Brendan Ross – McKeen's Hockey

Youngblood: Preliminary 2016 NHL Draft Rankings

Brendan Ross — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 15:00:25 +0000

Just months after Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel landed in Edmonton and Buffalo, respectively, by way of the draft forever changing their organization's landscape, we are back in the scouting notebooks looking for the next vital piece of the puzzle. With the 2016 NHL Draft season about to commence, it's time to return to the frosty rinks to get to know our next draft class.

It's safe to say that there will be no Connor McDavid-calibre of skater but Auston Matthews will certainly do his best to follow suit. If Matthews is this year's pacesetter then it's Sarnia Sting defenseman Jakob Chychrun and Finland's Jesse Puljujarvi who will be looking to knock the American off his pedestal. Scouts are cautiously calling the 2016 draft class a "strong" one but that will be better determined mid-way through the season.

At the top, there's a strong American influence with six of the top 10 ranked skaters trained in the US of A, including Auston Matthews, Jakob Chychrun, Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones, Clayton Keller and Chad Krys. That number gets inflated if Logan Brown and Charlie McAvoy, two players who are worthy of Top 10 consideration, are considered in the mix.

From a European standpoint, it's a very strong class, particularly from the Land of the Midnight Sun where Finns Jesse Puljujarvi, Patrik Laine, and Olli Juolevi lead the pack. Creative swede Alexander Nylander, brother of Maple Leafs top prospect William Nylander, and sharp-shooting Russian Dmitri Sokolov round out the European’s top end talent.

The 2016 draft class is littered with familiar hockey names as hockey bloodlines run deep. Jeff Chychrun, father of Jakob, had a successful stint with the Philadelphia Flyers. Former NHL captain Keith Tkachuk has passed on his hockey knowledge to his son Matthew. Fellow American Max Jones’ father, Brad Jones, donned jerseys of the Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers after an illustrious NCAA career at the University of Michigan. Chad Krys’ father, Mark, was a draft pick of the Boston Bruins. Current Ottawa 67’s coach Jeff Brown was a seasoned NHLer and now watches his son, Logan Brown, chase his dreams with the Windsor Spitfires. Kiefer Bellows watches highlights of his dad, Brian Bellows, as an All-Star with the Minnesota North Stars. Brett Howden roots on his older brother, Quinton, as he attempts to crack the Florida Panthers while Jacob Cederholm does the same with his brother Anton and the Vancouver Canucks. Julien Gauthier talks hockey with his uncle, Denis Gauthier, who was a first round selection and NHL defenseman with the Calgary Flames. Needless to say, hockey is buried in the roots of many of these talented prospects and each of them are attempting at creating a hockey bloodline for their own future families.

Note: The following rankings are constructed from viewings over the past view seasons using international tournaments (World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and Ivan Hlinka Memorial) as well as league play. As is expected with “Preliminary” rankings, the list will grow and shuffle throughout the season as new players are viewed and analyzed.

1. Auston Matthews, RC (ZSC, SUI)

After smashing Patrick Kane’s NTDP records, it’s easy to see why Auston Matthews will start the 2016 season as the consensus top draft prospect. With that said, Matthews is doing something rather unprecedented in that he has opted to play his draft season abroad joining ZSC in the Swiss professional leagues rather than compete in the NCAA or CHL ranks. Matthews is a rare hockey breed due to his strong power game and exceptional possession skills but it’s his dogged worth ethic and suffocating hunger for loose pucks that makes him absolutely exhausting to defend. He’s got the size, wingspan and strength to fight off checkers and the skill, puck touch and finishing abilities to excel in tight spaces. Not very often do you see a high-end skill player combine such finesse and power in an ultra-competitive approach. He’ll be loved wherever he ends up.

2. Jakob Chychrun, LD (Sarnia, OHL)

Jakob Chychrun of the Sarnia Sting - Photo: Aaron Bell (OHL Images)

With all of the attributes of an elite top pairing defender, Jakob Chychrun tops all 2016 draft eligible defensemen and it’s for good reason given his combination of maturity, mobility and three-zone impact. Off the ice, given Jakob’s father Jeff had a ten year NHL career, it’s not surprising that he’s one of the most mature young prospects to come around the game in quite some time. On the ice, Chychrun is a fiery competitor who oozes confidence in possession. As an advanced skater, gifted puck handler and physically blessed defender, Chychrun displays elite abilities to activate into the rush while also maintaining sound defensive awareness. He’s an intelligent attacker, punishing checker and executes difficult plays at high speeds with ease. Chychrun enters his draft season on the mend from off-season shoulder surgery and should establish himself as the leader on a young talented Sarnia Sting roster.

3. Jesse Puljujärvi, RW (Karpat, Liiga)

In a strong Finnish draft class, Jesse Puljujärvi will start the season as the nation’s top player and vye to be a first overall selection. He’s a hungry attacker who blends size, quick in-tight mobility and a seeing-eye shot earning him the reputation as one of the draft’s best shooters. Puljujärvi is a high volume shooter who attacks seams with quick powerful strides allowing him to separate from opposing checkers in a split second. Inside the offensive zone, Puljujarvi evades defenders using elusive cuts on the fly as he slashes off the half wall striking quickly. The promising Finn utilizes his lengthy reach to shield off pressure extremely well. He was outstanding at the 2015 World Junior Championship as the only 1998-born player and was, arguably, Finland’s most dangerous player.

4. Matthew Tkachuk, LW (London, OHL)

NHL bloodlines are strong with new arriving Knight Matthew Tkachuk, who is the eldest son of long-time NHLer Keith Tkachuk. Coming off a standout season with USA’s NTDP Under-18 team, Tkachuk will impress scouts with his high-pace attacks and physically dominating game. With his size and strength advantage, clever playmaker’s touch and skilled reads, Tkachuk has the chance to step right into the OHL and produce as one of the league’s top scorers. Tkachuk plays a pro-style game and he should remain a top five candidate throughout his draft season.

5. Max Jones, LW (London, OHL)

A “throwback” player in every sense of the word, Max Jones is a highly competitive, sharp shooting winger with the physical gifts to dominate as a trigger man. His pro-level shot features blazing quickness, combining rare timing on his release and pin-point accuracy, that snaps twine before goaltenders can even begin to react. He utilizes a wide powerful skating stride to burst out wide before cutting inside to unleash one of his lethal shots. Jones displays solid skill in possession with precise passing abilities and an ability to dangle when needed but he definitely projects as a shoot-first type of player. He’s extremely hungry for loose pucks and uses his size and strength advantages to gather up possession quickly. With him slated to join a talented London Knights squad, Max Jones projects to do a lot of damage if he lines up next to premium distributors Mitch Marner and/or Matthew Tkachuk.

6. Clayton Keller, C (USNTDP, USHL)

An offensive catalyst with USA’s national program, Clayton Keller is a world class puck handler who blends his puck-on-a-string dangles with elite vision to confidently dissect opposing defences. His passing abilities are in a class of their own and he needs very little time and space to execute creative, highly difficult attempts. He mixes in deceptive fakes, clever stick misdirection and paralyzing agility to keep opposing teams guessing. In a similar mold as a Patrick Kane or Mitch Marner, Keller’s the type of player that teams run their offenses through due to his creativity and confidence under pressure. He’s not a one trick pony either because his shooting abilities have dynamic elements as well. At 5-foot-9, Keller fits the prototypical small skilled forward mold and it’ll be everyone’s biggest harping point this season. He excels as a smaller forward due to his elusiveness, smart on-ice awareness and reputation as a dangerous playmaker – an element that earns extra space from defenders. With the rise of smaller offensive talents throughtout the NHL, it’s easy to see why Clayton Keller starts so high on this list.

7. Patrik Laine, RW (Tappara, Liiga)

The 2016 draft class is trending towards players combining above-average size, power, strength, as well as skill and Patrik Laine meets all of that criteria. The burly winger owns a shoot-first mentality yet remains a viable playmaker with slick puckhandling ability. His skating remains a work in progress and while there appears to be plenty of questions regarding his character, work ethic and defensive commitments, Laine’s package of brute strength, hockey sense and feared shooting abilities earn him top 10 consideration. The Sarnia Sting own his CHL rights after selecting him in the 2015 Import Draft so it’ll be interesting to follow whether they’ll be able to lure him from overseas in future seasons. For now, Laine looks to establish himself as a threat in Finland’s top professional league.

8. Dmitri Sokolov, C/LW (Sudbury, OHL)

North American scouts will be thrilled with Dmitri Sokolov’s choice to play his draft season in the CHL with the Sudbury Wolves. It was back in November when Sokolov introduced himself on North American soil as a standout performer with Russia’s Under-17 squad. Physically, Sokolov is a stocky forward who flashes creative, highly skilled no-look passes that are generally unexpected given his bullish stature. He’s not a high-end skater as his stride can be sluggish and heavy, particularly in lateral movements but he does use changes of pace and direction well. Because he owns such crafty puck skills and thrives in tight quarters, he hasn’t had trouble creating chances with just average skating ability. Sokolov is armed with a downright wicked shot that’s extremely effective due to its quick velocity and a tricky release point. Sokolov’s quick mitts, unpredictable attacking routes and natural finishing abilities has him starting the year as a top 10 talent. If he can become a more dynamic skater, he stands to move way up the rankings.

9. Alexander Nylander, RW (AIK, SuperElit)

The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree as Alexander Nylander shows a similar skill set to his older brother William Nylander (Maple Leafs top prospect). His compete level and attention to defensive detail appear to trump his brother in those categories as he shows impressive hustle and a willingness to battle for loose pucks. Alexander may not have the same level of poise, patience or creativity as his older brother but he’s advanced in all those areas and owns a similar flair that can bring fans to their seats. Nylander is one of the draft’s most dynamic offensive players and he’ll spend the year showcasing his all-world creativity and confident one-on-one dangles in hopes of being a high draft pick. It remains to be seen whether Alexander Nylander will play his draft season with the Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) who own his rights in the CHL.

10. Chad Krys, D (USNTDP, USHL)

The second blue liner to crack the top ten, Chad Krys edged out NTDP teammate Charlie McAvoy and BCHLer Dante Fabbro who were knocking on the door as well. Gifted in many aspects of the game, it’s Krys’quick hockey processor and smooth skating ability that stand out. His ability to set the pace of the game is a rare skill set. Krys is capable of speeding up the tempo and slowing it down when needed as a means of cleverly opening up lanes and creating more time/space for his linemates. Committed to Boston University, he will thrive as a top pairing defenseman and establish himself as a natural puck mover. He operates with such comfort and efficiency in his game - controlling the puck, surveying his options and executing highly difficult passes while making it all look so easy. He’s proven to be an offensive catalyst with his ability to disguise his intentions, curling off of pressure then zipping off a back door pass to a wide open teammate for a high quality scoring chance. Teams looking to add quarterback as part of their arsenal will be eyeing up Chad Krys.

11. Tyler Benson, LW (Vancouver, WHL)

Established himself as a hockey prodigy early, Tyler Benson has been a prime target for scouts for for years and based on his overall hockey sense, astute two-way play and phyiscal gifts, he stands to be a high pick next summer. He’s a calculated attacker who can execute high-end plays off the wing as a shooter and playmaker. He’s strong, powerful, thinks the game extremely well and his determined compete level rounds out a near-perfect pro package.

12. Logan Brown, C (Windsor, OHL)

Logan Brown of the Windsor Spitfires (Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Despite the influx of undersized skilled forwards at the NHL level, size remains a very coveted attribute when considering the “ideal” hockey prospect. At 6-foot-6, Logan Brown gets a big check mark in the physical attributes column and fortunately, he owns coveted smarts and offensive touch to justify Top 10 consideration as well. Staying true to the traditional ‘big forward’ mold, Brown doesn’t lean on creative dangles but rather uses intelligent positioning, subtle puck touches and a powerful net drive game to earn his edge over his opponents. He’ll challenge for a Top 10 selection but there’s some areas to work on first.

13. Dante Fabbro, D (Penticton, BCHL)

Opting to remain in the BCHL for his NHL draft season to keep NCAA eligibility, the average-sized Fabbro remains a top defensive prospect among his peers. His low-maintenance style combined with an elite hockey mind that anticipates and reads his competition extremely well projects him as a high-end transitional defender. Given his poise, calming demeanour and mature two-way game, Fabbro has all the tools to climb up this list with a dominant BCHL season.

14. Sam Steel, C (Regina, WHL)

Tagged with some of the best skating ability in this draft, Steel uses his blazing feet to push the pace up ice, driving defenders onto their heels. His high-paced attack is exacerbated for his opponents because his slick hands at top speeds cause equivalent problems for defenders. Steel handles very well in traffic with an ability to quickly slash into scoring areas untouched. Speed, hockey sense and a highly competitive attitude will ensure Steel success moving forward.

15. Charlie McAvoy, D (USNTDP, USHL)

An easy-to-watch defender who competes hard, flashes fine offensive abilities and owns some fairly enticing pro skills. McAvoy owns fluid mobile, extremely efficient puck control and the confidence to operate as a prime distributor. Defensively, McAvoy is calculated in his approaches displaying advanced anticipation and timely gap closures. It’s rare to catch McAvoy make mistakes and with his overall package and untapped upside, he’s a potential riser.

16. Kiefer Bellows, C (Sioux Falls, USHL)

After lighting the lamp with 33 goals, Brian Bellows’ son Keifer captured the USHL Rookie of the Year honours easily establishing himself as a top contender entering his draft season. In the tightly packed group featured from 10^th to 20^th, Bellows plays the throwback style that NHL scouts love and will be in the discussion for the Top 10. His power game blends perfectly with his natural scoring abilities and it’s easy to envision him as a future trigger man in the NHL.

17. Kale Clague, D (Brandon, WHL)

High upside offensive defenseman with experience captaining Canada internationally, Kale Clague uses creative vision, attacks lanes aggressively with his plus skating ability and shows an affinity for leading the powerplay. He’s a defender that does everything well and it’ll be interesting to see how big of a step he takes this season.

18. Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW (Cape Breton, QMJHL)

Competitive and driven, Pierre-Luc Dubois is a versatile skilled winger that fits the mold of high character players perfectly. Extremely smart, Dubois anticipates and reads the play very well establishing a natural feel for the game. He’s the type of high character player that will leave it all on the ice and owns that “it” factor that has become so valuable when the game is on the line.

19. Olli Juolevi, D (London, OHL)

In a Finnish draft class chalked full of high-end talent, Juolevi leads the pack among defenseman, following in countrymate Olli Maatta’s footsteps as he prepares himself for a debut with the London Knights. At 6-foot-2, Juolevi possesses ideal size but it’s his confident puck control, precise passing, a big league shot and steady two-way commitment that should earn him top minutes right out of the gate.

20. Tyson Jost, C/LW (Penticton, BCHL)

Jost is a versatile speedy forward that causes all sorts of problems for defenders because of his suffocating puck pursuit. Uses smart reads along with sound basic hockey technique to establish himself as a factor in all three zones. He’s not a pure dangler but he does flash some slick fakes and misdirections as a means of picking up extra space. He’s not a punisher but he’s shown capable of excelling in traffic, particularly off of the cycle with his quick hands and dynamic feet.

21. Brett Howden, LC (Moose Jaw, WHL)

A standout WHL rookie season reassured that Brett Howden, brother of Florida Panthers prospect Quinton, is a first-round talent for the upcoming draft - checking off all of the boxes that scouts covet: good skating, well sized pivot with solid puck skills and good hockey IQ. Now that he’s an established threat in the ‘Dub, can he maintain his dominance against the leagues top checkers?

22. Samuel Girard, D (Shawinigan, QMJHL)

Mesmorizing elusiveness, creative seam passes and aggressive attacks are just three exciting components to this slick defender’s game. Girard will need to round out his defensive responsibilities but few players can keep plays alive at the blue line as well as this mobile and creative defenseman.

23. Rasmus Asplund, C/LW (Farjestad, SHL)

Asplund is an intuitive forward who is dedicated to all three zones, excellent in the faceoff dot and rarely cuts corners. Asplund’s been a leader in international play for Sweden and should return to the WJC’s as a go-to player for his nation.

24. Michael McLeod, C (Mississauga, OHL)

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads - Photo: Terry Wilson (OHL Images)

As the middle sibling of a well-known hockey family, Michael McLeod has quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic OHL skaters in the draft. Blessed with all-world skating ability, McLeod is the source of envy for anyone who has ever struggled staying on their skates. His gifts aren’t limited to his blades because his puck handling abilities are high-end as well. Heading into his draft year, McLeod needs to produce and become the leader on an up-and-coming Steelheads squad to launch himself into the next tier.

25. Julien Gauthier, RW (Val-d’Ors, QMJHL)

Shone at Canada’s World Junior Summer camp as the only underager, showcasing his brute strength and on-the-edge compete level. Gauthier shows promise offensively with his ability to drive the net and operate well in traffic for a big player. He owns a big time shot and a nose for the net and there is still plenty of growth remaining in Gauthier’s game.

26. Victor Mete, D (London, OHL)

Victor Mete of the London Knights - Photo: Aaron Bell (OHL Images)

Effortless skating abilities, confident puck distributing abilities and dynamic (yet responsible) offensive attacks make Victor Mete one of the draft’s premier puck movers. He’s not big and his strength is a work in progress but he’s dialed in on both sides of the pucks and should contend for the OHL defensive scoring title. He starts at number 26 on this list but he’ll move up – guaranteed.

27. Jordan Kyrou, RW (Sarnia, OHL)

Snuck into the OHL by way of a late second round pick by Sarnia and established himself as one of the most impactful rookie forwards in the OHL last season. Jordan Kyrou finds himself higher on this list than most others due to his rare offensive skill set and high ceiling. He’s far from a finished prospect but his dazzling dangles, creative vision, high-end passing ability and confident possession game give him the necessary tools to light up a game sheet. He’s risky at times but his attacking skills could help a young and talented Sting squad move to the top of the Western Conference standings. Come the New Year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kyrou jump ten spots in these rankings.

28. Mikhail Sergachev, D (Windsor, OHL)

Big, strong late-birthday defender who excels playing tough minutes. Destined for Windsor for his draft season, Sergachev will strengthen the Spits blue line and strike fear into OHL opponents with bone crushing hits.

29. Carl Grundström, RW (Modo, SuperElit)

Pitbull mentality combines lethally with a sharp quick release and an unrelenting net drive. Grundstrom’s well-built frame, powerful and aggressive attacking game and shooting abilities provide him with the essential goal scoring tools to prosper. He’ll need to clean up his footwork and polish his puck skills to move up the ranks.

30. Jacob Cederholm, D (HV 71, SuperElit)

The younger brother of Canucks’ prospect Anton Cederholm, Jacob is cut from a similar cloth as a player focused on his defensive responsibilities. He won’t be pulling Erik Karlsson-like rushes up ice but there’s value in his astute defensive play and calculated transition game.

31. Jake Bean, D (Calgary, WHL)
32. Luke Green, D (Saint John, QMJHL)
33. Sean Day, D (Mississauga, OHL)
34. Vitali Abramov, LW (Gatineau, QMJHL)
35. Taylor Raddysh, RW (Erie, OHL)
36. William Bitten, C (Flint, OHL)
37. Dillon Dube, C (Kelowna, WHL)
38. Ryan Lindgren, LD (USNTDP, USHL)
39. Tye Felhaber, LW (Saginaw, OHL)
40. Filip Gustavsson, G (Luleå HF J20, SuperElit)
41. Timmy Gettinger, LW (Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
42. Alex DeBrincat, RW (Erie, OHL)
43. David Quenneville, D (Brandon, WHL)
44. Nick Pastujov, LW (US NTDP, USHL)
45. Riley Tufte, LW (Fargo, USHL)
46. Tarmo Reumanen, D (TPS U20, Jr. A SM Liiga)
47. Michael Campoli, D (US NTDP, USHL)
48. Joey Anderson, RW (US NTDP, USHL)
49. William Fallström, C (Djurgårdens IF J20, SuperElit)
50. Max Lajoie, D (Swift Current, WHL)
51. Adam Mascherin, LW (Kitchener, OHL)
52. Otto Somppi, LW (Jokerit, Jr. A SM Liiga)
53. Jacob Moverare, D (HV71, SuperElit)
54. Otto Måkinen, LW (Tappara, Liiga)
55. Linus Weissbach, LW/RW (Frolunda, SuperElit)
56. Evan Cormier, G (Saginaw, OHL)
57. Markus Niemelainen, D (Saginaw, OHL)
58. Dylan Wells, G (Peterborough, OHL)
59. Evan Fitzpatrick, G (Sherbrooke, QMJHL)
60. Pascal Laberge, C (Gatineau, QMJHL)

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Youngblood: CHL Import Draft Targets

Brendan Ross — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:32:03 +0000

Sarnia selected Czech star Pavel Zacha 1st overall at the 2014 CHL Import Draft. (OHL Images)

The 2015 NHL Entry Draft is in the books and development camps are underway across the league, leaving team personnel to access players’ readiness and development paths over the next few years. Most 2015 drafted prospects will return to their junior or development leagues to work on improving their games and maturing into their bodies but it is a crucial time for decisions to be made on a lot of the selected Euro skaters.

Just a few short days from wrapping the draft up in Sunrise, Florida, the Canadian Hockey League’s 24^th annual Import Draft is slated to take place at 11 am Tuesday, June 30^th as sixty teams from the Atlantic to the Pacific restock their import roster spots. The two-round draft will take place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings within each league from the 2014-15 season. The QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan hold the number one pick, followed by the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades at number two, and the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves who will select third overall. Each team in the CHL is permitted to dress and play a maximum of two import players each season who are selected annually through the CHL Import Draft.

A total of 14 players were selected at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft who were acquired through the CHL Import Draft. Sarnia Sting forward Pavel Zacha, selected 1^st overall at the 2014 Import Draft, was taken by the New Jersey Devils 6^th overall. Ivan Provorov of the Brandon Wheat Kings donned a Philadelphia Flyers jersey when the 7^th selection came due. Hailfax’s Timo Meier is the latest San Jose Sharks prospect after being selected 9^th overall and the Detroit Red Wings scooped up Cape Breton’s import forward Evgeny Svechnikov 19^th overall.

At the 2014 CHL import Draft, a total of 71 skaters were selected from 12 different countries led by 25 Russians.

Let’s take a look at some potential targets for the 2015 CHL Import Draft.

The 98s…

Dmitri Sokolov, F, Russia – After a coming out party at the 2014 World U17 Championships in Sarnia this past fall, Sokolov established himself as a top import target showcasing a heavy shot and some silky playmaking abilities. He’s not the smoothest or swiftest skater around but his other tools make him a potential top pick. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Vitali Abramov, F, Russia –Strong possession player who’s capable of dictating the pace of play under pressure. Abramov is a good skater who uses changes in gears to keep defenders uneasy. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Alexander Nylander, brother of Leafs prospect William Nylander, is eligible for the Import Draft but is a long shot to play in the CHL.

Alexander Nylander, RW/LW, Sweden – Younger brother of Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander, Alexander Nylander plays the game in a similar mold showcasing high-end skill and dazzling puck handling ability. He’s a top prospect for the 2016 NHL Draft and although him coming to North American would be exciting, he already has pro experience and will likely return to play in Sweden. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Tarmo Reunanen, D, Finland – Poised defender with elite level vision, Reumanen projects as a defender who can kick-start the rush with clean crisp no-look passes. He shows good mobility but there’s some cleaning up to do in that department. It’s his puck handling ability, strong vision and puck distribution skills that make him a top target. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

William Fallstrom, C/LW, Sweden – High character player who oozes leadership qualities, Fallström showed clutch scoring abilities at the U17s snapping home four goals to lead his team. He combines strong hockey sense and a hearty work ethic to go along with above-average skill. Projects very well to the North American game.

Linus Weissbach, LW/RW, Sweden – Proved to be a strong support player for Team Sweden at the U17s showcasing elusive attacking abilities, using jukes and jives. Weissbach owns blazing speed that he uses to attack on the outside. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Markus Niemelainen, D, Finland – Combines impressive size and strength with above-average mobility on the blueline. Niemelainen showed flashes similar to a young Rasmus Ristolainen at the U17s. He doesn’t make many errors and his ability to make opposing attackers work for ice is a testament to his defensive capacity. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Jacob Cederholm, D, Sweden – Brother to Vancouver Canucks prospect Anton Cedarholm, Jacob is also a defensive stalwart for Sweden. He’s a pillar on the backend using his strength and wingspan to shutdown opposing top attackers. With his plus mobility and attention to defensive details, he could be a high target at the draft. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Otto Somppi, F, Finland – A strong international competitor in his early career, Somppi understands the support game extremely well, finding teammates in prime scoring areas and working off of the cycle. He’s a tireless worker in all three zones and shows some crafty misdirection in his attacking game. He’s an impact player. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Jesper Bratt, F, Sweden – The Swedish sparkplug competes at only 5-foot-8 but his enthusiastic puck pursuit is overwhelming for opposing defenders. He’s a slashing style of skater who bolts in and out of traffic retrieving pucks but also displays good one-on-one abilities as well. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Mikhail Mesheryakov, F, Russia – An absolute buzzsaw forward who hunts down pucks like it was his only goal in life, Mersheryakov utilizes sharp cuts and stop-ups on the attack to elude pressure. He’s the type of player who thrives in the possession game never conceding the puck. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Janne Kuokkanen, C, Finland – Quick footed Finn pivot who drove the offensive attack for his nation at the U17s. Capable of holding onto the puck under pressure, Kuokkanen shows an ability to wait for soft spots to open and teammates to arrive. His competitive approach will certainly draw suitors. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Maxim Bain, LW/C, Russia – Clutch skater Maxim Bain really impressed as the U17 games became more important, adapting from his skill game to a puck-hungry-dog-on-fresh-meat when Russia desperately needed a goal. He’s not very big but he irritated his opposition with an unrelenting warrior-like battle mentality. His hard working game is flanked with some notable offensively skilled abilities as well. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Mikhail Sergachev, D, Russia – A defensive pillar for Russia, Sergachev is a defensively sound, minute-munching blue liner who identifies his options quickly on the breakout and transitions the puck up ice efficiently. 2016 NHL Draft eligible

Patrik Laine, RW, Finland – a 6-foot-4 power winger with Top 10 NHL Draft potential, Laine has been on the radar for quite some time. After a cameo appearance in Finland’s top professional league, it’s very doubtful he comes to the CHL but it’s a situation worth watching because he’d be one of the best.

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Finland – A potential top 2016 NHL Draft pick, Puljujarvi has it all – size, strength, smarts and skills but also has options in his native land and is expected to star for Karpat.

Other Potential '98s to Watch:

Lias Andersson, C/LW, Sweden*

Nikita Baikov, RW, Russia

Matous Belohorsky, LW, Czech Republic

Gleb Bondaruk, F, Russia

Samuel Duggan, C/LW, Great Britain

Tobias Eder, RW, Germany

Carl Grundstrom, LW, Sweden*

Robert Havlat, RW, Czech Republic

Artem Ivanyuzhernkov, LW, Russia

Nikita Ivanov, F, Russia

Juha Jaaska, LW, Finland

Matyas Kantner, LW, Czech Republic

Vladislav Kara, C, Russia

Artur Kayumov, LW/RW, Russia

Paavo Kilponen, F, Finland

Oula Kuure, F, Finland

Vladimir Kuznetskov, LW, Russia

Linus Lindstrom, C, Sweden*

Otto Mäkinen, LW, Finland

Pete Niemi, LF, Finland*

Markus Nurmi, RF, Finland*

Emil Oksanen, RW, Finland*

Alexei Polodyan, F, Russia

Nikita O. Popugayev, F, Russia*

German Rubtkov, LW, Russia*

Mikhail Shabanov, F, Russia*

Artturi Toivola, C, Finland

Tim Wahlgren, C, Sweden*

Dmitri Alexeyev, D, Russia

Alexander Andersson, D, Sweden*

Vojtech Budik, D, Czech Republic

Hugo Danielsson, D, Sweden

Lukas Durkech, D, Slovakia

Oliver Felixson, D, Finland

Libor Hajek, D, Czech Republic

Olli Juolevi, D, Finland

Jakub Lacka, F, Slovakia

Nikita Makeyev, D, Russia

Alfons Malmström, D, Sweden

Jacob Moverare, D, Sweden

Linus Nässén, D, Sweden

Daniil Veryayev, D, Russia

Yegor Zaitsev, D, Russia

*Indicates players who competed in the U17 WHC

The 96s…

Alexander Lambacher, RW, Italy

Frank Gymer, C, Finland

Daniel Muzito Bagenda, LW, Sweden

Kirill Piilipenko, RW, Russia

Calvin Thurkauf, C, Switzerland

Lukas Vopelka, C, Czech Republic

Lucas Ekestahl Jonsson, D, Sweden

Nikko Mikkola, D, Finland

The 97s…

Denis Alexeyev, C, Russia

Rasmus Asplund, C/LW, Sweden

Jonathan Dahlén, C/LW, Sweden

Einar Emanuelsson, RW, Sweden

Fabian Haberstich, LW, Switzerland

Timo Haussener, C, Switzerland

Roger Karrer, D, Switzerland

Auguste Impose, LW, Switzerland

Julian Napravnik, LW, Germany

Damien Riat, C, Switzerland

Lukas Ziak, F, Slovakia

Kristaps Zile, D, Latvia

The 2015 NHL Draftees…

Many of the following international names, particularly the top drafted prospects, will remain in their native leagues to compete professionally against men in the top divisions. A number of the following players remain under contract with their Euro clubs.

Mikko Rantanen, RW – Colorado Avalanche, 10^th overall

Denis Gurianov, RW/LW – Dallas Stars, 12^th overall

Joel Eriksson Ek, C – Minnesota Wild, 20^th overall

Jacob Larsson, D – Anaheim Ducks, 27^th overall

Gabriel Carlsson, D – Columbus Blue Jackets, 29^th overall

Since the above players were drafted in the first round, CHL teams could temporarily carry three imports on their roster under their 2015-16 fates were decided.

Sebastian Aho, LW – Carolina Hurricanes, 35^th overall

Erik Cernak, D – Los Angeles Kings, 43^rd overall

Roope Hintz, LW – Dallas Stars, 49^th overall

Jonas Siegenthaler, D – Washington Capitals, 52^nd overall

Kevin Stenlund, C – Columbus Blue Jackets, 58^th overall

Julius Nattinen, C – Anaheim Ducks, 60^th overall

Oliver Kylington, D – Calgary Flames, 61^st overall

3rd Round and Onwards...

Robin Kovancs, LW – Rangers

Martin Dzierkals, LW – Maple Leafs

Vili Saarijarvi, D – Red Wings

Alexander Dergachev, C – Kings

Sergei Zborovsky, D – Rangers

Jens Looke, RW – Coyotes

Lukas Vejdemo, C – Canadiens

Aleksi Saarela, C/LW – Rangers

Jesper Lindgren, D – Maple Leafs

Andrei Mironov, D – Avalanche

Denis Malgin, C – Panthers

Mikhail Vorobyov , C – Flyers

Michael Spacek, C – Jets

Filip Ahl, LW – Senators

Dmitri Zhukenov, C – Canucks

Jonne Tammela, RW – Lightning

Daniel Bernhardt, LW – Rangers

Niko Mikkola, D – Blues

David Kase, C – Flyers

Karlis Cukste, D – Sharks

Kirill Kaprizov, LW – Wild

Dominik Simon, C – Penguins

Christian Jaros, D – Senators

Veeti Vanio, D – Blue Jackets

Rudolfs Balcers, LW – Sharks

Radovan Bondra, LW – Blackhawks

Vladislav Gavrikov, D – Blue Jackets

Sergei Boikov, D – Avalanche

Andong Song, D/F – Islanders

Lukas Jasek, RW – Canucks

Joni Tuulola, D – Blackhawks

Markus Nutivaara, D – Blue Jackets

Gustav Olhaver, C/LW – Avalanche

Nikita Pavlychev, C – Penguins

Sami Niku, D – Jets

Petter Hansson, D – Islanders

Ziyat Paigin, D - Oilers

John Dahlstrom, LW - Blackhawks

This slew of names is not an exhaustive list but rather a list of players who’ve been impressive in viewings or have been mentioned around the rinks as notable players of their age group. The CHL Import Draft always unveils players that the North American circuit has never heard of so expect the unexpected.

Follow the draft on the Canadian Hockey League’s website

Youngblood: 2015 NHL Mock Draft – Final Edition

Brendan Ross — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:55:22 +0000

Just days away from the highly anticipated ~~Connor McDavid Draft~~ ummm we mean the 2015 NHL Draft, Youngblood Hockey takes a final shot at how the opening rounds might play out. This fun exercise is purely for enjoyment and with so many factors playing into team's selections, it's important to understand that one unexpected pick or one trade could derail the entire mock draft.

Enjoy the mock draft!

PICK

TEAM

PLAYER

ANALYSIS


		EDM

Connor McDavid

Experienced with four 1st overall selections in the past five years, Edmonton could let a monkey make this selection. No brainer as the Oils take exceptional pivot Connor McDavid.


	BUF

Jack Eichel

Sabres GM Tim Murray allows the monkey to stay at the podium to select the second no brainer in Jack Eichel. As good as McDavid would've been for Buffalo, adding an American superstar in a border city will do the city well


		ARI

Dylan Strome

The draft essentially starts at pick three and with Noah Hanifin, Mitch Marner and Dylan Strome heavily considered, GM Don Maloney adds the latter with Strome being the big skilled pivot the franchise has been searching for.


		TOR

Noah Hanifin

As much as Dubas and Hunter might want to grab an OHLer like the familiar Mitch Marner, passing up a franchise defenseman in Noah Hanifin just wouldn't be wise. The Leafs have an opportunity to add a forward talent with their second 1st round selection.


		CAR

Mitch marner

The 'Canes are in the fortunate position to draft the best player available and consensus states that Mitch Marner is that guy. Skilled and creative, Marner will provide Carolina with a potential front line star to build around when the post-Eric Staal era begins.


		NJD

Pavel Zacha

Traditionally unconventional at the draft table, New Jersey could go a number of ways with this pick (Crouse, Barzal, Rantanen or Provorov) but Pavel Zacha's combination of size, skill and grit is too much to pass up.


		PHI

Ivan Provorov

Much like the Devils, Philly has a number of glorious options with the 7th pick and it's the intelligent efficient two-way defender Ivan Provorov who tops their list.


		CBJ

Zach Werenski

It's no secret that Columbus is looking to improve their defensive system and grabbing Wolverines Zach Werenski would be an excellent selection. A d-man who does a lot of things well, Werenski has the potential to become the best of the defensive bunch.


		SJS

Lawson Crouse

Sharks sit back and collect their prize when Lawson Crouse falls into their lap. An outstanding defensive forward with size, Crouse will soon show the hockey world that his offensive talents are better than critics think.


		COL

Mikko Rantanen

Blue line help would be ideal for the Avalanche but without trading up or down, Colorado goes for a sizeable talented Finnish winger in Mikko Rantanen. He's a player with a lot of pro tools and would look good flanking MacKinnon or Duchene for the next decade.


		FLA

Kyle Connor

Set down the middle, Florida snatches up speedy USHL scoring winger Kyle Connor adding to an impressive young forward core. Skilled and smart, Connor is a potential Top 10 selection so it goes without saying that he'd be great value at 11.


		DAL

Matt Barzal

Dallas has shown a pattern of knocking their CHL selections out of the park in recent years and Barzal in the 12 spot would be a grandslam. Missed time with a knee injury but returned to have one of the best finishes to the season showing top line potential.


		LAK

Travis Konecny

Ottawa has been a breeding ground for future LA Kings and Travis Konecny's competitive, hard-working skilled game is worth returning to Canada's nation's capital. The former top pick in the OHL had an "off year" statistically but will rebound next season.


		BOS

Timo Meier

Meier has an ability to transform and adapt between a skilled support player and a burly power winger which is an attractive luxury to have. He's got a Bruins style of game and would look good in yellow and black.


		CGY

Nick Merkley

Merkley is short by NHL standards but he plays a big game and proved to be a difference maker for the Kelowna Rockets. Landing in his hometown of Calgary would be a good feel good story.

EDM via PIT

Ilya Samsonov

Oilers follow their McDavid gimme pick with a selection that addresses a need in goal by selecting Russian standout Ilya Samsonov. There's a good chance the pick gets moved for a proven puck stopper. If not, Oilers brass will certainly consider Samsonov here.


		WPG

Evgeny Svechnikov

Winnipeg has quickly established themselves as one of the strongest drafting teams in the modern game and with the big skilled Evgeny Svechnikov they will just add to an already rich prospect cupboard.


		DET

Joel Eriksson Ek

Nothing has changed in MoTown as the Red Wings continue to build teams around skilled Europeans. Sticking with their recent Larkin and Mantha selections, Eriksson Ek provides Detroit with a sizeable skilled Swede who can do everything.


		OTT

Jeremy Roy

After many short trips east to watch him in Sherbrooke, Senators select puck moving defenseman Jeremy Roy from the Phoenix. A smart calculated defender with an offensive mind, Roy would do well apprenticing under Erik Karlsson.


		MIN

Colin White

The Wild rarely opt for the 'sexy' pick and 2015 is no different with them selecting high character player Colin White from the National Program. A well-rounded game and high-end competitiveness assure that White will almost certainly carve out an NHL career.

BUF via NYI

Jakob Zboril

With Eichel in their pocket already, the Sabres snatch up high-upside Czech defender Jakob Zboril, a blueliner with quick feet, a good feel for the game and promising offensive instincts.


		WSH

Denis Guryanov

Known for having a good handle on Euro talent, Washington heads to Russia to select high upside forward Denis Guryanov. He's a potential star in the making and after having good luck with Kuznetsov, they swing for the fences again.


		VAN

Brandon Carlo

The Canucks grabbed two forwards in the first round in 2014 so their focus turns to improving their blueline and Brandon Carlo is their guy. He's fairly raw but this big defender moves well, thinks well and competes in all three zones.

TOR via NSH

Daniel Sprong

The Leafs new regime is all about adding skill and after adding defender Hanifin, Daniel Sprong edges out Jeremy Bracco as their new dynamic option up front. He's got some warts but under an improved hockey operations department, those can be cleaned up.

WPG via STL

Thomas Chabot

After stealing Svechnikov in the 17 slot, Winnipeg plucks Thomas Chabot from Saint John adding another defensive gem. He's competitive, mobile and shows good offensive zone potential. The Jets can take their time rounding out his deficiencies and inconsistencies.


		MTL

Paul Bittner

Size continues to be Montreal's focus even though Paul Bittner isn't your prototypical "power forward". He's a skilled big man who moves well and appears to have a lot of growth left - meaning he's a worthy investment this late.


		ANA

Oliver Kylington

The "Wild Card" of the opening round, Oliver Kylington is the most polarizing player of 2015 with considering his skating and puck moving abilities first round worthy while others not willing to touch his liabilities. Either way, Anaheim is up for the challenge.

TBL via NYR

Jeremy Bracco

Lightning continue to pluck off high potential prospects that others aren't willing to take the risk on. From an offensive standpoint, Jeremy Bracco owns top 10 talents but his size is a legitimate concern. TB is more than willing to work with another Tyler Johnson.

PHI via TBL

Brock Boeser

Arguably one of the best goal scorers in the class, Brock Boeser torched the USHL and is a strong player with an eye for the net. He's far from a complete prospect but his scoring prowess could be worth the wait. Philly uses their second 1st wisely.

ARI via CHI

Gabriel Carlsson

The type of player that makes life hell for opposing attackers, Sweden's big mobile defensive stalwart Gabriel Carlsson excels at stiffling scoring chances. He's not the "flashiest" pick but every contending team needs a presence like his in the lineup.


		BUF

Jansen Harkins

Eichel then Zboril and now Harkins - the haul continues for Buffalo.


ARI

Mackenzie Blackwood

Big competitive goaltender impressed at the NHL Combine and tops all North American netminders.


		EDM

Jake DeBRUSK

McDavid and Samsonov locked up the forward and goal positions. The Oilers can't pass on Edmonton native and 40-plus scorer Jake DeBrusk

CBJ via LAK

Noah Juulsen

Picking up Werenski and Juulsen only 34 slots in has to leave Kekalainen smiling about his blueline's future.


		CAR

Vince Dunn

Mitch Marner was a nice surprise early in the draft and the Canes look to hit big with offensive blueliner Vince Dunn with their second pick.


		NJD

Anthony Beauvillier

The Devils need all the help they can in the prospect department and nabbing 90-plus forward Anthony Beauvillier early in the second is a rare opportunity.

BOS via NYI

Erik Cernak

Timo Meier fit the bill nicely in the front end of the first round and Erik Cernak seems fit to wear the B as well.


		CBJ

Jack Roslovic

Columbus' blue line depth already received a boost so adding a smart high paced forward in Jack Roslovic seems like the right next step.


		SJS

Travis Dermott

Powerful winger Lawson Crouse was an excellent pick at ninel and he can step into the lineup soon but Travis Dermott is a shrewd long-term investment for their blueline that's looking for a spark.


		COL

Jacob Larsson

The Avalanche have waited long enough and invite Jacob Larsson to the Mile High City to help resurrect a middling blue line.

NJD via FLA

Jonas Siegenthaler

Zacha and DeBrusk have the Devils off to a hot start but with Jonas Siegenthaler added to their draft haul they're injecting a physical two-way defender.

OTT via DAL

Filip Chlapik

Looking to add more skill to their system, Bryan Murray's team calls on Filip Chlapik who offers up a creative visionary attack.


		LAK

Nicolas Meloche

Konecny provided the Kings with a hard-working versatile option on the wing and Nicolas Meloche gives much of the same on the backend.

TBL via BOS

Christian Fischer

Jeremy Bracco was a riskier selection in the latter part of the opening round so Yzerman decides to go safer with potential power forward Christian Fischer, who combines skill and size well.


		CGY

Nicolas Roy

Nick Merkley will excite hometown fans in Calgary for years to come but in the West it's important to play big. Nicolas Roy is one of the drafts most reliable big pivots.


		PIT

Dennis Yan

The Penguins are difficult to read and they tend to shy away from Q players ever since the Angelo Esposito pick but Dennis Yan is just beginning to tap into an impressive upside.


		WPG

Rasmus Andersson

The Barrie Colts have been a pipeline for Winnipeg Jets prospects so given the chance to draft puck distributor Rasmus Andersson and they'll jump at the opportunity.


		OTT

Zach Senyshyn

Looking for a high end prospect in the middle of the second round can be difficult but Ottawa native Zach Senyshyn should be familiar to the Sens. He's a speedy north-south attacker with a good shot.

DAL via DET

Daniel Vladar

The crease in Dallas is anything but settled and after stocking the skaters fairly well in their system, grabbing a high potential goaltender like Vladar would be a wise move.


		MIN

Roope Hintz

Big and powerful with a good motor, Roope Hintz is a player that could eventually become an impact forward through the middle of the Wild lineup.

BUF via NYI

Felix Sandstrom

Buffalo isn't certain how their crease looks long-term and armed with a boat load of Top 60 picks, selecting one of the draft's top tier puckstoppers makes sense. Welcome Felix Sandstrom.

CGY via WSH

Parker Wotherspoon

Average-sized puck moving defenseman Parker Wotherspoon isn't a flashy player but he's effective. Wearing the Flames sweater would mean he joins older brother Tyler in Calgary.

CGY via VAN

Matej Tomek

The goaltender run has starter and Calgary needs in on the action. Matej Tomek isn't the big name on campus but many scouts like him as much as the other top crease guards.

CHI compensation

Thomas Novak

Doing what they do best, Chicago identifies a highly skilled American skater with big time upside hoping that they can make good on a second round pick after being void of a fist round selection.


		NSH

Alexander Dergachev

Nashville showed no hesitation on drafting a Russian last year high and they look to Alexander Dergachev this time around - adding a big winger with solid middle-six skill.


		STL

Jordan Greenway

Sticking to their tendencies, St. Louis targets an American out of the National Program. Jordan Greenway is a massive power forward with raw potential. St. Louis can afford to wait.

EDM via MTL

Ryan Pilon

After riding shotgun with Brandon's Ivan Provorov, Ryan Pilon showed that his transitioning abilities ranks up there with the best of the draft.

CBJ via ANA

J.Forsbacka Karlsson

Columbus has shown a trend towards targetting strong two-way players who play a 200-foot game and few players excel at that game as Forsbacka-Karlsson.


		NYR

Jens Looke

With their first pick of the draft, New York selects Swedish forward Jens Looke - a player who plays at a high pace and displays good passing ability.

ARI via TBL

Mitchell Stephens

Not unlike current Coyotes prospect Christian Dvorak, Mitchell Stephens is a groomed two-way player with a fantastic motor and he can also score. Arizona continues to pick from the OHL.

PHI via CHI

Sebastian Aho

After adding a true sniper in Boeser earlier, Sebastian Aho is selected due to an impressive attacking game that features elusive moves and clever playmaking ability.

Youngblood: The Memorial Cup Gets Hoisted, Prospect Standouts

Brendan Ross — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:10:29 +0000

After going nearly wire-to-wire as the top Canadian Hockey League team in the weekly rankings, the Oshawa Generals rightfully returned to their perch capturing the illustrious CHL Memorial Cup. In a thrilling back-and-forth game that needed extra time, it was draft eligible forward Anthony Cirelli who chipped in the heroic goal just over a minute into the opening frame. Undrafted and signed as a free agent out of the Oshawa Generals camp, 17-year-old rookie Cirelli capped off a memorable season scoring his second goal of the contest giving the Gens the right to hoist the Memorial Cup in the 97th tournament. In the final hockey game that would be played at the historic Pepsi Colisée, the Generals claimed their fifth MasterCard Memorial Cup title in franchise history and first since 1990.

Despite putting up a great fight and dominating the Generals at times, Kelowna wasn’t able to save Oshawa puckstopper Ken Appleby who turned in a 37-save performance, comprised of several game-saving stops. Oilers’ prospect Leon Draisaitl was named the 2015 CHL Memorial Cup MVP after leading ths tournament in scoring with four goals and seven points through five games. Michael McCarron (Montreal Canadiens), Michael Dal Colle (New York Islanders), Ken Appleby, Ryan Graves (New York Rangers) and Madison Bowey (Washington Capitals) joined Draisaitl as tournament all-stars at their respective positions. Rimouski forward Alexis Loiseau took home the George Parsons Trophy as the tournament’s most sportsmanlike player.

With plenty of standout performances, let’s take a quick look at who impressed during their time in beautiful Quebec City.

OSHAWA GENERALS

Ken Appleby (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Ken Appleby, G, 2015 NHL Draft – Stepped into the crease and delivered several outstanding performances, keeping his Generals afloat during times they stepped off the gas peddle. Without his will to win and ability to make key saves in crunch time, Oshawa could’ve been sent packing earlier. Althought Draisaitl won the tournament MVP honours, there was a strong case for Appleby for the award as well. He will enter into the draft for his final time and is expected to be worthy of a selection. If not, Appleby will certainly be offered several NHL camp invites.

Dakota Mermis, D, free agent – The overage captain who was acquired from London to bolster the Gens blueline did exactly that…and some. Having the opportunity to cap off a successful junior hockey career by winning the Memorial Cup in his third and final chance is something he will always cherish. Look for Mermis to find himself on some camp invite lists as well because he does have potential as a depth all-around defender.

Tobias Lindberg, F, Ottawa Senators - As expected, Tobias Lindberg was clutch for the Oshawa Generals scoring several timely goals and sharing the team scoring lead with five points (along with Dal Colle). He’s not the swiftest of skaters out of the gate and can be a bit inconsistent but at top speed he’s quite powerful and his scoring touch is a skill that can’t be taught.

Michael Dal Colle, F, New York Islanders - Likely played his final junior game, Dal Colle put in a solid tournament and although he wasn’t dominant like his skill, might sometimes suggest, he was a valuable commodity that most teams don’t have. The big question with Dal Colle is whether he can ramp up his competitiveness and show that hunger to win every second of the shift that star players possess. He’s always around the play but I’d like him to take a team on his back and will his way to goals.
Cole Cassels, F – The ultimate competitor. Cassels plays with such fire and passion (the same kind that I’d like MDC have more of) that he’s always going to make an impact. He’s a three-zone player who excels defensively but his ability to chip in offensively is a bonus. Cassels is reminiscent of a former Generals fan favourite in Boone Jenner and he is certainly on a path destined for success.

Michael McCarron, F, Montreal Canadiens – The most improved player in the Canadian Hockey League, McCarron was again a valuable contributor chipping in three points. More importantly, his power game and presence on the ice kept opposing teams in check. Since shifting to the middle this season, it’s hard to imagine him playing any other position because he’s been so strong at centre.There’s still some refinement needed in his skating and puck handling but he’s now shown the flashes that the Montreal Canadiens hoped he would when they used a first round pick on him.

Anthony Cirelli (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Anthony Cirelli, F, 2015 NHL Draft – The draft eligible forward scored the two biggest goals of his career, including the overtime championship winning tally in the world’s top junior circuit. That’s something every kid dreams of and no one can ever take that away from him. Cirelli is a good support player looking at a mid-late round selection in the upcoming draft. He’s not a pure skill guy but his willingness to get dirty and take the puck to the net is one of his many admirable high-character traits.

KELOWNA ROCKETS

Leon Draisaitl, F, Edmonton Oilers – The big German forward came as advertised and it’s very easy to see why he was such a high draft pick. Draisaitl’ overall “presence” on the ice is very impressive. Using his long reach, powerful stride and quick hands, Draisaitl is an advanced puck protection player who could end up playing a similar style as Rick Nash. His playmaking ability was particularly strong in the Memorial Cup and despite leading the championship in scoring, there were a handful of missed tap-ins off passes from Draisaitl. He should step into the Oilers lineup and find his role quickly next year. If you’re looking for production, you may be waiting a few years for that.

NIck Merkley (Photo: Vincent Ethier)

Nick Merkley, F, 2015 NHL Draft – As impressive as Big Leon was, Nick Merkley was better in my opinion. An outstanding in-your-face attacker that jets in and out of traffic with little care, Merkley is always around the puck, creating high scoring opportunities. He’s clearly not very big but his stocky frame and competitive drive should settle any concerns that scouts has for his size. He’s not a dangler but his alleviate any concerns about his size. It’s safe to say that Merkley improved his draft stock as much as anyone possibly could in a short tournament. He should be off the board by the mid-point of the opening round.

Madison Bowey (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Madison Bowey, D, Washington Capitals – Dating back to his 2013 draft year, Madison Bowey has been ranked high in my books (31st to be precise) and he’s starting to look more and more like he should’ve went in the opening round and not 53rd overall. An outstanding skater with game-breaking offensive abilities from the point, Bowey can make teams pay either with his feet or a very effective howitzer from the point. He’s particularly strong at getting shots through traffic and on net. Washington has a player in Bowey who could eventually replace Mike Green’s minutes.

Rourke Chartier, F, San Jose Sharks – It was clear to me that Rourke Chartier was playing injured as he looked out of sorts through most of the tournament. He was bounced around quite a bit but kept getting up over and over. For a natural finisher,Chartier struggled to find the net and was handcuffed on some fairly easy tap-ins. Simply put, Chartier wasn’t at the top of his game but you still have to admire his efforts.

Justin Kirkland, F, Nashville Predators – The Nashville Predators product had a good showing peaking during is semi-final two-goal effort to help Kelowna advance to the Memorial Cup final. Kirkland is a player who understands who he is and plays to his strengths – that being, a rangy reach that he uses in possession. It’ll take some time for him to reach Nashville but when he does, he should make a valuable complementary player.

Gage Quinney, F, 2015 NHL Draft – Guinney was an unfamiliar player heading into the MemCup but I was pleasantly surprised by his performance in Quebec City. He showed strong vision and playmaking abilities and while he may not have the ideal size or skilled game, he was impactful enough to be considered a potential future minor league pro.

Tyson Baille, F, 2015 NHL Draft – The undrafted Tyson Baille was one of four players to finish tied for 2nd in scoring with six points. He was one of the surprise undrafted players from the 2014 class and I am still perplexed how he didn’t warrant a late round selection. He’s a “Johnny-on-the-spot” type of player who puts himself in good positions to contribute offensively and that was evident this past week. He should be worthy of a mid-to-late round selection in the June draft.

Josh Morrissey, D, Winnipeg Jets – To be quite honest, I didn’t notice Jets’ prospect Josh Morrissey too much. Capable of leading the rush with his mobility, Morrissey played a refined and patient game in Quebec and that’s not a bad thing. He’s clearly rounded into form defensively and that has to be pleasing for the Jets’ organization. Morrissey still chipped in five points in his five games. This kid has a VERY bright future.

QUEBEC REMPARTS

Adam Erne, F, Tampa Bay Lightning– Inconsistent best describes Adam Erne’s tournament. He was still able to produce with three goals and six points but he Erne went long stretches were he was virtually invisible. For a team that relied on the Lightning prospect all season, Erne didn’t play at the same level that he did all season. In saying that, players like Erne are fun to watch simply because they can strike at any moment of the game.

Ryan Graves, D, New York Rangers – Easily Quebec’s best skater, Ryan Graves has developed nicely into a two-way defenseman. With a pair of goals off his pro-calibre point shot, Graves was arguably their most dangerous player…especially on the powerplay. I will be very interested to see the next steps that Graves takes because his development over the past year was substantial.

Zach Fucale (Photo: Vincent Ethier)

Zach Fucale, G, Montreal Canadiens – Without Zach Fucale between the pipes, the hosts would’ve been eliminated from contention much quicker. Fucale had a strong tournament but he could only take a low-scoring Remparts team so far. He added several highlite saves to his YouTube career and looked ready for the next challenge in his path to the NHL.

Marc-Olivier Roy, F, Edmonton Oilers – Hard working and fairly impactful, Roy was one of the few Quebec forwards who took the ice with energy every shift. I am not certain what type of player he will be at the NHL level (if he makes it) but as a junior player, he was solid in the tournament. He’ll likely top out as a complementary third liner. Will his decent showing (five points) at the Memorial Cup earn him an entry-level contract with the Oilers? .

Dmytro Timashov, F, 2015 NHL Draft – There were bright moments for the dynamic Ukrainian Swede and then there were some meh moments as well but that was to be expected. There’s no denying his ability to create but his decisions with the puck were questionable at times. He is going to have to break his habit of trying to always make the Highlight of the Night play. After his Memorial Cup performance, I’m guessing he’ll slide into the latter half of the draft.

Vlad Tkachev, F, 2015 NHL Draft – Let me preface these comments by stating that I’ve always been a Tkachev fan. Now, it’s safe to conclude that Tkachev had some of the worst showings for me at the Memorial Cup. Not only was his defensive awareness non-existent (with constant drive-bys and circling) but his offensive attacks left me scratching my head. Too many times Tkachev would attempt a cutesie drop pass or attempt forcing a feed through a near impossible seam only to have it lead to a scoring chance the other way. He’s one of the most creative players in the draft but the Memorial Cup was a forgettable tournament for him.

Anthony Duclair, F, Arizona Coyotes – Snakebit to start the event, Duclair eventually broke through and was at his best through most of the Memorial Cup. His speed and ability to make plays in top gear affords him a lot of opportunities that most others wouldn’t get. Expect him to become one of the more dangerous scorers from his draft class and a welcomed addition in Glendale.

Nikolas Brouillard, D, 2015 NHL Draft – After watching him navigate the ice and control the play, it’s hard to fathom that Brouillard went undrafted. Poised and confident in possession with crafty flashes of creativeness, Brouillard is a tantalizing offensive defenseman prospect. I’d be shocked if he didn’t don an NHL jersey in the draft this time around.

RIMOUSKI OCEANIC

Michael Joly, F, 2015 NHL Draft – It was a coming out party for the undrafted creative forward from Rimouski…well, at least for those unfamiliar with the Q. Quick off the hop and very creative in his net drives, Joly is the type of player who can make opposing defensemen look foolish. His 1.50 points-per-game production at the Memorial Cup outpaced every other skater and gives good reason to be drafted as a re-entry at the draft.

Frederik Gauthier, F, Toronto Maple Leafs – Toronto understands that Gauthier may never reach 50-points at the NHL level and they’re fine with that. With more and more viewings of the Maple Leafs’ 2013 1st round selection, it’s easier to appreciate his overall skillset and reasons he went in the opening round. Gauthier is an absolute beast in the defensive zone and his faceoff effeciency is as good as any prospect in the CHL. Chipping in a goal and four points was a nice added touch for the intelligent pivot. Look for Gauthier to join the Marlies next season and take on the challenge of shutting down more talented and bigger attackers.

Alexis Loiseau, F, Bakersfield Condors/AHL – One of the many undrafted prospects to perform well in Quebec City, Alexis Loiseau (Rimouski’s regular season leading scorer) turned his two-goal, four-point performance into a professional gig with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors, signing upon the tournament’s completion. His hard energy tenacious attack takes on a bluecollar style but it certainly opens up time and space for his linemates.

Jan Kostalek, D, Winnipeg Jets – Kostalek is just another example of the superb scouting staff in Winnipeg. The big Czech defender eats up tough minutes all while contributing to both ends of the rink – showcasing an average puck moving game and a stiffling defensive side. He didn’t win it but being nominated for the CHL Defenseman of the Year speaks wonders to how good of value Winnipeg got from the 114th overall pick (he landed in the 54th spot that year in my ranking). Unfortunately, Kostalek’s Oceanic were the first team eliminated from Memorial Cup contentions but he has to be happy for his potential Jets defensive partner after Josh Morrissey captured the title, right?

Congratulations to the Oshawa Generals and the entire organization on their storybook season winning both the Ontario Hockey League and CHL Mastercard Memorial Cup!

Follow Youngblood Hockey on Twitter @RossyYoungblood for all things prospects. Did we miss a prospect? Don’t hesitate to ask for more #MCMemorialCup banter.

Youngblood: 2015 CHL Memorial Cup – Prospects to Watch

Brendan Ross — Thu, 21 May 2015 22:06:08 +0000

The most illustrious trophy in major junior hockey will be welcomed in beautiful Quebec City as the 2015 CHL Memorial Cup championship heads east and commences Friday, May 22nd. The Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) have all handed out their regional championship trophies, extending seasons for the Kelowna Rockets, Oshawa Generals and Rimouski Oceanic, respectively.

It was a year where all of the pieces seemed to fall into place as each league is sending one of their top teams. The Kelowna Rockets were deemed contenders from the start of the WHL season. The Oshawa Generals established themselves as the top ranked CHL team and dominated the OHL’s Eastern Conference. Rimouski were expected to rise to the top and accomplished that as the top seeded QMJHL squad, which was led by veterans. And of course, the always debated host team, Quebec Remparts, showed that they weren’t taking the “free” Memorial Cup bid as hosts for granted and made a memorable run to the league final to fairly earn their place in the tournament.

Aaron Bell/OHL Images

It was the Edmonton Oil Kings who hoisted the Memorial Cup in London last spring ending a three-year run by the QMJHL after championships from Saint John (2011), Shawinigan Cataractes (2012) and Halifax Mooseheads (2013). The Kelowna Rockets are a young exciting team who are looking to return the Memorial Cup back to the Western League. The Oshawa Generals might be the favourites to win as this big, physical, skilled and speedy team is one of the deepest and hardest to play against in the CHL. It’s been since 2010, when the Windsor Spitfires won their second of back-to-back Memorial Cup Championships, that an OHL team has claimed CHL supremacy and the Oshawa Generals are a good bet to end that drought. In the East, Rimouski returns to the tournament for the first time in a decade when they last earned a berth in 2005 under the leadership of Sidney Crosby. The Quebec Remparts have a talented squad full of NHL talent that should prove to be a dangerous host squad.

With the Oshawa Generals knocking off the Erie Otters in a surprising five-game series, Connor McDavid won’t be headlining the 2015 CHL Memorial Cup but there are plenty of prospects worth watching. Lets have a look.

Kelowna Rockets

Leon Draisaitl (Oilers – 2014, 3rd overall) Spent some time with Edmonton at the NHL level to start the season before being sent back to the WHL. Kelowna acquired his rights and upon his return, Draisaitl gave the Rockets a legitimate superstar finishing atop the WHL Playoff scoring charts with 10 goals and 28 points (19 games), including four goals and seven points in Kelowna’s four-game sweep of Brandon in the Championship. Named WHL Playoffs MVP, Draisaitl is the legitimate top prospect heading to Quebec City.

Rourke Chartier (Sharks – 2014, 149th overall) After doubling his sophomore goal production with 48 goals and leading the entire WHL in playoff tallies with 13 goals in 16 games, Chartier has established himself as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the nation.

Tyson Baille (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) Appeared as a free agent invite at the San Jose Sharks camp after going undrafted in his first go at the NHL draft, Tyson Baille rode the momentum to a breakout season (68GP-37G-76P). Dubbed an complete player providing value in all three zones, Baille will need to continue his productive season to give the Rockets some threatening top line scoring. Kelowna relies heavily on its top players so they must keep ticking.

Nick Merkley (2015 NHL Draft eligible) It’s been a decorated season for Calgarian Nick Merkley capturing gold at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament for Canada and adding a WHL Championship to his accolades. The undersized yet extremely dangerous playmaker is the top prospect to watch among all NHL draft eligible players competing in the Memorial Cup. Merkley is very entertaining as he creates offence with smart puck distribution skills and a go-hard competitive approach. He was a top 10 WHL scorer in regular season piling up 90 points (with 70 assists including a league high 32 powerplay assists) and finished top 3 in post-season production.

Justin Kirkland (Predators – 2014, 62nd overall) Nashville pick Justin Kirkland took a small step forward this season but remains a fairly raw player in terms of NHL expectations. He’s got great length and continues to learn how to use his size but keep an eye on Kirkland – he’s the sort of skilled player who could have a great Memorial Cup showing and push Kelowna to the top. Nashville hasn’t seen a prospect claim the Memorial Cup since Shea Weber did it in 2014…also with Kelowna.

Madison Bowey (Capitals – 2013, 53rd overall) In his (likely) final WHL season, Bowey is enjoying a memorable ride as he’s added a World Junior gold medal, a WHL Championship and looks to finish off the dream season with a CHL Memorial Cup championship as well. Bowey is an elite skater and has settled into an excellent two-way threat showing that it’s not all about offensive production. In saying that, Bowey was just a handful of points away from topping all WHL blue liners in scoring (60P).

Josh Morrissey (Jets – 2013, 13th overall) The main piece in one of Kelowna’s two blockbuster trades, defenseman Josh Morrissey came in and posted near point-per-game numbers in the regular season (17P in 20 games) and eclipsed that pace in post-season action (14P in 13 games). He wasn’t as productive this season (38P) as last year when he racked up 73 points but it was a very production campaign highlighted by a WJC gold medal with Canada and an member of the tournament All-Star team. In his final WHL season, Morrissey has the chance to cap off a tremendous dream season and should be among the top defensive scorers in Quebec.

Oshawa Generals

Michael Dal Colle (Islanders – 2014, 5th overall) The rangy winger with high-end distribution skills and scoring abilities paced all Generals skaters with 93 points and another 25 points in 16 post-season games. He was a surprise omission from Canada’s WJC gold medal team but that didn’t disrupt his play. It will be interesting to see how Dal Colle handles himself against some of the best defenders in the CHL. Many scouts are watching to see if he can maintain his effectiveness.

Cole Cassels (Canucks – 2013, 85th overall) A quick look back at the ’13 draft class and Cole Cassels can easily be considered one of the draft’s best steals. Sure, Dal Colle may have led the Generals in scoring but Cassels was easily the team’s most valuable skater. Had Connor McDavid not ripped apart the OHL Playoffs, Cole Cassels likely would’ve walked away with MVP honours. It was Cassels who kept McDavid in check while chipping in a series high 12 points (5 games). Oh ya, his faceoff prowess and defensive presence was unmatched in OHL playoff play and that likely won’t change heading into the Memorial Cup. Simply put, Cassels is destined to be a very good pro player.

Michael McCarron (Canadiens – 2013, 25th overall) Talk about taking big strides in development…literally. The 6-foot-6 winger moved to the middle and looked like a totally different player in his second OHL season. He blasted out of the gates with the London Knights showing more confidence, improved puck handling and a more consistent physical game rallying off 42 points, including 22 goals in 25 games. Then came the trade. Oshawa targetted size and skill and the addition of McCarron was the perfect fit. He’s nearly impossible to contain and McCarron is now showing the first round talent that Montreal had hoped he’d eventually find.

Tobias Lindberg (Senators – 2013, 102nd overall) A Youngblood favourite this season, Tobias Lindberg is a big heavy winger with an impressive scoring touch. In fact, Lindberg kicked off the playoffs with a natural hattrick in game one versus Peterborough and is always a scoring threat. He was a bit inconsistent through the post-season but his 32 goals and 78 points as a first-year OHLer is stick tap worthy. In a tournament often separated by one big goal, look for Tobias Lindberg to be a factor and potential hero.

Terry Wilson/OHL Images

Mitchell Vande Sompel (2015 NHL Draft eligible) NHL evaluators will be dialed in on Mitch Vande Sompel as he takes the ice at the Coliseum because the jury is still very much out on this smooth skating versatile defenseman. A skilled puck distributor and breath-taking skater, Vande Sompel led all General defenders in scoring with a dozen tallies and 63 points (58 games), including another 12 points in 16 post-season games. Injuries have concerned some scouts and his size is a red flag but few players own his vision, puck skills and quarterback abilities.Using his experience as a forward in minor hockey, Oshawa bench boss DJ Smith isn’t afraid to throw MVS up on forward during penalty kill time.

Hunter Smith (Flames – 2014, 54th overall) After going through his first attempt at the NHL Draft undrafted, Calgary snatched up 6-foot-6 power winger Hunter Smith in the second round last draft. Smith is one of several massive Gens players and his net front presence, physicality and ability to wear down opposing defenses is invaluable.

Anthony Cirelli (2015 NHL Draft eligible) A real feel-good story after going undrafted through the OHL draft, Anthony Cirelli signed on with the Generals as a free agent and almost immediately worked his way up into a top-six role. Cirelli is a hard-working winger who takes no shortcuts and has caught the eye of NHL scouts due to his smart and fairly skilled game.
Cirelli has a significant opportunity to really elevate his draft stock on the national stage.

Matt Mistele (Kings – 2014, 180th overall) Brought in from the Plymouth Whalers, Mistele has stepped into a supporting offensive role nicely without disrupting chemistry. An opportunistic scorer who sneaks into open slots undetected, Mistele has been the perfect compliment to Oshawa’s star forwards.

Brent Pedersen (Hurricanes – 2013, 126th overall) Joining Oshawa from the Kitchener Rangers, Pedersen has been a welcomed addition providing a big powerful presence. DJ Smith is a master at utilizing his depth and players’ versatility and Pedersen is capable of wearing several different hats.

Stephen Desrochers (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) Taking advantage of increased ice-time after Will Petschenig was knocked out for the remainder of the season, Stephen Desrochers has elevated his game to new levels…launching himself up the draft boards. Passed over in 2014, the 6-foot-4 native of Toronto has displayed good mobility, calculated puck decisions and a rather impressive point shot. In Oshawa’s 21 playoff games , Desrochers has chipped in four goals and 12 points, including five versus the Erie Otters to help clinch the championship.

Josh Brown (Panthers – 2013, 152nd overall) Picking up all of the tough defensive minutes, Josh Brown takes the ice against opposing teams’ top offensive units and that won’t be any different in Quebec. Brown will be used to stop the likes of Leon Draisaitl (Oilers), Anthony Duclair (Coyotes), Adam Erne (Lightning) and Frederik Gauthier (Maple Leafs) meaning the Gens captain’s task will be challenged every second of play.

Dakota Mermis (Free Agent) Oshawa GM Roger Hunt made a lot of shrewd acquisitions to address team needs but his best might have been adding minute-munching defenseman Dakota Mermis from London. He’s an excellent skater, proven powerplay contributor and downright determined defender who was one of the key fixtures of the Gens blueline. Mermis will be skating in his third straight Memorial Cup and will be playing for a pro contract…one that he undoubtedly deserves.

Sam Harding (2015 NHL Draft eligible) Buried a bit on a very deep Oshawa roster, Sam Harding didn’t have the flashiest of draft seasons. Dating back to his minor hockey days, Harding has been an excellent two-way player with a smart hockey mind and the Memorial Cup will be one last opportunity to show that he’s worth a late round selection this June.

Ken Appleby (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) Learning the ropes and having to wait for his “time” behind Daniel Altshuller for two seasons, Ken Appleby stepped into the Generals crease and didn’t look back, establishing himself as one of the leagues top puck stoppers. Blessed with great size and a competitive drive, Appleby eats up pucks using a blocking style. He posted the best goals-against-average (2.08) in regular season play and suited up as Oshawa’s starter in every game of their Championship run. The Generals’ 2nd round selection in 2011 is now looking to be drafted in his final chance of the NHL draft and he’s certainly worthy.

Rimouski Océanic

Frédérik Gauthier (Maple Leafs – 2013, 21st overall) Playing in big games on big stages is nothing new for defensive minded pivot Frederik Gauthier after playing crucial shutdown roles with Team Canada’s over the past two World Junior Championships. An exceptional defense-first centreman who owns massive size and notable faceoff prowess, Gauthier has also improved his skating substantially. He will never be leaned on for offensive production but he’ll give it 110% every shift and has proven to be an instrumental piece on winning teams.

Anthony DeLuca (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) It’s been a waiting game for Anthony DeLuca as the small tenacious winger with underrated skill has never been drafted through two NHL drafts. After leading the Oceanic in scoring in 2013-14 (78 points) and finishing with a team high 44 goals and 91 points (2nd), it’s time to take this little fireball seriously.

Christopher Clapperton (Panthers – 2013, 122nd overall) Arguably the Oceanic’s most valuable forward, Florida prospect Christopher Clapperton (awesome hockey handle) is an industrious winger with a scorer’s touch as evident by his 139 QMJHL goals over 299 career games. The 1.14 point-per-game Q forward plays in all situations and will be a vital part of Rimouski’s MemCup success. Clapperton has yet to be signed by the Florida Panthers so he will have extra incentive on playing a strong tournament.

Alexis Loiseau (Free agent) Playing downstream of the Fleuve Saint-Laurent from hosts Quebec City, overage Rimouski forward Alexis Loiseau will use the national tournament to endear himself to hockey watchers outside of Canada’s eastern region. A do-it-all type of player, 20-year-old Loiseau led the Oceanic in regular season scoring with 96 points and continued his production through the crucial moments of playoff action. Look for NHL teams to give this free agent a long look as a potential offseason signee.

Michael Joly (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) Joly has been a point-per-game player in the Q for two straight seasons but his coming out party has certainly been during Rimouski’s recent QMJHL Championship run. He’s been the trigger man and Mr. Clutch for the Oceanic scoring 12 times in the post-season, including five against the Remparts to win the championship. His last goal was the double overtime championship winning snipe. Rimouski’s hoping for much of the same from Joly over the next few weeks.

Samuel Laberge (2015 NHL Draft eligible) The 6-foot-2 winger isn’t leading the offensive charge in Rimouski but that’s to be expected from a secondary option on a veteran ladened team. Four of his five playoff points came against the Remparts in the final series. Will he be able to keep the momentum rolling and catch the eye of NHL scouts?

Jan Kostalek (Jets – 2014, 114th overall) Pacing all QMJHL defensemen in playoff goals (8) and points (21), Winnipeg prospect Jan Kostalek has been a revelation for the Oceanic and has logged tough minutes. Smart and polished, Kotalek is among the most valuable blue liners in the Q and the Jets have a valuable pro prospect emerging.

Samuel Morin (Flyers – 2013, 11th overall) Held to limited games due to a fractured jaw, Samuel Morin returned to the lineup and had a season to remember emerging with one of the highest points-per-game (0.84) paces among Q blueliners. The towering 6-foot-6 defender has always been an astute defender but tapping into his offensive potential was a pleasant development for the Rimouski and, longterm, for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Simon Bourque (2015 NHL Draft eligible) It’s quite telling of his character and intangibles that sophomore defenseman Simon Bourque has already earned the trust of Rimouski’s coaching brass to be named alternate captain. Only average in size, Bourque is an all-situations defender who relies on sharp instincts and gifted passing to transition the puck up ice. He broke out for 38 points, only a handful short of the team defensive lead, and topped all Oceanic defenders with 10 goals.

Philippe Desrosiers (Stars – 2013, 54th overall) After being entrusted with the bulk of Rimouski’s workload in regular season play, goaltender Philippe Desrosiers fell out of favour after some shaky starts when the coaches were forced to turn to Louis-Philippe Guindon down the stretch. Heading into the Memorial Cup, it will be interesting to see who head coach Serge Beausoleil turns to for the starters position. Despite Desrosiers’ inconsistency, he finished the season among the top statistical goaltenders and did make 47 saves in a tight game seven double overtime victory to win the QMJHL Championship.

Quebec Remparts

Anthony Duclair (Rangers – 2013, 80th overall; acquired by the Arizona Coyotes) After introducing himself to the NHL market with an impressive 18-game stint on broadway, Duclair was returned to Quebec after helping Canada win gold at the 2015 WJC. The Laval native racked up 50 goals and 99 points in his 2013-14 season with Quebec making his 15 goals and 34 points (26 games) look fairly disappointing given his previous production. Look for Duclair and Erne to be one of the most dominant duos at the Memorial Cup.

Adam Erne (Lightning – 2013, 33rd overall) Captured the 2015 Guy Lafleur Trophy as the MVP of the QMJHL Playoffs scoring a dominant 21 goals (a league best) and 30 points in Quebec’s 22 game march to the cup. Big and powerful with a strong traffic game, Erne is at his best hovering around the scoring areas and working the gritty areas in cycles, looking to strike with his pro-calibre shot. If the Remparts want to take down the CHL powerhouses at the Memorial Cup, he will need to continue his dominance from the Q post-season.

Marc-Olivier Roy (Oilers – 2013, 56th overall) Brought in from Blainville-Boisbriand to bolster their front-line depth, Roy gave the Remparts another striker option as the former 2nd round pick filled the net 26 times. As a pro prospect, Roy will need to continue to produce as the Oilers’ brass consider his long term value. At this point, Roy is a bit of tweener.

Dmytro Timashov (2015 NHL Draft eligible) Dmytro Timashov is a Ukranian-born Swedish forward playing his first year in the CHL. His 90 points led a stacked Remparts in scoring which is a remarkable feat and a true testament of his abilities as an 18-year-old import. He plays a dynamic style of game and his dazzling puck skills and ability to dangle will surely raise fans at the Coliseum out of their seats. The undersized Timashov is one of only a few draft eligible prospects to watch in Quebec City.

Kurt Etchegary (Free agent) Quebec’s leader and captain, Kurt Etchegary will be using the Memorial Cup to showcase his versatility, high character and toughness in hopes of landing a contract in the pro ranks. He is a warrior-like competitor willing to skate through a wall for his teammates. He’s battled through some serious injuries in his career, including a scary heart procedure, but there’s value in a hard-working character player like Etchegary so he’s worth watching as action kicks off in old Quebec City.

Vladimir Tkachev (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) Edmonton Oilers’ failed to sign Vlad Tkachecv correctly after thinking he was a available as a free agent so he re-enters the draft. It was shocking that an NHL team didn’t use a late round pick on the undersized dazzling offensive winger during his first go-round at the NHL draft. Tkachev will be, once again, available for the draft in Florida and it’s expected that the young Russian goes sometime through the middle rounds. After arriving from Moncton in a trade, the slippery Tkachev posted 33 points in 33 games with Quebec.

Ryan Graves (Rangers – 2013, 110th overall) Pegged as a defensive specialist early in his career, New York prospect Ryan Graves had a mini-breakout in his fourth Q campaign unloading 15 goals and 39 points. As nice as it is that Graves is chipping in points, Quebec has given up a lot of goals during playoff action so he will need to ensure that his defensive game is sharp in order to go deep in the tournament.

Nikolas Brouillard (Re-entry for 2015 NHL Draft) After factoring in 17 goals and 57 points, fourth year veteran defenseman Nikolas Brouillard was the QMJHL top scoring defenseman in both goals and points. The knock against Brouillard is his 5-foot-11, sub-170 pound frame but he owns the tool kit you want in an offensive defender. Blessed with confident elusive puck carrying skills, good vision, efficient passing abilities and strong point shots, Brouillard is deserving of draft consideration. He has attended the Winnipeg Jets camp in the past.

Cody Donaghey (signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs) After turning heads at Leafs camp and earning himself a contract as a walk-on, Cody Donaghey’s season took an unfortunate turn when he was sidelined for from a knee-on-knee collision in December ending his season. Unfortunately for Leafs fans, Donaghey will miss the Memorial Cup.

Zachary Fucale (Canadiens – 2013, 36th overall) Heavily scrutinized by the general public after a pedestrian start to the season, Zach Fucale eventually elevated his game, as most star goaltenders do, to peak at the perfect time. He was instrumental and clutch for Team Canada posting the best GAA (1.20) and save percentage (.939) of the tournament en route to capturing gold. When Fucale was returned from the WJC, he found himself wearing some new threads as the new addition in Quebec. Fucale took some time to get his feet wet in his new home but eventually found his groove just in time for their championship run. He will need to remain at the top of his game for Quebec to contend.

Callum Booth (2015 NHL Draft eligible) The former forward turned goaltender had a very interesting draft season when he started the season as a member of Canada’s Ivan Hlinka gold medal winning squad. From then, Booth took the Remparts crease and suited up in 41 games earning 23 wins while ranking 6th in both GAA (3.05) and save percentage (.900) before yielding his starter’s role to incoming veteran Zach Fucale. If there is any signs of Fucale struggling, expect coach Philippe Boucher to quickly turn to a more-than-capable Callum Booth. He’s a luxury the Remparts have waiting in the wings.

The 2015 CHL Mastercard Memorial Cup action begins Friday evening with hosts, Quebec Remparts, taking on the WHL Champions, Kelowna Rockets. For complete event information, be sure to visit the CHL Memorial Cup website.

Prediction:

In a short tournament where one bounce, one penalty and/or one goal can change the entire outcome, it’s tough to predict a winner with any certainty. While every participating team has its strengths and weakness, on paper there are two teams that stand out above the rest. As a result, Youngblood Hockey is willing to name the Oshawa Generals and Kelowna Rockets as the two teams to emerge from the pack and reach the final. In the end, Oshawa’s depth, speed and bruising style will be too much for the Kelowna to handle.

Generals will capture the Memorial Cup championship for the fourth time in history and return the trophy back to Oshawa for the first time since 1990 when Eric Lindros led them to victory.

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter for coverage of the CHL Mastercard Memorial Cup and its participating prospects.

Youngblood: Mock Draft – Cashing the Connor McDavid Winning Lotto Ticket

Brendan Ross — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:17:21 +0000

So, the Oilers won the 2015 NHL Draft Lottery much to the dismise of everyone living outside of Edmonton.

That's fun...right Connor?

Sure, Connor McDavid was caught looking a little stunned after the news was announced but don't worry Oilers fans, he will be just fine.

Connor McDavid is an uber-competitor and if there's anything he hates in the world, it's losing. Good news for an Edmonton franchise looking to shake the "loser" tag. As soon as McDavid dons the oil drop copper and blue jersey, he will make it his ultimate goal to turn the franchise around. He won't care about his personal point totals (although those will swell over time) and that's exactly what the Oilers need - a high character professional whose sole focus is filling the "win" column. It's McDavid's selfless drive for perfection that will ultimately re-shape the Edmonton Oilers.

With Edmonton slated to make the first overall selection for the fourth time in the past six years, there is no better time to throw out a post-NHL draft lotto mock draft.

1st Edmonton Oilers – Connor McDavid, C, Erie (OHL)

There will be no Lindros-like holdout or pouting from McDavid after the Edmonton Oilers won the lotto and rights to draft this generational talent. Connor epitomizes the word “professional” and will be key in leading the cleanup that’s left fans frustrated for years. Think Sidney Crosby ... probably better.

2nd Buffalo Sabres – Jack Eichel, C, Boston University (Hockey East)

GM Tim Murray was obviously not thrilled to lose the McDavid sweepstakes but can you blame him? Fortunately, Hobey Baker winner Jack Eichel will be the best consolation prize to enter the league since Evgeni Malkin. Like McDavid, Eichel is capable of rebranding a franchise in desperate need.

3rd Arizona Coyotes – Dylan Strome, C, Erie (OHL)

Yotes’ Don Maloney has the right to be the most disappointed NHL GM after missing out on the McEichel talents. What Maloney decides to do with the 3rd overall pick will shape the rest of the Top 10 as he starts the domino effect. Fortunately for Arizona, the ’15 crop is deep with big front line centres and drafting Dylan Strome would certainly fill an organizational need. On the flip-side, Mitch Marner does have some tremendous chemistry with Arizona prospect Christian Dvorak and is quite familiar with Knights teammate Max Domi which adds another dilemma and temptation for the Coyotes to consider. Speculating on this pick will be fun.

4th Toronto Maple Leafs - Mitchell Marner, RW, London (OHL)

Toronto continues to search for a big first line centre and there’s a chance that Toronto area pivot Dylan Strome is available but who’s to say that he’d even top the Leafs’ want list? Mark Hunter is quite familiar with Knights superstar Mitch Marner and let’s not completely lock him in as a winger quite yet because he has played valuable minutes down the middle in his past. There are few players in this draft that make an impact as consistently as Marner does.

5th Carolina Hurricanes – Noah Hanifin, D, Boston College (Hockey East)

Pegged as the best defenseman in the draft since the puck dropped on the draft season, Noah Hanifin may wait longer to be selected than his talents might suggest. The smooth skating cerebral defender could go as early as 3rd or fall into the latter part of the top 10 but it’s probably doubtful that the Hurricanes pass on him. Adding a franchise pillar defender like Noah Hanifin doesn`t come around too often (ask Edmonton) and he's capable of transforming their blueline.

6th New Jersey Devils – Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL)

There are two very polarizing schools of critics when talking about power winger Lawson Crouse. The analytics group cringe at the sound of his name while more traditional scouts pass him with flying colours in the ‘eye test’. Regardless of what side you support, Crouse’s size, grit and underrated skill is worthy of a top 10 pick and the Devils would be a good landing spot for the this projectable throwback talent.

7th Philadelphia Flyers – Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle (WHL)

After missing the majority of the season with a knee injury, Barzal returned to action in 2015 and has been on an upward climb since, reestablishing himself as a Top 10 talent. Barzal is currently showcasing his high-end potential with Team Canada at the U18s in Switzerland and it should vault him into a very flattering draft spot. Philadelphia has plenty of options but could Barzal give the Flyers another Giroux-like talent?

8th Columbus Blue Jackets – Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon (WHL)

Russian defender Ivan Provorov continues to receive an influx of love from hockey outlets as everyone continues to fall for his smart, low-maintenance, effective puck moving game. There’s no denying his intelligent processor because he’s established himself as a top tier defender in this draft. The Blue Jackets have quickly stocked their system with promising forward talent so now would be a good time to add another high-end defensive prospect for their future.

9th San Jose Sharks – Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia (OHL)

Armchair scouts won’t be enamored with Pavel Zacha’s statistical production in his OHL rookie season but if they were to watch sixty seconds of the big, smooth skating, aggressive Czech pivot then they’d quickly realize that there's something special here. He’s battled through suspensions and injuries that interrupted his momentum all season long but few players have the upside that Zacha owns. San Jose believed in Sarnia import Nikolay Goldobin at the 2014 draft so why not return to the border-town to invest in Zacha?

10th Colorado Avalanche – Zach Werenski, D, University of Michigan (Big Ten)

The Avalanche clearly need some help on their blueline and with one of the draft’s best two-way defenders in Zach Werenski remaining on the board they should jump on the opportunity to add this talented piece. The Wolverines freshman defender played like a seasoned vet - often applauded for his competitiveness and ability to push the pace of play.

11th Florida Panthers – Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS (SM Liiga)

Finnish scoring winger Mikko Rantanen showed well playing against men in the country’s top league. After displaying some slick playmaking skills as Finland’s most impactful forward at the World Junior Championships, many believe Rantanen is worthy of a Top 10 selection. Rantanen would be a nice add on the wing for a Florida team that has acquired some great young depth down the middle.

12th Dallas Stars – Timo Meier, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

Dallas should have eyes for Timo Meier, a big sturdy winger with a soft mitts and strong possession game. Playing wingman to QMJHL stud Nikolaj Ehlers (Jets) in Halifax, Meier has improved his skating all while continuing to pile up points. He was also a standout at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects game complementing Connor McDavid and Travis Konecny quite well as the trio dominated the showcase event.

13th Los Angeles Kings – Kyle Connor, LW, Youngstown (USHL)

Like the players above, Kyle Connor is a worthy top 10 selection after pacing all USHL forwards in points (71). He’s speedy, loves the puck on his stick and flashes advanced playmaking and scoring abilities. Doesn’t that describe the type of players that the LA Kings seek out?

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

14th Boston Bruins – Travis Konecny, RW, Ottawa (OTT)

The “big, bad Bruins” have lost their snarl forcing ownership to re-think the direction that this once intimidating franchise is headed. Travis Konecny won’t physically punish the opposition but he’s not afraid to mix it up and hound pucks, making life difficult for teams lining up against him. In addition to Konecny’s off-the-charts determination, he’s a lethal sniper with game-breaking talent. His high-energy skilled game would certainly help spark a B’s franchise that’s lost its jump.

The order of 15th – 30th selection will be officially determined as they are eliminated from playoff action.

15th Calgary Flames – Jeremy Roy, D, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

16th Edmonton Oilers (via PIT) – Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
17th Winnipeg Jets – Jakub Zboril, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
18th Ottawa Senators – Daniel Sprong, LW, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
19th Detroit Red Wings – Evgeni Svechnikov, RW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
20th Minnesota Wild – Oliver Kylington, D, Farjestad (SHL)
21st Buffalo Sabres (via NYI) – Brandon Carlo, D, Tri-City (WHL)
22nd Washington Capitals – Jeremy Bracco, RW, US NTDP (USHL)
23rd Vancouver Canucks – Nick Merkely, LW, Kelowna (WHL)
24th Arizona Coyotes (via CHI) – Paul Bittner, LW, Portland (WHL)
25th Toronto Maple Leafs (via NSH) – Filip Chlapik, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
26th Philadelphia Flyers (via TBL) – Brock Boeser, RW, Waterloo (USHL)
27th Winnipeg Jets (via STL) – Colin White, C, US NTDP (USHL)
28th Anaheim Ducks – Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Farjestad (SuperElit)
29th Montreal Canadiens – Jansen Harkins, C, Prince George (WHL)
30th Tampa Bay Lightning (via NYR) – Gabriel Carlsson, D, Linkoping (SuperElit)

Other Potential 1st Round Options:
Anthony Beauvillier, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current (WHL)
Vince Dunn, D, Niagara (OHL)
Denis Guryanov, RW, Ladia Togliatti (MHL)
Jacob Larsson, D, Frölunda (SHL)
Jack Roslovic, C, US NTDP (USHL)
Nicolas Roy, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Ilya Samsonov, G, Stalnye Lisy Magnitorgorsk (MHL)
Zachary Senyshyn, RW, Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
Jonas Siegenthaler, D, ZSC (NLA)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, D, Oshawa (OHL)

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter for all of your 2015 NHL Draft and prospect news.

Youngblood: OHL Conference Finals Preview/Predictions

Brendan Ross — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:12:17 +0000

Anaheim prospect Nick Ritchie is red hot for the soaring Greyhounds (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Don’t blink or else you might just miss the OHL Playoffs altogether. With two rounds already in the books and the league dwindled down to just four contenders after only 18 days of action. To date, no series has exceeded six games (2) with five four-game sweeps and four series decided in only five games. All in all, the Western Conference has figured out their two best teams out in just 28 games of a possible 42 games while the Eastern Conference used 29. After whittling down the league, we’re left with four of the expected finalists in each conference including the top teams in each conference in Oshawa and Sault Ste. Marie plus Erie (2^nd in the West) and North Bay (3^rd in the East). Get out the face paint and first aid kits because neither of these feisty series will be completed as quickly as the first two rounds.

Eastern Conference Final – Bobby Orr Trophy

Oshawa Generals (1) vs North Bay Battalion (3)

Season Series: 4-0 Oshawa

Breakdown: The third round series features a rematch of 2014 where the Battalion captured the Bobby Orr Trophy over the Generals with a 4-0 series victory. This season’s matchup features two of the top three teams in the OHL’s Eastern Conference standings during the 2014-15 regular season. The first place Generals earned their second straight East Division title with 108 points from a 51-11-2-4 record, while the third place Battalion posted a 37-20-6-5 record for 85 points. With lots of NHL drafted prospects lining up against each other and both teams boasting great size throughout their lineup, it’s bound to be a battle to the end. Oshawa’s DJ Smith and North Bay’s Stan Butler are both respected coaches and among the best in the OHL.

Goaltending is strong in both crease as Battalion puckstopper Jake Smith and Generals’ Ken Appleby sit 1^st and 3^rd, respectively, in OHL goals-against-average. Michael Dal Colle (NYI), Cole Cassels (VAN), Hunter Smith (CGY), Michael McCarron (MTL) and Tobias Lindberg (OTT) are all clipping along at a point-per-game pace (or more) for Oshawa and will be supported with the likes of Matt Mistele (LAK), Brent Pedersen (CAR) and Anthony Cirelli (2015 NHL Draft). To counter, the Troops will send out gunslingers Mike Amadio (LAK), Nick Paul (OTT), Nick Moutrey (CBJ), Ryan Kujawinski (NJD) and Zach Bratina.

Patrolling the blue lines are talented offensive defenseman like Brendan Bell, Kyle Wood and Marcus McIvor for North Bay and Oshawa’s Mitchell Vande Sompel, Dakota Mermis and overager Chris Carlisle. Expect this series to be extremely physical and neither team will surrounder “easy goals” as both are top of the league in special team units.

In the end, despite North Bay’s experience I feel as though Oshawa has the depth to persevere and complete their revenge on North Bay from last post-season., despite my initial thoughts on Twitter.

Prediction: Oshawa in 7

Schedule:

Game 1: Fri., April 24 North Bay at Oshawa, 7:35
Game 2: Sun., April 26 North Bay at Oshawa, 6:05
Game 3: Tues., April 28 Oshawa at North Bay, 7:00
Game 4: Wed., April 29 Oshawa at North Bay, 7:00
Game 5: Fri., May 1 North Bay at Oshawa, 7:35*
Game 6: Sun., May 3 Oshawa at North Bay, 2:00*
Game 7: Mon., May 4 North Bay at Oshawa, 7:05*
*if necessary

Battalion to Watch: Nick Paul (OTT), Mike Amadio (LAK) and Nick Moutrey (CBJ)

Generals to Watch: Michael Dal Colle (NYI), Cole Cassels (VAN) and Mitchell Vande Sompel (2015 NHL Draft)

Western Conference Final - Wayne Gretzky Trophy

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1) vs Erie Otters (2)

Season Series: Tied 1-1

Breakdown: The third round series features the top two teams in the OHL’s Western Conference standings during the 2014-15 regular season schedule competing for the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. This season the first place Greyhounds earned the Hamilton Spectator Trophy and West Division title with a league-best 54-12-0-2 record for 110 points, while the second place Otters captured the Midwest Division title with a 50-14-2-2 record for 104 points. During the 2014 Western Semi-Final, Erie knocked off Sault Ste. Marie in four straight and the ‘Hounds will be looking to bite back.

The Greyhounds have lost only two games on home ice this season which is a remarkable feat but extremely important as the top seed who gets home ice advantage. The mighty Greyhounds have yet to lose a series in their 2015 OHL Playoff run sweeping series against Saginaw and Guelph but that’ll be tested by the Connor McDavids, Dylan Stromes, Remi Elies and Nick Baptistes.

Just like the Eastern Conference Final, the ‘Hounds and Otters are well coached with Soo’s bench boss Sheldon Keefe (2015 OHL Coach of the Year) and Otters Kris Knoblauch manning the benches. Overall, there are 3 players on the ‘Hounds and Otters who are NHL property including Nick Baptiste (BUF), Remi Elie (DAL) and Troy Donnay (NYR) on Erie while Sergey Tolchinsky (CAR), Nick Ritchie (ANA), Jared McCann (VAN), Darnell Nurse (EDM), Justin Bailey (BUF), Michael Bunting (ARI), Jean Dupuy (BUF) and Brandon Halverson (NYR) represent NHL teams with the Soo. In addition, there are a slew of eligible players for the upcoming 2015 NHL Draft including top ranked Connor McDavid, who is destined for the Edmonton Oilers after the club won the NHL Draft lottery this past weekend. Erie’s Dylan Strome and Travis Dermott joins McDavid, along with Greyhounds Zach Senyshyn, Blake Speers, Gustav Bouramman, Cedric Mercier and Colton White will all be names to watch for the upcoming draft.

In my opinion, the Soo-Erie series has the potential to be one of the best in a long time as it’s loaded with lofty expectations for two passionate fan-bases, is chalked full of high-end talent and features two teams who’ve spent years building up for this OHL Championship run. Despite playing the fewest playoff games (8), Sault Ste. Marie has posted the most goals for (47) and fewest goals against (15) of any OHL team making it past the opening round – impressive. Operating at a remarkable 40%, the ‘Hounds ice the deadliest powerplay unit. However, Erie’s 93.5% penalty killing rate is equally as impressive.

Can the ‘Hounds find a way to shut down Connor McDavid -the OHL’s playoff leading scorer with 11 goals and 23 points in only nine games? Nick Ritchie’s 10 goals and 19 points have him playing his best junior hockey and that won’t make it easy for Erie’s Devin Williams in the crease.

The Greyhounds should edge out the Otters simply due to their waves of talented attacks, stronger backend and more reliable goaltender. The Otters won’t go down easy and I expect this one to be very chippy.

Prediction: Sault Ste. Marie in 6

Game 1: Thurs., April 23 Erie at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07
Game 2: Fri., April 24 Erie at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07
Game 3: Sun., April 26 Sault Ste. Marie at Erie, 7:00
Game 4: Tues., April 28 Sault Ste. Marie at Erie, 7:00
Game 5: Thurs., April 30 Erie at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07*
Game 6: Sat., May 2 Sault Ste. Marie at Erie, 7:00*
Game 7: Mon., May 4 Erie at Sault Ste. Marie, 7:07*

*if necessary

Greyhounds to Watch: Sergey Tolchinski (CAR), Nick Ritchie (ANA) and Anthony DeAngelo (TBL)

Otters to Watch: Connor McDavid (2015 NHL Draft), Dylan Strome (2015 NHL Draft) and Remi Elie (DAL)

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter as he covers the OHL Playoffs and prospects involved.

Youngblood: 2015 OHL Priority Selection Reflection

Brendan Ross — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 15:31:16 +0000

David Levin (middle), Gabe Vilardi (right) and Owen Tippett (left) were three of the top four picks in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection presented by State Farm on Saturday April 11, 2015. (Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

The 2015 OHL Priority Selection has been completed with 302 players being selected and after having time to digest the picks, we can reflect with some thoughts on each team’s draft. Of course, it’s impossible to conclude one team had a better draft than another because these players will all need to time to develop their skills. However, comparing team-by-team picks to my own opinions coming into the draft can provide some context to, at least, my own personal analysis down the road. It’ll be much more important and valuable to revisit the 2015 draft class in two or three years time to truly analyze how each organization did in identifying talent at different spots throughout the draft with more development time under these player’s belts. And that will certainly happen but until then, let’s take a look at how each team did last Saturday.

While there were several teams who had very good drafts in my opinion, I don’t think any team had a poor draft at all. Teams did very well in identifying talent and value at different points throughout the draft and added important building blocks for their future. It’s always interesting the importance different teams place on player’s skills and attributes when making their picks.. Sault Ste. Marie fancies skilled players with strong possession games. Hamilton (formerly Belleville) and Peterborough tend to lean towards a balance of skill and physical/powerful forwards. Kitchener, Erie and Sarnia appear to target skilled players early. The London Knights do a good job at grabbing competitive skilled players and then aren’t shy in taking chances with some high-end American players with their success at getting them to report. North Bay and Oshawa Generals are attracted to rangy players and tend to build their teams around big players who think the game well. Whatever the recipe is for success, I think every OHL front office should be proud of the future pieces they added on April 11th.

The following is a team-by-team breakdown of noteworthy picks and talents. It’s important to note that I have not seen every player drafted and only comment on those that I have. There’s a good chance that some teams hit the jackpot with some of their picks that I am not familiar with. I have listed the teams in order from those I thought had an excellent draft to those that had good drafts. Again, on first initial observations, it was a good year across the league for drafting and not one team falls into the “poor draft” category.

To conclude, following the team-by-team analysis, I listed three selections from each round that I really liked.

Revisit my OHL Draft Rankings here.

TEAM-BY-TEAM ANALYSIS

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – Text book drafting continues in Sault Ste. Marie as the ‘Hounds scouting staff had a fantastic draft. With almost every pick that came due, the Greyhounds took my top ranked player remaining on my draft board – including Liam Hawel (selected 22nd, ranked 13th), Anthony DeMeo (selected 61st, ranked 20th), Morgan Frost (selected 81st, ranked 50th), Corson Green (selected 101st, ranked 26th), Calvin Martin (selected 121st, ranked 54th), Taylor Carlson (selected 141st, ranked 39th), Ryan Horvath (selected 161st, ranked 72nd) and Isaiah Payne (selected 221st, ranked 70th). It really was astonishing watching them pick off such great talent at every point in the draft. To no surprise, many of the players selected excel in possession hockey. Calvin Martin was a favourite all season long with his smart puck decisions. Liam Hawel owns some of the best pro potential in the draft. Morgan Frost is a hard to play against pivot out of Barrie. Demeo is a dynamic defender who instantly revitalizes the Greyhounds blueline if he commits considering Nurse and DeAngelo will graduate. The ‘Hounds stellar draft didn’t end there as they added highly regarded American Randy Hernandez, Theo Calvas and Perry Winfree late. Defenseman Zach Taylor and centreman Alex Daigle are two underrated possession players who have great supporting qualities and an ability to play a number of roles as well. Best drafting team in 2015.

Owen Sound Attack – Blessed with two very valuable first round selections due to the Victor Mete compensation pick, Owen Sound stuck gold getting two work horse players in Markus Phillips on defense and Nick Suzuki in the centre position. They had to wait until the third round to select again and added Matthew Struthers and athletic netminder Riley Daniels. It was through the middle rounds that Dale DeGray’s team did the most damage scooping up two energy skilled players from the Toronto Titans in Regan Kimens and Zach Sheedy, both high in my rankings. Furthermore, Mackenzie Warren, another top rated defender in my opinion, and Nick Pryce were two high value picks. Pryce was often the straw that stirred the Marlboros drink a lot of times this season. Kenneth Chisholm and defenseman Nicholas King were two smart picks out of the Alliance with both owning OHL potential. Joey Berkopec has some puck moving skills and his mobility showed very well in a quiet yet effective way. The Attack grabbed NOHA Player of the Year, Cayse Ton, in the 11th and then finished by selecting GM Dale DeGray’s son, Michael with their final pick in the 14th round. Solid draft!

London Knights – The Knights had 15 selections in the draft and I personally liked everyone of them. Oakville’s defenseman Evan Bouchard started things off in the opening round when everyone was thinking they’d go to Don Mills. Robert Thomas was next on the Knights list and that should come as no surprise since he plays a “Knights’ style” of hockey – excelling in possession and competitiveness. Finn Evans was selected in the third which was one of my favourite selections of the draft. London added Brady Tkachuk, brother of Matt who the Knights also own rights to. One of the draft’s top defenders Ian Blacker, committed to Western Michigan, was a gamble that might just pay off in the 4th. Cole Tymkin will add some grit to the system while Vinagradov, Turko, Di Cicco and Clarke are all local London kids with good OHL upside. Two of my sleepers of the draft were scooped up by London with Formenton and Dennison landing in the “Forest City”. Sean Dhoogie is a 5-foot-2 dynamo that is a gamble due to his commitments and Jacob Golden is rumoured to have options south of the border but is a great puck moving Top 75 defender.

Peterborough Petes – Loaded with a league-high 18 picks, Peterborough had a lot of flexibility in their draft plan and did well to lock up some good building blocks for the franchise. A bit surprising, Peterborough opted for Zach Gallant, a two-way forward with a lot of intangibles, with their 5th overall selection. Gallant will certainly become a key fixture for the Petes moving forward and should have an immediate impact in the lineup. Next up was Nicholas Grima, a defender I was higher on than most and one that fits the Petes’ hard-working game approach well. Gritty skilled winger CJ Clarke and hard hitting defender Cole Fraser offer a tough-to-play-against style that’s common at the Memorial Arena in Peterborough. Simon Boyko is a sniper who will surely help Jonathan Ang (2014 1st round selection) put up goals. Perth Swick is a big defender with some shutdown upside while Nick Isaacson is a forward I was particularly high on because of his rangy skilled style. Peterborough added Bryce Misley, Luke Wyatt, Cameron Crotty, and Colton Kalezic through the middle rounds which will improve their organizational depth and give them options. Josh Barraclough is a Petes’ style of burly forward and was snatched up in the 9th round. Logan Buchanan and Peterborough native Will Hickey were two energy forwards with skill added later. Mix in the gambles on Americans Logan Hutsko and Logan Cockerill and the Petes had a very good day at the draft table.

Kitchener Rangers – The blue shirts likely walked away from the draft very happy after landing Greg Meireles, a top 10 talent, with their 12th pick. The smooth skating Elijah Roberts was their 2nd round target and then Kitchener turned to the undersized skilled dynamo Joseph Garreffa in the 3rd followed by calm poised goaltender Luke Richardson in the 4th. Meireles’ teammate Nick McHugh was added in the 7th and Kitchener selected a few local skaters in Nick Duralijla (Hamilton) and Andrew McIntyre (Kitchener) later. Ryan Kula, Dylan Seitz, Alex Peterson, and Scott Del Zotto were shrewd selections as well. If Adam Scheel decides to come to the OHL over the NCAA then the Rangers could have another John Gibson on their hands.

Saginaw Spirit – The Spirit had one of the better drafts in 2015 and it started with high character, versatile pivot Brady Gilmour being selected 6th overall. Gilmour’s leadership and competitive hunger are the type of qualities team build championships around. Saginaw improved their blueline with the additions of Robert Proner (30th), Carson Pearce (9th round), Jaxon Camp (11th), Brady Enman (12th) and reentry Fedor Radukov (14th). With two 2nd round picks, Saginaw made the smart move by rolling the dice on Kirill Maksimov, a high potential yet inconsistent forward who owns game-changing qualities. Brendan Bonello was surprisingly available in the 4th round and the Spirit may have hit the jackpot here. Nick Campoli is a high energy skilled forward that was great value in the 6th round while adding Matteo DiGiulio was a worhwhile investment as he’s flashed some noteworthy skill. Gianluca Fuoco and Jacob Sutton are buzz saw forwards that’ll add some agitating presence to the system. Saginaw took some calculated risks on Americans they’ll attempt to recruit including Cole Coskey, Brock Hill and Michael Pastujov a top 3 talent who just happens to be the younger brother to highly touted Saginaw 2014 pick Nick Pastujov. If the Spirit can get the Pastujov brothers to report, watch out!

Guelph Storm – The Storm excelled in the top half of the draft with their selections of Ratcliffe, Stevens, Deakin-Poot, Schnarr, Hanna, Popovich and Ralph – all players with different personas that should fill out different roles well. In addition, Guelph took a flier on the top ranked defensive prospect in David Farrance giving them a potential star if they can convince him to report. More smart selections were made to end the draft with Jakob Lee, Noah Benjamin and Michael Mannara as a few other names that came aboard.

Oshawa Generals – The Gens got off on a good foot in my books after selecting my 8th ranked skater in Jack Studnicka in the 21st spot. Studnicka, in my opinion, owns some of the best upside in this draft and it was nice to see him land inside the opening round after I applauded his talents all season long. Without a pick until the 4th round, Oshawa turned back to the US-based teams and took Kyle MacLean from the New Jersey rockets giving them a two-way competitive forward who has top-nine potential. Waterloo’s Sullivan Sparkes, London’s Jaimen Allison, Quinte’s Keegan Ferguson and Soo Thunderbirds’ forward Gage Stephney all received good reviews this season in my notes. I especially feel that Ferguson and Stephney were two players who own some untapped upside. Oshawa rounded out the second half of their draft getting great value with their picks – Mathieu Franche (9th), Barrett Mundell (11th), Matt Stoia (12th), Tyler Dam (13th) and Shelby Rienstra (15th).

Niagara IceDogs– Similar to the Knights’ draft, Niagara nailed down almost every one of their picks. Ben Jones is one of the most OHL-ready prospects in the draft and Hayden Davis was the top ranked player at one point so the ‘Dogs did very well in the opening round. Cal Davis is a smart rangy winger with a lot of upside, Cameron Bisson is a sizeable winger who also has a lot of room to develop while Colton Incze was among my top ranked goaltenders. Max Khull might have been the most underrated Northern player and Mitchell Crevatin had a quiet yet excellent year with Sun County. Matthew Philip isn’t flashy but he’s got a smart mind for the game and knows how to play a good support possession game. Special stick tap to the Niagara IceDogs for selecting Benjamin Fox with the final pick of the draft, making the young lads’ dream come true after he suffered a stroke that has left him partially paralyzed. Classy move by Niagara and the OHL!

Erie Otters – Knocked their first six picks out of the park by adding Lodnia, Neumann, Wainman, Celotti and Ryan Martin. The Otters appeared to nab their guys in their expected projected rounds which resulted in them adding a lot of quality depth. Middle round pick Derek McVey is a rangy forward with some promising tools and a player to watch moving forward. The Otters went with some unknown American prospects with some of their later picks but due to the unfamiliarity, I cannot comment on their upside/skills. Dylan Latty and Adam Pys were two solid gets later in the draft.

Mississauga Steelheads – Owen Tippett wasn’t the McLeod brother that they may have expected to draft but Tippett is an excellent and equally as dangerous talent to build around. With an OHL-calibre shot, Tippett should help Mississauga in the goal scoring department very soon. The ‘Trout had a quietly good draft and seemed to like the Ottawa and Quinte areas picking up forwards Aiden McFarland, Matthew Titus, Darcy Walsh, Scoley Dow and defenseman Ryan O’Connell. Jack Lyons, Ryan Radisa, Chris Garbe, Harrison Toms and Maxime Fortin were good value picks. One of my top ranked defenseman in the draft was Ryan Wells, who was taken in the final round so I certainly approve.

North Bay Battalion – The troops in North Bay did a splendid job locking up talented northern kids while mixing in smart value picks throughout the draft. North Bay native Brady Lyle was their first round selection after the offensive rearguard tore it up with Shattuck St. Mary’s scoring at a near point-per-game pace. Jacob Ball is a rangy shoot-first winger with some promising skills that was nabbed in the 3rd round. Sudbury’s Brady Chenier owns some of the most tantalizing talent of any northern kid and will surely develop into a solid player. North Bay scooped up Don Mills minute-eating goaltender Matthew Woroniuk in the 6th (great value), projected Top 30 defenseman Josh Maniscalco in the 7th (a worthy gamble) and Joseph Franzin, Max Wright, Daniel Walker, Stefan Palatsidis and Kameron Shearer were good value picks after the mid-rounds. Eric Allair was an under-the-radar defender from North Bay and grabbing Curtis Abbott in the 15th was a smart move as he represented one of my favourites from the Alliance this season.

Kingston Frontenacs – Robbie Burt was the Fronts first round pick which was surprising to a lot of draft watchers but he certainly flashed high-end talent with the Rebels from time to time. Kingston grabbed Jacob Paquette in the second round (a favourite of mine) and then continued a nice string of selections in Jakob Brahaney, Jason Robertson, Tyler Burnie, Nick Kiriakos, Mario Peccia, Colin VanDenHurk, Sean Michaud and Brad Cocca. Kingston did very well grabbing value in every round and it should pay long-term dividends.

Hamilton Bulldogs – Impressive draft for the Hamilton Bulldogs as they targeted tough to play against competitors. Matt Strome is a nice piece to build around and they flanked him with some good talent in two-way defender Reilly Webb, intriguing puck moving defender Fedor Gordeev and hard hitting blueliner Noah Lugli. Add in Zachary Jackson, Jesse Burger, Maddux Rychel and Skyler Brind’Amour – all players who have loads of potential and room to develop – and the ‘BDogs have stocked their cupboards. Mackenzie Entwistle is a player teams will win with and Brett Willits, Jake Durham and local defender Brandon Scanlin were some of the more underrated prospects.

Windsor Spitfires – Warren Rychel went with the best player available and snatched up Gabe Vilardi with the 2nd pick of the draft. Vilardi is a high-end playmaker who can dominate possession time. He will fit in nicely with the other big bodies in Windsor and likely elevate the play of his linemates with his distribution skills. To no surprise, Windsor addressed their lack of goaltending depth by grabbing local netminder Michael DiPietro, who played all season with Rychel’s son Maddux. With their second pick of the 2nd round, the Spitfires scooped up smooth skating defender Kyle Auger out of the Thunder Bay Kings program. Windsor was the first to draft a re-entry player in EOJHL standout Cole Carter in the 4th round. The GTHL was targeted by Windsor with their 8th and 9th round picks taking versatile defender Declan Graham from the Marlies and industrious winger Cole Purboo from the Mississauga Rebels, respectively. Thomas Stevenson is a projectable defenseman with promising raw tools and a nice get in the 10th. William Sirman isn’t the biggest or most dynamic skater but his hockey sense and effectiveness in possession will make him a nice OHL prospect. Devlin Shanahan was an OHL Cup standout in my books as a player who knows how to make an impact, showing advanced understanding of the game and the resolve to just get things done.

Sudbury Wolves – David Levin was my top ranked player and rightfully went 1st overall to the Wolves giving them an exciting dynamic player to build around. With Andrew Shaw in charge, it Sudbury performed very well drafting well out of the Alliance including smart possession winger Shane Bulitka (2nd round), opportunistic scorer Owen Lane (3rd), two-way workhorse defender Donovan Cowan (6th) and sparkplug forward Kier Cumming (15th). Barrie’s Macauley Carson was taken with the last pick in the 2nd and will provide a big physical presence who shows good skill in traffic. Conor Ali was an underrated puck mover and a good pick up while Ben Garagan, Adam Panacci and Declan Hilton all provide some long-term potential up front. Adrian Bilic was a quietly good selection as he logged a ton of valuable minutes with the Jr. Canadiens. Jake McGrath and Evan Fear (if he’d report) were two solid goaltender picks for Sudbury.

Sarnia Sting – To no surprise, Sarnia went Stateside and adding a skilled forward with Euro ties in Sasha Chmelevski from the always dangerous Detroit Honeybaked team. After trading away one of their three second round picks, Sarnia opted for Southern Tier’s Ryan McGregor and towering London goaltender Aidan Hughes in the second round. McGregor was taken slightly higher than many expected but he offers skill in a similar fashion as rookie standout Jordan Kyrou did last season. He has the creativity, soft handling ability, and strong skating package to develop into a special player. Aidan Hughes was Mr. Steady Eddie all season long posting impressive crease numbers and the given fact that he’s both huge and extremely athletic, he has some outstanding potential. With their 3rd round selection, Sarnia drafted another Hughes in Toronto Marlboros’ defenseman Quinton Hughes who was ranked 4th overall in my rankings. Hughes has a University of Michigan commitment and is expected to play with the US NTDP program. Kelton Hatcher apparently plays a similar game as his father Derien Hatcher and could offer Sarnia a big minute shutdown defender in a year or two. Matthew Kellemberger is a smooth skating puck moving defenseman that was a smart selection in the 7th round. American Colton McKenna displays a good north-south attack game and a noteworthy shot. Holden Hrysko is a gritty hard working two-way forward who isn’t afraid to get physical but also owns some solid puck skills. Anthony Bertucca was a very good selection in the 11th for Sarnia as he showed very well for the Quinte Red Devils, winning them an OMHA championship. Heading back to Southern Tier, Sarnia grabbed Curtis Egert in the 13th who is a good framed kid who loves to hit and packs a good shooting arsenal.

Ottawa 67’s – Austen Keating has been a ’99 to watch for several years and the 67’s selected the skilled pivot with the 16th overall. Ottawa looked to improve their blueline with their next two picks drafting Noah Hoefenmayer and Hudson Wilson from Don Mills and Vaughan, respectively. Wilson was a very underrated defender who plays a complete game while “The Hoef” has shown to offer some promising offensive tools. Corey Andonovski was a shrewd selection in the 4th round as this talented winger really had a strong second half and could develop into one of the better ‘99s. Marcel Berube (5th) is a hard to play against physical winger, Kody Clark (son of Wendel Clark) was a good support player on the Marlboros and Ben Evans was my 43rd ranked skater so he was a solid get in the 8th round. Ottawa added some good local talent in North Central’s Matthew Prucha, Jr. 67’s defender Erik Ross and Titans puckstopper Jacob Smith in the 9th, 10th and 11th round. Highly touted Americans Thomas Miller and Charlie Dovorany were grabbed with two of their final three selections.

Flint Firebirds – Made the first controversial pick by nabbing Ryan McLeod third overall after talks that he was headed to Mississauga to join his brother Michael. Credit to their staff for drafting McLeod and grabbing the best available player at that position. Flint took some calculated risks on Americans with commitments. Firebirds did well to add some tough players to play against through the middle rounds in Jack Phibbs and Drayton Duckett.

Barrie Colts – Strong first seven picks including Tortora, Willms, Aidan Brown, Christian Propp, Jaden Peca and Kade Landry. It will be interesting to see what Jake Tortora opts to do as much of the Colts draft success depends on this first round selection. If he reports and opts out of his collegiate commitment, he’s a game changer. Goaltender Carter Pearen had a strong season with Elgin and was a great pick in the 12th round. Likewise, Kyle Heitzner flashed some natural scoring skills and could develop into an impact forward as a 11th round selection.

ROUND-BY-ROUND FAVOURITE PICKS

There were three players noted in every round that I consider above-average picks based on their skill and value moving forward. There are several rounds with an additional player listed (in italics) because a team took a calculated gamble on a player with NCAA commitment in a draft spot that could prove extremely valuable.

Round 1
Ryan McLeod (3rd to Flint)
Jack Studnicka (21st to Oshawa)
Liam Hawel (22nd to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 2
Nicholas Grima (25th to Peterborough)
Jacob Paquette (31st to Kingston)
Mackenzie Entwistle (40th to Hamilton)

Round 3
Quinton Hughes (49th to Sarnia)
Brett Neumann (53rd to Erie)
Finn Evans (60th to London)
Anthony DeMeo (61st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 4
Simon Boyko (66th to Peterborough)
Ian Blacker (70th to London)
Corey Andonovski (75th to Ottawa)
Luke Richardson (79th to Kitchener)

Round 5
Nicholas Celotti (63rd to Erie)
Quinn Hanna (94th to Guelph)
Corson Green (101st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 6
Jaden Peca (102nd to Barrie)
Donovan Cowan (105th to Sudbury)
Matthew Woroniuk (108th to North Bay)
David Farrance (114th to Guelph)

Round 7
Jack Phibbs (133rd to Saginaw)
Cedric Ralph (140th to Guelph)
Taylor Carlson (141st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 8
Nick Pryce (143rd to Owen Sound)
Ben Evans (155th to Ottawa)
Ryan Horvath (161st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 9
Cole Purboo (163rd to Windsor)
Kyle Waters (164th to Flint)
Matthew Philip (172nd to Niagara)

Round 10
Jordan Di Cicco (196th to London)
Tyler Gratton (199th to Erie)
Brad Cocca (200th to Kingston)

Round 11
Alex Formenton (216th to London)
Barrett Mundell (220th to Oshawa)
Isaiah Payne (221st to Sault Ste. Marie)

Round 12
Skyler Brind’Amour (228th to Hamilton)
Scott Del Zotto (231st to Kitchener)
Matt Stoia (240th to Oshawa)

Round 13
Devlin Shanahan (243rd to Windsor)
Curtis Egert (249th to Sarnia)
Sean Dhoogie (256th to London)
Eric Allair (257th to North Bay)

Round 14
Adrian Bilic (262nd to Sudbury)
William Sirman (263rd to Windsor)
Liam Dennison (276th to London)

Round 15
Ryan Wells (285th to Mississauga)
Jacob Golden (295th to London)
Curtis Abbott (297th to North Bay)
Benjamin Fox (302nd to Niagara) – Classy Move!

UNDRAFTED TOP 250 RANKED PLAYERS

The following players were ranked in my personal Top 250 (not including Americans without viewings) who did not get draft this time around.

G - Kristian Hufsky

G - Michael Leach

G - Garrett Boyonoski

D - Eric Sutherland

D - Zach Hart

D - Jordan Russell

D - Adrien Bisson

D - Justin Freeman

D - Daniel Marchese

D - Bryan Brant

D - Ben Derrough

D - Blake Kryska

D - Elliott MacDermott

D - Ben Schoch

D - Jackson Oswald

D - Brendon Clavelle

D - Jackson Brown

D - John MIllar

D- Robert Haak

D - Kyle Lefebvre

F - Tanner Hertel

F - Brenden Stanko

F - Jonathan Lakhani

F - Ryan Shaw

F - Steven Agriogianis

F - Kole Scott

F - Karter Renouf

F - Mark Tassone

F - Mackenzie Lowry

F - Adam Johnston

F - Zach Bramwell

F - Oliver Castleman

F - Lucas Stefano

F - Felix Cote

F - Nick Hoey

F - Jon Sanderson

F - Jacob Brown

F - Vincent Bonailuto

F - Robert Welsher

F - Sean Josling

F - Travis Yawger

F - Michael Cabral

F - Joshua Battistella

F - Eric Eschweiler

F - Harrison Craffey

Youngblood: Second Round OHL Playoff Preview & Predictions

Brendan Ross — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 22:52:36 +0000

The London Knights prevailed over the Kitchener Rangers and crushed my hopes of thinking a perfect first round projection was possible. All in all, going seven for eight in the opening round is a record that should be applauded…enough so that maybe I should quit while I was ahead.

The Oshawa Generals overcame some bumps in the road to defeat the Peterborough Petes in five games but, more importantly, showed that they are certainly beatable.

Belleville couldn’t muster up enough offense to pick up a win and played their final games at the Yardmen as the Barrie Colts knocked off the Bulls in four straight games.

Stan Butler’s North Bay Battalion continue to exceed everyone’s expectations as they handled Sam Bennett and the Kingston Frontenacs fairly easily outscoring them 17-4 en route to a first round sweep.

The Ottawa – Niagara series certainly lived up to the high-scoring affair that I expected and after falling behind 2-0, the IceDogs won four straight to take the series 4-2.

The Saginaw Spirit were totally overmatched by the Soo Greyhounds and their four-line attack as the Northern pups cruised to a 4-0 series win, outscoring the Spirit 22-5 in the sweep.

Sarnia stung the Erie Otters early and put a real scare into the second ranked Western Conference team. After the Sting forfeited several sizeable leads, Erie squeaked out four consecutive wins but this series could’ve easily ended up in Sarnia’s favour. The Otters may thank the Sting later for opening their eyes in the opening round.

The big guns in London – Marner, Domi and Dvorak - were firing on all cylinders and the Knights got the secondary support they needed to break games wide open. Kitchener didn’t get the star-studded goaltending performances that they needed and fell to the mighty Knights in six games.

The 4-1 series win by the Guelph Storm isn’t a reflection of how this series played out because the Owen Sound Attack put up a dogged fight with four games decided by one goal – all loses by the Attack.

Let’s take a look at how the second round could play out.

Eastern Conference

Oshawa Generals (1) vs. Niagara IceDogs (5)

Breakdown: The Generals didn’t have the “cleanest” opening round as the Petes gave them some unexpected problems and with the Niagara IceDogs picking up steam, Oshawa will have to sharpen their game. Oshawa lost the season series (2-0) to the ‘Dogs but those games came prior to the ‘new’ Generals team with Michael McCarron and Matt Mistele. This is the most difficult series to predict and much depends largely on Niagara’s ability to keep pucks out of their net – an area they didn’t necessarily excel in during the opening round. Oshawa has the better goaltender and they’re a much bigger team and with their experience, Oshawa should squeak out another win.

Prediction: Oshawa in 6

IceDogs to Watch: Josh Ho-Sang (NYI), Carter Verhaeghe (TOR) and Brendan Perlini (ARI)

Generals to Watch: Michael Dal Colle (NYI), Cole Cassels (VAN) and Mitchell Vande Sompel (2015 NHL Draft)

Barrie Colts (2) vs. North Bay Battalion (3)

Breakdown: The Colts and Battalion split the season series 3-3 and it’s shaping up to be another lengthy battle. After sweeping a skilled and quick Kingston squad, North Bay will have a similar challenge in limiting the talent in Barrie. The Colts are a deeper offensive team than the Frontenacs but their challenges will be the same – breaking through the stifling defensive system that the Battalion play. The Battalion blue line is vastly underrated in OHL circles and despite having three 100-point scorers, Barrie could certainly have difficulty scoring. If the trio of Blandisi, Labanc and Mangiapane can’t continue scoring then the Colts are in trouble.

Prediction: North Bay in 6

Colts to Watch: Joseph Blandisi (NJD), Rasmus Andersson (2015 NHL Draft) and Mackenzie Blackwood (2015 NHL Draft)

Battalion to Watch: Nick Paul (OTT), Mike Amadio (LAK) and Nick Moutrey (CBJ)

Western Conference

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (1) vs. Guelph Storm (4)

Breakdown: Everyone knew that the Greyhounds would prevail out of the first round but damn, they certainly made it look easy. The Guelph Storm needed only five games to eliminate a tough Owen Sound team but they were all battle-tested affairs and that wears on a smaller squad like the Storm. The OHL defending Champs enter this season as underdogs and with all due respect to Guelph, it will be surprising if they can muster up a win. Justin Nichols was flat out fantastic in the opening round and the Storm will need him to elevate his game to an impossible level to compete with the ‘Hounds. The Greyhounds were a perfect 4-0 against the Storm in regular season play and I see a similar result in the post-season.

Prediction: Sault Ste. Marie in 4

Storm to Watch: Robby Fabbri (STL), Tyler Bertuzzi (DET) and Jason Dickinson (DAL), Justin Nichols

Greyhounds to Watch: Sergey Tolchinski (CAR), Nick Ritchie (ANA) and Anthony DeAngelo (TBL)

Erie Otters (2) vs. London Knights (3)

Breakdown: Erie’s Devin Williams was “shaky” in the opening round and London’s rookie netminder Tyler Parsons didn’t face the talent of a Connor McDavid…or Dylan Strome…or Remi Elie….or Alex Debrincat…or Nick Baptiste…or, well you get the point. It’s clear that goals will come often in the Knights and Otters series so the team with the best goaltending and highest scoring ability should come out on top. The Otters have the depth to stop or, at least, limit the likes of Mitch Marner, Max Domi and Christian Dvorak. In the end, London’s inexperience on the blueline and between the pipes will be in tough to stop Erie’s top guns. Regardless, it should be the most exciting matchup in the second round and that’s especially true if you like high-scoring hockey.

Prediction: Erie in 7

Knights to Watch: Max Domi (ARI), Christian Dvorak (ARI) and Mitch Marner (2015 NHL Draft)

Otters to Watch: Connor McDavid (2015 NHL Draft), Dylan Strome (2015 NHL Draft) and Remi Elie (DAL)

Follow @RossyYoungblood on Twitter as he covers

Youngblood: 2015 OHL Draft Guide & Rankings

Brendan Ross — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 21:49:16 +0000

David Levin (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

With the Sudbury Wolves scheduled to announce the winner of the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded annually to the 1st overall selection, a new face of the frachise will don the Sudbury jersey in need of some electrifying talent. All signs point to that player being skilled winger David Levin of the Don Mills Flyers but that will need to be confirmed at their press conference on Friday, April 10th at 11am EST.

Born in Israel and a late beginner to the game of hockey, David Levin is a player with an interesting back story. He started the game as an inline player who eventually moved to the Toronto area to live with family in order to chase his dreams of playing in the NHL. Despite his fascinating and journey outside of the rink, Levin's dazzling skills on the ice are the true grounds for excitement. His ability to create offense with elite level puck skills, paralyzing one-on-one skills and breath-taking passing abilities will surely be welcomed in Nickel City, who are eager to add a game-breaking forward talent.

Unlike the 2014 OHL Priority Selection when Jakob Chychrun was the unanimous choice as the top ranked skater, David Levin is only one player in a tightly packed group at the top of many draft rankings. Levin is joined by top rated skaters Gabriel Vilardi, Ryan McLeod and Owen Tippett as potential 1st overall selections. On the blue line, Hamilton's Hayden Davis, Brampton's Ian Blacker and Toronto's Quinn Hughes draw the most praise from scouts. For teams eyeing help between the pipes, look for Titans' puckstopper Brendan Bonello, Canada Winter Games' standout Michael DiPietro, North Central's Luke Richardson or London's Aidan Hughes to draw interest early.

The 2015 OHL draft crop is a unique group as the variance of opinions is quite extensive. Simply put, as teams call out their selections be prepared for the unexpected because draft lists and rankings lack any sort of consensus. Regardless of the 1999-crop being void of that "can't-miss" prospect, it does provide good depth and will certainly be a fun group to follow as they journey through their development. Years down the road when the selections can fairly be analyzed, we many later picks match the success of earlier selections, at least - more than we traditionally expect.

April 10th will mark an exciting day for players and their families as over 300 prospects get drafted into the Ontario Hockey League, taking the next step in their hockey careers.

After spending long days and many weekends in the rink and on the road travelling to scout the '99 age group, I can proudly present readers of "Youngblood Hockey" with my personal rankings, observations, lists and much, much more in the 2015 Youngblood OHL Draft Guide. Inside readers will find my Top 250 ranked players, 50 candid scouting notes, and an additional 200+ Players to Watch (including Americans without personal viewings). In addition, Youngblood Hockey has included "Sleeper Lists", "Best Of.." groupings and a two-round Mock Draft.

It's been a fun year! Enjoy and good luck to all of the players!

DOWNLOAD (FREE): Youngblood Hockey - 2015 OHL Draft Rankings

Brendan Ross

@RossyYoungblood