As Fowler began to slip down to the three hole, Kingston’s Erik Gudbranson began to serve notice of his arrival after some strong play in the first half of the season. A bout with mono and a knee injury limited the Orleans native to only 41 games, but his amazing potential was enough to cement his status in most people’s Top 5′s. After some strong play down the stretch, and then captaining Canada at the Under 18′s, it has led many to believe that Gudbranson could even surpass Fowler as the highest defenseman taken this year. And while the OHL’s dominance over the first few picks this year looks to be a formality, let’s not forget about Moncton’s Brandon Gormley, Prince George’s Brett Connolly or European forwards like Mikael Granlund and Vladimir Tarasenko, who will all be vying to fall into the hands of the New York Islanders, who possess the 5th Overall Pick.

Either way, here’s a look at how I feel the Top 5 of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft will turn out come June 25th.

1. Edmonton Oilers: LW Taylor Hall (Windsor Spitfires OHL)

Nov 14/91 | 6.00 | 180lbs | 57GP 40G 66A 106P

Like many, I feel that the race between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin is negligible and that Seguin could actually turn out to be the better player when it’s all said and done. With that being said, I have little doubt that Taylor Hall will be wearing an Edmonton Oilers jersey next season. Edmonton already has some strong components in place down the middle with players like Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Gilbert Brule, so adding a dynamic winger like Hall to a cast that already includes Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Jordan Eberle would really do a lot to give the Oilers two very potent young scoring lines for a long time.

Hall still has a lot to learn about playing a complete game, but there is no question that he has high end speed and is a player who has the ability to make a dynamic play out of nothing. He’ll have a lot of expectations from an Oilers fan-base looking for an identity to a rebuilding team, but he should turn out to be the player that the franchise is looking for with the top pick in the draft.

2. Boston Bruins: RC Tyler Seguin (Plymouth Whalers OHL)

Jan 31/92 | 6.01 | 186lbs | 63GP 48G 58A 106P

Little surprise that the Bruins will pick up Seguin, who is almost interchangeable with Hall at this point. While the addition of an offensive center like him does little to fill the team’s needs, the Bruins would be making a terrible mistake at this point if they passed him up in order to select one of the elite defensemen in the draft. Seguin is a tremendous offensive talent who is exceptional in the offensive zone. He has great mobility and his vision and offensive skills will allow him to be a very good point producer at the next level.

Like Hall, there are still concerns about his defensive game, as he is often passive in his own end and at times dis-interested, but those are concerns that will be addressed quickly with NHL coaching. On the contrary from Hall, however, it will be interesting to see if Seguin cracks the Bruins or returns back to junior for another season. With Marc Savard, David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron already on the roster, GM Peter Chiarelli will have to look seriously at moving one of his centers or potentially starting Seguin off on the wing instead. While he is adept at playing right wing, I don’t think Boston would be hurting themselves if Seguin was sent back for one more season if there isn’t a great opportunity for playing time with the Bruins.

3. Florida Panthers: LD Cam Fowler (Windsor Spitfires OHL)

Dec 6/91 | 6.02 | 190lbs | 55GP 8G 47A 55P

Personally, I would be taking Erik Gudbranson with this pick, but I would be relatively surprised if the Panthers elect to pass on Windsor defenseman Cam Fowler at the three spot. Coming into the season I had really high hopes for Fowler, and was in the club that felt he could be a real threat to Taylor Hall’s throne at the top of the class, but he’s been a pretty big disappointment for me this year. On the surface, Fowler is a big body with great mobility and the ability to move the puck up the ice with the best of them. If you catch him in the right game, you might even think that this kid is about as good as they come.

Watching him often throughout the season, however, has led to a lot of concerns with his game. For a big player, Fowler’s physical game is essentially non-existent. His shot is very average for an offensive defenseman, and he fails to utilize it when he has opportunities as well. While his play in the World Juniors was starting to alleviate a lot of my concerns in his game, his play down the stretch in the OHL has really led to a lot of concerns about his ability to be an elite defenseman at the NHL level. I would be surprised if he cracks the NHL next year, as I think he could definitely benefit from a second season in the OHL, but we’ll see how Florida elects to handle him if he is in fact their pick. I’m not sure about others, but he really reminds me a lot of a player in the mold of Jay Bouwmeester.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets: RD Erik Gudbranson (Kingston Frontenacs OHL)

Jan 7/92 | 6.03 | 195lbs | 41GP 2G 21A 23P

This is a guy who I have stated since the beginning of last year, could be a player that ends up being the best NHL pro from this draft. There’s no doubt that his mono and knee injury set him back this year, but still, he managed to work his way up the rankings and into the Top 5 of most draft boards. I would think that Scott Howson would be ecstatic to pick up a player like Gudbranson at #4, someone who oozes potential and could be the defensive pillar of the future that Columbus has sorrowfully lacked thus far.

Make no mistake that Gudbranson is still raw, and definitely needs at least another year in junior, but if the Blue Jackets can be patient with him, the reward could be huge. He’s a big defenseman with great range and is extremely mobile. He sees the ice well and has a great shot with a lot of untapped offensive potential. Add in the fact that he’s got a nasty edge to his game while being a humble, respected person off the ice, and there’s a recipe for a very good NHL defenseman. Gudbranson will need to continue to refine his game over the next couple of seasons, but a lot of scouts feel that he might have the highest ceiling out of any player available in the draft.

5. New York Islanders: LD Brandon Gormley (Moncton Wildcats QMJHL)

Feb 18/92 | 6.01 | 175lbs | 58GP 9G 34A 43P

Yikes! A QMJHL defenseman going in the Top 5 of the NHL Entry Draft? While there may be some consideration for a winger like Brett Connolly at number five, I really feel like the Islanders would be making a major mistake in passing on a defenseman like Gormley. After being the first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft two seasons ago, Gormley has quickly established himself as a blue-chip NHL prospect.

The main knock against Gormley is that he lacks one real defining skill and doesn’t really scream elite defenseman, but this shouldn’t be a huge concern. He’s a very good skater with great mobility and a good head for the game. Gormley does a good job of advancing the transition game and he’s more than capable on the powerplay as well. He might not be physically dominating, but he’s equally adept on the penalty kill as well as even strength defensive zone coverage. The addition of Gormley to the Islanders cupboard of defensive prospects that includes most notably Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic would really help provide a lot of stability to the team’s blue-line moving forward.


With that being said, I really don’t envision to many surprises in the Top 5 of this year’s draft, but there are certainly some players that I alluded to, such as Brett Connolly or Vladimir Tarasenko who could very well work their way into that group. After the headliners of the crop, however, this draft should be extremely interesting as there are a lot of players who’s position could fluctuate greatly come draft day!

For TSR, I’m Scott Campbell.

Related posts

• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (1-30) (10)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (1-25) (5)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Preliminary Top 15 Rankings (16)
• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (31-60) (6)

Related posts

• 2010 OHL Draft: What’s Happening up North? (21)
• USHL Feature: Omaha, Indiana, Waterloo, Green Bay (0)

With such an impressive crop of talent eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, it’s no surprise that some players have continued to sift through the 2009/2010 season under the radar. One such player is Erie Otter’s forward Greg McKegg, who currently sits 16^th in OHL scoring so far this season. Drafted second overall in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection behind Sudbury’s John McFarland, expectations were high for the St. Thomas, Ontario native last season. After posting a pedestrian 8 goals and 18 points in his rookie campaign, McKegg was lost in the shuffle heading into this year, especially given the immense talent of the 1992 birth years in the OHL.

You may recall that I was one of the supporters of McKegg who advocated that this type of season was well within the realm of possibilities back in September: http://www.thescoutingreport.org/tsr-feature-ohl-sleepers-watch/. In hindsight, I guess 20 goals and 60 points might have even been a bit of a low projection, but I still find it a bit interesting that McKegg’s success has gone largely unnoticed. Could it be that he plays in a small OHL market like Erie? Perhaps. Could it be that he doesn’t quite have any real defining quality? Likely.

Despite putting up very impressive numbers this year, McKegg still lacks an element to his game that really jumps out at you, which is probably the main thing that is holding him back from the Top 60 at this point. While he has good size and has filled his frame out well, he doesn’t skate particularly well, which is arguably the biggest detractor for scouts. He does have an effective top speed, and he does a good job of protecting the puck and making moves at that speed, but McKegg does have some troubles getting there. His first few steps still need a lot of work, and his choppy stride is something that isn’t very appealing, either.

The skating is no doubt a concern when projecting his potential at the next level, but McKegg does a lot of other things pretty well, which really need to be considered when evaluating him. He’s a strong puck distributor who has strong vision in the offensive zone. He is particularly effective working on the half-boards and behind the net, which is where he is mainly utilized on Erie’s power play. While McKegg’s offensive skills are by no means amazing, he does have some crafty hands and a quick and accurate shot, which have really helped him elevate his game significantly this year. Another thing that goes unnoticed with McKegg is his ability to play a strong two-way game. He can play either Center or on the wall, and is positionally responsible in the defensive zone.

Essentially what I’m getting at, is that while McKegg might not be in that upper echelon of OHL players, there is a lot of merit behind his season thus far, and he’s getting better every week. McKegg needs to continue to show scouts that his skating is improving and that he’s willing to compete hard every shift, but with this type of consistency, Greg McKegg is definitely a player that should start to peak your interest as he is likely working himself into the back half of the second round.

Related posts

• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (31-60) (6)
• OHL Feature: OHL Sleepers to Watch (1)
• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• Waterloo 2010 NHL Draft Prospects (0)
• USNTDP U-18 2010 Draft Prospects (0)

Nobody was quite sure what to expect out of the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds this season. A year ago, the team struggled through a dismal 42 point season, which put the illustrious OHL team at the bottom of the league’s cellar. Following an off-season of change, and the progression of several core players, the Greyhounds have reinvented themselves this year, and are already closing in on last year’s point totals only 27 games into the 2009/2010 Regular Season.

Currently sitting in fifth place in the OHL’s Western Conference with a 14-11-1-1 record, the Greyhounds were actually one of the bigger stories in junior hockey early this season as they exploded out of the gates with seven consecutive wins. After battling through some small losing streaks, the team has rebounded well in the last couple of weeks, and are currently riding a four game win streak, including most recently, a 3-2 overtime win on the road in Sudbury last Tuesday.

Looking at the Greyhounds roster, it’s clear to see that a lot of their success is being catalyzed from their star goaltender, Robin Lehner (1991). The 18 year old Swede was a 2^nd round pick of the Ottawa Senators in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, and was picked up by the Greyhounds with the 9^th pick in this past summer’s CHL Import Draft. Lehner has been one of the top goaltenders in the OHL this season, and has the sixth best GAA and third best SV% in the OHL thus far. Lehner has terrific size at 6’4”, 224lbs, and takes up a lot of net when he’s in his butterfly. He’s a bit unorthodox, but when he’s hot, he can be extremely hard to score on. His rebound control will need some work, but he moves very well laterally for a big goalie, and has terrific recovery, which are all good signs for a young goalie.

Robin Lehner (Guelph Mercury)

Greyhounds backup Bryce O’Hagan (1991L) will also be getting a lot of attention this season, as it is expected that he will hear his name called at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He’s a big goalie with a lot of raw ability, but his mental game hasn’t quite come around yet. O’Hagan will likely be a mid to late round pick based off his potential, but his game needs a lot of refinement over the next few seasons.

The other forte of the team is on the backend. Overage captain Jake Muzzin (1989) has been a force on the blue-line this season after being unsigned by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s taken some major steps forward offensively, and is a controlling force at both ends of the ice. Muzzin currently leads the team in scoring with 6 goals and 27 points in 24 games. Fellow overager Michael Quesnele (1989) has also been a very reliable defenseman for the team, using his vision and puck moving skills to help run the team’s powerplay. Quesnele has been a major factor offensively as well, currently sitting third in team scoring with 6 goals and 23 points in 27 games.

Draft eligibles Blake Beukeboom (1992) and Brandon Archibald (1992) will garner a lot of attention from NHL scouts this season, and rightfully so. Beukeboom (25GP 2-10-12 +5), the son of former NHL defenseman Jeff Beukeboom, has taken some major steps forward this season. He’s a smooth skating defenseman who makes smart decisions at both ends of the ice, keeping things simple. He isn’t overly physical, but he’s strong positionally. He also has some untapped offensive potential that could develop later on. He’s likely projecting as a late second rounder or early third round pick at this point, and should be a lock for the top four rounds at this rate. Archibald (27GP 0-12-12 -6) is more of a shut-down defenseman who logs a lot of ice-time against the other team’s top offensive unit. He skates very well for his size and is very effective with his long reach and ability to compete hard in the corners. Lacking natural offensive instincts, Archibald’s ceiling will be somewhat limited, but he should be selected around the third or fourth round.

Brock Beukeboom (The Hockey News)

Up front, the Greyhounds have been an offense by committee team with several players making contributions offensively. Vern Cooper (1990) is the team’s top scoring forward (27GP 10-15-25 E), with Soo native Brett Thompson (1991) right behind him (27GP 14-7-21 +1). St. Louis prospect James Livingston (1990) (22GP 10-8-18 +8) has been more consistent in his fourth season in the league, which should help him get a professional contract next year. Despite having a lot of raw ability, Livingston’s offensive production has never come around to where many felt he should be. He does have a lot of power forward qualities that should help him play any type of role at the next level, however. Meanwhile, LA Kings prospect Jordan Nolan (1989) has been a force since returning from suspension (10GP 5-7-12 -5). While the numbers are impressive, it should be noted that Nolan is an overager, and these numbers are expected from him. His skating will likely hold him back at the next level, but he should get a shot with Manchester next year.

Finally, the player that everyone wants to hear about is the first pick from the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, Daniel Catenacci (1993).  The 16 year old forward has had a bit of a rough transition to the OHL, as his numbers are probably below a lot of people’s expectations at this point (27GP 3-8-11 -6). Catenacci is a very good skater and has a lot of lower body strength for only being 5’10”, 180lbs. He competes very hard and doesn’t back down in the corners and actually is willing to lay the body when he has the opportunity. Offensively, he has a lot of raw skill, but it hasn’t quite translated to the OHL level, and it might not to the extent that some people expect. He’s definitely more of a playmaker, but he lacks the natural creativity of high end players which limits what he can do. Next season will go a long way towards indicating where Catenacci might go in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but at this point he could be anywhere from the late first to the middle rounds.

Daniel Catenacci (North Bay Nugget)

The Greyhounds also have a pair of other 16 year old forwards who have seen quite a bit of ice-time this season. Most notably, Nick Cousins (1993), the 21^st overall pick in last summer’s OHL Priority Selection, has been one of the more effective 1993 forwards in the OHL this season (27GP 5-9-14 -4). While his skating needs some work, he’s a very crafty offensive player and is a threat to create a good scoring chance when he’s on the ice. While his skating and small size (5’9”, 155lbs) could hamper the perceptions that NHL scouts have of him, he has all the makings of being a terrific junior scorer when he matures over the next couple of years. Lastly, Trevor Morbeck (1993L) (21GP 2-2-4 -2) has bounced in and out of the lineup, but doesn’t look out of place on the ice. He has good size (6’1”, 180lbs) and isn’t afraid to drive the net. He’ll be given a greater role with the team next season, and it will be interesting to see how he takes the increased ice-time as a sophomore.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images. Special thanks to Blitzen Photography.

Related posts

• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (51-75) (1)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (31-60) (6)
• OHL Feature: OHL Sleepers to Watch (1)
• Mid-Season 2011 OHL Top 15 (4)

SUDBURY WOLVES

| #3 RD Justin Sefton | 1993 | 6’3” | 199lbs | 24GP 0G 3A 3P -11 32PIM |

It’s been a bit of a struggle offensively for the 16 year old Thunder Bay native this season, but he is quickly establishing himself as a quality OHL defender. Sefton has a tremendous amount of size and strength, and plays a very physical game. He competes hard in the corners and makes life miserable for opposing forwards, which is a major asset to his game. His skating is pretty good, but will need continued work moving forward. He’s probably projecting as a late first rounder in 2011 at this point, but it will be interesting to see if his offensive game comes around a bit before then.

| #18 LW (RS) John McFarland | 1992 | 6’1” | 195lbs | 21GP 8G 12A 20P -12 26PIM |

McFarland came into the season with pretty hefty expectations, and it’s safe to say that he’s had some trouble living up to them thus far. While his offensive game is starting to make some advances, and he is utilizing his incredible speed more frequently, he still has a couple of big issues which are plaguing his game. He lacks the natural creativity of high end offensive players, and his defensive game and positional play still leave a lot to be desired. McFarland will still be a sure-fire first rounder in 2010, but he’s in danger of falling out of the Top 10 right now.

| #22 RD Frankie Corrado | 1993 | 6’0” | 174lbs | 24GP 0G 1A 1P -6 24PIM |

The Wolves other 16 year old defenseman has also struggled a bit to produce offensively this season, but there is some decent upside with Corrado. While working on his strength will be one of the biggest issues for Corrado moving forward, he has a lot of raw ability that will build some hype around his name. He’s a very good skater and has a variety of shifty moves he can use to elude any fore-checkers. He moves the puck well and has some good offensive instincts, and he will be given a much bigger opportunity to showcase those skills next season with an increased role.

| #29 G Alain Valiquette | 1990L | 6’3” | 186lbs | 5-8-0-1 3.24GAA .917SV% 3SO |

There was some talk that Valiquette could be a late round pick last season, and even got some interest on NHLCS’s draft list, but at the end of the day, the Sudbury native did not hear his name called in Ottawa. This season has been much different for the 18 year old, as Valiquette has really elevated his game to the next level. He’s seeing the puck a lot better this season, and he’s really worked on his strength and lateral movement which have been the main catalyst behind his greatly improved numbers. His glove still needs a bit of work, as does his rebound control, but he has the ability to make highlight reel saves with his athleticism. He’ll need to maintain some consistency throughout the season to make the draft radar, but his hot start to the season should warrant some consideration.

SAGINAW SPIRIT

| #21 RD Ryan O’Connor | 1992 | 5’8” | 175lbs | 24GP 3G 11A 14P +9 21PIM |

One of the centerpieces of the Nick Crawford/TJ Brodie blockbuster trade, O’Connor’s transition to Saginaw has not been smooth thus far. O’Connor has drawn some comparisons to Ryan Ellis, due to being undersized and playing a similar game, but the reality is that O’Connor is not even a lock to be drafted at this point. He doesn’t skate very well for his size, and his defensive play needs some work as he struggles to maintain body positioning. Offensively he definitely has some talent, and he has a very good shot, but it might not be enough to get him drafted. If he is selected, he’s likely going to be a late round pick, between the 5th and 7th rounds.

| #24 LW Ivan Telegin | 1992 | 6’3” | 185lbs | 24GP 17G 12A 29P +12 10PIM |

After coming over from Russia in the CHL Import Draft last season, Telegin has really flown under the radar thus far, despite putting up very strong numbers. This is starting to change, as the big Russian is starting to get some attention, and for good reason. Telegin is a very good skater for his size, and has a lot of offensive potential. He sees the ice very well and makes quick decisions in the offensive zone. He’s not afraid to drive the net, and he’ll take a hit to make a play in the corners, too. He competes hard, but he isn’t an overly physical player, and he really needs to add some bulk to his frame as well as some upper body strength. Telegin is definitely a player that will be rising this year, and he could very well be working his way into the first round at this pace.

| #25 RW (LS) Josh Shalla | 1991L | 6’1” | 187lbs | 24GP 16G 14A 30P +18 27PIM |

This has been a breakout season for Shalla thus far, and he’s been getting some NHL draft consideration as a result. While the numbers are very impressive, there are some fairly major concerns with Shalla’s skating that could really limit his potential at the next level. His offensive game is really starting to come around, as he’s becoming a much more dangerous player offensively, and he’s also a lot more reliable in his own end, back-checking hard and playing physical occasionally as well. The problem will be his feet, however, as they need a lot of work. His stride is choppy and his first few steps need a lot of improvement. He also has poor agility and transitionally, needs some work. If he can continue this pace, he should be a late round pick for sure, but the skating will be something that holds him back from being a 3rd or 4th rounder.

| #89 RC Vincent Trocheck | 1993 | 5’10” | 165lbs | 24GP 7G 8A 15P -1 19PIM |

Trocheck looks to be one of the more impressive 1993’s in the OHL this season, as he’s made a very smooth transition to junior hockey. The Pittsburgh native is seeing a lot of quality ice time with the Spirit this year and has definitely earned it. He’s got some pretty good offensive upside, and he’s a fairly creative player that does a good job of finding gaps in the defensive coverage. His skating is pretty good, but will need continual improvement. Trocheck competes hard for a smaller player, and battles hard for pucks all over the ice, and he’s also pretty reliable defensively despite being 16 years old. Like most rookies, his biggest issue will be adding some strength and hopefully growing another inch or two as well, but right now, he’s a player to watch for 2011.

| #93 LW Michael Sgarbossa | 1992 | 5’11” | 165lbs | 24GP 8G 14A 22P +1 18PIM |

The other component of the Crawford/Brodie trade coming to Saginaw, Sgarbossa has also had a bit of a rough time following the trade, much like O’Connor. He’s a very talented player, but he has some trouble maintaining consistency, as one night he can be the best player on the ice, and then he might not do anything for the next two games. Sgarbossa is an above average skater, with good offensive instincts. He’s not afraid to drive the net, and has pretty good hands in tight spaces. He also has a lot of the characteristics of a “pest”, which scouts will like to see. He does a good job of getting under the skin of opponents, and isn’t afraid to get physically involved, despite his small stature. At this point, he’s likely a mid-round pick, but if he can find his groove offensively, he could sneak into the 3rd round.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images. Special thanks to Blitzen Photography.

Related posts

• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• OHL Feature: Erie @ Barrie Wrap-Up (1)
• OHL Feature – Sudbury Strikes Gold (1)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (1-30) (10)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (51-75) (1)

LC Brody Silk #9 | New Liskeard Cubs | 6’0” | 160lbs | November 30^th, 1994

15GP - 17G - 18A - 35P - 22PIM

The star of the New Liskeard Cubs has been the most hyped OHL prospect in the North this season, after jumping out of the gates with a very impressive start. Silk currently sits in fourth place in league scoring this season on a fairly weak New Liskeard team, and has been the main reason behind the team’s fourth place standing in the GNML this season.

Silk has a solid frame to work with, but he’ll need to work on adding strength and muscle in the future.  He’s willing to compete in the corners, but he isn’t a great battler for the puck. Silk is a very good skater with great high end speed, but his first few steps will need some work moving forward. He needs to do a better job of utilizing his speed, as he frequently plays down to the speed of the players on the ice. Silk finds a niche offensively as being a very good player off the rush. He does a good job of creating odd man rushes, and sees the ice fairly well and also has the ability to be a goal scorer with his quick release. He’s not afraid to drive the puck to the net either, and looks to create a lot of offense on jam plays.

While there are a lot of pros to Silk’s game, he also has a lot of things he’s going to need to address in order to play at the next level. His defensive positioning needs a lot of improvement, and he’s often cheating high, looking for odd man rushes before the puck has left the zone. Silk has fairly average hockey sense, and he doesn’t have the type of on-ice vision you would expect. His creativity needs some work and he doesn’t have great hands for being an offensive player.

While Silk does have some good upside, and he’s still very young being a late 1994, he still has a lot of aspects of his game that will need to be addressed before he can make the jump to the next level. At this point, he’s probably more of a 3-5 round type player, but it will be interesting to see how he progresses throughout the rest of the season.

LC Davis Boyer #4 | Sault Ste. Marie North Stars | 5’7” | 140lbs | May 19^th, 1994

17GP - 18G - 17A - 35P - 34PIM

Some might be quick to consider Boyer a product of his team, as the North Stars are nothing short of an offensive juggernaut this season, but Boyer is a very good player in his own right. His size will obviously be a concern for OHL teams, and could be a deciding factor with his draft stock, but at this point, he’s probably the most talented 1994 player in the GNML this season.

Boyer skates well on the ice and has good agility. His first few steps could use some work, and is a bit of a concern given his size. However, Boyer does a very good job of playing the game at a quick pace. He always keeps his feet moving, and does a great job of getting in on the forecheck, and being the first man back on the backcheck.

He’s a very smart player offensively and has great on ice awareness of where his teammates are. Boyer does a good job of creating time and space down low, and does a pretty good job of controlling the puck. He always keeps his head up and has a variety of shifty one on one moves which he uses in traffic, or off the rush. Boyer has a pretty quick release on his shot, but his power needs some improvement.

Overall, he’s a very talented offensive player, that also is very responsible defensively. He’s pretty strong on faceoffs and does a good job of using his stick in the defensive zone to make up for his lack of size and strength. At this point it’s hard to project where Boyer might end up going in the draft, because I’ve had limited viewings of the rest of the crop, but he should be getting some mid-round consideration despite his lack of size. If he can add a couple of inches to his frame and add some much needed muscle, he could be a player that develops into a pretty effective player at the next level, but he is a bit of a risky pick at this point.


Beyond Silk and Boyer, the next big prospect is likely the Sault’s 1994 Goalie, Jake Patterson. I haven’t had the opportunity to see Patterson yet this season, as Greyhounds’ draft pick Paul Orlando has started both times I’ve seen the Sault, but most indications show that Patterson will be on the OHL radar. The Kapuskasing Flyers have a pair of 1994 forwards that will garner some draft interest. Center Maxim Lamontagne is a decent offensive player who should get some draft consideration, while winger Jordan Delaurier is a bit raw, but could be a late round pick. Sudbury defenseman Michael Rouleau also is pretty raw at this point, but he does have some potential, and should get some draft consideration.

Related posts

• 2010 OHL Priority Selection 1st Round Mock Draft (9)

Although the standings indicate that the Ottawa 67’s are a bottom dwelling team, the team possesses quite a bit of talent, and are particularly strong with 2010 Draft Eligibles. Tyler Toffoli, Petr Mrazek and Ryan Martindale will be closely watched by scouts this season for the upcoming draft in June, while former 2008 first round pick Tyler Cuma will be looking for a shot to crack the Minnesota Wild next season. 1993L Cody Ceci, Ottawa’s first round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection is another prospect to watch, but he will not be eligible until the 2012 Entry Draft as a result of his December birthday.

LD Tyler Cuma

2008 1/23 MIN

OTT | 6.02 | 192 lbs. | Jan. 19, 1990

Cuma is a player who has had a lot of ups and downs since being selected 23rd Overall by the Wild back in 2008. He’s a big defenseman who is extremely mobile for his size. His skating is his most definite asset, as he has a powerful stride and good agility on the ice. Beyond his skating, Cuma is an extremely raw prospect. His offensive instincts are average at best, and he doesn’t see the ice as well as some would like to believe. He has a good shot, but he has problems utilizing it to his advantage and often settles for weak shots to the net. There is no doubt he’s a solid OHL defenseman, which you would expect out of a 19 year old first round pick, but moving forward there will certainly be some speed bumps. Cuma has lost some key development time due to injury, and he could be a player that either struggles to adapt to the next level, or thrives, it’s just a matter of how much he’s willing to compete.

LC Ryan Martindale

2010 Draft Eligible

OTT | 6.03 | 190 lbs. | Oct. 27, 1991

Ryan Marindale is an interesting prospect who has been flying under the radar so far this season. A late 1991 birthday allows him to be eligible for the 2010 draft, where he should be late first or early second round pick next summer. He’s not a flashy player, does not try to do too much, and finds success in his simplicity.  He has a good stride for his size, and uses the 6’ 3” frame to make room for himself in the slot. This often leads to scoring chances where he does a good job of using his talent to capitalize on his opportunities. One thing that could add another level to his game, would be to play with an edge, and use his frame to create energy. He has the build for a power forward, and should use it to his advantage.

G Petr Mrazek

2010 Eligible

OTT | 5.10 | 170 lbs. | Feb. 14, 1992

Petr Mrazek is an import player for the 67’s and this is the first time I have seen the Czech native in game action. In this contest he was not overly tested, but was able to make some big saves when he was called upon. He appeared to have great lateral movement, and a quick glove, but may need to work on controlling his rebounds. His 5’ 10” frame may scare off some NHL scouts, but Mrazek has likely played himself onto the NHL draft radar.

RW Tyler Toffoli

2010 Eligible

OTT | 6.00 | 181 lbs. | Apr. 24, 1992

Toffoli is a dynamic offensive player and is starting to break out of the funk he was in to start off the season. He shows great poise with the puck and is very patient around the net, which makes him a scary player over the opposition’s blue line. If defense give him the room to skate and get comfortable with the puck, he has the hands to move around defensemen with ease. His defensive game will need some refinement, and he needs to learn how to play a smart two-way game, while continuing to be a dangerous player offensively. After being pegged as  sure-fire first round pick after his rookie season, Toffoli is on the bubble now and will need to remain consistent throughout the season to hear his name called in round one.

RD Cody Ceci

2012 Eligible

OTT | 6.02 | 190 lbs. | Dec. 21, 1993

Cody Ceci was Ottawa’s first round selection in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, and looks to be steadily developing into a very good player. Ceci already has NHL size standing at 6’ 2” and 190 pounds, which is even more impressive considering Ceci is still only 15 years old. As a rookie, Ceci is playing in all situations, power play and penalty kill, and doing it effectively. This shows the confidence coach Chris Byrne has in his young defenseman, as well as the kid’s versatility. The Orleans, Ontario native has great speed for his size and is rarely beaten by quick skaters. He’s effective in the offensive zone, and is finding some success by keeping things simple and not over-thinking the game. There is no question that Ceci has the raw ability to play hockey at a high level, and he’ll have the next two seasons to develop his game before he becomes draft eligible.

Related posts

• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (31-60) (6)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (51-75) (1)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (26-50) (2)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Preliminary Top 15 Rankings (16)

During last night’s game between the Kitchener Rangers and the Erie Otters, Rangers’ defenseman, Ben Fanelli took an awkward hit from Otter’s forward Michael Liambis behind the Ranger’s goal. His helmet was removed during the hit, and his head hit one of the partitions in the glass. The Rangers released news this morning that Fanelli is currently at Hamilton General Hospital, and is in intensive care. They are stating his current condition as critical, but stable.

Fanelli, 16, was a third round selection of the Rangers in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection last May. He has played seven games with the team this season, assisting on one goal.

Here at TSR, we would like to extend our best wishes to Ben, and his family. Our prayers are with you guys, and we can only hope that he can make a full recovery at this point. Good luck, Ben.

Related posts

• No related posts.

OCTOBER 25, 2009

I had the opportunity last weekend to watch the Guelph Storm face off against the Owen Sound Attack. The Storm were coming off a three game weekend, while the Attack faced the Kitchener Rangers the night before. There was some solid potential in the game despite the faltering record of the Attack. There is not much to report about this season’s draft crop when analyzing the Storm, but the Attack have a few players that may hear their name called come June. Here is the link to the game summary: http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=16116

GUELPH STORM

LD #7 Ben Chiarot (ATL)

2009 4/120 ATL

GUE | 6.03 | 222 lbs. | May 9, 1991

Ben Chiarot received a lot of ice time in this game and is a work horse for the Storm. Standing at 6.03, 222 pounds, Chairot is a player who already has NHL size at this point. He has limited offensive upside, especially at the next level, but looks to create momentum with his body. The weakest part to Chairot’s game is his skating ability, and having to compensate for his lack of natural speed. One of the two penalties he received in the game was because he was burned in a one on one, which forced him to take a hooking penalty. Chairot finished the game with a +1 rating and four penalty minutes.

LC #13 Peter Holland (ANA)

2009 1/15 ANA

GUE | 6.02 | 195 lbs. | Jan. 14, 1991

Holland was easily the player with the most pro potential on the ice. His above average speed, and top tier wrist shot make him a threat any time he’s on the ice. Holland is a player who can play the penalty kill and the power play and can be equally effective on both. His vision on the ice translated to multiple chances for the Storm, but on one particular play, his fake slap shot, to saucer pass resulted in a brilliant chance for Michael Latta. Holland has the build for a power forward, but does not play an overly physical game. He grinds in the corners when needed and his soft hands allowed for excellent board play. Holland finished up the game with two assists, a +4 rating and four penalty minutes.

RC #17 Michael Latta (NAS)

2009 3/72 NAS

GUE | 5.11 | 205 lbs. | May 25, 1991

Michael Latta played out of position in this game, playing the right wing with Taylor Beck and centered by Peter Holland. Latta played an exceptional game as he was named the first star of the contest. When Latta is on his game, he can be a very effective player, but at times attempts to do too much on his own and ends up as a turn over. He also needs to work on his skating if he wants to be successful at the NHL level. Latta can be a pest for the opposing player, and it is the role he should be expected to play in the NHL. Latta tallied one goal and two assists, with a +4 rating and four penalty minutes.

LW #19 Taylor Beck (NAS)

2009 3/70 NAS

GUE | 6.01 | 202 lbs. | May 13, 1991

Taylor Beck is a player who has improve significantly from last season. His offensive vision is decent and compares closely with Phoenix Coyotes’ forward Brett MacLean. Beck attempts a lot of moves beginning at the top of the circle in order to beat the defender, but can often become predictable in the offensive zone. Beck is beginning to adapt to a team game and is sacrificing his body and back checking, pieces that were absent from his game last season. Beck was named the game’s third star and finished with two goals and two assists with a +4 rating.

RW #22 Cody McNaughton (’10)

Eligible 2011

GUE | 5.09 | 173 lbs. | Oct. 16, 1992

Cody McNaughton was the Guelph’s first round selection from last season, but he’s always had to compensate for his lack of size. He is a player that is dedicated to a defense first system, but has limited offensive upside. While he is considered a small player, even at the OHL level, McNaughton plays big and does not shy away from a physical game. His potential is slight at the pro level as his skating is fairly average for his size, which leaves him vulnerable at the next level. He is not eligible until the 2011 NHL Draft due to a late 1992 birthdate, but will need a strong season this year and next to be considered for the draft. McNaughton was held off of the score sheet and was a -1.

RW #23 Zack Mitchell (’11)

Eligible 2011

GUE | 5.11 | 158 lbs. | Jan. 7, 1993

Zack Mitchell is an interesting player. He was considered to have some of the top hands from the ’93 OHL draft class, but has had limited success this season. He has decent size for a forward, but needs to add a lot of muscle in order to play his game at this level, as his lack of strength has been a big problem thus far. Another problem, which was shown against Owen Sound, is his lack of confidence with the puck. He went from being a go to guy, to a third or fourth liner with the Storm, and it appears as though he is afraid to make a mistake. If Mitchell gains the necessary muscle he may receive some consideration for the 2011 draft in the mid rounds.

LD #24 Adam Comrie (FLA)

2008 3/80 FLA

GUE | 6.04 | 213 lbs. | July 31, 1990

Adam Comrie was acquired in the off-season by the Storm to be the team’s number one defenseman. He has been superb offensively with his heads up plays and bullet of a slap shot, but shows no urgency in his game. He continually causes turnovers and is often out of position on the opposition’s counter attack. At the end of the game, against Owen Sound, Comrie potted the empty netter on a selfish play. He shot the puck from Guelph’s blue line, which luckily went in. Had the shot missed, the face off would have been in Guelph’s zone, and may have caused a game-tying goal.

OWEN SOUND ATTACK

RD #12 Jesse Blacker (TOR)

2009 2/58 TOR

OS | 6.02 | 185 lbs. | Apr. 19, 1991

Jesse Blacker was a very talented defenseman on the ice for the Attack, and was no question their best player in this game, which was highlighted with a beautiful slap shot goal that beat Matt Hoyle. Blacker is a gifted skater, who makes heads up passes and is reliable in his own end. After being traded from the Windsor Spitfires only a week ago, he’ll be given a very good opportunity to further his development with more ice-time in Owen Sound.

LW #17 Garrett Wilson (LA)

2009 4/107 FLA

OS | 6.02 | 205 lbs. | May 30, 1991

Garrett Wilson is developing into a very good forward in his second full year in the OHL. He plays a gritty, high tempo game, while having decent offensive talent. Wilson competes hard in the corners for lose pucks and often wins those battles. At the NHL level, Wilson’s role will not involve him putting up huge points, but playing in the bottom six and being a momentum builder for his team. In the game Wilson scored one goal on an awkward shot that beat the Guelph net minder.

LC #19 Steven Shipley (’10)

Eligible 2010

OS | 6.02 | 204 lbs. | Apr. 22, 1992

Steven Shipley is a player that seems to be building some hype around him moving into the NHL Draft. In this game, he was in on two tallies, one on a broken play and the other was from crisp passing on the power play. Shipley uses his size to his advantage as was driving the net on numerous occasions. He was able to make room for himself in the offensive zone, which allowed him to make smart decisions with the puck, but was by no means a dominating force in this game. With Joey Hishon out, the Attack will depend on Shipley even more to supply offense, which will call for Shipley to be a consistent point producer.

RD #26 Geoffrey Schemitsch (’10)

Eligible 2010

OS | 6.01 | 180 lbs. | Apr. 1, 1992

Geoffrey Schemitsch is a rookie to the OHL after being undrafted in the 2008 Priority Selection due to an injury in his draft year. He played a fair amount in the second and third periods and displayed good vision at both ends of the ice. His first pass out of the zone was crisp and accurate, and he was rewarded with a lot of power play time. His skating could use a bit of work, but he uses his high hockey IQ to compensate against faster skaters. This is the first time I have watched Schemitsch, but he should be a mid rounder right now, with the potential to rise throughout the season.

G #40 Scott Stajcer (NYR)

2009 5/140 NYR

OS| 6.02 | 195 lbs. | June 15, 1991

Scott Stajcer was less than impressive in this game. He let in two goals on his first two shots faced, and was pulled out of the game to mentally regroup before being put in shortly after. Two of the four goals scored on him in the game were particularly poor, as he misplayed a weak shot, and left a huge rebound which was deposited. The other goal was a shot from behind the net, which banked off Stajcer and then went in. Despite the weak start, he definitely has some legitimate upside to his game, but he’ll need to work on his rebound control if he wants to be successful at the next level.

Overall the game was an intriguing one, as the Storm were able to pull away with just minutes left on a great play by Michael Latta, beating out Owen Sound defenseman Mike McGurk and sending it to Mathew Sisca for a tap in. Unfortunately, Matt Kennedy (GUE), Joey Hishon (OS) and Roman Berdnikov (OS), were left off the roster due to injuries.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images. Special thanks to Blitzen Photography.

Related posts

• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Final Rankings: Top 100 (51-75) (1)
• TSR’s 2010 NHL Draft Mid-Term rankings Top 60 Skaters (31-60) (6)
• OHL Feature: Slow Starters (0)
• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)

One of the most intriguing storylines of the 2009 OHL season has been the unexpected emergence of the Sarnia Sting. After a fifth place finish in the Western Conference a season ago, the Sting were quickly bounced from the 2009 OHL Playoffs, falling victim to the Plymouth Whalers in a decisive five game series. Following the loss of several key players, including Justin DiBenedetto, Matt Martin and Mark Katic, the consensus around the league was that 2009/2010 would be a long year of painful rebuilding for the Sting.

Initially this seemed plausible, as the Sting only managed one victory of in their first six games of the new season, but then things began to suddenly turn around. To the surprise of almost everyone, the Sting managed to rattle off a very impressive six game winning streak, which even included wins over OHL powerhouses such as the Windsor Spitfires and Kitchener Rangers. Despite a quick 4-0 setback against the Sudbury Wolves last Friday night, the Sting rebounded on Sunday against the Oshawa Generals with a 6-2 win, putting their season record at 8-5-1-0 through 14 games. Checking up on the standings and you might be surprised to see that the projected cellar dwellers are now right in the thick of the Western Conference. Glancing over the roster of the Sarnia Sting will likely leave one unimpressed, but the team does have a couple of players that will be on the NHL radar.

20 year old Goaltender Adam Courchaine has been one of the main catalysts towards the team’s success thus far. After going undrafted in 2007, Courchaine was signed by the Boston Bruins during the summer free agent window, and has seen some game action over the past two seasons with the team’s AHL affiliate in Providence. Returning to the OHL for an overage season this year, Courchaine has been stellar in the Sarnia goal, posting a 4-2 record along with a 2.21GAA and .937SV%. While the 6’3” 185lb Kanata native takes up a lot of space in his butterfly, his lateral movement causes him problems, and his lack of recovery speed really hurts his positioning on second chances.

The Sting do have a trio of 2009 eligible’s that should hear their name’s called in next summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Third year defenseman Joe Rogalski, a late 1991 birthdate, has really exploded offensively with a goal and twelve assists through fourteen games this season. This coming after the Lancaster, New York native only managed two goals and eighteen points in his first two seasons in the league. While the numbers are impressive thus far, Rogalski does have a lot to work on this year if he wants to move into the top two rounds of the draft. He does have some size (6’2”, 185lbs) but he doesn’t use it very effectively. While he will compete for pucks in the corner, he isn’t nearly as physical as he should be with his body type. His stride is long and awkward, and his first few steps need a lot of work. He also tends to stand still a lot, which results in him losing body positioning. On the plus, he does see the ice well and is a good puck distributor. Sarnia does play a fairly simple system, which could be working for or against him, but his offensive instincts are starting to develop nicely. On the powerplay, he needs to do a better job of generating more shot power and getting his shots through, but he is fairly effective in Sarnia’s overload. Right now, he’s probably a mid round pick at this point, but he does have a lot of raw potential which should play in his favour come draft day.

Another defenseman, Nathan Chiarlitti also could be on the NHL radar as a later pick next summer. A 1992 birthdate, Chiarlitti is a very methodical defenseman who plays a simple, but effective game. Most of the time, he’s a player you don’t really notice much on the ice due to the type of game he plays. He doesn’t take very many chances, but he isn’t caught out of position very often, either. He could stand to be a bit more physical, as he tends to be a bit passive in clearing out the slot, but he has an active stick which he utilizes pretty well. Lacking some overall polish, Chiarlitti could be a late round pick next summer, but he could be a guy that realizes some offensive potential in the next couple of seasons in the league.

On forward, 1992 DOB Brendan Alderson is a player that is starting to spawn some interest around the OHL, after scoring 6 goals in his first 13 OHL games. Standing in at 6’4”, 195lbs, Alderson’s size is obviously something that will intrigue NHL scouts. He’s a strong skater for his size and should be able to use it to his advantage as he becomes more accustomed to the league. He’s a north-south type player with a nose for the net, but the lack of overall skill leaves something to be desired. It’s tough to project where he could end up, but if he keeps up this pace, you would have to imagine that an NHL team will be spending a draft pick on him.

The Sting are very excited about their 1993 crop, as they managed to bring in a couple of players that they feel can really help speed up their rebuilding process. Leading the way for the 16 year old rookies is right winger Brett Ritchie, who spent last season with the Toronto Marlboros. Ritchie (6’3”, 190lbs) has great size for a 16 year old, and was the club’s first round pick in the 2009 Priority Selection, 12^th overall. He’s been seeing a lot of quality ice time with the team, including a lot of top six minutes and powerplay time, and he’s been able to notch 3 goals and 5 points thus far. He has a lot of untapped potential, and there is no question that he has some good talent, but Ritchie’s problem is that he doesn’t bring it all the time. He was plagued with consistency issues in AAA last season, and he still takes shifts off this season as well. He can be a dangerous player in the offensive zone, but his skating will need some work as well to be an impact player at this level.

Third round selection Brandon Francisco slipped in the draft over NCAA scares, as the Bradford native had originally committed to the University of Maine. However, after the Sting were able to lure him away from a scholarship, the 5’10” 155lb left winger was able to crack the team’s roster this season. While the stats are less than impressive right now (1G 1A through 9 games), it’s clear to see that he’s a player with a tremendous amount of talent. He’s extremely skilled when he has the puck and has a real elite set of hands. Right now, Francisco is evidently struggling to adapt to the league physically, which was anticipated, as he’s far too slight to take a regular shift at this time. As he continues to grow stronger, he should become more comfortable and there is no doubt that he has the ability to put up a lot of points in the OHL. While his NHL potential is probably pretty limited, he likely should be the best “OHL” player out of Sarnia’s 1993 crop.

Finally, the Sting were also able to bring in another wavering player, in Ohio native JC Campagna. The wiry winger has also seen some quality ice time with the Sting this year, and looks to be finding his comfort zone with four points in his last four games. While he still needs to fill out his frame (6’1”, 170lbs) he’s showing some good things already. He’s a naturally fluid skater and he has some good offensive instincts. He does need to learn to move the puck a bit better, and he does make some poor decisions in his own end, such as rushing a breakout and making a bad turnover, but these are things that will hopefully be rectified in over the next two seasons. At this point, he does have some promise, and he will be a player to watch more in order to get a good gauge on him.

All in all, Sarnia looks to be a team that should overachieve this season, based on initial expectations, especially given that they are playing in the Western Conference, which is no doubt the more competitive of the two conferences in the league. While the team doesn’t quite have any players that will get you real excited, there are no shortages of guys that do have some interesting potential, which will make this team an interesting one to follow throughout the season.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images. Special thanks to Blitzen Photography.

Related posts

• Mid-Season 2010 OHL Top 50 (3)