Drake RYMSHA – McKeen's Hockey

Los Angeles Kings Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:22:44 +0000

The Los Angeles Kings enter the 2018-19 season with a chip on their shoulder. Having won just one postseason game since their last Stanley Cup championship, including being swept by the Western Conference-winning Vegas Golden Knights last season, L.A. has a lot to improve upon at the NHL level. What those disappointing results in SoCal can do, however, is quickly rebuild a farm system that had been drained in order to win the two Cups the Kings captured in the last decade.

Los Angeles has lucked into some high-quality guys via the NHL Draft in that elusive 10-20 spot in the draft order as a direct result of either narrowly missing the postseason or being eliminated early. They have not had to undergo a full-blown rebuild but remain competitive by drafting smarter than ever.

Remember, this is a new Kings team. General manager Rob Blake and head coach John Stevens are one year into their tenure at the helm of the 2012 and 2014 Cup champs, and in an evolving NHL, they know they can't win the same way they did under previous GM Dean Lombardi and former coach Darryl Sutter. They are beginning to take faster, higher-ceiling players with the tools to succeed in 2018's NHL -- rather than 2008's -- and the benefits will be obvious.

It's a beneficial blueprint especially with the core of aging stars locked up by the Kings in the long term, including Norris winner Drew Doughty, Hart finalist Anze Kopitar, and guys like Jonathan Quick, Dion Phaneuf, Jeff Carter, and Dustin Brown. To have NHL-ready, impactful, cheap prospects to use on a team chock-full of guys exiting their primes will help extend a Kings championship window that's starting to close.

Much like the Blackhawks, a side effect to winning is having to pony up egregious amounts of money to guys in their late 20s and early 30s, which causes unavoidable salary cap problems. If the Kings' top prospects can pan out to their projected ceilings, the support given to the Doughtys and Kopitars of the world could be enough to spark another Western Conference title.

Gabriel Vilardi

1 Gabriel Vilardi, C (11th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1st) If you closed your eyes and thought of the prototypical Kings player from their rough-and-tough Cup-winning teams, Gabriel Vilardi would be the exact vision you get. The power forward has been an offensive force in the OHL for years, using his bulky 6-3", 203lb frame to wear opponents down and get to tricky positions with relative ease. Vilardi's finesse game is coupled with a set of quick hands that make him a difficult player to defend in one-on-one situations, and in addition to his dangerous offensive capabilities, he is a smart and strong two-way player. His skating, the flaw that dropped him on the board from as high as number-three all the way to 11th overall, has improved mightily since draft day in 2017, but it's clear a lack of speed could hinder his ability to rack up points in the NHL. The big righty will almost certainly be a King in 2018-19.

2 Rasmus Kupari, C (20th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Rasmus Kupari didn't exactly burn SM-Liiga up as a 17 and 18-year-old on a championship-winning Karpat squad, but his blistering speed, 65-grade edgework, and separation gear put him near the top of the Kings prospect rankings. The speedy center has an ever-improving sense of confidence and a willingness to experiment offensively, knowing he can always count on his wheels to bail him out. Though his wrist shot and rink senses need improvement for him to be an impact player at the NHL level, Kupari has the tools and the room to grow that justified Los Angeles using a first-round pick on the Finn. He can groom himself into a role as a fast third-liner with penalty skill potential, but with even the slightest step up in play-reading abilities, the right-hander can be much more. He will return to Karpat in 2018-19.

3 Kale Clague, D (51st overall, 2016. Last Year: 3rd) An offensive defenseman at heart, Kale Clague has been steadily improving the one thing that has ailed the former Brandon Wheat King and Moose Jaw Warrior; his defensive zone play. As soon as that area is at an NHL-ready level, the offensively-spectacular young gun can be an impact player with the Kings. Clague, who will fit perfectly in the offense-oriented John Stevens system, is a very smooth-skating, pass-first defenseman whose offensive skillset is unmatched at the WHL level. Clague took home the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy as the WHL's top defenseman in 2017-18, an honor given to guys like Ivan Provorov, Shea Theodore, and Tyson Barrie in the past. He's a very quick-thinking defenseman with great rink awareness and pro-like maturity. Clague will be under serious consideration for a spot on the Kings blueline this upcoming season.

4 Akil Thomas, C (51st overall, 2017. Last Year: IE) When we wrote that the Kings have lucked into some high-quality prospects, Akil Thomas was part of why that was necessary to say. Projected by many as a first-round draft pick, the elite playmaking center fell to the Kings at 51st overall, and L.A. made no mistake taking him. Thomas is an assist machine in any system with any linemates, as his vision, play-reading abilities, and overall hockey IQ allow him to slow the game down to his liking and create scoring chances from scratch. He was a penalty kill regular with Niagara last season and still had the second most (behind only Andrei Svechnikov) points per game in the OHL last year. It would help Thomas to be more creative and to improve off the puck, but the undersized righty plays such a smart and calm game that the Kings can trust him to grow through the junior ranks, to where he'll return in 2018-19.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

5 Jaret Anderson-Dolan, C (41st overall, 2018. Last Year: 5th) Jaret Anderson-Dolan is a can't-miss prospect in an NHL trending faster and smaller. The undersized centerman has immense offensive capabilities and plays a highly-intelligent, versatile game, always processing the game well and competing to the highest possible level. He's capable of playing well with and without the puck, effectively sniffing out the puck and getting to quiet areas of the ice to keep chances flowing. After another successful year in the WHL with Spokane, Anderson-Dolan made a cameo with the AHL's Ontario Reign, and though there's not a huge chance he makes the Kings roster out of 2018-19 training camp, optimism that the left-hander will soon reach the NHL is still high. With a lot of defensive zone improvement still left to be done, it wouldn't hurt the 18-year-old to hold down the fort in Spokane for now.

6 Cal Petersen, G (Free Agent Signing: Jul. 1, 2017. Last Year: 8th) Cal Petersen's pure, raw skill and special dynamics scream future NHL goaltender. The former Notre Dame standout had a highly successful first year as a pro after signing with the Kings as a college free agent, stealing the Reign starting job and playing lights out hockey for the playoff-qualifying AHL club. Though his game is not as technically and fundamentally refined as that of other goaltenders his age, Petersen is freakishly athletic and mentally mature enough to improve over time. He gets into the right positions, read plays well, and competes with a tenacious, infectious snarl. With Quick and Campbell at the NHL level, Petersen has a high bar to clear, but can get there with time.

7 Mikey Eyssimont, F (142nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 14th) Fifth-round draft picks are supposed to be low-risk, potentially high-reward players with decent enough ceilings to give reason for a throw-away selection. Mikey Eyssimont, a point-per-game player this past season for St. Cloud State, is climbing up the Kings’ prospect rankings as someone that fits that description. A tremendous possession player who controls every part of the game when he has the puck, Eyssimont is smart, intense, and plays much bigger than his 6-0" frame. The lefty has a great wrist shot, is extremely creative, and has silky hands, making him a possible late-round steal if he pans out. He'll be playing with Ontario in 2018-19.

8 Aidan Dudas, C (113th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) With his 5-7", 165lb frame a major concern on draft day in Dallas, Dudas -- projected by McKeen's at 52nd overall -- fell over 60 spots down into the Kings' lap at 113. If you can look past his lack of size, Dudas is a steal. His offensive skill isn't Johnny Gaudreau-like, but those flashes of creativity and agility from Dudas last season at Owen Sound were almost Gaudreau-like. Never giving up on a play, he is able to generate scoring chances in a variety of ways, while displaying the multi-faceted gameplay style that allowed the Attack to play him on the PK and PP. He will likely stay at the OHL level for 2018-19.

9 Daniel Brickley, D (Free Agent Signing, Mar. 29, 2018. Last Year: IE) Daniel Brickley is one of several shrewd college free agent signings made by general manager Rob Blake in his brief tenure at the helm for the Kings. Brickley's excellence at Minnesota-Mankato earned him a contract last March, as his puck poise, patience, and smarts allowed him to total 35 points in 40 games last season and impress NHL teams. That calm demeanor is coupled with plus lateral movement and average hands. Although prone to the occasional defensive zone turnover, his offensive potential outweighs any mistakes he makes. Expected to play with Ontario in 2018-19 but could give the Kings roster a push out of training camp.

Markus Phillips

10 Markus Phillips, D (118th overall, 2017. Last Year: 11th) Markus Phillips' mental maturity shows on and off the ice. The fourth-rounder captained Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial in 2016-17 and showed his smarts as a dynamic two-way defenseman for Owen Sound for the past two seasons. He's not all brains, as he is an excellent skater with 60-grade lateral mobility, great edgework, and fabulous two-step acceleration. He won't be a franchise changer at the NHL level, but the stocky left-hander could play top-four and contribute to a power play and hold his own. He can get too aggressive and overly confident in his positioning at times, but his few flaws are teachable things.

11 Mikey Anderson, D (103rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 16th) Mikey Anderson is a textbook long-term project, but one worth taking the time on. The left-handed defenseman an excellent player in his own zone, with great gap control and stick-readiness that looks pro-like at just 19 years old. Anderson is calm and quick to get rid of the puck under pressure and has shown through the USHL and the NCAA levels that he's a very fast learner. He's not an explosive skater or a very lethal offensive defenseman despite being small and agile like a prototypical offensive blueliner but could be a good penalty killer and defense-first d-man at the pro ranks.

12 Sheldon Rempal, F (Free Agent Signing: Mar. 29, 2018. Last Year: IE) After attending several NHL development camps over his time at Clarkson University, scoring forward Sheldon Rempal signed with L.A. this past Spring. He's an offensive catalyst at the college ranks; despite his extremely light size (5-10", 165 lbs), he loves to take defenders one-on-one with the puck and head straight to the crease without it. His one-timer and wrist shot are electric, and he could turn out to be a power play triggerman in the future. A good skater, Rempal often bails on defense and relies far too much on his wheels to catch back up plays, something that will have to improve. The 23-year-old signed his ELC and will likely play in the AHL this season.

13 Bulat Shafigullan, F (82nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Shafigullan didn't tear the KHL up in 2017-18, but terrorized opponents in the Russian minor leagues with his agility and gift of a wrist shot. He's a tremendous offensive player with skill to burn, reading plays exceptionally well, anticipating where defenders will be, and exploiting the defensive scheme of the opposing team better than most 18-year-olds should be able to. With limited time in the KHL (under five minutes per game) and few appearances internationally, many scouts were skeptical of the Shafigullan pick, but the skills are there. He could stand to further grow into his 6-0" frame but should do well enough at the KHL ranks next year despite having a subpar physical game.

14 Chaz Reddekopp, D (187th overall, 2015. Last Year: 13th) Aiming to be the rare seventh-round draft pick to become a Kings staple, Chaz Reddekopp has the necessary skillset and a set of serviceable wheels to play a variety of roles on the Kings' blueline. A massive d-man in stature, he moves well for his size, adding to an increasingly effective offensive game. He's smart with the puck and responsible without it, using his frame to make a difference physically and keep opposing forwards at bay. It wouldn't kill him to shoot harder, especially with the pure strength he possesses, but his unteachable qualities stand out. After playing his final WHL game this past Spring, it's likely Reddekopp -- on an entry-level contract -- will play with the Reign in 2018-19.

Matt Villalta

15 Matt Villalta, G (72nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 17th) With Matt Villalta in the system, Cal Petersen's transition into the Kings' goaltender of the future won't be a walk in the park. Villalta's easy-going demeanor stands out, as the former third-rounder can never be bested mentally; he'll always stay calm in the crease and work on improving himself constantly. His athleticism is a subpar for a goalie as light as he is, but his vision is tremendous, and his competitiveness continues to increase in intensity. Consider how far he has come since not being drafted at the OHL level, to winning the starting job for a power house Sault Ste. Marie squad and earning the acclaim of NHL scouts, he is the perfect guy to potentially light a fire under Petersen and do even more at that.

16 Alex Lintuniemi, D (60th overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) Alex Lintuniemi is an extremely raw, skilled player with creativity, agile skates for a big man, and good hands that have impressed scouts since his 2014 draft year. The Reign defenseman recently re-upped with the Kings organization, indicating that he's still a part of their future plans. He could use some simplification to his game, including taking fewer risks with the puck and being easier to play alongside in his own zone, but the pure talent is there, and a more defensive defenseman with strong puck-moving capabilities is a reasonable NHL ceiling as he fills out.

17 Nikolay Prokhorkin, LW (121th overall, 2012. Last Year: unranked) Prokhorkin has not played stateside since the 2012-13 season and at 24 is the oldest player in the Kings’ top 20. Nonetheless, the otherwise forgotten forward has the skills that necessitate a further look. His shot is powerful, he's a fine skater, and is game is mature enough to make an immediate NHL impact given that he's older than the majority of prospects in the league. He would have to sign a new contract to play with the Kings organization again, however he's signed for one more year with SKA of the KHL.

18 Drake Rymsha, C (138th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Drake Rymsha has the gameplay assets of a guy who could have been drafted two rounds earlier in 2017, but the Kings swiped the Sarnia Sting center in the fifth round. He has great vision, good speed, and a competitive element that's always looking for more. His shot has improved, and his goal-scoring is an indicator of that, chipping in 31 goals to a Sarnia team with the revered Jordan Kyrou. Rymsha needs to cut down turnovers, become better at protecting the puck with his body, and take fewer penalties, but the potential to be another late-round steal is there. Rymsha could be headed to the Reign this season.

19 Austin Strand, D (Free Agent Signing: Nov. 27, 2017. Last Year: IE) Directly after signing a free agent deal with the Kings, Strand exploded into a magisterial offensive defenseman whose point production increased with the snap of his fingers. He possesses the ideal Los Angeles Kings size (6-4", 216 pounds), but can skate like someone much smaller, and has simplified his game around his mobility and two-way excellence, putting up 64 points in 69 games last season. Strand, who is set to join Ontario next season, just needs to be more consistent, but his NHL future is more of a "when" than an "if."

20 Sean Walker, D (Free Agent Signing: Jul. 3, 2018. Last Year: IE) Walker, another free agent NHL contract signing, played with the Reign last season after making the squad on an AHL contract. He's a hard-nosed defenseman with a blazing slap shot that found its purpose on the power play this past season, but also has a decent pair of feet with the quickness to evade pressure in his own zone. Walker has a sturdy frame despite his unimpressive 5-10" height and can protect the puck against the boards well. It's not likely he makes the Kings roster out of camp, but he's got some skill to build upon.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Pacific Division – Los Angeles Kings

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:37:21 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	11	4-N	4	Gabriel VILARDI	C	18	6-3/200	Windsor (OHL)
2	41	21-N	33	Jaret ANDERSON-DOLAN	C	18	5-11/190	Spokane (WHL)
3	72	16-NG		Matt VILLALTA	G	18	6-2/165	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
4	103	51-N	100	Mikey ANDERSON	D	18	6-0/195	Waterloo (USHL)
4	118	50-N	69	Markus PHILLIPS	D	18	6-0/200	Owen Sound (OHL)
5	134	NR		Cole HULTS	D	19	6-0/190	Madison (USHL)
5	138	118-N		Drake RYMSHA	C	19	6-0/190	Ott-Sar (OHL)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	HT/WT	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	11	Gabriel VILARDI	C	6-3/200	Windsor (OHL)	49	29	32	61	12
2	41	Jaret ANDERSON-DOLAN	C	5-11/190	Spokane (WHL)	72	39	37	76	22
3	72	Matt VILLALTA	G	6-2/165	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	25	3	0	2.41	0.918
4	103	Mikey ANDERSON	D	6-0/195	Waterloo (USHL)	54	5	29	34	52
4	118	Markus PHILLIPS	D	6-0/200	Owen Sound (OHL)	66	13	30	43	44
5	134	Cole HULTS	D	6-0/190	Madison (USHL)	59	6	26	32	112
5	138	Drake RYMSHA	C	6-0/190	Ott-Sar (OHL)	65	35	27	62	80

Los Angeles Kings – Draft Grade: 60

On Day One, with the eleventh overall selection, the Kings were truly blessed to see Memorial Cup hero Gabriel Vilardi still available. A gifted playmaker with size, and phenomenal vision, he has a chance to see the NHL this year, but should reasonably be ready by the 2018-19 season. He could easily have been a top three selection.

LA used each of its six picks in Day Two on North American based players, including three more from the OHL, long a source of Kings’ draft picks, two from the USHL and one from the WHL.

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

Their second rounder was another talented forward, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, a quick skater with a hard shot who projects as a middle six candidate. Between picks 103-134, they drafted three puck moving defensemen in Waterloo’s Mikey Anderson, Owen Sound’s Markus Phillips, and Madison’s Cole Hults. None have much in the way of size, but all are decent skaters and have been at least proficient in all three zones thus far in their young careers. Hults also offers some jam in his game.

Best value: Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor (1/11): As hard as it can be to get value at pick 11, we ranked Vilardi as the fourth best player in this draft class. His offensive vision and passing touch are close to elite and between those and his size and physical play, he resembles a young Ryan Getzlaf. For a team that needs offense outside of its top six, Vilardi will receive ample consideration to make the roster this year.

Biggest head-scratcher: Matthew Villalta, G, Sault Ste. Marie (3/72): Villalta is a decent young goalie who was the soft half of a timeshare with the Greyhounds although his numbers are far superior to his crease partner. My concern with Villalta here is that he was the fourth goalie taken while higher upside netminders like Stuart Skinner and Keith Petruzzelli were still on the board.