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.
