The level of frustration among Ontario based hockey players has to be extremely high after the difficult decision was made to cancel the 2021 OHL season due to the covid pandemic. This decision affects many groups of players equally. Overagers lose their final year of eligibility and a huge chapter of their life is closed abruptly. Rookies lose out on the opportunity to adjust to a higher level and learn what it takes to be an OHL player (a year before their NHL draft seasons). Second- and third-year eligible NHL draft prospects are deprived of the chance to showcase improvements made to their games in hopes of being drafted or signed this time around. Finally, first year eligible draft prospects now have to hope that NHL scouts like what they saw from them last year in the OHL (or Tier 2), or for a fortunate few, what they saw at the World Under 17’s. At this point in time, previous notes and video scouting are the only way to determine the value and ranking of Ontario based players.
There was hope that the CHL and Hockey Canada would work together to host a top prospect style tournament in a protected environment sometime before the NHL Draft. However, that appears to be dead in the water now. As an alternative, a group of OHL players have organized a tournament in Erie to showcase their talents to NHL scouts (PBHH Invitational). That is set to occur soon (June 1-June 13). It will be a great opportunity for those participating to showcase any potential improvements made to their games.
As we prepare for the home stretch in our NHL draft coverage (the NHL Draft is set for July 23-24), I am going to look at some of the more unheralded OHL prospects available in a three-part series. This series is not going to focus on the Brandt Clarke’s or Mason McTavish’s; not even the Wyatt Johnson’s or Ryan Winterton’s. It is going to provide a closer look at the OHL’ers who are candidates for the latter half of the draft. In total, 29 players will be featured.
It should be noted that this series will not look at the Import players because those were already profiled by me in an earlier series. Here is part one (featuring the likes of Artyom Grushnikov and Daniil Sobolev). Here is part two (featuring the likes of Matvei Petrov and Vsevolod Gaidamak)
This first part in the series looks at forwards from the OHL’s Eastern Conference.
THE FORWARDS
Nick DeGrazia - Center/Left Wing - Sudbury Wolves
6’1, 181lbs
2019-20 Stats (SBY): 4 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 0 PIM, -1
2019-20 Stats (NOJHL): 46 games, 32 goals, 29 assists, 61 points, 14 PIM
2020-21 Stats (NOJHL): 10 games, 7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points, 2 PIM
DeGrazia is a very interesting study. Undrafted in his original OHL draft year out of Thunder Bay, he returned to play U18 AAA and was a selection by the Wolves in the relatively new U18 draft. A late born 2002, DeGrazia then spent last season in the NOJHL with Rayside-Balfour, where he was named the league’s rookie of the year. He also helped Canada East reach the finals of the World Junior A Challenge, an event that served as the coming out party for teammates Devon Levi and fellow 2021 draft eligible forward Ayrton Martino (currently the 27th ranked player by McKeen’s). It was expected that DeGrazia would become a full-time fixture in Sudbury’s top nine this season. However, DeGrazia is fortunate because he was able to get some games in this season in the NOJHL, one of the few leagues in Ontario who did manage to start up.
The name of DeGrazia’s game is speed. He is lightning quick. He uses his speed to be a factor in all three zones, with or without the puck, to cause havoc. This makes him an excellent penalty killer and forechecker. He forces a lot of turnovers in the offensive zone and neutral zone by applying pressure to opposing defenders and puck carriers, closing off their passing and skating lanes quickly. Not an overtly physical player, DeGrazia will engage to separate players from the puck, but this is not a strength of his. He is often successful winning battles along the boards and prolonging possession when he is able to approach pucks with some build up, using his quickness to escape pressure. However, when defenders close him off, he can be separated from the puck.
At this current point in time, DeGrazia is also more of a high-volume shooter, coming from the NOJHL. He will use his speed to attack the zone and is content firing off low danger shots on net in hopes of creating rebounds, but I would love to see him maintain possession longer, using his speed to be evasive until a passing opportunity opens up. Adding more of a playmaking layer to his game would really elevate him to becoming a more overall dangerous offensive player. When playing at higher levels (the World Junior A Challenge and OHL), DeGrazia has had some difficulty finishing off plays that his speed creates too, which suggests to me that the offensive upside may not be incredibly high. That said, it is easy to see him becoming an NHL player down the line. His game is extremely versatile due to the fact that his skating is an asset, he can play both center or the wing, and he shows potential as a strong two-way player.
Videos
- DeGrazia wears #2, 12, and 61 for various teams
A collection of clips of DeGrazia’s speed and skating ability. One thing worth noting is that, thus far at the higher levels (OHL and World Junior A Challenge), DeGrazia has been limited to playing a mostly North/South game and has not shown an ability to use his speed East/West the way that he has at the NOJHL level. I do expect that this will change as he gains confidence playing at those higher levels. That is why this season was going to be such a critical one for him.
Some clips of DeGrazia’s best OHL performance last year. We see some great things. His speed can play at this level. Mostly positive things in a small amount of ice time. The only negative is the poor defensive read in the last clip where Saginaw scores because he loses track of his assignment in the slot.
This shift of DeGrazia’s at the World Junior A Challenge against the United States perfectly captures some of the areas that I identified as next steps for him. We see him use his speed to enter the zone, but rather than peel off and maintain possession, he tries to beat his defender one on one and loses the puck. Later, we see him lose a board battle and we see him put a low quality shot on net from the perimeter.
Grades: Skating: 60,Shot: 50 Skills: 50 Smarts: 50 Physicality: 50
OFP: 52.5
Brendan Sirizzotti - Right Wing/Center - Ottawa 67’s
5’11, 170lbs
2019-20 Stats (OTT): 9 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, 4 PIM, +1
2019-20 Stats (OJHL): 41 games, 17 goals, 40 assists, 57 points, 52 PIM
Due to the depth of the Ottawa 67’s last year, Sirizzotti, a second-round pick, was forced to play most of the season with Pickering of the OJHL. In Pickering, the former Whitby Wildcats star, was a standout. His 57 points were the highest in the league by a U17 player by a pretty large margin and his 1.39 points per game average was the best by a U17 player in the league in the last decade. When he did play in the OHL, Sirizzotti did struggle to make a consistent impact from a strength perspective. Another year of strength training would have done wonders and prepared Sirizzotti for a larger role with Ottawa this season.
Sirizzotti is a competitive, playmaking forward. In U16 with Whitby, he was known for his dazzling ability to keep plays alive along the wall with his hands and feet. His high-end vision would then allow him to take advantage of the space and time that he was able to gain, by finding open teammates coming off the wall. At the OJHL and OHL level this ability has not been as prevalent, with Sirizzotti instead excelling as a transitional attacker who can use his speed to push the pace and create odd man opportunities. It is in these opportunities that he has been able to utilize that strong passing ability.
As mentioned, Sirizzotti is also a competitive kid who will work to get pucks back when he turns them over, and who will drive the net in search of scoring opportunities. That said, turnovers were an issue at both levels last season, as Sirizzotti would try to drive through defenders or force passes into lanes that did not exist. Additionally, without significant strength, he could be too easily pushed off the puck in the cycle. While Sirizzotti does excel in puck retrieval, on the forecheck, and on the penalty kill because of his speed and tenacity, his play in the defensive zone needs work. Too often he leaks out early or does not support teammates along the wall. As such, projecting Sirizzotti as an NHL player based on his play last year is difficult. We greatly needed to see how improved conditioning this year (likely) would have aided in his ability to prolong possession and allow him to take advantage of his strengths as a playmaker.
Videos
- Sirizzotti wears #8 for the 67’s
Here are some clips of Sirizzotti from OHL action last season. We see some good and we see some bad. There are certainly glimpses of his strong playmaking ability and vision. But we also see how he struggled at times in his own end and with his decision making under duress.
Not the best shift here from Sirizzotti. Three turnovers due to trying to either force himself through defenders or from trying to force passes through traffic. The motor is high and you love to see him battling to help regain possession, but these are the types of plays that he will need to eliminate at the higher levels.
This play really exemplifies Sirizzotti’s ability at the current moment. Quick strike to create a near two on one. But he loses control of the puck in the face of pressure. However, he battles to get it back quickly and then makes a great play in tight to finish.
Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 45
OFP: 51.125
Avery Hayes - Center/Right Wing - Hamilton Bulldogs
5’10, 165lbs
2019-20 Stats (HAM): 42 games, 15 goals, 14 assists, 29 points, 8 PIM, -16
2020-21 Stats (Slovakia2): 14 games, 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, 0 PIM, +1
An October born 2002 forward, Hayes has two OHL seasons under his belt, more than nearly any other Ontario based forward available this year. The problem is that Hayes’ sophomore season was mired with inconsistency and injuries. Just as he was heating up and finding his groove at the end of December, an upper body injury kept him out for a few months and killed all his momentum prior to the pandemic shutdown. Hayes, however, did head to Slovakia with a bunch of other OHL players this year (Tag Bertuzzi, Keean Washkurak, Donovan Sebrango, and Justin MacPherson) to play for HK Levice in the Slovak second league. In Hamilton, Hayes would have been counted on to be an offensive leader and a likely point per game player.
Hayes is an uber versatile player. He can play center or the wing. He can be counted on to be out on the ice down a goal or up one. He can be a fixture on the powerplay, or the penalty kill. He can handle zone entry responsibilities or be the F1 on puck retrievals and the forecheck. Call him a swiss army knife. His two best assets as an offensive weapon are his skating ability and his shot. Hayes switches in and out of the 10 to 2 (mohawk) skating style similar to the likes of Antonio Stranges and Jeremy Bracco. He does not utilize it nearly as much as those two but will vary his attacks by employing it or straight-line drives to create space for himself. He is the kind of player who thrives at pushing the pace and attacking the net, even if he is only average sized. Because of his quick feet and his anticipation, Hayes thrives in the slot area. He is elusive and confident when the opportunity arrives to get a puck on net. That brings me to his second-best quality, his shot. Hayes is a high-volume shooter who has a quick release, which when combined with that elusiveness, makes him a weapon near the crease. As mentioned, Hayes is also a hard worker who will compete for loose pucks, take a hit to make a play and largely excels playing through traffic in the middle of the ice.
Where Hayes can struggle is on the outside. He needs to get stronger to be able to drive possession and work the wall. He will force turnovers on the forecheck or in the neutral zone, but rather than hold and exhibit patience, he is more likely to make a quick decision by throwing passes to the middle or turning to fire a low percentage shot on net. Hayes’ overall playmaking ability could stand to improve, especially given his skating ability and strength playing through traffic. This means making quicker decisions with the puck and identifying those lanes just a little quicker than he normally does. It also means adding strength to make him more difficult to contain along the wall and when driving the net. These weaknesses were especially evident watching his games against men in the Slovak second league. Overall though, Hayes projects as a versatile middle six goal scorer because of his quick strike ability and fearlessness.
Videos
- Hayes wears #94, 15, and 13 for various teams
A collection of Hayes in OHL action last season. We see some good and some bad. We see his high end forechecking and finishing ability. We also see questionable decision making with the puck.
A really nice goal scored by Hayes in Slovakia this season. We see his speed and first step quickness as he pulls away from the backchecking defender (although what the other defender was doing here remains to be seen). Very nice finish on the backhand too. Hayes has scored his share of breakaway goals in the OHL too.
This is a great shift by Hayes against Slovakia at the 2020 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, where he played for Team USA. The video quality is not great, but Hayes is the American player who spins out of traffic to create the first shot on the shift. If we follow him, he does a good job of keeping the play alive along the wall too and almost connects with a USA player in the slot. Would like to see Hayes play down low like this more consistently.
Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 50
OFP: 52.875
Jack Beck - Left Wing - Ottawa 67’s
5’11, 152lbs
2019-20 Stats: 56 games, 7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points, 16 PIM, +7
In 2019/20, the Ottawa 67’s used Jack Beck in a variety of different roles during his rookie OHL season. He moved up and down the line up and saw spot duty on special teams. This versatility owes itself to Beck’s high end hockey sense as he was able to make the adjustments necessary to be a terrific complimentary piece despite lacking the strength to be a consistent driving force.
Even though he is slight, Beck is a major presence in the middle of the ice and near the crease. He navigates traffic extremely well and is one of those players the puck just gravitates to. This speaks volumes about his anticipation and awareness as he darts in and out of traffic to hunt down scoring opportunities and to get himself open to accept passes. More of a shooter from a standstill, Beck does show a good, quick release on his wrister and his one timer to allow him to bury a lot of the opportunities he receives through his hard work. A methodical puck carrier, NHL scouts may have concerns about Beck’s pace of play. More agile than quick, Beck plays to his strengths by moving ahead slowly on the attack, allowing him to survey the ice for the appropriate play. But when pressured, he can be forced into turnovers and lacked the strength last year to consistently win those battles along the wall needed to create that space for himself with the puck. However, Beck has the makings of a strong complimentary scoring line player. He competes hard. He finishes his chances. He is responsible in all three zones. And he moves well and supports his linemates without the puck.
Videos
- Beck wears #19 for the 67’s
A nice collection here of some of Beck’s best offensive highlights from a year ago. Equal parts playmaker and finisher, we see both on display. As mentioned, Beck is more of a shooter from a standstill (not unlike Tyson Foerster) who opens himself up well to utilize his quick release in the slot. However, he also has great overall awareness on the ice and a soft touch down low that allows him to operate as the perfect complimentary player to skilled linemates (like Jack Quinn a lot last year).
Beck is definitely a “character” player who works hard no matter the zone he is playing in. We see here as he makes a great play to strip the puck up high and then blocks a point shot to earn a chance the other way. However, we also see some of the limitations in his skating ability as he does not possess the kind of explosiveness needed to pull away from the Owen Sound defender and then fails to get the puck in deep.
Good little sequence here from Beck, that again showcases what his game is all about. Great net drive through the middle to earn a high quality scoring chance. Then after the save, he stays hot in pursuit of the Czech defenders to help disrupt their breakout.
Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 57.5 Physicality: 50
OFP: 52.125
Maddox Callens - Left Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
5’11, 176lbs
2019-20 Stats: 51 games, 3 goals, 9 assists, 12 points, 24 PIM, -14
Two years ago, the Kingston Frontenacs had a hard working rookie who always seemed to stand out in a positive way despite inconsistent ice time. Then the following year he exploded with more responsibility and put himself on the scouting map. That player was Zayde Wisdom. In watching Maddox Callens last season, I got similar vibes. Unfortunately, Callens was not afforded the same opportunity to “break out.”
You know what you are getting in Callens, night in and night out. The effort is always consistent. He is such an energetic player; just never stops moving his feet. His physicality is a standout quality. Not someone who looks to make the big open ice hit, Callens is more the type that makes himself difficult to play against. He is a very active and aggressive forechecker who always finishes his checks and does well to rush decisions from opposing defenders. However, he is also very active on the backcheck and uses his strength and tenacity to separate opposing players from the puck or support his defenders. Callens is just the type of player that coaches love.
From an offensive perspective, his game is pretty simple. Attack the middle North/South. Use his speed to drive the net, with and without the puck, and keep plays alive in the offensive zone by beating defenders to loose pucks. I believe that he has some upside as a goal scorer and was a bit snake bitten last year, as he consistently earned high end scoring chances from the slot but had a tough time finishing. The shot is powerful, but he needs to get it on net more. As he gains confidence, I think he finishes more of those chances. However, there are likely some limitations to his offensive potential as he is not an innately skilled player with the puck. Do not expect flash. However, given the speed, hustle, tenacity, and potential to develop as a finisher, Callens does have bottom six NHL upside and should be on the NHL draft radar.
Videos
- Callens wears #93 for the Frontenacs
A nice compilation of how Callens uses his physicality to help him be an effective offensive and defensive zone player. We see him active on the forecheck, finishing his checks and using his speed to disrupt timing and exits. However, we also see him fully engaged from a defensive perspective, helping to force turnovers by playing physical along the wall and hunting down puck carriers.
Here is a collection of some of Callens’ top offensive plays from the season. Notice that this is a kid with a lot of layers to his game. A simple, North/South approach. However, he can beat defenders with speed. He can finish in tight. He has a soft touch around the net and an astute sense of where his linemates are. As he gains confidence, I believe that more of his energy on the ice will translate to offensive production similar to the way that it did for Zayde Wisdom.
3.
A fantastic save by Cedrick Andree prevents Callens from scoring on this play, but these are the types of things I believe Callens is capable of when he gets more ice time and confidence with the puck. Nice chip and chase followed by a touch pass. After the pass he makes a hard cut straight for the net, going just wide enough to ensure that the lone defender can not defend him.
Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 50, Skills: 47.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 60
OFP: 52.125
Francesco Arcuri - Center/Left Wing - Kingston Frontenacs
6’2, 192lbs
2019-20 Stats (KGN): 60 games, 7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points, 14 PIM, -24
2020-21 Stats (AlpsHL): 18 games, 9 goals, 6 assists, 15 points, 10 PIM, -13
Many were shocked (myself included) after Francesco Arcuri fell to the second round of the OHL Priority Selection a few years ago. This was a player coming off a dominating season with the Don Mills Flyers (playing on a line with Shane Wright and Brennan Othmann) and who showed the potential to be one of best offensive players in this age group. Needless to say, many felt Kingston stole him at pick number 27. However, there were a lot of growing pains in his rookie OHL season with Kingston. It would have been so interesting to see how he would have played this season, with time to improve his strength and conditioning. He did head to the AlpsHL this year (same league as Francesco Pinelli) to play with Steel Wings Linz along with fellow OHL’ers Curtis Douglas (who has since latched on with Belleville in the AHL) and Cameron Supryka. For what it’s worth, he led the team in scoring and produced at a similar clip to Francesco Pinelli (someone considered as a surefire first round pick).
Last year with Kingston, Arcuri struggled a lot with offensive zone turnovers, and with his coverage in the defensive zone. Plays in the offensive zone had a tendency to die on his stick as he tried to beat multiple defenders. Blind passes or panic plays were also issues. Overall a lack of strength on the puck and a lack of explosiveness as a skater held him back from being able to take advantage of his offensive gifts. There were certainly flashes, but the growing pains were real. Thankfully, we have his play in Austria this year to give us a glimpse of the improvements that he has made.
Something worth mentioning is that it looks like Arcuri has grown a bit. Listed at 6’0 last season with Kingston, he is now listed at 6’2. With a longer reach, he is able to protect the puck more effectively in traffic, giving him more time and space in the offensive zone. While there are still some questionable decisions being made with the puck; Arcuri is a high-risk playmaker, he appears to have worked hard to eliminate some of those instances where he turns the puck over from overhandling.
Arcuri also looks a little quicker, which given his growth spurt, is actually surprising. To me this speaks volumes as to the work he has put in from a strength perspective. Where Arcuri’s skating stands out in a positive way is his ability to use his edges to cut to the middle. His balance and agility are excellent and now that he has that added length, he can put defenders on his back for these drives.
I also see a kid who looks more consistently engaged in the offensive zone and neutral zone without the puck. He is forcing turnovers with good stick positioning and on the forecheck. Arcuri will never be confused for a physical player though. And his commitment and effort in the defensive zone still does not match his work in other areas. So, what we have is a high risk, high reward playmaker who likely has among the highest upside of the players available ranked later in the draft.
Videos
- Arcuri wears #13 for the Frontenacs and EHC Linz
Here we see some of the negative things that I spoke of from Arcuri’s rookie season in the OHL. Offensive zone turnovers. Defensive miscues. We see the lack of strength in fighting through stick checks and the lack of an explosive first few strides to help create separation.
It was certainly not all bad in Arcuri’s rookie year. As mentioned, he flashed that high end skill and the playmaking ability that he was known for as a U16 player with Don Mills. I find Arcuri particularly effective coming off the wall as a playmaker, as you can see in a few of these clips.
In Austria, Arcuri looked like a way more effective offensive player this year. Here are some highlights. Notice that the skating looks crisper and more powerful. Notice that he is fighting through traffic more consistently and as such, has cut down on those offensive zone turnovers. The random blind passes to the middle are still an area that I would still like to see cleaned up, as he now seems to have the strength and confidence to peel off and work the wall, however Arcuri looks much improved.
I have been limiting all of these videos to three, but I just had to share a fourth with Arcuri. This shift in Austria is just the perfect example of what his game looks like right now. First a successful zone entry which was then disrupted by a poor, blind pass to the slot, even though he had an open linemate behind the net which could have allowed EHC Linz to sustain pressure. The second entry attempt later is much more successful, as he makes a couple great passes to create scoring chances from the slot and the blueline, exhibiting much more patience and poise.
Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 60, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 45
OFP: 53.375
Lawson Sherk - Center - Hamilton Bulldogs
6’1, 181lbs
2019-20 Stats: 62 games, 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points, 42 PIM, +2
A big, power center, Sherk was a second-round pick by Hamilton two years ago after a very strong U16 season with the Halton Hurricanes, including a standout performance at the OHL Cup (alongside Ethan Burroughs, who we’ll discuss in the final part of this series). He made a pretty immediate impact with the Bulldogs, centering the team’s third line and earning secondary powerplay assignments.
At this point in his development, Sherk is most effective as a complementary piece. While you would love to see your center driving the pace of play and dominating puck touches in the offensive end, that is not Sherk’s game at this current moment. He excels near the blue paint because of his size, awareness, and soft hands in tight. Four of his five goals this year were scored from either deflections or by banging home garbage in front. This is why he is used on the powerplay, to be that strong net front presence. Sherk is also a strong forechecker who relishes the opportunity to finish his checks and does a good job getting his stick in passing lanes to disrupt the breakout. He is also a capable two-way player who does an especially good job in the neutral zone by using his size and motor to disrupt entry attempts. This is a fully engaged player in all three zones.
The part of Sherk’s game that just did not translate well to the OHL level this year was his ability to push the pace and lead the attack in transition. With the Halton Hurricanes, Sherk was such an effective attacker who seemed able to gain entry to the offensive zone at will. However, at the OHL level he struggled with creating and playing at a high pace. That means focusing on improving his ability to receive passes and keep possession at full speed. This also means improving his explosiveness to give him that separation ability. Given what he saw at the OHL level last season, it is hard to project Sherk’s offensive skill set being NHL caliber, even if he is a very entertaining and hard working player (he was one of my favourites to watch at the U16 level and at the OHL Cup a few years ago).
Videos
- Sherk wears #39 for the Bulldogs
Here we see how effective Sherk is playing as a net front presence and operating out of the slot. He battles for position and is a really strong kid, but he also has soft hands and a nice tough in tight that allows him to finish off plays or help set up others (which we see equally in these clips).
This clip does a great job of showing just how strong Sherk already is. That is Nico Gross, one of the stronger defenders in the OHL a year ago, that he uses the reverse hit on while in puck pursuit. As he matures, this is a part of his game that will only blossom more in all likelihood.
Here we see some of the issues that I spoke off in regards to Sherk’s ability to lead the attack or play with pace. Many of his attempts to gain the offensive zone end up as dump ins or turnovers because he just does not have the explosiveness to create separation or the ability to receive and carry at full speed. The very last clip was one of his successful entry attempts on the year and it does give an idea of the kind of potential he has as a power center and a glimpse into the way he was able to be such a successful and dominant U16 player.
Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 55
OFP: 50.75
Jon-Randall Avon - Center - Peterborough Petes
5’11, 175lbs
2019-20 Stats: 56 games, 4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points, 18 PIM, -1
The 11th overall pick by the Petes in 2019, the speedy Avon was used pretty inconsistently in his rookie OHL season by the Petes, switching back and forth between center and the wing and moving up and down the lineup when required. However, if the 2020/21 season had occurred, it is likely that Avon would have received some more responsibility, especially if the team decided to move him to wing, given their depth at center (Mason McTavish and OA Max Grondin). He would have most certainly received more time on the powerplay too.
When we are talking about Avon, the highlight of his game is his speed. This is a player who can have a major impact on the game with his quickness, ability to push the pace, and ability to enter the offensive zone. Without question, I believe him to be one of the fastest players available from the OHL this year, perhaps in the entire draft. It is what he does with that speed that is the issue.
The main issues causing his consistency issues in his rookie year were a lack of strength and a lack of confidence. If he was able to get the drop on defenders and catch them flat footed, he would be aggressive in cutting in to drive the net. If not, he was largely kept to the perimeter and eventually angled off the puck along the wall or he would settle for a low percentage, weak shot from the outside that would kill momentum for the Petes. When he was dialed in physically, he would start chipping and chasing when cut off, allowing him to use his speed to try to establish possession for Peterborough even when he was unable to beat defenders cleanly. This is going to be key for him moving forward and that is where the added strength comes into play. By improving his balance, edgework, and overall strength on the puck, Avon could become so much more dangerous and a consistent offensive threat. Developing the ability to use his speed for positive gains without the puck will also be key for his development. Again, this is an inconsistent component of his game. At times, he is very active without the puck in the defensive end and neutral zone, applying pressure to passers and puck carriers. Other times, he is complacent.
While Jonathan Ang’s transition to the pro ranks in North America did not go according to plan, there are a lot of similarities between the two former and current Petes when looking back at their entrances to the OHL. While there has not been a lot of chatter about Avon being a potential draft selection this year, I believe that teams should be focusing on players like him in the later rounds given the uncertainty of OHL player development this year. This is a kid with a potentially elite skill (his skating). It just needs to be nurtured. Who knows where his career path takes him and how the rest of his game develops out, but there is a real chance that his speed can play at the next level in some capacity.
Videos
- Avon wears #10 for the Petes
Really, I could have added many more clips to this montage, but I do believe that you will get the point when watching it. Avon is fast. Only takes a few strides for him to hit top speed and he can be a really difficult player to handle one on one when he has built up a head of steam. In a few of these instances, we see the chip and chase strategy being utilized well by him. Again, his desire and willingness to use his speed to battle and pursue pucks will be key for his development.
In this collection of clips, we see Avon’s struggles to produce consistent scoring chances with his speed due to a lack of strength on the puck and some questionable decisions. He has a real affinity for trying to put pucks on net from the outside, but the goaltenders in this league and moving forward are just too good for that, ditto the defenders. He would be better off using his speed the way a guy like JL Foudy does, by getting deep in the offensive zone and looking to distribute, even if we would obviously like to see him penetrate the middle of the ice more than Foudy does. Additionally, we see how easily Avon can be separated from the puck or knocked off stride by defenders and this limits the options that he has as an offensive player at the current time.
Avon played three games at the U17’s with Canada White and he drew a penalty in each game because of his speed or the threat of it. Notice the defender that Avon beat clean in the game against Canada Black was Corson Ceulemans, a defender lauded for good mobility and a potential first round selection this July.
Grades: Skating: 60, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality: 50
OFP: 52.5