The Scouting Report » Brady Vail

2012 NHL Mid-Term Top 60 Rankings (31-60)

TSR Staff — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:39:16 +0000

Be sure to check out the first half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

31. LW Phil Di Giuseppe – Michigan (CCHA)

DOB: Nov. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

After spending the past two seasons as one of the top underaged players in the OJHL, Di Giuseppe has been one of the top freshmen in the NCAA this season. Di Giuseppe is a powerful skater and has a quick stride with good acceleration. He does a good job of creating offense with his speed and works hard to fight through checks against physical defensemen. Di Giuseppe has good offensive instincts and does a good job of finding chemistry with different sets of linemates. He needs to continue to add strength as his style of play is very aggressive and it will be important for him as he makes his transition to the next level.

32. RD Damon Severson – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 7/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 200lbs

Damon Severson has proven to be a bit of an enigma this season with the Kelowna Rockets. At times, Severson seems to have the potential to be a game breaker – and at others, he seems like more of a project than a top prospect. Severson does have good size and a booming shot from the point, but will definitely need to work on the other parts of his game in order to be successful at the next level. It’s hard to find many glaring problems in his game; there just isn’t much that stands out. After battling injury for more than six weeks, Severson will undoubtedly have to make up for lost time in a draft that’s chock full of talented young defensemen. As a bit of a raw talent, he will certainly benefit from an ever increasing role with the Kelowna Rockets, and is definitely a key component to his team’s future.

33. RW Martin Frk – Halifax (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 5/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 204lbs

It certainly hasn’t been a fairytale season for Frk this year as he initially missed considerable time with a concussion and then made a controversial decision to go home over Christmas rather than play for the Czech U20 team at the World Juniors. 2012 seems to be the fresh start that Frk needed, however, as he has found the back of the net with consistency and is showcasing the gritty style of play that created the hype for him before. Frk isn’t a flashy winger, but with his grit and physical play, he has a good combination of skills that NHL teams covet. With a strong second half you can expect him back in the Top 30.

34. LW Tim Bozon – Kamloops (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 24/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Import forward Tim Bozon has not only made a smooth transition to the WHL in his first season in North America, he has been a standout for a Kamloops Blazers team that has rocketed to the top of the WHL standings. Averaging just under a point per game thus far, the lanky forward has shown a solid offensive skillset, showcasing a quick release and slick passing skills to go along with quick footwork and a strong work ethic. Bozon will need to continue to work on his defensive zone play, and will need to exert a more consistent nightly effort, and will also need to bulk up his frame. As it stands, Bozon is a talented young winger on a very good Kamloops team, and will certainly remain a key offensive component on one of the highest scoring teams in the WHL.

35. LD Ludvik Bystrom – Modo (Elitserien)

DOB: Jul. 20/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 208lbs

Bystrom had a tremendous start to the year in the SuperElit as one of the top scoring defensemen in the league and since a call-up to the Modo senior team, has proven to be a steady defensemen. Like a number of Swedish defensive prospects in recent years, Bystrom has a very high hockey IQ and reads the play exceptionally well. He makes good decisions moving the puck and identifies opportunities to move the puck up the ice. Bystrom has seen limited action in the Elitserien, but he has been playing very steady in his role. He’s not afraid to lay the body out and has shown that he can handle playing against older players.

36. LD Michael Matheson – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 27/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 180lbs

After being considered to be the odds on favourite to go 1st overall in the 2010 QMJHL Draft, Matheson threw teams a curve ball by committing to Boston College and announcing his NCAA intentions. After coming the USHL this season, Matheson has been a steady contributor but has also had some growing pains along the way after moving up a level of competition from last year. Matheson is a steady puck mover who does a good job reading and anticipating the play. As it stands, Matheson will need to have a strong showing in the 2nd half as much of the crop has been catching up to him.

37. LW Teuvo Teravainen – Jokerit (SM-Liiga)

DOB: Sep. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs

Teravainen torched the Jr. A league early this season and quickly earned a call-up to Jokerit’s senior team where he has been an admirable contributor. Teravainen is a very smart player who skates well and distributes the puck well on the attack. He’s a good skater with an explosive first step and good agility. Teravainen’s skill-set makes him a very valuable player on the powerplay as he is good in tight spaces and can be very dangerous when he has time and space. He is not overly big and doesn’t have a physical aspect to his game but Teravainen looks like a nice pick around this range for a team who can wait for him to develop.

38. LW Andreas Athanasiou – London (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 175lbs

There were high expectations for Athanasiou after a surprising rookie season and strong showing at the Under 18’s, but thus far the results haven’t been up to par. Athanasiou is one of the top skaters in the draft and relies heavily on his speed to create scoring chances off the rush. He hasn’t got a ton of ice-time in a talent laden London lineup, but he has shown flashes of brilliance at times this year. Unfortunately, he’s also shown very little in other games and consistency is a big question mark for Athanasiou. At this point, he seems to be a player who is very similar to New York’s Michael Grabner and any team taking him should know that while his speed is a huge asset, there’s a lot of risk with regards to how he projects at the next level.

39. LW Tanner Pearson – Barrie (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 10/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 200lbs

While his pace has slowed slightly, Tanner Pearson continues to be an offensive threat every night. A classic late bloomer, Pearson found chemistry early in the season with the rest of his team and has not looked back since. Pearson thinks the game on an extremely high level; he consistently makes great decisions with the puck and is able to thread passes through traffic with ease. He also does a great job in putting himself in great position, he is a player who the puck just seems to find time and time again. While Pearson will be eligible for his 3rd time this season, he has emerged as a legitimate NHL prospect and with no glaring weaknesses in his game, he’s earned his spot in our rankings.

40. LW Jarrod Maidens – Owen Sound (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 4/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 180lbs

Maidens is a big winger who plays the game with purpose and drive. He skates well and plays a very north/south game and brings it every shift. Maidens uses his size to overpower defenses and does a good job of playing in traffic and neutralizing tight checking defenses. Maidens was a tremendous goal scorer in minor hockey and has started to show that offensive upside this year with Owen Sound. Maidens has missed time with a concussion but expect him to pick up where he left off when he returns to the lineup as his big body presence has been sorely missed in the Attack lineup.

41. LD Hampus Lindholm – Rogle (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Jan. 20/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 200lbs

Rogle has started to develop some quality defensemen in recent years (there are some promising players down the future pipeline as well) and Lindholm is the team’s latest NHL prospect. Playing a strong two-way game, Lindholm shows strong offensive instincts while maintaining a commitment to the defensive end of the ice. He’s already filled out nicely and has done a good job asserting himself physically despite being an 18-year-old. Lindholm doesn’t have as much high-end upside as Bystrom, but he is a very solid prospect in his own right and would be a great pickup in the 2nd round.

42. RW Scott Kosmachuk – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 24/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Kosmachuk was a quality 16-year-old for Guelph last season, but his game has shown considerable progress in his 2nd OHL season this year. Despite not being the most natural offensive player, Kosmachuk has an innate ability to get in a position to score goals. He plays a high-energy game and his north-south playing style allows him to find success while playing a simple game. Kosmachuk excels in traffic areas and does a good job of burying pucks around the net and capitalizing on opportunities. While his two-way game needs to improve, he does work hard and with continued development and coaching, Kosmachuk could emerge as a quality 2nd/3rd line tweener at the NHL level who brings a lot of intangibles that coaches look for.

43. RD Jordan Schmaltz – Green Bay (USHL)

DOB: Oct. 8/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 190lbs

In his 3rd USHL season, Schmaltz has fallen victim to overexposure in the USHL this year. While other players are stepping up in their 2nd year’s in the league, Schmaltz has seen his touted offensive upside level out as he shows an increased commitment to the defensive end of the ice. To his credit, he has established himself as a much more reliable defenseman this year, but it has opened up some concern about his ability to contribute at a high level offensively while bringing strong play at the other end of the ice. Schmaltz is committed to the University of North Dakota (where his younger brother, 96YOB Nick Schmaltz has also committed) and next year will be a great barometer of what type of player he is and just how high his upside might be.

44. LW Daniil Zharkov – Belleville (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

When he’s on his game Daniil Zharkov is a dominant forward with size who can score goals from any area in the offensive zone. He has a great shot which combined with his strong skating can be absolutely devastating on the rush. Zharkov will play with a bit of an edge and has great skills with the puck in one on one situation. Where Zharkov’s game suffers is in his consistency and his play without the puck. When Zharkov is not scoring goals he tends to completely disappear off the map and his effort also tends to drop. This is an even bigger issue due to Zharkov’s defensive game not being quite at the level that many would like to see it reach. He does tend to float into the defensive zone and does not compete very hard in battles for the puck in his own end. If Zharkov can put a weak January behind him he could see himself surge up the rankings as one of the top pure goal scorers in the draft.

45. RD Dalton Thrower – Saskatoon (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 20/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs

Thrower has done a nice job of adding an offensive dimension to his game this season by showing improved ability at both ends of the ice. His bread and butter, however, continues to be his gritty style of play and willingness to use his body on the ice. He has a huge impact on the game with his physicality and is never afraid to mix it up with opponents. Thrower needs to continue to show that he can make quick decisions and show improved decision making.

46. LD Trevor Carrick – Mississauga (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 4/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 175lbs

In his first OHL season, Trevor Carrick has done a great job of solidifying himself as a steadying force on the Mississauga blueline. Carrick has good size and plays a very safe defensive game with very few holes in it. He has a long reach and does a great job of maintaining gap control and anticipating the play. Carrick is positionally sound and has continued to improve since the start of the season, seeing more icetime after Stuart Percy went down with injury. Carrick has been used in some offensive situations and while he hasn’t looked out of place, it’s an area of his game that needs to improve. There’s a lot of potential with Carrick and the team that drafts him will be taking him based on what he can become as he continues to develop.

47. RC Gemel Smith – Owen Sound (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 16/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 160lbs

You’d never know Gemel Smith was only 5’10” 160lbs by the way he plays. He’s the type of player who loves to dart into traffic recklessly and more often than not ends up making a great play because of it. Smith is a great skater not only with his speed, but his ability to shift in and out of traffic. He plays much bigger than his size and is one of the hardest working prospects in the draft. The issue comes up when you try to imagine what type of player he’d be at the NHL level. Most of his goals are generated through pure effort more so than skill which begs the question when trying to determine if he is more of an energy line player in the NHL, or if he can still be an offensive contributor.

48. LC Cristoval Nieves – Kent (HS-CT)

DOB: Jan. 23/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 185lbs

Nieves is the class of the New England prep school circuit this year and the prospect with the most NHL upside. With tremendous size and a big frame, Nieves is a pretty good skater and can be difficult to neutralize once he gets up to full speed. He is offensively skilled and does a good job creating shooting lanes and getting pucks on net. Playing down against a lower tier of competition brings some concern when evaluating his body of work, but with his size and skill he does have some big upside if he can put it all together.

49. RW Tom Wilson – Plymouth (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 205lbs

Wilson is a very imposing winger who has thrived with the Plymouth Whalers this season as a forward who brings plenty of size, grit, and physicality to the team’s lineup. Wilson is versatile and has enough ability to play with skilled players while playing a physical role. His skating has steadily improved and his willingness to take the body with his size creates a lot of space for teammates. He’s good in the corners on the cycle and does a good job wearing down opposing teams as well. It is concerning that he only has 6 goals while playing with players like Stefan Noesen, Rickard Rakell, and JT Miller, but Wilson is a player who is likely going to take some time to grow into his frame and find out just how high his ceiling is.

50. RC Mike Winther – Prince Albert (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 9/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 175lbs

Mike Winther is the kind of competitor that every coach loves to have. With an excellent shot, second to-none work ethic, and excellent two-way play, Winther certainly has all of the tools to be a very strong player at the next level. The biggest issue in Winther’s game right now is simply strength – standing at 5’10” and listed at 170 pounds – Winther will certainly need to get stronger to compete at the next level. Even with his small stature, however, Winther plays a fearless kind of game as he goes into the hard areas and competes with players much larger than him. As the season has worn on, Winther has seemingly only gotten better and been a shining star on a generally poor team. He’ll need to continue to compete at a high level in order to continue to climb up the rankings.

51. LC Brady Vail – Windsor (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 200lbs

After managing only 10 points in what had to be considered an underwhelming rookie season, Vail has become a legitimate Top 6 forward with the Windsor Spitfires as a 17-year-old. Vail has shown tremendous progress as a two-way player and his work ethic and compete level are significantly better than they were a season ago. Vail often draws match ups against the other team’s top lines and while he has played strong defensively, Vail also is on pace for a very strong offensive season. His offensive upside isn’t as high as other players in the draft, but Vail’s style of play will give him a great shot of being a very effective two-way center.

52. LW Nikolai Prokhorkin – CSKA (MHL)

DOB: Sep. 17/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 185lbs

Like so many other 2012 eligibles, Prokhorkin has been plagued by injuries this season which has really limited his ability to even get in the lineup this season. Unfortunately for him, he will also have some negative connotations due to the Russian factor. On merit however, Prokhorkin is a skilled winger who has good size and a proven ability to score goals. As a ’93 YOB, Prokhorkin will not be available to play in the U18′s this spring which works against him as that would be a great platform for him to showcase his skills on a big stage for scouts.

53. RW Henrik Samuelsson – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Feb. 7/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195lbs

Samuelsson was a mid season pickup for the Oil Kings from Modo in Sweden after spending last season playing with the US U17 Team. Samuelsson is a gritty forward who wins board battles and excels at maintaining offensive zone puck possession. He can play center or the wing equally effectively and is at his best below the hash marks where he uses his size to his advantage. It was a rough first half of the year for Samuelsson, but after a quick start with Edmonton, don’t be surprised if you see the big power forward as a big riser in the Final rankings.

54. LC Scott Laughton – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: May 30/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

Laughton has fallen victim to playing on a team that has an excess of offensively skilled players vying for a fixed amount of ice-time. After starting the season out very slowly, Laughton has really picked things up over the past month and is showing why he was considered to be such a talented minor hockey player a couple seasons ago. A strong two-way player, Laughton plays the center position very well and is well aware of his responsibilities in all three zones. He competes hard and checks well and can play against top lines without being a liability. He has a good shot and above-average puck skills, but there are times where he does fight the puck out there. His playing style compares to a player like Brendan Gaunce but his all-around game just isn’t at the same level.

55. LD Cody Corbett – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 14/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 210lbs

Corbett has been a big-time addition for the Oil Kings this season and has improved considerably already throughout the first half of the season. He has a tremendous shot and does a great job quarterbacking the power play. Corbett is strong positionally and for a two-way player, does a good job of battling in the corners and handling physical forwards. Corbett continues to be a player who has flown under the radar a bit in the shadows of his teammates Griffin Reinhart and Mark Pysyk, but his blend of intelligence and physicality makes for an enticing package moving forward.

56. LC Zach Stepan – Shattuck St. Mary’s (HS-MN)

DOB: Jan. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 165lbs

Stepan is a lot more of a project than his older brother Derek, and any team taking him will be well aware of that. With a very slight frame, Stepan benefits from being “sheltered” in high school hockey and it will be interesting to see how he transitions to the next level, either in the USHL or at Ohio State. Despite the concerns, Stepan is a player who skates quite well and does have good puck skills. He excels with the puck on his stick and does a good job of generating offensive chances. As a senior, he’s leading a talented Shattuck squad and has shown good progression since his junior year.

57. LW Raphael Bussieres – Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 5/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs

Bussieres has come a long way since being a frail rookie who looked over-matched as a 16-year-old with Moncton. While his stats are far from gaudy as a 3rd year player, Bussieres has a lot of raw offensive upside that has started to come to fruition this season. He competes well and shows strong grit with a willingness to finish checks and play a physical game in traffic areas. Bussieres has been steadily adding strength and it has helped him add a step to his speed and give him lower body strength to drive through checks. He’s got a lot of room for improvement, but he’s well worth a pick at this stage of the 2nd round as he could develop into a nice 2nd or 3rd line forward.

58. LD Dillon Fournier – Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

DOB: Jun. 15/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 165lbs

Fournier was a surprise to some as he was taken 1st overall in the 2010 QMJHL Draft, and after Lewiston folded, was subsequently taken 1st overall by Rouyn-Noranda in the Dispersal Draft. Fournier, however, has acquitted himself well in the QMJHL and since coming back from a shoulder injury he has demonstrated strong offensive upside. He’s a smooth skating defenseman who always has his head up and is strong in transition. Instead of rimming the puck off the glass, Fournier can find his man on the breakout and create offense through his ability to make smart decisions. He still needs to add strength and show that he can contain high-end forwards, but he’s a player who has really started to show some nice improvement.

59. LC Matej Beran – PEI (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 11/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 215lbs

Beran has a huge frame and has shown some good offensive ability this season, but skating is a pretty major concern at this point. Beran labours with his stride and is an average skater at the junior level which does not project well moving forward if he doesn’t show improvement. Aside from skating concerns, Beran does use his size fairly well in his offensive game as he protects the puck well and can be difficult to check. Beran would also benefit from being more physical as for a player of his size, he is not an overly physical player. There are some enticing tools to work with, but Beran is a project at this point.

60. LC Tanner Richard – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 6/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Richard was eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft but was not selected. After coming over to the Guelph Storm this year, his fortunes have changed as his strong play has been a catalyst in his emergence as a legitimate NHL prospect. Richard is a pure offensive forward who has a high skill level and very good creativity. Richard is very effective with the puck on his stick and is active in looking for teammates. He also does a good job of shooting the puck and is a go-to offensive player with Guelph. Richard does need to continue to add strength to his frame and continue to engage in the gritty areas of the ice, but there are a lot of things to like about his game.

Be sure to check out the first half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

USHL Feature: Omaha, Indiana, Waterloo, Green Bay

Scott Campbell — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:59:50 +0000

I had a chance to check out my first USHL action of the season last Saturday in a couple of games that featured a lot of high quality USHL talent on display. The first game was a highly anticipated matinee matchup between league powerhouses, the Indiana Ice and Omaha Lancers. After heading to the first intermission tied at two goals apiece, the rest of the game was a tight defensive affair until Indiana’s Antti Roppo broke the deadlock midway through the third period, with Max Cook icing the game with a late empty netter. In a game featuring arguably two of the most talented teams in the league, several players will be on the NHL’s radar moving forward. Here’s the boxscore from the game:

http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/boxscore.html?gameid=1048919

Brian Ferlin (Indiana) | 1992 | 6’1″ | 196lbs | 22GP 4G 3A 7P +3 4 PIM

It was an unspectacular game for the 2010 Draft Eligible. He moves well on the ice, but his skating needs a bit of refinement in regards to his technique. His offensive skills are raw, but there is room for growth, and he looked like a guy that could generate some later round consideration.

Nick Mattson (Indiana) | 1991L | 6’1″ | 190lbs | 17GP 2G 4A 6P -1 8PIM

Given the amount of hype Mattson received during his time with the NTDP, I was extremely underwhelmed with his game on Saturday. Despite showing some good puck handling skills, Mattson didn’t really present anything that indicates that he has the high end skill to make him a Top 50 pick. Unless his offensive game starts to come around, his lack of a true identity to his game could hurt his stock. I’ll likely check in on another Indiana game later in the season to see how hes’ progressing, as he’s definitely an intriguing prospect.

John Parker (Indiana) | 1992 | 5’11″ | 180lbs | 17GP 2G 5A 7P -4 12PIM

After being pretty highly regarded coming out of U16 AAA in Pittsburgh, it looks like Parker’s transition to Junior Hockey has been a bit of a bumpy ride. Despite having some good overall skills, it appears as though he’s struggled to adapt to the physicality of junior hockey and his offensive production has been hurt because of it. I’m not really sure what his draft stock is looking like, but if he could maintain a .50 PPG average, I wouldn’t be completely surprised if somebody took a shot on him in one of the late rounds.

Seth Ambroz (Omaha) | 1993 | 6’3″ | 205lbs | 19GP 8G 10A 18P +11 31PIM

Definitely the player that I was most excited to see in this game, Ambroz showed me a lot of good things, but he also looks very raw. He has great size and he has a very high compete level which are major positives. He has a hard shot and was determined to drive the net and work the corners which were also positives that indicate he has a lot of potential to be a high pick in 2011. However, I’m pretty concerned with his skating. His stride is long and choppy and from what I saw, is probably the one aspect that’s going to hold him back the most so far. Right now he seems very comparable to a player like Sean Couturier, another 2011 eligible, and it will be very interesting to see how the 2011 Draft shapes up over the next 18 months.

Erik Haula (Omaha) | 1991 | 6’0″ | 175lbs | 21GP 12G 23A 35P +19 16PIM

A seventh round pick of the Wild in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Haula has started his USHL career with a bang this season. Despite being held off the scoresheet, he was arguably the best player on the ice, and showed a lot of offensive creativity. He has good vision in the offensive zone, and is definitely a playmaker first type player. He got into trouble when he neglected his teammates and tried to do to much with the puck, however. He’ll need to work on his strength a lot in the NCAA, but he’s definitely progressed a lot thus far.

The second game I had a chance to check in on featured the Green Bay Gamblers taking to the road to face the hometown Waterloo Black Hawks. One of the main reasons I wanted to see this game was to get a look at Waterloo’s pair of 1994′s, Nick Ebert and Brady Vail, who will both be eligible for the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. The game itself was a very back and forth affair, with a lot more offensive chances than the Indiana/Omaha game. After Waterloo jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second, Green Bay responded with three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. Vail tied the game up for the Black Hawks early in the third on his first USHL goal, but Reed Seckel iced the game for the Gamblers late in the third as Green Bay hung on for a 4-3 win. Here’s the boxscore for the game:

http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/boxscore.html?gameid=1048921

Anders Lee (Green Bay) | 1990 | 6’2″ | 216lbs | 22GP 13G 11A 24P +13 24PIM

Lee was a sixth round draft pick by the Islanders last season after putting up strong numbers alongside Nashville second rounder, Zach Budish. Lee has good size which is something that he utilizes a lot in his game. He was pretty dangerous in the offensive zone and created a lot of strong chances for the Gamblers and could have had a lot more then just one assist. Like Haula, Lee is a player who looks to be a pretty good value selection for the sixth round and adds some quality depth to the Islanders prospect pool.

Nick Ebert (Waterloo) | 1994 | 6’1″ | 185lbs | 15GP 1G 5A 6P |

I was pretty impressed with the 15 year old defenseman in this game, and he did a lot to show me that he should be one of the first players taken in the OHL draft next year. Ebert has very good size and plays a real solid game on the backend. He competes hard and is effective positionally. Transitionally, he moves the puck well and has some untapped offensive potential. His skating needs some work moving forward and he could stand to utilize his teammates quicker when he headman’s the puck, but there’s a lot to like about Ebert’s game.

Brady Vail (Waterloo) | 1994 | 6’1″ | 190lbs | 10GP 1G 0A -6 6PIM

Unlike Ebert, Vail appears set on the NCAA route, so he’s likely not going to be selected very high in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. In this game, the Michigan native notched his first USHL point, a goal, which tied the game up in the third period. Vail looked to have a lot of good physical skills, but I’m not sure how much offensive potential he has. Once he adds some more strength to his frame, he should be a solid USHL player, but I’m interested to see how his offensive production grows moving forward.

With that being said, it was nice to get an opportunity to check out a couple of USHL games on an off-day for the Wolves. I was impressed to see that the quality of play in the league is continuing to get better, and the speed is especially something that has improved a lot. I’ll be certain to make sure I have an opportunity to catch a few more games throughout the year as well.