Eric Cornel – McKeen's Hockey

Buffalo Sabres Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:28:59 +0000

The road has been dark and long for the Sabres. They have not seen a postseason game in seven seasons, and have only two first round losses since making the Eastern Conference finals in 2007.

Sure, the Carolina Hurricanes have gone longer without experiencing the playoffs, but the team in Raleigh was at least semi-decent. The Sabres have been awful.

Focusing on the seven year dry run, they were a near miss in the first year and then bottomed out quickly. In the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, they finished 12^th in the Eastern Conference. In the five seasons since, they finished seventh in the Atlantic Division once, and eighth the other four times.

What has all this losing brought to Buffalo? While Edmonton had the drop on the lottery, the Sabres were generally relegated to sloppy seconds, or worse. Looking only at their first picks, Buffalo drafted blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen eighth overall in 2013, forward Sam Reinhart was the second pick in 2014, recent face of the franchise Jack Eichel was the second pick after Connor McDavid in 2015 and back-to-back eighth overall picks in 2016 and 2017 yielded Alexander Nylander and Casey Mittelstadt.

Finally, their years of decrepitude won Buffalo the first overall pick this year, with one of the best defensemen to hit a draft class in ages heading up the draft. The Sabres did not hesitate to draft another Rasmus, with Dahlin joining Ristolainen on the Buffalo blueline of the present and future.

There were some pretty talented players named in the previous two paragraphs. Player who, surrounded by the right supporting cast, could feasibly be the core of a playoff team. Unfortunately for the locals, former GM Tim Murray was unable to round out the roster. Eichel is a star and Reinhart has finally shown signs of being a legitimate top six winger, if not quite yet living up to expectations.

As it so often is, the problem with Buffalo was that they failed to draft well after their first pick.

From the 2013 draft class, Ristolainen has been a workhorse, but overextended in a shut down role. They drafted 10 other players in that draft. Nikita Zadorov was taken later in the first round and was traded to Colorado after his rookie season in the Ryan O’Reilly deal. Second rounder J.T. Compher also was moved out in that deal. Of the other eight selected, they received a total of 100 NHL games played, mostly by up and down forwards Justin Bailey and Nicholas Baptiste.

In 2014, Buffalo drafted eight others after Reinhart. Only second rounder Brendan Lemieux has played in the NHL and that was with Winnipeg, as he was moved as part of the Tyler Myers trade.

The Sabres only had six total picks in 2015. Other than Eichel, second rounder Brendan Guhle has appeared in 21 games already and is in line for much more. Fourth rounder Will Borgen could join him as a third pairing defender within a few years.

The above-mentioned Alex Nylander is the only class of 2017 player to reach the show, but he has struggled thus far in his professional career. The Sabres have already neglected to sign three of their final four picks and have traded away their third pick as part of the exchange for Jeff Skinner. If not Nylander, Rasmus Asplund and Casey Fitzgerald are the only potential impact players from that class.

It is far too early to judge Buffalo’s 2017 or 2018 draft classes, but with Mittlestadt and Dahlin ready for immediate insertion into the NHL lineup, Buffalo is finally seeing some light at the end of their long road.

Rasmus Dahlin

1 Rasmus Dahlin, D (1^st overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) There was never any real question but that Rasmus Dahlin would be the first player selected in the 2018 NHL Draft. Both his skating and his puck skills grade out at the elite level. His overall game is incredibly mature and he famously represented Sweden at the WJC (while also playing as a regular in the SHL) as a 16 year old. He has average size for the NHL even considering that he has not yet fully accessed his man strength. Many have compared his game to previous top end Swedish defenders in the NHL, from Nicklas Lidstrom to Victor Hedman, but his game is most reminiscent to that that of Drew Doughty. Dahlin is the rare blueliner that can take over a shift in all zones, shutting things down in his own end and controlling the possession in the offensive end. He has been ready for the NHL for at least 12 months, and is maybe 12 months away from being an All Star.

2 Casey Mittelstadt, C/LW (8^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1^st) If all you saw of Mittelstadt was his performance for Team USA in the most recent WJC (in Buffalo), you would think that you were looking at a future super star. His late season cameo with Buffalo did not disabuse that notion. But in the past two seasons, first split between Green Bay of the USHL and Eden Prairie HS, and the latter with the University of Minnesota, his production was good, but never great. At his best, he is breathtaking. He is so patient with the puck, defenders look hypnotized. At his worst, he tries to force plays. Perhaps playing with NHL caliber players more often will allow him to feel that he is not the only one who can produce, while the presence of Jack Eichel will ensure that he is not the focal point of the offense. Either way, he is ready to show what he can do in the NHL.

3 Alexander Nylander, LW (8^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) Two years into his professional career, and Alex Nylander’s lack of offensive output is jarring. He still dominates against his age peers, with a third productive WJC, but he barely surpassed the point every other game rate and has all too often been a non-factor for Rochester. When seen at his best, he still looks like a future star, with his shot, puck skills and hockey IQ all grading out as high end facets in his game. He also skates well, although his feet are not dynamic. Sources have confirmed that he played through injuries last year, and he did perk up somewhat in the second half, but time has come for Nylander to step up. He still has to earn a full time NHL job.

Mattias Samuelsson

4 Mattias Samuelsson, D (32^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) When you are as big as Mattias Samuelsson, it is OK to note that a player skates well for his size. Were he three inches shorter, or 20 pounds lighter, we would note that he has to overcome his relative lack of mobility, but at 6-4”, 218 and likely still growing, we can watch him play and nod in appreciation of his mobility for his size. Regardless of his size, we can appreciate his destructive presence in back. Overpowering in the USHL, he was masterful at shutting down opposition attacks and was a pure bull in the corners. His offensive tools are not as impressive, but his point shot can generate rebounds, and he can orchestrate a few zone entries. As long as he doesn’t get so bulky that his skating suffers, he could be a true shut-down defender at the highest level.

5 Marcus Davidsson, C/LW (37^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) Only average as a skater and he will never be known as a high end finisher, but Marcus Davidsson’s playmaking ability will always make him a desirable prospect. He more than doubled his point totals in his second season in the SHL and played a complimentary role for Sweden in the WJC. He plays a mature game, capable of fitting into various special teams’ roles and versatile enough to play either center or on the wing. Although his top speed is nothing special, he does show impressive agility on the ice. He is signed for one more season with Djurgarden, after which we expect the Sabres to try to bring him over.

6 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G (54^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5^th) The Sabres may not have a goalie of the present, but Luukkonen is doing what he can to be the goalie of the future. The first European goalie selected in the CHL Import Draft since the moratorium on overseas goalies was lifted, he will spend next season with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves, another team trying to end a lengthy rebuild. He has above average athleticism, advanced technical ability and high end ability to read the play. Unfortunately, the results have not always been there. For example, in his first taste of men’s hockey in Finland, his save percentage was fourth out of the four netminders who played for LeKi. He also struggled in the WJC, playing a bit out of control. He has time, but he is another that needs to turn ability into production.

7 Victor Olofsson, RW (181^st overall, 2014. Last Year: 18^th) The 2014 seventh rounder was almost an afterthought in the Buffalo system before he exploded in his fourth season in the SHL, his second with Frolunda. By exploded, we of course mean that he led the SHL in both goals and power play goals. Previously viewed with a ceiling as a tweener the uptick in his finishing ability gives the Sabres that he may be a bit more. You want to see better skating ability in a player of his size, but to his credit, he battles hard for loose pucks and has above average puck skills in addition to his propensity for putting the puck in the net. We will all know a lot more after he completes his first season with Rochester.

8 Brendan Guhle, D (51^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 3^rd) A fantastic skater whose offensive game has grown year over year, Guhle now finds himself on the doorstep of breaking through full time into the NHL. His ascent up the ranks has been fairly crisp, as he acclimated to the AHL immediately, and earned his 18 game NHL trial. He is not a terribly physical defender, but has filled out his previously lanky frame nicely, and is very aggressive with is stick when defending. He has enough of a point shot to be usable on the power play and defends well enough to not be sheltered and even contribute on the PK. With Dahlin expected to feature right away, the Sabres may hesitate to roll with two rookies on their blueline, but there is no reason why Guhle shouldn’t entrench himself on the third time in short order, and slowly work his way up the depth chart.

Rasmus Asplund

9 Rasmus Asplund, C (33^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) In four seasons spent largely with Farjestad of the SHL, Asplund’s point totals have steadily increased from three, to 12, to 19, and finally, to 28. Small, but very quick, he brings above average puck skills and mature hockey sense to the ice. While the improvement too his output is certainly impressive, he has not taken off to the extent that his original high end projections would have suggested as a possibility. He could still find a home on an NHL third line, but top six is looking less likely. He is also one of several Buffalo prospects who should be receiving their AHL debuts this year, giving us a better understanding of their future projections.

10 Lawrence Pilut, D (UDFA: May 15, 2018. Last Year: IE) Fleet of foot and silky smooth with his hands, Lawrence Pilut, the most recent winner of the Salming Trophy, given to the defenseman of the year in the SHL, signed an entry level deal with the Sabres in May. He is on the smaller side and last season’s offensive outburst was an anomaly as far as his historical record is concerned, more than tripling his previous career high in points in a season. On the other hand, he turned 22 during the season, and the fact that he did not produce much in the SHL from ages 18-21 is not that crazy. The fact that he chose Buffalo is a sign that the Sabres can find ways to acquire true talent outside of the draft.

11 Danny O’Regan, C (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [San Jose]. Last Year: 3^rd [San Jose]) A top scorer over four years with Boston University, O’Regan had a hard time breaking into the San Jose roster, a team that has skewed largely towards veteran players, since he has turned pro. As a way out of that log-jam, he was traded to Buffalo last season at the trade deadline as part of the return for front line scoring winger Evander Kane. He is undersized and can play a bit too much on the perimeter, but O’Regan has a fine collection of tools that suggests that the top end scoring he displayed from day one in the AHL can translate to the NHL to an extent as well. Nothing dynamic, per se, but his offensive instincts can play.

12 Will Borgen, D (92^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) After three seasons as a steady defensive defenseman for St. Cloud State, Borgen is turning pro. Not dynamic in any way, Borgen is simply steady. He skates well. He is very reliable off the puck. While not especially offensively inclined, he has a solid sense for when to make his presence felt in the offensive zone, whether that is engaging deep to unbalance the defense, or walking the line to get a clear sight of goal. He also has a burgeoning physical game, and will occasionally line up an opponent for a big open ice hit. All of the above aside, when he is at his best, you barely notice that he played.

13 Nicholas Baptiste, RW (69^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 10^th) A strong skater who came two games short of losing prospect eligibility last year, Baptiste plays a solid two way game that gives him a small leg up on the player ranked immediately below. He has good size and while not shy, does not typically go out of his way to physically engage with opponents. Despite his recent record of scoring more than he sets up others, his shot is only so-so, but his puck skills can be fairly fancy. Given a consistent opportunity in the NHL, he can emerge as a solid bottom six energy winger who can pick up some depth minutes on special teams as well.

14 Justin Bailey, RW (52^nd overall, 2013. Last Year: 12^th) Were it not for an unfortunately timed lower body injury, Bailey would probably have played in the eight additional NHL games that he needed to graduate from prospectdom. One might say that he is build like a football player, and it would be appropriate as his father Carlton was a longtime member of the Buffalo Bills. The younger Bailey is a strong skater, who plays a physical brand of hockey. Add in a good shot and he starts to look a lot like a bottom six power forward. He still has to get the new Buffalo regime to believe in him as an asset going forward and he was not able to engender that belief last year.

Brandon Hickey

15 Brandon Hickey, D (Trade: Jun. 14, 2018 [Arizona]. Last Year: 7^th [Arizona]) In a league where most teams hesitate mightily to trade their prospects, Hickey is the rare one that has been traded twice before even signing his ELC. Drafted by Calgary in 2014, he was shipped to Arizona as part of the return for Mike Smith. With all signs pointing to Hickey not signing with the Coyotes after completing four years at BU, he was dealt to Buffalo for Hudson Fasching. A calm and composed blueliner, he is stronger in his own zone than he is when his team has the puck. In the offensive zone, he is more of a supporting character,

16 Casey Fitzgerald, D (86^th overall, 2016. Last Year: not ranked) The other Casey in the Buffalo pipeline, Fitzgerald, whose brother Ryan is in the Boston system, is an energetic, yet undersized, offensive defenseman who is entering his senior season with Boston University with a “C” on his chest. A good puck mover who shows the type of hockey IQ one expects from a player whose father played over 1,000 NHL games, he plays a game that seems suited for the modern NHL. Presuming that Buffalo can sign him to a contract after his final collegiate season, his right hand shot could help him get a leg up on similarly skilled second/third pairing types in the system.

17 Matej Pekar, C/RW (94^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Matej Pekar left his native Czech Republic as a 15 year-old, spending two years playing in U16 hockey in Michigan before making a splash with Muskegon in his draft year. He is very quick, with some creativity to his game. He also plays a responsible defensive game, providing tight man coverage in his own zone and picking up regular shorthanded minutes for the Lumberjacks. He has soft hands and demonstrates plus vision when looking to pass. He is heading to play for Miami University where the Sabres will want to see physical maturity and less of a propensity to cheat out of the zone. He has a good chance to leap up this ranking in the coming years.

18 C.J. Smith, LW (UDFA: Mar. 30, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) By the time Smith got the UMass-Lowell, he had been passed over at the draft twice, first as a member of the Austin Bruins of the NAHL and second with the Chicago Steel in the USHL. The Iowa native came into his own with the River Hawks, honing his wrist shot and puck skills into above average tools, and working on his edges to help hi overcome his middling top speed. In his first year in the AHL, he proved that his game could translate to the pros, but the fact that he lacks any truly dynamic skills leaves some doubt about how well he could perform given an NHL opportunity.

19 Andrew Oglevie, C (UDFA: Apr. 11, 2018. Last Year: IE) In a down season for undrafted NCAA free agents, Oglevie was one of the best forwards to sign an NHL deal. The undersized California native is a good skater who thinks the game quickly and can finish, but prefers to create for his teammates, which he seems like a natural when doing. He knows how to find space in the offensive zone and is responsible in his own end. If he can convert his fast paced game to the AHL, Oglevie should find a way to gain NHL experience. Like Smith above, he lacks the dynamic qualities to be an impact player, but does enough well that he should be able to find a role at some point.

20 Eric Cornel, C/RW (44^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 20^th) When Cornel was first drafted as a mid-second rounder, the thought that he would rank 20^th on the Sabres’ prospect list four years later would have been a grave disappointment. Today, Cornel taking the bottom spot on this list is more of an indictment on the Sabres and their struggles drafting in the later rounds, which is highlighted above. He is a good skater, and can flash a good wrist shot, especially when he times his release right, but on the whole, his game is hesitant and he has shown little to no growth in two years at Rochester. Without taking a big step forward this year, producing in line with his skills, he might find a contract hard to come by.

Buffalo – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 20:44:40 +0000

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, the Buffalo Sabres continue to miss the playoffs and continue to come up short in the lottery. Despite fielding some of the worst teams in recent NHL history, the Sabres could pick no higher than second overall. In 2014, that cost them the chance to draft Aaron Ekblad, so they passed over Leon Draisaitl to select Sam Reinhart instead. More famously, after an out-and-out tank job in 2015, they lost the lottery to the Oilers, who drafted Connor McDavid and instead accepted the consolation prize of Jack Eichel.

Not that there is anything wrong with either Reinhart or Eichel, or really with any of their recent first round picks that were not traded to Colorado for Ryan O’Reilly, but there is always the feeling that they should have walked away with more. If one were being cruel, one would compare that feeling to the Sabres disappointing history in the playoffs.

The fact is that the Sabres, as much as they have underwhelmed on the ice over the entirety of the Tim Murray era, that management team actually did a strong job at rebuilding the wreck of a franchise that was left once Darcy Regier was let go. Of course, there are still further steps that need to be taken before the club will find itself back in the postseason, but new GM Jason Botterill takes over a franchise that no longer needs to tear things down. In addition to Reinhart and Eichel, the vast majority of the roster is under 30 years old and many of their most important players are still on the upswing of their respective careers.

The forward group is the most intriguing, a fact that only gets more credence when we consider the players not yet guaranteed a roster spot as their first round picks in each of the past four seasons were all forwards. Unfortunately for the Sabres, it takes more than just forwards to win in the NHL. Teams also need to be able to prevent the opposition from scoring. While smart forwards can go a long way to ensuring that objective is met, good defensive teams must also be strong at the back.

Starting between the pipes, the Sabres have struggled in net since Ryan Miller’s heyday. Robin Lehner has been decent since he was acquired in a controversial trade with Ottawa, but he has yet to prove himself to be a goalie that can carry a team on his back. Buffalo had reasonable hope that 2013 5th rounder Calvin Petersen might be a shining star, but he opted for free agency after leaving college. Future hopes will now be placed on 2017 second round pick Ukka Pekka Luukkonen.

The defensive corps has been even more neglected, as can be seen below, with only two of the top ten listed as blueliners. There is hope that Victor Antipin, a young free agent signing out of Russia, can step right into the rotation, but one of Botterill’s main early goals will be to nail down a number one for now and the future. The sooner that happens, the sooner we can all stop talking about what might have been had the lottery balls fallen just a little bit differently.

Casey Mittelstadt

1 Casey Mittelstadt – One of the most offensively talented players available in this year’s draft, many were surprised that Mittelstadt was still available when it was Buffalo’s turn to pick at #8. He is a magical puck handler with serious possession abilities and good vision. Although there are some murmurs about his agility, he is a strong skater. He will need 1-2 years with the Minnesota Golden Gophers to better hone his team play, but once he does, he should be a first line scoring winger.

Buffalo Sabres Right Wing Alexander Nylander (70) (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire).

2 Alexander Nylander – Ignore his point totals as one of the few teenagers playing regularly in the AHL, and marvel that he was able to play there at all, finishing behind only Jesse Puljujarvi in league scoring among the U19 set. Focus on his 12 points in seven games at the WJC. See his impressive puck moving ability and his strong skating stride. He still needs to add bulk to his frame and tighten up his game away from the puck, but it may be time to let him play in the NHL.

3 Brendan Guhle – Last season, when the Sabres needed a blueliner in a pinch, instead of making the call for someone in Rochester, performed a rare emergency recall, bringing Guhle up from the WHL. He held his own in a brief trial by fire in the NHL before finishing up his WHL career. Tall, with good reach and great skating, he is a very effective defender when he plays with aggression. His offensive game is somewhat limited. He can carry the puck well and begin the transition, but will not be a big point producer.

4 Rasmus Asplund – A teammate of Nylander’s in Sweden’s last two WJC squads, Asplund does not have Nylander’s dynamic offensive abilities, but has nothing to be ashamed about what he does have. A strong skater with silky puck skills and an advanced hockey IQ, he finished tied for second among teenagers in SHL scoring. Although he will be playing in Sweden for another year, once the center does come over, he profiles as a top six playmaking center.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Photo by Karel Svec

5 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – The current front-runner for the title of Sabres’ goaltender of the future, Luukkonen is blessed with ideal size for a netminder as well as plus athleticism. He is very active and competitive in the crease, often coming out to challenge shooters, but also able to recover and get back thanks to very quick legs. A solid puckhandler for a goalie he has been among the hardest goalies in Finnish junior hockey to score against in the last two years. He is now ready for the challenge of Liiga.

6 Hudson Fasching – Looking only at his rookie pro season, you might think that Fasching should not be ranked this highly on a solid list such as this. He struggled in close to half a season with a groin injury at Rochester and did nothing of note in a 10 game trial with Buffalo. Going back to his time in NCAA, he impressed greatly as a scoring winger who would grind through shifts, playing a heavy, physical game with smart puck play and patience. If he recovers more of that, he should not be long for the AHL.

7 Will Borgen – Selected with the Sabres next pick in the 2015 draft after drafting Guhle, Borgen also has a similar skillset to Guhle’s, if we could trade some of the higher-raked player’s footspeed with a great emphasis on the physical game. A very smart player who puck skills basically end with a solid first pass in or near his own zone, he plays a much stronger game than his lanky-looking frame would suggest. Heading back to St. Cloud State for a junior season, he needs to work at limiting penalty minutes.

8 Marcus Davidsson – Although his offensive numbers as a teenager with Djurgardens of the SHL do not impress, Davidsson has a lot of qualities to his game that suggest that better things are on the way. From a scouting perspective, his skating, shooting and puck play all project as above average, but his hockey sense – his best attribute – should make the whole equal to something greater than the sum of its parts. Expect a lot more in his second SHL season.

9 Cliff Pu – Another plus skater in the Buffalo system, Pu took on more of an offensive role in his first post draft season with the London Knights and excelled at it. He is a fine passing winger with solid offensive vision. He projects as more of a middle six than top six winger as a pro, as a down postseason recalled questions about his ultimate offensive upside. Thankfully, he is also notable for his 200 foot game, puck seeking instincts and willingness to pressure the puck carrier.

10 Nicholas Baptiste – We are definitely not finished with speedy Sabres’ prospects. Baptiste had a strong showing in his second go-round the AHL, earning a 14 game trial in Buffalo for his efforts, which led to a near 50% increase in scoring. He also has an impressive goal scorer’s touch, along with solid puck skills. Definitely more a shooter than a playmaker, he should be given a chance to win a bottom six winger job in the NHL this season.

11 Viktor Antipin – A five year KHL veteran who has consistently put up strong offensive numbers from the blueline, Antipin was signed as a free agent to a one year entry level contract with the carrot of an NHL job dangled in front of him. Not a flashy player, he produces through effective two-way play, showing a good passing game and an above average point shot. He may need to be sheltered in the NHL at first until he proves that his small stature will not be a hindrance.

12 Justin Bailey – The former second round pick, whose father was also a sports (football) star in Buffalo, Justin Bailey showed considerable gains in his second pro season, and spent a good chunk of the year in the NHL, falling only three games short of losing his prospect status. A strong skater for his size, he has been usable in all situations in the AHL, combining a tricky wrist shot with developing hockey sense. With a touch more aggressiveness, he could have a long NHL career as a power forward.

13 Jonas Johansson – One of the primary candidates for goalie of the future before this season, Johansson once again failed to make any headway at getting an SHL job and once again spent the season on loan with Almtuna of Allsvenskan. Once again, he stopped exactly 91.3% of shots faced, giving him once again a shiny GAA. This time, Johansson signed an ELC with Buffalo at year’s end and will likely play next year with Rochester. He does everything well enough, but has no standout tools.

14 Devante Stephens – Linked with Guhle and Borgen as defensive products of the 2015 Sabres’ draft class, Stephens also has a game which bears passing resemblance to the aforementioned duo. His best traits are skating and physicality. The former is characterized by impressive acceleration and the latter is represented by his lanky frame which he throws around with purpose. Although his offensive numbers last year were very impressive, we should not expect that to continue in the pros.

15 Oskari Laaksonen - A surprise third round pick this year, the largely unheralded junior league Finnish defender is more notable for his plus hockey sense and puck moving abilities than for flashy play. Rail thin, he can run a power play, but struggles in coverage as he is too easily outmuscled. His puck skills project to average or above, but he is still in the early stages of his development and very raw.

16 Brandon Hagel – The eighth of ten players selected by Buffalo in the 2016 daft, Hagel has done more to improve his stock in the organization than anyone after the top three, if not altogether. Previously seen as a meat-and-potatoes WHL grinder, he showed more in the way of puck skills and a grinding style that leads to prolonged possession. He also might have more upside offensively than previously believed, although bottom six is still his likely destination at the next level.

17 Sean Malone – After muddling through three uninspiring seasons at Harvard, Malone finished with a bang, setting career highs in goals (18), and assists (24) for a Frozen Four entrant, while showing off a skillset that will keep him drawing paychecks for his work on the ice for a few years yet. A good north-south skater and play-driver, who sometimes shows more wiggle to his game than is expected. The Buffalo-area native had a single game cameo for the Sabres after his collegiate career ended.

18 Victor Olofsson – A one-way offensive winger whose development seems to have stalled in his third SHL season, Olofsson nevertheless has enough offensive promise to deserve a mention near here, particularly after a strong SHL playoffs and European Champions League with Frolunda. His shot – dangerous from just outside the slot - and puck skills are both reasons for promise. On the down side, if he cannot make it as a top six player, few North American teams would use him in the bottom six.

19 Evan Rodrigues – Signed as a collegiate free agent after a fantastic senior season playing with Jack Eichel at Boston University, Rodrigues spent close to half of last season with the Sabres, falling five games shy of losing prospect eligibility. A good skater with strong puck skills, his impressive hockey IQ and ability to play a 200 foot game may help him overcome his size deficiencies and earn continued bottom six opportunities. A limited prospect, but useful nonetheless.

20 Eric Cornel – A former second round pick who had a solid, if ultimately unfulfilling OHL career, Cornel struggled mightily in his rookie AHL season with Rochester with only 14 points in 67 games. It is too soon to state that he has lost the skill set including both very promising shots and puck skills that made him a top OHL pick as a youth, but he needs to bring his skills out more consistently to remain on the radar.

With the type of players currently in the system, the Sabres seem geared to bring excitement back to Buffalo. With nearly every player on the top 20 earning accolades for their skating prowess, they could wield a fun run-and-gun team over the next few years. Of course, as discussed earlier, they still have significant work to be done on the back end. Even run-and-gun teams need puck carrying blueliners to begin the transition and get the puck moving in the right direction.

Youngblood: The fab five – Ontario strong

Brendan Ross — Wed, 07 May 2014 12:15:02 +0000

Ontario hockey is as strong as ever with the long line of NHL stars emerging from the Ontario Hockey League. Each of the OHL’s 20 franchises contributed to the NHL landscape in some way or another. The London Knights have sent first round selections Rick Nash, Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, Sam Gagner and Nazem Kadri onto successful NHL careers. The Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds are best known for contributing Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey but have also added current stars Joe Thornton and Jeff Carter. Sarnia Sting gun slinger Steven Stamkos has relocated his ability of sniping goals to warm Tampa Bay. Windsor Spitfires’ alum Taylor Hall is electrifying fans in Edmonton with his blazing speed. On Long Island, former Oshawa Generals star John Tavares has emerged as one of the NHL’s newest superstars.

The OHL has routinely churned out all-star prospects and it’s a trend that won’t disappear anytime soon. The 2013 NHL Entry Draft featured a league high eight first round selections from the OHL, highlighted by the Calgary Flames’ 6^th overall selection of Ottawa 67’s pivot Sean Monahan. In total, 37 players were chosen in seven rounds at the 2013 draft, the most from any league. As players flock to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, it’s expected that even more OHL players will hear their names called in the opening round. With 20 of the 40 invitees, the OHL dominated the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospect Game in Calgary in January. NHL Central Scouting lists 14 skaters from the OHL among its top 30 North American ranked players. The OHL bloodlines are as strong as ever in the National Hockey League.

As all eyes set on the draft eligible prospects from the Ontario League, let’s break down its top treasures starting with the top five and ending with some honourable mentions.

Ekblad defining exceptional

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Capping off a strong freshman season by winning the Emms Family Award as the OHL Rookie of the Year, Ekblad displayed considerable improvements in his skating and began to silence criticisms of his oft-debated “offensive limitations”.

Fast forward two seasons.

As his draft season draws to a close, Ekblad filled his trophy case with Ivan Hlinka gold and the 2013-14 Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman. He’s the unanimous top defenseman in the 2014 draft in a class lacking top-end star defensemen and exemplifies leadership, poise and maturity. Offensively, Ekblad has launched his game to new levels showing improved confidence and puck skills that top-pairing defensemen require. He doesn’t possess the puck rushing ability of an Erik Karlsson or the intimidating physicality of Shea Weber but he’s proven to be above average in almost every facet of the game.

The gem of the OHL class is Barrie Colts’ defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has exceeded expectations in each of his three seasons dating back to his rookie year as a 15-year-old underage player. The Belle River native was the second player, and first defenseman, to be granted “exceptional status” by Hockey Canada and he has been on an upward trajectory ever since. It was Ekblad’s efficient point shot that has served as his offensive launching pad displaying an ability to get pucks through traffic on net, resulting in a league-leading 23 goals from the blueline. Ekblad also topped the OHL in power play goals (16) showing that his offensive game has some serious upside. Besides growing an caveman-like beard that grown men are envious of, Ekblad possesses the exceptional hockey sense, size and two-way skill set to draw interest right out of the gates at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He’s a potential cornerstone defender and a player who should be ready to step right into an NHL lineup.

The accomplished Ekblad doesn’t stand alone at the top of the OHL class, as pivot Sam Bennett has assembled loads of praise from the scouting community and will serve as Ekblad’s biggest challenger from the OHL.

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Indicative by the sweater number 93 he wears, Sam Bennett grew up as a Maple Leafs’ fan idolizing Dougie Gilmour for the way he played the game with skill, grit and passion. Now as a young man, Sam Bennett is realizing a dream playing for Gilmour’s Kingston Frontenacs team as its star forward, in a similar mold as his idol. Although blessed with a dazzling offensive skillset featuring soft hands and an innate scoring ability, Sam Bennett receives the most praise for his intangibles that include an unmatched compete level, leadership services and in-game adaptability. He mixes it up in all four corners whether he’s attacking or defending and the big-game pivot will unquestionably be on the ice during the final minutes of close games after earning a reputation as a clutch player.

Bennett’s game starts with an exceptional skating stride that keeps opponents on their heels and uses his advanced hockey sense to gain ideal positioning in the attacking areas of the rink. He is a player who has become unpredictable, either unleashing a quick shot or utilizing creative vision and playmaking gifts as a setup man. In just his second season, Bennett was arguably the OHL’s most consistent player and his 25-game point streak that witnessed him tally 17 goals and 46 points was the second longest in the league. With a scrappy-in-your-face competitive style, the skilled Sam Bennett may be the most complete forward available, making him a worthy first overall selection.

Finding sophomore stardom

Common dialogue in hockey circles suggest the top pick from the OHL is a two horse race with Ekblad and Bennett as the heavy favourites but don’t overlook Oshawa Generals’ forward Michael Dal Colle. After an unexpected breakout rookie campaign that watched him collect an impressive 48 points, Dal Colle’s encore performance in his sophomore season was scoring a remarkable 39 goals and 95 points to lead all draft eligible skaters and finish top five in league scoring.

His game receives mixed reviews from analysts but he remains high on Youngblood’s list. Knocked for his effort at times in a similar way that Joe Thornton receives criticism, Dal Colle’s analytical and calculated approach often portrays his effort as lackadaisical but do not mistake that for him lacking a competitive drive because that would be drastically incorrect. Possessing creative vision and patience with the puck, Dal Colle’s playmaking skills are often understated. Particularly strong on the powerplay, Dal Colle dissects opposing defences quickly with creative back door blind passes for easy tap-ins. Equally impressive is the young man’s shooting arsenal as he possesses one of the best shots in the league. He has not perfected how to use his size and physicality efficiently but it’s an element that can easily be worked on. If he can add some snarl and pushback to his game, Dal Colle stands a good chance to tap into his star potential.

An old school prospect

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Next on the rankings is Peterborough’s intimidating power forward Nick Ritchie, the one OHL skater with the size, strength, skill set and pedigree to develop into a true superstar. Ritchie is far from a sure bet to reach superstar status but he’s got a chance. He is a massive physical presence who moves with ease hunting down pucks using great stick skills and crushing body checks. Willing to drop the mitts to defend a teammate, Ritchie plays on the edge, as evident by his 136 penalty minutes (5^th in the OHL), and it’s this bull-in-a-china-shop approach that is so appealing to NHL scouts. Questioned for his wavering effort, Ritchie hasn’t exactly performed with ideal consistency but he has also been on a struggling franchise his entire OHL career so stagnant periods can be normal.

The tide is turning in Peterborough as the future looks bright and the same can be said for Nick Ritchie. His brother, Brett, was a second round selection of the Dallas Stars and hit his stride later in his junior career. The potential is high for Nick Ritchie and when he’s on his game, few can dominate a game like this Orangeville native. That domination alone may be worth the high investment. He is cut from the same cloth as Milan Lucic and what NHL team wouldn’t want that throwback style of power forward.

A 'dog that lacks bite

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Rounding out the top five wasn’t an easy process as several OHLers received considering including Sault Ste. Marie’s Jared McCann, Guelph’s Robby Fabbri and Sarnia’s Nikolay Goldobin. In the end, Niagara’s Brendan Perlini’s size, intelligence and skating abilities edged out his draft mates. Stamping his place inside the Top 10 early in the season after coming out of the gates hot, Brendan Perlini impressed with a well-balanced puck possession game. He made a living shielding opponents from pucks along the boards and walking off the wall to unleash a deadly shot. Perlini uses his combination of speed and puck skills to back up defenders, and his net drive and hunger for the loose puck speaks volumes of his love for scoring goals. And boy, can this kid score goals. Perlini scored 16 goals with the man advantage tying Aaron Ekblad for the lead among draft eligible skaters in the Ontario league.

Had Perlini showed scouts that he can play a more consistent physical game, he may have moved up the rankings into the top 5. For teams looking to add a sizeable winger with poise and natural scoring instincts, Brendan Perlini will be a hot target.

The abovementioned five OHL prospects are great players with appealing upsides but the pool of talent doesn’t end there. The 2014 NHL Draft class has been deemed average by most analysts and it’s an accurate assessment given the lack of a sure-fire stud prospect. However, some of the drafts most talented prospects are those that have grown accustomed to being critiqued, for varying reasons. Opting to go outside of the box to select these prospects may prove worthwhile gambles down the road given that their offensive ceilings are similar to those previously mentioned.

Building a captain

Jared McCann is one of the safest OHL skaters in terms of eventually playing in the NHL as this mature two-way forward packs both skill and intelligence into a competitive personality. McCann’s best weapon is his shot but he’s become a desired commodity because of his projectable intangibles. McCann slowed down as the season progressed finishing just shy of point-per-game numbers but scouts are more infatuated with his overall two-way presence and contributions behind the scenes.

Fabbri-ulous finish

Enjoying a long successful playoff run to cap off a fantastic season has been the perfect scenario for undersized skilled forward Robby Fabbri. A Youngblood favourite dating back to his OHL draft season, Robby Fabbri is a tremendously gifted offensive talent that uses his elite hockey intelligence, poise and competitive drive to get the job done. He’s a big game player rising to the occasion and despite critics trying to knock him down because of his size, he continues to push on…rising higher, and higher with each passing game. Sure, Fabbri plays on a star-studded Guelph Storm roster and his 45 goals (leading all draft eligible) may have been inflated slightly but this youngster knows how to exploit the goal scoring areas. Despite playing in a smaller frame, Fabbri thrives around the blue paint using his creative passing abilities to feed quick tricky passes to waiting teammates. Adding strength will be a priority but it’s the only attribute that is keeping Robby Fabbri from being a sure-fire top 10 selection. Fabbri’s doing his best Jeff Skinner impersonation heading down the playoff stretch and don’t count out this hungry forward in his quest to exceed everyone’s expectations.

Gold’n hands

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Carrying a Russian passport never helps your case but Nikolay Goldobin has done all he could to abolish the traditional fleeing Russian stereotype. Finishing one point shy with 94 points of leading all draft eligible skaters in the OHL, Nikolay Goldobin was a dynamic offensive threat on every night for the Sarnia Sting. He enjoyed a 22-point game streak posting 21 goals and 43 games.

He’s the most creative and gifted puck handler in the OHL and is capable of highlight reel action every time he hits the ice. Defensively, Goldobin will require more coaching and while his work ethic gets questioned because he’s not an in-your-face attacker, he does play hard in traffic by using a strategical approach. Goldobin thrived on the OHL’s last place team but it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was a true standout among his CHL draft peers at the Top Prospect game. Teams will weigh the risk-reward factors of selecting a fairly one-dimensional Russian in Nikolay Goldobin but his offensive talents are considered top 5 worthy and he is looking like he could be a steal if he slides outside of the top 20.

The fire of passion

Staying in Sarnia, Anthony DeAngelo led the OHL in points (71) and his 15 goals (3^rd), 56 assists (1^st among draft eligible skaters) and 30 powerplay assists (3^rd) were among the top. No one doubts DeAngelo’s offensive production as this undersized smooth-skating defenseman controls the game with ease from the back end. Tricky puck handling skills, creative vision and precise passing allows DeAngelo to push the pace with utmost confidence. He’s a passionate competitor who loves to win but his short temper and volatile attitude has been well documented, and resulted in several team and league induced suspensions. Based on talent alone, Anthony DeAngelo would be snatched up inside the top 15 but some teams have crossed him off their lists entirely. Look for the interview process at the NHL Combine to be an important element in determining DeAngelo’s ultimate draft fate as teams look for answers from this skilled defenseman.

Opening round curtain call

The dynamic skating Josh Ho-Sang, mobile two-way defender Roland McKeown, developing power forward Ryan MacInnis, raw skilled pivot Eric Cornel, athletic netminder Alex Nedeljkovic and skilled agitator Brendan Lemieux are just a few players to keep tabs on as potential first round selections.

Two months remain until the 2014 NHL Entry Draft commences on June 27^th at the Wells Fargo Center and it marks an event full of unpredictability but one thing is for certain, the Ontario Hockey League will be well represented on day one of the draft.

Be sure to follow the McKeen’s Hockey (@mckeenshockey) Youngblood series as Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) continues to break down the happenings inside the hockey prospect world.

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Forwards

Grant McCagg — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:00:03 +0000

Here are some of the key plays and memorable highlights from the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

We first reviewed the game and concentrated on the play of just the 12 defencemen participating - and then went back over the contest a third time - with an eye on only the forwards.

Notes are listed below by period - and by the amount of time left in the period.

Here is a list of the defensemen and forwards by team - as they are noted below by only their last names:

DEFENCE

Team Cherry (Red): Anthony DeAngelo Haydn Fleury, Aaron Irving, Roland McKeown, Jacob Middleton, Alexis Vanier

Team Orr (White): Aaron Ekblad, Aaron Haydon, Julius Honka, Brycen Martin, Alex Peters, Ben Thomas,

FORWARDS

Team Cherry (Red): Daniel Audette, Ivan Barbashev, Conner Bleackley, Michael Dal Colle, Robby Fabbri, Nikolay Goldobin, Chase De Leo, Ryan MacInnis, Matt Mistele, Sam Reinhart, Nick Ritchie, Nikita Scherbak

Team Orr (White): Clark Bishop, Blake Clarke, Eric Cornel, Leon Draisaitl, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Ho-Sang, Brendan Lemieux, Jared McCann, Brendan Perlini, Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen, Spencer Watson

--------------

1ST PERIOD

16:20 - Lemieux out for a stroll in the park, picks up nobody.. Reinhart gets it alone in front and almost tucks it in. Lemieux carries puck out to neutral zone, gets caught by Barbashev on backcheck.

15:40 - Bad pass by Perlini back to no one at the point, could have been dangerous the other way. Not sure about his vision sometimes.

15:00 - Subtle little play by Fabbri - gets puck along the boards and encounters Virtanen.. as he turns to the boards to make it look like he's going to turn the other way with the puck, he shovels it back to the d-man as he's parallel with the boards...the puck goes right along the boards and Virtanen misses it.

9:17 - Audette tips shot off post, Honka gets it behind net with Audette following. Honka makes a great little fake with the puck that delays Audette just long enough while his teammate gets free and shovels it ahead to Cornel, who decides to try a move to the middle at his blueline instead of either chipping it or taking it along the boards...bad turnover.

9:00 - Ehlers with the rush, then the toe-drag move to the slot and backhand.. puck comes back the other way and Reinhart drives to the net past Haydon, a good example of how Reinhart's speed can be deceptive.

8:30 - Tremendous pressure by the Reinhart line, the puck squirts loose to Draisaitl, who decides to head to the boards with the puck and wipes out without being touched, Dal Colle comes along and outmuscles both Leon and Thomas to get the puck to Barbashev, who was all over on the shift. Had good chemistry with Reinhart in this game. Draisaitl was clearly outmatched when he went head-to-head versus Reinhart, but to be fair he didn't have linemates that were as good.

4:45 - Dal Colle with the first of his many ill-advised cross-ice errant passes on the night, intercepted by Ehlers who knocks it up and then bats it to himself and goes on his famous rush where he pretended to be going around the d-man when he was in fact passing it to Cornel. If he doesn't flub the return pass and puts it in that goal is on every highlight reel all week. Ehlers a little lax on the defensive side a couple of times in this game, but he's a penalty killer in Halifax. His speed is a factor in any circumstance if he uses it. He was guilty of doing a little too much 'thinking' instead of 'doing' at times in this game, but he should have been on the top line, not the fourth. Ehlers falls down a lot, which is surprising for such a great skater. Mind you on some occasions he falls down on purpose to get at a loose puck...he can get up quickly a la Crosby.

4:30 - The pass by Ehlers to Cornel was special, not sure I've seen one quite like it before.

1:35 - The Virtanen brain cramp to let Scherbak get a break, to his credit he skated back to check him. Nice play by Audette to get puck in corner and center it to De Leo in slot.

MacInnis made three decent plays in the first 14 minutes, winning a couple of board battles and checking the puck away. On another occasion an opponent just waltzed around him in the open ice. Agility and first steps are in need of some refinement. I run a little hot and cold on him, mostly cold. Sometimes he looks lost, other times he anticipates the play well. Looks like he needs plenty of teaching, something you don't always expect in an ex-pro's son.....De Leo has a hard shot - had a couple of good scoring opportunities during the game.

2ND PERIOD

19:20 - Dal Colle gets his pocket picked by Draisaitl, who showed some hustle for once in this game, but Draisaitl, loses it back to DC.

18:14 - Ho Sang finds McCann in the sweet spot in the slot.. threaded the needle on the pass between two defenders.. disguised the pass. Nice play by McCann to get to the best spot. Ho Sang and McCann had several nice plays together.. would have liked to see those two with Ehlers.

16:26 - Audette to Scherbak at own blueline. Scherbak decides to try and deflect it off skate to a linemate who misses it. Instead of stopping dead and checking Watson, does a huge lazy loop where he goes outside of his own zone and comes back in covering no one.

15:10 - Dal Colle coughs up puck when McCann comes back to hit him. Great play by Ho Sang to draw opponents to him in the middle of the slot, and then having the vision to spot Perlini for an open shot in a prime scoring spot.

15:00 - The Thomas rush....he had time to wind up so it wasn't as impressive as it first looked I don't think. Check out his right arm swinging up wildly coming up to the opponent's blueline.. he almost wiped out unimpeded.

14:50 - Superb defensive play by Bishop or McKeown springs Ritchie on a break...breaks up the pass with solid defensive awareness.

11:20 - Draisaitl gets the puck at Red blueline, does a complete circle against three checkers until Ekblad is open on the boards.

10:10 - McCann sees the d-man move up on the puck, he circles in behind to make sure the puck carrier has backup as there was danger lurking.

8:00 - Mistele passes when he should have shot.. then tried to skate back hard, which was amusing to watch - looked like he was running, kinda like Fred Flintstone when he's about to take off, feet moving a foot above the ground and Fred not going anywhere. Then when he got back, he turned around in a defensive stance. Honka came coasting in from the red line with the puck, met Mistele, shifted a little to the left and quaintly coasted past him along the boards...Honka never took one stride the whole time. Needless to say agility is not Mistele's forte.

7:15 - White power play. Ehlers in his office on the right half wall, little backhand saucer pass to Ekblad for a good chance. Does it with Drouin all of the time.

5:36 - Point does several sharp give and go's moving up the ice. the pass by Bishop back to Point inside red blueline was excellent. Scherbak is not hard to beat, do not like his defensive play. Point set up Virtanen in front, Bishop nice lateral move to pounce on rebound.

2:40 - Thomas gets pass in his skates, nice play to kick it to his stick and then waltz around Reinhart. Perlini good eye-hand coordination batting down pass 20 inches off ice.

2:25 - Ho-Sang goal. Dal Colle was the goat but Point made the play, nice move to the slot from the wall and good low shot on net that Ho-Sang batted in.

2:20 - Audette makes skilled backhand tip pass to De Leo for great chance, vision-playmaking are his strong points.

0:15 - Draisaitl showed his puck possession skills. Had a few moments in the game and could have had a goal or two with some luck, but skating and lack of intensity were issues.

3RD PERIOD

17:05 - Leon coasts on backcheck on penalty kill, not one stride from center ice to the slot - he takes one stride and he stops Fabbri feed to Scherbak for a good chance.

16:01 - Good pass by McKeown to spring Goldobin, who feeds Mistele who finally shoots. Rebound to Goldy who scores on wraparound. Ho-Sang coasting on the backcheck again.

14:30 - Audette gets walked around easily by Virtanen. Not much presence defensively.

14:08 - Nice pass from McCann to Ho-Sang.

12:15 - Point gets puck in corner, waits for Rhino to make his move, then a little deke to gain free space, gets it to the d-man for a shot.

Goldobin penalty shot - Clarke with a poor play along the boards trying to check Dal Colle, but very half heartedly - should have skated back instead as Ehlers was out of the play behind the net.

11:00 - Ritchie decides to get physical, causes havoc and turnovers because of it. He's like the forward version of Douglas Murray when he hits.

10:35 - Fabbri with smart tip pass to Barbashev who does an inside-out move on Thomas, and drives to the net only to hit the post. Barbashev hard hit on Thomas.

9:00 - Virtanen rush - he and Scherbak were on even footing, Scherbak didn't even come close to touching him, not sure about Scherbak's straight-ahead speed, quicker east to west than north south.

8:45 - Nice pass by De Leo to Bleackley in slot, Bleackley's hands looked poor on that play. Looks like his upside is third liner with average skating.

Sportsnet nominated Fabbri as the hardest working player - can't say I disagree - was very diligent on the forecheck on the penalty kill in particular, threw a few hits, competed. Tied for OHL lead in GWG with 8, and that's with missing ten games. During those ten games Guelph lost five of them....in their 36 games with Fabbri Guelph has lost three times. Has a better work ethic than Ho-Sang, and is much better defensively. I thought it was a good move to pair H-S with McCann. Ho-Sang is more effective with a smart two-way center backing him up.

4:08 - Point gets puck from Ritchie, makes a smart pass to Bishop when he goes to his backhand and shovels it laterally to make sure it's not intercepted. Bishop got it to Virtanen, and he smokes it off the post. Virtanen can really blast the puck.

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Defence

Grant McCagg — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:08:01 +0000

Here are some of the key plays and memorable highlights from the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

We first reviewed the game and concentrated on the play of just the 12 defencemen participating - and then went back over the contest a third time - with an eye on only the forwards.

Notes are listed below by period - and by the amount of time left in the period.

Here is a list of the defensemen and forwards by team - as they are noted below by only their last names:

DEFENCE

Team Cherry (Red): Anthony DeAngelo Haydn Fleury, Aaron Irving, Roland McKeown, Jacob Middleton, Alexis Vanier

Team Orr (White): Aaron Ekblad, Aaron Haydon, Julius Honka, Brycen Martin, Alex Peters, Ben Thomas

FORWARDS

Team Orr (White): Clark Bishop, Blake Clarke, Eric Cornel, Leon Draisaitl, Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Ho-Sang, Brendan Lemieux, Jared McCann, Brendan Perlini, Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen, Spencer Watson

--------------

1ST PERIOD

19:00 - Martin's fist shift, caught flat footed, Red gets good scoring chance, Bleackley robbed by Mason McDonald.

10:40 - DeAngelo and McKeown paired together. DeAngelo leaves player to the side of net, then puck ends up behind the net..both d-men go back there but have no chance of getting puck.

8:50 - Thomas caught pinching again. Hayden and Thomas overwhelmed by Reinhart line at 8:20...been out too long at that point. Hayden made poor decision on who to take at one point, but he had three choices as Thomas was running around taking no one.

Hayden a limited puck mover, got beat to the outside a few times, pivots need work, mind you he was paired with Thomas, who was caught up ice nearly every shift. Martin skated backwards about ten feet in this period, as he was always behind the play. Does not anticipate when to back up very well at times. Honka and McKeown turn over the puck in their own zone too often. Honka gets a lot of his passes intercepted at the blueline.

2ND PERIOD

18:00 - Two minutes in on the chance by McCann - check out the defensive play by DeAngelo and Vanier. Vanier's pivot is horrid... DeAngelo reads the play much too late and then doesn't pressure McCann at all.

17:20 - Check out the play by McKeown. Why does he just blindly dump the puck away the second he gets it..doesn't look anywhere, has lots of time, and just throws it away.

13:15 - Honka passes it to Perlini...what was Perlini doing there...was he not aware of the d-man being there..skated right into Irving, who made a good read to pinch in there and cause the turnover. Perlini looked scared to get hit there...was soft on that play...he makes a play like that in the NHL, he's riding the pine for awhile.

11:50. Strong penalty-killing shift by Fabbri. Excellent forechecking and strong battle on that play. Martin on the other hand was putrid. Not sure why they started a PP with Martin and Peters, but anyway..

11:00 First White goal - DeAngelo on the penalty-kill with Middleton - recipe for disaster. DeAngelo was lost - left Lemieux alone to sit on the goalie.

Red came back 8 seconds later. Not really anyone on White's fault other than Cornel by the look of things...doesn't help that we miss the first three seconds as the camera is still on Lemieux. Nice play by Barbashev along the boards, nice pass by Reinhart, great pass reception and fantastic shot by Dal Colle. That play right there tells you he's a top five guy..pro-style winger with a sniper's shot.

9:55 - Vanier's lead pass to Scherbak was bad...he should have been sprung on a breakaway..Thomas should have been back more covering Scherbak. Poor play by Scherbak not to at least touch it and negate an icing.

8:10 - Chance for Team Red - Honka does not see Mistele coming in on the wing...he had half the ice to himself when he got the pass from Goldobin. Mistele should have either shot or went to the net..small d-man, small goalie..instead he stays outside and passes it back through two opposing d-men to nobody. Goldobin with the old Ribiero deke, fake going outside and sidestep to the inside, it's Goldobin's bread and butter and he usually gets away with it - Martin bit and looked pretty bad on it, but most d-men do the first couple of times they play Goldobin.

6:50 - Clarke scores on the power play. Decent shot, but Nedeljkovic should have come out of his net to cut off the angle. Fleury let Clarke walk in a bit...both he and MacInnis skated to the same spot, leaving Clarke alone. MacInnis looked a little lost on the penalty kill, didn't really know what to do. Good puck movement by Ekblad on the power play.

6:30 - Thomas decides to skate from his side to mid boards in his own zone, and then stands there for a couple of seconds only to be then hopelessly out of the play. Barbashev goes to front of net, Hayden doesn't stand between net and Barb, he stands beside him to the side of the net while his defence partner stands on the same side along the boards. You know where this is going. Barbashev gets the puck, simply pivots towards the net where Hayden can't check him, and dishes the puck to a wide open Reinhart, who is stopped while Ho Sang admires the play.

5:18 - DeAngelo lost in his own end..doesn't take Virtanen, or Bishop afterwards. Good chance.

4:10 - Honka makes a nice play to evade Goldobin, but then passes the puck to Fabbri at the line. Nice intercept and play by Fabbri, but the right play by Honka was along the boards to Ehlers, who chips it out.

3:35 - Vanier gets puck at blueline. Mistele has 40 feet of wide open space to the net, he doesn't see him, wrists a soft shot on net.

3:00 - Thomas burned with moves by Dal Colle a few times in this period. I think perhaps Thomas tried too hard to do things as it was in Calgary, but he ran around more than blueliner in the second period. Dal Colle hits the post with a great chance, Cornel for the second time in period caught sleeping defensively, didn't get between the pass and Dal Colle. Barbashev with the good pass from down low again. Thomas too late to do anything about it as he was running around...Dal Colle's shot was a ten in this game, another rocket.

2:20 - Ho Sang tip goal .. and again DeAngelo doesn't take anyone, deflects it to Ho Sang, who was left alone to tip it. Not totally DeAngelo's fault, a flukey one. Point with a decent play to break into the middle and get a shot on net after intercepting a horrible pass by Dal Colle in the neutral zone. Middleton wasn't great on the play, but not really at fault. Middleton actually played okay in the first two periods. No huge gaffes, worked hard and had decent positioning. Even challenged Lemieux but Claude Jr. wanted no part of him.

3RD PERIOD

17:30 - Middleton made a nice play to kick the puck to his stick and then do a loop inside the white blueline to lose checker, then made decent move around Haydon to drive to net, but was in too close.

16:05 - Good hit by Peters on Fabbri, played the man, not the puck.

14:40 - Strong play by Fleury to steal puck in White zone and get it to front of the net.

12:55 - Haydon with puck behind the net. Loses it trying to go in front of the net as he forgets about it, and then coughs it up. Not exactly soft hands there. Turnover caused by Fabbri again on penalty kill.

11:35 - Martin lets Goldobin get in behind him, ends up causing a penalty shot. His defence partner Thomas backed up keeping an eye on the invisible man, should have sensed Martin was in trouble and tried to head off Goldobin as well. Once again Martin didn't skate backwards an inch. Can he skate backwards?

11:00 - Haydon gets rubbed out by Ritchie trying to carry the puck, turns it over, gets it back, passes it back to other d-man Peters, who is surrounded by Red guys, coughs it up... Ritchie gets a good chance.

10:40 - Martin caught up ice again..he's the first forechecker at center ice for some reason but once again misses the puck, leaving Thomas and Draisaitl the coaster to defend Barbashev..wasn't pretty. Barbashev made an inside-out move on Thomas, who bit, and he powered around him and hit the post while Leon coasted along a little too late as usual.

9:50 - Goldobin and Reinhart at it again. Reinhart beats Peters (who falls), then between Point's legs and back over to Goldobin..who does his move to the middle and barely gets around a sweepchecking Ekblad. Meanwhile Bishop is coming back and covering the lane from Goldy to Reinhart, and then checks Goldobin in front of the net. Solid play by Bishop...wish they were all as smart as him. Bishop's skating is what's going to hurt him more than anything, he's certainly got good defensive awareness though.

9:00 - Virtanen with a burst around Irving, who was at the end of a shift. Fleury, who was fresh, watched Virtanen come in 1-on-4, beat Irving and come in on the goalie while Fleury watched..at the end he put his stick in front of Virtanen's shot, but too late.

Vanier-McKeown pairing wasn't seeing a lot of ice time in the third. Can't say I blame the coaches - that's not a good pairing..Vanier not quick enough to cover for McKeown brain cramps.

7:00 - Ekblad decides to go for a foray alone red zone on the PP, DeAngelo was trying to check him.. looked like a mouse trying to check a moose, just bounced off of him when he got near.

6:43 - Even the good ones can screw up.. Reinhart with an awful turnover inside his blueline that left Watson alone to walk right in. Reinhart tried to slide a slow backhand pass over to DeAngelo...who should not have been trying to exit the zone at that time. His partner was down in the corner.. he should have remained deep in his own zone as the proper outlet for Reinhart.

6:35 - Speaking of good ones.. Ekblad's turn to screw up.. loses the puck to Goldobin trying to rush in neutral zone.. Goldobin beats Peters.. to the outside!! Peters takes a hooking penalty.

6:15 - Goldy and Sam go to work on the power play.. and the Thomas-Martin combo. Martin was lost after losing Honka, who missed the third after taking a stick to the chops. Lousy job by Martin tying up Reinhart, who scored easily. Not much pressure from Thomas on Goldy either.

5:26 - Martin takes time going into corner, then gets muscled off the puck easily by MacInnis.

5:15 - Vanier hits Lemieux in White zone...has to skate back to catch play.. not pretty. Lemieux gets great scoring chance as Virtanen goes around a covering Audette and gets it to him.. Vanier can't catch Lemieux, who is no speedster.

5:05 - Ekblad mishandles puck at blueline, Scherbak pounces on puck and gets a breakaway, hits post. Thomas didn't come close to catching him, not as fast and took wrong angle. He coughs up the puck 30 seconds later as well, and then fails to pressure De Leo who has loads of time to make pass in the slot. By this time, Thomas was lacking confidence.

4:00 - Haydon loses puck in own end trying to carry it again. Ritchie with a big shift, two big hits including Peters, but at the end of his shift....brutal speed...he's out of shape. Ho Sang whizzes by, draws the d-man over and then slides it to McCann going the other way...excellent shot by McCann. DeAngelo is the one who follows Ho Sang to nowhere.

2:15 - Point comes in on Irving and DeAngelo, tries an inside move on Irving, hits Irving's skate, bounces back to Point who gets around Irving. Where's DeAngelo? Irving kept Point to the inside, all DeAngelo had to do was cover an inside move, instead he goes in front of Irving and misses Point altogether, leaving Point with a breakaway. Stopped by Nedeljkovic, who pokechecked him.

- Fleury makes some rushes with and without the puck in the third with his team down. Like that he wanted to make a difference.

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

Top Prospects Game review: Team Orr forwards

Grant McCagg — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:21:21 +0000

Of all the participants in the 2014 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, no player gave a more complete performance than Jared McCann of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

The London, Ontario native showed off his shooting prowess on the game-winning goal for Team Orr, while also distinguishing himself with stout defensive play.

Others who managed to elevate their profiles included McCann's linemate on the evening, Josh Ho-Sang of the Windsor Spitfires, and Brayden Point of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Playing in front of a hometown crowd being a Calgary native, Point arguably may have helped his draft position more than any other player in this contest.

His game smarts and offensive vision were on full display especially in the second and third periods as he grew in prominence as the game wore on.

There were however some disappointing showings among the forwards for Team Orr, most notably from a pair of highly-ranked prospects in Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads.

The two prized imports came out surprisingly flat, although Ehlers drew the short end of the stick as far as line combinations went, being stranded on the fourth line with Blake Clarke and Eric Cornel, neither of whom stood out.

Here is a player-by-player look at how the forwards performed for Team Orr:

Team Orr (WHITE) - Forwards

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL

Jared McCann, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) - Game Grade: 8.5

Scoring the game-winning goal on a terrific shot didn't hurt his grading, but his two-way play throughout the game was even more impressive. Quite possibly the best defensive forward in the game, has excellent puck instincts, reads and positioning, anticipates the play well, knows where his linemates are, works hard at getting back into the play. Good puck skills, vision and shot. Showed scouts and GM's alike that he is versatile and will be able to play in any situation. Draft Ranking: 5-10

Josh Ho-Sang, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) - Game Grade: 8.0

His stickhandling skills and agility were on full display the final two periods as he and Goldobin flashed more deking ability than the rest of the prospects combined. Fooled forwards and defencemen several times with his quickness, lateral moves and hands, but unlike some nights in junior also made good use of his teammates, setting up his linemates with unsuspecting passes that exhibited his vision. He will have to continue to work on his defence, and not try to go end to end when a give and go is safer and smarter. Draft Ranking: 15-25

Photo by Brad Watson

Jake Virtanen, RW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL) - Game Grade: 7.5

Showed the hockey world his tremendous speed and shot, but that was nothing new to the Calgary crowd or the scouting fraternity as the 30-goal scorer has been assaulting WHL defencemen and goalies all season. What also impressed scouts was his speed and determination to get back to distract Scherbak on a breakaway. He also displayed an edge, and threw his weight around, which never hurts the draft stock. Loses his concentration at times, especially in the defensive zone, needs to learn to utilize his linemates more. Draft Ranking: 8-13

Brayden Point, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) - Game Grade: 7.5

His lack of size is an immediate concern when you first watch him, but he brings so many effective elements to his game that he's not a player you can discount from making the NHL someday. Point has enough speed, skill and craftiness to be a point-per-game scorer in the WHL this season, by the time he graduates he may be a 100-point producer given his offensive skills and determination. Point's puckhandling abilities in tight spaces resulted in several scoring chances. Good anticipation, vision and hockey sense. Draft Ranking: 40-70

Clark Bishop, LW, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) - Game Grade: 6.5

He wasn't able to get on the scoresheet, but came close to cashing in a couple of rebounds with hard drives to the net. Smart two-way player who saw the ice well and made few mental mistakes, was responsible in his own end, adept at anticipating passes and intercepting them with a quick stick. His lack of size, skating explosiveness and average hands kept him from manufacturing more scoring chances. He will need to keep working on his quickness, and add strength. Draft Ranking: 45-75

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Brendan Perlini, LW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) - Game Grade: 6.0

Did not do much offensively to help his ranking other than one rush and a couple of passes, was expecting more from him in this setting. Effort was spotty at times, although he did make some smart plays throughout. Intriguing combination of size, skating, skill and shot, but wasn't overly dangerous considering his skill-set. It would be nice to see him get more involved physically given his size and athleticism. Draft Ranking: 8-13

Brendan Lemieux, LW, Barrie Colts (OHL) - Game Grade: 6.0

He certainly inherited his father's penchant for getting under opponent's skin. Lemieux was one of the more active players after the whistle, but chose not to fight when challenged by Middleton. His histrionics, along with being credited with a goal he may not have deserved, were enough to give him his 15 seconds of fame on the night. Overall though, his game was underwhelming. He missed assignments and was lackadaisical in his own end, his skating stood out in a negative sense in this game. Draft Ranking: 40-70

Leon Draisaitl, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) - Game Grade: 5.5

Disappointed the scouting community who were hoping to see him bounce back from a disappointing world junior. instead his decline continued, as he appeared to be a step behind the play at times and not exerting himself. Skating speed was never his strongest suit, but when he's not moving his feet it becomes a negative, especially in defensive situations. Had a few chances thanks to his elite hands, protection skills and vision, and even rang one shot off of the post, but he will have to find the energy that made him one of the most dangerous WHL forwards before the WJC. Draft Ranking: 5-12

Nikolaj Ehlers, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) - Game Grade: 5.5

Another player who failed to live up to his advance billing, but to be fair he was stuck on the fourth line with Cornel and Blake. He made one pass in particular that was eye catching and almost converted the return pass from Cornel, but he didn't get many opportunities to show off his world-class skating skills in this game. Had a few hiccups in the defensive zone, and looked to be coasting on a few occasions. As always he made a couple of skillful passes, and had some shots on net, but he was miscast in a secondary role. Draft Ranking: 7-12

Spencer Watson, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) - Game Grade: 5.5

Sporadic effort throughout the night, not overly effective on the defensive end and no sustained offensive thrust. Intercepted a couple of passes and tried to convert them unsuccessfully, but other than that didn't create any offensive opportunities of note. His speed did not stand out in this game, and a player with his lack of side needs to have strong skating skills and consistent work habits at both ends of the rink. Decent hands and quickness, good at anticipating the play, needs to get stronger. Draft Ranking: 50-80

Blake Clarke, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) - Game Grade: 5.0

His power play goal saved him from having a worse ranking than Cornel, but his night was highly uneventful before and after the goal. Not a strong skater or overly skilled with the puck, average hockey sense, inconsistent work ethic. The main positive from his game was the velocity of the shot on his goal, a hard wrister in the top corner. Will need to pick up his game considerably for the rest of the season to regain scout's interest. Draft Ranking: 3-4 round

Eric Cornel, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL) - Game Grade: 4.5

He did not abate any concerns about a lack of jam in this contest, avoiding the boards and physical contact for most of the night. Will have to stop playing on the perimeter to gain serious consideration for the top 40 in the draft. Missed several defensive assignments with poor positioning and/or lack of effort. Looks good in warm-up - good size, smooth skater, decent hands and puck skills - but the work ethic will need to improve in addition to his competitiveness to play in the NHL. Draft Ranking: 35-65

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

Nick Ritchie comfortably in Top 10

David Burstyn — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 20:07:33 +0000

It's very likely Nick Ritchie of the Peterborough Petes will hear his name called quite early at the 2014 NHL Draft.

Already built like a Mack Truck at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, the 17-year-old Orangeville, Ontario native has all the ingredients to be a productive forward at the next level.

Here are recent scouting notes on Ritchie as well as a pair of highly-regarded teammates in pivot Eric Cornel and blueliner Matt Spencer, a potential high pick for the 2015 draft.
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Nick Ritchie (2014), LW, Peterborough
The brother of Dallas second-round pick Brett Ritchie and a former second-overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection .. sidelined on two separate occasions during `12-13 and missed over a third of the season (27 games) with a nagging shoulder injury .. a prototypical power forward who uses his size and strong upper body to muscle his way into scoring positions .. adept at gaining the zone and making a quick shift to the slot to unleash his shot .. more of a shooter than a playmaker, he tends to over-look a pass and opt for a shot when inside the hash marks .. can showcase bouts of creativity when in the neutral zone - or when making a play at the line to advance the play .. his hockey sense and decision making can come into question at times, however his game is predicated on power and his ability to bulldoze past defenders while also going hard to the net .. skating has a wide base with a proficient glide .. chunky skating stride at times but generally effective .. will deliver hits, albeit is not a punishing player .. can take poor routes to the net without the puck at times - a by-product of a defensive game that needs vast improvement .. always looking to exit the defensive zone early and sees absolutely no penalty-killing time - in spite of logging ample minutes and being in his third season in the league .. charges down his wing with ferocity and can be nearly impossible to stop or derail once he has a head of steam .. an assistant captain - entering this season among the most touted OHL forwards for the NHL draft .. already pro size .. plays a game reminiscent to that of a Nathan Horton or a Scott Hartnell.

Eric Cornel (2014), C, Peterborough
Laboured as a rookie in `12-13 seeing very little ice time throughout the season and failing to crawl his way off the fourth line .. received limited ice as well (13th forward) as a member of Team Ontario and a disappointing sixth-place finish at the U17 World Challenge .. also turned in an underwhelming performance at the Ivan Hlinka try-outs, but rebounded nicely to start the season finding terrific chemistry with Nick Ritchie - and scoring a goal in each of his first four games .. a highly-intuitive, offensive-minded player who is cunning with the puck and lethal with open ice .. a shifty and athletic skater; not explosive but elusive and very light on his edges .. can twist and turn off players and is good in tight quarters with the puck .. needs to apply himself more in a physical capacity however .. he does a lot of reaching in as a defender and does not activate his body at all .. doesn't appear tentative, however doesn’t actively engage when the situation presents itself either .. turns away from opponents in all three zones - making him an easy player to play against .. needs to gain strength and power as his body is slight which prevents him from asserting himself .. does pack good offensive tools but will not sacrifice himself to advance plays while showing very little enthusiasm away from the puck.

Matt Spencer (2015), D, Peterborough
The first defenseman taken in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection - third overall - following a decorated minor hockey career including an OMHA and OHL Cup Champion - plus 'Top Defenseman' honours in the OMHA .. already playing valuable minutes as a 16-year-old on the Petes' back-end as well as logging minutes on the penalty killing unit .. a strong and healthy skater, with good quickness and power .. very effective keeping plays to the outside, is able to drive and steer opponents out wide .. plays with captain Connor Bolland and is easily logging the second-most minutes among the team's backliners .. finds proper outlets and doesn’t panic with the puck, showing no apprehension whatsoever .. settles on first options and doesn't over-think the game .. demonstrates a strong competitive streak and has not looked out of place; showing the poise and skill of a three-year veteran .. should make Team Ontario at the U17 World Championships and potentially wear a letter.