Josh Ho Sang – McKeen's Hockey

Youngblood: Top storylines in an unpredictable 2014 NHL Draft

Brendan Ross — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 16:21:19 +0000

The 2014 draft class has been scrutinized, talked about, debated and picked apart to the nth degree. Deemed "weak", "underwhelming" and occasionally "awful" by experts, whatever your own personal take is on the 2014 draft class, there is one undebatable fact – the stage has been set for June 27^th to be an extremely exciting event. While this draft crop isn’t as deep at the top as 2013 nor does it offer the franchise players that 2015 will, the eligible players in 2014 are rather exciting when you look at their long term upsides. From year to year, most 1^st or 2^nd overall draft selections are players with high likelihoods of becoming franchise players (sooner than later too) but the jury is still out on whether this year’s top end contestants will reach their true potential. If they can, all this chatter is for nothing.

The thing to remember with the 2014 crop is that these young talents definitely have the potential and upsides but there is an aura of uncertainty looming over them. There is certainly much less consensus among scouts…especially after the opening eight or so picks and that is where the draft gets labeled “unpredictable”. Looking for a stud defenseman at the top of the draft? Well, after Ekblad and Fleury, you will need to invest time and patience to develop raw prospects like Travis Sanheim, Marcus Pettersson or Jack Dougherty.

It may sound cliché in a draft world that is all about investing in the long-term potential of prospects but the 2014 class is all about cashing in on “potential”. Specific to this crop, drafting future NHLers will require teams' scouting staffs to be on their games and then insulate their draftees with proper development to ensure return on their investments.

The 2014 group has some promising undersized skill forwards with intriguing offensive games and the same can be said with the defensive group as well. Kevin Fiala, David Pastrnak, Sonny Milano, Nikolay Goldobin, Nick Schmaltz, Josh Ho-Sang, Brayden Point…the list goes on and on with these exciting forwards. On the back end, Julius Honka leads a group of defenseman including Anthony DeAngelo, Marcus Petersson, Sebastian Aho, Joe Hicketts, Dysin Mayo, Jake Walman and Jacob Middleton – all blue liners with some issues in their game whether that be size, defensive deficiencies, or something else. If there was a year that NHL GMs would like a little luck on their side, it would be right now at the 2014 NHL Draft.

Here are some storylines to watch leading up to and during the 2014 NHL Draft…

Shopping Spree

If draft chatter indicates anything, there could be a shopping spree in Philadelphia and it won’t be be just cheesesteaks on the shopping list. With NHL General Managers well aware of the consensus group at the top of the draft and where players begin to “fall off”, teams could certainly be looking to trade up into the top tier of players. Conversely, teams sitting on the cusp of the drop off may be more apt to listen and place their high pick on the trade market.

A storm is brewing for a trading frenzy and several different factors including some key top NHL free agents becoming available and an unpredictable draft class could set the stage for prime trading opportunities.

With Philadelphia as draft hosts and a record for being aggressive, keep an eye on the Flyers as Ron Hextall looks to make on impression early in his tenure as GM. The Florida Panthers and GM Dale Tallon hold the golden ticket and with history of the franchise moving the 1^st overall selection in past years (Florida has traded the top pick three of the five times it was dealt), all eyes will be on the 2015 draft hosts. Furthermore, Garth Snow has proven to be an aggressive GM and after somewhat foolishly boldly opting to keep their 2014 top pick, the pressure is on to add an impact player via trade or draft to prevent his 2015 selection that was dealt to Buffalo from being a lottery pick in a stacked 2015 draft class. The Toronto Maple Leafs (8^th), Vancouver Canucks (6^th) and Calgary Flames (4^th) are all eager to mold new identities after undergoing some revamped management and will be kicking tires in hopes of landing a key future piece.

Wildcard Prospects

Sure, the 2014 NHL Draft class gets a bit of a bad rep after a fairly exciting 2013 crop that featured several high end talents at the top in MacKinnon, Drouin, Barkov and Seth Jones. It doesn’t help its cause that the 2015 draft is shaping up to be one of the most dominant in a long, long time with Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin leading a group of dozen or so prospects that could, arguably, contend for a top spot this year if they were eligible. In saying that, I remain fascinated and hopeful of the 2014 draft class simply because while there may not be the high-end depth at the top, there are several exciting high risk-reward players to keep tabs on.

Teams that pride themselves on great development have a huge opportunity to cash in on some skilled talent that may get passed by cautious teams early on. Pencil in forwards Josh Ho-Sang, Nikolay Goldobin, Nick Schmaltz, Vladimir Tkachev, Spencer Watson, Brayden Point and Chase De Leo as front-line players with intriguing offensive skills and the raw abilities that could pay huge dividends down the road. Defensemen Anthony DeAngelo, Sebastian Aho, Brandon Montour and Joe Hicketts are all undersized offensive defenseman who get knocked for their lack of size but are game-breakers from the back end.

The list of high potential skaters doesn’t end there as Ryan MacInnis, Vladislav Kamenev and Eric Cornel are a trio of forwards who haven’t begun to tap into their true skill sets and three or four years down the road, we could hear the old adage “how did he fall so far?” when talking about these skaters.

The OHL offers two high-end prospects that are deserving of stories specifically for themselves in the polarizing Tony DeAngelo and Josh Ho-Sang. Considered true “wild cards” and “gambles” by most, draft day will consist of closely following two of the most dynamic players at their respective positions. How long these stories remain active will depend largely on how long they last on the draft board. For me, the DeAngelo and Ho-Sang Draft Watch is the most interesting storyline of the 2014 NHL Draft and should be trending on Twitter near you.

Don’t Sleep on Potential

The draft offers plenty of sleepers and it’s these types of players that can make or break a team’s day at the draft. Highlighting my list of “sleepers” are Brett Pollock, Justin Kirkland, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Dylan Sadowry, Warren Foegele, Jacob Middleton, Jaden Lindo, Alex Peters and Christian Dvorak. Some of these skaters enter the draft as players who haven’t begun to realize their true skill sets (Pollock, Kirkland, Foegele and Middleton, as examples), others are players who struggled with injuries during their draft years (namely Lindo and Dvorak) and the rest are guys who offer a unique skill set that will eventually surface in a breakout when presented with more opportunity (see Aube-Kubel and Sadowry).

The Re-Entries

Each season the draft is an opportunity for hockey players to realize their dreams of being drafted into the NHL and the feel good stories are often those associated with players who have already been passed over once before before emotionally hearing their name called a second time around.

Hunter Smith is a massive winger who found his game playing in Oshawa this season and teams are enamored with his size, scoring touch around the crease and his overall physicality. Edgars Kulda capped off a great season winning the CHL Memorial Cup MVP and his ability to control the game’s pace with his confident puck skills and creative vision are true assets. Criticized for his sloppy skating last year, Lucas Wallmark continued to play on showing unbelievable playmaking ability and a creative knack for operating a power play. Teammate of Hunter Smith, Josh Sterk had a strong start to his OHL season in Oshawa and showed that he may be worthy of a late round selection in his second go-round at the draft. Gavin Bayreuther is an offensive defenseman who has been funnelled through two drafts and had he been born on a different day, he would have been highly coveted in the collegiate free agent market, especially with his howitzer of a shot. Ville Husso will surely be scooped up as the top ranked European goaltender, despite being passed over last year. An interesting re-entry to watch is one-dimensional defenseman Guillaumme Gelinas who finished as the CHL’s top scoring defenseman with an astonishing 92 points in 67 games with Val-d’Or. Lastly, Ashton Sautner was one defenseman who impressed with his fluid mobility and instinctual reads in all three zones while playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

From the OHL, Hunter Garlent, Stephen Harper, Brett Welychka, Max Iafrate and Marcus McIvor are worthy of landing on a team this time around. Don’t be surprised if QMJHLers Anthony DeLuca, Louick Marcotte, Matt Murphy, Philippe Gadoury, Cameron Darcy and Marcus Power could be on the radar of scouts. Out west in the WHL, Rinet Valiev, Richard Nejezchleb, Jaedon Deschaneau, Mads Eller, Colby Cave and goaltender Austin Lotz have good chances of donning NHL sweaters. From other leagues look for players like Matt Iacopelli (USHL), Scott Salvage (Boston College) and Brandon Montour (USHL) are certainly worth consideration as well.

This list of late bloomers doesn’t include players who were drafted and then went unsigned by NHL clubs.

Weak Defensive Class Limps In

Aaron Ekblad leads the pack at the top of the draft with no player even close to challenging him. He’s made significant strides since being granted exceptional status and reaching new levels in his skating, offensive confidence and powerplay abilities have went a long way to silencing his critics. Behind Ekblad, Haydn Fleury lines up as the next best defender with his mobility and emerging offensive skills which are two of his best attributes. Fleury’s upside is safely projected as a second pairing defenseman capable of playing in all situations but no one is ruling out his ability to develop upon his skills to become a top pair rearguard either.

Based on his raw skills and overall hockey sense, Roland McKeown will be looked at hard to be the third defender selected as he has plenty of room to develop. However, the late surging Travis Sanheim will be close challenger. NHL teams love nabbing defensive prospects with such raw skills and Sanheim fits that bill perfectly. He’s a defenseman who showed great progression and he is at a phase in his development where his game can be molded into a style that suits the team well. Don’t count out Finn Julius Honka as a challenger for the third defenseman selected because this kid’s mobility, hockey sense and two-way game flashes great potential.

After Ekblad, Fleury, McKeown, Sanheim and Honka, the door is wide open for defensemen to walk through. Sarnia’s Anthony DeAngelo is the best offensive defenseman of the draft but his incomplete defensive game and volatile temper has scouts wavering on him. Jack Dougherty is another raw offensive defenseman, albeit with good traces of defensive awareness, and he could push for a first round selection. Dominik Masin and Alexis Vanier are two defensive pillars that would solidify future blue lines. Dysin Mayo used a lengthy season and capitalized on increased playing time en route to a Memorial Cup Championship but his offensive creativity and developing defensive game would make for a great mid-round target.

The top of the draft isn’t flooded with standout defensemen but there are some valuable investments to be made. Following the opening round, the depth is intriguing on the blue line and teams can really stock pile prospects with players like Marcus Pettersson, Jake Walman, Andreas Englund, Johnathan MacLeod, Brycen Martin, Jack Glover, Alex Peters, Ryan Collins, Luc Snuggerud, Ben Thomas, Josh Jacobs, William Lagesson and Aaron Haydon all possessing unique talents.

The Goaltenders

Stanley Cups are won on the back of strong goaltenders but when the draft comes due every year, or at least in recent years, the puck stoppers are normally overlooked. Goaltenders’ development curves are rather lengthy especially compared to forwards so this oversight isn’t overly surprising. Fans are looking for immediate help and this long wait time for crease attendants allows us to focus on the skaters at the draft. With that said there are several high-end goaltenders available in this draft and compared to recent years, the netminders are rather appealing.

At the 2013 draft, Montreal was the first team to start the goaltender run after selecting top ranked tender Zach Fucale with the 34^th pick (2^nd round). Three goaltenders followed in the second round with Pittsburgh locking up Tristan Jarry (44^th), Dallas selecting Philippe Desrosiers (54^th) and Eric Comrie (59^th) heading to Winnipeg. Interesting enough, these four goaltenders were the four invitees named this week for Hockey Canada’s Summer Evaluation Camp.

The question that surfaces every year is, “how early will the first goaltender be taken?” It’s certainly a difficult question to answer with any certainty. If instincts are any indication, I feel that it won’t be until the second round that we see teams start drafting goaltenders. If a goaltender is to crack the 1^st round it will be Boston College puck stopper Thatcher Demko. Look for the lanky Mason McDonald and an extremely competitive Alex Nedeljkovic to challenge Demko and both end up as Top 60 picks.

Finland continues to churn out top quality netminders and Kaapo Kahkonen and Ville Husso (passed over at the 2013 draft) are two to place on your radar. Niagara’s Brent Moran possesses a projectable skill set and Sault Ste. Marie’s Brandon Halverson is one of the best puck handlers that the goaltending position has seen in recent history. Both Moran and Halverson are excellent mid-round targets as their best days are ahead of him. Out east, one goaltender to watch is the undersized Julio Billia as his work ethic and technical aggressive approach are workable attributes. As the draft plays out, we’ll witness plenty of goaltending talent drafted and these are the pillars that teams down the road will eventually lean on, whether they realize it on draft day or not.

As the 2014 NHL Draft commences Friday, June 27^th, these are just a few of the appealing storylines to watch. Be sure to follow the McKeen’s Hockey team and @RossyYoungblood as the draft unfolds.

Youngblood: The fab five – Ontario strong

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

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

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

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

Ekblad defining exceptional

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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

Fast forward two seasons.

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

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

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

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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

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

Finding sophomore stardom

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

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

An old school prospect

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

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

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

A 'dog that lacks bite

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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

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

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

Building a captain

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

Fabbri-ulous finish

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

Gold’n hands

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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

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

The fire of passion

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

Opening round curtain call

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

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

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

2014 NHL Draft – Top 5 Stickhandlers – Ehlers elevates, Bennett terrifies

Grant McCagg — Tue, 06 May 2014 11:30:17 +0000

Best stickhandler

You know the Halifax Mooseheads have a special talent in Nikolaj Ehlers when the home crowd rises in anticipation every time Ehlers rushes with the puck. "His ability to stickhandle at top speed is outstanding," said one scout. "He reminds me of (Pavel) Bure when he gets wound up." In addition to great hands, Ehlers is also dextrous with his feet, showing an innate ability to kick the puck to his stick or open teammates.

Sam Bennett's speed, lateral agility and puck skills make him a defenceman's nightmare on many nights. Josh Ho Sang's puck skills were on full display during the CHL Top Prospects game when he made several dazzling rushes, and scored a goal by batting the puck in the net. Sonny Milano keeps opponents guessing with elite stickhandling and speed, and he's capable of holding onto the puck until he finds an open man. Nikolai Goldobin has excellent lateral moves that often leave defenders searching for their jockstraps.

1. Nikolaj Ehlers

2. Sam Bennett

3. Josh Ho Sang

4. Sonny Milano

5. Nikolai Goldobin

Up Next: Top 5 Hockey Sense - May 9

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Forwards

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

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

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

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

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

DEFENCE

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

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

FORWARDS

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

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

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1ST PERIOD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2ND PERIOD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3RD PERIOD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

CHL Top Prospects Game notebook: Defence

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

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

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

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

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

DEFENCE

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

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

FORWARDS

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

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

1ST PERIOD

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

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

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

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

2ND PERIOD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3RD PERIOD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

Top Prospects Game review: Team Orr forwards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Team Orr (WHITE) - Forwards

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL

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

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

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

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

Photo by Brad Watson

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

McKeen's Hockey 2014 Draft Rankings

OHL 2014 Draft Eligibles: We Three Kings-ton Frontenacs

Sean Lafortune — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 06:46:40 +0000

Sean Lafortune of thescout.ca has reports on recent OHL viewings with a Kingston Frontenacs heavy review of 2014 draft eligibles along with a review of Hall of Fame Al MacInnis son, Ryan, and defenseman Roland McKeown.

Also featured is Sam Bennett who started the season with a 20-point run (10-10-20) in his first 10 games dressed, lining up alongside Tampa Bay 2013 pick, Henri Ikonen (6th rnd 154th overall). He missed one game (game 7) but recorded a point in every contest in in the first 10 in which he dressed. Talk about making a statement out of the gate in your draft year.

There's a slight detour from Kitchener before heading to Kingston.

Ryan MacInnis, C, Kitchener Rangers (2014)

A high potential pivot making playing in his inaugural OHL season. Son of NHL Hall of fame defenseman Al MacInnis. Has represented the United States internationally at the 2012 World Under 17 Challenge, playing a lead role in the team's bronze medal victory. A tall, lanky play maker with quick, soft hands. Slippery in traffic, protects and handles the puck comfortably, aided by an extended wingspan. Calm in possession, can dangle and weave through checks. Packs a tricky wrist-shot, one that has a deceptive release point that always keeps goaltenders guessing. Efficient at finding open ice in the offensive zone, getting lost in coverage and opening himself up for a quick strike. Balance, coordination and agility all need to come along. A somewhat slushy and upright skater, must strive to get stronger on his feet and continue to add length to a somewhat short stride. Top speed is adequate, should improve as he ads lower body strength. Could inject a more consistent physical edge, does not always project a strong, aggressive presence. Added success and strength to a somewhat lean frame should benefit multiple aspects of his game. Far from a finished product, projects as a smart, top 6 forward at the next level, one who already possesses size and a pro shot. Will be asked to play significant minutes for a rebuilding Kitchener Rangers squad, allowing him to develop all aspects of his game.

Roland McKeown, D, Kingston Frontenacs (2014)

The undisputed leader of the Kingston Frontenacs defence core. Has represented Canada internationally twice, first as an underage player at the World U18 Championships in April and at the Summer Ivan Hlinka Tournament, winning a Gold medal on both occasions. A skilled, creative puck mover with gifted vision and offensive awareness. Agile, lively skater who generates a sharp acceleration burst from a wide stride. Slick on his edges, boasting exceptional lateral quickness and agility. Can paralyze opponents one on one with rapid stick handling moves. Lethal in transition, deft long range passer and talented shooter. Confidently joins the attack, has a knack for has a knack for sneaking into open spaces. Imaginative powerplay quarterback, has a flirt for walking the line and finding open passing lanes. Gradually adding muscle to a fairly lean frame and learning to use his skating to sustain a positional edge defending one on one. Lacks intensity in puck battles, can be too accommodating when opposition forwards drive the net. Must develop more of a physical presence down low. Must define his positional reads and develop a bigger push back around his crease. Gained valuable experience last year on a rebuilding Frontenacs squad, must now take that next step and prove he can lead a talented squad through the rigors of a championship drive.

Sam Bennett, C, Kingston Frontenacs (2014)

A multipurpose pivot who plays a competitive, two way game. A winning pedigree after winning championships internationally at both the World U18 Championship, the summer Ivan Hlinka tournament and throughout his minor hockey career with the Toronto Marlboros. In the midst of a break out sophomore season with the Kingston Frontenacs. Analytic two way pivot with clever play making skills. Displays a competitive edge, hates to lose and never stops working. Cerebral in possession, plays with impressive poise and intelligence, deft one touch passer, identifies options and makes a quick decision. Excels at holding the puck and finding open seams in coverage. Strong, disciplined checker, finishes hits and forechecks with enthusiasm. Displays a knack for coming up with loose pucks, guided by strong anticipation and positioning. Makes smart mature plays in the defensive end, tracks back deep and supports his defenders. A good but not elite skater, lacks strong separation speed or an explosive second gear. Still fairly undersized, must continue to add strength and mass to a somewhat underdeveloped frame. Improving his upper body strength should add more zip to an average shot. Projects as a top end, two way pivot who leads by example. Will lead the Frontenacs offensively this year, attempting to take the Frontenacs deep into the playoffs and perhaps earn a Memorial Cup berth.

Spencer Watson, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (2014)

A London Ontario native who displays excellent finishing ability. Was a stand out for Team Canada at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Tournament, finishing with 10 points in 5 games and helping lead his country to a gold medal. Small, determined sniper with a competitive nature. Drives aggressively to the net and works diligently to find scoring areas. Shoot first mentality, always driving to unleash a quick, accurate wristshot that he can unload in full flight, thanks to soft hands. Shot also packs impressive torque and strength for a player of his size. An agile skater with good top speed, stride is comfortable and efficient, however lacks that elite second level of mobility. Wants to make a difference when the game is on the line. Displays skill and elusiveness in possession, yet needs to mature as a puck mover, learn to make patient and more impressive reads. Too frantic and rushed at times, tends to take the first option. Also requires improvement in his positioning and skating routes away from the puck. Must maximize strength potential in order to fulfill his promising potential, adding depth and mass to a somewhat slender frame. Projects as a top 6 forward at the next level, one who has the ability to be finisher when paired with a true puck distributor. Will team with linemate Sam Bennett to lead the Kingston Frontenacs offensively this year as they attempt to grow on last year’s success and gain entry into the 2014 memorial cup.

Josh Ho Sang, RW, Windsor Spitfires (2014)

A high skilled forward who plays all three forward positions with the Spitfires. Represented Ontario internationally at the 2013 World U17 Challenge. A skater with natural speed and fluidity. Acceleration is top notch, specifically on crossovers, which creates outside separation. Cuts fluidly east to west, makes tight spins and sharp lateral cuts, exploiting strong balance and edge control. Strong passer and puck handler, gets a real zip on crisp passes. Tricky and elusive one on one, especially in open ice. Thrives to make dazzling end to end solo rush, exploring sublime puck skills and a dynamic change of pace. A dangerous and creative player on certain nights, yet prone to over handling the puck in search of a perfect play, drawing unnecessary physical abuse and failing to integrate linemates. At his best when driving aggressively into land and striving to show off a powerful shooting arsenal. Will need to continue to increase his involvement in the defensive zone, has made improvements, however his enthusiasm and commitment can wane dramatically. Will need to increase his mass and body strength. Has made gains in the past 6 months, however will need to mature his game, playing more of a team focused style in order to capitalize on his long term potential. Has become a key player in Windsor with the graduation and maturation of other veterans, seeing significant ice time while becoming one of the most dangerous offensive players on the roster.