I got my first live look at the Greyhounds this season last night in Barrie. While it was against a struggling Barrie Colts squad, it was a good opportunity to see some of the younger players take on an added role this year as the team has taken on a much younger appearance. Unfortunately captain Brock Beukeboom, a third round pick of Tampa Bay last season, was scratched from the lineup with illness and 17 year old left winger Justin Thomas was also out of the lineup with an injury. Here are my reports on the players who were in action.

#7 LC Daniel Catenacci | 5.10 | 185lbs | 03/09/93 | 2011 Eligible

2010/11 – 26GP 15G 16A 31P -1 38PIM

After an inconsistent rookie year where he only managed 30 points, Catenacci has already surpassed his point totals from a year ago. I saw a lot of positives in his game last night that show that he’s taken some steps forward from his freshman campaign which were positives. He’s always been a good skater, but he seemed to be a lot more engaged in the offense and was willing to take a lot more shots. Last season I watched him several times as he always seemed hesitant to shoot the puck and left me questioning his goal scoring ability. He’s still a pretty creative player and he had a couple of nice rushes with the puck where he was able to generate some offense off the rush.

He also had a good night in the faceoff circle and competed hard on the back check making it a pretty good showing for the #1 pick in the 2009 OHL Draft. I’m looking forward to seeing him some more this season against some stiffer competition to get a better feel for his game, but I do have some optimism for him. Thus far in the OHL he’s managed to avoid the injuries that plagued him in minor hockey and hopefully that continues this season. Right now I would likely slot Catenacci somehwere in the 40-60 range. He’s got a lot of positive qualities to his game, but his offensive ability isn’t quite elite and given his stature, it’s difficult to gauge what type of role he could have in the NHL.

#14 RW Trevor Morbeck | 6.02 | 186lbs | 11/21/93 | 2012 Eligible

2010/11 – 19GP 4G 5A 9P +2 11PIM

I was a big fan of Morbeck a season ago as he’s a pretty big guy that plays a solid north-south game and is effective on the boards. Last season he saw very limited ice-time, but this year he’s been seeing more time in a Top 9 role, last night riding shotgun to Nick Cousins where he manged a goal and an assist. I wasn’t too impressed with him in the game, however, as I only noted him finishing a couple of checks on the night and was fairly quiet. I thought he would have taken some steps ahead in his game in that regard to become more of a power forward, but I didn’t see any of that last night. From watching them on television a few times, I doubt Morbeck would be drafted this season, but since he is a late birthday, he still has another season to elevate his game and he’ll be worth monitoring this season before being focused on next year.

#27 LC Nick Cousins | 5.11 | 170lbs | 07/20/93 | 2011 Eligible

2010/11 – 26GP 11G 12A 23P -3 18PIM

Cousins was the 21st pick in the 2009 OHL Draft and the diminutive center is an integral part of the Greyhounds’ core moving forward. There is no doubting that Cousins has the offensive ability to be a gamebreaker at the OHL level. He’s got deceptive moves in traffic and very good vision on the ice. He’s also got a bit of grit to his game and isn’t afraid to shy away from the difficult areas on the ice despite being undersized. As an NHL prospect, however, I’m not sure he’s going to amount to much. His skating is improving but it’s still only slightly above average. His defensive game also isn’t anything to write home about and detracts from his value as an NHL prospect. If he can put up 60-70 points this season an NHL team might snap him up with a late round pick, because he does have good skill and has some of those pesty qualities that can get under another team’s skin, but I don’t expect him to go in the Top 5 rounds and wouldn’t be shocked if he winds up going undrafted either.

#3 RD Brandon Archibald | 6.04 | 197lbs | 03/31/92 | CBJ 10′ (4/94)

2010/11 – 23GP 1G 13A 14P +2 28PIM

A fourth round pick a year ago, Archibald is a guy who will be relied on to be an anchor for a very young defensive group this season. He’s a tall, lanky defenseman that is pretty rangy and an above average skater, especially for his size. While he is mobile, his puck moving skills are average and he always seems to be a little indecisive, making some poor decisions. Offensively, he has a wicked shot, but he isn’t a true PP quarterback as he also struggles to move the puck as a PP defenseman needs to. I would also like to see him be a lot more physical then he is as he does have the frame to really engage forwards a lot more in that regard but elects to use his stick more instead. At this point I have a difficult time envisioning what type of role Archibald could have as an NHLer as he doesn’t really have any defining traits to his game. While you can get by on that at the OHL level, he’s going to need to play a more physical and safer game to be a successful pro.

#24 LD Gianluca Curcuruto | 6.01 | 187lbs | 02/25/94 | 2012 Eligible

2010/11 – 26GP 0G 9A 9P E 18PIM

Sault Ste. Marie’s first round pick from a year ago, Curcuruto has transitioned very well to the OHL only a third of the way through the season. Logging some pretty hefty minutes for a 16 year old blueliner, Curcuruto has played effectively due in large part to his ability to keep things simple and pick his spots to rush the puck. He’s a bit of an awkward skater and he has a very wide stride, but once he gets going he had a couple of very nice rushes to move the puck. His first few steps will be a point of improvement for him, however. I thought he handled himself pretty well in the Greyhounds zone, only making a couple of poor decisions, but he handled the forecheck well and displayed some good escapability. He also showed good ability to know when to make a seam pass on the breakout, and when to use the boards. He’ll be a definite player to watch next season as he will certainly be on the NHL’s radar.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

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#51. Johan Larsson | LW | Brynas Jr. (SELIT)

Date of Birth: July 25th, 1992
Height: 5.10Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 40GP 15G 19A 34P 80PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 1G 1A 2P 2PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 38th Forwards
League Rank: 2nd SELIT | Country Rank: 3rd Sweden

Larsson isn’t the most flashy player, but his supreme work ethic and willingness to compete are both attributes that make him a quality prospect. He was exceptional in the Under 18′s for Sweden, notching 14 points in only 5 games, and could see his stock climb even higher on draft day as he’s a player who has really made a name for himself recently.

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#52. Geoffrey Schemitsch | D | Owen Sound (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 1st, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 62GP 4G 36A 40P 26PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 40 | Position Rank: 12th Defensemen
League Rank: 14th OHL | Country Rank: 23rd Canada

One of the big surprises of the 2009/2010 OHL Season, Schemitsch had a tremendous season after seemingly coming out of nowhere. He’s one of the better puck moving defensemen in the draft and has tremendous poise and composure. There are still some flaws in his game, such as defensive positioning and adding strength, but he has a ton of upside moving forward.

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#53. Tom Kühnhackl | RW | Landshut (GERD2)

Date of Birth: January 21st, 1992
Height: 6.02Weight: 175lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 38GP 12G 9A 21P 38PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 0G 0A 0P 2PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 51 | Position Rank: 39th Forwards
League Rank: 1st GERD2 | Country Rank: 1st Germany

He’s a big forward who moves well and has a solid goal scoring touch. Some may have expected more from the German this season, but he still managed to produce well playing in a Men’s league. He’ll be transitioning over the pond to Windsor next year, where many North Americans will have a better gauge on his development.

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#54. Brandon Davidson | D | Regina (WHL)

Date of Birth: August 21st, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 194lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 59GP 1G 32A 33P 37PIM - Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 54 | Position Rank: 13th Defensemen | League Rank: 13th WHL | Country Rank: 24th Canada

Davidson is a player who you probably won’t notice much on the ice, which caters well to his style of play. He’s not overly physical and he won’t blow you away with any puck skills, but he simply does a good job of executing his role. He moves the puck well up the ice, is rarely caught out of position, and is a dependable defenseman who can be effective in any situation.

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#55. Brock Beukeboom | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 1st, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 66GP 7G 19A 26P 64PIM
Playoffs | 1GP 0G 0A 0P 0PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 44 | Position Rank: 14th Defensemen
League Rank: 15th OHL | Country Rank: 25th Canada

Beukeboom exploded out of the gates this season before cooling down and now settling in as a projected late second round pick. He’s got a lot of good skills, but has struggled to find an identity in his game. When he uses his size and physicality more, he’s a lot more effective as a reliable two-way defenseman who can chip in offensively as well.

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Beuekeboom is the son of former NHLer Jeff Beukeboom. Photo (The Hockey News)

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#56. Mark Alt | D | Cretin-Derham (HS-MIN)

Date of Birth: October 18th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 22GP 6G 9A 15P 12PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 15th Defensemen
League Rank: 3rd HS-MIN | Country Rank: 18th USA

The Cretin-Derham defenseman is still very raw despite being a late 91, although it won’t be a huge concern for NHL teams. His combination of size and ability to dictate the pace of the play are both qualities that give him a lot of potential moving forward. He’ll be attending the University of Minnesota where he will be best served with at least three years of development.

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#57. Curtis Hamilton | LW | Saskatoon (WHL)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 202lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 26GP 7G 9A 16P 6PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 2G 1A 3P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 40th Forwards
League Rank: 14th WHL | Country Rank: 26th Canada

Has flown somewhat under the radar this season, especially after missing substantial time with injuries, including a broken collarbone. He’s a big forward who moves well and projects to be an effective third line winger who can compete hard and bring a physical element to his team.

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#58. Steven Shipley | C | Owen Sound (OHL)

Date of Birth: April 22nd, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 68GP 23G 40A 63P 32PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 41st Forwards
League Rank: 16th OHL | Country Rank: 27th Canada

Shipley’s stock has been hit or miss this season, despite having a very productive sophomore year. His offensive skill level is pretty high and he does have good size, but his skating is a major concern when assessing his NHL potential. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him go a touch higher than this, but he’ll really need to work on his skating the next couple of years if he wants to be a legitimate NHL prospect.

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#59. Maxim Kitsyn | LW | Novokuznetsk (KHL)

Date of Birth: December 24th, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 194lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 21GP 1G 1A 2P 12PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 42 | Position Rank: 42nd Forwards
League Rank: 3rd KHL | Country Rank: 6th Russia

One of the more talented forwards in the draft with some of the best hands, Kitsyn has been a bit of an enigma this year. Once considered to be a surefire first round talent, Kitsyn bounced between the KHL and MHL this season and wasn’t overly impressive at the World Juniors. Despite the typical Russian concerns, Kitsyn could be a high reward type selection in the second round.

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#60. Kent Simpson | G | Everett (WHL)

Date of Birth: March 26th, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 183lbs.
Catches: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 22-9-1-0 2.26GAA .925SV% 1SO
Playoffs | 2-3-0 2.62GAA .908SV% 1SO
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 3rd Goalies
League Rank: 15th WHL | Country Rank: 28th Canada

Simpson is a very solid technical goalie who doesn’t have an abundance of weaknesses in his game. He was very steady for Everett this year, and parlayed his strong play into an appearance with the Canadian Under 18 team. Despite some shaky play there, he has solidified himself as the third best goalie available and should go in the late second round as a result of a weak draft for goaltenders.

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Simpson was strong in goal for Everett this year as a 17 year old.

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#61. Devante Smith-Pelly | LW | Mississauga (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 14th, 1992
Height: 5.11
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 60GP 29G 33A 62P 35PIM
Playoffs | 16GP 8G 6A 14P 20PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 38 | Position Rank: 43rd Forwards
League Rank: 17th OHL | Country Rank: 29th Canada

Smith-Pelly made some big strides early, almost putting himself into first round contention, but slowed down a bit as the season progressed. He’s got some grit in his game, and is willing to pay the price occasionally, but his consistency is a bit of a concern. His fitness level has been questioned by some, and will be another concern he will need to address in the near future.

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#62. Jakub Culek | C | Rimouski (QMJHL)

Date of Birth: September 7th, 1992
Height: 6.04
Weight: 195lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 63GP 13G 34A 47P 54PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 6G 3A 9P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 35 | Position Rank: 44th Forwards
League Rank: 5th QMJHL | Country Rank: 2nd Czech Republic

He has a prototypical package of great size, good speed and potential moving forward, but failed to put it together as the season wore on. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft, however, and will be a solid addition to any prospect pool at this point in the draft.

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#63. Martin Marincin | D | Slovakia U20 (SLO)

Date of Birth: February 18th, 1992
Height: 6.04
Weight: 187lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 24GP 2G 3A 5P 30PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 16th Defensemen
League Rank: 1st SLO | Country Rank: 1st Slovakia

Made some head waves for himself after a good showing at the Under 18′s this year, and has put himself back on the prospect radar. He also appeared in the World Juniors as a 17 year old for Slovakia. Marincin is a big defender who can play with a physical edge and could even hear his name in round two if a team really likes the package he brings to the table.

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#64. Dalton Smith | LW | Ottawa (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 30th, 1992
Height: 6.01
Weight: 195lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 62GP 21G 23A 44P 129PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 3G 3A 6P 27PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 55 | Position Rank: 45th Forward
League Rank: 18th OHL | Country Rank: 30th Canada

His name has been tossed around at a lot of different places in the draft, but it’s hard to envision a team letting him slip much further than this. His skating is a major concern, but it has been improving, but there’s a lot more to his game. Smith is a very physical player and will drop the gloves whenever he has to. He’s got some offensive skill and is willing to take the puck to the net. He’s a player with good upside moving forward and has a pro style game.

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#65. Stephen Silas | D | Belleville (OHL)

Date of Birth: June 26th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 190lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 66GP 4G 45A 49P 61PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 56 | Position Rank: 17th Defensemen
League Rank: 19th OHL | Country Rank: 31st Canada

A very similar player to his teammate, Shawn Lalonde, Silas is also going to project to go around the same point in the NHL Entry Draft as Lalonde. He’s a very smooth skater with great puck moving capabilities, which are especially emphasized on the big ice in Belleville. His defensive game needs considerable refinement, however, which will be the likely catalyst that pushes him to the early third round.

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Silas was productive after taking on a much bigger role with the rebuilding Bulls. Photo (bellevillebulls.com)

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#66. Brandon Archibald | D | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Date of Birth: March 31st, 1992
Height: 6.03
Weight: 200lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 68GP 5G 28A 33P 81PIM
Playoffs | 5GP 1G 1A 2P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 53 | Position Rank:18th Defensemen
League Rank: 20th OHL | Country Rank: 32nd Canada

An intriguing prospect who logged a lot of big minutes for the Greyhounds last season. He’s a good skater who found a bit of an offensive touch this year with a bigger opportunity. He’s an effective stick checker, but is still prone to over committing on the man in the defensive zone. He’ll definitely be a player that will be worth following in the next couple of seasons.

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#67. Ryan Martindale | C | Ottawa (OHL)

Date of Birth: October 27th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 182lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 61GP 19G 41A 60P 37PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 4G 5A 9P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 45 | Position Rank:46th Forward
League Rank: 21st OHL | Country Rank: 33rd Canada

Martindale has first round skill coupled with late round competitiveness. At times he can dominate a game, and at other times, you will struggle to realize he’s on the ice. Martindale could be a steal if he can find some passion and drive in his game and utilize his size, but if he doesn’t he’ll have a rough adjustment to professional hockey.

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#68. Austin Madaisky | D | Kamloops (WHL)

Date of Birth: January 30th, 1992
Height: 6.02
Weight: 199lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 65GP 7G 20A 27P 74PIM
Playoffs | 4GP 3G 3A 6P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 58 | Position Rank:19th Defensemen
League Rank: 16th WHL | Country Rank: 34th Canada

Madaisky has had a good opportunity to raise his awareness after being dealt to the Kamploops Blazers in a mid-season deal. He’s a very reliable player defensively, but really showed his offensive side in an increased role with the Blazers.

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#69. Justin Faulk | D | USNTDP (USHL)

Date of Birth: March 20th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 196lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 21GP 9G 3A 12P 46PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 52 | Position Rank:20th Defensemen
League Rank: 8th USHL | Country Rank: 19th USA

Faulk’s fitness level has been something that has dogged him all year despite a fairly noteworthy season. He’s got great offensive tools, including a good shot, and makes very good decisions with the puck. He’ll be attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he’ll have a good opportunity to play against stronger players which will help aid his development.

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#70. Kevin Sundher | C | Chilliwack (WHL)

Date of Birth: January 18th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 188lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 72GP 25G 36A 61P 101PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 3G 2A 5P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:47th Forward
League Rank: 17th WHL | Country Rank: 35th Canada

Another prospect that really flew under the radar despite an impressive season, Sundher is a guy that projects to be a good professional player. He’s pretty creative and was one of the only offensive catalysts on a weak Bruins team this year. He also has some grit in his game, and isn’t afraid of the dirty areas on the ice.

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Sundher was one of the biggest brightspots on the Chilliwack Bruins. Photo (whl.ca)

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#71. Andrew Yogan | C | Erie (OHL)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.03
Weight: 202lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 63GP 25G 30A 55P 97PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: 60 | Position Rank:48th Forward
League Rank: 22nd OHL | Country Rank: 20th USA

Like Martindale, Yogan is another player with first round skills that will likely slip a bit in the draft. He’s a great skater for his size and has good offensive tools, although his finish is questionable. The main factor that will dog his draft stock is his lack of hockey sense and inability to effectively use his teammates.

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#72. Connor Brickley | C | Des Moines (USHL)

Date of Birth: February 25th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 190lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 52GP 22G 21A 43P 68PIM
Playoffs | n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank: 49th Forwards
League Rank: 9th USHL | Country Rank: 21st USA

Brickley has size and offensive ability which could elevate him into the top two rounds. He does, however, need to work on competing harder for loose pucks and battling in the corners more. He’s committed to the University of Vermont for the fall of 2011, and is a player who still has a lot of potential to improve in the next few years.

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#73. Ivan Telegin | LW | Saginaw (OHL)

Date of Birth: February 28th, 1992
Height: 6.03
Weight: 185lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 51GP 26G 18A 44P 20PIM
Playoffs | 6GP 1G 1A 2P 6PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: 34 | Position Rank:50th Forward
League Rank: 23rd OHL | Country Rank: 7th Russia

Telegin was a bit of a revelation at mid-season, but struggled to keep up his strong goal scoring pace throughout the second half. He’s a big guy who isn’t afraid to stand in front of the net and generates a lot of his offense from that area. His overall effectiveness, however, is a bit of a concern, and will likely hinder where he is selected.

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#74. Joonas Donskoi | RW | Karpat Jrs (FINJR)

Date of Birth: April 12th, 1992
Height: 6.00
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: R
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 18GP 14G 15A 29P 2PIM
Playoffs | 12GP 5G 10A 15P 4PIM
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:51st Forward
League Rank: 1st FINJR | Country Rank: 3rd Finland

Donskoi has been hidden beneath the shadows of Mikael Granlund and Teemu Pulkkinen this year, but has still developed into a solid prospect. He was very strong in the Jr A. SM-Liiga and also saw time with Karpat in the SM-Liiga as his quality offensive skills allowed him to make the jump to a higher level as a 17 year old.

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#75. Patrick McNally| D | Milton Academy (HS-MA)

Date of Birth: December 4th, 1991
Height: 6.02
Weight: 180lbs.
Shoots: L
Season Statistics: Regular Season | 27GP 14G 20A 34P
Playoffs |n/a
TSR Midterm Rank: NR | Position Rank:21st Defensemen
League Rank: 2nd HS-MA | Country Rank: 2nd USA

McNally showed considerable signs of improvement in his game this year, developing into an effective defenseman with good offensive skills. He’s currently committed to Harvard University in 2011, and will be a long-range prospect.

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Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

Be sure to check out TSR’s first half of the 2010 Mid-Term Rankings with players from 1-30
http://www.thescoutingreport.org/tsrs-2010-nhl-draft-midterm-rankings-top-30-skaters/

#31. stephen JOHNS | RD | US Under 18 Team (USHL)

Johns is another one of the impressive defenders from the US Under 18 Team this year. He has very good all around skills and could be the most NHL ready defenseman out of the group of NTDP blue-liners this season. Johns plays a solid defensive game and uses his size to aid his physical game, but his offensive potential is probably pretty limited at the next level. Johns recently committed to the University of Notre Dame, but it will be interesting to see if he actually lands there as his OHL rights are held by the Windsor Spitfires, who are no strangers to plucking NCAA talent. If Johns does wind up in South Bend, he should be a very effective defenseman as a true freshman as he continues to work on his overall game.

#32. tyler TOFFOLI | RW | Ottawa 67′s (OHL)

Like Hishon, Toffoli’s draft stock has also been a victim of a poor start as the Scarborough native only managed 3 points in his first 10 games this season. Since then, Toffoli has exploded offensively and has done a good job of working his way back into first round contention. He has very good offensive instincts but the knock on his game is that he doesn’t really have any defining quality to his game at this point. Either way, if he continues to score at this clip, he should find that his stock continues to rise as the season progresses.

#33. dylan MCILRATH | RD | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

It’s often rare to find a defenseman who plays with such a nasty edge to their game, but also can play a solid all around game as well. Dylan McIlrath is a perfect example of this, and his value could come at a premium as a result. Regarded as one of the most physical players in the WHL and arguably the top fighter in the league, even as a 17 year old, McIlrath is also a very steady defenseman who logs heavy minutes with the Warriors. With Travis Hamonic being dealt to the Brandon Wheat Kings, McIlrath will have even more of an opportunity to play in all situations heading down the stretch.

#34. ivan TELEGIN | LW | Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Telegin is a player that has seemingly come out of nowhere to be a player that has worked himself into first round contention. There was some uncertainty regarding whether or not Telegin would be coming across the pond this year, but the decision to do so has really gained a lot of valuable exposure for Telegin. The big Russian uses his size to his advantage and plays a very simple game, drive the net and create traffic. His puck skills are solid, but his real forte is his net play, which is where he scores a significant portion of his goals. A Russian World Junior representative, Telegin has a lot of attributes that should translate into an effective NHL player, but his ceiling might be a concern for teams drafting in the late first to early second round.

#35. jakub CULEK | LC | Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

The other half of Rimouski’s pair of Czech’s, Culek is another player that will surely contend for a 25-35 selection based on his combination of size, skill and potential. The Oceanic snagged Culek with the 37th pick in the 2009 CHL Import Draft and he has definitely impressed in his rookie season in the QMJHL. The numbers aren’t as high as they could be, but as one of the youngest players in the draft this year, there is still a lot of room for improvement. With Culek, it will be all about how much potential an NHL team sees in him, as he does have a lot of untapped skill.

#36. teemu PULKKINEN | RW | Jokerit (SM-Liiga)

Oh how the mighty have fallen. After being touted as one of the top players in the draft heading into the season, Pulkkinen has seen his draft stock deteriorate in the wake of several injuries, most recently a wrist injury that has caused him to miss most of the season. Putting the injuries aside, it’s evident that Pulkkinen does have a boatload of talent, that would probably put him in the 7-15 range if he were healthy. He’s been flying under the radar so far as a result of not playing, but if he can back into action and play well in the Under 18′s like he did last season, there’s a good chance you’ll see him work his way back into Round 1.

#37. charlie COYLE | RW | South Shore (EJHL)

Coyle is a cousin of former NHL sniper Tony Amonte, and will be attending Boston University next season like Amonte did. Coyle is a strong skater with good quickness for a big player (6’3″ 200lbs). He competes hard on the ice and does a lot of dirty work in the corners as he is willing to take a hit to make a play. He has displayed an ice scoring touch in the EJHL this year and has good offensive skills. Coyle’s lack of exposure and playing against weaker competition could scare some NHL teams away, but his speed and skill are not something that can be overlooked. He’ll need some time to develop at BU, but there’s a lot of pro potential within his capability.

#38. devante SMITH-PELLY | LW | Mississauga Majors (OHL)

One prospect who has seemingly come from nowhere in the last three years is Devante Smith-Pelly. After having a breakout season in his OHL draft year, Smith-Pelly is once again showing that he has a ton of untapped potential. A good skater with a wicked shot, Smith-Pelly also plays with a lot of grit and isn’t afraid to drive the net. His biggest problem right now is consistently competing every shift. Smith-Pelly could also benefit from some more off-ice training as he isn’t in great shape for a player of his caliber. Either way, he’s definitely a player on the rise, who is one of the top players on one of the better CHL teams in junior hockey.

#39. jason ZUCKER | LW | US Under 18 Team (USHL)

The top draft eligible forward from this year’s US Under 18 Team is Jason Zucker, who also represented the USA at the World Juniors. Zucker has good offensive instincts as well as a hard and accurate shot, but the real strength of his game lies in his ability to play a strong two-way game. He back-checks hard and is positionally sound in the defensive zone, which is an asset to his game and should give him a good chance to develop into a quality Top 6 NHL forward.

#40. geoffrey SCHEMITSCH | RD | Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Paging Calvin de Haan. Last year de Haan worked his way all the way up to 12th overall, but this year he has a successor who has come out of nowhere just like de Haan did a year ago. Schemitsch actually went undrafted in the OHL after losing most of his draft year to an injury. After contemplating the NCAA vs. OHL this year, Schemitsch elected to sign as a free agent with Owen Sound, a decision that looks very good at the moment. He’s a lanky defenseman who might appear awkward at times, but he’s got a lot of upside. He’s a good skater who has a lot of poise moving up the ice. He doesn’t really have a panic button and he’s an exceptional distributor of the puck. Schemtisch needs to add some strength moving forward and his defensive game could use some work as well, but this guy is definitely a player to keep an eye on.

#41. ryan JOHANSEN | RC | Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

A big forward who hasn’t quite filled out his frame, Ryan Johansen has really made a name for himself with his impressive play this season. After turning down the NCAA route, Johansen joined Portland this season and has simply exploded. After only 17 points in the BCHL last season, he’s hovering at a point-per-game pace right now, as he’s found a tremendous amount of confidence playing alongside Nino Niederreiter. Johansen could be a player that continues to work his way up the rankings as his combination of size and skill will certainly entice a lot of NHL teams.

#42. maxim KITSYN | LW | Mettallurg (KHL)

Kitsyn is a bit of an enigma right now when projecting where he should go in the 2010 crop, or even for NHL teams to factor in when he will be drafted this summer. Kitsyn definitely has a lot of talent, and is one of the better puck handlers in the entire draft. Kitsyn has a very deceptive shot which he utilizes well in traffic and has a lot of traits that could make him a good NHL scorer one day in the future.

#43. kevin HAYES | LW | Nobles & Greenough HS (USHS)

Younger brother of Toronto draft pick Jimmy Hayes, Kevin is projecting to be a much better NHL prospect at this point. He’s a great skater, especially for his size (6’3″ 200lbs) and has deceptive acceleration. He uses his frame well to protect the puck in traffic and has pretty good agility for a big man. Offensively, he has a strong shot with a quick release and is willing to play in traffic. His physical play will definitely be an asset moving forward, especially given his size. One knock on Hayes is a lack of hockey sense, as he could do a better job of using his teammates as outlets. Hayes is committed to attend Boston College next season which will a good place for him to play against a higher level of competition.

#44. brock BEUKEBOOM | RD | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

A hot start to the season had many considering Beukeboom as a potential first round selection, but the son of former NHLer Jeff Beuekboom quieted down a bit in November and December. Despite that, Beukeboom has regained his form as a punishing physical defenseman. He’s a smooth skating defenseman that can break a team down with his speed and transitional passing, but he’s at his best when he’s also using his size on opponents as well. Offensively, he’s a capable shooter on the power-play, and he does have some untapped offensive potential as well. He probably won’t be a first round pick, but could be a great second round pickup for any team looking to add some quality to their defensive pool of prospects.

#45. ryan MARTINDALE | LC | Ottawa 67′s (OHL)

Depending on which game you see Ryan Martindale, you might think you’re seeing one of the better players in the draft. The problem is that player comes and goes at will, as Martindale really lacks passion and consistency in his game. He’s a big player with very good skating ability and good offensive instincts as well, but he often doesn’t compete hard enough to really make the most of his skill set. Even still, his potential ability will be enough for a team to jump on him in the 25-45 range as he has top line NHL skills.

#46. jared KNIGHT | RW | London Knights (OHL)

One of the more underrated players in this draft is London forward Jared Knight. After being diagnosed with diabetes earlier in the season, Knight has really turned up his game, and has found the net on a consistent basis this season, which used to be the knock against his game. His skating could still use a bit of improvement, but he plays hard and competes to make up for any lack in foot speed. Despite being undersized, he’s willing to play a physical game and is very responsible defensively. Knight could be a player that works his way up the draft board even more as scouts take notice of his impressive play.

#47. kevin LIND | LD | Chicago Steel (USHL)

The best draft eligible defenseman in the USHL not playing for the NTDP is Chicago’s Kevin Lind. The big defenseman is a good skater for his size and is surprisingly agile on the ice. He anticipates the play well and uses that as an asset to move the puck well in transition. He rarely makes a bad pass and always has his head on a swivel looking for outlet options. His offensive output has been a little disappointing, but there is the potential for more. Lind could afford to be more physical with his play and needs to avoid over-committing on opposing forwards.

#48. max GARDINER | LC | Minnetonka HS (USHS)

Minnetonka Center Max Gardiner has put himself into the Top 60 range this season with some strong play. He’s the younger brother of 2008 Anaheim first round pick Jake, who attends the University of Wisconsin. Max, however, will not be attending Wisconsin and is instead going to be attending the University of Minnesota. He’s a strong offensive player who has really been a force for Minnetonka this season and could even get some early second round consideration. Like other high school prospects, Gardiner will really challenge his game at the NCAA level next season, especially playing for one of the better college hockey programs.

#49. troy RUTKOWSKI | RD | Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Yet another one of Portland’s talented young players is defenseman Troy Rutkowski. An incredible start to th season had Rutkowski vying for a first round selection, but recently his play has been disappointing. When he’s on his game, Rutkowski can be a very potent powerplay quarterback that can also play a steady, physical game on the back-end. Lately, however, Rutkowski has struggled to put up points and his physical play has been disappearing. With a couple of additions to the Winterhawks, including Luca Sbisa, Rutkowski’s powerplay time will be cut down, making it even more important for him to step up his defensive game.

#50. brad ROSS | LW | Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Ross will likely be one of the biggest fan favourite prospects this season as he’s one of those pesty players that also has some offensive upside to his game. Ross is regarded as one of the most hated players in the WHL, playing an in your face physical game where he’s not afraid to chirp and get players off their games. Ross’ ability to do this as well as put pucks in the net should cement his status as a Top 60 prospect, who could even go a lot higher than #50. Last year nobody was expecting the Kings to snatch Kyle Clifford at #35, and a player like Ross could contend for a spot like that as well this season.

#51. tom KUHNHACKL | RW | Landshut (DEL)

Kuhnhackl is one of the better German prospects to come by the NHL draft in recent years, and this year actually provides two of them along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer of the Windsor Spitfires. Kuhnhackl (6’2″ 168lbs) is a big winger who still needs to add some bulk to his frame. He’s bounced around a bit this season between J18, the German 2nd Division as well as the DEL, but has spent most of his time playing with Landshut in the 2nd Division. He’s got some nice upside but hasn’t quite shown enough consistency to stick in the DEL. His CHL rights are held by the Windsor Spitfires who will likely make a pretty big pitch to bring Kuhnhackl over to North America next season. There hasn’t been very much definitive word on his plans for next season, but an NHL team might try to push him towards Major Junior.

#52. justin FAULK | RD | US Under 18 Team (USHL)

Another member of the talented Under 18 blue line, Justin Faulk is a much different defenseman from the rest of the group. Faulk is a pure offensive defenseman who thrives in the offensive zone. He’s got a very good shot and loves shooting the puck whenever he has the opportunity, routinely hitting the net. He’s also got good vision and can make some nice passes in transition to break down a defense. His fitness might be a bit of a concern at the moment as he looks a little heavy, so that is something to monitor as well.

#53. brandon ARCHIBALD | RD | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Port Huron native Brandon Archibald has taken some big steps forward in his game this season with the Greyhounds. Paired for most of the season with Jacob Muzzin, Archibald has looked a lot more comfortable with the puck on his stick and has found a bit of an offensive game as well this year. Archibald is a good skater for his size, has a long reach, and really employs an active stick on defense whenever he can. His defensive game has improved this year, but he still has a tendency to over-commit at times and lose body positioning. Should be a solid pick in the late second round, however.

#54. brandon DAVIDSON | LD | Regina Pats (WHL)

One of the most intriguing prospect stories in the draft is that of Brandon Davidson. After being unable to afford AAA hockey, Davidson flew under the radar playing AA, and only started getting some legitimate exposure last season. Fast forward to today, and Davidson has established himself as a strong defenseman for the Regina Pats who has not only played tremendous defense, but also chipped in on offense as well. Given his unheralded path, it’s tough to forecast how much more potential is left in the tank, but he’s certainly deserving of a Top 60 pick at this point.

#55. dalton SMITH | LC | Ottawa 67′s (OHL)

Another player who has really been on the rise is Ottawa center Dalton Smith. After playing only a handful of games with the 67′s last season, Smith has taken on a much bigger role with the club this year. His feisty style of play and ability to dish out big hits is something that cannot be ignored. Skating is a bit of a concern, but Smith does seem to be improving that aspect of his game every week. He’s got a decent scoring touch and is responsible defensively making him a pretty interesting package. Come draft day it’s hard to envision a team letting him slip through the second round on draft day.

#56. stephen SILAS | LD | Belleville Bulls (OHL)

Watching the Belleville Bulls play, you might be quick to notice that Stephen Silas and Shawn Lalonde seem to be almost the exact same player. Like Lalonde, Silas is a smooth skating defenseman who sees the ice well and loves having the puck on his stick. He’s a very good power-play defenseman who can really control the flow of the game when he has the puck as well. Some defensive concerns will likely hold him out of the Top 50, but he could be a great value pick up, much like Shawn Lalonde has turned out to be.

#57. greg MCKEGG | LC | Erie Otters (OHL)

A disastrous rookie season caused most of the hockey world to forget about Greg McKegg. This season, however, McKegg has really found some chemistry with Mike Cazzola and Zack Torquato to become one of the most potent trios in the OHL. McKegg’s skating is pretty average, but his hockey sense is very good. He’s a talented player with the puck and is pretty creative in the offensive zone as well. He’s responsible defensively, but needs to work on competing his hardest on a shift to shift basis.

#58. austin MADAISKY | RD | Kamploops Blazers (WHL)

Madaisky was Calgary’s first round pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, and was enjoying a strong season with the Hitmen this year before being dealt to the Kamploops Blazers in a blockbuster deadline trade. Madaisky is a big defenseman who plays a reliable defensive game as well as having some decent offensive upside. He was recently named to the Top Prospects Game to replace Erik Gudbranson as well. Madaisky is a bit raw at this point, but he will have a good opportunity to develop with the rebuilding Blazers.

#59. mark STONE | RW | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Stone is a big winger who has the ability to find the back of the net with his strong shot. He has an innate ability to find the right places on the ice at the right time and does a good job of capitalizing on his opportunities. Having an early season injury as well as being buried down the depth chart on a loaded Brandon club will probably limit him to being outside the Top 50. Stone’s skating is also fairly average and will be a bit of a concern for teams.

#60. andrew YOGAN | LC | Erie Otters (OHL)

Yogan is a player who has first round skills, but hasn’t quite been able to put the package together. He’s a very good skater and can be explosive like few other players when he has the puck. His puck skills are good, but he often struggles to capitalize on his opportunities. Yogan also lacks the crucial element of hockey sense and struggles to adhere to his defensive responsibilities as a center. He’s a pretty risky pick with his shortcomings, but there is a chance that Yogan could be a home run type pick as well.

With nearly half of the 2009/2010 OHL Season completed, here is TSR’s look at how the 2010 Draft Crop from the OHL is beginning to stack up. We’ve managed to get multiple viewings at every player on this list, and as always we’re taking into account a combination of current ability as well as potential, and projecting player’s abilities to be strong pro players. Please note that we have ranked Goaltenders as a separate entity from the skaters, and you can see the Goalie list at the bottom, after the Skaters table. If you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to post a comment or send us an email!

Skaters

Goaltenders

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.

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