Ryan Yessie's Thoughts on Kitchener from February 25

Ryan's been a busy Sarnia Sting season ticket holder in recent weeks. Here's his report from Kitchener's visit to Sarnia last week.

"Sarnia kept it close, but Kitchener runs away with it in the 3rd period for a 7 to 3 victory.






Charlie Dodero - #2 - D - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 195lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Feb/25/10: Dodero was a bit noticeable this game. He played a physical game, which he is just a couple inches and a few pounds off of being a force with that style of game. He has displayed decent positioning, and decent puck movement. Neither of which seem to be a strength but both were good for a rookie. However when this game was already put away by Kitchener, either being too aggressive or a bad read of the play resulted in Dodero laying out Brandon Fransisco without possession of the puck, which was succeeded by a period of Sarnia’s enforcers running around on the Rangers players, so that extra hit was ultimately not a good choice by Dodero. Dodero is a late 1992 so we will have one more year to take a look at him before he is up for the draft.
(Dodero was +2)

John Moore - #7 - D - YOB: 1990 - 6‘2” - 195lbs.
NHL: 1^st Round - 21^st Overall by Columbus in 2009
Report: Feb/25/10: I finally got a good look at John Moore. His skating is not quite as advertised, but still among the best in the league. Personally my perception was like a 6’2” Mark Katic but regardless Moore has great speed with an almost effortless stride and is one of the best in the OHL this year. Moore’s puck movement as well as first pass is as you’ll find in the OHL. What I noticed however is that Moore doesn’t usually force a play and get caught because of it. When the play was done he was willing and able to get back and play in his own zone. Moore faced a lot of comparisons to Carlson who played for London last year. The two big differences, is that Moore doesn’t pinch at the frequency that Carlson does, and Moore appears to be a lot more reliable in his own zone. Moore will likely be playing pro next year, and may need an extra year of seasoning before he makes the jump to the NHL full time.
(Moore had 1A, 2 PIM)

Ryan Murphy - #24 - D - YOB: 1993 - 5‘11” - 160lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/25/10: Murphy wasn’t as dynamic as he was last time, but did display good speed, and was alright in his own zone. As a 16 year old Murphy has plenty of time to improve his defensive coverage, positioning is not bad, but he just needs to get stronger, as well as better overall in his side of the red line. Offensively there is little negative to say about Murphy, he moves the puck well, he has a smart shot that he can put on net and get deflected. His size is an issue right now, but being 16 there’s definitely a chance he could grow into a decent size, he just may need some extra development time, but there’s no doubting his top end offensive potential going forward.
(Murphy had 2A, +4)

Jeff Skinner - #53 - C - YOB: 1992 - 5‘10” - 197lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/25/10: Skinner played solid again as he has every other time this year. He displayed a lot more offensive drive than last time, where he was back on defence on first turnover. Skinner looked willing to play in the corners, and Skinner just had an endless effort the whole game. Skinner continues to look solid in all 3 zones, although he’s not the biggest, or the quickest he’s always playing with an endless amount of effort, and never quits on the play no matter what zone it’s in. Combine that with an excellent pro shot, and no real weaknesses Skinner is a very good prospect for this years draft.
(Skinner had 1G, 1A, +1)

Jeremy Morin - #61 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 196lbs.
NHL: 2^nd Round - 45^th Overall by Atlanta in 2009
Report: Feb/25/10: This was also the first time I got a good look at Jeremy Morin. He looked very good out there, he has a lot of size, I believe he’s bigger than his actual 6’1” - 196lb. Listing. He showed a willingness to hit, although he didn’t spend much time going into the corners, he has some decent puck control, and as advertised his shot has got to be one of the best in the league, he can really let it fly. Morin’s skating must have improved, because I’ve heard some bad things, but it didn’t really seem to impede him at all in terms of getting involved in the play. He’s not as assertive defensively than offensively, but that is another part of his game that could be improved gradually. Overall I’m impressed with Morin’s play tonight.
(Morin had 1A, +2)

Gabriel Landeskog - #92 - RW - YOB: 1992 - 6‘0” - 201lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/25/10: Landeskog played with a lot of intensity during this game. He was hitting plenty, and he drove the puck to the net. When the net option wasn’t available he would practically plow through the defensive coverage and work his way to the corner or behind the net, either way puck protection is a big part of Landeskog’s game. Landeskog displays a solid shot and really seems to have embraced the North American style of hockey, and could be one of the few European power forwards available, but due to his late birth date Landeskog will have to wait until 2011.
(Landeskog had 1G, +2)

Brandon Maxwell - #30 - G - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 193lbs.
NHL: 6^th Round - 154^th Overall by Colorado in 2009
Report: Feb/25/10: Maxwell was having trouble handling the puck and it was more of Sarnia’s miscues on scoring chances rather than Maxwell’s strong goaltending that kept the Sting down to only 2 goals. Maxwell appeared to be fighting the puck most of the game. His positioning was spot on, but even the easy shots a lot of the time came out as rebounds. His ability to recover on second and third chances seems questionable as he can save the angles, but he really looks down and out for the most part when these come up. After the hype that preceded Maxwell’s OHL career expectations may be a little unfair, because he is not performing at the top level that was expected from him.
(Maxwell stopped 32 of 35 shots)

Thoughts on Kitchener and Windsor from February 11

Game number 8 of my "10 Match-ups to watch in 2009-2010," saw the 3rd place in the West Kitchener Rangers taking on the 1st place Windsor Spitfires. The Rangers have been awfully inconsistent over the last two months, but I still expected this one to be closer than it was. The Rangers were largely dominated by the Spitfires being outshot 46-18 and outscored 6-2. That's not a good enough effort for a team with second or even third round aspirations in the playoffs.

The Spitfires have been looking better and better lately as they start to get everyone back to good health. They're starting to play with more of a chip on their shoulder and have become increasingly "gritty" and physical as the regular season winds down. This is going to be a necessity this year for the Spitfires if they want to get past teams like Plymouth in the West and Barrie in the East during their Memorial Cup defense.

Some individual thoughts...

Kitchener Rangers





John Moore (CBJ)
Thought he played a very good game. I think his play has improved over the course of the season, after being somewhat underwhelming for the first part of it. Maybe the expectations were just set too high. He was coming off winning the USHL's Top defenseman award, a first round NHL draft selection and a near make of his NHL team. Pretty much the same circumstances that John Carlson came to London under last year and completely set the league on fire. I think many people looked at Moore's resume and assumed he'd make the same kind of immediate impact as one of the league's best defenseman. While that hasn't really come to fruition, I think he has made progress. He's confident in carrying the puck and he's definitely a great skater. Had one really nice rush tonight as he deked around the Windsor forechecker, dipsy-doodled through the neutral zone, went right to the net and got a chance on a wrap around. He also scored a nice goal as he slid behind the Windsor defense on the cycle and buried a wrist shot past Phil Grubauer off a nice feed from Chris MacKinnon. Defensively, he seems a lot more composed, less running around like a chicken with his head cut off. I think he's still going to need to improve his play away from the puck in his own end, and increase his intensity level, but he's definitely a future NHL player.

Ryan Murphy (2011)
Murphy had his ups and downs tonight. The ups were his usual beautiful rushes up ice with the puck. He makes it look so effortless. But on the downside, he made a gaff on the second period Adam Wallace goal as he tried to hit a bouncing puck with his stick, instead of using his glove, the puck went behind him, Windsor gained possession and eventually scored on a loose puck in the slot. After that, he seemed to play a lot less. He was even seeing little time on the powerplay, which made no sense to me. But cest la vie. I just hope Murphy grows another inch by this time next year so we don't have to hear about the defenseman under 6'0 ft crap.

Jeff Skinner (2010)
Skinner played a really good game tonight I thought. Showed an ability to fight through bigger and more physical defenders. Mark Cundari and Harry Young were really on him all night, hitting him, tossing him around, but he never gave up and he managed to still get his fair share of scoring opportunities. The first Rangers goal by Matt Tipoff was all Skinner as he fought his way to the net, dragged the puck and missed the net with a shot, only for it to take a nice carom off the end boards right to Tipoff for the easy put away. It's games like this where Skinner cements his place among the top end of OHL players available for this draft IMO. While he's not going out there throwing massive bodychecks, his intensity level is still high and he's got this motor that just keeps running and running every shift. Those types of players will always get their scoring chances.

Jeremy Morin (ATL)
I thought Morin played a pretty good game too. He he was robbed by Phil Grubauer a few times, once on a two on one where he tried to roof it on a sliding Grubauer and the other time as he came down the wing and released a wicked wrister that Grubauer got enough of to direct it off the crossbar. Every time I've seen him play I've been very impressed by his ability to get himself in position to score. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of former Oshawa winger Brett MacLean, who despite not being the world's greatest skater, was elusive and slippery in the offensive zone and had a outstanding ability to get shots off in traffic and while in motion. MacLean has done very well for himself so far in his professional career so I'd expect Morin to follow a similar path.

Brandon Maxwell (COL)
The story for Brandon Maxwell this year has been his bouts with inconsistency. Just look at his stat line, especially over the course of the last month. Some tremendous performances mixed with some incredibly poor ones. Now, I must admit. I think Maxwell has been the recipient of some unfortunate luck and play from the team in front of him at times this year. Some of those terrible stat lines have been a result of his team just laying out a big turd, especially at the defensive end. Tonight was really no different. He made 40 saves and for the most part, kept his team in a game that they had no right to be in. But...on the flip side, there were a few "iffy" goals that he gave up that could have really given his team a boost. He made some big saves, but he didn't necessarily make them when they were most needed (aka after the team battled back to make it 4-2). The talent is definitely there. He's a very athletic goaltender who's a good skater, moves well in his net, can stretch out for the save. He also appears to be pretty good at taking away the top part of the net, good glove and blocker and does a good job limiting the rebounds of shots to his upper body. It's the lower part of the ice that he seems to be vulnerable too. I think a lot of that stems with some poor mechanics. He challenges the shooters, but seems to play the wrong angles at times. For example on the first goal by Greg Nemisz, he came out to cut down the one time shot, but he was too far over to the left of his net, exposing the right side which is where Nemisz put it (and put it right along the ice). He seems to really over commit to plays at times too, like the Cam Fowler goal where Maxwell completely committed to a pass, only for Fowler to get the puck back and put it home five-hole. In time, I think he can develop into a good goaltender...if he's got the work ethic (which I have no idea if he does because I don't know him or his habits).

Windsor Spitfires





Taylor Hall (2010)
Hall had a great game for creating scoring chances and a terrible one for finishing them. Obviously this isn't the norm for Hall, but he had a lot of trouble with the puck tonight. I think I counted about 3 or 4 glorious opportunities for Hall to put home a goal, but he either fanned on the shot or just couldn't get enough of his stick on it. But he was all over the ice creating with his speed. Did manage an assist on the first one timed Nemisz goal, with a very nice pass to the center of the ice through the Rangers defense. Playmaking is definitely an underrated part of Hall's game similar to the way it was for John Tavares last year.

Ryan Ellis (NSH)
Ellis had a pretty good game. He finished with a goal and two assists, but it was a fairly quietly productive night. The goal was scored on the empty net to make it 6-2, while the two assists were not really critical to the plays made on the goals. For as big a supporter I've been of Ellis over the past couple of seasons, I am starting to have some question marks creep into my head about his play. If anything, I've kind of been underwhelmed by the lack of "dynamic" development in his game this year. By that I mean, he hasn't really developed into the game changing, shift dominating defenseman I figured he would be this season. He's still a beast on the powerplay, but five on five, he hasn't really taken that next step as a dominant two way defenseman. If anything, I think the biggest hurdle has been his lack of improvement in skating. Not an atrocious skater by any means, but he's not good enough to be an elite puck rusher at the next level. Just looking at a guy like John Moore tonight, his skating and ability to stretch the defense out makes him a dynamic player. But Ellis doesn't have that same quality. This concerns me because at the next level, he's really going to need to take advantage of his offensive gifts (shot, passing ability, game awareness), but I fear that his lack of physical gifts could prevent him from doing this. Just what type of role does he play in the NHL? Is he the next John Slaney, or does he develop into a quality NHL offensive defenseman. I'm just not as sure as I once was about his NHL future.

Stephen Johnston (DET)
The move to Windsor seems to have been a blessing for Johnston so far, who was getting suffocated in Belleville by a rebuild process. This is an important season for Johnston, as he needs to be signed by the Wings as a 2008 draft pick. Unfortunately for him, injuries have really slowed his development, but playing in Windsor seems to have re-animated his game as he's playing the best hockey he's played in a while. He was very dangerous all night. He looked good off the rush, using his speed to generate scoring opportunities. Flew right by Rangers defenseman Patrik Andersson coming down the wing, but was stoned by Maxwell as he cut across the net. He also looked good in the cycle and did a good job in puck possession and the hunt for it on the forecheck. Johnston was also a solid contributor on a Windsor penalty kill that held Kitchener to 0 for 7 tonight. If he can string together a strong performance to close out this season, there may yet be hope for Johnston to earn a contract from Detroit.

Adam Henrique (NJ)
Henrique seems to be picking things up again after struggling through the past month and a half following the World Juniors. Truthfully, I think he injured himself at the tournament more than we were lead to believe (a minor shoulder injury suffered in an exhibition game). Lingering injury, combined with a move down to the teams third line seem to have combined to slow Henrique's production to only 2 goals in his last 11 games. But him and Johnston seem to have developed some chemistry and Henrique looked better tonight than he has lately. Although he's still not as aggressive in carrying the puck and doesn't seem to be as dynamic of a player as the one who left for the WJC's in December.

Cam Fowler (2010)
Don't really have too much to say about Fowler that hasn't already been said. He's a tremendous defenseman and a tremendous talent. His mobility, combined with his elite physical and hockey oriented skills make him a great NHL prospect. His goal was scored as he picked up the puck in the corner, took the puck to the net, attempted a shot that was blocked only to come right back to him where he shot it again, beating Maxwell five hole. For more on Fowler, check out my profile of him for School Your Pool here.

Kenny Ryan (TOR)
Ryan looks much improved from when I saw him earlier this season. Big change seems to be in his conditioning. His energy level seems way up and he was active on the forecheck all night. He also seems to be generating way more offensively. In the first period, he had a couple of great opportunities that nearly resulted in goals. One a drive to the net that saw him finish with a slapper to the chest of Maxwell, another a partial breakaway that was foiled by Brandon Maxwell. When college players make that jump to the OHL, they often look lost in their first month or so and Ryan was no different. Ryan was another player who's strong work on the penalty kill helped keep the Rangers at 0 for 7 on the night.

Justin Shugg (2010)
This was the best game I've seen Shugg play. He was all over the place tonight and turned in a very solid effort. He earned two assists on the night, one of which he was critically a part of. This was the first Windsor goal where his hard work along the boards resulted in the puck getting to Mark Cundari at the point who released a shot tipped in by Scott Timmins. Shugg also demonstrated some solid stick work that I hadn't previously seen, with a great drive to the net through two Rangers players, only to lose the puck as he was nearly free on Maxwell. Similar to Saginaw's Josh Shalla, I'm still not really sure what to make of his NHL potential and thus his draft position, but if tonight is any indication, he might have a future as a hard working, offensively productive, complimentary top 6 forward.

Mark Cundari (STL)
Cundari played a very good game. He's had kind of an up and down season thus far, with most of his troubles stemming from a desire to develop into an elite offensive defenseman. When he's not trying to force action up ice (by rush or pass), and when he's playing things safer, he's a very good defenseman. Because when he limits the amount he rushes, he's actually one of the better shut down defenders in the league, as he displayed tonight. Did a great job keeping Jeff Skinner in check, and really was throwing his body around. Rubbed out Skinner twice in one shift then skated by the Kitchener bench looking for a fight. He's going to need to keep that high intensity level in order to play the type of game he does at the next level, where being a 5'10 stay at home defenseman can be tough. But I have faith that he'll develop into a quality defender at the next level, when he'll eventually learn his limits and stick to the things he's best at.

Greg Nemisz (CGY)
Not a whole lot to say really, other than what I've been saying all season long. The improvements he's made to his skating have really helped his game. He's much more involved off the rush and he's even harder to contain in the slot as his mobility makes him more elusive. Both goals were scored off one timers in the slot. Still needs to improve his consistency from shift to shift and his ability to use his size with the puck on his stick, but I'm hopeful playing at the next level will unlock that more, as it often can for players like Nemisz.

Eric Wellwood (PHI)
As I had in one of my recent Sunday Top 10's (here), Wellwood is definitely one of the most improved players in the OHL season. He's evolved into more than just a solid penalty killer and checking line forward. He's gained confidence with the puck on his stick and is taking more opportunities to develop offensive scoring chances. Playing with Taylor Hall doesn't hurt either. One thing I have really been impressed with lately is his increasing motivation to become involved physically. He's really starting to develop into a gritty type forward. Had one really nice hit on a Rangers player tonight (I believe Ben Thomson). A great draft selection by the Flyers.

Philip Grubauer (2010)
Grubauer was excellent tonight, even if he only faced 18 shots. Of those 18, quite a few were excellent scoring opportunities. The best save was on Jeff Skinner, as he slid across his crease in the splits to rob a streaking skinner with his glove. He made a similar save on Jeremy Morin earlier in the game on a 2 on 1. Grubauer is definitely very athletic and moves very well from post to post. He challenges shooters, does a good job of finding the puck in traffic and uses a kind of hybrid style to keep shooters guessing. He's still yet to lose in regulation for the Spitfires (with only one shootout loss), so the move to Windsor has to do nothing but good for his draft status.

That's it folks. Any questions?

Thoughts on Kitchener and Mississauga from November 11

Happy Remembrance Day everyone. Was great to see a solid tribute put on by the Majors staff and the Hershey Centre before the game. An 11 a.m. start for this match between two of the best clubs in the Ontario Hockey League. The early start was part of the "School Day" promotion that most OHL teams are now using once or twice a year in order to attract youth to the OHL.

This game had two faces. The first face occurred in the first 10 minutes of the hockey game when the Kitchener Rangers dominated play and looked poised to run away with this one. The second face occurred throughout the rest of the game where the Majors completely dominated play and held the Rangers to under 20 shots in the game.

This was a great victory for Mississauga, as their defense was tested against one of the premier offenses in the OHL. They were up to the challenge as they kept the Rangers largely to the perimeter and prevented them from gaining any energy in the offensive zone. The Majors forward unit played a great game too, as they did their job in keeping play in the Kitchener zone, winning puck battles and keeping possession. I'm not sure about time of possession numbers, but this one was largely dominated by the Missy.

Kitchener really fell flat. Not sure if it was the early start time that through them off, but they didn't have much energy in this one. Their defense had trouble starting the attack, and really fell victim to the forecheck of the Majors. This prevented anything resembling a quick transition game, which in my experience watching this Rangers squad, is something they need to do to be successful.

Thoughts on individual players...

Kitchener Rangers





John Moore (CBJ)
Second time I've seen Moore this season, and second time I've come away less than inspired. He hasn't scored a goal since his first game in the league. The skating and mobility is definitely his biggest asset. Majors forwards had a hard time getting around him on the attack, and he always appeared to be a step ahead (or a step closer to the net) than the rushing forward. But his coverage in the zone seems to need work. On a few occasions he seemed lost in his own zone, failing to pick up his man or communicate with his defensive partner (mostly Jonathan Jasper). In the second period, his pairing gave up a breakaway to Majors forward Riley Brace as he got behind them. Offensively, to be bluntly honest, he was a non factor. The Majors forecheck was all over him and really prevented him from skating with the puck up ice. I can't remember him making any rushes that resulted in access to the Majors zone. For a player billed as an elite rushing defenseman, this area of his game has less than dazzled me in two viewings. On the powerplay, he failed to get his point shot through to the net either, and even had trouble 5 on 4 with bringing the puck up ice and eluding the forecheck. I'm not saying he's a terrible player, but if anything I expected to see a guy (as a first round pick and someone who nearly made an NHL roster) to be head and shoulders above the competition...which he hasn't been.

Tyler Randell (BOS)
He had a pretty solid game overall. His line with Alex Aleardi and Ben Thomson was one of the few actually working hard in the offensive zone. However, there does appear to be some consistency issues at work here. For every shift he was a factor, there were two where he was completely invisible. For a player of his ilk, that's unacceptable. He needs to find a way to get involved on every shift, whether it be making a big hit, or doing a good job on the cycle. When he did have a good shift, he was very noticeable as a tough object to move in front of the net and in the corners. He scored a nice goal off a beautiful feed from Alex Aleardi. Aleardi had the puck behind the net, fed it to Randell in front of the net for the one timer over Anderson's shoulder. He clearly has good hands in close, he just needs to put himself in more situations to capitalize from them.

Ryan Murphy (2011)
Continue to be impressed by this young defenseman. His skating ability and eagerness to bring the puck up ice is refreshing. He too was affected by the forecheck of the Majors, but he did manage to get away on a few occasions and bring the puck up ice to advancing forwards. Defensively, he needs to get stronger in order to handle forwards in front of the net, but the intelligence is there. This guy could be one of the best offensive defenseman in the league by next season.

Alex Aleardi (2010)
Aleardi reminds me a lot of Niagara's Alex Friesen last season. Tons of speed to burn, great on the forecheck and the cycle, but ultimately missing something that's preventing him from capitalizing more often from hard work. He seems to have a really hard time keeping the puck on his stick at full speed, and as such very little came from his attacks deep into Mississauga territory. He did do well in the cycle and managed to make a very nice pass to Tyler Randell for his goal. At this point I'm not sure he's an NHL draft selection, but if you look at the progression of Friesen this season, with added strength and confidence, perhaps Aleardi can still become a top quality player in this league.

Jeff Skinner (2010)
Thought he was Kitchener's best forward today, although I'm not sure that's saying much. Seemed to be one of the few Kitchener players still moving their feet and giving it all in the second and third periods. Had two nice rushes where he managed to breakthrough the Majors defensive pairing for a chance in close on J.P. Anderson...although both times he was turned away by the goaltender. He showed some chippyness in the game too and was in a few little after the whistle skirmishes. While his motor is running at full speed in the offensive end, I do wish he was able to translate that at the other end of the ice consistently. It would definitely make him a more valuable prospect to NHL scouts.

Jeremy Morin (ATL)
Morin was invisible in this one. Completely blanketed by the Majors defense. He threw a couple nice hits though, one in particular near the Rangers bench. Haven't seen that side of his game yet. But not much else to say here.

Gabriel Landeskog (2011)
Had some good shifts in the first period where he used his speed to disrupt the Majors transition game. In particular, took the puck off Cameron Gaunce on one occasion and was able to create a scoring chance off of it. I like his drive to the net too, and his fearlessness. But he was invisible in the second and third periods much like the rest of his teammates.

Mississauga St. Michael's Majors




Stuart Percy (2011)
Really starting to like the way he plays the game more and more. Seems like he's getting better (and gaining more confidence) every time I see him play. Defensively he was excellent today. He shows great anticipation of the play and is aware of how to cut off scoring lanes to forwards. On one occasion he saved a breakaway by being aware of the Majors player stepping out of the box, and instead of pinching to keep the puck in, he peeled off the blueline and positioned himself between the passing lane and the player, intercepting the pass and putting it back into the zone. It was a little thing, but something that shouldn't go unnoticed. Offensively, he's bringing the puck up ice more, playing well on the powerplay, and doing a very good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone. Made a really nice slap pass to Jordan Mayer in the slot on the powerplay, forcing Mavric Parks to make a big save. Percy is getting better and better and seems to be one of the best 1993 defenseman in the league this season.

Tim Billingsley (PHX)
Had a rough first period, but settled down in the second and third. In the first he made a couple really sloppy passes that resulted in scoring chances for the Rangers. But he got better and was unnoticeable the rest of the game, which means Billingsley did his job defensively. But this isn't the first game I've seen where he started off poorly, before settling in. I'm starting to wonder if this is a habit...

Brett Flemming (WSH)
After starting the season off pretty cold, Flemming really seems to be settling in this month, with 6 points in 5 games thus far. He's back to playing in all situations for the Majors and seems to be playing with a lot more confidence than when I last saw him. He's rushing the puck up ice, he's playing solid defense, and he's doing a very good job on the powerplay. One thing I'd like to see him do is shoot the puck more. He gets opportunities from the point, but continues to elect to pass. Sometimes if you're open, you gotta get the puck to the net from the blueline.

Casey Cizikas (NYI)
Cizikas is transforming himself into one of the better two way players in the league. He's got 9 points in 5 November games thus far and is really starting to gain confidence offensively. He was all over the ice today. Caused a lot of trouble for the opposing defense on the forecheck and forced quite a few turnovers. He seems to anticipate the play very well. He's taking the puck to the net with authority and made a very nice pass to Devante Smith-Pelly for a one time shot in the slot. He was hitting players too and doing a good job of trying to get under the skin of the Rangers. On the penalty kill, he's one of the best in the business. Disrupts play so well and forces bad passes with his anticipation. He did take a very undisciplined penalty towards the end of the game though, giving the Rangers a 6 on 4 with the net empty.

Devante Smith-Pelly (2010)
The best player for the Majors today, IMO. He may not have the height of your prototypical power forward, but he plays like one. He finishes his checks, he takes the puck hard to the net, he's defensively responsible, he skates well, he's strong in the corners. Not much he can't do right now. His speed and acceleration is quite good. He blew by a Ranger defenseman (I believe Dodero) and managed to get a shot on goal from a bad angle coming down the wing. He had that aforementioned chance in the slot set up by Cizikas, but was turned away by Parks again. Defensively, he was outstanding. First forward back in his zone, winning the battles in the corners, and really pushing people around. On the forecheck, he was very active. Caused one turnover with a big hit along the boards that got the puck free for a scoring chance to Casey Cizikas. This guy is a HUGE riser on the draft board if he continues to play this way.

Gregg Sutch (2010)
Recently returned from an ankle injury and still seems to be going through he feeling out process. Playing on a line with Jordan Mayer and William Wallen, so he is getting an opportunity. Had a few nice hits and appears eager to throw his body around and go hard to the front of the net. Unfortunately he wasn't able to finish off any plays in front of the net, with his best opportunity coming on a rebound, but his stick broke. We'll see if he can start finishing off some of those chances a month from now when he should be fully rehabilitated.

Cameron Gaunce (COL)
Did not have a good first period at all. Was sloppy with the puck, failed to tie up his man in front of the net on the Tyler Randell goal, and became a victim of the Rangers forecheck. He really does seem to have a hard time with teams who have forwards with speed on the forecheck. Simply needs to get that puck out of his zone quicker. But it's as if a light went on in the second period and he began playing much better. Had a few nice rushes with the puck (something I haven't seen with much consistency from Gaunce this year). Made a beautiful pass to spring Riley Brace on a breakaway in the second. Spun away from the forecheck, waited patiently and hit Brace right down the middle of the ice; a beautiful pass. Defensively, he became much better, was taking the body and taking no prisoners. Finished with an assist on Dustin Ekelman's goal, after he put a weak shot on net that generated a big rebound. I am starting to slowly wonder about his ability to transfer him game to the NHL level though.

J.P. Anderson (2010)
Anderson got the start in this game and wasn't tested all that much. Did a very nice job in the first period, keeping his team in the game, but wasn't tested at all really in the second and third (save the last 2 minutes of the 3rd). He reacts very well to the play and takes away the bottom of the net very well. His rebounds were either collected or kicked out to the corners, so he did a great job in that area. The shot that beat him was high, and for an undersized butterfly goalie, this will be a concern for him going forward (just the way it was for Mike Murphy). It'll be interesting to see how things play out for him this season. He made 16 of 17 saves for the win.

Thoughts? Comments?

Thoughts on Sault Ste. Marie and Kitchener from October 12

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (well at least my Canadian readers). Nothing makes a Canadian Thanksgiving complete (besides food), like some good ol' hockey and today saw the match up of two of the best teams in the Western Conference as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds took on the Kitchener Rangers at the Aud. The Hounds came into the game riding a 2 game losing streak, while the Rangers had yet to suffer a regulation loss.

When the dust settled, the Hounds ended up on the wrong side of a 4-2 score and extended their losing streak to 3 games after starting the year with 7 straight wins. I don't think Hounds fans should be discouraged. Tough games, and ones the Hounds stayed competitive in. I don't see this as the end of the Hounds Cinderella story or anything. They are a solid team and they'll get back to winning once the shock of their first losses wears off.

As for the Rangers, they look really strong. They aren't getting as much respect as they should right now, in my opinion. I think most of it stems from the fact that they haven't played as many games as some of the other teams in the league. They have by far the best winning percentage in the league thus far, but are only tied for third in points. If they don't make the CHL Top 10 rankings this week, it'll be a travesty. They look solid at both ends of the ice, rolling two really strong scoring lines and playing solid defense. They finally got some good goaltending from Brandon Maxwell today too, after he struggled in his opening three games.

Most importantly, this game represented the reality of the OHL. In 2008, these two teams met in the Western Conference finals. In 2009, they both missed the playoffs. In 2010, they are forces to be reckoned with again. Look no further than the Eastern Conference this year. In 2009, Belleville and Brampton met in the East finals. In 2010, they are tied for last in the East. It's a whirlwind league, whose natural design sees this up and down competitive nature. It also shows that in the OHL, rebuilds or "retools" should not take longer than a season to accomplish. Teams like the Kingston Frontenacs, and Peterborough Petes should not have been making excuses the past few years for on ice performance in the face of rebuilds, as teams continue to show that the rebuilding process can be successful in only a years time. That being said, it is worth mentioning that Kingston and Peterborough are finally back to the top of the East after three year absences (ironically the last time these BOTH teams finished with home ice advantage in round one was 2005-06).

Anyway back to the game at hand and my impressions on the Rangers and Hounds...

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds





Brandon Archibald (2010)
Played a quietly effective game. Big defenseman with good mobility who plays a very quietly effective defensive game. Keeps players to the outside, makes smart decisions with the puck. He also works on the second powerplay unit and does a good job moving the puck around the ice. Guys like him always generate attention from NHL scouts. I look at him and see a guy like Brampton's Matt Clark, who ended up being a high 2nd round pick in 2009.

Jacob Muzzin (Overage Free Agent)
After failing to sign with Pittsburgh, Muzzin is back in the OHL for his overage season. I'm a big fan of his as a player and I think Pittsburgh made a mistake in not signing him (although admittedly they do have several similar prospects like Robert Bortuzzo and Ben Lovejoy). The Hounds have to be happy to have him back as he's serving as their captain and leading their defense in scoring. He's a big guy who loves to use his size. He laid out Jeff Skinner twice as he tried to bring the puck to the net. He also is smart with the puck and moves up it up very well. His skating isn't the greatest and it needs to be improved for the professional level, but he has all the other tools that you'd look for in a rugged NHL defenseman. I hope someone gives him a contract this offseason. He finished the game with 2 assists.

Daniel Catenacci (2011)
The first overall pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Draft, Catenacci showed some good things today. I like his composure with the puck in the offensive zone. With rookies, you find that they try to force things or try to make moves with the puck in traffic and end up turning it over. Catenacci played the simple possession game in the offensive end, he worked the cycle and he didn't turn the puck over. While he never really generated any offensive chances, I was impressed with the maturity of his game. As he gets stronger and gains more confidence, he's likely to start contributing more.

James Livingston (STL)
Livingston was one guy whom I felt really needed to step up his game this year and thus far he has. He's definitely a power forward who looks to drive to the net with the puck on his stick. But he's actually a fairly skilled puck handler who's able to get through defenders not only with his size, but his skill too. With great hands, it's always been a wonder to me as to how he's never put up better stats in this league. One thing I will say though is that his skating has never really improved in the league. Only an average skater, I thought that Livingston could make gains on his speed and acceleration in the same way a guy like James Neal did in his time in the league. But he still looks like he's skating in molasses at times. That explosive skating ability is about the only thing lacking in his game, and probably the thing that prevents him from really taking over shifts. He finished with a goal and an assist, both on somewhat goal mouth scrambles.

Kyle DeCoste (TBL)
After playing so well for the Hounds late last year, I expected him to make a much larger contribution this year. Thus far, he's been largely disappointing. With only 1 goal in 7 games, he's on pace to take a step backwards offensively. Truthfully, he was largely invisible today. If he's not contributing on offense, DeCoste usually at least contributes physically. But he didn't do a whole lot of that today either. Seems to be just going through the motions.

Brock Beukeboom (2010)
Beukeboom was alright today. I liked his willingness to play the body and he made sure the Rangers forwards knew he was there. I liked the way he controlled the point on the powerplay, using his big shot to create scoring chances. He does a good job of getting it through to the net too. Outside of that, not much else to say really. He wasn't terrible, and he wasn't great.

Nick Cousins (2011)
Invisible tonight. If I wasn't looking for him on a shift, I had a pretty hard time finding him. That being said, I saw a little bit of him earlier this season and in the preseason and he was at times then, one of the best players on the ice. Simply the trials and tribulations of being an OHL rookie.

Robin Lehner (OTT)
A lot of promising things here. A big goaltender who's definitely a pure butterfly goaltender. Does an outstanding job of taking away the bottom of the net. Completely robbed the Rangers twice by stretching out in the splits and getting his pad on the shot. I really liked the way he controlled his rebounds too. For a big netminder, this can often be a problem as they've got a lot more body to cover up. On the negative side, he's very timid in net for a big goaltender. Seems very content in playing back in his net and it was obvious the Rangers were trying to go upstairs on him. The first Rangers goal scored by Jeremy Morin was a weak one, where he failed to challenge the shooter and Morin had enough space to get it under his arm. He'd really be a lot more effective if he used his size to take away the top of the net too, by being aggressive and challenging shooters. He made 35 of 38 saves and took the loss.

Kitchener Rangers






John Moore (CBJ)
My first look at Moore and I was impressed...although admittedly not as "wowed" as I expected myself to be. Perhaps it was all the hype that got me thinking he was going to dominate. The skating ability was definitely as advertised. Very smooth skater who carries the puck up ice with ease. That being said, I'd like to see him use that ability to generate more scoring chances. Maybe it's a confidence thing or a feeling out process, but for the majority his rushes ended with him just dumping the puck into the zone. Defensively, he uses his skating ability to really stay with forwards and plays a solid positional game. He did make an error in coverage on the first Greyhounds goal though, failing to tie up his man (Livingston) as he put home the cross crease pass. Played a solid game, but I did expect a little more. But as I mentioned, it could have been due to unfair expectations.

Dan Kelly (Overage Free Agent)
I'm not sure if he has a future at the next level, but I really like Kelly. Without question one of the best defensive defenseman in the OHL, Kelly is a rock in his own end. The Hounds were unable to get by him all day. I really like the added aggression and toughness he showed too. Previously, I always found him to be more of a positional defender, but he was banging bodies tonight. If he wants a future at the next level, he's going to have to continue to do this. Offensively, he plays a safe game like many stay at home guys. Moves the puck up ice, doesn't force anything. He knows his limitations. Like Jacob Muzzin, I'm rooting for him to get an NHL deal, even if it would appear to be a bit of a long shot.

Tyler Randell (BOS)
Was alright today. Works the cycle well, goes to the net hard. He missed a couple good opportunities to score that he's got to do a better job getting his stick on the puck. Skating still is a bit of an issue, especially his acceleration. I'd also like to see him play more aggressive away from the puck. He has the size to bang bodies and I've seen him do it before, but it's an inconsistent quality. If he has a future at the NHL level, it's as a gritty scoring winger, and that means he's going to need to find a way to increase his energy and aggression levels on the ice.

Jason Akeson (2010, but 1990 born)
Akeson is another guy I really like as a player. I was kind of disappointed no one took a chance on him at the 2009 NHL Draft, but he's had an explosive start to the season. I think he's a really smart player and the majority of his success comes from his elite hockey sense. As a result of being smart with the puck, he is an excellent playmaker who does a good job at finding his teammates in strong scoring positions. He made be a tad undersized (5'10ish), but he competes and isn't afraid of the danger areas. Nice to see Akeson and his former teammate Eric O'Dell in the top 10 of OHL scoring. Both were hesitant to join the OHL over the NCAA route and leave their Cumberland CJHL team in 2008. But it's worked out well for both of them thus far I would say. Akeson finished with an assist.

Ryan Murphy (2011)
I came to the game expecting John Moore to be the dynamic playmaker, but instead it was Murphy who wowed me with his skating and puck carrying ability. Had two absolutely beautiful rushes with the puck where he exploded up ice and into the offensive zone. He took the puck right towards the net too and showed no fear or hesitation in doing so. Really seems to have elite puck skills. Defensively he wasn't noticeably poor either. He needs to add size in order to be able to consistently eliminate opposing forwards, but he plays a solid positional game and uses his skating ability to his advantage. I hope he can grow a little bit, but he has the makings of a dynamic offensive defenseman in this league. He finished the game with an assist.

Jeff Skinner (2010)
Skinner had a bit of a tough game. Had some good opportunities to beat Lehner but was stopped by the big netminder. He also got drilled a few times by Muzzin, and generally had a tough time getting to the net through the Hounds big defenseman. But you can't fault him for not trying. Skinner's always got his motor running and is active on the forecheck and generated some turnovers. I think he'd make a lot better winger than he would a center, as he's playing right now. I find that sometimes he tries to be too cutesy with the puck, kind of the Nazem Kadri syndrome. Instead of making the simple play, he tries to dangle or make the more difficult one. If he could play the wing and use his speed and no quit attitude to go up and down the ice, I think he'd be a lot more consistent at the offensive end.

Jeremy Morin (ATL)
Two goals in his first five games. Seven goals in his last two games. Four of those came tonight. He's definitely got a nose for the net, which was advertised to be his forte. He's not the best skater, but he's very elusive on the ice and seems to be one of those guys who can get himself open. Like any good scorer, he loves to cut to the middle of the ice with the puck on his stick too, which is how he scored his first goal. Came from behind the net, cut to the middle and put it high on Lehner (although it was a weak goal). Other two goals were of the garbage variety, while the 4th was an empty net effort where he stripped Vern Cooper of the puck and had the easy put away. Was very impressed by Morin tonight.

Gabriel Landeskog (2011)
I liked what I saw from Landeskog today. He's got a lot of energy. He skates hard, asserts himself physically. Seems to have good hands in close to the net. Morin mopped up some of his garbage after he made a nice play to get the puck on net. I think as the year goes on, he'll start getting better and better. He finished with an assist.

Brandon Maxwell (COL)
Maxwell was pretty solid today. He's got kind of an unorthodox style and flops around a little bit. That early commitment to the ice could be what's gotten him in trouble early in the season. But he did a very good job of taking away the bottom of the net tonight and seems to have very good reaction time in the crease. Made a few really nice saves by sliding cross crease and showed good lateral mobility. Hopefully he can string some good performances together and show the Rangers they made a good decision by bringing him into the fold. He made 29 of 31 saves for the victory.

That's it for the game. Anyone else catch the game today or have general comments about the Hounds and/or Rangers?

Sunday Top 10 - Performers of the Preseason

With the OHL Preseason concluding today, only two games lie in the way of the start of the 2009-10 season. While the preseason itself can often be misleading in terms of predicting success (due to various reasons), that doesn't mean that strong performances from players and teams should go without notice.

First let's take a look at the nearly final preseason standings for 2009-10 (minus the 2 games today)...

EAST
1. Barrie Colts 5-0
2. Peterborough Petes 3-2
3. Niagara IceDogs 2-0-2
4. Mississauga Majors 3-1-1
5. Ottawa 67's 2-2-1
6. Kingston Frontenacs 2-2
7. Oshawa Generals 2-2
8. Brampton Battalion 2-3
9. Belleville Bulls 1-2
10. Sudbury Wolves 0-6

WEST
1. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-0
2. Kitchener Rangers 4-1
3. Windsor Spitfires 3-2
4. London Knights 3-2
5. Erie Otters 1-1-2
6. Guelph Storm 2-3
7. Plymouth Whalers 2-3
8. Saginaw Spirit 1-3
9. Sarnia Sting 1-4
10. Owen Sound Attack 0-4-1

It's great to see Barrie and Sault Ste. Marie playing so well. Barrie absolutely demolished opponents in the preseason, outscoring them 33-13. That's 6.6 goals per game. I mean, I knew Barrie was going to have an explosive offense this year, but that's outrageous. Sault Ste. Marie got it done at the other end, keeping teams to 11 goals against. The Hounds have a really great defense this year and could really surprise some people. On the negative side, you have to wonder what's going on in Sudbury and Owen Sound; the only teams to go winless in the preseason. Bigger things are expected of them this year so they've got to get their act together.

Now on to today's top 10. If you hadn't guessed already, I'll be profiling the top 10 performers of the 2009 Preseason. There were A LOT to choose from. Many players stepped up their game, including a lot of younger players in larger roles.

One thing I would like to mention is how difficult it was to gather all the stats of the preseason. The QMJHL keeps up to date stats for the preseason, just as they would the regular season. I fail to see why the OHL can not do the same. Checking game recaps on team sites can be quite time consuming, especially considering some teams do a better job of reporting (Mississauga) than others (Barrie). So with that, please keep in mind that the stats I'm going to give you are completely unofficial.

Let's see em...

10. Taylor Carnevale and Michael Sgarbossa - Barrie Colts
As previously mentioned, Barrie's offense was firing on all cylinders this preseason. These two were right in the thick of it. Both finished with 4 goals and at least 1 assist. Carnevale was very solid after coming over from Oshawa last year, while Sgarbossa put in an even better rookie season after being selected in the third round of the 2008 Priority Draft. Barrie's offense is already stacked, and if these two can continue their strong play into the regular season, Barrie is going to be able to ice three lethal scoring lines every night. Nevermind the question marks about the team's defense. If they score 6.6 per game, it's lights out.

9. Thomas Nesbitt - Ottawa 67's
With Logan Couture and Thomas Kiriakou gone, and Corey Cowick injured (and possibly gone), the 67's badly need a secondary scorer to step up this season. Nesbitt, a 20 goal scorer last year, did that in the preseason. He lead the team with 5 goals and 1 assist and looks poised for an even bigger break out season than he had last year when he increased his goal production from 9 to 23. Nesbitt also happens to be one of the teams best defensive forwards, thus with increased offensive production, he should have no trouble filling the shoes of a guy like Thomas Kiriakou.

8. Nick Esposto - Oshawa Generals
As a rookie last season, this 1991 born winger had an unspectacular year. The former 4th round pick finished the year with 7 goals and 14 points. This preseason, Esposto has nearly surpassed that mark in only 4 games. With 5 goals, Esposto has paced the Generals offense and looks poised to have a serious breakout season. With the return of goal scorer Brett Parnham (either to pro or another OHL team) in doubt, having a sophomore like Esposto step up will be essential to the Generals getting back to the playoffs.

7. Barclay Goodrow - Brampton Battalion
The 17th overall selection of the 2009 OHL Priority Draft, Goodrow has quite possibly been Brampton's best forward this preseason. He leads the team with 5 goals and is showing no effects of transition troubles from the York Simcoe Express to the OHL. The 6'3, 210lbs winger certainly has the size for the league. If Brampton is going to compete for a playoff spot without Hodgson, Grachev, and Duchene, they are going to need young players like Goodrow to step up.

6. Jordan Mayer and Devante Smith-Pelly - Mississauga Majors
Don't you hate when I cheat like this? Now it's a top 12, not a top 10! And in case you didn't notice, the Mississauga Majors are currently the 5th ranked team in the CHL according to the Mastercard CHL Top 10 for Week 1. Mayer and Smith-Pelly were both solid players for the Majors last season, however they were never consistently involved offensively. The 1991 born Mayer and 1992 born Smith-Pelly are both former first round selections in the Priority Draft and will need to become consistent offensive producers this season. And they have done just that in the preseason, with 3 goals and 3 assists each.

5. Bryce O'Hagan - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
When the Greyhounds drafted Robin Lehner in the Import draft this year, I think it raised a lot of red flags to people regarding what they thought of Bryce O'Hagan. Not without talent, O'Hagan did not have a good season last year. The still highly thought of prospect was vastly inconsistent, even if he did get blistered with shots night in and night out. This preseason, O'Hagan looked to prove to the team that he is a number one netminder. With Lehner away at the Senators camp, O'Hagan took over earning the teams final 4 victories. This includes a shutout of the Sudbury Wolves in the Hounds final preseason game. With a solid defense and great goaltending, the Hounds could be a team to watch out for this season.

4. Michael Whaley - Windsor Spitfires
I implore you to tell me where the Spits keep finding these guys. Whaley, the clubs 13th round selection in the 2009 Priority Draft, has been the most impressive 1993 born player in the preseason. He's done it all for Windsor, scoring, playmaking, blocking shots, playing both ways, fighting. The diminutive winger from London (ironic eh?) has scored 3 goals and added 4 assists in the preseason and has forced himself on to the Spits roster for the coming season. Even if he's not likely to continue this pace in the regular season, you have to commend him for his efforts and remember him as a name to watch.

3. Tim Campbell - Guelph Storm
An OHL rookie last season, this 1991 born defenseman played a relatively small role for the Storm. This season he's looking for a bigger role and I think he's earned it. With 3 goals and 6 assists in the preseason, Campbell has led the Storm in scoring and looks poised for a mega breakout season. He may be the smallest guy on their mammoth blueline, but he's got a chance to make the biggest impact.

2. Richard Panik - Windsor Spitfires
Every bit as advertised thus far, Panik has been a beast for the Spitfires. He's paced the team with 3 goals and 5 assists and looks to be an impact OHL player in similar fashion to the way Evgeni Grachev was last year. The Slovakian winger will step right into a top 6 role on the Spits and at this point, has to be considered a front runner for the Emms Family Award (Top Rookie). Check out this beauty of a goal he scored the other night against Sarnia. Shades of Rick Nash.


1. Jeff Skinner - Kitchener Rangers
He has absolutely destroyed the preseason thus far. It hasn't even been fair. With 9 goals and 4 assists in 5 games, Skinner looks poised for a run at the scoring championship. His motor never stops running and he just has a nose for the net. Kitchener is going to be one heck of an enjoyable team to watch this season.


Honorable Mentions

As I said earlier, this was a hard list to make. A lot of solid performances this preseason. Here are some guys who just missed the list (organized by position and not in order)...

Goaltender
Barrie's Dalton McGrath has been very solid this preseason, earning at least three of the teams victories. McGrath is coming off an excellent season in Junior A and has the potential to push Peter Di Salvo for starts as the season goes on.

Defense
While Tim Campbell's been stealing the spotlight in Guelph, the newly acquired Adam Comrie has been great too. He's got 4 goals in the preseason and looks poised to breakout offensively. Comrie has one of the most lethal point shots in the league and I wouldn't be surprised if he pots 15 from the back end this year. Another defenseman with 4 goals this preseason is London's Steve Tarasuk. On paper, London's defense is looking pretty thin (especially with the injury to Harrington), making Tarasuk's possible emergence as an overage star important. Kitchener Rangers rookie and third overall pick Ryan Murphy has had a solid preseason with 1 goal and 3 assists. He looks like he can be an immediate contributor. Peterborough Petes defenseman Jamie Doornbosch is one of the most underrated players in the league and I'm hoping he has a solid season to enlarge his star. He had a great preseason with 3 goals and 2 assists. Another Petes defenseman, Adam Sedlak was very solid in the preseason. The Czech import had a bit of a disappointing season last year, but if his 3 goals in the preseason are any indication, he's ready to take that next step. Fresh off a solid performance at Carolina Prospect Camp, Whalers defenseman Beau Schmitz looked great with 3 goals and 2 assists in minimal games. And finally, Spitfires defenseman Cam Fowler looks to be everything he was hyped to be. With 1 goal and 5 assists, Fowler's offensive ability is undeniable.

Forward
London forward Dominic DeSando has been outstanding for the Knights this preseason. As a 1990, DeSando had yet to break into the league full time, but his 5 goals in the preseason should assure him a permanent spot. Majors rookie and former 3rd round selection Joseph Cramarossa has been great this preseason with 2 goals and 2 assists. The Majors needed some young and inexperienced guys to step up and he's one of them so far. Another guy with 2 goals and 2 assists is Peterborough Petes first rounder Matt Puempel, who looks capable of jumping right into a scoring role as a 93. Another 1993 born first rounder, Plymouth's Garrett Meurs has scored 2 goals and added 4 assists and looks to be another rookie capable of filling a scoring role. Another Plymouth rookie, Austin Mattson, has also had a great preseason. Mattson is a 1991 who played in the USHL last year and if his 3 goals in the preseason are any indication, he's a keeper. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Import Tomas Rachunek had a disappointing 2008-09 season, however he's looking to turn things around. The Hounds need him to put more pucks in the net and he did that with 3 in the preseason. Finally, even if the Sudbury Wolves are winless thus far, former first overall pick John McFarland had a solid preseason, notching 3 goals.

That's it folks. Anyone you think I missed?

Can't wait for the season to start on Thursday!

Sunday Top 10 - An Early Look at 2010

With the 2009 NHL Entry Draft behind us, I'd like to take a closer look at the OHL prospects eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Obviously, with another full year of OHL hockey ahead of us, and three major tournaments (Ivan Hlinka, Under 20 WJC's, Under 18 WJC's), a top 10 list could be conceived as premature. That being said, I think a lot of 1992 born (and late 1991) players had excellent seasons and it gives us at least an early indication of who we can expect to see at the top of a list like this a year from now.

In making a list like this, it's obvious how talented this crop of players is. I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down to a Top 10. The top end talent is there, as is the depth. It may seem early to say, but I think this may be the best and deepest OHL talent crop since 2003.

Another astute observation sees a lot of average or undersized forwards in this top 10. Part of me sees this as asinine because of the emphasis put on size in 2009. When a talented guy like Alex Hutchings can fall to the 4th, and a big "project" like Jamie Devane can go in the 3rd, you know that NHL scouts see size as important in today's NHL. However, I just couldn't ignore the talent level of these players, and subsequently I left out a lot of bigger forwards (Austin Watson, Andrew Yogan, Greg Sutch, etc). Is this likely to change next year? Who knows.

Here is my very early look at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 (from the OHL of course).

10. Jared Knight - London Knights
Knight has the makings of a dominant power winger. He doesn't have the ideal size of a power forward at pushing 6'0, but he brings all the other intangibles. He's aggressive on the forecheck, he works the corners, he takes the body, he drops the gloves. On top of that, he's actually got a lot of skill. I think he has the potential to put up high offensive numbers in this league. And I think that could happen as early as next year when he's surely a lock to move into London's top 6.

9. J.P. Anderson - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
I look at the emphasis put on goaltender size in this years entry draft, and it makes me wonder where a guy like Anderson will fit in next year. At 5'10, he's definitely an undersized goalie. However, he impressed me a ton this year. In the playoffs for Mississauga, he was unbelievable. And at the Under 17's, he was great in backstopping Team Ontario. Clearly, Anderson is a big game goalie. Getting off to a quick start next year is going to be crucial for him. He's still going to be in a platoon battle with Chris Carrozzi and he'll need to play a high level of hockey to emerge as the true number one. But when a 92 born goalie performs as well as he did in the playoffs, people take notice.

8. Tyler Toffoli - Ottawa 67's
Toffoli is another one of those averaged sized forwards. Listed at pushing 6 feet, Toffoli is an offensively talented winger who caught my eye with his determination this year. He's a slick offensive player, but he's not afraid of the danger areas. He isn't afraid of the front of the net or the slot and he takes the punishment associated with occupying that space. However, he's also a very elusive player. He's one of those forwards who finds open space well, despite not being a speedster. Ottawa's coaching staff seemed to have a lot of confidence in him this season and in particular the playoffs. When Ottawa played Niagara in the first round, Toffoli was often used as an offensive catalyst. He would be placed on a line that wasn't performing well offensively, in order to give it a boost. I think he's a guy we see a lot of progression in next year, as he gets more confident in having the puck on his stick, and as he gets stronger.

7. Tyler Seguin - Plymouth Whalers
Seguin is one of those guys that is flying under a lot of people's radar right now. He doesn't get mentioned with the best of this draft class, perhaps because he isn't as flashy or because he's isnt the biggest. However, Seguin is very talented. A lot of people look at the season he had (67 points) and comment on how he was part of one of the best lines in the OHL with Chris Terry and Matt Caria. I think most people also assume that Terry and Caria did the majority of the heavy lifting and his stats may be inflated because of that. That assumption won't be proven wrong or right until next season. But keep in mind that Seguin was fantastic for Team Ontario at the Under 17's, finishing 2nd in tournament scoring. Seguin is an exceptionally talented playmaker and next season I think he proves to a lot of people that Terry and Caria's success may have in fact been a by product of Seguin's performance.

6. Jeff Skinner - Kitchener Rangers
Skinner is definitely not the biggest guy out there, but he's one of the most exciting to watch. He topped a past top 10, where I ranked the most impressive 92's this season. Every time I saw him play, he caught my eye for the better. He gives 100% all the time and uses his speed to be a pest to the opposition. I don't think he size holds him back because of the elusive quality he possesses, in combination with what appears to be really solid strength. He reminds me of Bryan Little in the way that he uses his lower body to protect the puck, despite not being the biggest. Skinner is also incredibly skilled and has the ability to make that electrifying one on one move. With the talent coming in to Kitchener this season, Skinner should be at the forefront of their explosion. Judging by how well he ended the season, Skinner could very well finish the season as the 2nd highest scoring forward among his draft class behind Taylor Hall.

5. Joey Hishon - Owen Sound Attack
Hishon is another little guy with little fear. He is exceptionally talented offensively, as many people saw at the most recent Under 18's. Hishon finished with 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games, which led Canada in scoring. Much like Skinner and Toffoli, Hishon's size holds him back very little. He hits open scoring lanes, he crashes the net, and has no fear in working the corners. Being a late birthdate 91, and undersized, Hishon is going to need to have an explosive offensive season in Owen Sound in order to maintain a solid draft position.

4. John McFarland - Sudbury Wolves
Admittedly, McFarland would not have been at number 4 on this list before the Under 18's. In my viewings of him in Sudbury this year, he did not impress. The skill level was evident, however the determination, strength, team play, and two way play were absent. Anyone else I've talked to felt the same way. Perhaps that is a reflection of Sudbury's disappointing season in general. However at the Under 18's, McFarland was outstanding. He finished 1 point behind Hishon for the team lead and I felt that at times, he was Canada's best player, at a tournament largely designed for 1991 born players. His offensive skill level is incredibly high. He needs to play really well in Sudbury next year and show that he can lead a team. If he can do that, he could very well be a top 10 pick.

3. Erik Gudbranson - Kingston Frontenacs
This big and talented rearguard had an incredibly impressive season for a 1992 born player. He was solid for a disappointing Kingston team, one that probably held back his offensive production. He was probably the best defenceman for Team Ontario at the Under 17's (honorable mention to Stephen Silas), who won Gold. And he was solid for Team Canada at the Under 18's, not looking out of place at all. With the way he skates at 6'3 (and growing), and his ability to play at both ends of the ice, he's going to need to take a huge step back next year in order to NOT be a top 10 selection.

2. Cam Fowler - Windsor Spitfires
I debated this one for a while. Fowler or Hall at number 1? I think it's really close. In the end, to be honest, I gave the nod to Hall because he's actually playing in the OHL and because I know what he's capable of in that league. Fowler, of course, is a talented two way defenceman from the US Development Program who has signed on to play for the Spitfires next season. He's coming off an excellent season for the program, and an even better Under 18's where he was named the tournament's best defenceman in helping Team USA to Gold. If anyone saw that tournament, they would have seen what he's capable of.

1. Taylor Hall - Windsor Spitfires
Like I said, it was close. But I gave the nod to Hall because of my familiarity with him. And heck, if I want to give the nod to Fowler for winning Under 18 Gold, I can't forget that Hall was a crucial member of Team Canada's Gold medal winning Under 18 team the year before. He didn't play this year due to Windsor's Memorial Cup run. Everyone knows how much offensive ability they are getting with Hall, however I think his performance in the playoffs and Memorial Cup really increased his stock (if that's possible). The one knock on him previously, was that he didn't show up in big games. He didn't have a strong playoffs last year, where Windsor got bounced disappointingly early. This year, he returned determined to lead Windsor to the promised land, which he did. The only thing he's got left to prove is becoming a valuable member of Team Canada at the Under 20 WJC's, where he was cut this year. It'll be quite the battle to see teammates Hall and Fowler battle it out for the likely first overall spot in 2010.

Honorable Mentions:
I don't normally include an HM list in the Sunday Top 10, however due to the nature of the list, I felt it appropriate this week.

Keep an eye on the "big" forwards I left off. Guys like Austin Watson, Greg Sutch, Andrew Yogan, Steven Shipley, and Ryan Martindale. Yogan will try to continue his solid play with Erie next year, where I hope he continues to develop his power forward game and mean streak. Sutch was recently traded to Mississauga. He played last year with Sarnia and he has a lot of talent. He skates exceptionally well for a big man and he has offensive talent despite putting up few points last year. Watson will look to play a bigger role in Windsor and establish himself as a consistent scorer. Shipley can hopefully take a step forward next season offensively, after a slightly disappointing rookie season. And Martindale just needs to stay healthy.

Also keep an eye on Ryan Spooner, the one undersized forward I left off. Admittedly, he was the last guy I cut off this list, which makes you wonder even further about a possible fascination of mine with undersized forwards. Spooner is a pure goal scorer and can hopefully establish himself as a more consistent threat this year.

Lastly, keep an eye on two defenceman. Ryan O'Connor in Barrie is an undersized defenceman cut from the same cloth as Ryan Ellis. He quietly had a very strong offensive season and is going to be quarterbacking a very solid Barrie powerplay next season. Also, Belleville's Stephen Silas. He was fantastic at the Under 17's, but didn't play a large role in Belleville. With P.K. Subban gone, Silas might be a guy who explodes next year and establishes himself as a very, very solid NHL draft pick.

That's it for our early look. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, or even your own top 10 list for 2010. Stay tuned for next week's Top 10. Not sure what the topic will be yet though.

Sunday Top 10 - Most Impressive 1992 Born Players

Today's Sunday Top 10 is all about "natural" rookies. With Evgeni Grachev winning the OHL rookie of the year for 2008-09 recently, there has been a lot of talk about how the OHL should change the eligibility for the award, so that "real" rookies, 16-17 year first year players, are the ones who are winning it. Not NHL drafted imports or transfers from the United States.

With that concept in mind, here are the 10 1992 born OHL'ers who impressed me the most this season. This isn't necessarily an order of how I see them being drafted. Although I do think that for a 92 player, at least at this point, its hard to pinpoint draft stock as of this moment. These 92's have a habit of shooting from 5'10 to 6'0, and from having below average skating, to becoming speedsters, over the course of their first summer following their rookie year. So you can say, well this guy really impressed me, but he's too small, he isn't much of a draft pick for next year, but in my opinion you'd be wrong. I think the most important thing for a 92 player to do is to simply be noticeable on the ice. And not just that, but improve throughout the course of the season.

Without further ado, here is my list of the 10 1992 born players who impressed me the most this OHL season.

10. Devante Smith-Pelly - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
While Smith-Pelly never seemed to see a lot of ice time with some of the more talented players on the Majors, his line was always noticeable in my viewings. His motor is constantly running and he shows great speed on the forecheck. For a 92 born player, he actually seems relatively strong, especially in the corners. With even more strength, he could be a monster to handle in the cycle. He also showed a willingness to go hard to the net and to play a physical game. He had a solid last two months of the OHL season and a great first round against Barrie, showcasing that the offensive skills are there. I look for him to really solidify himself in the Missy top 6 next year, and to really emerge as a solid shift disturber.

9. Ryan O'Connor - Barrie Colts
When I saw Barrie this season, O'Connor was frequently their best defenseman. Quite an impressive feat for a 92. He showcased a great ability to lead the offensive charge, especially in running the point on the powerplay. With 10 goals this season, I think that with added strength his shot is going to develop into one of the better from the backend in the OHL. Defensively, he was pretty solid too. He always stayed with his man and made smart reads on the play. He does have some to learn about timing and when to attack and being a little more careful with the puck, but these things will come with experience and coaching. For me, outside of Gudbranson, O'Connor was the best 92 defenseman I saw this year. And that's a list of solid players (Beukeboom, Silas, Braithwaite).

8. John McFarland - Sudbury Wolves
The first thing you notice about the 1st overall pick from the last OHL Priority draft, is how highly skilled he is. He has great speed and great agility. He stickhandles through the neutral zone with ease and is incredibly dangerous in the goal area. However, as the game goes on, you start to notice other things, bad things. The fact that he doesn't backcheck. The fact that he doesn't seem to enter the danger areas to make a play. The fact that he often seems selfish in the offensive end and doesn't utilize his teammates well. Then you see him getting beaten to loose pucks in the third period and you question his endurance. The skill level is 100% there, but the effort, conditioning and overall play are not. I hope that Coach Foligno continues to work with him and I hope that offseason conditioning helps to make him a threat for all three periods.

7. Tyler Toffoli - Ottawa 67's
Toffoli was a consistent contributor for the 67's this season. He showcases great offensive ability, especially in the slot area. He's not afraid of the danger areas and is by no means a perimeter player. He was outstanding for Team Ontario at the Under 17's as well. Another encouraging sign was his strong performance against Niagara in the playoffs. He's just one of those guys who may not be the fastest, but he seems to be elusive in finding space for himself. As he gets stronger and more conditioned, his offensive numbers will only go up as he is able to win those one on one battles. Kilrea and the coaching staff had a lot of faith in him too. During the playoffs, when the Couture line was struggling or when Ottawa would need a goal, Kilrea would send Toffoli out there with Couture. That's confidence in a rookie.

6. Austin Watson - Windsor Spitfires
Watson is a guy right now who is all potential. In the times I saw him this year, he failed to hit the scoresheet, but he was still visible. At 6'3, he's still only pushing 170lbs. Yet, I found him winning battles in the corner and being a load for defenseman infront of the net. At that size, he is also a tremendous skater. He has the complete package, now he just needs the conditioning and the ice time to flourish. I didn't see him play in the second half of the season, but his numbers really took a hit. I'm wondering if he's been invisible, or whether he's just not getting the icetime on a talented Windsor club. Either way, he's absolutely one to watch for next year with tools to drool over.

5. J.P. Anderson - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
I'll admit, when I started putting together this list sometime before the playoffs, Anderson was down around 9-10. But his outstanding playoff performance raised him. I saw him play a few times against Brampton and he was just tremendous. I saw him earlier in the season in Niagara too, where he was also solid. He's not a big goalie, but he's very aggressive on challenging shooters and reads the play very well, which helps to maximize the size he does have. He is also very athletic and has the ability to make highlight reel saves. He has some things to work on, but the foundations are there. The fact that he backstopped Ontario to the Under 17 gold, and helped Missy push Brampton to 6 games, tells me that he is right now, by far the top 92 goalie that the OHL has to offer.

4. Jared Knight - London Knights
This guy is a battler. He plays very hard every shift, is great on the forecheck and is very physical. He's actually quite a similar player to Devante Smith-Pelly in the type of game they play. However, I think Knight's skill level is higher. He can dangle and he has the ability to really put big offensive numbers on the board. He kind of disappeared towards the end of the regular season, perhaps due to fatigue. But once his conditioning levels increase and he adds strength, I think you could see the makings of a dominant power winger.

3. Tyler Seguin - Plymouth Whalers
Seguin closed out the last two months of the season, on a rediculous scoring pace. Seguin played on the hottest line in the OHL with Chris Terry and Matt Caria. A lot of people felt like Seguin was just along for the ride, but I think he had a lot to do with the lines success. After all, Seguin finished second in scoring for Team Ontario at the Under 17's too. He is just a great all around offensive player, in particular playmaker. I think the test for a lot of people will be to see how he plays next season when Terry and Caria depart. However, I expect him to continue to produce and elevate his game.

2. Erik Gudbranson - Kingston Frontenacs
Gudbranson is the complete package. At 6'3, he skates so well and has the ability to rush the puck up the ice with ease. At 6'3, he also isn't afraid to use his size and has begun to develop a bit of a mean streak. With added strength, I think we could see that mean streak develop even more. Defensively, he's relatively solid. He made some rookie mistakes this year when I saw him play, in particular with defensive zone coverage, but I mean he just turned 17 and he's playing 30 minutes a night and wearing an "A". What more can you say? I know a lot of people were somewhat underwhelmed by the offensive numbers he put up this year, however I think you can chalk that up to lack of talent on Kingston, and the fact that the second half of the season, his powerplay time really decreased. Next year, I expect him to crack the 40 point mark and to be a top 10 NHL draft pick.

1. Jeff Skinner - Kitchener Rangers
Skinner is the type of guy you pay to go watch play. He's already a fan favourite in Kitchener and it's easy to see why. Skinner never gives up on the play. While a little undersized at 5'10, his lower body strength is excellent and it allows him to be involved in all aspects of the offensive game, in particular along the boards and behind the net. He has excellent speed and excellent overall offensive ability. At times, he has the puck on a string and I saw him make quite a few defenders miss this season. Most of all, he had an absolute explosive end to the season. I don't think size holds this guy back at all.




Stay tuned for next Sunday's top 10, as we look at the Top 10 Import Players in the OHL.

Thoughts on Two Weekend Games

I was able to catch a couple games this weekend, but didn't have the time to post my thoughts on them until now. Thursday, the Ice Dogs took on Owen Sound, while on Friday they were in Kitchener taking on the Rangers. The two biggest names, in terms of NHL draft picks, did not participate in the games. Tyler Beskorowany (Dallas, 59th in 2008) got to rest on Thursday, as his back up Scott Stajcer played in the game for Owen Sound. And Rangers defenseman, and Penguins draft pick (78, 2007), Robert Bortuzzo is rehabbing from shoulder surgery he had in the offseason. Both games were still very entertaining and a few players stood out.

Owen Sound Attack vs. Niagara Ice Dogs - Thursday, November 13







Keevin Cutting (2011 NHL Draft Eligible)

Cutting was the Attack's 4th round draft pick in 2008 Priority selection. As a late September birthdate, he's also one of the youngest players currently playing in the OHL. As rare as it is to find a 4th round pick jump right into the OHL, it's also rare to see him playing so well. Cutting has been taking a regular shift on the blueline for the Attack this year and for his efforts, was recently named to Team Ontario for the Under 17 Hockey Challenge, along with teammate Steven Shipley. Cutting is very slight, but he skates and moves the puck very well. Defensively, he didn't make any obvious mistakes either and held his own in defensive zone coverage. Looks like the type of player who's only going to get better and better.

Michael D'Orazio (2009 NHL Draft Eligible, 1990 born)

There was a lot of excitement when D'Orazio entered the league two years ago as Owen Sound's first round pick in the 2006 draft. He had an excellent rookie season and was being considered as a potential top 60 NHL draft pick for the next year. But he had a disastrous second year in the league, playing for an Attack team that finished third from the bottom of the OHL standings. D'Orazio did not take the steps forward many were expecting to see in his offensive game. He scored only 1 goal after getting 3 in his rookie season, and finished the year at -27. Subsequently, he failed to get drafted in the 2008 entry draft. However, I was surprised slightly by this, only because D'Orazio was one of the youngest players eligble and I figured someone would roll the dice on him with a late pick, hoping he could turn it around. This season so far hasn't been a whole lot different. D'Orazio really appears to have stalled in his development. He takes the body hard and he can make a first pass out of the zone, but he still remains only an average skater with little offensive hockey sense. And for such a big guy, he's still not as dominant defensively as you'd like to see. Perhaps the best compliment I can give the big guy from this viewing was that he was completely invisible. At least that means he didn't make any mistakes. I wouldn't expect him to be getting drafted anytime soon.

Steven Shipley (2010 NHL Draft Eligible)

I thought Shipley was quite good in this game. The third overall selection from the 2008 draft was creating offense down the wing and did not look scared in driving hard to the net. He made one particular nice saucer pass to create an offensive chance in front of the net that forced Dogs goalie John Cullen to make one of his many big saves that night. He looks to have good speed and actually looks pretty big for a rookie, showing little signs of being overmatched in the offensive zone. Looks to need to work on his overall game, but what OHL rookie comes in with that ability? Was recently named to Team Ontario for the Under 17 Challenge, and it's easy to see why.

Joey Hishon (2010 NHL Draft Eligible)

I was expecting a lot more from Hishon in this game. He was relatively invisible, which I did not expect from the 2nd highest scoring 2010 player behind Taylor Hall. I'm not even sure Hishon got a shot on net, and was completely smuggled and over matched against the Dogs defense. He showed some good speed entering the zone, which is definitely something you want to see in an undersized player. He also wasn't afraid to enter danger zones and play rough, which is another thing you like to see in smaller players. I'm sure I just caught him on an off night. Would definitely need another viewing.

Mike Lomas (2009 NHL Draft Eligble, 1990 born)

Lomas is an interesting player. I highly expected him to get drafted in last years NHL draft, despite the fact that I was never very impressed by him. But he's a very good skater and was able to put up some decent offensive numbers for Brampton despite being one of the younger players available for the 2008 draft. A trade to Owen Sound this offseason looks to have done great things for him. He's still using his speed to create scoring chances, but he also looks to be more involved in other aspects of the game. I saw him forechecking and attempting to play defense for the first time tonight. He's also putting up good, but not great offensive numbers. If he can continue to work on his overall game and develop a niche as a good crashing winger, he's got a chance for a career at the next level. However, if he tries to fall back to being a finesse player, perimeter player, he doesn't have the offensive skills for that.

Niagara Ice Dogs vs. Kitchener Rangers - Friday, November 14









Ben Shutron (Drafted 2006 by Chicago/95th)

Shutron is quite the enigma. A somewhat undersized, yet physical offensive blueliner who has had quite an up and down career in the OHL. He was outstanding for Kingston for a couple years and managed to get himself drafted. But soon fell out of favor in Kingston and was traded to Kitchener half way into last season. But he had some injury problems and played very poorly during the regular season. But re-surfaced in the playoffs and Memorial Cup, as he was a very large part of the Rangers success that saw them make it to the Cup final. But Chicago did not sign him to a contract and he ended up going undrafted as a re-entry. He's now back playing with Kitchener as an overager and serving as their captain. He looked good in this game, as good as he did during that Memorial Cup run last season. He moves the puck well up the ice, he skates well, and he's very adept at running the point on the powerplay. He's just a very smart offensive player. His defensive game is pretty solid too, although I'm reluctant to say that he could be a good defensive player at the next level, at least in terms of man coverage. On the whole, I'm relatively surprised that Chicago didn't offer him a contract. I think he's got a pretty good chance of earning one this offseason from an NHL team, as he's got a chance to at least be a depth defenseman.

Jason Akeson (2009 NHL Draft Eligible, 1990 born)

Akeson is a very interesting case. He came to the Rangers late last season after coming over from Tier 2, Junior A Cumberland, giving up his NCAA eligibility. He decided to leave after linemate Eric O'Dell left Cumberland for Sudbury and began having some serious success. But Akeson was joining a very deep Kitchener team and saw very little ice time, although he did play in a vast majority of the Memorial Cup games. With some key departures, more was to be expected of Akeson this season. From what I've heard, he's been up and down. Invisible one game, very good the next. He was very good in this game against Niagara. He looked very comfortable creating offense once inside the offensive zone and ended up finishing the game with a goal and an assist. The assist was on a very nice play where he won possession behind the net and made a great pass to a teammate infront of the net for the goal. Looks to be a smart offensive player who can create offense. I'm interested to see how he finishes the year and whether he manages to get on any draft lists this year.

Brandon Mashinter (Overager, NHL free agent)

While I'm sure more was to be expected from Mashinter this season as an overager, I think that it's needless to say that he's gone beyond expectations thus far. His previous career high in goals and points was passed two weeks ago already. He's a very large guy who opposing defenses are having a hard time containing infront of the net. He appears to be playing the role that David Clarkson played so well for Kitchener a few years ago. Mashinter was outstanding against Niagara, playing in all situations. He made a few great plays on the PK to gain puck possession and he looked very comfortable banging home pucks in front of the net. He's not the world's best skater, but for such a big guy, he's not the worst either. Just a solid all around player who gives you heart and determination. I've seen less players get NHL contracts after strong overager seasons, so I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one.

Jeff Skinner (2010 NHL Draft eligible)

Despite only registering an assist, Skinner was the most impressive player on the ice for Kitchener tonight, in my opinion. He was all over the place creating scoring chances, and if it weren't for John Cullen, he and his linemates would have had much more impressive lines on the scoresheet. He looks to have very good speed and puck skills. He made a couple really nice plays to get by Niagara defenders to create odd man scoring rushes. He looked great in close to the net, making another Niagara defender fall down on a great move, only to be robbed by John Cullen with the glove. There are lots of reasons to see why he was also named to Team Ontario for the Under 17 Challenge.

One more thing that I'd like to point out about this weekend's games is how well Niagara Ice Dogs goalie John Cullen played. Cullen, as you may recall, was listed 30th on my top 30 eligible players for the 2009 Entry Draft. If he keeps on improving, he's going to be higher on the next one. He completely shut down Owen Sound posting a 34 save shutout. And made over 50 saves, many of them of highlight quality, against Kitchener the next night. This guy keeps getting better and better, as he becomes more confident in his rookie OHL season. He's now up to 7th in SV % in the OHL.