Kyle Maksimovich – McKeen's Hockey

OHL 2018-19 Season Preview

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

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

The Contenders

London Knights

Liam Foudy

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

Oshawa Generals

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

Niagara IceDogs

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

Saginaw Spirit

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

Ottawa 67’s

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

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

The Pretenders

Kingston Frontenacs

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

Erie Otters

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

Mississauga Steelheads

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

North Bay Battalion

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

Flint Firebirds

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

Five Candidates for the Red Tilson

Nick Suzuki

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

Morgan Frost

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

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

Michael DiPietro

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

Jack Studnicka

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

Sasha Chmelevski

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

Five Draft Eligibles to Monitor

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

Ryan Suzuki (Barrie Colts)

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

Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)

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

Matvey Guskov (London Knights)

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

Blake Murray (Sudbury Wolves)

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

Michael Vukojevic (Kitchener Rangers)

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

OHL Prospect Watch: Zacha setbacks sting, Master Sergachev

David Burstyn — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 19:36:04 +0000

Given his size, skill, and skating ability, Pavel Zacha is suitably equipped to make a smooth transition to the pro game..

He should fit in comfortably with New Jersey's style of play as his game is quite reminiscent of fellow countryman Bobby Holik (1990-2009), a former two-way fixture for the Devils.

Zacha has been a mainstay for the Czech national juniors the past three seasons, appearing in three straight U18 & U20 World Junior Championships plus one Ivan Hlinka tournament. His production on the world stage has been under whelming however, having never averaged more than a point per game in any tournament. Zacha's ability to produce offense often comes into question as it did with Holik, though bear in mind that Holik ranked among the top shutdown pivots in the NHL at his peak.

Zacha's NHL career could follow a similar path.

Active in all three zones, Zacha’s defensive game is already mature as he plays hard and uses his body proactively to win 1-1’s. Imposing his will at every opportunity and finishing hits with authority, Zacha grinds and battles down low as he feels more comfortable with board play. He can control the ice below the dots, demonstrating good skills in tight spaces, and is very difficult to remove once he gains a positional edge.

What makes his game so dangerous as an attacker though is his strength on the puck, especially coming off the boards, combined with a rifle-like wristshot. A bow-legged skating style works in his favour as he achieves good levels of speed and is able to absorb the physical part of the game better.

Injuries and various suspensions kept Zacha out of the lineup for long stretches of his 2014-15 North American debut, limiting him to only 37 games. It was a strong showing at the U18 WJC last April which helped boost his NHL draft stock and earn a sixth-overall selection by New Jersey. He received an extended look at Devil's camp before being sent back for his sophomore OHL season.

Zacha returned to center the top line on one of the deepest Sarnia teams in the past decade., this was expected to be a season he dominated. It appeared to be unfolding on plan early on as Zacha popped 17 goals in his first 23 games (23-17-13-30) and resembled a man amongst boys in the OHL, literally towering over the opposition looking every inch and pound of his 6-3, 210-pound frame.

Injuries continued to hamper his progress though as he aggravated a lower-body injury at the U20's in December, missing two games, and subsequently sustained a concussion which cost him the final four games in February.

His numbers have slipped following the world juniors (23-8-15-23) - and despite the mid-season trade acquisition of Travis Konecny, whose production during the same period (27-19-26-45) nearly doubles that of Zacha.

Sarnia are locked in a dog fight with the Windsor Spitfires down the stretch for the West Division title - and second playoff seed in the conference.

A healthy and productive finish would be a big confidence boost for Zacha as he heads off for summer preparation to crack the NHL next fall.

Here are notes on some other prospects on the McKeen's Watch List.

Mikhail Sergachev (2016), D, Windsor

Russian import continues to build on a highly successful North American debut. Heading into the final weeks of the regular season, Sergachev leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 14 goals and is third overall with 49 points. However, he has also delivered some head-scratching performances along the way to dampen the enthusiasm. Windsor Coach Rocky Thompson plays him in all situations and has become such a reliable option that, at times, he is used too much. The heavy workload has likely contributed to some games where his decision making and effort level haven't been as sharp. Sergachev plays a mature game with the puck in his possession, yet at times off as non-chalant or too carefree. In his defence, he rarely throws the puck away blindly, often taking an extra second to shift his body to find a better passing lane. Extremely confident making plays with the puck even with players draped all over him. Intelligently uses his big body to box out the opposition and fend them off until he locates an option; there's no panic in his game. Sergachev does not shy away from the physical game but understands his value is better served on the ice rather than in the box. His skating is deceptive; despite not being a burner he easily gets up the ice and is way more agile than he is fast. The manner in which he can spin off checks and gain the zone for a player of his size is NHL ready. A permanent fixture on the power play which runs through him in order to exploit a cannon of a point shot. He has all the tools to effectively run an NHL team’s power play.

Alex DeBrincat (2016), LW, Erie

DeBrincat has slowed down after a scorching first half to the season in which he scored 33 goals - in just 30 games - by the Christmas break prior to departing for the U20 World Juniors. However, he suffered a pair of early setbacks - a suspension for a major foul and a crushing hit - which rendered him ineffective at the tournament (5-1-0-1). His scoring pace cooled off back in the OHL as he has scored just 11 goals in the 24 games since New Year's (24-11-19-30), albeit has been used differently recently. Lately he is being relied upon more to retreat back to the defensive zone and carry the puck up the ice, make a strong first pass, and get into an optimum scoring position. Possesses highly-developed puck skills and consistently makes solid plays with the puck exhibiting patience, poise and uncanny vision. Without the puck is where DeBrincat loses some value. While he has shown more commitment to back checking this season, his limited size impedes his ability to properly check and pry players off the puck. Relies on badgering opponents into making a mistake with his quick speed, however this tactic won't garner the same results at the NHL level. Fast and shifty which makes him difficult to check as he effectively eludes many checks, DeBrincat boasts offensive talent among the upper echelon of this draft class - but will it be enough?

Kyle Maksimovich (2016), C, Erie

Maksimovich is having a breakout season and is on pace to more than triple his rookie point totals from last season (56-6-18-24). Operating on the second line playing behind Dylan Strome, the Hamilton, Ontario native has been given ample opportunity to succeed and has responded by averaging over a point per game (62-27-39-68). Diminutive in size, yet more than compensates with his uncanny poise with the puck and abilities to make a play. Intelligent in possession, he often receives first power-play minutes due to his puck-distribution capabilities. Whether it is a nice one-touch pass or a stop and curl to look for a better option, the poise he displays with the puck has produced results. Maksimovich takes short strides yet generates good power with his short legs. He is always moving which helps him stay involved in the action. Despite his size, it rarely becomes an issue due to his anticipation; smart in terms of his board play - doesn't commit himself too early to a play and manages to gain better position as a result. A strong playoff could see his stock rise as he demonstrates to scouts that he can handle the rigours of the postseason.