Jack Kopacka – McKeen's Hockey

Anaheim Ducks Prospect System Overview

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:35:05 +0000

The Anaheim Ducks have qualified for the postseason nine times out of the last 11 seasons, and for seven consecutive campaigns. Over the past four seasons, they have advanced to the Western Conference Final twice. The point being, the Ducks almost never have a high first-round selection, with only two top-ten picks (Hampus Lindholm at sixth in 2012 and Nick Ritchie at tenth in 2014) since 2005.

So obviously, for a perennial contender like the Ducks, the most important thing they can do to remain relevant and get a constant influx of youthful depth in the NHL is scout and pick well in the later rounds of the draft. Lucky for fans in Orange County, the orange and black have been stellar in finding talent late into the draft.

From the fourth round on, they've nabbed Troy Terry, Josh Manson, Ondrej Kase, and Sami Vatanen (since traded for Adam Henrique) in the past decade. Of course, there's luck involved in cashing out on late-round steals, but this is a trend with way too much convincing evidence to write it off as pure fortune. Having talented youngsters coming in and helping to extend the dwindling prime of established superstars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry will pay dividends in prolonging Anaheim's competitive window.

They've done it with defense -- snagging skilled d-men like Lindholm, Cam Fowler, and Brandon Montour -- but now the focus evidently has turned to the forwards. The top five prospects on this list, as well as eight of the top ten, play up the ice, including dynamic first-rounders like Sam Steel. Tacking forwards onto the currently-assembled NHL roster is essential, as the Ducks finished 16th -- last amongst postseason teams -- in goals for in 2017-18.

With defense locked down and forwards on the rise, goaltending should be a concern. They have two goaltenders in the top 20, both are under 20 years old, with neither sitting in a top ten position. However, with the eight-year extension of borderline elite starting goaltender John Gibson, they have time to wait. Their only worry right now is the one they are addressing, and with the Ducks' adept ability to produce quality forwards through their AHL affiliate in San Diego, all will work out.

Sam Steel

1 Sam Steel, C (30th overall, 2016. Last year: 1st) One the most complete prospects in the game, Steel's foray into the professional hockey ranks will begin this year, be it with Anaheim or with AHL San Diego. Steel's 2017-18 campaign was abridged due to injuries, but the playmaking center paced all WHL players in points the year prior with 131. The former first-round selection has unreal rink senses and creativity and can be dangerous with and without the puck thanks to his play-reading smarts and his positioning. He's a stellar skater with plus acceleration and has developed his shot into a formidable scoring option. All that needs to improve are his size and strength. With question marks floating around the health of Ryan Kesler, Steel could see top-nine minutes with the Ducks right out of training camp.

2 Isac Lundestrom, C (23rd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A creative two-way player with pro-level rink discipline, Lundestrom was one of just eight centers selected in the first round of June's entry draft and might be the most mature and smart of them all. Having already completed two seasons in the SHL, the 18-year-old is very responsible with the puck and has great timing down already. Lundestrom has a knack for finding open passing lanes and exposing poor positional play from the opposition and has a strong frame that makes his play on the puck better. He isn't a forceful offensive player, and his issue with compiling points (just 15 in 42 games in 2017-18) is due to a lack of assertiveness; he's imaginative with the puck and has soft hands but is too concerned with defensive efforts to give it his all in the o-zone.

3 Troy Terry, RW (148th overall, 2015. Last year: 5th) Known for his shootout heroics on the World Junior stage, Troy Terry's ridiculously quick hands and innovation with the puck on his stick has translated well in other facets of the game. The former NCAA champion with Denver uses his phenomenal puck-handling to get past defenders and his patient but lethal shooting ability to snipe pucks past fooled goaltenders. His positioning is solid, and his two-way game has been steadily improving over time. Leaving the college ranks before his senior year, the 20-year-old signed his entry-level deal with Anaheim and will likely begin the season with San Diego. All he needs to do is get stronger and grow into his 6-1" frame, but much like Ondrej Kase, the Ducks have found themselves a steal of a late-round winger.

4 Maxime Comtois, LW (50th overall, 2017. Last year: 7th) Projected as a first-round pick back in 2017, the QMJHL star dropped to the Ducks at 50th overall and has worked on rounding out his game with Victoriaville since his draft season. Always a strong scoring threat, Comtois posted a team-high 85 points this season while boasting a better defensive game than ever. He plays a very physical game in the offensive zone and out and leverages that size and grit to his advantage to generate scoring opportunities for his team with strong possession-play and great balance. He's a decent skater, has good hands, and is exceptional in terms of positional play. Whether his scoring touch will translate to the NHL is the only question left to answer, as the remainder of his game is refined and mature.

Benoit Olivier-Groulx

5 Benoit-Olivier Groulx, C (54th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) With a long-time hockey head coach for a father, Benoit-Olivier Groulx comes with the hockey sense and coachability you might expect. Add that to his quality physical game, his strong and accurate wrist shot, and his adaptability into a variety of roles and game styles, and you have a quality second-round pick. The Ducks nabbed the center from Halifax (where he was formerly the number-one pick in the QMJHL draft) at 54th in June, though Groulx was projected by many as a top-40 prospect. His skating is flawed, and he isn't much of a scorer, but he processes the game extremely fast and never makes an irresponsible play. As someone who can play the wing just as well as he plays center, Groulx looks to be a middle-six physical forward with some penalty kill usage.

6 Josh Mahura, D (85th overall, 2016. Last year: 10th) In a system chock full of mobile, puck-moving defensemen, Josh Mahura fits right in. After a torn MCL in his draft year limited the left-hander to just two WHL games, he has since exploded and become point-per-game blueliner with Regina, where he was third in team points last season. He's a fearsome offensive presence who always wants the puck on his stick, and whether that be to shoot or pass, you can be confident it's heading to the right place. He has tremendous vision and a sizzler of a shot, and as the 20-year-old slides into pro play, he'll work on the one thing that ails him: d-zone coverage and zone-entry defense.

7 Blake McLaughlin, LW (79th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) A University of Minnesota commit, Blake McLaughlin is a smart and skilled undersized forward with the vision to match the best playmakers of his 2018 draft class. He was one of few players on a dysfunctional Chicago Steel to routinely create dangerous opportunities, and he does so with his determination, hockey sense, and great tape-to-tape passing skills. McLaughlin has quick hands and holds his own defensively, allowing for potential as a penalty killer at higher levels. A top-40 prospect in our draft guide, the 18-year-old lefty fell due to his inconsistency and his size deficiencies but can workshop the two in the NCAA ranks.

8 Max Jones, LW (24th overall, 2016. Last year: 4th) After injury ravaged his 2017-18 season, Max Jones understandably fell in our rankings compared to last season. Nonetheless, the former first-rounder is a strong, sturdy, and skilled power forward with a goal scorer's acumen and superb wheels. The Kingston Frotenacs winger plays with an angry and feisty demeanor for better or worse (he's twice been suspended for 10+ games in his OHL career) but when he's feeling it, that explosive swagger pays off for him and his linemates. Jones needs to stay healthy as he begins to transition to the AHL and NHL ranks, and additionally, work on staying cool and becoming less prone to penalties. Otherwise, he has the skill and speed to match his fellow first-rounders.

9 Antoine Morand, C (60th overall, 2017. Last year: 9th) Much like Steel, Morand's game revolves around his hockey sense and vision on offense. An assist machine, he has totaled 70 or more points in each of his last two seasons in the QMJHL, while leading Acadie-Bathurst in points this past season. He has good straight-ahead speed, swift hands, a decent finishing touch, and great stick skills. He will need to clean his two-way game up a bit and add more muscle to his slight frame before any move to the pro ranks occurs, but his speed and offensive firepower as a grade A setup man suggests a sure NHL future.

Jacob Larsson

10 Jacob Larsson, D (27th overall, 2015. Last year: 3rd) Jacob Larsson still has a little while to go before the book comes out on him, but he may not be the dynamic offensive defenseman the Ducks drafted him as. Thankfully, with a good core of young d-men at the NHL level, Anaheim has the luxury of waiting on Larsson to improve. He is a gifted skater with poetic pure movement on his feet, boasts fast hands, and possesses NHL-ready size. The Swede puts himself into trouble too often with poor passes and needlessly long shifts, and really, the points are coming like they should for a blueliner with as much pure skill as Larsson (16 in 50 games for San Diego). His flaws are coachable things, but at 21, defensemen of Larsson's pedigree generally have those things down by then.

11 Olle Eriksson Ek, G (153rd overall, 2017. Last year: 11th) With John Gibson locked up long-term, Anaheim has time to wait for their goaltending prospects to fully mature and come to fruition. At just 19, Eriksson Ek has a long way to go, but a whole bunch of raw skill upon which to build. One good sign in his development is his presence as a regular in the SHL at his young age. At 6-3" and 186lbs, he's big and only getting bigger, and when you couple that pure size with his plus athleticism and strong play-reading abilities, you have a near-complete goaltender. The Swede will be given tons of opportunities down the road as the top young goalie in the system.

12 Lukas Dostal, G (85th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Of course, competition breeds excellence, and Lukas Dostal is the perfect prospect to help push Eriksson Ek out of his comfort zone. An undersized netminder, Dostal was worth the gamble of a third-round pick in June by virtue of his unwavering compete level and above-average athleticism. At 18, he is not the most technically refined goaltender, but he moves well laterally and is calm enough to keep his focus square on the puck. Dostal has one of the highest ceilings out of goaltenders selected in 2018's draft, and his success as an 18-year-old in the second Czech men's league (2.43 GAA, .921 Sv%) is promising.

13 Jack Badini, C (91st overall, 2017. Last year: 12th) Jack Badini is a coach's dream. The Harvard center is already an accomplished one, having led USHL Chicago in goals and playoff scoring during 2016-17's Clark Cup run, but his smarts and willingness to play in a variety of roles makes him one of the most valuable players in a pretty loaded Crimson lineup. Badini just does whatever he's asked; he's a middle-six, penalty-killing checking line forward in one game, and a top-six goal scoring threat the next. He has great speed, energy, size, and hockey smarts. The 19-year-old is a long-term project at Harvard but has a lot of unteachable qualities down.

14 Kevin Roy, LW (97th overall, 2012. Last year: 6th) One of the most dangerous forwards in the San Diego lineup over the past two seasons, Kevin Roy made his NHL debut with the Ducks last season and fared well, scoring six goals in 25 games as a bottom-six winger. Roy has tremendous puck skills and a heads-up gameplay style that can casually spring his linemates out for easy chances, as well as beat defenders in one-on-one situations. He's a bit of a one-trick pony in that his positioning and defensive game is less than stellar, and on account of this, he isn't really a weapon away from the puck. However, the 25-year-old has enough raw skill for the Ducks to utilize him well as a depth scorer.

Kalle Kossila

15 Kalle Kossila, C (Free Agent Signing: March 30, 2016. Last year: 15th) A near point-per-game player in the AHL last season, Kalle Kossila is supremely skilled and mature enough to take on a depth NHL role in the blink of an eye. The undrafted forward, formerly of St. Cloud State fame, has unreal vision and near-elite passing skills that always have the puck moving in the right direction. He is more of a setup man than a shooter, but his wrist shot is heavy and accurate, and his positioning for quick shots when away from the puck is solid. He isn't a two-way player, but he's experienced enough to stay away from risky passes and unnecessary turnovers. Kossila also plays with a pretty greasy physical element that allows him to round out his checking-line forward ceiling. He's the perfect bottom-six depth scoring threat for a contending NHL team like Anaheim.

16 Andy Welinski, D (83rd overall, 2011. Last year: 13th) Andy Welinski has no single dynamic skill, but he's one of those old school defensemen that does all the little things well enough to ensure a roster spot. After four full years at Minnesota-Duluth, he charged into the AHL and has used his above-average skating ability, fiery point shot, high hockey IQ, and exceptional defensive-zone coverage to potentially earn an NHL job with Anaheim as soon as this season. At 25, the right-hander truly has no additional development to do, and his ceiling as a bottom-pair defensive defenseman has been reached; it's up to the Ducks to decide if they want to plug the solid and sturdy 2011 draft pick into a splendid defensive core.

17 Jack Kopacka, LW (93rd overall, 2016. Last year: 14th) Jack Kopacka may not have the highest ceiling of the prospects listed here, but his energy and goal-scoring touch provide some enticing potential for the future. The speedy winger has an electric set of shots, can get a chance on net from a variety of ridiculous angles, and connects on a bunch of those shots, scoring 30+ goals in each of the past two campaigns with the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie. He's also a hard-working winger who can create his scoring opportunities on his own and do it the hard and physical way with his 6-3" body. Kopacka has a year of junior eligibility left, where he will -- for his sake -- work on his backchecking and puck-possession ability.

18 Giovanni Fiore, LW (Free Agent Signing: April 18, 2017. Last year: Unranked) An enigmatic winger out of junior, not many looked at Fiore as a legitimate prospect entering and during his first pro season, but a quality debut year in the AHL erased some of the question marks around him. Fiore is a graceful skater with impressive offensive vision and used those skills to score 18 goals and 12 assists with the Gulls last season after a 52-goal final junior campaign. He clearly has a natural goal scorer's most important traits, including an untiring determination to drive right to the net with the puck and employ his plus finishing skills to pot a goal. He seems to be a pure scoring player with a lack of versatility, but he's a guy that can create his chances solo and provide matchup problems for the defense.

19 Marcus Pettersson, D (38th overall, 2014. Last year: 17th) Maybe Marcus Pettersson never reaches the talent ceiling a high second-round pick should have, but Ducks fans got to see firsthand how smart and calm the big, lofty defenseman is. Pettersson held his own in 22 games with the Ducks and played top-pair minutes with the Gulls when he was down in the AHL. He's an extremely responsible, no-risk defensive defenseman with good reads, great gap control, and solid use of his advantage in size. He has fine instincts and is always on to defend late leads for San Diego. Pettersson will never be a go-to offensive option, but with Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm around, he doesn't need to be.

20 Kyle Olson, RW (122nd overall, 2017. Last year: 8th) Though he only played in 36 games with Tri-City of the WHL, Kyle Olson's point total from his draft year fell off a cliff, going from 57 to 18. The undersized but energetic forward has a chance to redeem himself this season with the Americans, however, as the 19-year-old's strong wrist shot, solid two-way gameplay, and impressively tough physical game for someone his size make him a good bet for a big rebound year. He plays with fearlessness and more greasiness than his 5-10", 161lb frame naturally provides, and competes with high effort levels on the Tri-City PK. He needs to stay healthy and consistent to remain on the Ducks' radar going forward.

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.

Anaheim – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 14:17:18 +0000

Having only once in the last five years selected even seven players at the draft, the Anaheim Ducks, a perennial contender, has had to make those picks count. Thankfully for them, they have had a remarkable hit rate over the past decade, regularly producing two or more bonafide NHLers. In fact, between 2000 and 2013, the Ducks had only one draft class that did not include at least two players who have played at least 144 games in the NHL. With their top 20 list made up mostly of players drafted since 2013, that success streak looks primed to continue.

So how do they do it?

Not known as a heavily analytics-influenced organization, the Ducks have nevertheless followed the two golden rules of drafting as prescribed by analysts.

Rule #1 – Do not overdraft goaltending. Dating back to 1993, their first draft, Anaheim has never used a first round pick on a netminder. In fact, only twice have they even used a second rounder on net, drafting Ilya Bryzgalov in 2000 and John Gibson in 2011. Many years go by where they do not draft goaltenders at all.

Rule #2 – Always draft skill/production. The thinking here suggests that players who do not produce as juniors will likewise struggle to produce once (if) they move up the ladder. Statistically speaking, there is a correlation between points produced at age 18 and points produced in a player’s early 20s. Since selecting Logan McMillan 19^th overall in 2007, a player who had some skill, but was not even among the leading scorers on his own team. McMillan, like Mark Mitera, selected by Anaheim in the 2006 first round, never made it to the NHL.

Since then, the worst first round pick in the Ducks’ decade long backlog has been Peter Holland. Not really a bad player, he has already played 243 games in his NHL career, but has simply never received (some would say, never earned) a top six role. Generally speaking, the Ducks have drafted players with both top six/top four upsides as well as the versatility to play in roles of greater defensive significance. This philosophy has not just been a first round SOP, but something they carried with them to later rounds as well.

These two rules, particularly the latter rule, have remained prevalent in the last few drafts, even if the players are not yet NHL-ready. Whether the prospect was a first rounder like Sam Steel, or a fifth rounder like Troy Terry, chances are that he has a record of high offensive production from his amateur days, tools that suggest that he can continue to produce further up the chain, and the hockey IQ that will allow him to contribute from a role with more limited offensive opportunities, as even fourth liners these days need to have talent.

Of course, luck also is a factor, but the ability to continuously stock a system with potential NHL contributors, prolonged over several years, is more skill than fortune. This is unlikely to end any time soon.

1 Sam Steel – The WHL’s leading scorer, Steel will have to return to Regina for a curtain call unless the Ducks keep him in Anaheim. Probably the smartest player in the system, he has near-elite hockey sense, coupled with strong instincts and close-to-perfect positioning. A play driver, he can be dangerous with the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone. A fantastic playmaker, the only thing that separates him from a second line NHL job is approximately 10 pounds of muscle.

2 Brandon Montour – If postseason play was included, Montour would have lost his prospect eligibility last year, with 44 games played between the regular season and playoffs with Anaheim. As 17 of those games came when it counted, he is still here. Those games were good enough that the Ducks exposed former first round pick Shea Theodore to the expansion draft. A modern-day puck rushing blueliner, Montour is equally comfortable leading the rush as he is passing the puck into the neutral zone. Took big steps away from the puck this year and should be in the regular defensive rotation because of it.

3 Jacob Larsson – After starting the season as a 19 year old in Anaheim and then San Diego, Larsson was loaned back to Frolunda where he struggled at times. This ranking is as much about his inherent skill set than what he has done with it of late. Each of his skating ability, shooting, puck handling and hockey smarts grade out as above average, and he has an NHL body, to boot. Would like to see his instincts improve, but he is still young enough for continued growth in that area.

Max Jones of the London Knights was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

4 Max Jones – An explosive forward who plays with at least as much vinegar as salt, Jones was showing improvements in his offensive game last year before injury kept him off the ice until the postseason. His extreme aggressiveness can do more harm than good at time, as he is very penalty prone. A bullish puck carrier, he has good wheels, drives hard to the net and is responsible defensively, at least when not getting physically reckless. Can remind one of Nick Ritchie.

5 Troy Terry – The ideal Ducks pick, Terry has gone from fifth round afterthought to American hero in under two years. Accomplished the rare double last year of winning the WJC gold – in no small part due to his own shootout exploits – and an NCAA championship, as one of the top scorers with Denver. A phenomenal puck handler, he scores through vision, positioning, patience and ridiculously quick hands. Heading back to Denver for his junior year.

6 Kevin Roy – In many organizations, Kevin Roy would be the prospect with the best puck skills. Just because Anaheim also has Steel, Terry and Antoine Morand around, does not mean that Roy should be overlooked. An up and down first pro season after four full years with Northeastern showed a player still learning what will and will not work in the AHL. Still needs to show better commitment to defensive duties, but he has the skills to lure a defenseman out of position and casually spring a linemate to a scoring chance.

7 Maxime Comtois – A top midget player heading into his QMJHL draft year, Comtois spent most of the past two years developing his defensive side. He has plus size and learned how to leverage that gift on the ice, displaying a more consistent physical aggression. His scoring was more impressive in his previous season and if he can combine the two-way physical game of 2016-17 with the scoring winger of 2015-16, he will end up playing a middle six NHL role in short order.

Kyle Olson

8 Kyle Olson – Although his draft year point production is underwhelming, if we limit our search to even strength production, Olson rockets up the list as only eight of his 57 points came on the man advantage. Small but aggressive, he plays a two-way game with energy and fearlessness. Owns a strong wrist shot with a tricky release. Will need to add more beef to be able to continue to play this style at a higher level, but he fits the Ducks style of skill pick with two-way sensibilities in the middle rounds.

9 Antoine Morand – Once the second overall pick in the QMJHL entry draft, Morand showed all of the puck skills that had him so highly touted as a 16-year old. In some ways, resembles an East Coast version of Steel, in that he is slight and small, and his skating is more notable for his edgework than his straight-ahead speed. His offensive work suggest a sure-fire NHLer, but he will need to tighten up his game away from the puck more first.

10 Josh Mahura – After a torn MCL limited him to two regular season games in his draft year, a strong playoffs convinced the Ducks that they could get tremendous value by drafting Mahura in the third round. He responded with over 50 points from the blueline last season and a near point-per-game postseason performance for Regina. A strong offensive presence with good vision in the O-zone, he can still show as being raw in coverage.

11 Olle Eriksson Ek – The only goalie even considered for the Ducks’ top 20 list, Eriksson Ek had a very good season in Sweden’s top junior circuit before struggling somewhat down the stretch and only featuring as the backup for Team Sweden’s entry at the WU18. Athletic with plus play reading ability, he will need much more time to develop, but without much between the pipes system-wide, he is in the right organization to receive all the chances he needs.

Jack Badini, Courtesy of the USHL and Hickling Images

12 Jack Badini – After contributing only 11 points for Lincoln in his first draft year, Badini moved to Chicago and exploded, using his great speed and hockey smarts to score 28 regular season goals and then lead all USHL players in playoff scoring as Chicago won the Clark Cup. A great penalty killer, he is always involved in the play and projects as a future analytics darling. In the meantime, he will continue his development at Harvard.

13 Andy Welinski – The only member of Anaheim’s 2011 seven player draft class yet to spend time in the NHL, Welinski had a strong debut in the AHL after four solid seasons with Minnesota-Duluth. While he lacks any one carrying tool, his solid-average combination of skating ability, point shot and hockey IQ will keep him in the picture for a while yet. He showed more than expected in his first season with San Diego and another one like it will ensure that the entire draft class reaches the NHL.

14 Jack Kopacka – A hard working winger with understated finishing skills, Kopacka does not have the biggest upside in this group of prospects, but his high-rev motor and solid stride give him a more than respectable floor. More a scorer than a puck handler, his future projection assumes as much value off the puck as on. A strong OHL postseason portends a jump in production for his final OHL season.

15 Kalle Kossila – The only player from this list not drafted by Anaheim, Kossila was never a high priority prospect in Finland, having never represented his country in any IIHF-sanctioned tournaments. After a big step forward as an 18 year old, he came to North America to play for St. Cloud State where he continued to put up strong numbers. While his skating is sub-par, he is a clever player with plus playmaking skills. Can play center or on the wing.

16 Deven Sideroff – A solid two way player when he was drafted, Sideroff stepped up his game year over year until he aged out of the WHL. A high energy winger who can be relied upon in all situations, combines a modicum of skill with a high hockey IQ. While he had long shown a decent playmaking touch, the added goals last year were a sign that his game has been rounding off. He is ready for the AHL.

17 Marcus Pettersson – A late convert to the blueline, the tall and lean Pettersson has seemingly staled in his progression to master his new position. He skates rather well, with agility and a smooth stride, both impressive at his size. His puck handling is OK, but he can struggle off the puck, showing his lack of experience. He is rarely aggressive and struggles to maintain proper defensive positioning. Expected to play in the AHL this year, the Ducks will take their time with a player who is still essentially a project.

18 Brent Gates Jr. – Only a moderate scorer in his draft year with Green Bay of the USHL, Gates flailed out of the gate (sorry) as a freshman with Minnesota. As a sophomore this year, things began to look up. His quick hands, always a strength, now had more time and space to create, allowing him to get more of a workout for his quick shot release. His top speed is average, but he has a nice startup and drives hard to the net. The next step in his development is increased consistency.

19 Julius Nattinen – the Ducks were understandably excited when Nattinen came to the OHL after being drafted and immediately excelled with 71 points in 52 games. Naturally, when his point production rate fell nearly in half as a follow-up, there was disappointment all around. Not only did his offensive game suffer, but so too did his work off the puck. Has shown enough skills and smarts in the past to give him a mulligan. More is expected as he gets set to make his professional debut this year.

20 Nic Kerdiles – Finally, at the 20 slot, the Ducks have a prospect who is nearing bust status. The 2012 2^nd rounder has completed his ELC and has only a solitary NHL game to his credit. He has a chance to add to that this year. He is a defensively responsible winger who has been a decent secondary scorer in the AHL but finds himself down here as his offensive totals have remained remarkably stagnant as he has fought injuries throughout his career.

As long as the NHL squad does not need a young netminder in the next two or three years, the Ducks system will be ready to pump out two or three talented prospects every year for the foreseeable future. With talent and skill and every skating position, this team should be able to continue as a contender for a few more years to come.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Anaheim Ducks

Grant McCagg — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 13:58:45 +0000

Max Jones of the London Knights was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

The Ducks added another big rugged winger to the stable with the choice of Max Jones 24th overall. Jones and Ritchie give them a pair of tough customers who will be difficult to play against in future playoff series, wearing down opposing defencemen in what often becomes a battle of attrition. At worst he’ll be a solid third-liner with speed and grit who can chip in 15-20 goals. Anaheim ended the first round by selecting a skilled two-way center in Sam Steel, considered one of the smarter players in the draft. What he lacks in size he makes up for in sense and anticipation.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	24	17	Max Jones	LW	USA	6-2/205	London (OHL)
1	30	35	Sam Steel	C	CAN	5-11/180	Regina (WHL)
3	85	73	Josh Mahura	D	CAN	6-0/180	Red Deer (WHL)
4	93	45	Jack Kopacka	LW	USA	6-2/185	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)
4	115	NR	Alex Dostie	C	CAN	5-9/160	Gatineau (QMJHL)
7	205	NR	Tyler Soy	C	CAN	5-11/175	Victoria (WHL)

Sam Steel of the Regina Pats was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Image

Mahura was available in the 80’s because he was injured most of the season. Going into this year many considered him a top 60 prospect, so while it may be considered a gamble given his lack of viewing, Mahura has the potential to develop into a top-four defenceman with his puck and skating skills.

Jack Kopaca at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Kopacka was one of the steals of the top 100 picks in our estimation considering he was ranked 45^th overall on McKeen’s list. He’s a raw prospect whose size, smarts and competitiveness make him a good bet to crack their NHL lineup some day in a third-line role. Dostie and Soy are underside centers passed over in last year’s draft. Soy was a worthwhile addition at the end of the draft given his production the past two seasons and invite to Canada’s U-20 summer camp.

Grade – B: The Ducks didn’t draft any future stars, but four of them stand a decent chance of becoming NHL regulars.

OHL Prospect Watch: Strome fires burning, Max’s maximum

David Burstyn — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 17:51:12 +0000

The Erie Otters once again find themselves on top of the league standings - and once again Dylan Strome is among the league point leaders.

Following a monster sophomore season in 2014-15 where he led the OHL in scoring and set franchise records for most points, Strome is on pace to challenge last season’s totals, averaging over two points per game (2.12 PPG).

Recently named team captain, Strome has embraced his new responsibilities and taken the team's five rookie forwards under his wing this season. In particular, he has helped ease the transition for his 16-year-old linemate Ivan Lodnia, Erie's first-round selection in 2015.

Besides helping others, Strome has also shown marked improvement with his own game, especially his skating which looks more polished and slightly quicker off the mark.

Strome’s prime attributes lie in his offensive abilities including a sensational touch with the puck.

He already plays a mature NHL game with the puck and can control the entire sheet of ice when in possession. His level of poise is rare for an 18-year-old - and allows him to hold onto the puck an extra half second which results in better passing options.

On the power play, he is an unstoppable force as he slows the game down to his pace and is extremely methodical; spotting passing options that even NHL scouts didn't see perched on top of the rink.

Strome will certainly button down a spot on Team Canada for the U20 World Championship in Finland - and it's not inconceivable to think he could be the team’s first line center. His international career is well decorated most recently helping Canada capture gold at the 2015 U18 World Championship; scoring at a goal-per-game pace (5-5-1-6).

He was also very good at the most recent Canada/Russia challenge notching a goal and an assist in his only game.

Strome still needs to work on his on-ice work habits however. He exudes such a laissez-faire approach to the game that at times it appears that he's not expending enough effort - giving the impression of going through the motions.

Not one to physically assert himself either, Strome mainly lets his hands and stick do the work, albeit engaging more for loose pucks would not only develop better habits but also aid his transition to the pro game.

Here are notes and observations on some other prospects on the McKeens watch list.

Max Jones (2016), LW, London

A complete throwback player who is cocky and plays with swagger. Jones comes at opponents like a freight train - electing to take the most direct route to the net while bulldozing those in his path. More a 'shooter' than playmaker as he doesn't always see the pass. His lack of vision and average hockey sense creeps into his game and makes NHL scouts question what his true value will be at the next level. Jones is effective below the dots, however his defensive game and shift management are areas that need to be addressed. At times, he can stay out too long and is lazy getting off the ice. Jones does play an 'in-your-face' game that irritates the opposition, although he doesn't always meet confrontations head on.

Jack Kopacka (2016), LW, Sault Ste. Marie

Started the season with confidence but has since lost a little of his mojo and has been shuffled to the bottom two lines. The rookie winger is still adjusting to the pace of the league after a highly successful 2014-15 campaign with the Compuware U18 program. Kopacka possesses good size at 6-f2 and 190 pounds, however needs to assert himself more physically and drive scoring lanes. He does compete but needs to sacrifice his body more in order to get the most out of his game. His skating and puck skills are both refined, yet he has been playing conservatively in recent games - trying not to make a mistake. He also needs to get stronger along the boards as he tends to lose a majority of his battles. His stock has softened a little, yet he still has excellent value as a prospect.

Adam Mascherin (2016), RW, Kitchener

The Maple, Ontario native has already matched his point totals as a rookie in 2014-15 - by the 23-game mark this season (23-12-17-29). is A stocky and well-built winger with a low center of gravity, Mascherin has an excellent set of hands for both passing and shooting - including a laser beam of a wrist shot that explodes off his stick. He also shows off his passing skills especially on the power play where he can pick apart teams. He's also not afraid to try and beat defenseman out wide and take pucks to the net. His confidence has soared since the arrival of the new Kitchener coaching staff who have promoted more of a puck-possession, creative open-ice game. His skating does come under the microscope yet he has deceptive speed in spite of somewhat bland mechanics. Weighing 205 pounds on a 5-foot-9 frame, it's likely Mascherin can get quicker if he drops some weight.

Taylor Raddysh (2016), RW, Erie

Raddysh absorbed everything he could last season, playing on a team that made it to the OHL finals and has taken the league by storm with a whopping 45 points through 31 games to find himself currently in the top ten in league scoring. A highly cerebral player, Raddysh is not flashy yet habitually makes the right decisions with the puck inside the offensive zone. Whether it is a slight hesitation or a simple touch puck, the maturity Raddysh displays with the puck has vaulted him up the draft charts as he opens up ice with his unassuming play. Not a blistering skater, but does have a long elegant stride and good reach to constantly be involved in the action.

All-American Prospects Game: Krys, Tkachuk star for Team Roenick

David Burstyn — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 07:35:29 +0000

Chad Krys left a favourable impression among NHL scouts at the 2015 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.

The Ridgefield, Connecticut native delivered a standout performance, showcasing the skill and poise that should translate into a first-round berth at the 2016 NHL Draft.

Up front, the duo of Matthew Tkachuk and Luke Kunin led the charge for Team Roenick - with the former making a convincing case to be a high draft pick next June.

Here are scouting reports for Team Roenick including Krys and a pair of bulky rearguards in Griffin Luce and Andrew Peeke, all of whom drew 'B' ratings (2nd/3rd rounders) from Central Scouting in the initial Players To Watch list.

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

Joey Anderson (2016), RW, NTDP (USA)

Played on the top line and did all the little things necessary for his lines success .. brings understated puck skills that were not as obvious as his linemates - Luke Kunin and Matthew Tkachuk - who shadowed his contributions .. average size - but competes and finishes all checks .. aggressive in board battles and hurls his body into the fray .. had the wherewithal to get the puck to Kunin and Tkachuk at all times, smart enough to play within the framework of the line and not be selfish .. good fast skater .. offensive instincts are polished as he is the sum of his parts and plays a very unassuming game with leadership qualities .. the Roseville, Minnesota native is committed to the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Stephen Dhillon (2016), G, Niagara (OHL)

Came in prematurely for Team Roenick and played the majority of the game - in relief of Tyler Parsons of the London Knights who forgot his neck guard and got blasted with a shot early that took him out of the game .. an athletic goalie with good size .. stays on his feet .. can be prone to allowing weak goals, however is resilient as he will bounce back and settle down with a big save .. suffers lulls in his game as well as intermittent mental lapses .. does possess solid fundamentals and looks the part but needs to bear down .. can be a bit of a scrambler when he loses position.

Adam Fox (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

Struggled in the game defensively on account of his size and decision making - beaten cleanly on one goal .. a mobile, undersized, right-shooting blueliner .. exceptional skater with superb acceleration and lateral quickness .. can really fly up the ice, however he is very slight and easily knocked off the puck .. relies primarily on his elusiveness as he has not added much strength to his game - needs to bulk up considerably .. agile and quick on his edges which makes him dangerous, can stop and turn on a dime .. makes strong decisions with time and space as exhibited on the power play where he shined .. displays outstanding vision and is a deft passer which makes him elite in that regard .. his size hinders him however - will need four years of college before he matures to the pro game .. the Jericho, New York native will attend Harvard University next fall.

Tim Gettinger (2016), LW, Sault Ste Marie (OHL)

Scored on a nice deflection goal - demonstrating a sharp touch around the net .. the North Olmsted, Ohio native sports a pro-like frame at 6-5, 210 pounds - and also possesses the hand skills to make plays and handle the puck .. more of a finesse player than a bruising one, he puts up points with his quick stick and willingness to go into traffic areas to make a play .. jumps into lanes and is always moving once he gets into the offensive zone .. skating is good but needs to get quicker - adding strength will assist in this .. needs to show more shift-to-shift consistency and move his feet in the neutral and defensive zones as he has a tendency to be a step behind the play .. should be an offensive leader for the Soo Greyhounds this year and a likely bubble NHL 1st-round draft candidate.

Ben Gleason (2016), D, London (OHL)

The native of Ortonville, Michigan bypassed the U.S. collegiate route to join the OHL London Knights this season .. a prototypical small defenseman who boasts good puck skills but does not bring much else to the table .. shows flashes of being able to stickhandle past several players - yet lacks the size to take advantage of the holes he creates .. fast not explosive, bigger forwards and defenders are easily able to take away his time and space .. likes to push up and could possibly be experimented with as a forward .. simply does not put in solid efforts defensively; tends to lose his man easily and needs to bear down on his defensive zone coverage .. lots of sizzle, no steak.

Jack Kopacka (2016), LW, Sault Ste Marie (OHL)

The Lapeer, Michigan native competed and worked hard on a make-shift line that really had little impact on the game .. his skill-set was not on full display in this game as his line spent the majority of the game chasing the puck .. only an average skater, he's a bit sluggish off the mark and not overly fast, yet compensates by pumping his feet to stay in the play .. needs to constantly be moving his feet to be effective .. grinded it out down low and in the corners but was unable to get the puck into good positions .. had some shifts where he was able to display his puck skills when in possession - yet his contributions were extremely limited.

Luke Kirwin (2016), C, Windsor (OHL)

Played centre but seemed to miss the creativity and skill to be able to accept the responsibilities that the position demands .. the Dewitt, New York native boasts a burly 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame - and skates well for his size .. possesses good bursts of speed out of the gate .. had a few shifts in which he handled the puck okay, but generally he went missing for the entire game .. played on the fourth line and was buried in terms of ice time.

Chad Krys (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

Captain of the U.S. Under-18 Team .. committed to Boston University for 2016-17 .. showed himself to be the most skilled defenseman in the game as he could effectively launch himself out of the zone .. part of a new wave of talented transition defensemen that NHL teams covet .. not explosive - and doesn't have multiple levels of quickness - yet is a strong skater who is quite efficient and makes the most out of his stride - has good short-term speed to break away .. gifted with the puck - a heads-up puck mover .. always sees his options and does not feel any pressure to make a play; low panic threshold .. possesses excellent hands and a strong feel for the game - often jumping into the rush and giving opposing defensemen something to think about .. constantly makes strong decisions with the puck which sets him apart from his peers .. not particularly imposing at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, so has to rely on stick and positional play in the defensive zone .. does play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder as he has some edge to his play albeit not in a physical sense .. would likely be considered higher in the draft if he were only taller.

Luke Kunin (2016), C, Wisconsin (B1G)

The Chesterfield, Missouri native emerged as the best player in the All-Am Prospects Game as he scored in the first 30 seconds and had confidence the rest of the game to make plays .. formed a strong tandem with linemate Matthew Tkachuk as the two were in on three of the four goals scored for Team Roenick - with Kunin notching two beautiful markers and adding a goal with an upstairs wrist shot .. utilizes a tremendous release point, turns the stick slightly just before shooting to handcuff a goalie .. skates extremely well, able to pounce into open ice - quick off the mark and marries it with quick and nimble hands .. very intelligent in the offensive zone employing a bunch of little, subtle tricks; looking off players, faking a shot and stickhandling past guys who were foolish enough to play the puck .. boasts an outstanding individual skill-set .. difficult to gauge his defensive game as his line always had the puck .. his game is advanced enough to make an impact as a true 17-year-old collegiate freshman .. should be a player who is considered in the first round despite his average size (6-0, 195 pounds).

Will Lockwood (2016), RW, NTDP (USA)

It wasn't a prime showcase for the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native, however he was able to show a few things .. noticeable in spurts in this game .. a tall and somewhat lanky winger who moves well for his size especially in straight-aways .. aware and alert in the offensive zone but there are questions about the level of his true hand skills .. used his size effectively to buy himself stay and space, but his plays with the puck were rather ordinary .. an average game playing on a line with Nick Pastujov and Riley Tufte on the left side - that barely generated much if anything at all during the game .. will attend the University of Michigan.

Griffin Luce (2016), D, NTDP (USA)

The grandson of former NHLer and Buffalo Sabres Hall-of-Famer Don Luce .. struggled early in the game with an inappropriate pinch and laboured with his play with the puck .. lost confidence in the game early and relied solely on d-to-d passes often getting rid of the puck as soon as it arrived .. offers ample size at 6-3, 215 pounds - and plays with some degree of physicality .. doesn't offer much in terms of skill however .. very average in most aspects of his game as he is quite vanilla .. skating is good for his size - yet he lacks some agility .. still growing into his massive frame .. needs to work on his overall co-ordination and develop his athleticism .. defensively, he pushes guys away but can be over zealous and has a little too much movement as evidenced by him moving across to screen Dhillon and blocking him on the game-winning goal against .. does have time on his side to round out his game and get more comfortable with his abilities .. the Williamsville, New York native will attend the University of Michigan.

Graham McPhee (2016), LW, NTDP (USA)

The son of former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee - Graham possesses excellent puck skills - and made several nice plays with the puck .. worked well on the third line to get the puck into good positions .. an explosive skater out of the gate - yet oddly enough seems to lack a separation gear .. perhaps with increased strength and size he can add this to his repertoire .. listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, his size is limiting in the defensive zone as well .. demonstrates outstanding vision and a strong shot which complement his game as he is an offensive threat .. especially effective when coming down the wing and given time to make a play .. scheduled to arrive at Boston College next fall.

Nick Pastujov (2016), C, NTDP (USA)

The second-line centre shows great ability to execute and make plays, however he struggled with consistency for the better part of the game .. completely uninvolved when the game got remotely physical - backs down and is easy to play against .. when given time and space, he can pick apart an entire team as his hands are lightning quick and he never looks down knowing exactly where it is the entire time .. does a lot of circling - pretends to look the part but doesn’t really apply himself to go the extra mile - puts in bare minimum efforts .. skates well, light on his feet, turns quickly, and with an up-right posture that enables him to survey the ice better as a result .. skilled but soft - Beau Bennett like .. the Bradenton, Florida native will attend the University of Michigan.

Andrew Peeke (2016), D, Green Bay (USHL)

A towering defender with excellent size at 6-foot-3 and a solid 210 pounds .. only has limited abilities otherwise however .. operates more as a defensive defenseman as he made mistakes when he tried to do too much .. his vision is good however when he moves the puck up the ice quickly .. demonstrates okay puck skills, however the second he had it for more than two steamboats is when troubles start to occur .. does a commendable job of moving his feet and trying to stay involved in the play .. sports good feet, pivots, turns .. moves well and is quite fluid for a big man .. will benefit from improving his shot which isn't that hard - especially given his size/strength .. has gotten better due to his willingness to compete and use his size to defend and clear the crease .. a native of Parkland, Florida - will play at the University of Notre Dame next fall.

Matthew Tkachuk (2016), LW, London (OHL)

The second best player in the All-Am Prospects Game, he was wired and dialled in - and displaying a competitive streak unmatched by anyone in this contest .. plays a brash power game similar to that of father and U.S. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Keith Tkachuk, who scored 566 career NHL goals .. came out on a mission and did everything he could to secure the win .. his internal drive makes him such a good player and helps to disguise weaknesses such as his footwork .. an average skater yet always on the move which creates the illusion he is going faster than he actually is .. anticipates the play in the offensive zone quicker and therefore gets to pucks .. plays with grit and is a dogged forechecker adept at cutting off angles and making opponents cough up the puck .. utilizes his good size and is physically stronger than most on the ice which allows him to do whatever he wants .. gained the zone on each rush he had and was nearly impossible to stop when he got a head of steam .. scored a goal by driving the net, was knocked down but still managed to raise the puck while on his knees to beat the goalie .. a man amongst boys at times Tkachuk stood out and dominated in a game featuring the nation's best players.

Riley Tufte (2016), LW, Fargo (USHL)

More was expected more from the Ham Lake, Minnesota native in this game - having been touted as one of the top Minnesota players as he scored close to a goal a game last year for Blaine High School - 23 goals in 24 games .. also set the bar high following a strong performance at last year's U17 World Hockey Challenge .. however he did not showcase any offensive prowess whatsoever in this contest - and seemed to be a step behind most plays .. a reactionary player who had trouble reading the play and keeping up .. decent shot but not over powering .. hard on the puck and is a big body but he had no legitimate scoring chances nor was he ever a threat at any period in this game .. will attend the University of Minnesota Duluth .. the jury is still very much out.