Gabe Vilardi – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Team Preview/Player Profiles/Predictions

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:11:24 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 27: Winnipeg Jets leftwing Kyle Connor (81) goes after a loose puck during the Stanley Cup Playoffs round one game four between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues on April 27, 2025, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

In Scott Arniel’s first season behind the Jets bench as head coach, the team roared to the Presidents’ Trophy, recording a franchise-best 116 points (56-22-4). They took that regular season success into the postseason with high expectations, then needed seven games to dispose of the St. Louis Blues in the first round and got bounced in six games by the Dallas Stars in the second round. The Jets ranked 11th in the league with a 51.1 percent score-and-venue-adjusted Corsi but ranked sixth with 53.2 percent of expected goals. They again had the top goaltender in the league, as Connor Hellebuyck won both the Vezina Trophy as top goaltender and the Hart Trophy as Most Valuable Player. The Jets had the league’s top power play last season, scoring 10.75 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-four play, a massive improvement from the previous season. Their penalty killing was closer to middle of the pack, ranking 14th with 6.95 goals against per 60 minutes of four-on-five play.

What’s Changed?

The Jets lost wingers Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina and Mason Appleton to Detroit as free agents, but the Jets also lured Jonathan Toews out of exile, so he will be attempting to return to the NHL after missing the past two seasons due to health concerns. Centre Adam Lowry is likely to be sidelined for the first month or two of the season while he recovers from offseason hip surgery. The Jets also signed veteran winger Gustav Nyquist and rounded out their forward depth with Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke via free agency. On the blueline, continuity is the name of the game as the Jets had eight defencemen play in the playoffs and all eight are returning for the 2025-2026 season. Same goes for in net, where Hellebuyck obviously does the heavy lifting, but Eric Comrie returns in the backup role.

What would success look like?

After winning one round in the playoffs, the Jets remain dissatisfied, as they should. If a team has the horsepower to win the Presidents’ Trophy, expectations have to be at least getting to the Conference Final or even the Stanley Cup Final. The Jets are in a difficult division with strong opponents like the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, but winning another round in the playoffs is the next step and if they can’t do it, the season will probably end up classified as disappointing.

What could go wrong?

The Jets find out what can go wrong at the worst time and it’s that a team that relies so much on their great starting goaltender has been unable to pick up the slack when he struggles in the postseason. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season, expectations will be high for the Jets entering the 2025-2026 season and they have a solid core of players that could deliver another strong season. That will be the expectation. But if Adam Lowry doesn’t return to previous form after hip surgery and if Jonathan Toews can’t get up to speed after missing two seasons and maybe add another injury to a key player and suddenly things could start spinning out of control for the Jets. Also, if Hellebuyck stops being the best (regular season) goaltender in the world, that will make the path to the playoffs more challenging.

Top Breakout Candidate

On a team full of veterans, there are not a lot of openings for young players. Last year’s pick for the Jets’ breakout player was Cole Perfetti, and he jumped from 38 points to 50. If he adds another dozen points this season, could that qualify as a next level breakout? He has the talent and is on the right trajectory to be the next significant scorer on this roster.

FORWARDS

Mark Scheifele

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	35	44	79	0.99

NHL players typically reach their peak in the age 24 to 26 range. Certainly, there can be some variance from player to player but that is usually the sweet spot. Scheifele put up 82 points (32 G, 50 A) during his age 23 season, and then 84 points (38 G, 46 A) during his age 25 season. He beat both of those totals last season, at age 31, when he put up a career-high 87 points (39 G, 48 A) while leading the Jets to the best regular season in franchise history. Since 2016-2017, Scheifele has accumulated 659 points (278 G, 381 A) in 652 games, which ranks 14th in the NHL over that period. As productive as he is, Scheifele has typically not been much of a play driver, especially relative to other No. 1 centers in the leagues. In the past two seasons, he is hovering just over 48 percent in terms of Corsi percentage, Last season, he had the highest rate of shot attempts against and second-highest expected goals against per 60 minutes among Jets players during five-on-five play and yet the Jets have outscored opponents 127-97 during five-on-five play with Scheifele on the ice over the past two seasons. It helps to have Connor Hellebuyck in goal, obviously, but Scheifele also has an on-ice shooting percentage of 10.5 percent the past two seasons, which ranks 48th among the 458 forwards that have played at least 500 five-on-five minutes. Is it sustainable for Scheifele to carry a PDO over 103 for the long haul? The last two seasons are the only two seasons of his career that he’s held percentages that high, so it seems fair to expect some regression in 2025-2026. The good news is that Scheifele is starting from a place of elite productivity, so there is room for regression without his whole statistical world collapsing. It’s reasonable to still expect 35 goals and 75-80 points from Scheifele this season.

Kyle Connor

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	40	52	92	1.12

An electrifying offensive player, Connor tallied a career-high 97 points (41 G, 56 A) last season but is not a reliable two-way player so his defensive performance can offset some of his spectacular offensive production. Last season, Connor had the benefit of high percentages, with an on-ice shooting percentage of 11.1 percent and an on-ice save percentage of .930, giving him a PDO of 104.2, a lofty number that he has not approached in any other season, so it’s difficult to imagine that Connor will have percentages that favorable again this season. Connor is an exciting and fun player to watch because he is creative with the puck, and his quickness puts the defence on its heels consistently. When he is really on his game, he is creating chances both for himself and his linemates and it seems there is little the opposition can do to slow him down. For a defender to shut down Connor, they need to get physical and take away his space. If he has time to generate speed, then he is a whole lot to handle, but if defenders can bump him off stride and make him battle physically, that is a better defensive approach. Connor is typically a candidate for the Lady Byng Trophy but piled up a surprising 25 penalty minutes last season, the second-highest total of his career. It’s unlikely that Connor is going to match his career-best offensive production, but he should remain a very dangerous offensive threat for the Jets. In 2025-2026, Connor should have a shot at 35 goals and 80-plus points.

Gabe Vilardi

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	28	35	63	0.85

Injuries have plagued Vilardi going back to his junior hockey days and prior to last season, his career high for games played in an NHL season was 63. He played 71 games for the Jets last season and had career highs in goals (27), assists (34), and points (61), showing the skill that has always been apparent, but has been hidden by injury-mitigated production. Vilardi scores on an unusually high rate of his shots on goal, 19.5 percent across the past three seasons, so that suggests that some regression should take place, but if he stays healthy and continues to play a big role for the Jets – he played a career-high 18:08 per game last season – then he should still have a shot at producing quality offensive numbers. It doesn’t hurt his offensive output to spend nearly all of his time skating on a line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, but Vilardi isn’t merely riding coattails; he has the puck skills and the size to fill a complementary role alongside the Jets’ two most dangerous forwards. In 2025-2026, Vilardi should miss some time but, provided that it’s not a serious long-term absence, he should still contribute 25 goals and 55 points.

Cole Perfetti

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
92	25	37	62	0.76

The 10th pick in the 2020 Draft, Perfetti has not had an easy ride in Winnipeg, but his progress has been steady, and he put up a career-high 50 points (18 G, 32 A) last season. Perfetti has had excellent possession numbers for the Jets – a 53.1 percent Corsi and 52.3 percent of expected goals across the past three seasons – but he has played a lot with Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers to help drive those numbers and it will be interesting to see if that can continue with Ehlers departing for Carolina as a free agent. Perfetti did enjoy a more consistent role with the Jets last season, averaging more than 15 minutes per game during the regular season and then contributing six points (3 G, 3 A) while averaging more than 16 minutes per game in 13 playoff games. Considering he had dressed for just one playoff game in 2023-2024, this was a clear step forward for Perfetti. He is a smart and skilled player and even if he is not physically dominant, he asserted himself more frequently last season, recording 71 hits in 82 games. If the Jets are going to continue as a contending team, that quest will be made easier if Perfetti continues to develop into a quality offensive threat. He should be expected to deliver 20 goals and 50-plus points this season.

Gustav Nyquist

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	15	23	38	0.49

After erupting for a career-high 75 points (23 G, 52 A) for the Nashville Predators during the 2023-2024 season, Nyquist collapsed last season, managing just 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 79 games for Nashville and the Minnesota Wild. Nyquist will be 36 when this season starts, so maybe Father Time has just caught up to him, but it’s hard to imagine that his true value is not somewhere between where he has been in the past two seasons. When he’s on his game, Nyquist is a creative player with good vision and sound offensive instincts. He is more frequently considered a secondary scorer and that should be his role in Winnipeg. Nyquist tends to have solid possession numbers which gives him a decent baseline for his game. Last season’s collapse appears to be mostly percentage driven. His own shooting percentage (10.7 percent) was fine, just one percent lower than his career mark, but his on-ice shooting percentage (5.6 percent) was the 11th lowest among the 378 forwards that played at least 500 five-on-five minutes last season, and the ones lower than him weren’t playing top six minutes with expectations that they would provide offence. In 2025-2026, Nyquist should be able to give the Jets some secondary scoring, with 15 goals and 35-40 points a reasonable expectation.

Jonathan Toews

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
71	15	31	46	0.65

One of the more compelling stories in the NHL this season is the return of Captain Serious, the future Hall of Famer who was a standout for so many seasons, winning three Stanley Cups in Chicago, but he has been out of hockey for the past two seasons. Toews apparently feels healthy enough to get back in the game, and he’s going to try it with his hometown team at the age of 37. During his best years, Toews was a premier two-way center, who did not score at an elite level, but he had a span of six consecutive years with the Blackhawks when his Corsi ranged from 56.6 percent to 59.4 percent. In Toews’ last season with the Blackhawks, 2022-2023, he had a 43.6 percent Corsi, and the Blackhawks were outscored 42-20 in just 53 games with him on the ice during five-on-five play. He was struggling with long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, and it was entirely understandable that he stepped away from the game. It’s also understandable that, if Toews feels healthier now, he doesn’t want his last NHL season to be like that, so he will get a crack at the Jets’ second-line center job and it’s certainly a worthwhile risk to take. Without knowing just how much health issues have taken from him in recent years, the only way to project Toews in 2025-2026 is cautiously. Presuming that he is healthy enough to play most of the season, at least 70 games, then 15-20 goals and 45 points could be achievable totals.

Nino Niederreiter

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	17	18	35	0.43

A sturdy two-way winger who seems to have found his right spot in the lineup, providing excellent two-way play as a third-line winger, Niederreiter has consistently been an elite possession player. Since 2013-2014, when he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, he has a 54.0 percent Corsi, which ranks 17th among 176 active forwards that have played at least 500 games in that span. In the past three seasons, the Jets have outscored opponents 95-68 with Niederreiter on the ice during five-on-five play. A physically strong winger, Niederreiter wins board battles, and that helps his play driving numbers, but he is also a smart positional player who puts himself in the right spot a lot of the time. He is aggressive when it comes to attacking the opposing goal and he has enough touch that he can go on hot streaks. He had enough of a power play role for the Jets last season to chip in 11 power play points and he hasn’t had more than that since 2018-2019. Niederreiter enhances his value, both for fantasy managers and in his reality with the Jets, with his physical play. He had 152 hits last season, the fourth time in his career that he surpassed 150 hits, and that does give him more statistical appeal. A reliable veteran, Niederreiter should be able to challenge for 20 goals and 35-40 points this season.

Alex Iafallo

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	15	15	30	0.37

A speedy winger who was acquired from Los Angeles as part of the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade, Iafallo has not missed a game in two seasons with the Jets, but he also played just 13:17 per game last season, the lowest average time on ice of his career. Iafallo has been an over-qualified fourth liner at times in Winnipeg and while that has hampered his production, it has made him valuable for the team because he can easily move up the lineup to fill in for injured players. His most common linemate last season was Morgan Barron and the duo controlled 55.1 percent of expected goals during five-on-five play, which is a quality contribution from the lower tier of the depth chart. In Iafallo’s two seasons with Winnipeg, the Jets have outscored opponents 73-44 during five-on-five play, and while he is a solid enough play-driving winger, he has benefitted from exceptional goaltending to put up such a large goal differential. Heading into the 2025-2026 season, it does appear that Iafallo will have a shot to play regularly in Winnipeg’s top nine, and that consistency would help his production. He is a reasonable bet to score 12-15 goals and 35 points, which makes him a useful player, but is not enough to have widespread fantasy appeal.

Vladislav Namestnikov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	10	27	37	0.47

A veteran forward who is like a swiss-army-knife, capable of moving up and down and all around the lineup, Namestnikov can play a sound defensive game as a checking forward and play well enough as a two-way player to fit alongside skilled players on a scoring line. Namestnikov finished last season with 38 points (11 G, 27 A), which is hardly earth-shattering, but it was his highest point total since 2017-2018. What stands out about his career is that, in his years with the Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning – two strong teams with quality forward depth – Namestnikov has been able to consistently push play in the right direction. In Tampa Bay, his Corsi was 52.9 percent over 320 games, and in Winnipeg it has been 52.8 percent in 176 games. A reliable pro, he also benefitted from favorable deployment last season, starting 67.4 percent of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone. With Jonathan Toews signing in Winnipeg, Namestnikov is more likely to start the season as the Jets’ third-line center, filling in for an injured Adam Lowry, but there is the possibility that, if the Jets forward lines are healthy that he will land on the fourth line. He’s over-qualified for it, but it’s possible. It’s still reasonable to believe that Namestnikov can chip in 10 goals and 35 points, from a variety of spots in the lineup, this season.

DEFENCE

Josh Morrissey

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	12	48	60	0.74

Although Morrissey’s point production has declined from his career-high 76 in 2022-2023, he still had 62 points (14 G, 48 A) last season and has put up 207 points (40 G, 167 A) across the past three seasons, ranking fourth among NHL defencemen, behind only Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Erik Karlsson. Morrissey is not quite as dynamic offensively as Makar and Hughes, but he is consistently excellent, moving the puck with authority, joining the attack, quarterbacking the power play, and putting pucks on net. In the past three seasons, with Morrissey on the ice during five-on-five situations, the Jets have outscored opponents by 69 goals. In the three seasons before that, they had outscored opponents by two goals, so Morrissey has taken his game to a new level and it’s a big part of the reason why the Jets have had such regular-season success. While Morrissey is a reliable shot blocker, recording more than 100 in each of the past four seasons, his hit rate dropped dramatically last season as he finished with just 49 hits. In 2021-2022, he had 150. It’s understandable if a team’s No. 1 defenceman isn’t taking every hit that is available to him, but that does cut into his fantasy appeal, at least a little. That is nitpicking in the grand scheme of things, as Morrissey has finished fifth, seventh, and fourth in Norris Trophy voting in the past three seasons and any team would like a defenceman of that calibre on the roster. He is 30 years old and should be able to perform at that level again in 2025-2026, so it’s fair to expect 12-15 goals and 65-70 points.

Neal Pionk

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	9	26	35	0.45

Although Pionk has had some ups and downs in his career, the veteran right-shot defenceman stepped up his game in 2024-2025, producing 39 points (10 G, 29 A) and solid possession numbers while playing more than 22 minutes per game for the team with the best record in the NHL. Pionk is a quality puck-moving defenceman with a hard and accurate shot from the point that makes him a strong second option, behind Morrissey, to quarterback the power play. Pionk also plays with some fire to his game, with an aggressive style that belies his 6-foot-0, 190-pound frame. Pionk had 114 hits last season and that was his fewest since his rookie season in 2017-2018, when he had 49 hits in 28 games for the New York Rangers. After three straight seasons with subpar possession stats, Pionk had positive possession stats despite starting 45.1 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone. The Jets outscored opponents 53-37 with Pionk on the ice during five-on-five play, easily the best differential of his career. Some credit is due to his partner, Dylan Samberg, as the duo controlled 57.3 percent of the expected goals share during five-on-five play, and Samberg’s steady play allows Pionk more freedom to attack, and that seems to be when he is at his best. Expect Pionk to challenge double-digit goals again on his way to producing 35 points for the Jets.

Dylan Samberg

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	7	20	27	0.35

When Samberg signed his three-year, $17.25 million contract this summer, it was a commitment from the team to a defenceman that did not have widespread name recognition – “they’re paying $5.75 million per year to who?” – but a little bit of research would show that Samberg has really come into his own in the past couple of seasons. The 6-foot-4 blueliner saw his ice time skyrocket last season, going from 15:38 per game in 2023-2024 to 21:08 per game last season. He didn’t just play more, he thrived in that role, his expected goals percentage of 54.1 percent ranking second among Jets blueliners, behind only Josh Morrissey. In the past two seasons, the Jets have had 2.27 expected goals against per 60 minutes during five-on-five play with Samberg on the ice. Among the 131 defencemen to play at least 2,000 five-on-five minutes the past two seasons, that ranks 16th. Even though he has good size, Samberg is not much of a hitter, recording 56 in 60 games last season, but he did have 120 blocked shots in 60 games, which could hold some value if he is healthy enough to play a full season. Samberg ought to be able to chip in 20-25 points this season while adding 100 hits and 140 blocked shots.

Dylan DeMelo

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	3	18	21	0.26

DeMelo is a player who is a better real-life defenceman than fantasy hockey defenceman because his contributions are not typically in the accumulation of statistics. He did have a career-high 31 points (3 G, 28 A) in 2023-2024 but that dropped to 19 points (3 G, 16 A) last season. One thing that DeMelo has shown since joining the Jets, and even before, is that he can suppress shots and chances against and the result is that in 377 games, the Jets have outscored opponents 284-210 with DeMelo on the ice during five-on-five play. If DeMelo is going to have some kind of fantasy appeal, it’s because he will put his body on the line for his team. He had 112 blocked shots last season, the fourth consecutive season that he has surpassed 100 blocked shots, and he had 137 hits, the fourth straight season in which he had at least 110 hits. While those peripheral statistics can help elevate DeMelo into fantasy relevance in some cases, if he doesn’t produce to a certain level offensively, it’s not likely to make much of a difference. In 2025-2026, DeMelo should contribute 25 points with more than 100 hits and 100 blocked shots, which might put him on the fringes of fantasy relevance, but maybe not.

Goal

Connor Hellebuyck

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
61	36	17	5	6	.919	2.11

There's not much to say about Connor Hellebuyck that hasn't already been said. It feels almost cruel to watch Hellebuyck - who took home the Jennings, Vezina, and Hart trophies last season but no Stanley Cup - put together arguably the best NHL goaltending career since Martin Brodeur without a championship to show for it. But despite the ever-present concerns that his heavy usage will start to show up in the form of statistical regression and technical fatigue, he remains the most important piece of the Winnipeg Jets year after year. He topped the league in games played last season and still managed to come away with the most wins, most shutouts, and best goals against average among league starters. He allowed just two tallies per game over a whopping 63 appearances, winning 47 games - for perspective, Andrei Vasilevskiy won just 38 of his own 63 appearances, racking up eight starts with a sub-.850 save percentage in all situations to Hellebuyck's four.

Of course, the only area where Hellebuyck starts to show the cracks in his armour is in the postseason - and last year was no different, with the star posting an .866 save percentage in his 13 playoff appearances, getting yanked in favour of Eric Comrie three times over the team's lengthy run. Comrie, who made a fun tour of the league before ending up back in Winnipeg years after he first arrived to back up Hellebuyck, had a stellar season as backup both in the regular season and beyond; given how close Winnipeg got to finally giving Hellebuyck his victory, it feels like the Jets should give Comrie more than twenty starts during the year to help rest up their number one.

CULLEN: 20 FANTASY POINTS – Opportunities in deployment in the very early going – Boeser, Donato, Couturier, Paul, Newhook and more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 12:42:35 +0000

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 11: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 11, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dive into the numbers to help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, as most teams have played one or maybe two games, here is a look at the early results, looking at deployment in an effort to pull insights from the very early action. Brock Boeser, Ryan Donato, Sean Couturier, Nick Paul, Alex Newhook and more!

#1 Last season was trying for Vancouver Canucks right winger Brock Boeser, who finished with 18 goals in 74 games, the lowest per-game goal-scoring rate of his career. His father had died the previous May and that appeared to be having an effect. He also scored on 10.1% of his shots, which was below his career rate of 13.0%, so things were off, and he asked for a trade. Boeser rescinded that request and began this season with the ideal fresh start, scoring four goals in an 8-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He was the beneficiary of some favourable bounces of the puck, but there is no need to apologize for how one scores four goals in a game. Boeser is skating on a line with Phillip Di Giuseppe and J.T. Miller at even strength and getting first unit power play time, so the opportunity is there for a bounce-back campaign.

#2 The Chicago Blackhawks have not been shy about how they are using No. 1 overall draft pick Connor Bedard through two games. Bedard has looked as NHL-ready as anyone could ask from a teenager, contributing one goal and one assist in two games, but he is also averaging 21:37 of ice time per game, which is unusually high for a rookie forward. Since 2000-2001, there have been three rookie forwards to average more than 20 minutes of ice time per game: Alex Ovechkin, Anze Kopitar, and Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin was a 20-year-old rookie, who averaged 21:37 per game, while the other two were 18, but averaged 20:32 and 20:06 per game, respectively. This is not to suggest that Bedard shouldn’t play this much. This Chicago team is geared for him to get opportunities and part of that is going to be the amount of ice time he receives.

#3 There is already a change on Bedard’s wing, though, as left winger Taylor Hall suffered an upper-body injury in the second game of the season at Boston. With Hall out, there will be a new opportunity on Bedard’s line. Ryan Donato is already having some success on Bedard’s wing, with two points (1 G, 1 A) and seven shots on goal while averaging 18:34 time on ice per game. Andreas Athanasiou got the first opportunity to take Hall’s spot so that could offer great potential for him, at least in the short term.

#4 Staying in Chicago for one more point, keep tabs on rookie defenceman Kevin Korchinski. The seventh pick in the 2022 Draft, Korchinski has averaged more than 20 minutes per game through his first two NHL contests and looks like he could be a building block for the Blackhawks. He is getting second unit power play time now, but it would not be out of the question to see Korchinski emerge as a first unit power play defenseman. The 19-year-old had 73 points (11 G, 62 A) in 54 games for Seattle of the WHL last season.

#5 Appearing in his first NHL game since December of 2021, Flyers centre Sean Couturier played 20:39 and had an assist. The 30-year-old is a legit No. 1 centre when he is healthy and, right now, that looks to be the case. Couturier is skating between Joel Farabee and rookie Bobby Brink to start the season, a great opportunity for Brink to play with a play-driving centre like Couturier.

#6 When he was traded from Edmonton to Nashville last season, there was real concern for fantasy managers that Tyson Barrie would lose out on prime power play minutes in Nashville. The presence of Roman Josi had the top power play defenseman role covered, but the Preds have opened this season by going with two defensemen on their top power play, meaning that Barrie still gets first unit power play time. Being on the first unit in Edmonton and Nashville offer different value, but getting first unit power play time will help to keep Barrie more appealing for fantasy managers and Barrie’s presence on the top unit appears to be coming at the expense of rookie winger Luke Evangelista, who has dropped to the second unit.

#7 With Alex Killorn departing as a free agent, there was an opening on the top power play unit in Tampa Bay and Nick Paul sure is making the most of his opportunity there. The third line centre for the Lightning scored a pair of power play goals in the season opener. While he scored a career-high 17 goals last season and had career highs of 32 points in each of the past two seasons, if Paul sticks on the top power play in Tampa Bay, he will surpass those numbers.

#8 One of the benefits for a young player moving from a powerhouse team to a rebuilding squad is that there is more opportunity available to them. That sure looks like the case for Alex Newhook, who scored a pair of goals in his debut with the Montreal Canadiens. Newhook, who averaged 13:46 of ice time per game in Colorado, played 16:46 in his first game for Montreal, skating on a line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky.

#9 He has only started one regular season game, but Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov looked shaky in allowing five goals to the Montreal Canadiens. He didn’t look stellar in his last preseason start against Detroit, either and, given the unpredictability of the goaltending position, it might be worth keeping Joseph Woll on your fantasy radar. Samsonov will have some leeway, but Woll has a .924 save percentage in 11 career starts, and that could help the 25-year-old get a look if Samsonov doesn’t get on track.

#10 When the Winnipeg Jets sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles in the summer, they received three forwards as part of the package and two of them, Gabe Vilardi and Alex Iafallo, started the season on Winnipeg’s top power play unit. Vilardi is not a stranger to the power play, having scored five times with the man advantage last season. He recorded seven shots on goal and played more than 21 minutes in his Jets debut at Calgary. Iafallo had seven power play goals for the Kings last season and scored in his first game for Winnipeg. It will be interesting to see if they stay there all season, but if Vilardi and Iafallo are getting first unit power play time, that should raise their offensive ceiling.

#11 Calgary Flames rookie winger Matt Coronato is also getting first unit power play time. The 13^th pick in the 2021 Draft, Coronato tallied 38 goals in 68 games through two seasons of college hockey at Harvard, but he sniped 48 goals in 51 games in his last season with Chicago of the USHL. Again, if Coronato can hold a place on Calgary’s No. 1 power play, he will have greater offensive potential as a result.

#12 With all the promising situations for young players getting first unit power pay time, it stands out that Columbus made sophomore winger Kent Johnson a healthy scratch in Blue Jackets’ season opener. Johnson is a wildly talented player who had 40 points (16 G, 24 A) in 79 games last season. The details of Johnson’s defensive game could surely improve, but for a rebuilding team, it is surprising to see a skilled young player get sent to the press box to start the season.

#13 There has been plenty of shuffling with Columbus’ forward lines. Last week, I wrote about Patrik Laine moving to centre and he remains there, with Johnny Gaudreau on the left side and now Cole Sillinger taking a turn on right side. Sillinger was the 12^th pick in the 2021 Draft and showed great promise, making the Blue Jackets that year and scoring 31 points (16 G, 15 A) in 79 games. Last season was a mess, however, and he ended up getting demoted to the AHL after managing just 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in 64 games. The chance to play with Laine and Gaudreau is a prime opportunity for Sillinger to get his career on track and he is still just 20!

#14 Columbus also lost defenseman Zach Werenski for 1-2 weeks with a quad contusion. Werenski has had major trouble staying healthy and that apparently continues. With Werenski hurt, Ivan Provorov got first crack at quarterbacking the Blue Jackets’ power play but that was really not Provorov’s strong suit in Philadelphia. He did have 16 power play points in the 2019-2020 season. If Provorov does not stick in that role, Adam Boqvist, Damon Severson or Jake Bean could all get a look, which speaks to how much Columbus would probably just prefer to have Werenski back there.

#15 Roope Hintz missed the season opener for the Dallas Stars, though head coach Peter DeBoer suggested that it was not a serious injury, and he would have played if it was a playoff game. That does not sound like Hintz will miss a lot of time but, while he is out, Tyler Seguin reaps the rewards, moving into Hintz’s first line centre spot and taking a turn on the Stars’ top power play unit.

#16 Minnesota Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson had a breakthrough season in 2022-2023, posting a .931 save percentage in 39 games. He followed that up with a 41-save shutout against Florida in his first start of the season, picking up where he left off. By the end of last season, Gustavsson had emerged as Minnesota’s best option between the pipes, and he is going to keep pushing for more action if he delivers like he did against the Panthers. Obviously, the more that Gustavsson starts, that would mean fewer starts for Marc-Andre Fleury.

#17 In the offseason, there was no team that looked to be in worse shape than San Jose for having a defenseman take a regular spot on its top power play. It should come as little surprise, then, that rookie Henry Thrun is getting a look in the quarterback role on San Jose’s top power play unit. Thrun had 31 points (7 G, 24 A) in 33 games at Harvard last season before adding a couple of assists in eight games for the Sharks. That does not indicate that he is surely going to quarterback San Jose’s power play into perpetuity, but he is getting the chance now.

#18 Playing his first game since suffering a torn ACL last season, San Jose’s Luke Kunin led Sharks forwards with 19:36 time on ice against Vegas. That seems rather high, but Kunin hovers around the fringes of fantasy relevance because he can score a little and is an active hitter – he had 223 hits in the 2021-2022 season – and if he is going to play that much, then he will move even closer to fantasy relevance.

#19 It looks like Shea Theodore is getting reps on the top power play unit for Vegas to start the season. Last season, Alex Pietrangelo received a little more power play time per game, and Theodore missed 27 games, so Pietrangelo had more power play time overall. However, Theodore had more power play time in the playoffs and, through a couple of games, looks like he is once again Vegas’ top power play option on the point.

#20 The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly given winger Conor Garland the go-ahead to seek a trade, which will not be easy given that he comes with a $4.95-million cap hit for two seasons beyond this one. Garland scored on opening night but played just 9:52 in an 8-1 rout over Edmonton but he was playing with Elias Pettersson, which isn’t going to hurt his value. Once Ilya Mikheyev returns from injury, that could leave Garland in a tough spot. He is a quality play-driving winger who has produced 98 points (36 G, 62 A) over the past two seasons.

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 20 Potential Prospect Breakouts in 2020-21

Peter Harling — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:12:58 +0000

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 09: New York Rangers Goalie Igor Shesterkin (31) in action during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on January 9, 2020 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Each year there are a rash of breakout candidates for the up-coming season. Some end up being Calder candidates, some are top players, some are regular NHL players and some struggle to secure a full-time roster position.

There are several factors that lead to players slotting and position on the roster. Depth of the roster, salary cap commitments and quality of competition are the most obvious.

Mainly it all comes down to the players skill level, compete and commitment. When they are ready to make a consistent impact at the NHL level is when they arrive.

Where these players come from can vary significantly. Many are drafted and developed with early draft picks and come with a pedigree. Some are later round picks that reward the team for taking a shot on them. Some are never drafted but prove their worth overseas or in the NCAA and are signed to NHL contracts.

The 2020-21 NHL season will be unlike any other as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many players will start the season in other leagues as the NHL is expected to begin later in 2020 or early 2021. It remains unclear what leagues will even see a return to play and the ripple effects of the pandemic remain to be seen. This makes it particularly difficult to predict the prospects that could make their NHL debut as full time impact players.

Some have already played some NHL games; some may be in the playoffs and some may be waiting several more months before they see ice time again in any league.

Keeping all these factors in mind, here is my prediction for 20 prospects who will be making their bid for a full time NHL job. Some should be slam-dunks, while others may be a bit more of a long shot and need a few things to break their way.

Kirill Kaprizov, LW - Minnesota Wild

Perhaps the safest prospect to pick is the much-anticipated arrival of the KHL superstar. Kaprizov has been tearing up the KHL and international hockey for Russia for years. His intentions to sign were made at the conclusion of the 2019-20 KHL season but were delayed due to the pandemic. He has signed with the Wild and is expected to begin play in a top-six role whenever the puck drops on the 2020-21 season. Looking for comparable impacts we may have seen in the past from players coming from Russia the most common answer is more of an Artemi Panarin than a Vadim Shipachoyv. That is high praise to be sure, but it is not misplaced. Look for the Russian sniper to secure a first line position and post in the neighborhood of 60 points.

Igor Shestyorkin, G - New York Rangers

Shestyorkin had an impressive North American debut with a 17-4-5 record in the AHL and a 1.90 GAA. That was a dominant performance for a rookie even though he is already 24 years old. Because he was developed in the KHL where he dominated with the powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg team, he hit the ground running across the pond. Shestyorkin made an impression in his 12 regular season NHL games as well with a 10-2-0 record and a 2.52 GAA. Henrik Lundqvist is a Hall of Fame player but it is time to pass the torch over to the next franchise goalie.

Alexis Lafreniere, LW - 2020 Draft

The presumed first overall pick in the 20202 draft was recently awarded to the New York Rangers. Lafreniere will almost certainly be picked first by the Rangers and he should be able to win a roster position outright from training camp in a top-six role. The only real question here is where will he play before the NHL season begins? The CHL is positioning to begin play on October 1st and he could also play in Europe for a few months in a pro league until the NHL begins. Once that happens, he should be in a top six role and expect somewhere in the neighborhood of a 60-point rookie season.

Trevor Zegras, C - Anaheim Ducks

Zegras signed with the Ducks after one season in the NCAA with the Boston Terriers. His best performance was with Team USA at the World Junior where he made some incredible passes to show he can make NHL plays at an elite level. The real obstacle for Zegras will be the Ducks depth down the middle. Ryan Getzlaf, Adam Henrique, Sam Steel, and Isac Lundestrom are all jockeying for position at center. Someone will need to give way and play the wing because Zegras is not likely leaving college to play in the AHL.

Ilya Sorokin, G - New York Islanders

Looking to follow in his countryman footsteps from last season, Sorokin hopes to impress as much as Shestyorkin did with the Rangers. With only Semyon Varlamov and Sorokin under contract for the 2020-21 season currently it looks like the Islanders are willing to go with the Russian duo, but that could change with free agency. My money is on they go with the pair, and by seasons end, Sorokin is getting equal or the lions share of starts for the Islanders.

Mikko Lehtonen, D - Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs landed the biggest free agent European fish on the market when they signed Lehtonen. The Finnish defenseman lead the KHL in defense scoring and with the Leafs likely saying good-bye to Tyson Barrie, and Cody Ceci as free agents in the off-season that opens the door for a top four pairing in Toronto and the 26-year-old should step up and lock that down.

Gabe Vilardi, C - LA Kings

Vilardi has missed a lot of time due to a serious back injury. But he made a glorious return before the season was cut short. The 2017 11th overall pick started in the AHL where he racked up 25 points in 32 games in Ontario. He was recalled to the NHL and impressed there as well with seven points in the last ten games. If he can stay healthy, Vilardi could be a force on a rebuilding Kings team looking for youth.

Alex Turcotte, C - LA Kings

Like Vilardi above, the Kings are going to be looking to their youth to take full time roles on their NHL roster. Turcotte signed his ELC after his freshman year in Wisconsin and will join the Kings for the 2020-21 season. Where he fits in remains to be seen as the Kings have Anze Kopitar, Blake Lizotte, and Vilardi as center options already. There is a chance Turcotte sees some AHL development time, but I assume he has foregone his college career for the NHL rather than the AHL.

Scott Perunovich, D – St. Louis Blues

After a dominant junior season at University of Minnesota-Duluth where he was named NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman, Player of the Year, Scoring Champion, and was awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the Top Collegiate Player, Perunovich is finally going pro. Regardless if Alex Pietrangelo returns as a UFA in the off-season or not, Perunovich will be a lock for a roster spot and the offensive defenseman will compete for time on the PP as well.

Drake Batherson, C/RW - Ottawa Senators

While the big winger already has 43 career NHL games played, he is yet to graduate full time to the big league. That should change when the puck drops. Batherson has dominated the AHL and has not looked out of place in the NHL with the big club either. Ottawa has several prospects that will need quality minutes in the AHL and there is plenty of need in the NHL on one of the worst teams in the league.

Erik Brannstrom, D - Ottawa Senators

Like Batherson above, Brannstrom has little left to gain from the AHL and did not look out of place in the NHL when he was recalled. He is a future anchor on their blue line and that should begin to start the season.

Evan Bouchard, D - Edmonton Oilers

Players from the 2018 draft that have yet to make the NHL are poised to do so sooner than later. With Mike Green not likely to return expect Bouchard to fill that void. He also gives the Oilers a legit power play quarterback that should help pad Bouchard's offensive stats.

Connor McMichael, C - Washington Capitals

Bit of a long shot here as McMichael has another year of junior eligibility remaining. But after dominating with a 102-point season in only 52 games the Caps may find a home for him in the NHL.

Owen Tippett, LW/RW - Florida Panthers

Not only did Tippett have an impressive rookie season in the AHL with 40 pints in 46 games, there is plenty of opportunity on the roster with Mike Hoffman, Evgeni Dadonov, Erik Haula, and Brian Boyle all set to hit UFA status.

Liam Foudy, C - Columbus Blue Jackets

The speedy Foudy has aged out of Junior hockey and looks to be a fixture in the post season. The roster spot is his to lose.

Rasmus Sandin, D - Toronto Maple Leafs

Only slightly less likely to be a full time Maple Leaf than Lehtonen above. Sandin has two full seasons of AHL development to his credit and is ready to fill a vacant roster spot.

Juuso Valimaki, D - Calgary Flames

Easy to overlook a player that missed the entire season to injury, but with TJ Brodie, Travis Hamonic, Derek Forbort, and Erik Gustafsson all about to hit the UFA market, there will be a roster spot for the 2017 first round pick.

Jake Bean, D - Carolina Hurricanes

AHL sophomore Bean won the Eddie Shore Award as Best Defenseman and led the AHL in points by a defenseman as well. He is ready

Morgan Frost, C - Philadelphia Flyers

Frost had back-to-back 100+ point seasons in the OHL before turning pro last year. As a rookie he managed seven points in 20 NHL games and could play the full season in Philadelphia next year.

John Leonard, LW - San Jose Sharks

Leonard will be one of those from nowhere players to make an impact next year. The Sharks 2018 sixth round pick signed after his junior season with UMass and is way under most folks radar, despite leading the NCAA in goals (27) and being a finalist for the Hobey Baker

OHL 2018-19 Season Preview

Brock Otten — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 18:24:24 +0000

The 2018/19 OHL season is underway but it is still early enough to preview the league and converse about some potential season highlights. Who are the contenders? Who are the pretenders? Who are some of the top NHL prospects to keep an eye on? And who are the top NHL draft prospects for 2019?

The Contenders

London Knights

Liam Foudy

Currently the top ranked team in the OHL in the weekly CHL rankings, the Knights also happen to be the top preseason favorite of most in the media. This team has it all; top end scoring talent; a strong defense; quality goaltending. After getting Adam Boqvist (Chicago) from Blackhawks camp, London is still waiting on a few other stars to be assigned; Evan Bouchard (Edmonton), Alex Formenton (Ottawa), and Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa). All three seem likely to start the year in the NHL and late October is probably a more likely arrival date, if it happens at all. A safe assumption would be that London gets at least one of the above. Until then, stars like Liam Foudy (Columbus), Alec Regula (Detroit), and Boqvist will need to pace the offense. In net, overager veteran Joseph Raaymakers and Jordan Kooy (Vegas) should combine to provide quality goaltending. As with any London team, depth is a serious strength. Once the situation surrounding their top players has been given closure, look for the Knights to use their depth to acquire a few big fish to put them over the top.

Oshawa Generals

This is a veteran squad that should be considered among the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Team defense and goaltending are major strengths. At 6-1”, Nico Gross (NY Rangers) is the smallest defender who sees regular playing time, and Kyle Keyser (Boston) is a top contender for goaltender of the year. Up front, Jack Studnicka (Boston) is a serious candidate for the Red Tilson and the scoring title now that he has returned from a long stay at Bruins camp. Swiss import Nando Eggenberger (2019) is another player everyone has their eye on. Overager Matt Brassard (Vancouver) returned this past weekend too, and he should be one of the top defenseman in the OHL this season. The Generals are just a well balanced squad.

Niagara IceDogs

Along with Oshawa, the IceDogs are a preseason favorite to take home the Eastern title. Niagara has a very strong nucleus at forward with Akil Thomas (Los Angeles), Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Ben Jones (Vegas), and Ivan Lodnia (Minnesota), which should help them score a ton of goals. They also have a very mobile blueline, which may lack size, but makes up for it with speed, puck skill, and heart. Billy Constantinou (2019) is a player to watch here as one of the most dynamic young defenders in the OHL.

Saginaw Spirit

The Spirit received a bevy of media attention this off-season due to their recruiting efforts. The team brought in Bode Wilde (NY Islanders), Ivan Prosvetov (Arizona), and Cole Perfetti (2020). This was after they were able to bring Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders) into the fold last year. This team has a lot of depth and fans should be excited about the fact that this team is the favorite to take home the West Division. Cole Coskey (2019) is a player to watch as one of the most underrated players in the OHL. Perfetti is an electrifying offensive player and one of the top players in his age group in Ontario, as well as a potential lottery pick in 2020.

Ottawa 67’s

Sasha Chmelevski of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Maybe a year early to talk about the 67’s as a potential Memorial Cup contender, but make no mistake, this team is insanely talented. Not only do they have five NHL draft picks already, but they have several top prospects for the 2019 and 2020 drafts as well. Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose) is a top contender for the Red Tilson this year after a breakout last season. The progression he has shown as a prospect has been extremely encouraging. Austrian Import Marco Rossi (2020) is another name to watch. The recent import selection is currently touted as a potential top 5 pick in 2020 and he could have a Nico Hischier type impact for the 67’s. The only thing that this team is missing is a top flight goaltender. Look for them to go out and find one at some point. Worth noting that the 67’s currently have 12 second round picks over the next four OHL priority selections. That is some serious trade ammunition.

The Pretenders

Kingston Frontenacs

The Frontenacs loaded up last year to make a run at an OHL title that ultimately fell short. The cyclical nature of the CHL means that this team could struggle this year due to numerous high end graduations. Star Jason Robertson (Dallas) is still around, but he will be a top trade target at some point. The future of injured playmaker Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles) also hangs in the balance as Kingston waits to see if they will get him back once he is healthy. But depth is an issue, as is goaltending. Kingston has to capitalize on a few solid trade assets to recoup what was lost previously.

Erie Otters

After an impressive four year run that saw the Otters compete for and win an OHL Championship, the time has come for this team to rebuild. There are still some solid veteran pieces in place that could keep the team afloat, like star overager Kyle Maksimovich. But this team does not have a single NHL affiliated player and that hurts. Hayden Fowler (2020), and Petr Cajka (2019) do give this team hope for the future.

Mississauga Steelheads

Another team that now lacks serious depth after some serious runs the previous years. Graduations and failed draft picks (like Jack Hughes) have left this team pretty sparse in a lot of areas heading into the year. They do have Owen Tippett (Florida) and Ryan McLeod (Edmonton) back in the fold and they should both be among the best players in the league this year. However, just how long they remain Steelheads remains to be seen.

North Bay Battalion

Like Erie, North Bay does not have a single NHL affiliated player. There is some solid firepower up front with overager Justin Brazeau, Brandon Coe (2020), and Matthew Struthers (2019), but depth is an issue. This is especially true on the back-end. The lack of experience on the blueline could mean that this North Bay team gives up a ton of goals. No Stan Butler coached Battalion team has ever given up 280+ goals against, but this year’s edition may be the first. And speaking of Butler, he is currently taking a leave of absence from behind the bench and that may be bad news for Battalion fans.

Flint Firebirds

Disastrous start to the year for the Firebirds. As of the creation of this article, Flint has yet to win and has given up an ugly 24 goals in 4 games. This team has talent, like Ty Dellandrea (Dallas), Fedor Gordeev (Toronto), and Dennis Busby (Arizona). But missing on the 6th overall Import selection this year (Jan Jenik) is a big black mark and the team just cannot seem to separate itself from the drama of their ownership under Rolf Nilsen.

Five Candidates for the Red Tilson

Nick Suzuki

Fresh off being the centerpiece of the Max Pacioretty deal, the new Montreal Canadiens prospect returns to the OHL and will look to the hit the 100 point plateau for the second year in a row. He is bound to miss some time for the WJC, but Suzuki only needs 92 points to pass Bobby Ryan as the Attack franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Morgan Frost

Highest returning scorer from last year, the Flyers’ prospect should be a shoe-in for a spot in the top 5 in scoring. There were some who felt that Frost should have been the Red Tilson winner last year so maybe this is the year he takes it home. The Hounds offense has lost some talent to graduation, but there is enough remaining to give Frost the supporting pieces he needs.

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

Michael DiPietro

Reigning OHL Goaltender of the year, the Canucks prospect returns to Windsor to help a young team improve. DiPietro will likely be Canada’s starter at this year’s WJC. He is also a likely trade candidate, unless Windsor is pushing for the division. The talented netminder is one of the few gamebreakers at the position in the league.

Jack Studnicka

Nearly earned the 3rd line center spot in Boston with a strong training camp performance, but the Generals captain returns for a final OHL season and should be one of the league’s elite offensive catalysts. If the Generals are as good as many think they will be, he will be a top candidate for player of the year. His strong two-way play allows him to impact the game on so many different levels.

Sasha Chmelevski

It seems like so long ago that Chmelevski fell at the draft after a very poor draft year showing. He bounced back in a big way last year, re-inventing his game under new head coach Andre Tourigny. Now a committed player away from the puck, Chmelevski will look to lead a young Ottawa team to a championship, perhaps a year ahead of schedule.

Five Draft Eligibles to Monitor

Ryan Suzuki of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts)

After a strong Hlinka performance, Suzuki is off to a blazing hot start as one of the early leaders in OHL scoring. Suzuki, brother of Nick, is an exceptionally talented playmaker whose vision and puck skill are game breaking qualities. As of right now, Ryan looks like the lone potential candidate for the top 10 from the OHL.

Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

Another of the early scoring leaders is also a draft eligible forward. Kaliyev had one of the best 16 year old seasons in recent memory after scoring 30+ goals last year. He looks to round out the rest of his game in Hamilton, improving his playmaking ability and play away from the puck to match his strength on the puck and NHL quality shot.

Matvey Guskov (London Knights)

An import selection by the Knights this year, Guskov has matched the high expectations thus far, averaging over a point per game. Guskov was one of only three OHL players mentioned on Bob McKenzie’s preseason draft ranking and the playmaking Russian forward looks like a serious first round candidate come June.

Blake Murray (Sudbury Wolves)

A big, power center who is being overshadowed a bit due to the arrival of top 2020 prospect Quinton Byfield. Murray possesses all the qualities that NHL teams look for in centers these days, with size, skating, and finishing ability. Murray has the potential to be that complete package.

Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)

Vukojevic may not be the sexiest of defenders at this point. He is not yet a truly dynamic player, but he is as steady as they come and plays the game with the composure of a five year OHL veteran. His defensive acumen projects him to be, at the very least, a terrific stay at home top four defender at the NHL level. The question is, just how much offensive ability does he possess?

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.

State of the CHL: The Ontario Hockey League

Brock Otten — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:07:48 +0000

Frontrunners Load Up at the Trade Deadline

Showdown in the East Division

This year’s OHL trade deadline was exceptionally busy with over 40 players and 70 draft picks moved. OHL fans have become accustomed to the proverbial arms race with many teams in the Western Conference loading up at the deadline each year. So it was remarkably refreshing to see two Eastern Conference teams step up and be among the league’s top buyers. And it just so happens that both of these teams, Hamilton and Kingston, play in the East Division.

Kaden Fulcher of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Hamilton has been the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference for the majority of this season. Thanks to some great goaltending from Detroit prospect Kaden Fulcher, a deep defensive unit, and balanced scoring, the Bulldogs have held the lead atop the Conference for several weeks and have held a place in the CHL Top 10 for seven weeks running.

It was also the Bulldogs who struck early on, capitalizing on a hot start, by bringing in forwards Nic Caamano (Dallas) and Ryan Moore from Flint in a blockbuster deal. These two helped Hamilton increase their division lead over Kingston to double digits as we approached the deadline. But it didn’t stop Hamilton from continuing to build by adding defenders Riley Stillman (Florida) and Nic Mattinen (Toronto), in addition to London’s Robert Thomas (St. Louis). The Thomas add, in particular, is huge. The gold medalist from the most recent World Junior Hockey Championships is a dynamic offensive player who also happens to be terrific in all three zones and can play in all situations. He gives the Bulldogs one of the top centerman in the entire OHL.

However, do not tell the Frontenacs that the division is locked up already. With overager and Hurricanes prospect Jeremy Helvig in his last OHL season, Kingston decided to go all in and make a run for an OHL Championship. They owe it to their dedicated fan base, having lost in the Conference Semi-finals the last two years. In fact, Kingston has never made a trip to the OHL Finals and hope to re-write that part of history this year.

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

Kingston brought in star forwards Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), and Cliff Pu (Buffalo) to insulate offensive dynamo Jason Robertson (Dallas). They also added former exceptional status grantee Sean Day (NY Ramgers) to an already large, and menacing blueline. The addition of Vilardi was a risky one, considering he had yet to play this year due to back surgery. But the early results have been fantastic as the Kings’ first rounder is showing little rust and has 14 points in 9 games.

As this article is being written, Hamilton’s lead over Kingston in the division remains double digits with just over 20 games left to play. The two teams will meet only one more time this regular season, on Friday, February 23rd in Kingston. Even if the division may be a tall order for the Frontenacs, they look poised to overcome Barrie or Niagara (who are battling for the Central Division) to take that coveted 3rd spot in the Conference heading into the playoffs. That would mean, pending no upsets, we could see a Hamilton/Kingston Eastern Conference final and that would be one heck of a series.

Catching Up to SSM in the West

Meanwhile, the Western Conference also saw a few teams loading up, in this case to try and catch the Soo Greyhounds atop the standings. While the regular season crown may be a far-fetched goal, Sarnia and Kitchener each brought in a host of talented players in order to push Sault Ste. Marie come playoff time.

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

Sarnia has been one of the league’s most surprising teams this season. Thanks to superstar Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), who was leading the league in scoring before leading Canada in scoring at the World Junior Championships, and OA goaltender Justin Fazio, the Sting have been pushing the Greyhounds all season long. It was becoming apparent (especially with Kyrou and Adam Ruzicka [Calgary] away at the WJC’s) that their depth just was not at the same level as the Soo’s. So before their hot start fizzled away, the team went out and brought in Jonathan Ang (Florida), Michael Pezzetta (Montreal), and Cam Dineen (Arizona). This gives them two terrific scoring lines, and the puck moving defender and PP Quarterback that they sorely lacked.

Kitchener, on the other hand, has had a firm grasp on the Midwest Division all season, thanks to the disappointing starts of London and Owen Sound and the rebuild of the Erie Otters. This was despite not having a ton of confidence in their goaltending. It has been the worst kept secret in the league that the Rangers were out to improve their goaltending at this year’s deadline. Fans were shocked when it was not Michael Dipietro (Vancouver), Dylan Wells (Edmonton), or another star netminder brought in, but overager Mario Culina, who had actually spent time with Ryerson University (of USports) earlier this year after he failed to catch on with an OHL team this offseason. Yet the early results have silenced critics and arm-chair scouts. Culina remains perfect with the Rangers and even sported a shutout streak of over 150 minutes recently.

The Rangers also brought in hulking center Logan Brown (Ottawa), veteran defender Austin McEneny, and power forward Givani Smith (Detroit) to ensure that they hold off all on-comers in the division.

The question is, even with the moves Kitchener and Sarnia have made to shore up any weaknesses, are they in the same league (metaphorically of course) as the Greyhounds?

Greyhounds The Team to Beat

That, of course, brings us to the Greyhounds, the top ranked team in the entire CHL, and owners of a 23 game win streak earlier this season. You would be hard pressed to find a single person who believes that any other team in the OHL is the frontrunner for this year’s OHL Championship, even with the bevy of deals made by other competitors.

Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The Greyhounds boast the league’s current leading scorer in Morgan Frost (Philadelphia). They have the league’s second leading goal scorer in Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay). They have two of the highest scoring defenders in the league (points per game) in Conor Timmins (Colorado) and Rasmus Sandin (2018). They have the current goals against average leader in Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) manning the pipes. They have the league’s second best powerplay at over 25%. They also have a remarkable 17 shorthanded goals so far (the Saginaw Spirit have 25 powerplay goals this year as a comparison). Get the drift yet? This is one heck of a dominant team.

Yet, the Hounds were not content to stand pat at this year’s trade deadline. They acquired veterans Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay) and Jordan Sambrook (Detroit) from the Erie Otters, who have a combined 89 games of playoff experience. This includes winning an OHL Championship last season. Raddysh showcased terrific chemistry with Boris Katchouk at this year’s World Juniors and will make an already stacked powerplay that much stronger.

The OHL playoffs will begin the week of March 19th and it will be then, and only then, when we will find out if a team can usurp the Greyhounds; if all those moves and all the young assets jettisoned out were worth it. But one thing is certain, the favorite to represent the OHL in Regina at this year’s Memorial Cup is still Sault Ste. Marie.

Don’t Sleep on

Steelheads look to Repeat on Last Year’s miracle second half

Last year, the Mississauga Steelheads were the near unanimous selection to take the OHL’s Eastern Conference in preseason polls. Yet at midseason, they found themselves near the bottom of the Conference. Miraculously, they exploded in the second half, played up to their capability, took the Central Division, and ultimately the Eastern Conference title come playoff time.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

This year, the Steelheads were picked by many to repeat as Eastern Conference champs and Division winners. Yet again, they had a disappointing start to the year and find themselves near the bottom of their division. Many expected them to sell off a few key assets (like Michael McLeod [New Jersey] or Nic Hague [Vegas]) and rebuild. Instead they stayed the course, made a few minor acquisitions (like Mathieu Foget, Reagan O’Grady, and Cole Carter), and are suddenly blazing up the standings again. Since the Foget deal, the Steelheads are 6-2, with victories against Sault Ste. Marie (ending the latter’s 23 game win streak), Kitchener, Kingston, and division leaders Barrie.

Do they have another remarkable comeback in them? I would say that it is unlikely. Last year, the Central Division was atrocious with Mississauga as the only team above .500. This year, the Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs are playing excellent hockey and made some key acquisitions themselves. The better question is, do any of these Eastern Conference contenders want to see the Steelheads in the opening round(s) of the playoff? A very likely scenario could be a first round match-up between Kingston and Mississauga, or a second round match-up with Hamilton. And if the Steelheads continue to close out the regular season on a high note, we may not even be able to consider them as underdogs.

Owen Sound Attack Better than standings show

Another team that has underwhelmed this year is the Owen Sound Attack. They were able to return, fully intact, one of the league’s most dangerous lines from last year; Nick Suzuki (Vegas)-Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver)-Kevin Hancock. And even though they were losing their captain, Santino Centorame, and their starting goaltender, Michael McNiven (Montreal), the expectation was that they had the depth to counteract those losses.

But it’s been a frustrating year for the Attack and its fans. Injuries have been an issue, especially with Hancock and Gadjovich both missing significant time. And finding a replacement for McNiven has been near impossible. They picked up Zach Bowman from Sudbury this offseason, but he left the team at midseason for personal reasons. Then they recently acquired Olivier Lafreniere from Ottawa, but he has since injured his groin and is out long term. So the reigns have been given to 17 year old rookie Mack Guzda.

However, the Attack are finally healthy again with Hancock returning to the lineup recently. They went out and got Brett McKenzie (Vancouver) from North Bay to improve their second line. Import (and Flyers pick) Maksim Sushko is playing terrific hockey since returning from the World Juniors. And Aidan Dudas (2018) and Sean Durzi are in the middle breakout seasons as stars in the OHL. The team looks to be turning a corner and certainly has the talent and experience to do damage in the playoffs, even if they draw one of the big three (Sault Ste. Marie, Kitchener, or Sarnia) in the first round. Like Mississauga, this is a potentially dangerous team come playoff time; and one capable of pulling off an upset.

Re-Tooling to Fight Another Day

London and Windsor start the cycle

Having already discussed many of the contenders loading up at this year’s deadline, one had to ask, “where are all these players coming from?” The answer this year is rare, as perennial contenders the London Knights and Windsor Spitfires sold off assets. The Knights traded Robert Thomas, Max Jones, Cliff Pu, and Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh), while the Spitfires traded Logan Brown, Gabe Vilardi, Sean Day, and Austin McEneny. While it has not been uncommon for these two to sell off assets, it has been rare for it to occur in the same year. We have to go back to the 2001-02 season (16 years ago) to see neither London nor Windsor with home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. With the Knights and Spitfires currently sitting 4th and 6th (respectively) right now, that is an entirely possible outcome.

Even then, this is not a normal sell-off. We’re looking at two firmly established playoff teams with a chance of finishing in the top four of the Conference, selling off assets. The question is...why? And the answer is the reason why London and Windsor have remained such competitive forces in the OHL over the last 15 years (they combine for five of the last six OHL Memorial Cup victories). Spitfires GM Warren Rychel gave an interview recently where he was asked about the concept of re-tooling. His response was that it made no sense to be in limbo. You either need to be competitive for first, and if you won’t be, then you might as well finish lower in the standings and get assets that can help you finish first again in the near future. This is the credo that the Knights and Spitfires have lived by and it is the reason why they have been able to win so many championships in recent years.

Curtis Douglas of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This year is a perfect example. London and Windsor trade off their best veteran players and pick up three outstanding young players (each), in addition to a boatload of high end draft picks. These young players (like Nathan Dunkley [2018] or Curtis Douglas [2018]) are already good players and they slide into the line-up and contribute. Both London and Windsor now have three recent first round picks (among the top 2001 born players in the province) in their lineups, allowing them to grow together and improve under the tutelage of excellent coaching staffs. With a boatload of draft picks, they also are not afraid to take a chance on the top American players available in hopes that they eventually commit to the Ontario Hockey League. And you better believe that with high selections at this year’s Import Draft, both of these franchises will be selecting high end talents.

That is what separates the Knights and Spitfires from many of the other franchises in the OHL. They hate mediocrity. They aspire for a Championship. And if they do not feel that they can achieve that, they cut and run and bring in as many future assets as they can, even if it means an early playoff exit. It also might mean trading off players who still have potential service time, like Robert Thomas or Gabe Vilardi. If these two return to the OHL next year, they will be among the better players in the league. However, it is also possible that they make their respective NHL rosters and then London and Windsor would have received nothing for them (like the Guelph Storm, who are still feeling the effects of not getting anything for Robby Fabbri a few years ago after he left early for St. Louis).

Other OHL teams become obsessed with merely making the playoffs in hopes that anything can happen. But the way teams load up (call it the NBA super team effect), it’s a pipe dream for most. Would you not rather bring in three quality young players and maybe lose in the first round, than keep your veterans, get swept in the second round and then lose them for nothing when they graduate?

The Race for Quinton Byfield

Erie, Sudbury, & Flint battle for the highly touted youngster

As many teams hunt for a conference crown, division title, and playoff spot, an equally important battle is occurring at the bottom of the OHL standings; the race for the Jack Ferguson recipient. And this year, the crown jewel appears to be quite a special player. His name is Quinton Byfield and he’s a 6-3”, 200lbs center who seems destined to become the league’s next true superstar. Many consider him to be one of the better talents to come out of the province in recent years.

The race for Byfield is occurring between three teams, all of whom have different storylines. Those three teams are the Erie Otters, Sudbury Wolves, and Flint Firebirds.

Erie is rebuilding after four straight years of excellence on the backs of the likes of Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, and Alex DeBrincat. This includes an OHL Championship last year. A player like Byfield would accelerate the rebuild nicely and spoil the Otters’ fanbase yet again with another potential generational talent.

Sudbury, on the other hand, is stuck in what seems to be a perennial rebuild. They’ve drafted first, second, and seventh the last three years and once again find themselves at the bottom. With new ownership, and new management in place, things are finally starting to look up for this once storied franchise. A dominant power center like Byfield would be just what the doctor ordered to get this team back near the top of the standings, perhaps even as early as next year.

Lastly, Flint is still looking to escape the shadow of the controversy that dominated their inaugural season. 2016/17 saw them take a significant step forward but this year has been a step in the wrong direction and suddenly the team is rebuilding again (after trading away top talent like Nic Caamano, Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen). But this is a very talented young team that is bound to explode either next year or the year after. Forgive me if you have heard this before, but Quinton Byfield is the star this franchise needs in order to climb out of mediocrity.

A Broken System

OHL Teams Will Soon Trade for the Unborn

As previously mentioned, over 70 draft picks changed hands this trade deadline. Due to crazy circumstances, over half of those picks are from beyond the year 2020. This includes the movement of draft picks from the year 2026, 2027, and 2028. Yes, that is correct. A 5 year old was traded this January.

For those that find this absurd, you would be correct. In the Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, teams cannot move draft picks that far in advance. And unlike the OHL, teams are also permitted to move their first round draft picks. Let us examine some major moves in all three leagues this trade deadline to compare the effect this has. Kale Clague moved for two quality young players, two first round picks, and a 2nd round pick. Drake Batherson went for three solid young players and a first round pick. Robert Thomas went for a top young player, four 2nd rounders and two 3rd rounders. Because of the high prices and inability to move first rounders, teams like Hamilton and Kingston are almost completely devoid of 2nd round picks for the foreseeable future. Hamilton has two 2nd rounders this year, but then does not own one until 2026 after that. Kingston does not have a 2nd round pick until 2026.

The prices being paid for these players who are essentially rentals, has also spiraled out of control. Let us examine some past deadline deals in the OHL for perspective.

In 2012, the London Knights and Niagara IceDogs battled for an OHL Championship. The Knights brought in rugged two-way star Austin Watson from Peterborough at the deadline at the cost of a moderate young player, two 2nd round picks, and a 4th. Meanwhile, Niagara brought in power forward Brett Ritchie at the cost of three 2nd round picks.

In 2000, perhaps the largest trade in OHL history up until that point occurred and that was the trade of Jason Spezza from Mississauga to Windsor. In return, Mississauga got four players (none could be considered among Windsor’s top young players, save maybe Ryan Courtney), a 2nd round pick and a 6th round pick.

Needless to say, things are changing and these trades are getting out of hand. We’re seeing upwards of six quality draft picks in addition to a team’s top young player changing hands in exchange for one player.

Just what the OHL can do to rectify this remains to be seen, if they wish to rectify it. Would allowing teams the option of trading first rounders lower the cost? What about putting a restriction on how far in advance draft picks can be moved? Regardless, it no longer makes sense for the OHL to differ from the WHL and QMJHL in accordance with transaction limitations. This broken system needs to be fixed. How soon before we get a draft pick trading hands where said future draft pick is not even born yet?

Youngblood: 2015 OHL Draft Guide & Rankings

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

David Levin (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brendan Ross

@RossyYoungblood

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Igor Shestyorkin, G - New York Rangers

Alexis Lafreniere, LW - 2020 Draft

Trevor Zegras, C - Anaheim Ducks

Ilya Sorokin, G - New York Islanders

Mikko Lehtonen, D - Toronto Maple Leafs

Gabe Vilardi, C - LA Kings

Alex Turcotte, C - LA Kings

Scott Perunovich, D – St. Louis Blues

Drake Batherson, C/RW - Ottawa Senators

Erik Brannstrom, D - Ottawa Senators

Evan Bouchard, D - Edmonton Oilers

Connor McMichael, C - Washington Capitals

Owen Tippett, LW/RW - Florida Panthers

Liam Foudy, C - Columbus Blue Jackets

Rasmus Sandin, D - Toronto Maple Leafs

Juuso Valimaki, D - Calgary Flames

Jake Bean, D - Carolina Hurricanes

Morgan Frost, C - Philadelphia Flyers

John Leonard, LW - San Jose Sharks