2014 CHL Import Draft Review

On Wednesday, July 2, the Canadian Hockey League held its annual Import Draft. It is here, CHL teams get the opportunity to add import talent to their roster. There are two rounds of the draft, and a team can pass on their pick at any time. As per the new rules, import picks could not be traded. Goalies are also no longer allowed to be selected.

Just to remind you, CHL clubs are permitted to carry only two import players on their team or protected list every year. However, if a CHL team has an Import who was an NHL first round pick (such as London with Nikita Zadorov), they receive the opportunity to add another player to their protected list to cover should that first round import (like Zadorov) make the NHL.

While the Import Draft can be a bit of a crap shoot, many of the players drafted do come over and can have an impact. Let's breakdown the results of previous three Import Drafts.

In 2010
26 of 26 players selected came to the Ontario Hockey League (100%)
21 of 26 players selected lasted the entire OHL season with their clubs (81%)
10 (open for debate) of 26 players had a significant impact on their OHL teams (38%)

In 2011
17 of 20 players selected came to the OHL (85%)
17 of 20 players selected lasted the entire OHL season with their clubs (85%)
10 (open for debate) of 20 players had a significant impact on their OHL teams (50%)

In 2012
22 of 27 players selected came to the OHL (81%)
17 of 27 players selected lasted the entire OHL season with their clubs (63%)
9 (open for debate) of the 20 players had a significant impact on their OHL teams (33%)

In 2013
22 of 25 players selected came to the OHL (88%)
20 of 25 players selected lasted the entire OHL season with their clubs (80%)
7 (open for debate) of the 25 players had a significant impact on their OHL teams (28%)

This article will provide you with some information and scouting reports on those selected.

Of course this article wouldn't have been possible without the help of these experts:

Sean LaFortune was able to give his reflections on some of these players based on what he may have seen in the past and from what he was able to gather from various contacts. He's the man behind TheScout.ca and is also a scout for McKeen's Hockey. He's always quick to lend a helping hand with this blog and is a must follow on twitter (@SeanLafortune) for ANY junior hockey enthusiast.

Steve Cocker is one of ISS' main scouts in Europe. He can be followed on twitter (@scocker11).

Matt Grainda is one of ISS' USHL scouts and he can be followed on twitter too (@graindaiv)

Dan Stewart is the head scout for Future Considerations. He and the staff there were able to help out and I'm grateful for that.

Chapin Landvogt is also a writer for HockeysFuture, in addition to being a scout for Future Considerations. Give him a follow on twitter (@Csomichapin).

Alessandro Seren Rosso is a writer for practically everyone! He writes for HockeysFuture, and for the Hockey Writers and a variety of other sources. He is truly a Russian hockey expert. Follow him on twitter. (@AlexSerenRosso)

And of course our two anonymous European scouts (who chooses to remain that way for various reasons). Without their help, these articles wouldn't be possible year after year.

1. Sarnia Sting - Pavel Zacha - Forward
If he shows up, this could be one heck of a pick by the Sting. Zacha is considered to be a potential top 10, perhaps even top 5 pick for the 2015 NHL Draft. The big forward was a force for the Czech Republic internationally this year, suiting up at the U-18's and the U-20's. He also played the majority of the season against men in the Czech league. But his agent ruffled some feathers by stating his discontent about Sarnia taking his client. But we've heard that before.
Scouting Report:: Future Considerations (who ranks him 10th for 2015) says, "The top Czech prospect for the 2015 draft who is a big boy who is pretty physical for his age. He will hit you and he goes hard to the net and is relentless on the forecheck, which can be a scary sight for the opposing defensemen. He has a strong shot that is both hard and accurate. He prefers a shot to a pass…willing, but immature game defensively…good on PK where he gets his frame into lanes and just clears the puck when he gets the chance…patient player with good vision, soft hands and the ability to make one-on-one dekes…strong skater with good balance, but needs to get faster." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Big,strong center plays excellent two-way game. Plays with poise and smartness in all three zones, strong hockey sense. Makes plenty of small things well, makes right decision both with and without the puck(even with the puck high in own zone under pressure). Improved skating in last 12 moths, first steps still needs improvement but has good speed and stride, agile for his size. Can finish checks hard, wins battles along the boards, very good defensively in own zone, uses size to knock opponents off the puck, can dominate physically. Uses long reach to keep opponents off the puck. Hands/puck skills good but not elite(by no means). Passes are firm and accurate, can move puck in all directions. Sees the ice really well and has playmaking skills. Can distribute the puck from tight areas. Very hard and accurate shot both, slap and wrist shot, lighning fast release of wrist shot. Good character and heart, strong effort every shift. Still think he lacks top line upside at NHL level and won´t be top point producer there, more of second line upside but kind of player you need on team to win the Cup. Still uncertain if he comes to Sarnia as he wanted to play somewhere alse but I think he will end up there after all(my opinion)."

4. Kitchener Rangers - Gustaf Franzen - Forward
The Rangers had pretty good luck the last time they took a Swedish forward who has captained or assumed a leadership role on their international teams (Franzen was the captain of the U-18 this year). Of course, assuming Franzen can have a Landeskog like impact might be a tad far fetched, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. Franzen, a late '96, is a highly touted prospect for the 2015 draft and currently considered a possible first round pick. He should add a lot to a young line up that needs help offensively.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Love this guy. Really fun to watch and competes hard every shift at both side. Good speed, more agile and tough to contain with his east-west mobility. Strong puck control in tight. Always around the puck, smart, strong anticipation. Excellent vision and playmaking skills, distributes the puck well. Patient on PP, can make surprising saucer passes through traffic. Soft touch on his passes. Creates separation in corner and takes the puck straight to net or walks out into the open to shoot or setting-up the play. Has scoring instinct in close to the net but finishing is ?. Strong effort, disruptive on forecheck, skates hard to get the puck on puck pursuit, steals the puck with his stisk, effective on PK. Not very physical but gets involved in high traffic all the time and takes hits to make play." Meanwhile, the scouts at Future Considerations say, "a complete player, he takes great care of his responsibilities in both ends of the rink. His hockey sense is far beyond his peers, he's able to get open for passes in dangerous shooting areas at all times. He got everything going for him, good skater, quick release, fast and accurate wrist shot, good in the face off circle." ISS scout Steve Cocker says, "The Kitchener Rangers prospect and 2015 eligible Franzen is a leader in every sense of the word. His game is defined by his pit-bull mentality, overwhelming tempo, relentless battle and defensive consistency. Captain for team Sweden at the U18 World Championships, he was looked at to provide valuable minutes on special teams and in critical situations on both sides of the puck. His energetic speed and quick hands give him a good foundation for the offensive game but has shown some inconsistency when going toe-to-toe with physical defenders. Being named captain to his club team HV71 U20 last season as a 17 year old tells you all you need to know about his character and mental makeup. Expect him to adapt well early on in his OHL career while being able to fill roles and eventually flourish into an all-around leader."

7. Ottawa 67's - Artur Tyanulin - Forward
While undersized, Tyanulin appears to be quite the offensive dynamo. At the U-17's this year, he was the tournament's 3rd leading scorer and finished ahead of the likes of Mitchell Marner, Dylan Strome, and of course, Travis Konecny. If Tyanulin can help to give the 67's another balanced scoring line, he'll be a big improvement over Adrian Sloboda (who the 67's released to make this selection).
Scouting Report: Sean Lafortune says, "Tyanulin is a quick, spirited winger who lit the U17s on fire offensively in December. He's a skilled, undersized winger who puts on displays of skill and tenacity. Quick hands, heads up vision and a high work ethic, both with and without the puck. Despite his diminutive frame, he exploits his smallish statue to dart in and out of traffic, looking for loose pucks and playmaking options. Excellent edgework and pivots, always seems to play at a very high speed. The structure of the 67s lineup is still to be determined, but don't be shocked to see him lineup on the team’s top offensive line, given his combination of speed, puck skills, as he has the ability to break games open." Alessandro Seren Rosso says, "A smallish forward with good sense of hockey, excellent puck skills and good skating abilities, had a rocky season without much success in the MHL 2 and being then excluded from the national team. He didn’t progress too much this season, he was among the leaders of the national team and now it’s not even that easy for him to get a spot at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. Most likely he’ll cross the pond as he can easily be a top line player in the CHL."

10. Belleville Bulls - David Pastrnak - Forward
The Bulls opted to take Pastrnak, a Czech forward (playing in Sweden) who the Bruins took 25th overall at the 2014 NHL draft. The stocky winger had success at the U-18's and the U-20's this year and appears to be a favourite among scouts. He would add a lot to the Bulls line up should he report, which seems to be up in the air at this point.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Love him, prefer him over higher selected Czech Jakub Vrana. Such creative and instinctive player, you never know what he will do with the puck, makes surprising decisions. Great puck control, tough to contain in tight, very agile and shifty, quick changes of direction. Excellent stickhandler. Like his mentality on and off the ice, very determined, great passion. Very tenacious and always competes hard for puck when he loses the puck, wants to get it back immediately. Excellent passing touch and vision, makes saucer sets-up in traffic. Not afraid of contact at all, takes hit to make play and goes through checks despite of average size. Never gives up on play, loses puck but able to get it back immediately, aggressive and quick stick, steals pucks. Can score in many ways, has excellent hands in close and accurate shot with quick release." Future Considerations had him ranked 18th in 2014 and had this to say about him, "Pastrnak is a flashy, creative offensive talent who is dangerous every time he touches the puck. His game is a lot about handling the puck at high speed. He loves to collect some speed in the neutral zone and challenge his defender one on one. On the power play, he plays the left circle, passes the puck quite well and is constantly looking for the one-timer. His shot is lethal; it’s super hard and super accurate, and what’s amazing about it is that he doesn’t need too much space or time to release it. He’s not easily knocked off the puck. Pastrnak didn’t get much done in his own zone, as his defensive game has a way to go, but he is still a pretty hard-working player overall. Physically, there is not much to his game to write about. He does not like to get hit and rarely throws a big check of his own."

13. Mississauga Steelheads - William Nylander - Forward
While it's unlikely that he'll report, you never really know. He's currently a free agent in Sweden and seems very focused on playing in North America this year (be it the NHL or AHL). The Leafs, who drafted him 8th overall, may feel that it's best for him to play a year in the OHL. They could obviously keep pretty close tabs on him in Mississauga. It's far fetched, but not impossible. If your a Steelheads fan, cross your fingers because he's the dynamic offensive talent your organization is lacking.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Dynamic offensive, game breaking skills, world class skills. Super quick and soft hands, can dangle and can beat even top D with nifty moves off the rush. Excellent hard, accurate wrist shot, lightning fast release, surprises goalies as he is tough to read(if he makes pass or shoots the puck, shoots from full speed with no indication). Fantastic vision and premium playmaking skills. So creative that he surprises own linemates with his saucer passes through traffic. Gains the zone easily and protects the puck well, absolutely elusive. Agile and great puck control in tight, often impossible to contain. Slows the play down and than sets-up chances with ridiculous passes through traffic at right time. Great stickhandler and dominant on PP. Doesn´t always compete hard without the puck and selfish at times, one-dimentional player(but of course superb in his role). Tends to make flashy individual plays at times instead of the most effective ones, overhandles the puck at times." Future Considerations had him ranked 4th for 2014 and had this to say about him, "An impressive dangler with the puck and flashy playmaker. Nylander likely possesses the quickest, most creative hands in the draft and can really dance around the offensive zone with the puck. He sees the ice like few kids his age can and has the ability to distribute the puck through the tightest of lanes. His feet add to his impressive offensive abilities as he is explosive and quick north to south as well as east to west. Nylander is always willing to go to the net and play in traffic both with and without the puck.This kid’s character has been called into question as he has been painted as a malcontent, a selfish kid who does not buy into the team mentality and full of self-serving attitude. His attitude and entitlement issues were the main reason for his team-hopping drama this past season. Nylander’s play on the ice mirrored his off-the ice attitude as he played the game selfishly many nights. He needs to learn to utilize his teammates more effectively going forward. His consistency will need to improve as he can have an impressive match one night, making you think this kid needs to be in the conversation for top spot in the draft and the next night, he is ineffective, easily pushed off the puck and only showing a flash or two of the effective game he displayed the previous night."

16. Niagara IceDogs - Mikkel Aagaard - Forward
Aagaard is a forward from Denmark who has an impressive resume. He starred for the U-20 team this year and helped them to win the Division A crown, which qualifies Denmark for the main U-20 division again next year. He played on a line with 9th overall pick Nik Ehlers in that tournament, and actually led the team in scoring (over Ehlers and fellow terrific NHL prospect Oliver Bjorkstrand). The late '95 forward was passed over in this year's NHL draft but seems like someone who can help Niagara get more secondary scoring next year.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says, "he's a pretty interesting prospect. 6'0" and on his way to 200 pounds, he just spent the entire season playing in Denmark's best league (which isn't saying much) and put up 12 goals and 10 assists in 49 games. He doesn't have a problem playing physical and can definitely go where it hurts to get things done. What he did have was a really big D1A U20 tournament as an 18 year old. There he had three goals and eight points in 5 games. He was one of the big reasons that the Danes will be at the WJC next year. It'd be real interesting if he goes over. With Aagaard, we're not talking about another Ehlers here. He's not even a Jensen. I can imagine him being a 20-15-35 player."

22. Owen Sound Attack - Petrus Palmu - Forward
Owen Sound opts for a miniature forward from Finland who plays out of the Jokerit program. The 5'6 would instantly become one of the OHL's smallest players should he make the Attack roster.
Scouting Report: ISS scout Steve Cocker says, "Despite Palmu's diminutive frame there is nothing small about his offensive skill-set, creativity and possession game which he has proven his effectiveness at the U17 International stage for Finland and with Jokerit B-SM. He is a player who needs the puck on his stick to make an impact and possesses elite level vision, puckhandling and creativity... highlight-reel waiting to happen. Expect him to continue his International dominance with Finland U18s at the Ivan Hlinka and World Championships. No doubt Petrus will need time to acclimate himself to the CHL game. He was unable to find his offensive rhythm when called up to Jokerit A-SM for a brief stint in the latter stages of the season. He needs to be given an offensive role and freedom on the puck in order to flourish in the OHL." Sean Lafortune says, "While the Owen Sound Attack are more known for tenacious, aggressive wingers with a high compete level, Dale Degray reached into Finland to inject a high skill winger with Petrus Palmu. A tiny but clever dynamo is a highly skilled playmaker. A talented skater who is fast and slipped, he possesses excellent lateral agility and an excellent change of pace. Plays the game at a high pace, can execute smart plays at full speed. Sneaky in one on one situations, powered by soft, quick hands and great in tight puck focus. While he may struggle a bit initially, which isn't uncommon for smaller CHL imports such at Pius Suter and Vladislav Kodola, but when the Attack are ready to challenge for a Western Conference championship, he should be primed to  play a key offensive role for the Attack."

25. Peterborough Petes - Dominik Masin - Defense
With Clark Seymour and Nelson Armstrong, the Petes have some big shoes to fill on the back-end. By selecting Masin, they've hopefully helped lesson the blow. Masin (pronounced "machine") was the 35th overall pick by Tampa Bay in this year's NHL draft and is considered to be a very solid stay at home defender. He captained a surprising Czech team at the U-18's and I think was a terrific pick by Peterborough.
Scouting Report: Future Considerations had him ranked 130th for this year's draft and had this to say, "He is a stay-at-home defenseman who doesn’t really fail when he goes to the blue line, but his offensive upside doesn’t go beyond the fact that his shot is hard and a bit accurate. His passes are just okay and so is his carrying of the puck. In his own zone, you will see him use both his stick and his large frame to steal pucks from opponent’s sticks. He’s the guy who will do the hard work back there and protect his goaltender as much as possible. He’s a hard worker and has good leadership abilities. He likes to get into the rough stuff if an opponent crosses the line and he feels the need to do something." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Showed two faces during the season, solid and steady at international level but tended to play in role of puck moving, more offence oriented D in junior Extraleague which will never work for him, lacks above average puck skills and creativity to be that kind of player. I don´t see very high upside at NHL level, for me he is third pair D who could be used on PK, I wouldn´t select him that high in NHL draft, more of mid-round pick for me. Not punishing hitter, lacks mean streak but more of banger, pins opponents at the boards, wins battles taking the puck away, blocks shots, competes to keep crease clear. Not afraid to handle the puck and rush him up the ice but hands are average at best, not creative at all, misses some good passing lines holding on puck too long, lacks instinct. Thought process is all right but execution is lacking at times, passes lacks zip and accuracy at times. Most effective when he moves the puck quickly, has poise under pressure with puck on stick,reading in own zone is solid as well as decision making. He is not skilled enough to be PP guy at higher level, shot is only decent. His d-zone awareness is good, doesn´t make positional mistakes. Not the smoothest stride and not great forward speed but decent lateral mobility, turns fairly well, moves his feet and plays solid gap. Contains well in corner and tough to beat 1 on 1 off the rush, reads well and uses active stick. Good character and some leadership ability, plays with intensity, usually solid and steady defensively."

28. Saginaw Spirit - Artem Artemov - Forward
This stocky Russian forward already plays in North America, suiting up for Chicago of the USHL last year. He actually had a terrific year as a 16/17 year old and was one of the highest scoring '97's in the league (16 goals, 17 assists). The Spirit hope that Artemov can add some scoring depth to a team that will need some players to step up this coming season.
Scouting Report: ISS scout Matt Grainda says, "Physically, Artemov is slightly smaller than a typical NHL/OHL forward but does have a rock solid base at around 200 lbs. He plays with a mixture of power/skill and likely has more offensive than defensive upside. Strength is one of his best qualities. The guy is tough to move in the offensive zone and has good body positioning to protect the puck. He is not necessarily a body-contact or tough player but certainly has the strength to do so. His creativity and hockey sense help him display his strong stick-handling skills. He can dance with the puck and likes to use this ability on the power play and while looking to beat other defenseman one-on-one. He is a pretty good playmaker and can thread the needle with a precision pass when the opportunity arises. His defensive play was on par with a typical player in the USHL. He could probably work a little harder and show some more toughness. Plays with a lot of patience and likes to move/float to the open ice looking to develop offensive chances."

31. Sudbury Wolves - Pavel Jenys - Forward
Sudbury opts for Czech forward Pavel Jenys, who was a 7th round selection by the Minnesota Wild this year. He saw some action against men this year in the Czech main league and should be able to jump into a top 9 role for the Wolves this year.
Scouting Report: Future Considerations had Jenys ranked 125th for this year's draft and had this to say about him, "Jenyš is a big forward who looked amazing early on this season, but a lack of ice time in the Extraliga eventually hurt him more than expected. He’s a force when he’s on the ice, and he’s got that kind of vision. He looks like he just knows what to do and when to do it. You’d expect him to be a great passer, but that’s not the case as he’s a shoot-first forward. His shot is a real great one with top-notch velocity and accuracy, one of the best I’ve seen all year. Even though he’s not the best puckhandler, he’s a pretty effective carrier who uses his size to his advantage. That also makes him stand out while off the puck in areas in front of the net or along the boards. Defensively, he needs to step up. He can do it, but it looks like he doesn’t want to do it all the time. His character is questionable, but when he wants to, he can really make a difference. Proper motivation is the key when it comes to him." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "What a waste of talent. He is big, has good wheels, can shoot the puck and can finish checks pretty hard however he is soft player who plays small game and doesn´ t get involved much in corner and loses too many battles for puck with smaller, weaker opponents. Goes straight to net without the puck but never drives the net with the puck, usually ends up behind the net. Finishes checks hard but rarely goes first to the board/into the corner. Crisp passes and can make nice cross passes into the speed when he has time but lacks poise and awareness when slightly pressured and limited vision. Not creative player, more of scorer. Lacks heart and hockey sense. Has power in stride, good speed, acceleration, balance. Decent stick in tight for his size. Heavy shot(usually from perimeter). Never cuts to net going off the wing in speed, always either ends up behind the net(with the puck) or makes blind(often) backhand pass across the net. Can finish checks hard but never goes into the corner/to the board first and unwilling to take hit to make play. Passes are crisp but needs to improve receiving the puck in speed." Sean Lafortune says, "A tenacious, big bodied pivot who brings an honest effort every time he touches the ice, Jenys lacks some flash to his game, however does contribute in multiple ways. Hard to play against, he keeps opponents honest as he will finish checks in punishing fashion. A decent stickhandler, he does flash moments of creativity, although will never be mistaken for a pure possession player. With the graduation of Radek Faksa and a litany of 94's that are expected to move on, Jenys will have every opportunity to earn himself quality ice in Sudbury."

34. Windsor Spitfires - Markus Soberg - Forward
Soberg is a Norwegian winger who has been playing in Sweden the last three years. He's played for Norway at the last 3 U-20's, and is a 6th round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets (in 2013). A '95, Soberg seems like a short term fix for the Spits as if he comes over, he'll likely only be a one year player for the team.
Scouting Report: Future Considerations had Soberg ranked 196th in 2013 and had this to say about him, "Soberg is a small, offensively skilled winger who plays a perimeter game all too often. He has shown some flashes that lead you to believe he has pro upside but needs to add both consistency and strength to his game in order to achieve that." Sean Lafortune says, "A pure finisher who has exhibited an ability to finish plays, Soberg will add depth to a Spitfires lineup that lacks just that. Not a pure possession player yet does flash with some sublime skill. A confident stickhandler who excels at orchestrating the play. Dangerous around the net, possesses a highly deceptive snap shot, one that allows him to finish off plays around the net. Not overly aggressive, yet does inject physicality from time to time, added strength and mass will certainly allow him to be more aggressive and confident when attempting to separate defenders from the puck. While he will have his struggles at first, it’s not unfair to expect a top 6 winger with finishing abilities, one who could realistically add 20-25 goals to the Spitfires lineup." Our second anonymous Euro scout says, "Ok size on a lean and skinny frame.. competes and works ok, lacks power and strength to be effective in battles along the boards.. drifts away at times when playing away from the puck and defensive focus can be improved.. very good skater, agile and fast.. good balance from a wide stance.. skilled, fine touch and controls puck well at top speed.. very good release.. more of a shooter than a passer.. likes to fire the puck coming down the wing in speed or backing up in the slot to fire a one timer.. good instincts, lurks around gets open and is always ready to fire his shot."

37. Barrie Colts - Rasmus Andersson - Defense
The Colts seem to have struck gold with this pick, again taking a high profile Swedish prospect (after taking Kempe last year). This one seems like he might actually report though. Andersson, a strong two-way defender is considered a first round prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft. He's excelled against men the last two years in the Swedish 2nd league (Allsvenskan) with Malmo. Funny enough, Andersson is a late '96 and an international teammate of Adrien Kempe. As Kempe was a first round pick by LA, the Colts can keep his rights without sacrificing a Euro pick. We all know how much the Kings love the OHL. Maybe, there's a glimmer of hope that he still shows up and has a friend and teammate in Andersson with him?
Scouting Report: Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Outstanding moving the puck, passes are very crisp and accurate, confident and decisive under pressure, makes right decision, reads well. Excellent vision and creative break out outlets hitting forwards in full speed. Joins the rush all the time and can lead rush. Goes end to end with the puck, dynamic wheels with the puck. Force the play offensively. Activates feet at the point on PP, moves well. Heavy one-timer from the point and excellent running the PP from the point. Strong on skates. Forward skating is very good but a bit heavy footed, not great lateral mobility and needs to work on foot speed. Aggressive and physical in own zone, good d-zone awareness, doesn´t make positional mistakes, battles hard to keep crease clear, ties man up in front of net." Future Considerations (who has him ranked 9th for 2015) says this about him, "Pretty versatile. Great positional play in the defensive zone. He's always where he should be. Tough to check. Dishes out punishment when encountering power forwards nested at the doorstep, but doesn't really hit you that much or that often. Offensively, he can use his speed to an advantage and he's also a great passer, thanks to both vision and technique. His shot is pretty hard and he's always willing to join the rush and go all the way. He's got a lot to work on though, but the final product seen in him is great. Balance and discipline are two of the things to improve." Sean Lafortune says, "Andersson is an intelligent game management type who reads the game instinctively and keeps things safe and secure in his own zone. A smart, methodical blueliner who interprets the game effortlessly, he limits mistakes and makes astute decisions in possession. Consistently makes safe, education decisions, reads the play and can stretch the ice, however usually opts for the safest path.  A mature, steading defender who demonstrates strong positioning as well as high patience in one on one situations. Mentally sharp, limits mental errors and is rarely pulled out of positioning. Footwork will be an area to monitor, as his edgework, pivots and skating stride are his biggest development need. Should be fair to expect him to come into Barrie and play within the Colts top 4 right off the bat."

40. North Bay Battalion - Hampus Olsson - Forward
With Vincent Praplan heading back to Europe, the Battalion had an opening to take the massive Olsson. At 6'5, 210lbs, he certainly fits the mold of a Stan Butler player. They must be hoping that Olsson can form part of an excellent checking line with fellow Swede Alex Henriksson. As a '95, Olsson is likely a one year and done player. He did play part of this year against men in the Allsvenskan (Swedish 2nd league).
Scouting Report: Sean Lafortune says, "An undrafted 95 born skater who will bring size and intensity to the Battalion's lineup. Not an outwardly flashy possession player, but takes hard routes to the net, protects the puck well in and is extremely tenacious on the cycle. Not a possession player, yet does pack a fairly lethal snapshot that can be lethal from the slot. Smart, positions himself intelligently and is quick to identify opportunities to finish plays. Willing to set up in front of the net and take a physical pounding to create offense. A bit of a plodding skater, the transition to the CHL may be a positive one for him, as he'll have less space to manage. Projects as a top 6 forward who should add some depth to a fairly underrated forward group." Our second anonymous Euro scout says, "Very good size.., strong and powerful.. works ok, a bit inconsistent in his efforts.. likes to get involved with his body and play a rather assertive game.. effective down low with his big, heavy frame.. drives to the net at times.. average skater, lacks some agility and speed is just ok from a quite short stride.. decision making and offensive skill is limited, lacks ability to finish of plays and make plays around the net."

43. Kingston Frontenacs - Juho Lammikko - Forward
The Fronts have had some good luck with Finnish players in recent years so they take Lammikko, a rugged winger who was a 3rd round pick of the Florida Panthers this NHL draft. He had a terrific U-18 tournament this year, leading the team in scoring. And he also played a good chunk of this year with Assat of the Finnish main league. At 6'2, 190lbs, the Fronts have to be hoping he can add some size and scoring punch to their top 9, something only Lawson Crouse really did last year.
Scouting Report: ISS scout Steve Cocker says, "The Assat product and Florida Panthers prospect Lammikko showed incredible consistency and upward trend throughout the past season. He possesses strong tools on both sides of the puck and determination to be a factor in all situations. He has developing offensive weapons with good hands, a heavy shot and a knack for producing in the slot as he utilizes his size and powerful frame to earn time and space. Displays a strong, powerful stride to navigate his way into the offensive zone with good possession and protection game. Juho is a driven forward who wants to make a difference whether on the scoresheet or doing what it takes defensively. Look for him to fill roles with Finland U20 in Lake Placid this August and potentially be a member of the returning U20 Champions in Montreal this Christmas." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "His shot and decent scoring touch is his best assets. Hard wrist shot with nice release and has nose for the net. Plays with determination around the net and takes pounding in front of net, drives the net. Solid effort at both sides and works for pucks in battles along the boards. Uses big body well, fairly strong on puck and willing to take hit. Average skater, good balance but not much of speed, acceleration, quickness. Not creative and won´t ooze you with his puck skills or hands. In my opinion one of several questionable second/third round pick from Europe in recent NHL draft(others: Masin, Bergman, Rod, Lintuniemi, Vaněček)." Future Considerations had Lammikko ranked 120th this year and had this to say about him, "Does not have any problems with the physical game. He is not overly active hitting opponents, however, he gets involved in the corners. He shows good vision on the power play, making skilled and smart passes. His shooting is solid as well; shots from surprising spots and does not hesitate to go to the net. He has really soft hands and good coordination. Lammikko knows where to be on the ice offensively. Defensively he does a solid job and shows a good compete level. His skating is something that could improve as he does not look overly fast or agile. His balance is excellent though."

46. Oshawa Generals - Tobias Lindberg - Forward
A 4th rounder by the Ottawa Senators in 2013, Lindberg didn't have the greatest year in Sweden this year. He repeated the same league (J20) and actually saw a decrease in his goal production. He also saw less time with the men's team in the Allsvenskan. The 6'3 forward apparently has a terrific skill set, but the may not have the head to use it. A move to the OHL seems like a smart one for him as he tries to earn a contract from Ottawa. The Generals will certainly give him a chance as they attempt to replace the likes of Scott Laughton and Dylan Smoskowitz.
Scouting Report: Sean Lafortune says, "A big, powerful winger who injects physicality, Lindbrerg should add a healthy compete level and secondary scoring to the Generals lineup. A tireless and tenacious winger with a flair to getting the inside track on defenders and winning battles for the puck. Plays brave, crashes the crease, takes pucks to the net and creates offense by utilizing his frame and puck protection skills. Not a pure playmaker, he will operate best with a playmaker who can create offense. Adding strength and working on his footwork and agility will be areas to look at this year. Will be playing for an NHL contract in Oshawa this year." Our second anonymous Euro scout says, "Tall with a decent frame.. works, is physical and plays a assertive and determined game on some shifts but can be quiet and a non factor on other shifts.. attitude and discipline has been a concern – has shown a tendency to taking bad penalties and his body language can be questionable.. strong and effective in battles/along the boards when being on his game.. not a smooth skater and feets are a bit off but got good balance and speed as he gets going.. got some solid skill, sees the ice ok and can make decent moves and plays at high speed.. responsible and plays a solid 2 way game."

49. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - Gustav Bouramman - Defense
If Darnell Nurse cracks the Oilers this year, it's not a bad idea to have some additional depth on the back-end. Especially a guy who can run the powerplay, which Bouramann potentially can. The 6'0, '97 born defender, is a talented offensive blueliner who played for Sweden at this year's U-17's.
Scouting Report: The scouts at Future Considerations say, "Bouramman shows some impressive offensive skill, including great hand speed and elusiveness with the puck. He is a very quick skater with good foot-speed and acceleration up the wing. He handles the puck well and has the ability to beat players as he rushes the puck up the ice. He makes good first passes to clear the zone and doesn’t take much time to move it. He plays with plenty of grit and toughness in his own end. He isn't huge but he packs a heavy punch and makes some solid body-contact. He makes smart reads on defense and plays aggressively, but keeps his position." Sean Lafortune says, "Bouramman is a quick, agile defender who is extremely dangerous in possession. Reaches top speed with just a few powerful strides, he possesses sharp offensive instincts, breaking down plays and assessing. Has a knack for knowing when to join the attack and when to pivot back. Makes smart outlets and distributes the puck intuitively, will stretch the ice, but is not his primary goal. More of a stick to puck defender, yet he can show engagement down low, engaging physically and initiating contact. Will still need to continue to add defensive structure to his game, as he has a tenancy to play a run and gun style. Will get pulled out of position, over pursing in the defensive zone and loosing focus. While he has some rough areas to his game, it’s fair to expect a defender who will take a regular shift and positively impact the powerplay, while also giving them more depth in case the team loses Edmonton Oilers draft pick Darnell Nurse." Our second anonymous Euro scout says, "decent size..skinny.. needs to add power and strength to his frame.. defends ok but got inconsistent compete level..lacks assertiveness, tends to get too passive at times.. not a physical or hard guy to play against.. relies mostly on his smarts and stick.. good skater/feet.. moves really well on his skates.. highly skilled with the puck, smooth.. moves the puck well out of his zone.. likes to hang on to puck waiting for a play to develop.. accurate shot.. crafty, good vision and poise.. high risk/high reward type of player."

52. London Knights - Julius Bergman - Defense
The Knights, hoping to grab a high impact player, opt for an older one in Bergman. A '95, Bergman is likely a one year player for the Knights but he should help to run the team's powerplay and provide more defensive depth with the losses of Bell, Basso, and Austin. And if Zadorov makes Buffalo for good this time, he might have to assume a role on the club's top pairing. Bergman was a 2nd round pick of San Jose this year, so they'll likely be happy he's playing in the OHL after Chris Tierney's development as a prospect in London.
Scouting Report: Future considerations had Bergman ranked 90th for this year's draft and had this to say about him, "Provides a physical presence out on the ice. Good along the boards and stands up well to incoming opponents along the blueline. His game from juniors translated fluidly to Swedish pro last year, no major changes to his style of play. Generates solid scoring chances by following the play up the ice after turnovers in the neutral zone. Impressive instincts, he knows when a scoring chance is about to present itself and jumps on the opportunity. His crisp passing game one of his best assets." Our anonymous Euro scout hasn't seen Bergman in a year, but did have this to say about his game previous to that point, "“Puck moving D is very good with the puck but d-zone coverage and skating mobility average at best. Smart moving the puck, passes are both firm and soft, moves puck quickly and accurately, has very good vision. Excels in transition game, reads the play very well and makes creative break out passes out of zone. Nice puck skills, hands. Likes to join the rush occasionally or jump into the play. Rarely used on PP here but has ability to play as QB on the point, moves the puck quickly, can make creative cross-ice sets-up, sees passing lanes well. Defensive game and skating need lots of refining. Looked heavier on his skates, beaten a few times 1 on 1, caught flat-footed, foot work and foot speed is ?. Needs to take the body regularly and read the play better in own zone." Sean Lafortune says, "An agile, lively skater who generates a sharp acceleration burst from a wide stride, he plays a safe, smart two way game. Not blessed with elite offense tools yet shows an ability to play a safe, secure offensive game. More of a puck manager versus a pure offensive defender, he manages the game intuitively from the back end. Showed substantial improvement in his defensive structure, no longer chasing pucks and getting pulled out of possession, will patiently await forwards to enter the zone before forcing him to the outside. Should play significant minutes for the Knights this year for a Knights team that has lost a significant amount of depth on the back-end."

55. Erie Otters - Anton Karlsson - Forward
Erie returns to Sweden again this year, taking another highly scouted and NHL drafted Swedish player. Karlsson was a 3rd round pick of the Coyotes this year and was an assistant captain with Team Sweden at this year's U-18's. He's a hard working winger who can likely replace a lot of the things Michael Curtis brought to the team last year.
Scouting Report: ISS scout Steve Cocker says, "Despite a lacklustre U18 World Championships for Sweden based on his standards, Anton Karlsson proved his compete, battle and physical dominance on a consistent basis with Frölunda U20 this season. The Arizona Coyotes prospect can be an absolute beast along the wall as he lowers his shoulder and drives to the net while playing that North-South style. He does excellent work on the PP as he plants himself in the slot and is next to impossible to move for opposition defenders. Expect him to come into the OHL and quickly acclimate himself to the game as he is known to be a physically imposing forward who thrives in a crash and bang game." Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Enigma for me. Excellent physical tools and good skills but where is toolbox? Smooth skater with fluid stride, balance. Good speed but lacks ability to shift gears, uses one speed, doesn´t create separation. Controls the puck well both off the rush and in tight areas. Protects the puck well, tough to separate off the puck. Big, strong, finishes some checks but not very intense and physical, uses size to protect puck down low but doesn´t win enough battles along the boards. Intensity is lacking, passion, desire is ?. A bit of playmaking skills and has good passing touch(including ability to make backhand passes) but hardly seen on puck for longer periods, anticipation and ability to get puck on the fly is?. Decent effort backchecking though." Future Considerations had Karlsson ranked 35th this year and had this to say about him, "A solid two-way winger who never quits on a play and competes very hard in all three zones. Karlsson is an excellent skater, and he has good top speed and reaches it quickly. He’s not afraid to use his strong balance to muscle himself straight to the net. Shooting wise, Karlsson’s biggest asset is his quick release. He could work on both his slap shot and wrist shot; he’s good at quickly getting them off, but their accuracy and velocity is not great. Makes good, simple passes, but lacks creativity. He is strong and physical on the walls, playing a tough, gritty game and showing no fear in getting involved. He closes off lanes on the forecheck, and does a good job getting back quickly on defense to block a shot or clog the lanes in his own end. He is strong on the puck and makes good, simple plays off the rush. Strong on the cycle game and keeps pressure with possession down low. He gives a good effort in the physical game, finishing checks and using his size, but he sometimes goes out of position to make a hit."

73. Mississauga Steelheads - Lukas Haudum - Forward
With the selection of Haudum, the Steelheads now have the rights to three Import players. They released the rights to Artem Rasulov, but retained Sam Babintsev. Should Nylander report, Haudum and Babintsev will battle it out for a spot. If he doesn't, it would appear that Haudum and Babintsev can both stay. Haudum is an Austrian forward who led their U-18 in goal scoring this year. A '97 born, he's eligible for the NHL draft in 2015.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says, "Lukas Haudum is not particularly big, but just had a pretty good year for Linz' U18 and U20 teams. I can't say how much buzz there is about him in Austria, but he had a pretty strong D1B U18 tournament and I know that a number of CHL and USHL scouts do visit those tournaments nowadays. I'd have to assume he was spotted there and that someone heard about him through connections in the Austrian hockey scene, likely through one of the many Canadians that coach or manage there. Expect Lukas Haudum - if he heads over - to be a bit like Maximilian Kammerer for the Regina Pats (who put up 5 points this past year, but had a terrific U-18 tournament)."

85. Peterborough Petes - Artyom Vladimirov - Defense
As mentioned, the Petes have some holes on defense so they use their 2nd Import pick on a defender too. Vladimirov is a 6'4 Russian defender who served as an assistant captain on their U-17 team this year. He was also a 1st round pick in the KHL draft this year.
Scouting Report: Alessandro Seren Rosso says, "A big defensive defenseman with good discipline, doesn’t play overly aggressive and never had problems with PIMs. He doesn’t join the rush and isn’t much of an offensive threat, he definitely has to improve his offensive skills, he can be a good player at junior level, we’ll see what he can do as a pro he might lack some offensive skills to actually succeed, at least at NHL level."

91. Sudbury Wolves - Ivan Kashtanov - Forward
While Sudbury took the assistant, the Wolves opt for the captain of the Russian U-17 team. Kashtanov is a stocky winger who was the 5th overall pick in this year's KHL draft. The Wolves have gotten pretty good production of their Euro's in recent years so they must be hoping Jenys and Kashtanov can team to play inside their top 9.
Scouting Report: Our anonymous Euro scout says, "Undersized but very thick body, very strong and mature physically, strong legs, strong on skates. Upside is due to it questionable, not sure if there is much space for improvement. Good hands/stick, good skill level. However maks plenty of individual plays, keeps the puck too long on stick. Not great speed, agile but lacks separation gear and average foot speed. Good puck control in tight and protects the puck fairly well. Soft touch on his passes. A bit feisty occasionally." Alessandro Seren Rosso says, "The most talented player of the bunch, one of the best prospects for 97 year. He’s not tall, but is very solid, great puck skills, skating, technique. He can score and mostly plays the off wing. A good goal scorer, but can pass the puck too and isn’t a liability on defense, he actually tries to get back and tries always hard. A very solid pick, but it’s yet to be seen if he’ll report. He’s also a leader and has been captain of his teams in several occasions, but needs to play more of a team game."

103. Kingston Frontenacs - Jarkko Parikka - Defense
The Fronts appear to have made a very shrewd pick here, taking Parikka a 6'0 '97 born defender. He's already adjusted to playing in North America after suiting up for Des Moines of the USHL this year. It's not common for a 16/17 year old defender to see regular ice time in that league, so that alone is impressive. He should be able to play a role for the team this year.
Scouting Report: ISS scout Matt Grainda says, " Parikka plays a nice two-way game and likely has upside onboth the offensive and defensive ends. He is a very smooth skater with excellent mobility in all directions with and without the puck. His hockey vision is solid and allows him to make a quality first pass coming out of his own end. Parikka knows where the puck needs to go and makes sure it gets there. He displays some physical tendencies down low in his own zone and has a nice active stick. He likes to get the puck on net with quickness when the opportunity to shoot comes around. Parikka displays solid communication with other teammates while calling for shots and passes. He is able to lead the breakout on the power play from the back end, showing his on-ice awareness and situational reads. He has developed his physical strength and it shows in his defensive play." Sean Lafortune says, "A smart, strong skating defender with good agility, Parikka is a heady, offensive minded defender who can add offensive depth to a squad. Thrives orchestrating on the powerplay, loves to attack and push the play. Effective on the powerplay, walking the line, heads up and assessing. Can be a bit to offensive minded at times, as he can take undue risks when attempting to jumpstart offense, but the tools are there. While he shouldn't be expected to be impactful right off the bat, he has the tools to be a serviceable OHL defender who can add offense to a team’s backend."

106. Oshawa Generals - Sonny Hertzberg - Defense
Last year the Generals took an offensive defenseman in the import draft hoping that he could help run their powerplay. Unfortunately the Jimi Kuronen experiment was a failure. This year they take Hertzberg, a 6'2 defender from Denmark who has been playing in Sweden. He was the top defenseman on the U-20 team that qualified for the main division this coming year and was the highest scoring defenseman at the tournament. I guess we'll see.
Scouting Report: HF's Chapin Landvogt says, "He's a Danish kid who has pretty decent size. Already 19, he had a real good year for the very talent-rich Frolunda program (check out my Swedish review of the draft at HF). He's not a big offensive weapon, but he's smart and been clearly coached pretty well along the line. He was a +35 this season. He also did really well with four points in five U20 D1A contests as Denmark's top defenseman at that tourney. He should be part of Denmark's WJC team this winter. Lefty shot. He's been in Sweden for at least four years now, so he's not your typical Danish player at this point." Our second anonymous Euro scout says, "Solid size on a decent frame.. competitive, assertive - goes in to situations with speed.. not overly physical but battles and defends well down low, good active stick.. good awareness, moves his head and picks up his guy.. good skater, strong on his feet, got solid speed and moves fine laterally and skating backwards.. barely average with the puck overall, can be ok at times with the puck but tends to turn pucks over under pressure and can miss simple passes too often."

112 - London Knights - Daniil Miromanov - Forward
Not your typical import pick, as Miromanov played major midget in Ontario this year (with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens). The 6'2 forward was the 3rd leading scorer on that team. If Nikita Zadorov is returned from Buffalo, it's not likely we'll see Miromanov in a Knights' uniform. But if he sticks, Miromanov will be thrown into the Hunters' blender for 4th line ice time.
Scouting Report: Sean Lafortune says, "A cerebral offensive presence for one of the top Midget programs in Ontario. Playing his first season in Ontario after moving from his native Russia for a higher level of competition. Displays good athleticism, nifty stickhandler able to make quick, skilled plays in traffic. Protects the puck, exploiting a tall, lanky frame. Best weapon is a crisp wristshot and snapshot that he can unload in top gear. Textbook smart, yet prone to lapses in decision making. Can be Jekyll and hide at times, dominating one shift and reluctant to compete the next. Must continue to upgrade his battle intensity and overall focus. Projects as a high end offensive forward, one who can play a top six role while adding that rare ability to finish plays. With the Knights loosing Tim Bender and potentially Nikita Zadarov, Miromanov could slip into the Knights bottom 6 forward core and develop into a fairly valuable import, it’s just a matter if he will get that opportunity."

115. Erie Otters - Igor Vladykovsky - Forward
The Otters had an extra Import pick to use because Andre Burakovsky is an NHL first rounder. They used it on Vladykovsky, a '95 born Russian who played in the NAHL last year with Springfield. It's pretty likely he never sees time in an Erie uniform as it seems pretty likely that the Otters will be rolling with Burakovsky and Karlsson this year.
Scouting Report: No joke, I must have talked to a dozen scouts who cover the USHL/NAHL and not a single one had notes on him. If he wasn't listed as playing in the NAHL last year, I would have thought that the Otters had made him up. EDIT, someone knows him! Alessandro Seren Rosso says, "Never been a top player in Russia he tried crossing the pond to improve his stock and get some NA experience. I didn’t see last year, but maybe he had some adaptation problems or something similar because he’s capable to be better than 5 points in a season. He has a decent frame and a good touch, but it’s a long way for him to have a successful pro career, even if he has a good nose for the net."

2014 NHL Entry Draft Results

The results are in! The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is complete. A decent draft for the Ontario Hockey League as 41 players were drafted (4 more than last year). That's nearly 20% of all players drafted.

Below you can find the results for OHL players, as well as my draft ranking before the draft (for comparison's sake).

Some general thoughts on how the draft played out.

- Despite all the claims that this draft was so wide open after the first few picks, things kept pretty predictable. The actual draft really didn't look all that different than many of the mock drafts being produced. Especially from an OHL perspective, there weren't any massive surprises.

- Needless to say, I feel like the St. Louis Blues got a heck of a steal with Fabbri at 21 (and with Barbashev in the 2nd). He's going to make Blues fans happy some day soon and is the perfect player to compliment the skill sets of some of their current young stars.

- There were some pretty big fallers of some of the guys I had ranked in the mid rounds, including Spencer Watson, Jacob Middleton, and Matt Mistele. All three were guys ranked much higher at the beginning of the season and didn't have their best years.

- The overage round-up took a bit of a step back this year. Only 2 OHL "overage"/"re-entry" players were taken this time around; Hunter Smith and Jake Marchment. 

- Even with his incredibly poor season, I'm quite surprised that no one took a flyer on Blake Clarke in the 7th. In one season he went from talked about top 10 pick to not being drafted at all. Pretty remarkable. Thing is, this year he battled some injuries, confidence issues and a change of scenery. But what will next year hold? What if he learns to play in traffic again? What if he regains his scorers touch? If Clarke bounces back next year we'll definitely be looking at a guy who could get the Tanner Pearson treatment (a first round pick). And any team in the league could have thrown a 7th at him. Maybe a team will be smart, invite him to rookie camp/training camp, and then sign him (as has been done in the past with guys like Sergei Tolchinsky, Evan McEneny, Kurtis Macdermid, etc).

	My Rank	Player Name	PO	OHL Team	NHL Team	RD	Pick
	1	Aaron Ekblad	D	Barrie	FLA	1	1
	2	Sam Bennett	F	Kingston	CGY	1	4
	3	Robby Fabbri	F	Guelph	STL	1	21
	4	Nick Ritchie	F	Peterborough	ANA	1	10
	5	Michael Dal Colle	F	Oshawa	NYI	1	5
	6	Brendan Perlini	F	Niagara	ARZ	1	12
	7	Jared McCann	F	SSM	VAN	1	24
	8	Josh Ho-Sang	F	Windsor	NYI	1	28
	9	Alex Nedeljkovic	G	Plymouth	CAR	2	37
	10	Nikolay Goldobin	F	Sarnia	SJS	1	27
	11	Roland McKeown	D	Kingston	LAK	2	50
	12	Ryan MacInnis	F	Kitchener	ARZ	2	43
	13	Brendan Lemieux	F	Barrie	BUF	2	31
	14	Eric Cornel	F	Peterborough	BUF	2	44
	15	Anthony DeAngelo	D	Sarnia	TBL	1	19
	16	Alex Peters	D	Plymouth	DAL	3	75
	17	Michael Bunting	F	SSM	ARZ	4	117
	18	Blake Siebenaler	D	Niagara	CBJ	3	77
	19	Nick Magyar	F	Kitchener	COL	4	93
	20	Spencer Watson	F	Kingston	LAK	7	209
	21	Matt Mistele	F	Plymouth	LAK	6	180
	22	Aaron Haydon	D	Niagara	DAL	5	154
	23	Jacob Middleton	D	Ottawa	LAK	7	210
	24	Connor Chatham	F	Plymouth	NJD	3	71
	25	Brent Moran	G	Niagara	DAL	4	115
	26	Dylan Sadowy	F	Saginaw	SJS	3	81
	27	Ryan Foss	F	Windsor
	28	Darby Llewellyn	F	Kitchener
	29	Mike Amadio	F	North Bay	LAK	3	90
	30	Kyle Jenkins	D	SSM	CAR	7	187
	31	Blake Clarke	F	Saginaw
	32	Jaden Lindo	F	Owen Sound	PIT	6	173
	33	Christian Dvorak	F	London	ARZ	2	58
	34	Kyle Wood	D	North Bay	COL	3	84
	35	Zach Bratina	F	North Bay
	36	Alex Mikulovich	D	Niagara
	37	Cristiano DiGiacinto	F	Windsor	TBL	6	170
	38	Matthew Mancina	G	Guelph
	39	Alex Lintuniemi	D	Ottawa	LAK	2	60
	40	Stefan Leblanc	D	Mississauga
	41	Brandon Halverson	G	SSM	NYR	2	59
	42	Andrew Mangiapane	F	Barrie
	43	Brandon Prophet	D	Saginaw
	44	Kevin Lebanc	F	Barrie	SJS	6	171
	45	Kevin Spinozzi	D	SSM
	46	Damir Sharipzyanov	D	Owen Sound
	47	Ryan Verbeek	F	Kingston
	48	Yannick Rathjeb	D	Plymouth
	49	Hayden Hodgson	F	Sarnia
	50	Phil Baltisberger	D	Guelph
	1	Hunter Smith	F	Oshawa	CGY	2	54
	2	Hunter Garlent	F	Peterborough
	3	Stephen Harper	F	Belleville
	4	Max Iafrate	D	Kitchener
	5	Marcus McIvor	D	North Bay
	6	Anthony DiFruscia	F	Niagara
	7	Brendan Bell	F	Ottawa
	8	Erik Bradford	F	Ottawa
	9	Josh Sterk	F	Oshawa
	10	Brenden Miller	D	North Bay
	N/A	Josh Wesley	D	Plymouth	CAR	4	96
	N/A	Kyle Pettit	F	Erie	VAN	6	156
	N/A	Jake Marchment	F	Belleville	LAK	6	157
	N/A	Chandler Yakimowicz	F	London	STL	7	172
	N/A	Patrick Sanvido	D	Windsor	DAL	7	195

2014 NHL Entry Draft Primer

With the 2014 NHL Entry Draft days away, here is everything you need to know about the OHL's available players.

MY Rankings:

Honorable Mentions
50-31
30-11
10-1

Media/Scout Poll

Top Draft Re-Entries (second and third year eligible)

Players Not Signed and Going Back in the Draft



Best of luck to all of the OHL players up for this year's draft!

Final Media/Scout Top 10 for 2014

The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is fast approaching (a few weeks away), so it's time to complete the media/scout list for 2014.

Here are the previous editions:

Preliminary List (from December)

Midseason List (from March)

As always, this list involves contributions from a rather colourful cast of characters. Contributing their rankings and thoughts to this final list for 2014 were:

Ross MacLean - Head scout for ISS Hockey (@rossmaclean)
Corey Pronman - ESPN writer(@coreypronman)
Dominic Tiano - Writer for The OHL Writers (@dominictiano)
Sean LaFortune - Scout for McKeen's Hockey/Director of TheScout.ca (@SeanLafortune)
Nathan Fournier - Author of The World of Junior Hockey/Contributor to The Hockey News (@jrhockeywriter)
Dan Stewart - Director of Scouting for Future Considerations (@StewartFC)
Mark Seidel - Scouting Director for NACS Hockey (@MarkSeidel)
Steve Clark - Play by Play Announcer for the Niagara IceDogs (@SteveClarkMedia)
Brendan Ross - Co-Manager of DobberProspects, scout for TheScout.ca (@RossyYoungblood)
Peter Kneulman - Writer for the OHL Writers and In the O Radio (@PeterKneulman)
Carl Maloney - OHL correspondent for TheHockeyWriters (@carlTHW)
Jeff Marek - Host of Hockey Central on Sportsnet (@JeffMarek)
Scott Campbell - Director of The Scouting Report (@TSRhockey)
Ryan Kennedy - Associate senior writer for The Hockey News (@THNRyanKennedy)

and of course...myself (@BrockOtten)

Here's the Top 10 with several honorable mentions:

10. Roland McKeown - Defense - Kingston Frontenacs
Total Votes: 9
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 7th (3x)/Outside the Top 10 (6x)
The Scoop:
"Very solid defender that can create some offense on the PP, who got worn down a bit. I was surprised at how little he was used in U18's. He's learning to keep game simple, but has excellent feet and mobility, and is good at getting his shot through. He also has strong character." - Mark Seidel

"McKeown is a solid two-way defenseman. He won't be a flashy player at the next level but someone you'll be able to count on to make the right plays in difficult situations." - Anonymous

"McKeown is an enigma of sorts. He typifies the "doesn't excel at any one thing but does everything well" player. In my opinion he's underrated in some circles defensively. Offensively, I think many expected more from him but playing on a team that didn't lack offense or need him to be the offensive catalyst he can be, he was able to concentrate more on taking care of his own end." - Anonymous

"McKeown is a bit of a perplexing prospect. Extremely smooth and agile in transition, McKeown looks like he should be a natural high-scoring defenseman. He shows good patience and poise on the powerplay but doesn’t own a great shot. He lacks the physicality in battles that you want from a top defenseman and he is prone to poor decision making at times, making costly misreads. There’s plenty to like about McKeown’s natural abilities but it’s hard to say where scouts stand on his weaknesses – they could be seen as an opportunity for improvement or as a sign to steer away." - Anonymous

"I like him, but he currently lacks an identity as an NHL prospect. He's not aggressive enough offensively to suggest he could be a premier puck mover. And he's not strong enough off the puck to be a primary shutdown defenseman. He's currently caught in the middle. Sometimes that can be a kiss of death for a defensive prospect." - Anonymous

9. Nikolai Goldobin - Forward - Sarnia Sting
Total Votes: 10
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 7th (1x)/Outside the Top 10 (5x)
The Scoop :
"A pure offensive talent, Goldobin has done nothing but put points up since coming to North America. Has had to shoulder most of the offensive burden on a last place Sarnia team, but has done so admirably. An outstanding stickhandler with excellent passing skills and a wicked wrist shot, there isn’t much he can’t doon the offensive side of the puck. On the defensive side he’s a work in progress and will need to improve his play without the puck." - Anonymous

"Goldboin is a creative and entertaining offensive player who you can never count out.  He sees the ice incredibly well and can stickhandle his way out of trouble consistently.  His ability to produce offense all season and star against higher competition, like in the CHL Top Prospect Game, helps him stand out as one of the best creative offensive players in this draft, yet he is still underrated in this regard." - Anonymous

"I remain one of the few it seems willing to stick my head out for Sarnia’s Nikolay Goldobi ranking him quite high. His offensive skill set is rare and few can control the game as well as this slick and creative forward. He can play all three forward positions well and is a lethal target on the powerplay makingopposing defences look silly. He gets criticized for his compete level but it’s more of a reflection of his style and cerebral calculated attacks than his work ethic. Goldobin is actually quite passionate about the game. His offensive skills are elite and the creativity, deception and dangles he mixes in are all ingredients for highlight reel plays. With few elite offensive talents available in the draft, Goldobin is one skater who could become crack that group if he lands in the right system." - Anonymous

"One of the best pure talents in Ontario, let alone of the draft eligible skaters, Nikolay Goldobin has been an interesting player to watch the past two seasons. A silky smooth winger who entered the league via the import draft, Goldobin led the Sarnia Sting offensively last year, playing with a high pace in possession and showing off some of the best in tight puck skills in the OHL. A slick puckhandler who has a high poise and control in possession. Patient in the offensive zone, he waits out plays, drawing in defenders before using his strong vision to find an open man. More of a distributor versus pure finisher, he can finish plays, yet lacks some zip on an average shot. Adding strength and mass, which is a significant development need for him, should aid that aspect of his game. He doesn't always play with equal passion on the defensive side of the puck, presents a ‘laissez-faire’ attitude, doesn't go full out and commit to his defensive assignments. Will also need to show more willingness to play in traffic and take more direct routes to the net, as it will add another dimension to his game. Expected to head back to Sarnia next year, there is every reason to expect Goldobin to be a legitimate top 30 prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft. Like most prospect, he has his issues, however it’s hard to deny the offensive tool set that he possesses." - Sean LaFortune

"The drafts top enigma when it comes to pro projection as this kid is lights out with the puck on his stick and when given space in prime scoring areas. Creative hands, deadly shot, impressive vision and high end instincts highlight this flashy offensive package. Problem is he lacks any type of intensity or drive in all other aspects of the game. Shy from pphysical contact and loses most puck battles along the wall. Could end up the drafts top offensive talent but will need to add a bunch of intensity and strength to play the North American game or he is bound for a career in the KHL." - Dan Stewart

8. Josh Ho-Sang - Forward - Windsor Spitfires
Total Votes: 14
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3rd (1x)/Outside the Top 10 (1x)
The Scoop:
"Based on pure talent alone, he might be the top of my list.  Jaw dropping speed, and surgeon like hands mask a little immaturity.  The reduction of his baffling suspension in the playoffs will help his overall game as well.   Sky is the limit in terms of potential, IF he matures." - Anonymous

"Pretty safe to say that you’re not going to find a more polarizing prospect in the OHL this year. I really admire Ho-Sang’s talent level and I think he did a nice job this year of rising to the occasion and becoming a legitimate impact player; this coming on the heels of what I thought was an underwhelming rookie season. With that being said, I’m not sure Ho-Sang is a guy I’m really targeting too closely as an NHL team. While his skill level is among the best in this draft, his game has some tangible concerns at the OHL level which will only be exacerbated at the next level in my opinion." - Anonymous

"There's no doubt about it, Joshua Ho-Sang is one of the most individually talented players in the Ontario Hockey League, let alone one of the highest skilled players in the draft. Dating back to his days with the Toronto Marlboros with Sam Bennett, Connor McDavid and Jaden Lindo, he's been counted on to be a leader offensively. Last year in Windsor was a bit of a struggle for him (as it is for most 16 year olds), he has the tools, yet he failed to properly use them. He showed off elite offensive ability and an incredible pace in possession, forcing defenders to back off and yield positive ice. However he becomes somewhat predictable and failed to integrate his teammates and use his impressive passing skills, which stymied a lot of the offensive that he brought to the table. While that sill can be the case this year, he’s certainly grown, showing more poise, control and vision then we have seen at any point in his career. He’s maturing on the ice, using his tools more cerebrally, breaking down plays and making smarter decision in possession. In the past he would draw players in and attempt to walk around them with his elite one on one moves, now he makes a quick decision to fire off a laser tape to tape pass to an open man. He opens ice for teammates due to his possession skills. He still has moments that makes you scratch your head, sometimes falling back into the 'I can do it myself' attitude, however the growth and maturing that his game has shown this year make you wonder just how good he can become. He’s risky, he's got some boom/bust elements to his game, yet in a draft that has so many questions on skaters to begin with, it makes a lot of sense to simply target the most skilled skater in the draft and mold him within your organization once you have him, that’s what strong development teams do, (see Detroit) draft skill and develop internally." - Sean LaFortune

"Considered too selfish a player by some Ho-Sang’s skill is at the upper tier.  Anyone who watches Ho-Sang goes away shaking their head at the unbelievable skills in his arsenal.  Needs to learn how to play more of a team game and not just rely on his solo talents." - Anonymous

7. Jared McCann - Forward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Total Votes: 14
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 4th (1x)/Outside the Top 10 (1x)
The Scoop :
"McCann started the season as one of the more highly touted prospects and despite posting mediocre numbers this season, the young pivot’s high character and two-way competitiveness leaves him high on many teams’ draft boards. He’s got room to grow offensively and as he gains more confidence, I think he will really begin to soar. He’d make a great selection any time after the top 10." - Anonymous

"McCann is easily in the mix as the top two way player available. He's an excellent skater with excellent top end speed. He has the hockey IQ in flashes but rather inconsistent in my opinion. He reads plays well and has a knack for getting into position where he can use his deadly shot. There's some potential there to be a decent second liner in the NHL at best. At worst he's a third liner who could chip in some offense." - Anonymous

"The smart, hardworking and well balanced two-way pivot has impressed in most of my viewings this season, but one really weak effort sticks out to me this season. In that viewing he looked tired, defeated and even disinterested, playing nowhere near the game he can. Overall though he has the skills to make an impact at both ends of the ice and contributes to a team game, his last few regular season games showed that he again wears down late in the season which reflects some physical conditioning or durability questions." - Dan Stewart

"Does EVERYTHING well, excellent faceoff man, plays all 200 feet, quick & accurate shot, makes good offensive decisions, always on the right side of the puck, quick feet." - Mark Seidel

"Two things stick out to me when you mention McCann. His shot/release and his defensive ability. While some people seem to think of him as a solid 3rd line prospect, I do believe he has more potential than that because he can flat out score. He'll need to really improve his playmaking ability and decision making skills with the puck off the rush in order to stay down the middle, even if he's a terrific faceoff man." - Anonymous

6. Robby Fabbri - Forward - Guelph Storm
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3rd (1x)/9th (3x)
The Scoop:
"Would skate through a wall if it meant giving his team a better shot at winning. His high intensity level without the puck is contagious and he elevates the level of play of his linemates. Sure he's 5'10, but he plays much bigger and that's what is important. Quite often smaller guys fade down the stretch, but Fabbri saved his best for last, winning the MVP of the OHL playoffs. Outside of size, what separates Fabbri from Sam Bennett? Not really a whole lot." - Anonymous

"I’ve always been a big fan of Fabbri’s and his impressive sophomore season only continued to reinforce that notion. This kid plays the game the right way and while it’s cliché, he’s the type of player you want to have on your team if you plan on building a perennial contender. Has no fear on the ice and plays a high tempo game which you love to see from a player with his talent level. I feel like he’s taken some really nice steps forward in the goal scoring department and he seems to be more confident now to take a shot whereas he may have passed up opportunities earlier in his career. He’s going to need to rein himself in a bit at the next level to remain durable, but I really like how his game projects nonetheless." - Anonymous

"It’s been fun to watch Robby Fabbri grow as a player over the course of the past few years. A graduate of the Mississauga Rebels program and OHL Cup Champion, he’s always been a player whose high end compete level and willingness to do what it takes to win makes him stand out. While we always appreciated that aspect of his game, there have always been concerns about his size and strength, as well as how much growth is in his game long term. Last year with the Storm, he had a successful rookie year, showing good instincts, mobility and offensive tools. This year he’s been, in a word, outstanding. He started the season as the Storm’s third line centre, but to his credit, he continued to outperform older players and by the start of 2014, he was the top centre on the best team in the league. Not bad for a draft eligible skater. By the end of the season, he was the team’s top offensive performer and won the Wayne Gretzky trophy as the league’s top playoff performer. As I've mentioned on twitter for weeks, he's reminding me more and more of a 2010 Jeff Skinner, not necessarily based on his skillset, but more so on his rise and upswing. An agile skater, Fabbri brings high end intelligence and compete level. His offensive toolset have grown significantly this year, now more cool and composed in possession. Despite his smaller frame, he takes direct routes to the net, outworks opposition defenders for loose pucks and offers some of the best intelligence in the draft. While it may is surprising to see him ranked this high, the outstanding second half is hard to ignore. By no means should anyone react to the past 4 weeks and bump him up 5-10 spots, but for those of us who felt he was a top 15-20 skater to start the year, the proof is most definitely there. Will range widely based on multiple factors, but hard to imagine him around in the second half of the 1st round." - Sean LaFortune

"Arguably on of the best offensively talented player available. And already an accomplished two way player who is as adept in his own zone as he is in the o-zone. Of course, the determining factor in where Fabbri will go in the draft will be determined by how teams think he'll impact the NHL game with his size, or lack of. He can dominate an OHL game in so many ways. Can he do it in the NHL? He plays much bigger than his 5'10" frame now, but if he were two, maybe three inches taller, I would put him right up there with Ekblad and Bennett." - Anonymous

5. Brendan Perlini - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 4th (4x)/7th (2x)
The Scoop:
"A fantastic combination of Size, Speed and Shot that exploded in his first full season with the Icedogs. With players who play in the small ice of the Jack I am always worried that statistically they are the product of their surroundings but with Brendan he really did not show any significant aberrations in his home/road splits." - Anonymous

"Perlini’s speed, skating and puck possession game remain attractive skill setsbut his intensity and lack of a physical game have knocked him down the list a bit. His hot start was impressive but it also set some high expectations for Perlini heading towards the draft. When one takes a look at his season as a whole, there’s a lot to be ecstatic about because Perlini elevated his game to new heights and showed everyone his true potential." - Anonymous

"Perlini came out of no where to start the season and everyone jumped on the bandwagon, as we should have. He has a tremendous shot that many NHL'ers wish they had. He's an excellent skater with very good size - although using that size isn't one of his strengths. His defensive game is also underrated. He made major strides on the defensive side of the puck. If there's a drawback with Perlini, it's consistency, specifically his first half of the season over the last half. On a team that gets the most out of its players on a regular basis, Perlini will excel." - Anonymous

"One of the best shooters in this years crop. A great skater. The knock, however, is he looks timid at times and tends to get pushed around." - Anonymous

"The development that Brendan Perlini has shown in the past 14-16 months has been fun to watch. A graduate of the Detroit Belle Tire program, I've always been a big supporter of Perlini, even when he was struggling to find himself with the Barrie Colts. He has always had the tools, but struggled to pull those tools together in limited minutes in Barrie. After a trade deadline move, the IceDogs picked up Perlini and slid him in a spot beside Brett Ritchie and Ryan Strome, and the rest, as they say, is history. Fast forward to the Ivan Hlinka summer camp, and it looked like Perlini was set to take the next step offensively. He was stronger and more confident, he didn’t rush delivery, and he allowed his footwork and long, dynamic skating stride to create space against the best that Canada had to offer. It was a surprise to all of us that he was among the final cuts; however it acted as a jumping off point for his season. He's been an offensive juggernaut for the IceDogs this season, teaming with Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Carter Verhage to lead the IceDogs offensively. Perlini's tool set is what truly inspires, as I think he’s a player who has yet to really touch his long term potential. An agile winger who possesses excellent four way mobility, he can be either a possession player or a finisher, as he possesses soft hands and some deceptive one on one moves. He will never be confused with a pure set up man, however he can surprise with some sublime skill. The two big issues moving forward with Perlini are tied to his consistency and willingness to play a more aggressive, physical brand of hockey. As he physically matures and adds more size and strength to his frame, you hope that he improves that aspect of his game, because he has the physical attributes to be effective down low. He must strive to add more intensity and aggressiveness; it will make him a much more complete player. Looking long term, you don't often see skaters with the tools that he possesses, which is what makes him a potential top 10 selection come June." - Sean LaFortune

4. Nick Ritchie - Forward - Peterborough Petes
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 3rd (1x)/7th (1x)
The Scoop:
"I prefer him to Michael Dal Colle because I think he has a similar level of skill, yet is someone who uses his size significantly more. While his use of the skill does suffer through bouts of inconsistency, I think much of that is tied to conditioning issues. Like his brother Brett, Nick will continue to get better, and Nick is a much more dynamic player. They just don't make them like this anymore." - Anonymous

"Has a chance to be the best forward in the Draft, great pro size, dominant at times, indifferent play at times, strong enough to dominate physically, heavy shot, when motivated is impossible to move off the puck." - Mark Seidel

"This guy really intrigues me as he has the potential to really be a prime time NHLpower forward, with a nasty disposition similar to Milan Lucic, but with better offensive skills. The problem is he also has the real future potential to be a heavy set used car salesman in ten years as well. A true wildcard, boom or bust prospect that some team will need to takke the gamble on early. My inclination is that he will succeed, but more similar to a Chris Stewart type player not a Cam Neely clone at the NHL level." - Dan Stewart

"Top power forward in the entire draft. Perhaps the onlyforward of this years crop who could step into the NHL next season. His combination of size and skill has scouts drooling. Some talk he may sneak into the top 5 of this years NHL draft." - Anonymous

"Personally, I’ve been juggling Ritchie and Dal Colle all season long and each have supplanted the other at one point or another but Ritchie ends up on top heading to the draft. His rare combination of elite size, skating, and shooting abilities gives him the edge, especially when combined with his knack for getting nasty and physical. He can flat out dominate the competition when he’s on his game and the fact that he flourished when the skillful Hunter Garlent came to town goes to show what he can really do when surrounded with some talented teammates. He’s been stuck on a losing franchise for his OHL career and gets criticized for his inconsistency and wavering production but that is to be expected as the atmosphere can suffocate players. Teams have mixed reviews on Nick Ritchie but put me down for one who believes he has the chance to be one of the draft’s best wingers when all is said is done." - Anonymous

"His ability and willingness to drive the net is something all teams covet.  He’s big, he’s strong and he knows how to score.  He’s the type of player that opposing teams need to plan for and that can open up a lot of possibilities for teams with creative playmakers already on their rosters." - Anonymous

3. Michael Dal Colle - Forward - Oshawa Generals
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 2nd (2x)/5th (1x)
The Scoop:
"Dal Colle has all the tools scouts look for in a top prospect. He has good size witha 6’2” frame, is a powerful skater and isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas. Uses his size well to create space for himself as well as his teammates and has excellent puck skills to go with it. Led the Generals in regular season and playoff scoring." - Anonymous

"For years, Michael Dal Colle was the best player in his age group. Skating with the Vaughan Kings, Dal Colle entered his minor midget year as the top prospect in the 96 age group. In his OHL Draft year in Vaughan, he didn't have a significant amount of help around him; he struggled with his consistency and mobility, which is why he fell to 7th overall and the Oshawa Generals. While At the time, it was felt that Dal Colle would need some time to adjust to the pace of the league, he started the season with on the Generals top line with Boone Jenner and Tyler Biggs and never looked back. He was more agile and mobile then in his minor midget season, and was extremely consistent throughout the season. This year, teamed with Scott Laughton, he's been simply outstanding and was a chief reason for the Generals surprising season. A driven winger who operates effectively in traffic, Dal Colle is a pure finisher who possesses an elite shot and poise and control in finishing areas. Is not overly physical, yet doesn't shy away from contact, bouncing off defenders to put himself into prime scoring areas. A winger who projects as a scorer who operates effectively with a pure set up pivot. At this point, Dal Colle is a slam dunk top 6 selection for June's draft."  - Sean LaFortune

"He may not be the second OHL player off the board - that distinction will probably be either EkBlad or Bennett - but he's my personal favorite from the OHL. He's a guy you want to build your forward core around as he plays in all three zones. It doesn't effect his offensive game as he can put the puck in the net with the best of them from the entire draft class." - Anonymous

"Bennett is widely considered the most consistent player available for the draft, but I would respectfully disagree. Consider this: since October 2012, his first full month in the OHL, he has never gone more than two games without registering a point: a span of 110 games. Dal Colle has made strides in his game, including skating, which still needs some work. If you're looking for an offensive threat, Dal Colle is the guy to nab here. He's an underrated playmaker in my opinion but possesses a great shot with an even better release and isn't afraid to be selfish if he feels that's his best option. His defensive game needs some work, but it can be taught. His offensive abilities can't." - Anonymous

"No slight to Michael Dal Colle that he fell a spot in my final rankings because it was a difficult decision deciding between Bennett, Ritchie and this high scoring winger. On a different day, he could’ve ended up on top of the forward group because he was that good. No OHL eligible skater was as consistent and dangerous as Michael Dal Colle was this season topping all players in scoring. He’s a lethal shooter yet his playmaking abilities are still somewhat understated by the general population. Few players can operate a power play like Dal Colle can as he has a knack for reading plays unfold ahead of the competition. He’s a slick and dangerous passer and his ability towork the cycle game is imposing. As Dal Colle fills out his slender frame, his game should really benefit and he could use that added size to dominate the opposition, an area that he lacks in currently. Dal Colle’s upside is scary good and with room to improve physically and defensively, he’s a prospect worthy of a high investment." - Anonymous

2. Sam Bennett - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 1st (1x)/3rd (2x)
The Scoop:
"Big deal, so he can't do a chin up or pull up, or whatever the heck it was.  What he can do is skate extremely well, has an edge and can distribute and finish.  Does he need to get a little stronger?  Sure, just like 90% of the draft class.  Paging Mr. Gary Roberts, you have a client on Line 1." - Anonymous

"Really tough decision between Bennett and Dal Colle here but the Kingston centre’s versatility and two-way play is the trump card for me. Bennett projects to be a very effective top line centre in the mold of a Jonathan Toews, which is music to any GM’s ear. The big question looming over Bennett’s ability to produce in the NHL right away will be his strength. If a team can afford to be patient with him, another year in the OHL might not be the worst thing in order to ensure he’s completely ready to make the jump in 2015-16 with another year of physical maturation under his belt." - Anonymous

"A smart, competitive pivot who impacts the game in multiple ways. His rise from the 9th Overall pick in the 2012 OHL Draft to the top prospect available has been a memorable one, given that at the time there were multiple players rated ahead of him. Once in Kingston, he was given all the opportunities to grab the top centre position and did so, forming instant chemistry with Spencer Watson and Henri Ikonan. As the months moved on, Bennett got better and better, becoming the Frontenacs top offensive option at just 16. Today, Bennett is one of the top offensive players in Ontario, blending sublime skill and a high competitive nature. A possession player who operates effectively in traffic, he flashes elite in close puck skills and one on one elusiveness. He takes direct routes to the net, drawing in opposition defenders before firing off a soft pass to a teammate or snapping off a sharp wrist shot. While he needs to continue to get stronger and add more mass to his frame, he has the ability to be an offensive leader and future captain at the next level." - Sean LaFortune

"Plays  harder than just about anyone in the league. Work ethic matched with a high skill set and great skating." - Anonymous

"Bennett joins a trio of forwards that are tightly packed, in my opinion, with wingers Nick Ritchie and Michael Dal Colle. An argument can be made for anyof the three in any order but Sam Bennett’s centre position, consistency, impact two-way game and admirable competitiveness gives him the edge. Already loaded with tons of character and intangibles, Bennett’s skill game is among tops in most categories as the kid can skate, handle the puck and shoot with any of his draft peers. Mix in a little fire and passion and Bennett’s in the running for first overall. He hasn’t matured physically so the fact that he’s already at such a high level and still has heaps of room to develop further, makes him an attractive commodity." - Anonymous
 
1. Aaron Ekblad - Defense - Barrie Colts
Total Votes: 15
Highest Placement/Lowest Placement: 1st (14x)/2nd (1x)
The Scoop:
"You just don’t see defensemen with his level of capability that often.  He’s got similar long term appeal as a player like Shea Weber and is already mature enough to step right in and contribute.  He has continued to get better and better and there is no reason to think that will stop any time soon." - Anonymous

"We all know what this mature defenseman brings to the ice in terms of his defensive and offensive ability from the blue line. Okay, now let’s run through the list of other aspects that just cement him atop the 2014 NHL Draft list in my eyes. Is he a coveted defensive right-handed shot? Check. Does he have imposing NHL size? Check. Ishe willing to play it physical? Check. Does he show real leadership qualities? Check. Doeshe show the desire to continue to improve? Check. Can he step into the NHL and make a real impact next season? Check. This complete package is the odds on favorite to eventually become the best NHL product in mmy eyes." - Dan Stewart

"The second ‘exceptional status’ skater in Ontario, following in the footsteps of New York Islanders captain John Tavares. In his third season in the Ontario Hockey League, Ekbald continues to show the tools, and more importantly, the progression that makes him one of the top prospects available for the 2014 NHL Draft. A mean, suffocating defender who thrives when down low, Ekbald has always had the pedigree of a defender who can play significant minutes while limiting chances, but the concerns have always been centered around his mobility and offensive upside. While I still have concerns about his mobility, his pivots and footwork when the play goes down low along the boards and quick transitions need work, his offensive game has taken the next step. More of a leader from the blueline on the powerplay, he has shown more poise and control. He now waits that extra second for plays to develop, no longer rushing delivery and firing the puck into a lane filled with defenders. The long term offensive upside is still in question, as he will be a defence first defender at the next level; however the total package is what intrigues. Despite my ranking of him (2nd), I wouldn't be surprised to see him selected first by the Florida Panthers, assuming that they still own the first overall selection in a few weeks." - Sean LaFortune

"Franchise defender, exceptional hockey IQ, smart decisions, tremendous frame built for a long playoff run, passes like a pro, pigeon-toed, exceptional character." - Anonymous

"He’s the most NHL ready prospect heading into the draft and his personal accomplishments are a mile long capped off by winning the OHL Defensemanof the Year award. Ekblad has exceeded lofty expectations set for him as an exceptional defenseman and only continues to show improvements in all areas. His skating is perhaps his only weakness and it’s improved to acceptable standards for a top draft pick. With few impact defenseman appearing at the top of the draft board, look for Ekblad to be an extremely coveted prospect. He’s the best at his position by a long shot." - Anonymous

Others Receiving Consideration (Honorable Mentions):

Ryan MacInnis - Forward - Kitchener Rangers (4 votes)
Highest Placement: 9th (1x)
Comments:
"Ryan MacInnis is one of the most interesting skaters in the NHL Draft, at least from an Ontario perspective. A raw tools skater who just completed his first season in with the Rangers, MacInnis has always been a player who is less about what he is now and more so about the player that he may one day become. The definition of a projectable player with the size, offensive instincts and developing two way game that NHL scouts drool over, MacInnis had an up and down season, starting out strong before fading down the stretch, which isn't uncommon for players playing their first full time season in the OHL. Possesses quick hands and surprisingly good in close puck skills, his top offensive weapon is an elite snap shot, one that rockets off his stick thanks to a quick, deceptive release. He shows good poise and control in high percentage scoring areas, waits out goalies and finds ways to get the puck on net. Could be more aggressive and physical, play a more assertive style of game, as he can be passive when the opportunity presents itself to make a true physical impact. That should come as his strength fills in. Skating is the biggest issue at this point, as his startups are somewhat slushy and he fails to generate significant separation speed from a gangly stride. Adding more strength, length and frequency will be a difference maker for him. I’m not sure if he ever will be a high end skater, but there are some areas for improvement. The biggest question for MacInnis heading into the draft is how much stock does an NHL team put on his potential? Do they view him as a true top end offensive player? What type of development do they see from him? As is the case with many long term projects, opinions vary, however it’s not out of the question that you should see him drafted in the 1st round of the 2014 NHL Draft." - Sean LaFortune

"No denying the offensive talents of MacInnis but needs to work on skating, specifically his first couple of strides. Does have big upside if he can put it all together in Kitchener next season." - Anonymous

"Great proto-typical lanky centreman, very smart, high hockey IQ, still growing into his body, legs look weak at this point, never going to dominate offensively, will fill out at 210 lbs., makes surprisingly skilled passes." - Mark Seidel

Anthony DeAngelo - Defense - Sarnia Sting (3 votes)
Highest Placement: 7th (1x)
Comments:
"Basing this on talent alone.  He will need strong handling to mask those character flaws that he has and his tendancy to forget the defensive zone.  That said, on Sarnia everyone was forgetting the defensive zone.  Reigned in his talent level is off the charts.  However, if the character flaws continue, he will be a headache for the team on and off the ice.  Is he worth the risk?  Yes!" - Anonymous

"There is no question whatsoever that DeAngelo's talent would put him in the top ten, even top 5. But two incidents have derailed DeAngelo and the question is: Do NHL teams think they can work to resolve any "character issues" and at what point do you take a gamble on him? The DeAngelo watch could possibly turn out to be the most interesting event on draft weekend in Philadelphia." - Anonymous

"As many of my industry counterparts put it this guy is just a bad teammate. Becaause of his intensity, emotion or just flat out hate for loosing, whatever the case he plays selfish and goes through spurts where he plays way to individualistic to succeed at the AHL level let alone the NHL level. The flip side of the package is when he plays a team game, as he did through parts of this past season before the consistent losing got the best of his attitude, he is an elite offensive, puck rushing threat form the backend who skates better than ninety percent of current NHLers could ever hope to. His lack of maturity might railroad his hockey career or he might top out as a bottom pairing, power play specialist at the NHL level similar to an Ian White type but also has Erik Karlsson type offensive potential. Wide open potential." - Dan Stewart

Alex Nedeljkovic - Goaltender - Plymouth Whalers (3 votes)
Highest Placement: 8th (1x)
Comments:
"He's not 6'4 like NHL scouts seem want goaltenders to be now, but he has everything else you'd look for. He's extremely athletic and reads the play well to make up for his lack of height. Because he's so athletic, he could stand to challenge shooters even more and rely on his agility to recover (like a Jonathan Quick). Biggest asset is his mental make-up. few players (skaters or goalies) had as decorated of a year as Nedeljkovic. A top performer at the Ivan Hlinka. OHL goaltender of the Year. U18 Gold medal. Not too shabby. I could see him falling a bit on draft day, but that doesn't change the fact that he could end up being the best goalie to come out of this draft class." - Anonymous

"A smaller goaltender, but a goaltender who competes. That's what teams are looking for in a goaltender. He saw a lot of shots this year on a rebuilding Whalers team. I think his performance at the World Under-18 left a good note with scouts heading into the draft." - Anonymous

"Far and away the top goalie from the O. Carried one of the weaker Plymouth teams in recent memory. While he may not have the size that some covet in a goalie he has elite athleticism and reflexes." - Anonymous

Brendan Lemieux - Forward - Barrie Colts (2 votes)
Highest Placement: 9th (1x)
Comments:
"Pain the ass for both teams, plays balls out, more skill than most think, strong, physical machine, choppy feet, goes to EVERY dirty area, is a winner." - Mark Seidel

"Lemieux is that 3rd line agitator like Brad Marchand, Matt Cooke (when he's not being villified), Steve Ott and yes, good old dad.   The 26 goals were probably a bit of a surprise .  Talent and NHL bloodlines make Lemieux a good potential prospect." - Anonymous

Eric Cornel - Forward - Peterborough Petes (1 vote)
Highest Placement: 7th (1x)
Comments:
"I’ve always been a big Cornel guy despite the fact that he really went through some tough times coming into the league as the 3rd pick from the 2012 Priority Selection. I really liked what he showed this year and felt that he’s starting to scratch the surface of what he can become. Cornel has a really good mind for the game and what he might lack in dynamic talent, he makes up for with great positioning and awareness for the game. I like his versatility at the next level to play with an array of linemates and make them better and I firmly believe that the best is yet to come from Cornel. He’s the most “long-term guy” I have on my list thus far but I think the patience will pay off with him." - Anonymous

Michael Bunting - Forward - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1 vote)
Highest Placement: 10th (1x)
Comments:
"This may be higher than most have him but I am a big big fan of his. After being drafted after his only season of AAA midget hockey all he did was score. From a hat trick in the Hounds rookie camp scrimage to every game at the Hounds main training camp. Michael carried that hot play into the season as his game continued to grow and grow. When I watch him I see a player who is very smart and knows how to get in position in front of the net and put him self in a position of leverage against the opposing defender. Missed 2 months of the season due to an MCL injury but came back and lead the Greyhounds in goals during the playoffs. I look at his growth curve and just feel that he has more upward trajectory than others and is a player who could really develop into something special." - Anonymous

Thanks so much to all of my contributors, not just for this article, but for the entire season. Couldn't put these awesome pieces together without you.

If you're hungry for even more information on the draft, PLEASE be sure to pick up the draft guides of McKeen's, ISS, and Future Considerations. Visit their websites for information on how to do that.