31 Teams in 31 Days - Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are now up and they have put a lot of their resources into the OHL in recent years.

1. Arthur Kaliyev - Hamilton Bulldogs
What a fantastic breakout season for Kaliyev in his NHL draft year, as he not only hit the 50 goal plateau, but also 100 points. He joins some pretty elite company in the new millennia with that production (the likes of Alex Debrincat, Steve Stamkos, John Tavares, etc). Yet it was not enough for him to be a first round pick thanks to some pace and engagement level concerns. Kaliyev is known for his terrific shot and goal scoring instincts, but his decision making with the puck and playmaking ability really took a huge step forward this year. Who's to say that other areas of his game can't or won't improve too? I personally don't think Kaliyev's skating is as big of a concern as others. He moves well for a big guy and for the type of game he plays. But playing with a little more pace in transition and being the guy who can gain entry to the offensive zone for his team would help to alleviate those concerns. I think the bigger concern is Kaliyev's engagement level without the puck. It would be great to see him be more active on the forecheck and the backcheck, to have more consistent bite to his game. Next year, he'll return to Hamilton where he'll be a front runner to lead the OHL in scoring. But I think most scouts would settle for a similar year in production, with improvements made to round out his game further. 

2. Akil Thomas - Niagara IceDogs
Excellent Draft +1 year for Thomas as he ended up tying Kaliyev for 6th in OHL scoring with 102 points. A lot of the areas that I highlighted last year (consistency, his shot, strength on the puck) took nice steps forward this year. His shot, in particular, really improved IMO. His wrist shot looked much stronger this year and he looked more confident in using it, especially in traffic. He's still a playmaker, first and foremost, but adding that scoring element to his game makes defenders respect him a little bit more. Additionally, Thomas' improved strength was noticeable down low, as he was able to fight through contact more consistently to create plays. He doesn't just have to rely on his speed and explosiveness to beat defenders to the net now and can prolong possession with his hands and strength on the puck. Lastly, Thomas was able to take a regular shift on the penalty kill and really seemed to put more effort into playing in all three zones. So what's the next step? Thomas struggled in the playoffs, partially because of an upper body injury that he sustained, but as the games got tighter, he became less effective. I think that this, at least partially, goes to show that there is still work to be done with his effectiveness working through traffic. Thomas will return to Niagara for his final OHL year and will be someone who competes with Kaliyev for the scoring title. There's a chance, if they find themselves in the middle of the pack, that Niagara decides to retool and uses Thomas as trade bait to recoup some assets that they lost the last few years. I would expect him to be well over the 100 point mark next year, and hopefully the 40+ goal mark.

3. Sean Durzi - Guelph Storm
Durzi, one of the key pieces brought in, in the Jake Muzzin deal, was returned to the OHL for his overage year. This, in turn, allowed him to help Guelph win an OHL Championship. But it wasn't the easiest year for Durzi. He battled through a shoulder separation all year that limited him to only 35 games. Felt like he really didn't look like himself until late into the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup. In particular, at the Mem Cup, I thought he was fantastic. Durzi is such an asset offensively because of how well he starts the breakout. With his skating ability and footwork, he is a zone entry machine. The opposition has a very difficult time hemming his team (be it Owen Sound or Guelph) in the defensive end when he is on the ice because he is so efficient at retrieving loose pucks and starting the breakout. Always has his head up looking to stretch the ice. Defensively, he's solid. Not the most aggressive player, but he is effective because of his IQ, mobility, and anticipation. At the pro level, the key for him will be how well his offensive game translates because he isn't the type that will be an NHL player for his defensive play alone. But as a powerplay QB and puck mover, he profiles as an NHL player IMO. I think he'll need a few years at the AHL level first, but this is a kid whose game projects well.

4. Markus Phillips - Guelph Storm
Another OHL champion, Phillips was able to play alongside Durzi in Guelph this year. As a defensive player, Phillips is very impressive. He's a stocky kid who has impressive mobility and that makes him very difficult to get through to the net. It's very rare to see Phillips make a poor play defending in transition. His gap control is excellent. And while not an overtly physical player, Phillips is effective in the tighter areas (boards, net, slot) and does a good job of battling to make life more difficult for opposing forwards. Unfortunately, his offensive game just never really developed. Phillips makes a good outlet pass and he will successfully skate the puck out of trouble in his own end. But he isn't one to extend rushes deep or jump up into the play. He uses a wrist shot to get pucks through to the net, but does not possess much of a point shot as a threat to score. Phillips will move on to the AHL level next year. I wouldn't expect much in the way of offense from him at this point. But if he can jump in and take a regular shift and get some PK time, that would be great. If he can prove that he can be as effective as a defensive player at the pro level, he could probably move quickly like Eric Cernak in Tampa.

5. Aidan Dudas - Owen Sound Attack
Bit of a tough year from a production standpoint for Dudas. We saw a dip in his production, but that was due to the fact that Owen Sound traded away some of their better players to start a retool. Bottom line, Dudas just wasn't ready to be a go to offensive player in the OHL last year. That said, I remain a big fan of his long term potential and I think he'll bounce back in a big way this year. Even with a dip in production, I thought Dudas looked like a more explosive skater last year. This helped him be a more effective defensive player and penalty killer, matching his tireless motor and effort level without the puck. So what's holding Dudas' back? He has way too good of a shot and release to score only 26 goals in the league. So he needs to work harder to find those soft spots in the defense and in the middle of the ice to get his scoring chances. Would also love to see him attacking and driving the net more consistently. These are things that I highlighted last year too. If he wants to take that next step as an offensive player, being more dynamic in transition as a puck carrier and being more aggressive with the puck are crucial. I do expect a step forward next year and I think he hits the 40 goal mark and the 85+ point mark. 

6. Jacob Ingham - Mississauga Steelheads
Consistency, consistency, consistency. This is still the area of concern for Ingham. Doesn't help when you have a younger defense in front of you and you are forced to face a lot of higher danger scoring opportunities. And Ingham was a workhorse for Mississauga this year, so fatigue can be a factor as well. But his positioning can still plague him as he can be prone to some poor goals that find a way to squeak through. But, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I thought he was more mentally resilient this year. He tended to bounce back better after giving up weaker goals and had some really dynamite performances for the Steelheads this year. When he's on his game, he's a real stabilizing force back there. Goalies take time to develop and you have to be patient with them. Ingham has already been dealt to Kitchener for next year where he will have a chance to start for a team with Championship aspirations. This will be great for his development and I think he'll be up to the challenge. Don't be surprised if he's in contention for OHL goaltender of the year and posts a save percentage north of .910 with 35+ wins.

7. Matthew Villalta - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Have made the switch between Ingham and Villalta on this list now, despite Villalta being the higher NHL draft selection. He's a big kid and he grew a lot over the course of his OHL career (now standing 6'4). He's also highly athletic and moves well. Makes a lot of those highlight reel push saves because of how well he goes post to post. But from a development stand point, there are still quite a few issues with his game. He can still be prone to giving up some weaker goals low as holes open up as he pushes. And his rebound control remains a work in progress. For the second straight year, Villalta had a disappointing performance in the playoffs and was not able to elevate his game to where it needed to be. With an NHL contract in hand, Villalta will start his pro career next year. No doubt that will be at the ECHL level to start. I would expect there to be some learning curves as he adjusts.