was generally unimpressive when I saw him this year, no matter the game or venue. He has good size, great height and shows good effort and board work, but he also showed little pure offensive talent and his skating concerned me. His stride is stiff, his agility is below average and he lacks acceleration at this point in time. On the other hand, I also appreciate that he is a very young player, almost a year younger than Nick was when he was drafted, and that he could very well improve in a lot of ways like his brother has. Nick has steadily improved his goal scoring, stickhandling and particularly skating since his rookie season in the OHL, and if Marcus can get on a similar curve, he could be a steal for whoever takes him. I do not really think he has the scoring line upside some believe Nick has, but I do think his bloodlines and raw physical skills make him an intriguing prospect.

20) Kyle Clifford

I think the U18s did a lot for Kyle Clifford’s stock heading in to the draft. At that tournament he thrived as a bang and crash role player, and showed enough to suggest he has the potential to play that role at the NHL level. He has good size, goes to the net, is a strong forechecker and throws his weight around with appreciable enthusiasm. Moreover, he seems to be on an upward development swing. Although his 16 goals this year were not stellar, when compared to his one single goal as a rookie last year, it is more notable. I do not see much in the way of skill or creativity that will translate to the NHL level, but size and grit often goes higher in NHL drafts than one would expect. He could very well go higher than a few players above him, but to me he is simply a good potential role player, a bit like Cody Bass a few years ago.

Honourable Mention:

Phil Varone : I was tempted to include Varone in my top 20, and even considered having him a fair bit higher. His impressive playoff performance should have raised his stock, although Central Scouting dropped him in their final rankings. Varone is a good offensive player who should be a very successful OHLer, but there is fair reason to doubt how he projects at the next level.

Tyler Randell : Part of me thinks Randell could end up being a late round find for some team. He has some offensive skill, decent size and was more productive when given more ice time in Kitchener, so it is entirely possible he breaks out when Kitchener takes off as anticipated next year. That being said, when I saw him he seemed intriguing and frustrating at best, lazy and undisciplined at worst.

William Wallen : Everybody has guys they cheer for a bit more just because they hope their support will help that underdog succeed, and few players fit that mold better than Wallen. Not only did he almost die this year, a near-tragedy detailed on this blog already, but Wallen as an undersized waterbug type of player, already has obstacles to overcome as a hockey player. I like Wallen’s skill level, tenacity, and technically-strong skating stride. With more lower body strength and improved skating he could be a steal.

Michael Zador : Hockey Canada can operate in strange ways, and they seemed to do just that picking Zador as the starter for the U18s and ignoring Stajcer altogether. The result for Zador was mixed, in my opinion. He was praised for putting up good numbers and at times making big stops, but I thought he looked shaky throughout the tournament. Some goals were weak and some of the big stops more impressive than they had to be. Jake Allen he is not, but he could go quite high on draft day because of the U18s regardless.

SK

New Logo

In case you hadn't noticed, the blog went through some minor cosmetic surgery today.

Thanks to reader and follower Dave Astles for creating the new "logo" for us here. It looks great. Dave also is responsible for the new "Sunday Top 10" logo.

Some great work!

OHL Well Represented at Team Canada Summer Development Camps

Late last week, Hockey Canada announced the rosters for their annual Team Canada Summer Development Camps.

There are three camps; U20 camp (for the 2010 WJC's), U18 camp (for the Ivan Hlinka tournament in August), and the Goaltender camp (for the 2010 WJC's).

Here are the OHL players invited to each camp:

U20 Development Camp:
Forwards
Josh Brittain, Barrie Colts
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Matt Duchene, Brampton Battalion
Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Adam Henrique, Windsor Spitfires
Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion
Nazem Kadri, London Knights
Zack Kassian, Peterborough Petes
Greg Nemisz, Windsor Spitfires
Ryan O'Reilly, Erie Otters
Defenceman
T.J Brodie, Saginaw Spirit
Matt Clark, Brampton Battalion
Tyler Cuma, Ottawa 67's
Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals
Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville Bulls
Alex Pietrangelo, Niagara IceDogs

U18 Camp for the Ivan Hlinka Tournament
Forwards
Freddie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves
Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers
Steven Shipley, Owen Sound Attack
Jeffrey Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Ryan Spooner, Peterborough Petes
Gregg Sutch, Sarnia Sting
Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals
Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67's
Defenceman
Brock Beukeboom, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Nathan Chiarlitti, Sarnia Sting
Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs
Ryan O'Connor, Barrie Colts
Stephen Silas, Belleville Bulls
Goaltenders
JP Anderson, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

WJC Goaltender Camp:
Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Edward Pasquale, Saginaw Spirit
Scott Stajcer, Owen Sound Attack

Sunday Top 10 - Defensive Forwards

First off, thanks to those that wrote in or commented with possible list ideas. Some outstanding ideas. This week, and next week, I'll be covering the top defensive players in the OHL. This Sunday will be forwards, next Sunday will be defenseman. Thanks to "back2back" on Local Sports Report for the idea.

For some of the other ideas I received, thanks to "Tunisian Tsar" for a couple great ones. As for the top 10 players to watch from the Priority draft, unfortunately, I don't really know a whole lot about any of those guys, other than what I've read. The only guy I've really seen play is Daniel Catenacci. So ultimately, I don't want to make a list of those guys just based on what I've read and not seen. Here is an interesting little article on "5 to Watch" from the OHL. Also, great idea on the 2010 eligible players. I'm going to put that one in my back pocket for later, probably would be a great top 10 for before next season starts.

Also, to the anonymous commenter about the top draft risers and fallers; the two Sunday Top 10's before the NHL Entry Draft (June 13 and 20th) will be dedicated to just that. So stay tuned.

Back to today's, which focuses on the top defensive forwards in the OHL. As "back2back" so eloquently put it, "We hear so much about the guys who get the points but sometimes its nice to recognize players who are good at keeping the puck out of their own net." One important thing to consider is that this list is of the top defensive forwards, not penalty killers. There are a lot of really good penalty killing forwards in the OHL, but quite a few them aren't as focused defensively when play is five on five. So let's not confuse penalty killing ability with overall defensive and two way ability.

Here are your Top 10 Defensive Forwards

10. Cody Hodgson - Brampton Battalion
Anytime you see a player of Hodgson's calibre on a list like this, I think that's pretty impressive. For all his skill and offensive ability, Hodgson has rounded himself into an excellent two way forward who has developed a strong desire to back check. The fact that he has developed into such a complete player, can be linked to his rise on most top prospect lists. I also think that ultimately, his increased two way ability will be his ticket to Vancouver next season. I don't see Cody back in the OHL next season, since now, not only can he help Vancouver offensively, but he's not going to hurt them defensively, like a lot of 19 and 20 year old's would.

9. Tyler Murovich - Saginaw Spirit
Looking back, I think that Murovich should have definitely had a place in my "Mini Mights" Top 10. This little guy made massive improvements this season, his second in the OHL after transferring from the USHL. He finished third in scoring for the surprisingly good Spirit this season, and was their second best playoff performer behind Jack Combs. He plays with a lot of heart and isn't afraid of anyone, qualities that make him an excellent two way player. Despite his size, he anticipates the play very well and makes a consistent effort in being the first forward back to the defensive zone. With Combs and Chris Chappell off to the professional ranks next season, Saginaw will be looking to Murovich to lead the show.

8. Matthew Lyall - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
While Lyall may not be a significant professional prospect, this overager and Soo Captain leaves it all on the ice. Lyall was solid at both ends of the ice for the struggling Greyhounds, leading the team in goals and being a defensive presence on a team with few of them. Likely CIS bound next year, unless he earns a pro contract at an NHL prospect camp, Lyall's tenacity and two way game will be surely missed by a young Greyhounds team who will be looking to improve.

7. Matt Kennedy - Guelph Storm
Not only was Kennedy named the most underrated and hardest working player in the OHL Coaches Poll (for the West), but he also got a nod as a third team All Star this season. Not many players improved as much as Kennedy did this season, a fact that could see Kennedy's name get called at the NHL Entry Draft as a draft overager. Kennedy also got a nod in the Coaches Poll for being an excellent defensive forward. He plays within the Guelph system as well as anyone and plays the game hard. He sticks with his man and makes their job as hard as possible.

6. John Kurtz - Sudbury Wolves
This Oakville, Ontario native somehow managed to finish +15 on the Wolves this season, a feat which literally boggles my mind, considering how bipolar Sudbury was. Kurtz's play this season earned him a nod as the most underrated player in the Eastern Conference by the Coaches Poll. Kurtz is a hard working forward who does a great job in backchecking and is just an overall solid and intelligent player. Likely returning as an overager, Kurtz will be looked upon to help Sudbury improve next season.

5. Logan Couture - Ottawa 67's
Similar to Hodgson, Couture is an elite level player who stepped up defensively this season. However, I did have some conflicts about including Couture on this list at all, considering his niche for being a bit of a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. At times, Couture can be a dominating two way presence, while at other times, he can be a complete disappearing act at both ends. At the beginning of this season, he was taking a lot of flak for being a non existent factor on a team that needed him to be its biggest factor. As the season went along, he got better and better. By the time the OHL Playoffs rolled around, Couture was undoubtedly playing some of the best hockey of his OHL career. If Couture wants to be, he can be a tremendous player, especially at the defensive end, where he uses his strong hockey intelligence to anticipate plays like very few. Hopefully, the San Jose Sharks organization can get the best out of him.

4. Ryan O'Reilly - Erie Otters
Admittedly, O'Reilly is currently a better penalty killer than he is a defensive stalwart. I'm not sure there is a better penalty killing forward in the OHL than O'Reilly, who's active stick, anticipation, and physical abilities allow him to control the pace of opposing powerplays. Look no further than to the reason for Erie's league leading penalty killing unit this season. That being said, O'Reilly isn't quite as dominant a force defensively. A lot of that has to do with his skating ability and being able to get back quickly to the defensive end. That being said, once the offense sets up shop at the other end, O'Reilly does too, and he's able to be a very strong defensive presence. It's in the transition game that he can have some trouble. But with the skating improvements I'm sure he's likely to make, O'Reilly has the potential to top this list.

3. Thomas Kiriakou - Ottawa 67's
With his play and improvements this season, this overager did a lot to show NHL scouts that he's worth an NHL contract this offseason. Previously considered a strong defensive forward, Kiriakou exploded offensively this season with 29 goals and was a big reason for Ottawa's strong season. While he may not be the best skater, Kiriakou works hard and is always the first forward back, doing a great job of anticipating plays at the offensive end. I'm not sure how many times in watching Ottawa this season, I saw him come back to the defensive zone in order to break up an odd man rush. While it remains to be seen where he'll be playing next season (AHL, ECHL, CIS?), one thing is for certain. The 67's are going to really miss the strong two way abilities of guys like Couture and Kiriakou.

2. Scott Timmins - Windsor Spitifres
Timmins is a solid all around player with very few weaknesses. There is no question that his acquisition by Windsor, was a big reason they were able to win the Memorial Cup this season. With a 35 goal season, and a strong two way ability, there is reason to believe Timmins could hear his name called at the NHL entry draft, as a draft overager. Our own Sean Keogh strongly believes that Timmins has the makings of a solid NHL prospect and that he's more than worthy of a late round selection. While I tend to disagree slightly on his NHL potential, I do believe Timmins to be one of the best two way forwards in the league and a guy who concertedly makes an effort on the backcheck.

1. Cory Tanaka - Belleville Bulls
This overager and OHL career games leader has long been considered one of the best defensive forwards in the Ontario Hockey League. A little ball of tenacity, Tanaka is constantly buzzing around the ice. His excellent skating ability allows him to be elusive on the ice, and he constantly outworks the opposition for loose pucks. Tanaka's conditioning and hard work make him such a strong two way player, as he beats forwards to the puck in his own zone and uses an active stick to be a defensive pest. While it remains to be seen whether Tanaka's defensive abilities can get him an NHL contract, I highly doubt he's in the CIS next year, as I'm certain he'll earn himself at least an AHL/ECHL contract to work his way up the ranks.

Stay tuned for next week's Top "Defensive" Defenseman.

Next Sunday's Top 10

Hey everyone,

For next Sunday's Top 10, I'm taking requests from readers for something they'd like to see done. Feel free to post your idea as a comment below. I'll pick the best one to do for this Sunday, however I'll keep all ideas in mind for future Top 10's.

Brock

The Sunday Top 10 - Top Complete Fighters

In today's Top 10, we look at the OHL's best and most useful fighters. In that I mean, players who fight, and fight often (in most cases), but are also skilled, important members of their team. So, apologies to guys like Peter Stevens and Mike Yovanic, but this is a list of the top complete fighters, not just the best fighters. The criteria I used to measure whether they were fighters or not, was whether they had ever been in more than 10 fights before in a season. Of course there is also some subjectivity in my selections, because I took into account whether these guys were winning some of these fights. Confused? I hope not. I've embedded a clip of each guy at his best with the gloves off, for entertainment purposes of course.

Here is the top 10...

10. Luke Gazdic - Erie Otters
Gazdic will never be mistaken for a superb offensive player, but he's worked hard to improve his puck skills and it showed where he set a career high with 20 goals this season. He is an effective energy player who seems to do anything to help his team win. He hits anything that moves and is one of the most feared body checkers in the OHL. And of course, he fights and fights well. Gazdic fought 12 times this year, inlcuding fights against heavyweights Mike Yovanic, Kyle Neuber, and Brandon Mashinter.
Here is a clip of Gazdic TKO'ing Mike Yovanic from earlier this season.


9. Andrew Shaw - Niagara IceDogs
This kid is nuts. In a good way. At just under six feet and max 160lbs, Shaw came into the league this year willing to fight anyone, even if it was a guy 5 inches and 75lbs bigger than him. And he holds his own and never gives up. His offensive game improved greatly over the course of the season and I think eventually you'll see him being a very solid offensive contributor in this league, when he's given more ice time. Being the youngest player on this list is an impressive feat.
Here is Shaw fighting Jack Walchessen this season.


8. Zac Rinaldo - London Knights
Rinaldo is a human wrecking ball on the ice. He's absolutely one of the best body checkers and most aggressive players in the OHL. While he's developed the reputation for playing a bit dirty, he's often able to back things up with his fists. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Rinaldo put up nearly a point per game in his time with London this year. Again, while he'll never be a big time offensive contributor at the next level, he's starting to realize that he can create offense with the energy he brings to the ice. He's also developed into a real quality piece in the puck possession game, in particular during the cycle.
Here is Rinaldo tossing around behemoth Taylor Doherty from this season.


7. Kyle Clifford - Barrie Colts
The draft eligible Clifford got better and better as the season went along, thus explaining his rise through the draft rankings from season start to season finish, culminating with a spot on the Canadian Under 18 team. He forechecks hard and appears to know where to go on the ice offensively. Clifford also developed quite the penchant for fighting this season, dropping the gloves 14 times. While his offensive abilities may be hitting the tip of the iceberg, his physical abilities are clearly a strength of his.
Here is Clifford fighting Matt Clark of Brampton, a fellow draft eligible player.


6. Anthony Peluso - Brampton Battalion
Peluso made great improvements this year, in my opinion. After the trade from the Soo to Brampton, he looked to be playing inspired hockey. With Brampton his offensive game began to come out, as he was turning his hard work on the forecheck into scoring opportunities. When you go hard to the net, good things often happen, and Peluso has started to become a solid opportunistic scorer, even netting 8 in the playoffs. I think his play in Brampton really helped to earn him that contract from St. Louis recently. While Peluso didn't fight quite as much this year (with 8), he did have 14 last season.
Here is Peluso TKO'ing former Knights defenseman Todd Perry from a few years ago.


5. Harry Young - Windsor Spitfires
Young is the only defenseman I put on this list, but he deserves it. Not only did the towering defenseman fight 20 times this season, but he's developing into a strong shutdown defender who is using his size to gain position on opposing forwards. He also serves as the captain of Windsor where he's clearly demonstrated his leadership capabilities in leading that team this season. While this New Jersey Devil draft pick could still stand to improve his mobility, the Devils have to be happy with the progression of the rest of his game.
Here is Young in a fight with the Knights Jason Wilson.


4. Brandon Mashinter - Belleville Bulls
Ok, I cheated a bit. Mashinter has never fought more than ten times in his OHL career. While he may not fight a lot, when he does, he can throw them with the best in the OHL. His reputation as one of the best fighters in the OHL, earns him the right to this list, despite not meeting the fight criteria I set. I'm not sure there was a more improved player in the OHL this season, than Mashinter. Formerly a purely physical grinder who was relied on for his fists, Mashinter turned into a goal scorer this season, scoring 34 goals and earning a contract from the NHL's San Jose Sharks. Nearly every aspect of his game improved this season, including his skating which went from terrible to acceptable.
Here is Mashinter really tossing around IceDog and fellow listee Andrew Shaw during this season's playoffs.


3. Matt Martin - Sarnia Sting
Martin turned a 25 goal season into a selection at the 2008 NHL entry draft, after failing to be drafted in 2007. This season, Martin continued to improve, scoring 35 goals and performing at over a point per game pace. Martin is an incredible physical presence on the ice, throwing body checks left and right, driving hard to the net, and winning battles in the corners. On top of that, Martin can really throw them and should make a solid professional hockey player.
Here is Martin taking on fellow power forward James Livingston of Sault Ste. Marie.


2. Stefan Della Rovere - Barrie Colts
Many hockey fans became familiar with Della Rovere during this years World Junior's, where his undisciplined play hurt Canada in some instances. When he's playing within the limits, Della Rovere is quite the effective pest. He skates hard and he plays hard. Rovere is one of the best body checkers in the OHL, but is also a beast on the cycle, where his strong lower body help to protect the puck in the corners. Rovere is also a solid offensive player who has the ability to make his linemmates better. As much as Rovere likes to stir things up, he can also back it up with his fists, with a total of 24 fights over the last 2 seasons.
Here is Della Rovere scuffling with number 3 on this list, Matt Martin.


1. Zack Kassian - Peterborough Petes
This potential top 15 draft pick for the 2009 NHL draft, is a throwback to the power forwards of yester years. Kassian uses his size to his advantage, being physically aggressive, as well as driving to the net with the puck on his stick. As a potential first round pick, Kassian obviously has a ton of offensive talent, but the kid loves to fight with 14 scraps this season, holding his own in the vast majority of them.
Here is Kassian fighting IceDog forward Chris DeSousa from late last season.


For next week's Sunday Top 10, I'm going to ask you, the readers, for a top 10 idea you want to see. Simply post your idea as a comment and I'll see what I can do about getting it done.

The OHL Dominates the CHL Awards Ceremony

OK, so dominate may be a strong word, but the OHL certainly did well for itself at the 2009 CHL Awards Banquet. Ontario Hockey League players took home the majority of the night's main awards, including Player of the Year, Top Draft Prospect of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

Brampton Battalion forward Cody Hodgson took home the CHL Player of the Year award. Past winners include John Tavares, Sidney Crosby, Eric Lindros, Joe Sakic, among many other quality names (to see that list, click here).

London Knights forwardJohn Tavares took home the CHL Top Draft Prospect award. The past CHL Player of the Year joins Steve Stamkos, Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton as players to have won this honour. To see a full list of past winners, click here.

Belleville Bulls star Mike Murphy took home the CHL Goaltender of the Year, after being nominated, but not winning last year. Murphy joins Carey Price, Cam Ward, and Felix Potvin on this trophy. For more names on this trophy, click here.

Finally, Windsor Spitfires Coach Bob Boughner took home the newly named Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year award for the second straight season. Boughner becomes the first ever back to back winner in the award's 20 year history. To see other previous winners (like Mr. Kilrea himself), click here.

Big congrats to those guys, they definitely deserved it.

To see a full list of all winners, check out the official press release from the OHL found here. Also thanks and credit to the OHL link above for the great picture of our CHL award winners.