Game Report: Spirit & Majors from January 2

Even with the Canadian Juniors playing today, I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to see the best team in the Western Conference for the first time (live) this year. Just so happens it was a match-up between the top team in the East and the top team in the West. This should have been a battle for the ages...but it wasn't.

I have to say, this was one of the worst OHL games I've been to in my life. No flow to the game what so ever, thanks in part to a total of 17 powerplays (9 for Saginaw, 8 for Mississauga). Just sloppy play, little end to end action and a game where the Saginaw Spirit looked like the much better hockey team.

Granted, the Majors were without captain Casey Cizikas and head coach Dave Cameron, but they looked pretty terrible out there against the best team in the West. While I didn't watch it, I can't imagine their 5-2 loss against Guelph the other night looked a whole lot better. On the powerplay, they couldn't generate anything and were kept completely to the perimeter. In fact, on many of the Majors' 8 powerplays, they were unable to gain possession of the puck in the offensive zone. It was downright ugly. So ugly that frustration caused star forward Justin Shugg to destroy his stick while on the bench after yet another blown opportunity with the man advantage.

The Majors were also unable to generate much in the way of offense 5 on 5. Despite an advantage in shots, I felt like the Majors were vastly outplayed by the Spirit who were able to generate offense from speed and from turnovers that they caused in the offensive zone. Mississauga had few solid scoring chances in the game (a Mika Partanen slapshot down the wing that went off the post, and a couple of chances in the slot), with the majority of shots coming from the perimeter. It was clear, the game plan was just to get pucks on net, but when your opposing goaltender doesn't give up any rebounds (Mavric Parks), that's just not going to cut it. At least get some bodies in front of the net to try and make it more difficult for Parks.

Meanwhile, Saginaw looked pretty good. With the acquisition of John McFarland, they've clearly got a more balanced scoring attack and can roll three lines that can take the puck to the net. The McFarland, Saad, Trocheck line in particular, is incredibly fast and the Majors had trouble preventing them from entering the zone with possession of the puck. And if they couldn't carry the puck across the line, they'd dump it in and use their speed to gain possession.

If I was a Majors fan, I'd be pretty worried (in all honesty). The rest of the league's top teams are either making moves to get better (Saginaw, Niagara, Oshawa), or are looking sharper as the season moves on (Ottawa, Owen Sound, Kitchener, Windsor). Meanwhile, the Majors look to have stagnated a bit. This team needs help. It needs a true powerplay quarterback to improve the team's average at best powerplay. It also needs a few more dynamic offensive forwards that can help push the pace of play and provide a change of pace from some of the team's grinding offensive lines. With an overage spot open, there should definitely be at least one acquisition. And honestly, the team should also jettison Anthony Peters for another overage skater. Yes, he's been a great teammate and provides a veteran presence in case J.P. Anderson gets injured. But it makes no sense to be using a vital overage spot on a back up goaltender who'll see ZERO time in the playoffs when other needs should be addressed.

On to some individual player reports:

Saginaw Spirit







#6 - John McFarland (Drafted by Florida in 2010)
I thought he was the best player on the ice for either team today. He looks really good (and comfortable) on the wing with Trocheck and Saad. The ankle looks fully healed now as he was explosive coming down the wing with speed. He had a couple of really nice rushes as he flew down the wing, beat his defender to the outside and went hard to the net. He was also very physical (most physical game I've seen him play) and was very active on the forecheck and in the corners. He scored a goal off a turnover forced by Ivan Telegin. He took the puck, cut to the slot on his backhand, and slid the puck through Anthony Peters fivehole. It's definitely refreshing to see him playing so well in Saginaw, where he can hopefully re-invigorate his promising OHL career.

#10 - Jordan Szwarz (Drafted by Phoenix in 2009)
Szwarz had a very solid game and was named the game's second star. He opened the scoring by deflecting a Ryan O'Connor point shot in front of Anthony Peters. His biggest strength has always been his elusiveness on the ice, as he's a bit like a waterbug out there. He's everywhere and active in all three zones. His speed and ability to create turnovers on the forecheck are definitely strengths. He earned a secondary assist on the powerplay goal by Josh Shalla later in the game, off a nice passing play in the slot. I do question the type of role he'll take on in the NHL though. I'm not sure if he's big enough or skilled enough to take on a top six role in the NHL, which means he might have to add a physical element to his game to succeed in a bottom six, energy role.

#15 - Anthony Camara (Draft Eligible in 2011)
Started the game on a line with Jordan Szwarz and Josh Shalla, but saw some action on other lines too. He wasn't really noticeable, save for a few nice hits and a fight with Gregg Sutch at the end of the game, that left Sutch bleeding (thanks to I believe an inadvertent headbutt).

#22 - Brandon Saad (Draft Eligible in 2011)
The man I was most looking forward to seeing, as this was my first viewing of him live. His performance left me somewhat split. On one hand, I was impressed with his skating ability, which is excellent for a big guy. He nearly broke through the defense twice, but just couldn't get by the last defender after beating the rest of the team. He also clearly is an intelligent goal scorer who knows where to go on the ice and isn't afraid of going hard to the net for a goal. He scored after finding a loose puck in the slot on the powerplay in the second period. But on the other hand, I was left underwhelmed by a prospect whom is getting consideration for the top 5 of the NHL draft. When comparing him to Gabriel Landeskog or even Ryan Strome, he's just not as dynamic of a player, nor does he make as big of an impact on the ice. I stick by my midterm ranking of Saad behind those two guys. Is Saad really not just a bigger, and better skating version of Matt Puempel? Definitely a great prospect, but I'm not sure I'm buying the top 5 or even top 10 hype.

#89 - Vincent Trocheck (Draft Eligible in 2011)
Continues to be a favourite of mine. He's not the biggest, but he's an incredibly effective player. He plays in all situations for the Spirit, including seeing the majority of the penalty killing time for Saginaw. His speed and tenacity away from the puck, make him a very dangerous player despite his lack of size, which is what you want to see from an undersized forward (especially a center). He finished with a secondary assist on Saad's powerplay goal, but he could have had a beautiful primary assist on a John McFarland goal, had John not fanned on it in front of the net. On the powerplay, he deked out a Major defender and feathered a pass to McFarland cross crease for the one timer. He's just a good little player.

#49 - Mavric Parks (Overage Free Agent)
I have to think that this guy is going to get serious pro consideration this offseason. He's not the biggest goaltender (pushing 6 feet), which is probably a strike against him when it comes to NHL interest, but he plays big and comes up with big saves. He's very aggressive in challenging shooters and sees the puck very well through traffic. He's also very good at controlling rebounds and has excellent awareness of the game. The Majors were peppering him with shots from the outside, in hopes of getting a big rebound. But he just wouldn't give any up. He's having his second excellent season in a row for a quality team and deserves to get a pro contract (IMO). He made 33 saves for the shutout victory.

Mississauga Majors






#2 - Dylan DeMelo (Draft Eligible in 2011)
DeMelo has been a rock for the Majors this season and plays with overager Marc Cantin on arguably, the team's shutdown line. He saw a ton of action against John McFarland's line and these two were going at it hard all night. DeMelo put McFarland down hard along the boards in the first. McFarland did the same later in the game. But he didn't have the best of games in the defensive end. His pairing got exposed for three goals against today (two ES, one PP), of which DeMelo looked to be a little overmatched against the speed and creativity of the Spirit forwards. He made a really nice play offensively though, and generated one of the Majors best scoring chances in the game. He kept the puck in at the line by jumping to glove down a lob pass, then deked around a Spirit defender to get himself into shooting position in the slot, but was stymied by Parks.

#4 - Justin Shugg (Drafted by Carolina in 2010)
Shugg was clearly frustrated by his team's lack of drive and ability to produce offensively today. He was trying to do too much out there on the ice, and if he got around the first defender, he'd just keep going with his head down to the net and turned the puck over. He took a couple of tripping penalties in the game too, just being a little too aggressive on the attack. He took his frustration out on his stick after a failed powerplay, destroying it on the bench. The passion is refreshing though, on a day where the Majors looked as flat as a pancake.

#5 - Stuart Percy (Draft Eligible in 2o11)
Percy had a quiet game. I truthfully never really noticed him for the good or the bad. As a defender in a 4-0 loss, that's perhaps a good thing.

#23 - Devante Smith-Pelly (Drafted by Anaheim in 2010)
He's got his entry level contract now, and earned a third star today, but I thought he had a pretty quiet game. I've actually been a little bit underwhelmed by his progression this year as I don't think he's taken his game to that next level yet. He needs to become a more consistent physical threat, and still needs to improve his skating.

#26 - Rob Flick (Drafted by Chicago in 2010)
Flick's had a tremendous season thus far, proving that he's more than just scrappy third line center. He's already eclipsed his career high in goals with 18 (previously 15) and is third on the team in goals. His line with Joseph Cramarossa and Gregg Sutch has really good chemistry and he's done a dynamite job with the team's second powerplay unit. But he was pretty quiet this afternoon, minus a great fight with Ben Chiarot (after Chiarot tried to take off Brett Flemming's head with a forearm check).

#27 - Mika Partanen (Draft Eligible in 2011)
Fresh off being the last cut by Team Finland at the WJC's, Partanen started this game on the Major's first line with Justin Shugg and Devante Smith-Pelly. But like most of the games I've seen, Partanen didn't last until the end of the game on the top unit (getting replaced by Rob Flick in the third period). He did ring one off the post in the first period, firing a slapshot coming down the wing and getting it through Parks but not the far post. But his ice time was severely cut in the third period and the coaching staff doesn't seem to have the confidence to give him serious powerplay time.

Well that's it. Your thoughts?

Ryan Yessie's Thoughts on Several Games

Ryan returns with thoughts on several OHL teams and players...

"With only a few weeks left in the OHL season I will be busy. Not only will I be catching the remaining 7 home games in Sarnia I will be traveling to Guelph and London to catch a few road games, so expect plenty of info on the Storm and Knights to round out the season, also I may be making a trip or two to see some playoff action at one of the cities in my area. So no Sting playoffs doesn't mean no playoff action for myself in one or more of Windsor, London, Kitchener, Guelph
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I was able to catch some action on Sportsnet as well as Cogeco this afternoon January 17th. So here's just a few thoughts on a couple player performances i felt were worth noting.

John McFarland - #18 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 195lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/17/10 - McFarland seemed to float a lot in this game. He made a few pretty bad plays with the puck, but seems to have some decent skating skills. Saw him last year and wasn’t overwhelmed with his talent either. Also he appeared to be more focused on getting back on defence rather than engaging in battles for the puck several times.

Marcus Foligno - #71 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 216lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 104^th Overall by Buffalo in 2009
Report: Jan/17/10 - Foligno seems focused on doing all the little things right. This may have been his issue this season in terms of producing points as he may just not have got the right bounces. That does speak well for his NHL potential as he’s likely to check in as a 3^rd line
winger anyways, but it would be nice, and would bring more confidence if he is able to start producing at the OHL level.

Ben Chiarot - #7 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 222lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 120^th Overall by Atlanta in 2009
Report: Jan/17/10 - Chiarot seems a lot more confident carrying the puck out, than he did last year. He seems content with making the smart/safe play every time, however last year when he was put under pressure he made several mistakes. He seems to be a lot more confident when handling the puck overall this year.

Sam Carrick - #16 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘0” - 188lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Carrick scored a beautiful goal while fighting off two Sting defencemen, then banging home his own rebound. It’s a “take it for what it’s worth” kinda goal for me personally because this is the 3^rd time I’ve seen Carrick play this season, and the first time he’s made a play that has impressed me.

Philip Lane - #10 - RW - YOB: 1992 - 6‘2” - 194lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Lane seemed to try to force the play a few times when it wasn’t there. He played Hard in all 3 zones. However he got away with a clear hit from behind on a Sarnia player who was already on his way down and vulnerable
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Guelph traveled to Sarnia on January 21st Sarnia put up a fight for a while but eventually it was Guelph's big 3 that put the game away in the 3rd period.

Peter Holland - #13 - C - YOB: 1991 - 6‘2” - 195lbs.
NHL: 1^st Round - 15^th Overall by Anaheim in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Holland looked impressive out there, continues to be better at skating and won a few races. Holland was very responsible defensively, and good in the faceoff circle tonight. Holland contributes with an assist on the game winning goal. Again Holland doesn’t shoot as much as I’d like him to, and when he does release it, it’s an absolute laser every time I see it. If there’s one thing in his game that needs to be worked on, it’s his willingness to shoot the puck from more angles.
(Holland had 1A, 2 PIM, +2)

Michael Latta - #17 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 5‘11” - 205lbs.
NHL: 3^rd Round - 72^nd Overall by Nashville in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Latta was very inconsistent tonight. At times he was good at getting involved in the play along the walls, or carrying the puck out, but then he’d disappear for about a period or so. He came out again when the game had already seen it’s winning goal, but scores the insurance marker and then an empty net goal with only seconds left to give himself 2 goals. Latta is hard to predict going forward, however he does appear to have several transferable skills to the NHL the fact that he’s under 6 ft. and inconsistent may take him a while to get to that level.
(Latta had 2G)

Taylor Beck - #19 - RW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 202lbs.
NHL: 3^rd Round - 70^th Overall by Nashville in 2009
Report: Jan/21/10 - Beck is a guy I take a little credit in picking up on. A lot of people knocked him for his skating, but personally I didn’t find it to be that much of an issue. Sure enough he’s having a breakout season this year in the OHL. Although it is his one area that needs the most work, he seems to be improving by baby steps, but hopefully they keep him in Guelph through his junior career as Guelph has an excellent skating coach, that has already done wonders with Peter Holland. The one area I actually want to see Beck improve more so than skating would be for him to add a nasty side to his game. He’s a decent checker, but if he can really get a mean streak going that would make him that much more effective in the power forward role.
(Beck had 1G, +3)

Cody McNaughton - #22 - RW - YOB: 1992 - 5‘9” - 172lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Jan/21/10 - Undersized, but with a lot of pure talent McNaughton is a bit of a disappointment to me nearing the end of his 2^nd OHL season. I really saw McNaughton as eventually becoming a go to guy for Guelph. He plays with a great edge which is nice to see out of player his size, but ultimately reminds me of former Sting player Daniel Lombardi who was another undersized player that played with an edge, and was able to produce just not up to the level that would legitimize him as an NHL prospect. McNaughton is slowly entering that territory, but fortunately for him he’s a late 1992 birthdate so he will not enter the draft until next year. But there is no question a strong finish this year, combined with a big season next year is absolutely critical if McNaughton wants a professional hockey career. Of note McNaughton was the only Storm player who finished the game with a minus rating.
(McNaughton had 2 PIM, -1)
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Jordan Hill returned to play in Sarnia one last time. The former hometown captain of the sting lead the Saginaw Spirit into Sarnia and assisted in demolishing his former team 7-2.

Anthony Camara - #15 - RW - YOB: 1993 - 6‘0” - 179lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Jan/29/10 - If there is a Milan Lucic type player coming out of the OHL anytime soon, I would think Anthony Camara would deserve some serious consideration. He looks much biger than his 6’0” - 179 listing and he had one of the best fights of the year against Brent Sullivan of Sarnia, then came out and despite being 16 went after overager and one of the toughest players in the league in Kyle Neuber. Although he may have regretted the decision to go after Neuber during/after the fight, the fact remains that this is a 16 year old rookie playing like a tenacious 18 year old. Camara drove the puck well, as well as driving his body through anyone that got in his way. Also he made a few smart plays with moving the puck over the course of the game. Camara is an interesting player going forward in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
(Camara had 1A, 10PIM)

Ryan O’Connor - #21 - D - YOB: 1992 - 5‘9” - 179lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/29/10 - Again, before every time I watch him play, I think to myself.. Ok look closely, because I must be missing something. There has to be a reason why I have him ranked so high, and everyone else doesn’t rank him. Yet every time I watch O’Connor play, he is just outstanding. O’Connor’s problems stem from his size which he is only 5’9” and his consistency which I must describe for you to get a handle on how up/down his consistency is. He started out with 5pts in 3games, then later 3pts in 14games. Immediately following that he put up 6pts in 5games which was succeeded by 8 games where he went pointless with a -10 rating. Then in January he got 9 goals, and 15 pts. in 16 games. He is currently pointless in 3 games now. O’Connor is basically this year’s version of Ryan Ellis. He has a monster blast from the point, he’s in my opinion a better skater than Ellis was last year at this time, and he throws the body like he’s 6’2 - 210, and has actually made some devastating hits this year despite his size. O’Connor is a guy who I can understand the low ranking, but the possibility of all 30 teams passing on him if he’s there in the 6^th or 7^th round would be hard for me to believe.
(O’Connor had 2G, +1)

Josh Shalla - #25 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘1” - 187lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Jan/29/10 - Shalla basically took off where he left off the last time I watched him play. His shot comes off his stick like a bullet from a gun, his release is impressive, and overall there’s not too many OHL net minders that would be able to stop Shalla point blank if he’s given enough time. While his ability to shoot the puck is extremely impressive, his skating is the absolute opposite. He lost races to players who were exhausted from a long shift, or guys who are just not very good skaters at all. He had trouble jumping into the play, and although his play along the boards was good, he was only able to get into a battle for the puck on a few occasions because of how weak his skating ability is. Shalla should get drafted this year, but don’t expect it to be very high as he’s a bit of a project
(Shalla had 1G, +1)
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Sarnia appeared to be en route to their first win in 12 games. Jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, and controlling the crippled Owen Sound team that was without 3 key forwards, as well as 2 of their top 4 defencemen. However after Campbell allowed 3 goals in 26 seconds during the 2nd period, the doors opened for a 5-3 victory for the Attack over the Sting.

Steven Shipley - #19 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘2” - 204lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/5/10 - Shipley is a guy who last year I projected higher than the offensive Hishon. The often injured Hishon was out of the line-up tonight and Shipley took over. Although he protected the puck well, and had some decent skating abilities for someone his size, he really looks like someone, who if he had a highly skilled winger he could be very effective in all areas of the offensive game. Shipley did a lot of the work himself with the puck, and netted a hat trick. Although the last goal was with an empty net and 1.6 seconds on the clock. He did manage to score the 3^rd goal in 26 seconds on Campbell that put Owen Sound back into the game, and then scored short handed to give Owen Sound the lead midway through the 3^rd. I’m going to see Shipley again on the 19^th and will be interested to see if I see the same dominant force that played on the 5^th.
(Shipley had 3G, +2)

Geoffrey Schemitsch - #26 - D - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 180lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/5/10 - Schemitsch is a player I wanted to keep a close eye on. Considered as this year’s Calvin De Haan, Schemitsch when given space and time is a very effective puck mover, however he made a decent number of mental errors when under pressure, or needing to move the puck quickly. Whether this is just him still adjusting to the OHL, or if he has legitimate issues when being put under pressure is still a question, but he is another individual I’m looking forward to seeing on the 19^th and seeing how he does.
(Schemitsch had 1A, +2)

Cameron Brace - #7 - RW - YOB: 1993 - 5‘9” - 160lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Feb/5/10 - I wanted to make a quick note on Brace as he was not someone I was paying much attention to. However he made himself known by carrying the puck and displaying some outstanding speed. He moved the puck as well as he carried it, and was a critical factor in Owen Sound’s victory. He should be interesting to watch heading towards the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
(Brace had 2A, +2)
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Finally after losing 16 straight games, the lowly Sarnia Sting were able to lay down a beating on the Sudbury Wolves. Jesse Stoughton starred scoring two highlight reel goals, and sparked the Sting offensive that eventually scored 4 goals in 5 minutes on the Wolves to start the 3rd period to solidify a 6-2 victory.

Justin Sefton - #3 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 199lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2011
Report: Feb/15/10 - Sefton was effective defensively as well as physically. He was basically exactly what I expected him to be. Defensive first, physical with good selection of when to hit and when to remain in position, and was a reliable defenceman for Sudbury. He was decent in moving the puck, although it appears pretty obvious his future potential does not lie in the offensive part of the game.
(Sefton had 2PIM)

Ben Chiarot - #7 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 222lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 120^th Overall by Atlanta in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - Chiarot has developed well. He moves the puck a lot better, and seems to have developed a little more of an offensive game. Also his skating is pretty good for someone his size. However the biggest knock on Chiarot is his puck handling when under pressure, as well as not only the penalties he takes, but the timing of them. Both minor penalties were very unnecessary and either directly or eventually resulted in goals for Sarnia at critical parts of the game. Chiarot however did make up with the first with a goal of his own a minute later, a smart shot on a bit of an aggressive move from the point, but overall there is a lot of good and a lot of bad in his game still.
(Chiarot had 1G, -2, 4 PIM)


John McFarland - #18 - C - YOB: 1992 - 6‘1” - 195lbs.
NHL: Eligible in 2010
Report: Feb/15/10 - McFarland showed just where his top 10 potential came from in this game. Although he did disappear a little when the game was over, McFarland showed great athleticism on a number of plays, and showed that he has breakout speed which I didn’t expect out of McFarland. He has an excellent shot, and his awareness of what was going on looked good. It seems to me that his game to game involvement may be the major issue with McFarland, seeing as I watched him play earlier this year on Sportsnet and he didn’t show nearly the heart and determination showed in this game. If this was the everyday John McFarland I’d say he might belong in the top 10 despite the fact he didn’t put up any points.

Jared Staal - #27 - RW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘4” - 198lbs.
NHL: 2nd round - 49th overall by Phoenix in 2008
Report: Feb/15/10 - Staal had a decent game. He was protecting the puck well, he threw a few decent hits along with one pretty big hit. He wasn’t much of a weapon in terms of producing offense, but Jared is not your typical Staal forward. Jared is typically most effective when he’s working hard along the boards, or if he was parked in front of the net, that would be a good place as he has the size of his brothers Jordan and Eric but not the pure offensive talent. There’s no doubt he’s got NHL potential, but it would be as a bottom 6 grind line player.
(Staal had 1A, -1)

Daniel Maggio - #55 - D - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 202lbs.
NHL: 6^th Round - 170^th Overall by NY Rangers in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - I was not really all that impressed with Maggio when I watched him play last year, and that continues into this year. Maggio was used on the power play, and was effective physically and cutting off angles for approaching forwards, but he was a penalty machine. He only received 4 minor penalties, but could have had 3x that amount with the way he played. A lot of the time it appeared he didn’t want to skate and would rather just hook or hold, and would have been an effective defenceman in the old NHL. Maggio seemed uninvolved or frustrated at several points of this game, which peaked with 2 seconds left when he threw a massive two hander at a Sarnia rookie which drew the attention of 6’7” Flemington who attempted to fight Maggio, and Daniel was not willing to oblige.
(Maggio had 1A, -1, 8 PIM)

Marcus Foligno - #71 - LW - YOB: 1991 - 6‘3” - 216lbs.
NHL: 4^th Round - 104^th Overall by Buffalo in 2009
Report: Feb/15/10 - Foligno is a player who I was pretty impressed with tonight. He played hard for the most part of this game, and was involved in the play whether it be in the offensive or defensive zone. Foligno may not have the offensive potential of his brother Nick, but definitely has size and knows how to use it either in battles along the boards, or throwing a hit. Although Foligno didn’t dominate in creating offensive chances, he was involved on a few plays, and seems to be one of those playesr that does all the little things right, that a team needs to win a game. I suppose it’s possible for Foligno to land a spot on the second line in the NHL, but he’s more likely to become a 3^rd line energy player with upside. Overall I was happy with his performance today
(Foligno had 2 PIM)
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As always, thanks to Ryan for checking in with us!

Thoughts on Barrie and Sudbury from January 28

Haven't posted a game report of my own in a little while as I've been busy and haven't been able to get to a game. I was able to catch this spirited tilt between the Colts and Wolves on Roger's Sportsnet.

Considering that the Wolves are one of the Eastern Conference's worst teams and the Colts the best, you might have guessed that this one would be a blow out. But for whatever reason Sudbury seems to play Barrie very hard. While Sudbury may have been slightly outplayed, the game was closer than the shot totals and the score indicate. If I'm Barrie, I'm hoping Sudbury escapes that 8th spot in the East, as I want to avoid them in round 1. The game was a physical affair that saw Barrie come out on top by a score of 4-1 on the strength of two power play goals and a goal + 2 assist night from new addition Alex Pietrangelo.

The Colts have really become like the Spitfires in that they've got so many players worth talking about, it's hard for everyone to make an impression good or bad. Here are SOME thoughts on a few players from each side.

Barrie Colts






Alex Pietrangelo (STL)
It's hard to name someone who's played only 7 games in the OHL this year as the league's best defenseman, but it's less hard when it's true. There is no doubt in my mind that Petro is the best defenseman in this league. He is head and shoulders above most other players on the ice. The way he thinks the game, the way he's playing at both ends of the ice. Tonight he controlled play at both ends. When he picks up the puck in his own zone, it's up ice within a matter of seconds. The speed at which he makes decisions is at an elite level right now. It's obvious that playing and practicing at the NHL level this season has made him a better player. On the powerplay he controlled the point with ease. Made an absolutely terrific play on a give and go with Alex Hutchings. Hutchings made a beautiful feather pass to Petro who then put it right back on Hutchings stick to the back of the net. He also scored on a beautiful shot from the point. Defensively he was outstanding. One play in particular really stood out where he broke up a two on one by Matias Sointu and John McFarland. He played it perfectly by staying in the middle and slowly fading towards the puck carrying Sointu, eventually closing in on him taking away the shot and sliding to prevent the pass. Sointu ended up having to take the puck around the net because Pietrangelo gave him nothing. Hands down the best acquisition at the deadline. Windsor should be kicking themselves for not getting him. One goal, two assists and the game's first star tonight.

Alex Burmistrov (2010)
Had a few nice rushes tonight, and a couple nice moves in close but nothing ever really came from it. Not his best game, but he still managed to be a factor offensively on some of his shifts and did a solid job as part of the penalty kill unit that held Sudbury 0 for 6 on the powerplay.

Alex Hutchings (TBL)
Had a tremendous game tonight. He's definitely one of the league's best penalty killers. He's so effective at closing in on opposing point players and reading passes. Manages to get his stick on a lot and really prevents defenseman from feeling comfortable back there. Scored two goals tonight, one the aforementioned give and go with Alex Pietrangelo where he made a nice feather pass to Petro over two opposing sticks, only to immediately receive the pass back for the shot into the open net as Alain Valiquette had been caught out of position. The second marker was a bit of a fluke one as Pietrangelo rushed the puck up ice and put it to the net where a streaking Hutchings had it go off of his skate. A borderline no goal call, but I'm sure the Colts are glad it counted. The Lightning made a great pick getting Hutchings where they did.

Kyle Clifford (LAK)
Clifford had an OK game. He was in the thick of things offensively but mishandled a bunch of really good opportunities. Defensively and physically he played a very strong game though. He's taken great steps forward this season offensively. He's taking the puck to the net with confidence, he's doing a better job of getting himself in scoring position and he's (for the most part) been able to capitalize on chances. However to take that next step he's going to have to do a better job of being an offensive force in traffic. By that I mean, as a big guy he's got to do a better job handling the puck and getting shots off with defenders close or on top of him. As an offensive player at the next level, he's likely going to spend most of his time near the net and he's going to have to be able to use his size to give himself more time and space to get better shots towards the net.

Nick Crawford (BUF)
Not very often you hear the stat line of 4 assists combined with the phrase "poor game," but I think that's what we're dealing with tonight. I like Crawford, but he didn't play particularly well tonight, even if he did come away with 4 assists. He could have been the reason for about 4 or 5 Sudbury goals tonight. Pretty much every good chance Sudbury generated tonight came as a result of a poor play by Crawford. A few turnovers in his own end with the puck, one really bad one where he failed to look behind the net before passing there to a lone Sudbury player waiting for the puck. A couple bad pinches where he got himself caught up ice, like the first Sudbury goal by Eric O'Dell where Alex Burmistrov was forced to cover for Crawford in front of the net as he trailed the play, or the two on one where Pietrangelo made the nice play on Sointu due to the fact that Crawford caughed up the puck at the blueline and then got caught up ice. To his credit, Crawford has been outstanding for Barrie since his trade from Saginaw, and if you can play a bad game and still rack up 4 assists, you can't REALLY be that bad can you?

Matt Kennedy (CAR)
Great to see Kennedy back on the ice already after the Kassian hit. He played a pretty strong first game back too. He's not a flashy player, but he gets the job done. I'm hoping Carolina still gives him a contract because he deserves it. He'll likely not be much of a factor offensively the rest of the way through the season due to the role he's playing on the Colts, but he has offensive talent. He can shoot the puck and he can drive it to the net with effectiveness. I think he'll make a fine pro hockey player as long as he can stay out of concussion trouble.

T.J. Brodie (CGY)
He didn't hit the scoresheet, but I thought he played an excellent game tonight. Made smart decisions with the puck and had a couple of real nice pinches that resulted in scoring chances. Every game he seems to find a way to the front of the net for a scoring opportunity. His acceleration is so strong it makes him very elusive in coverage, especially in transition. Defensively he was excellent. One play in particular stood out as a rushing Sudbury player attempted to take the puck at him one on one, but Brodie stood in front of him skating backwards and eventually engaged him and took the puck off him. Instead of just chipping it away, he took the puck around the net and started the rush up the other way. No points but a strong game from Brodie.

Sudbury Wolves





John Kurtz (Overage Free Agent)
When I eventually release my top available overage free agents list, this guy will definitely be on it. He's had quite an excellent year, but due to Sudbury's struggles it's kind of been overshadowed. Kurtz is basically your stereotypical lunchpail type forward. Works hard in all areas of the ice, but definitely has a scoring touch around the net. Made the nice pass to Eric O'Dell for the game's first goal after beating Alex Pietrangelo to the loose puck behind the net and quickly feeding O'Dell at the side of the net for the tap in. He constantly looks to go hard to the net, whether the puck is on his stick or not. With his size and ability to play both ends of the ice, I'll be surprised if he doesn't at least get an AHL contract next season.

John McFarland (2010)
Didn't have a strong game. I gotta admit. I used to be a defender of his after seeing him play so many strong games over the course of the past couple of years (especially internationally), but ultimately it comes down to the fact that I haven't seen him play a good one in a while now. I think you have to be concerned with the lack of progression in his game this year. Whether it be a lack of motivation playing in Sudbury or just a player who's game has peaked, I'm not quite sure. He's going to have to have one heck of an Under 18 Championship to save his draft stock I think. If he struggles at that tournament (assuming the Wolves are out of playoff contention following round one), he could very well see himself out of the first round IMO.

Jared Staal (PHX)
Another guy you've got to be concerned about. 6 goals this year. Six! As a 1990 born high draft selection, that just doesn't cut it. He was completely invisible tonight. If his name wasn't Staal (as harsh as this sounds), I'm not sure he'd be getting himself a contract. Better players in this league have certainly found themselves in this contract limbo situation.

Eric O'Dell (ATL)
In some ways, I kind of feel bad for Eric O'Dell. He's clearly Sudbury's best offensive player, and defense's realize this. He doesn't really get a lot of room to work out there as teams constantly seem to be double teaming him whenever he touches the puck. He's a high class offensive player and when he gets the room to work, he produces. If he were on another team with a more offensive system and a better supporting cast of players, I think we'd definitely be talking about him as a top 10 scoring player in this league. Scored Sudbury's only goal tonight after finding himself open in front of the net for a tap in goal off a feed from John Kurtz behind the net.

Anyone else catch this one on Sportsnet tonight?

Thoughts on Sudbury and Brampton from October 18

I hadn't had the chance to see Sudbury yet this season so I caught this one on the OHL Action Pak this afternoon. The Wolves were losers of seven straight games coming into this one. Meanwhile, the Battalion were coming off 3 wins in their last four and showing massive improvement at the offensive end. One would have thought that this one had the potential to get ugly for Sudbury, a team in the dumps coming in to play a team riding a high. But the Wolves hung tight, got some great goaltending and came out on top by a score of 3-0.

The Wolves are an interesting team. They have talent, especially at the offensive end. Obviously their defense and goaltending would have to be considered average, but their talent and depth at forward should be able to make up for it in a lot of situations. While the shot total was grossly in favor of the Battalion, I don't feel like the Wolves got grossly outplayed. They definitely got good goaltending from Alain Valiquette, which was refreshing to see. Valiquette was brutal against Niagara last night from everything I've heard, so it's good to see him bounce back. One thing that perplexes me a little bit is how good the Wolves penalty kill has been, yet how poor their goals against has been. Teams are beating the Wolves five on five and not with the man advantage, which is a bit of a rarity in a league where a good powerplay is so important. So why can't the Wolves play as good defensively five on five, as they do when they play with a man in the box? To me, that screams a team that is pressing and making things more complicated than they should be. With the Stepanov and Rinke incident, you have to think there is something slightly rotten behind the scenes and that probably compounds the on ice problems too. A win like they got today has the potential to get this team back on track, like they were in the first 5 or 6 games of the season.

The Battalion were visibly frustrated during the game. They had their offensive chances, but they just couldn't bury them. A lot of pucks bouncing over sticks on juicy rebounds, or shots fanned on in close to the net. While they only gave up 14 shots, a couple of bad defensive breakdowns cost them. More than likely this is how the Battalion season will go for the rest of the year. Some really good games, and some really poor ones. I look at them similar to the Kitchener Rangers of last year. A lot of quality young talent mixed with some veteran players, but inconsistent in their ability to generate offense. This team has the potential to be really good next year though (especially if an eventual Cody Hodgson trade nets them some really valuable assets).

Some thoughts on individual players...

Brampton Battalion






Matt Clark (ANA)

Clark had a good game. I think he's a solid NHL prospect for the different things he brings to the table. He's got great size and isn't afraid to use it. He absolutely leveled John McFarland behind the net with a clean hit, as McFarland brought the puck to the area with his head down. He had a couple other nice hits too, and he's generally intelligent about it too. He's not one of those guys who runs around looking to hit someone, taking himself out of position for it. He played on the first powerplay unit and I thought did a good job. He gets his point shot through to the net very well and it could have resulted in a few goals had the Battalion done a better job of getting forwards in front of the net, and if they could have done a better job of finishing off rebounds. On one occasion Clark out waited the forward at the top kill and put a good low shot through to the net. The rebound went right to Phil Lane for the easy tap in but it jumped over his stick and he didn't get a shot off. For his size, he's a good skater too. On one occasion he did get beaten by John McFarland (perhaps redemption for the hit) as he drove to the net, and Clark was forced to take a penalty. But McFarland is one of the better skaters in the league, so I'm not sure it's something to be too ashamed of. He just needs to remember to keep his feet moving.

Cameron Wind (2010)
Wind had limited OHL experience before this season but has done very well with an increased role in Brampton. He's a solid two way defender who I think is just starting to gain confidence in his offensive abilities. The thing that impresses me about Wind is his hockey sense. He always seems to be at the point to prevent the puck from getting out of the zone, and he's starting to get more confidence in pinching in. He also does a good job of getting his point shot through to the net, as he did on several occasions today. His looks fine too. Seen him play a few times now this year and I continue to come away impressed. Looks like a potential NHL draft pick to me.

Philip Lane (2010)
Lane had a bit of a tough game. He had a couple glorious scoring chances, but he just couldn't get the puck to settle down for him. The aforementioned Clark rebound was a gift, but he couldn't put it home. That being said, the effort was there and I think he's got a lot of potential in this league. He's a solid power forward prospect and a guy who will get better offensively with added strength. He's always active on the forecheck and he goes to the front of the net with his stick on the ice. Near the end of the game when Brampton was trying to drum up some offense, he was doing a very good job of working the cycle and seems to be one of those forwards who always comes away with loose pucks against the boards. Like any OHL rookie, I think he's going to be an even better at game 60 of this season.

Sam Carrick (2010)
I think Carrick is really starting to come into his own. He's been on fire lately with a couple of hat tricks and I think he's starting to gain confidence in his offensive abilities. With that added offensive confidence, I think other parts of his game are starting to develop too. He was a lot more physical today than I've seen him previously. Always a solid two way player, Carrick was taking the body today and laid a couple really nice hits. An average skater, but he does a good job of protecting the puck. On one nice rush up the ice, he used the defender as a screen and put a good, low, hard shot on net that generated a juicy rebound. But the Battalion forward (I believe it was Sean Jones) couldn't put it home. I think he's a guy who will continue to climb in the draft rankings.

Patrick Killeen (PIT)
Considering that he only faced 14 shots tonight but took the loss, you'd have to think Killeen played a poor game. I wouldn't say he did. The first goal was a tap in at the side of the net that he had no chance on. The second goal was a screen shot from the point that had eyes for the net. Again little chance. The third goal he probably misplayed a little bit, as I think he went down a little early and went for the pokecheck, missed and the Sudbury forward (Tarini) slid the puck by him. But the majority of Sudbury's shots were solid scoring chances and he did a good job of making some big saves to keep his team in the game. One was a solid stop on a two on one by Eric O'Dell and John Kurtz, as he eventually stoned Kurtz sliding across the ice showing good mobility. He's played very well on the whole this year and he's giving Brampton a chance to win every game he starts. He stopped 11 of 14 shots and took the loss.

Sudbury Wolves





Justin Sefton (2011)
This kid does not look or play like a 16 year old rookie. The 5th overall pick in 2009, Sefton is a physical beast. He's already strong enough and has enough conviction to push people around. He was very physical and did a great job of winning battles in the corners and bullying forwards in front of the net. By the time he's 18 or 19, he's going to be a beast at the defensive end. On the negative side, it does look like he needs to improve his skating, in particular his lateral and backwards mobility. Now don't be alarmed, he's no Devereaux Heshmatpour (gotta be some of you who get that reference), but he did get exposed once going backwards. The Brampton forward flew by him on the dump in, got the puck and then perhaps in frustration, Sefton took a bad penalty by pushing him into the boards from behind. I was a little bit underwhelmed by him offensively too, but at this point he seems more defensively focused. Nothing wrong with that.

John Kurtz (Overage Free Agent)
I think John Kurtz has the potential to make a solid professional hockey player. He'll never be more than a role player, but he has the on ice intelligence to make it in that capacity despite no above average offensive qualities. Kurtz's biggest strength is his two way player. He always seem to be in the right place on the ice at both ends, and I think this can be attributed to his hockey sense. Failed to convert on the Eric O'Dell two on one, but had a couple other solid opportunities to score. On one occasion he found a lane going to the net and got a good shot off only to be stoned by Killeen. He does everything well, which allows him to overcome his only modest skating ability. Got a tryout from the Maple Leafs this offseason, so hopefully he's able to catch on somewhere after this season is over.

John McFarland (2010)
He and Eric O'Dell were the most dangerous players on the ice tonight. This was probably McFarland's best game that I've ever personally witnessed. He was simply all over the ice. Was vicious on the forecheck, performed well on the penalty kill, laid a few nice hits. The move to the wing really suits him as it allows him to use his speed to fly down the side and to the net. Lately I've read a lot of people criticize his offensive potential and overall skill set. I've seen claims of "I don't think he belongs in the top 10 because he's not as naturally skilled as some of the other players available." I think that's bologna and I have no idea where these unfounded claims come from. I do agree that his hockey sense can come into question at times, as he'll fail to make things out of his rushes and fail to find the puck in tight situations. However his skill level should never come into question. Nor should his on ice vision with the puck. Made three absolutely beautiful passes today, two of which led to goals. The first was to Eric O'Dell, as he found him at the side of the net from all the way across the ice at the other point. Tape to tape, to the back of the net. On the second, he sprung O'Dell and Kurtz on the two on one with a beautiful tip pass to send O'Dell away with the puck. On the third, he drew the attention of the defense and gave it to Kyle Tarini for the walk in goal. For a player who's had some question marks about the way he uses his teammates, he certainly did well today. His goal was a screen shot from the point where he just tried to put the puck on net but ended up putting it in the net. He finished the game with 1 goal and 2 assists.

Jared Staal (PHX)
Staal is kind of frustrating to watch in all honesty. He has potential, but his skating still holds him back. He really does look like he's skating in molasses out there and his lack of speed burst prevents him from using his size on the way to the net. It also prevents him from being heavily involved on the forecheck. I just know that if he were a better and more explosive skater, he'd be such a quality player. This is because he is solid on the boards and in front of the net. He has good offensive instincts and does tend to make the most of his opportunities...when he gets them. On McFarland's point shot goal, he did all the work to gain possession of the puck along the boards and made a nice pass to McFarland. With the way the NHL game has evolved, I do think he could have a tough time keeping up with the pace enough to be a scoring line forward. But because of his hockey sense and board play, he could develop into a solid role player. He finished with an assist.

Daniel Maggio (NYR)
Finally healthy and playing with confidence, the former 7th overall Priority selection is off to a great start this season. He's Sudbury's number one defenseman and played a large majority of the game. He was incredibly physical and punished the Battalion forwards all night. On one occasion in particular, A Brampton forward (I believe Thomas Stajan) tried to get by him, failed and Maggio rode him right into the boards, erasing him from the play. He was very impressive defensively today. Offensively, he was just as equally impressive. He runs the powerplay very well and seems to have a really hard point shot. He could stand to do a better job of getting it through to the net, but that's minor nitpicking. He also showed a lot of confidence in bringing the puck up the ice. With great size, he's fairly mobile too (although no one will confuse him for Scott Niedermayer either). A really solid game from Maggio and it looks like he's progressed well this year. He finished the game with an assist.

Marcus Foligno (BUF)
Foligno has had a really disappointing start to the 2009 season, at least offensively. I think a lot of people, myself included, expected him to take some steps forward offensively this year. His skating doesn't look like it's improved and that appears to be what's holding him back. Like Staal, he couldn't be as effective in the offensive zone because of his failure to beat defenders to the puck. A real effective player along the boards, Foligno wasn't a factor in the cycle because Brampton's defenders were able to move the puck before he could get to them. On the positive side, he was excellent on the penalty kill. His strength away from the puck really allows him to be a factor at the top of the box. While his offensive game seems to have stalled, his two way ability seems to be blossoming. Maybe Buffalo sees him as an eventual replacement for Paul Gaustad?

Eric O'Dell (ATL)
As mentioned, he was incredibly dangerous today. He's a hawk on the puck and always seems to be around it. Not the world's best skater, O'Dell is still elusive on the ice and manages to give himself space on the ice to make offensive plays. Had an easy goal off the McFarland feed in the first. Made an incredibly nice pass to John Kurtz on the two on one, feathering it over the defender's stick, but Kurtz couldn't finish the play off. Later in the third, he made a tremendous play to charge into the offensive zone, lift the defender's stick, steal the puck and head in on net. But he missed the net on his shot as he tried to go top corner. He actually missed the net on a few chances in close too, so that's something he's got to work on. O'Dell is also a solid two way player and is quite often the first forward back. Made a really nice play to save a defenseman who got caught pinching, as he came back hard to disrupt the pass to the open wing. One thing that's always left me a little bit perplexed is his inconsistent physical game. When he played Under 18's in 2008, he was a physical force and threw his weight around with ease. But in the OHL, this side of his game has always been rare. If he could add that side to his game, he'd be a dominant player in the OHL on a night to night basis. He finished the game with the game winning goal.

Thoughts on Sudbury, or anything else mentioned?

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.

Sean Keogh's Thoughts on Sudbury from March 8

Sean was able to catch the Sudbury Wolves and the Ottawa 67's in action this past weekend. Here is his report...

This afternoon the Sudbury Wolves were in town for a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Ottawa 67s. Of the games that I have attended at the Ottawa Civic Centre this year, this was probably the least competitive so far. The 67s scored early and often, en route to a 6-2 victory in which they peppered Sudbury netminder Alain Valiquette with 58 shots. A lack of discipline was the biggest problem for the Wolves. They took four minor penalties in the first eight minutes of the game and handed the league’s best powerplay eight opportunities over the course of the night. That the 67s only converted one of those eight suggests the final score could have been much worse. Another major factor was that the 67s top line completely outplayed the top line of the Wolves.

The 67s were dominant in spite of some adversity. They went in to the game still without two of their top defencemen, Tyler Cuma and Marc Zanetti, and lost their de factor number one blueliner Julien Demers mid-way through the game. It was another strong performance for Logan Couture, who put up two goals and an assist and was the first star. Once again the 67s also showed off their scoring depth, as all three of their top lines were dangerous and eleven players recorded at least one point. One of the highlights of the game was also a big time fight between Pieter Schinkelshoek and Kyle Tarini in which both players landed numerous serious shots. With the victory, the 67s moved closer to clinching third in the Eastern Conference, and the loss hurt the Wolves’ chances of solidifying a spot in the post-season as well.

The following are a few thoughts on some Wolves players:

Eric O’Dell – YOB 1990: Anaheim 2^nd round pick, 2008.

I was expecting more from O’Dell, who was playing in his hometown and had been traded just this past week at the NHL Trade Deadline. Suffice to say I have seen him play better. While O’Dell is always a solid player in his own zone, he was largely invisible offensively and did absolutely nothing to assert himself in any way. His line was completely outplayed when matched up against the Couture line, and he finished the game a -3. I like O’Dell has a player, but am unsure of what his offensive potential is. For a center, I have questions about his playmaking ability, and also would like to see him improve his skating, particularly his explosiveness, to make himself more dynamic. More upper body strength would also be an asset. That being said, this game was obviously not a good demonstration of his ability.

Akim Aliu – YOB 1989: Chicago’s 2^nd round pick, 2007

Few second round picks are as well known, if not infamous, as Aliu. I have always been impressed with Aliu’s skill set, but am certainly not alone in questioning his focus. I would say he was probably Sudbury’s best player in this game, particularly from the second period onwards, and picked up an assist on the second Sudbury goal. His combination of size and skill is impossible to ignore, and he was the only Sudbury player who could take over entire shifts in the offensive zone. I do question his offensive awareness at times though because while he is dangerous off the rush with his size, skating, strength and hands, in the offensive zone he seemed a bit less sure of what to do. In that way, his offensive success at the NHL may depend on playing on a transition-oriented team. Obviously his off-ice troubles aside, Aliu’s raw skill has never been questioned though and that was evident even as his team was dominated this afternoon.

Jared Staal – YOB 1990: Phoenix 2^nd round pick, 2008.

From a game review standpoint, Staal actually fared well this afternoon. He set up the first Sudbury goal and potted the second, although John Kurtz did most of the work. Moreover, he finished even in a near blow out game, so it was a decent game for Jared. I have to be honest though I was not overly impressed with him from an NHL scouting standpoint. In many ways Jared reminds me of his brother Marc more than Jordan or Eric, in his skating stride and lack of offensive creativity. Although Jared goes to the net and has the size to put up some points by doing so, he is neither dynamic nor particularly inventive offensively. In short, I am not sure I see anything that suggests Staal has scoring line upside at the NHL level, although he shows characteristics that make it likely he will get a solid chance to stick as a role player in due time.

Marcus Foligno – YOB 1991: Draft Eligible 2009.

Often out there with fellow large bodies Staal and Kain Allicock, Foligno displayed his good work along the boards a few times. He did not notch a point but did pick up four penalty minutes. It is hard not to compare Foligno to his older brother Nick. They wear the same number and have a similar skating stride. While Marcus has better size, which he could use even more to be imposing, and is rawer than Nick was in his draft year, he is not as good of a skater or as offensively gifted as his older brother. Being an August birthday though, his offensive ability could come with more time, but at this point he displays little offensively. His size, physical play, good board work and favourable bloodlines should guarantee he will get drafted in the first three rounds though.

Daniel Maggio – YOB 1991: Draft Eligible 2009

It was not a good game for any Wolves defenceman, and Maggio is no exception. He took an unfortunate delay of game penalty in the first minute of play and that set the tone for the rest of the game. Overall, he did not have a strong game offensively or defensively, but he has good size, reasonable mobility and had brief flashes of offensive ability from the backend. I am a bit surprised he is not currently ranked by Central Scouting, but his play tonight did not make a convincing argument that they were wrong.

John McFarland – YOB 1992: Draft Eligible 2010

This was my first good live look at McFarland and his performance was mixed. On the one hand, he showed why he was the first overall pick in the OHL Draft last year and will likely go quite high in the 2010 NHL Draft. McFarland is a great skater with a high overall skill level and the ability to electrify with his stickhandling ability at top speed. Nothing came of it tonight though, and he was far less visible as the game wore on. Moreover he seemed disinterested defensively at times, and finished a -3 on the night. The only other concern I had was he showed a tendency towards selfish play offensively. At times McFarland opted to try to dangle when the better option was to use his teammates better, and he did not consistently fight for possession or bother to cycle the puck, suggesting a disinterest in bothering to do the dirty work. There are a few possible explanations for this, and it is not the place to speculate on the explanation. That being said, it did become something of a recurring observation throughout the game, without going in to the game with any expectation of such questionable tendencies.

Sergei Sheleg –YOB 1990: Draft Eligible 2009

Sheleg is a rookie import OHLer from Belarus who went undrafted last year and opted to come to the OHL. He played on the first pairing for the Wolves and was utilized in all situations, which is not common for a rookie import. Sheleg stood out to me because he is massive at 6’5”, and is actually quite a fluid and mobile player for that size. That combination alone is enough to get a player drafted, even if they are a year older. As I focused on Sheleg more, it was evident that he is extremely raw at this point. His decision-making is slow and questionable, he does not utilize his size enough, nor has he really started to fill out his frame. Although he is not ranked by CSB at the moment, I would not be shocked if he got picked up in the late rounds of the NHL draft considering his skating and mobility.