Matthew Spencer – McKeen's Hockey

Tampa Bay – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:51:37 +0000

I have long advocated for teams drafting the best talent available on draft day. With all but two to five prospects in any given year needing to go back to amateur hockey in the upcoming year, it does not make much sense to draft for current need. To that rule, I have appended an exception in the case of netminders. Namely, that there is a maximum number of goalies a team should have.

At any given time, there will be room for two young netminders to play in the AHL and usually another promising one can be assigned to the ECHL. If a team has more than that who are past the age junior/college hockey, there will be no place to play and develop them. This is why it is so rare for one team to draft two goalies in one year. And until Vegas left draft weekend with three netminders, more than two was unheard of.

The goalie problem is not one faced by Tampa. The opposite, in fact, as there are only two netminders with prospect eligibility in the organization. This topic is significant for Tampa, because they are stretching the boundaries of the best player available rule by drafting an abundance of players that fit within a fairly narrow profile.

During the draft, Tampa is generally a team that stockpiles draft picks. They rarely have less than their full allotment of picks, and often substantially more, including nine picks in 2015 and ten in 2016. When we look at the types of players they draft, we can see clear patterns.

For starters, they like their defensemen to be…well…defensive. Out of 15 blueliners in the system, nine are clearly defensive defensemen. Four more are two way defenders and only two could be counted as offensive defensemen. This topic came up when we were putting the system’s top 20 together. There are very good arguments to be made for a number of the defensemen in the system to make the top 20, but when so many of them have near-identical profiles, there are fewer paths for them to reach the NHL.

Most NHL teams, even possession-conscious teams like the Lightning, will have no more than three, and more likely two, defensive spots for blueliners who are limited in how much they can provide in the offensive end of the ice. So as talented as players like Erik Cernak, Libor Hajek, Slater Koekkoek, Matt Spencer, Dominik Masin and others are, it is hard to see a path where more than two of them establish themselves in Tampa. After two do, the others become trade bait. Only really Cal Foote and Mikhail Sergachev are versatile enough in their approaches to the game to fit in any type of role.

The Lightning have a similar, if not identical, story with their forwards. The majority, if not all, of their better forward prospects are secondary offensive contributors, providing as much if not more, energy than talent to their teams. With more forward spots on all teams than defensive ones, this is less of a problem, but it sure seems like Tampa scouts have a type that they prefer to hunt.

1 Mikhail Sergachev – One half of one of the most interesting trades of this offseason, Sergachev was traded straight up from Montreal to Tampa for Jonathan Drouin almost one year to the day of being selected ninth overall in the draft. A high end skater who excels at both ends, he can afford to pinch in deep as he is well able to recover. Plays with great maturity and patience on the puck, able to outlast an opponent and create a better lane for passing, or pushing the puck forward by himself. He should be ready for the NHL and has first pairing upside.

Taylor Raddysh of the Erie Otters. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

2 Taylor Raddysh – Although he has scored at superstar levels for the last two seasons, next season will be a real test for Raddysh, who will finally be the featured player on the Otters after the graduations of Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome. Standing in his favor are his excellent combination of shot and puck skills. The former is sniper level, and he is extremely dangerous from the mid-slot and in. The latter rears its head when he does not have a clear shot on goal. Very skilled at finding an open man through his vision and creativity.

3 Brett Howden – A two-way center with plus playmaking skills, Howden had a great offensive year for Moose Jaw, even without accounting for the 15 or so games he missed due to injury. Aggressive in his own zone, he is not afraid to block shots and has a knack for retrieving the puck and getting it into a position to move back up the ice. More quick and nimble than fast, he has enough speed to hold his own and play his game. Plays a chippier game than many with his passing acumen.

4 Anthony Cirelli – A big game specialist, Cirelli burst onto the prospect radar in his last game before he was drafted. It was a Memorial Cup final and he scored both Oshawa goals, including the overtime winner, to claim the title. Traded to Erie this year, he hit another level in the playoffs and again in a second Memorial Cup. All this after starring for Team Canada at the WJC. Supremely intelligent player who has great patience on the puck and an easy to underrate snap shot.

Mathieu Joseph

5 Mathieu Joseph – Drafted as a quick two way forward two years ago, the former fourth round pick has since emerged as a clinical finisher in QMJHL play with underrated playmaking ability that shone at the last WJC. Has a very strong neutral zone game, forcing turnovers through relentless pressure on the puck carrier. A good, if not exceptionally fast skater, his first two steps give him a clear advantage. Plays with great energy and has an overall skillset that can fit on any line.

6 Cal Foote – Foot speed is currently the only real impediment standing between Foote, whose father Adam played over 1,100 games in the NHL, and a projected first pairing ceiling. A competitive shut-down defenseman, he has near elite size and strength and puts those attributes to good use nightly. He inherited more of his father’s hockey IQ than his snarl, although he is a tough customer to boot. Reads the play very well and, although he is a pass-first player, has a cannon from the point.

7 Slater Koekkoek – Although the career for the former tenth overall NHL draft pick has been a disappointment thus far, it is far too early to count Koekkoek out. A fine skater with above average puck skills, he quadrupled his previous career high in NHL games played. A big minute muncher for Syracuse, he is rarely caught out of position and makes smart decisions when moving the puck. Seems to be past the injury issues that plagued his junior career.

8 Mitchell Stephens – Tampa’s top pick in the 2015 draft, Stephens is a high-energy, heart-and-soul forward capable of filling any role, up and down the lineup. A hard working player, he understands his role on a line works as part of a unit, rarely trying to play for himself. Strong and aggressive, he projects best as a puck retriever playing with two higher skilled linemates. Very effective when he skates to the crease. Ready for pro hockey.

9 Erik Cernak – Originally a second round pick of the LA Kings, Cernak was traded to Tampa as part of the return for a few months of Ben Bishop. Big and rock steady on the back, the Slovakian native has limited offensive upside, although his shot is strong enough to be a threat if he used it more often. Does not use his body aggressively, but keeps opponents at bay with strong positioning. Plays a quiet game, but is integral in getting the puck moving in the right direction.

10 Libor Hajek – One of the few lights shining on an otherwise abysmal Saskatoon team over the last two years, which makes him difficult to scout, Hajek has the right mix of size, mobility and snarl to keep the Lightning confident in his future projection as another shutdown defender. They are also hoping that he can show more offensive upside, regardless of the lack of support. They also expect him to finally be named to the Czech squad for the WJC.

11 Dennis Yan – An American-born, Russian national, Yan was one of the best shooters in the QMJHL last season. Combined with his plus skating ability, he was consistently able to get to soft spots in coverage before his opponents and from there to threaten the goalie. Further, his anticipatory skills have allowed him to play an important role in the penalty kill. May be brought on slowly this year in the AHL, but has top six upside.

12 Dominik Masin – Although his rookie pro season went smoothly, Masin seems to have left his offensive game in Peterborough. After putting up 66 points in 105 games across two years in the OHL, he was limited to a mere six points for Syracuse last year. He has a big body and skates well. Can play a heavy game, if not a violently aggressive one. He seems comfortable carrying the puck up the ice, but is mostly a defensive minded player at this stage of his development.

13 Connor Ingram – With Vasilevski now the incumbent NHL starter and the Kristers Gudlevskis era over, Ingram is now the only netminder in the Tampa system who has NHL upside. Drafted in his second year of eligibility after taking massive steps forward with Kamloops, Ingram was even better last year in the WHL, although he was very shaky in WJC play. On the small side, but very athletic, he is also a strong puck player. The workhorse should receive the lion’s share of work in Syracuse this year.

14 Ben Thomas – One of the surprise performers with Syracuse last year, Thomas showed the ability to push play from the point in a way that was not expected based on his WHL output. He has a solid first few steps and is very comfortable moving the puck up ice. Quietly dependable in his own zone, he does not play a very physical game, but uses his stick more and solid positioning. His point shot is strong enough to earn him some power play time.

15 Adam Erne – A power winger with a good top gear in his feet, Erne has steadily improved his offensive output over his first two years of professional hockey. Although he struggled to produce offense in his lengthy NHL stint last year, he did at least tend to move the puck in the right direction, without being protected to any extreme, a good indication for his future. Needs to be more consistently involved in the play before moving to the NHL full time.

16 Yanni Gourde – Gourde’s long and winding road up the professional ladder may finally be leading him to the NHL. Undrafted out of Victoriaville, he spent two years in the San Jose system on AHL deals before Tampa offered him an ELC. He has been consistently one of their top offensive performers in the AHL since. Feisty and with a strong nose for the puck and a playmaker’s instincts, he could play on an energy line in the NHL right now.

17 Matthew Spencer – Once the third overall pick of the OHL entry draft, Spencer has had a solid, if unspectacular career with Peterborough. A very good passer with advanced hockey intelligence, he plays a quiet game, limiting mistakes. He is an average skater and is unlikely to ever develop into a significant offensive threat, but is reliable enough in all zones to play in a depth role. Has a solid pro frame and began to leverage that more often last year.

18 Ross Colton – After exploding for 35 goals in his third season of draft eligibility with Cedar Rapids of the USHL, Colton was a revelation in his freshman season with Vermont. He has quick wheels, and nearly as quick hands. Plays a responsible game and his speed can be leveraged well on the penalty kill. He can absolutely fly with the puck through the neutral zone. His snap shot is a weapon. Needs to show that he can succeed in the dirty areas of the ice.

19 Boris Katchouk – A big power forward who combines a quick skating stride with a very strong shot, Katchouk took a few steps forward last year in his finishing ability, becoming a go-to guy for Sault Ste. Marie. Still justly lauded for his refined hockey smarts, if his scoring rates hold up, we can up his projections from that of a potential bottom six forward to someone with middle six potential. Great compete rate.

20 Alexei Lipanov – A two-way center with strong puck skills who plays with great energy, Lipanov can be a force when lined up next to a top finisher. The type of forward who plays on the point on the man advantage to leverage his great vision and passing touch. Very lean and not yet filled out, he will get a taste of the North American brand of hockey as he comes over to play with Barrie of the OHL this year. Very agile skater.

Despite their proclivity for certain types of players, the sheer amount of talent in the Tampa Bay system gives the Lightning one of the deepest organizations in the league. At the very least the big trade of Drouin for Sergachev proves that GM Steve Yzerman recognizes that he needed another two-way dynamic presence on the blueline as well as showing the ability to go out and get it through trade. That suggests that some of the others on the list above may be viewed as assets for other, future trades.

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:17:44 +0000

Ilya Samsonov made the most of his opportunity in front of NHL scouts last month in the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Magnitogorsk helped lead Russia to victory at the Five Nations Tournament.

Samsonov showcased a full package of skill and smarts while upsetting Team USA in a 5-4 overtime win - being outshot 51-to-16 - and then shutting down Sweden 5-1 in the final game.

He played this season in the MHL with Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk's junior team, and will get another chance to bolster his draft stock at the U18 World Championships next month in Switzerland.

A number of Samsonov's U18 teammates could draw some draft interest with strong showings in Zug and Lucerne, the two host cities for the U18 Worlds.

Big, strong-shooting winger Denis Gurianov of Lada Togliatti is rated in the second round - 40th overall - on the McKeen's Top 120 rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Mikhail Vorobyev (Salavat Ufa) is rated 78th overall and is a smart, well-structured pivot in the classic old Russian style, while diminutive winger Kirill Kaprizov (Novokuznetsk) is listed as a late third-rounder - 89th overall. Just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Kaprizov was a creative force throughout the Five Nations and demonstrated that he has the courage and work ethic to help overcome the size factor.

Samsonov is the top-rated goaltender in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - debuting in the first round in the 29th spot.

Drafting goalies in the opening round has becoming increasingly less common. In fact, only six goaltenders have been selected in the first round over the past eight drafts (2007 to 2014). That compares to the five-year period from 2002 to 2006 in which a total of 14 goalies were first-round picks.

Samsonov is one of 11 goaltenders to earn spots in the McKeen's Top 120 rankings.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is next on the goalie list - ranked as an early second-rounder at 33rd overall - while a pair of QMJHL goalies hold down the next two spots - Callum Booth of Halifax at 61st and Samuel Montembeault of Blainville-Boisbriand in the No. 68 spot.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
6	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
7	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
11	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
12	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
14	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
17	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
18	Joel Ek Eriksson	C	Farjestads (Swe)	6-2/180	29-Jan-97
19	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
20	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
21	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
24	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
25	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
26	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
27	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
28	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
29	Ilya Samsonov	G	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-3/200	22-Feb-97
30	Jack Roslovic	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	29-Jan-97

31	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
33	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
34	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
35	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
37	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
39	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
40	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
41	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
42	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
43	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
44	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
45	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
46	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
48	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
50	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
51	Robin Kovacs	RW	AIK (Swe)	6-0/170	16-Nov-96
52	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
53	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
54	Travis Dermott	D	Erie (OHL)	5-11/195	22-Dec-96
55	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
56	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
57	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
58	Christian Fischer	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/215	15-Apr-97
59	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-1/185	29-Jul-97
60	Dennis Gilbert	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/200	30-Oct-96

61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
62	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
63	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
65	Austin Wagner	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-1/180	23-Jun-97
66	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
67	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
70	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
71	Kyle Capobianco	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Aug-97
72	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
74	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
75	Jesper Lindgren	D	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/160	19-May-97
76	Keegan Kolesar	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	8-Apr-97
77	Kevin Davis	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/185	14-Mar-97
78	Mikhail Vorobyev	C	Salavat Ufa (Rus)	6-2/195	5-Jan-97
79	Vince Dunn	D	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/185	29-Oct-96
80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
81	Gustav Bouramman	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	24-Jan-97
82	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97
83	Lukas Jasek	RW	Trinec (Cze)	5-11/165	28-Aug-97
84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
85	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
86	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
88	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
89	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	Novokuznetsk (Rus)	5-9/185	26-Apr-97
90	John Marino	D	South Shore (USPHL)	6-0/175	21-May-97

91	Chaz Reddekopp	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-3/220	1-Jan-97
92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
93	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96
95	Adam Gaudette	C	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	6-1/175	3-Oct-96
96	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
97	Gabriel Gagne	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-5/190	11-Nov-96
98	Thomas Schemitsch	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-96
99	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
100	Jonne Tammela	LW	KalPa (Fin)	5-10/180	5-Aug-97
101	Christian Jaros	D	Lulea (Swe)	6-3/200	2-Apr-96
102	Ales Stezka	G	Liberec (Cze)	6-3/180	6-Jan-97
103	Ethan Bear	D	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/200	26-Jun-97
104	Mathieu Joseph	RW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	9-Feb-97
105	Jeremiah Addison	LW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	21-Oct-96
106	Devante Stephens	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Jan-97
107	Michael McNiven	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/205	9-Jul-97
108	Jeremy Lauzon	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/195	28-Apr-97
109	Luke Opilka	G	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	27-Feb-97
110	Philippe Myers	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-5/195	25-Jan-97
111	Adam Werner	G	Farjestads (Swe)	6-5/185	2-May-97
112	Brendan Warren	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	7-May-97
113	Julius Nattinen	C	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-2/190	14-Jan-97
114	Colton White	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	3-May-97
115	Samuel Dove-McFalls	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-2/205	10-Apr-97
116	Veeti Vainio	D	Blues (Fin)	6-2/170	16-Jun-97
117	Matt Bradley	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	22-Jan-97
118	Tyler Soy	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-11/170	10-Feb-97
119	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
120	A.J. Greer	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-2/205	14-Dec-96

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 OHL Prospects

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 03:00:37 +0000

Making an impact on a stacked team can be problematic for young players looking to impress in their draft seasons.

Such has not been the case however for Blake Speers and Zachary Senyshyn of the powerhouse Soo Greyhounds.

The duo have contributed a combined 48 goals to the OHL's top-scoring team - a significant total considering the logjam of forwards on the Greyhounds swelled with the additions of Nick Ritchie and Justin Bailey.

The Soo stormed to the top of the league during a commanding 12-game winning streak recently that saw Senyshyn erupt for nine goals.

The Nepean, Ontario native is tied for fourth on the team with 26 goals - and second overall in OHL rookie scoring to Erie's Alex DeBrincat.

Speers sat out the final six games of the streak due to a shoulder injury (strain) - but has been a creative force in the few games since returning.

The Sault Ste. Marie native has also excelled in the classroom earning OHL 'Academic Players of the Month' honours for both November and December.

Speers is ranked eighth among OHL players (37th overall) in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft, while Senyshyn sits 10th - and 46h overall.

A third Greyhounds' player - Swedish import Gustav Bouramman - earned a spot in the OHL Top 20 list - and is ranked 17th among OHL players - and 81st overall.

OHL	ALL	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
3	6	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
4	8	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
5	9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
6	11	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
7	33	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
8	37	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
9	39	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
10	46	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
11	53	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
12	54	Travis Dermott	D	Erie (OHL)	5-11/195	22-Dec-96
13	57	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
14	66	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
15	71	Kyle Capobianco	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Aug-97
16	79	Vince Dunn	D	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/185	29-Oct-96
17	81	Gustav Bouramman	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	24-Jan-97
18	86	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
19	96	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
20	98	Thomas Schemitsch	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-96

McKeen’s 2015 NHL Draft Rankings – January, 2015

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:26:33 +0000

If the World Juniors serve as any indication, the next NHL draft could turn out to be a very special affair.

The pinnacle event for world junior hockey has historically been a tournament dominated by 19-year-old's, however this year's event saw numerous underage players make substantial impacts.

The U-20 World Juniors had been billed as the 'Mac vs Jack' showdown with a pair of 'generational' talents in Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel battling for supremacy on the world stage - and ultimately for the first-overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Eichel led a Team USA squad which also featured a pair of high-end 1997-born blueliners in Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski - the trio already having revived the U.S. collegiate scene.

The leading scorer among NCAA Div. 1 players, Eichel began the tournament on fire but gradually faded (5-1-3-4) as the Americans finished a disappointing fifth place.

It was all a rather conservative performance from the U.S. which served to mute the contributions of Hanifin (5-0-2-2) and Werenski (5-1-1-2), albeit the latter still managed to supercharge his draft stock.

Werenski (Grosse Pointe, MI) showed off his skating, skills and poise, following up a stand-out collegiate start which saw him leading the University of Michigan Wolverines blueline in scoring as a 17-year-old freshman (15-3-9-12).

Cracking the top 10, Werenski moves up to No. 7 - hotly pursued by another WJC underage phenom in Brandon's Ivan Provorov.

The Yaroslavl native played an integral role for Team Russia en route to winning a silver medal - and then celebrated his return to the WHL with a spectacular end-to-end goal against the Calgary Hitmen.

Mikko Rantanen of TPS Turku was another draft-eligible standout at the world juniors, turning heads throughout the tournie with his two-way play.

Rantanen was a one-man show for Team Finland, the defending champions, firing four of the team's eight goals.

Team Canada captured gold for the first time since 2009, receiving stalwart contributions from the only two draft-eligible players on the team - Connor McDavid and Lawson Crouse.

McDavid started tentatively fresh off a lengthy injury layoff, but got better each shift to produce some dazzling moments - not the least of which was his sublime cut behind the net to set up Nic Petan for a sitter in the semi-finals against Slovakia.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs cemented his status as a premier prospect with an outstanding performance.

Crouse emerged a leader on Canada's unstoppable fourth line which ground opponents down with a heavy cycle - alongside bulky linemates Nick Ritchie and Frederik Gauthier.

Despite a disappointing tournament for Team Switzerland, who needed a playoff win over Germany to avoid relegation, the Swiss underager's also made waves.

Jonas Siegenthaler was a rock on the Swiss blueline posting a remarkable plus-9 rating - the only non-Canadian among the tournament's top 10.

Another steady force for the Swiss was Timo Meier (6-2-4-6) who built on a strong opening half with the Halifax Mooseheads.

Meier earned a berth in the McKeen's Top 30 rankings - sitting at No. 24 - while Siegenthaler is ranked as an early second-rounder - at No. 36.

Jens Looke of Brynas also makes his debut in the top 30. As the only `97-born player on Team Sweden, Looke began the tournament as the 13th forward but gained a regular spot in the lineup and wound up scoring three goals - tied for third on the team.

Alexander Dergachyov (Russia), Sebastian Aho (Finland), and David Kase (Czech) added to the list of underager's who excelled at the world juniors - each of whom are ranked in the second round.

Here is a look at the McKeen's Top 30 Rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL TOP 75 RANKINGS.

RANK	PREV	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	6	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
6	7	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
7	11	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	22	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
9	4	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	9	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
11	18	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
12	10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
13	17	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
14	8	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	26	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
16	13	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
17	14	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
18	12	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
19	16	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
20	NR	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
21	15	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
22	20	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
23	30	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
24	NR	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
25	19	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
26	28	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
27	24	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
28	NR	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
29	NR	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
30	NR	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97

McKeen’s 2015 NHL Top 75 Draft Rankings (Jan-2015)

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:24:53 +0000

A quick demographic breakdown of the McKeen's Top 75 rankings suggests the 2015 NHL Draft is shaping up to have not only good depth but also balance.

The five primary regions are represented fairly equally with the QMJHL leading the way with 17 prospects ranked - followed closely by the OHL (16), Europe/International (16), the WHL (15), and the U.S. (11).

RANK	PREV	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	6	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
6	7	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
7	11	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	22	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
9	4	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	9	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
11	18	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
12	10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
13	17	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
14	8	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	26	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
16	13	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
17	14	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
18	12	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
19	16	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
20	NR	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
21	15	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
22	20	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
23	30	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
24	NR	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
25	19	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
26	28	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
27	24	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
28	NR	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
29	NR	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
30	NR	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
31	NR	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
32	21	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
33	25	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
34	NR	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
35	NR	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
36	NR	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
37	29	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
38	NR	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
39	NR	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
40	NR	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
41	NR	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
42	23	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
43	NR	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
44	NR	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
45	NR	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
46	NR	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
47	NR	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
48	NR	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
49	NR	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
50	NR	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
51	NR	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
52	NR	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
53	NR	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
54	NR	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
55	27	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
56	NR	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
57	NR	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
58	NR	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
59	NR	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
60	NR	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
61	NR	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
62	NR	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
63	NR	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
64	NR	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
65	NR	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
66	NR	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/180	29-Jul-97
67	NR	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
68	NR	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
69	NR	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
70	NR	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
71	NR	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
72	NR	Rasmus Andersson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/215	27-Oct-96
73	NR	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
74	NR	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
75	NR	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97

Youngblood: November OHL Rankings for 2015 NHL Draft

Brendan Ross — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 14:49:47 +0000

1. Connor McDavid, LC, Erie (OHL)

Sitting alone comfortably at the top of the draft class is recently injured phenom Connor McDavid. Playing under the critical eye of everyone, Connor McDavid has somehow exceeded the impossible expectations created by the hoopla of the draft. Racking up 51 points in just 18 games launching his Erie Otters to the top of the CHL standings (before getting hurt in a fight), McDavid has the hockey world drooling over his pro future. Poised, professional and humble throughout the process, McDavid somehow maintains his focus and just plays his game fending off all of the craziness surrounding his name and future. Elite in every skill, McDavid has proved to be not only “exceptional” but extraordinary in the face of adversity.

2. Pavel Zacha, LC, Sarnia (OHL)

It took the big Czech a few games to get comfortable but Pavel Zacha’s pro upside is extremely high. The left-shooting pivot owns an intelligent processor and outstanding vision, displaying advanced creativity and the ability to play as a shooter as well. He is capable of playing a power game, shaking off of pressure easily with his first few powerful strides and as he steps into a scoring area, he can unleash an array of deceptive shots. Zacha reaches top speed with a few powerful bursts and attacks head on displaying high-end one-on-one elusiveness and puck skills. He's a powerful attacker who uses his lengthy reach well making him a dominant possession player. He's got offensive star written all over him and with his elite level snapshot, he will rack up his fair share of goals. The scary part – Zacha is still finding his way in the OHL and we have yet to see him play the buzzer-to-buzzer dominant game that he’s capable of.

3. Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston (OHL)

Crouse is a player I absolutely love. Don’t get wrapped up by his mediocre offensive production because you need to watch this kid to really appreciate what he brings to the game. He’s the type of player that every coach wants on his team because you can throw him out in every situation and know he’s going to make an impact. One of the smartest two-way forwards in the draft, Crouse has the size and strength that makes him a low-risk selection as he can play up and down in the lineup. He’s shown impressive gains in his offensive game and there’s no reason to think he won’t be a top-six winger at the next level. Every time he hits the ice, he does something – whether it’s dominating the cycle game or stripping an attacking player of possession – that makes you go, “wow, he’s going to be good”.

4. Mitch Marner, RW, London (OHL)

Slow out of the gates, Mitch Marner is the hottest player in the OHL and we all knew he’d find his way eventually. Confident in possession and blessed with some silky mitts, Marner combines the creativeness, assurance and vision to make opponents look silly and his playmaking style will be a tremendous asset at the next level. He’s the type of forward who is thinking one-two-three steps ahead of his peers and it shows with his ability to create offensive chances almost at will. He’s not overly big and doesn’t own ideal strength but it’s progressing and his skating certainly helps him overcome those elements. I tried to find a way to move Marner even higher in these ranks but for now, the players ahead of him project to be better pro players and that’s certainly not a knock against Marner, who is primed for big things in the future.

5.Dylan Strome, LC, Erie (OHL)

McDavid’s teammate in Erie, Dylan Strome could’ve easily been ranked second on this list and come draft day, it will come down to personal preference. Seeing him ranked 5^th on my list is a bit troubling considering the stellar offensive production he’s provided this season but let me state that it’s basically a 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d situation with Crouse, Marner, Zacha and Strome. They are that close and this early in the season, the group is fairly interchangeable.. Strome plays the game at a high-pace and is always pushing the pace of the game. He is a creative passer with elite vision and his crafty puck skills allow him to play a strong possession game. His skating is improving from what used to be somewhat gangly and heavy footed. Now, with an elongated stride, Strome propels himself up the ice with ease erasing any of those previous concerns. Strome is a confident offensive player but at times he tries to do too much and it leads to some unnecessary turnovers but it’s those ballsy plays that actually make him a special talent with great pro upside.

6.Travis Konecny, RC, Ottawa (OHL)

Every year a player struggles in his draft season and this year, Travis Konecny hasn’t quite had the start that he’s probably envisioned. Battling through a concussion and taking on more responsibility as captain, Konecny may be putting too much pressure on himself. Eventually, the 2014 OHL Rookie of the Year will find his way out of it. Konecny continues to show an unmatched work ethic and owns the drive to succeed. His elite level shooting ability continues to shine but the pucks aren’t finding their way as frequent as last year. Travis started slowly in the goal department during his freshman season so let’s see if he can replicate his strong second half showing from last year.

7. Mitchell Vande Sompel, LD, Oshawa (OHL)

Oshawa Generals sophomore defender, Mitchell Vande Sompel, continues to log impressive minutes and he’s earned every second of them. Here’s one of the most intelligent defenders in the draft and with his skating ability and instinctual ability to read the ice, he projects as a high-end puck-moving defender. He can escape pressure with his advanced skating ability but also displays smart decision making, choosing when to pick his offensive rushes. In my opinion, he hasn’t been getting the recognition he deserves in this draft class but after coming off a strong offensive month where he earned OHL Top Defenseman honours, I am sure the tides will turn in the scouting world.

8. Matthew Spencer, RD, Peterborough (OHL)

Projected as a two-way minute munching defenseman, Matt Spencer owns the size, defensive awareness and projectable skills to attract suitors looking for a defender who can play a low-maintenance game. Spencer plays a relatively safe and reliable game, skates extremely well and has the smarts to maintain poise under high pressure situations. He’s not immune to making mistakes and that’s been evident at times this season but as he matures, he’s going to be even tougher to play against. Throw him out in any situation and let him eat up a tonne of minutes. At the next level, Spencer likely projects as a #3 or 4 puck-moving defenseman.

9. Nikita Korostelev, RW, Sarnia (OHL)

Terry Wilson (OHL Images)

As a sniper, Nikita Korostelev needed to bury the puck this season in order to receive first round consideration for the NHL Draft and he’s done that (and more) with 11 goals on the season. He is an opportunistic scorer who has a knack for sliding into scoring areas and unleashing an extremely quick shot. The puck comes off his blade extremely quickly and he can make opponents pay before they realize he’s slipped past their coverage. His skating (a bit heavy in acceleration and lacks a breakaway speed) remains a work in progress and might scare away some teams from using a first round selection but his ability to find the net is rare. Korostelev shows flashes of good puck skills but because he isn’t the swiftest skater, his ability to maintain possession is short-lived once pressure closes in on him. As a result, he’s best employing give-and-go plays rather than attempting individual rushes and follows up by getting himself into position to score. Playing to his strength (shooting) and improving his top-end speed will help him solidify a first round selection moving forward.

10. Rasmus Andersson, RD, Barrie (OHL)

The highly touted Swede was slow out of the gates in his first OHL season but has since found his groove registering seven assists in all five November games bumping him up to 8^th in OHL defensive scoring. An elite skater who shows no hesitation in jumping into the rush, Andersson’s entries are clean and effective. He is a reactionary puck rusher using his vision, quick puck skills and lateral agility to evade attackers at the last second under pressure. Prone to defensive lapses and he can get outmuscled at times, Andersson will need to continue to work on his defensive commitment, specifically positioning himself and sealing off his assignments. Andersson is one of several mobile offensive defenseman who will push for a top round selection but based on his upside, he will hold down at Top 10 OHL spot …for now.

11. Thomas Schemitsch, LD, Owen Sound (OHL)

Arguably, the OHL’s biggest riser in draft rankings over the first few months and it doesn’t appear that he’s going to slow down. His ability to quarterback the Attack’s powerplay has been solid and he’s only improving with each passing game. His game isn’t polished quite yet but that’s exactly the reason he’s considered a worthy investment as he does possess some untapped upside.

12. Graham Knott, LW, Niagara (OHL)

Good size allows Knott to play as a possession forward but he doesn’t use his size to bang, rather, he employs it in combination with his puck skills to dominate down low. Knott also packs an impressive shooting arsenal.

13. Blake Speers, RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Soo native was red hot to start the season picking up 12 points in his opening seven games and he’s been one of the most improved sophomores in the league. Speers is a highly intelligent finesse forward and his playmaking ability radiates throughout the lineup, making his teammates around him better.

14. Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Barrie (OHL)

Top ranked OHL goaltender is coming off an impressive showing with Team OHL at the Subway Super Series getting the CHL representatives the league’s first win. The Thunder Bay native owns great NHL size and he carries himself with an aura of confidence – an element that certainly won’t hurt his long-term chances. Tall and athletic, Blackwood’s style is a hybrid of a throwback stand-up goaltender and a blocker. He challenges shooters aggressively and owns the mobility and lateral quickness to provide all-around coverage. Mackenzie will pop up-and-down quickly into the butterfly and he shows to be very aggressive with his stick clearing out unwanted traffic from the blue paint. The goaltending draft class is very much wide open with several suitors battling to be the top ‘tender selected but so far, there hasn’t been anyone elevated themselves above the rest.

15. Travis Dermott, RD, Erie (OHL)

A 2012 9^th round selection of the Otters, Travis Dermott has risen quickly to become a great defensive prospect and a real shrewd pick of Erie. The undersized swift skating defenseman has a real knack for spearheading the Otters breakouts and has proven to be a capable quarterback on the powerplay as well. He missed some time due to a foot injury so views have been limited but look for him to gain momentum as he gets back into the swing of things.

16. Dante Salituro, RC, Ottawa (OHL)

To the surprise of many, Dante Salituro has been Ottawa’s offensive leader with an impressive 14 goal and 20 point effort through 18 games. Salituro has always been one of the best finishers in his age group dating back to his minor midget days with the Don Mills Flyers. He is an intense competitor and the only thing keeping this highly energetic dynamic forward from a high selection is that he’s skating at only 5-foot-8. Whether you agree with it or not, NHL teams value size. Regardless of where he is ranked, you can bet on Salituro maintaining a strong offensive pace and bringing an admirable work ethic each time he hits the ice.

17. Mitchell Stephens, RW, Saginaw (OHL)

Born to shoot the puck, Mitchell Stephens combines a high-level release with explosive skating giving him the tools to cash in on scoring chances often. The sophomore forward has only found the back of the net a handful of times but with increased opportunity in the future, look for Stephens to climb the scoring charts. The Saginaw forward projects as a Top 90 selection but I wouldn`t be surprised to see an NHL roll the dice on his package of pro tools as early as the second round. Opportunity will be key moving forward for Stephens.

18. Vince Dunn, LD, Niagara (OHL)

Few defensemen can skate and elude pressure like Peterborough native Vince Dunn. He’s been part of a Niagara blue line that was porous to start the season, one of the reasons the team only captured two wins in its opening 15 games. The turnaround is on in Niagara and Dunn should have plenty of time to show that his offensive creativity is draft-worthy but he will have to do so while improving his defensive commitments.

19. Kyle Capobianco, LD, Sudbury (OHL)

Joining the bevy of talented smooth skating offensive defensemen is Sudbury’s sophomore Kyle Capobianco. He is a calculated attacker who has the ability to make fore checkers miss with his strong four-way mobility. Elusive under pressure and a defender with natural anticipation skills, Capobianco is built to play as a puck-moving blueliner. He’s playing on a very poor Sudbury team so he will certainly experience growing pains but if he can continue to add to his wiry frame then he could be a Top 100 pick.

20. Zachary Senyshyn, RW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Playing in his first full OHL season, Ottawa native Zachary Senyshyn is a prospect all about pro potential. It was a toss-up between him and Addison for this spot but Senyshyn holds this position for now based solely on his future potential. He`s playing depth minutes in Sault Ste Marie and has been nicked up at times but I have really liked what I`ve seen. Senyshyn is a rangy winger who shows strong possession skills and some deceiving puck handling talents. He isn`t on many people`s radars yet but keep an eye on this intriguing forward as he may even push Speers as the best pro draft-eligible prospect from the Greyhounds.

21. Jeremiah Addison, RW, Ottawa (OHL)

22. Marcus Crawford, RD, Saginaw (OHL)

23. Justin Lemcke, RD, Belleville (OHL)

24. Gustaf Franzén, RC, Kitchener (OHL)

25. Artem Artemov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)

26. Roy Radke, RW, Barrie (OHL)

27. David Miller, RC, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

28. Gustav Bouramman, RD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

29. Hayden McCool, LW, Windsor (OHL)

30. Colton White, LD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

The Next Best (Alphabetical Order)

Andrew Burns, LD, Windsor (OHL)

Noah Bushnell, RW, Sarnia (OHL)

Doug Blaisdell, LD, Kitchener (OHL)

Anthony Cirelli, LC, Oshawa (OHL)

Adam Craievich, RW, Guelph (OHL)

Ben Fanjoy, RW, Ottawa (OHL)

Justin Fazio, G, Sarnia (OHL)

TJ Fergus, LD, Erie (OHL)

Sam Harding, RC, Oshawa (OHL)

Ivan Kashtanov, LW, Sudbury (OHL)

Vladislav Kodola, LC, Sarnia (OHL)

Adam Laishram, RC Belleville (OHL)

Brandon Lindberg, LC/W, Sarnia (OHL)

Matt Luff, RW, Belleville (OHL)

Tyler MacArthur, RD, Owen Sound (OHL)

Garrett McFadden, LD, Guelph (OHL)

Brett McKenzie, LC, North Bay (OHL)

Michael McNiven, G, Owen Sound (OHL)

Medric Mercier, LD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Ryan Moore, LC, Windsor (OHL)

Petrus Palmu, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)

Jesse Saban, LD, Erie (OHL)

Ethan Syzpula, RC, Owen Sound (OHL)

Artem Vladimirov, LD, Peterborough (OHL)

Zach Wilkie, LD, Niagara (OHL)

Bryce Yetman, RW, Plymouth (OHL)

5 Sleepers to Watch

Noah Bushnell (Sarnia) – Tough as nails but only averaged sized, Noah Bushnell has shown his gritty side this season but to be drafted, he will need to show that he can play with the puck as well and he has the talent to do so.

Gustaf Franzén (Kitchener) – Kitchener’s 4^th overall selection in the 2014 import draft, Franzén has stepped in to provide secondary scoring depth (20GP-5G-14P) and it’s been a main reason that the Kitchener Rangers are rocking an 11-3-2-4 record midway through November. He doesn’t own blazing speed but the Swedish import certainly thinks the game at a high level, offering up good playmaking ability. Strength and size could be an issue Gustaf.

Hayden McCool (Windsor) – McCool has the coolest name in the draft and most recently, was dealt to Windsor from Niagara as the key return in the Josh Ho-Sang trade. He owns some slick puck skills and skating ability to be a factor offensively but he will need to bear down and shed his passive approach to the game to be considered a legit pro prospect.

Ryan Moore (Windsor) – Pint-sized centerman who is both creative and dynamic on the attack. Every time he hits the slab of ice, he creates scoring chances but his stature will be the concerning point for scouts.

Roy Radke (Barrie) – OHL freshman who arrived from Illinois, Roy Radke possesses the mean streak, physicality and possession game to be considered a potential Top 100 pick. As he gets his feet wet, highlight Radke as a potential riser in the draft rankings.

Look for @RossyYoungblood’s updated 2015 NHL Draft rankings next month which will include

McKeen’s 2015 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings (Nov-2014)

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 21:34:47 +0000

Barring a dramatic turn of events, the top three selections for the 2015 NHL Draft already appear to be cast in stone.

If all goes to plan, the consensus frontrunners - Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin - should step up to the podium in 1-2-3 fashion.

However, much can happen on the way to the dance next summer, such as yesterday's news that Connor McDavid fractured his hand in a fight which could preclude his participation at the U20 World Juniors in December.

Forward prospects from the Ontario Hockey League hold down the next four spots in our preliminary rankings in Pavel Zacha (Sarnia), Lawson Crouse (Kingston), Mitchell Marner (London), and Dylan Strome (Erie).

Impressively, the OHL feature five of the top seven players in the top 30, however just two other OHLers earned spots in the balance of the opening round - those being Travis Konecny of the Ottawa 67's - at No. 13 - and Peterborough blueliner Matthew Spencer at No. 20.

Underrated Youngstown forward Kyle Connor sits next at No. 8 and is one of ten American-born players to gain first-round berths - a reflection of the steady growth in hockey across the United States.

Another large influence comes from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where the draft winds are blowing strong this season after a dud year in 2014 that saw just one QMJHLer go in the opening round - Danish-born forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

Six players from the QMJHL made the starting top 30 - albeit half those are imports in Czech defender Jakub Zboril (Saint John), Russian Evgeni Svechnikov (Cape Breton), and American-born Dennis Yan (Shawinigan).

A pair of Western Hockey League players fill out the final top 10 spots - in Nick Merkley of Kelowna (9th) and Seattle's Mathew Barzal (10th), both talented but relatively undersized forwards.

The WHL have seven of the top 30 spots - also including three imports in American's Paul Bittner (Portland) and Brandon Carlo (Tri-City) - and Russian sensation Ivan Provorov (Brandon).

Three European-based players made the grade led by Swedish defenceman Oliver Kylington at No. 14 - the others being Finnish forward Mikko Rantanen - at No. 18 - and Swedish blueliner Jacob Larsson at 21st overall.

One striking characteristic of this year's crop, at least based on our initial assesments, is the lack of defencemen in the top 10 which will further bolster the stock of Boston College stud Noah Hanifin - the third of the three franchise-type players available.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97	18-16-35-51
2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96	7-5-8-13
3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-2/200	25-Jan-97	9-1-2-3
4	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97	17-7-9-16
5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97	16-7-3-10
6	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97	19-13-19-32
7	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97	18-13-28-41
8	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96	12-6-11-17
9	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97	20-7-29-36
10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97	16-7-11-18
11	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/205	19-Jul-97	7-2-4-6
12	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97	14-9-9-18
13	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97	16-2-9-11
14	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97	17-2-3-5
15	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97	19-4-7-11
16	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96	17-7-3-10
17	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97	21-3-19-22
18	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96	17-0-7-7
19	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96	20-0-8-8
20	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97	16-2-8-10
21	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97	13-4-4-8
22	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97	20-8-14-22
23	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97	20-4-5-9
24	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97	20-5-17-22
25	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97	21-13-8-21
26	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96	20-9-19-28
27	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97	17-1-11-12
28	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97	23-10-15-25
29	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97	13-2-9-11
30	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96	22-10-11-21

Travis Konecny’s day at the OHL draft

Sean Lafortune — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:20:51 +0000

The Ottawa 67’s may have found Sean Monahan’s successor in the supremely-talented Travis Konecny.

The 67’s went with the smooth-skating, offensive workhorse from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs with the first-overall pick. Konecny, a cousin of 2013 NHL draft eligible Bo Horvat, carries a toolbox brimming with the tools to succeed and become a premier player in the OHL in the near future.

The Erie Otters are surrounding exceptional player Connor McDavid with another gem in Dylan Strome. The younger brother of New York Islanders prospect Ryan, Dylan was chosen with the second pick in the draft and should create quite the dynamic duo with McDavid in the not-too-distant future.

The first defenceman was taken with the third pick, but it wasn’t Sean Day. The Peterborough Petes instead opted for Matthew Spencer, whose impact won’t always be reflected in the box score.

Day’s slide ended with the next pick, No. 4 to the Mississauga Steelheads. The fourth player to be granted “exceptional player” status to play in the league at 15 and third in three years, Day will carve up the ice in the Toronto suburb for at least three seasons before being eligible for the NHL draft in 2016.

The Kingston Frontenacs rounded out the top five with Konecny’s teammate, left winger Lawson Crouse. The big and powerful winger will be a handful to contain once he realizes his immense potential.

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Travis Konecny (C, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 5'9" – 161 pounds - March 11, 1997

Drafted first-overall by the Ottawa 67’s

Konecny shone as a standout on Team Hall at the Allstate All-Canadians camp .. dynamic skater with natural speed and fluidity .. generates significant initial thrusts with his first steps and start up .. the slick pivot possesses soft, articulate hands with excellent playmaking vision .. makes the biggest impact when he pushes the pace of play and competes aggressively at both ends of the ice .. composed in possession and excels in making crafty plays in motion, aided by fine in-close puck skills and cleaver lateral mobility .. makes split-second decisions and can execute his game-plan smoothly in top gear .. can play with a physical edge and be a physical force .. delivers impactful open-ice hits and can terrorize opposing defencemen on the fore-check .. excels in traffic; comfortable with body contact and protecting the puck as he finds open space .. shows intuitiveness at sensing danger, knowing when to hold onto the puck for that extra second and when to distribute .. possesses a dynamic snapshot with an unpredictable release point that keeps goaltenders guessing .. consistency can waver, as he can get frustrated when given extra attention by the opposition .. his role next year may be tied to the future of Sean Monahan in the nation's capital, but the expectations are that Konecny will come into the league as a top two centre, while working on adding some strength to his frame and continuing his development .. has the ability to be one of the top players in the league in two years.

Dylan Strome (C, 2015), Toronto Marlboros - 6'2" - 165 pounds - March 7, 1997

Drafted second-overall by the Erie Otters

Quickly became known as the most dangerous playmaker in his age group .. puck skills and vision are his best assets .. a gifted passer, displays an ability to carve defences with no-look passes ranging from five to 20 feet in little-to-no space .. exhibits great imagination with the puck in the offensive zone, driving the net or finding teammates in open ice .. soft, quick hands make him one of the more dangerous players around the net .. well-sized for a player of his age and continuing to grow into his body .. still needs to work on adding bulk to his large, 6’2 frame .. not an elegant skater, as he is somewhat stiff and heavy footed .. increasing the length and fluidity of his stride will make him a stronger, more mobile player .. projects as a number one centre at the next level .. will probably slot into a top-six role initially with the Otters .. much like McDavid last year, look for the Otters to play him with finishers such as Dane Fox or Stephen Harper, where he can truly utilize his puck skills .. a power-play tandem of McDavid and Strome may become one of the most dangerous in the league in the coming seasons.

Matthew Spencer (D, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'2" – 185 pounds - March 24, 1997

Drafted third-overall by the Peterborough Petes

A responsible, well-rounded workhorse .. plays in all situations and thrives in each .. extremely-effective at closing down space in both the neutral and offensive zones .. gap control is top notch, aided by his deceptive quick feet and strong stick-work .. extremely tough to beat one-on-one, specifically when backing up and defending the rush .. sustains tight gaps and takes away space from opposing puck-rushers .. proficient at getting his stick into passing lanes and deflecting shots on net .. underrated in the offensive zone .. displays an ability to join the attack while making accurate lead passes .. composed under pressure and dissolves fore-checking pressure by making quick, decisive decisions with the puck .. packs a sizzling slap-shot with a hard, heavy one-timer .. has the ability to fake a shot, walk the line and alter a shooting lane .. could be more adventurous as a puck-mover, as he tends to be a bit conservative offensively .. will need to continue to bulk up and add muscle to his already large frame .. won't be judged on the score-sheet, but more so on his adjustment to the league this year .. should play more of a depth role defensively, seeing some time on the penalty kill and perhaps on the second power-play .. as he matures, expect him to be a leader who can positively contribute at both ends of the ice.

Sean Day (D, 2016), Detroit Compuware U16 - 6'2” - 200 pounds - January 9, 1998

Drafted fourth-overall by the Mississauga Steelheads

Assertive and confident beyond his years .. takes charge of situations and always strives to be a difference-maker .. an innovative, highly-skilled workhorse with great hands and elite mobility .. blessed with an explosive skating stride and backed by excellent footwork .. edges slash into the ice, generating a quick start-up bust and terrific turning speed .. paralyses opponents with dynamic lateral shifts and clever toe-drag moves .. plays the game with remarkable tempo in possession, moving effortlessly with the puck and displaying outstanding one-on-one elusiveness .. hands are fast and skilled .. boasts tricky in-close puck-possession abilities, backed by tremendous focus .. makes sharp, accurate passes and also packs a quick, hard shot .. can play tough, although that really isn’t his forte .. will skate himself into trouble at times, and run out of room .. needs to learn to improvise on the fly while better utilizing his teammates .. must also continue to make gains in his structure and consistency .. will be put in every position to succeed and learn from mistakes by playing top-four minutes following potential graduations of Stuart Percy, Dylan DeMelo and Alex Cord .. has the ability and talent to be one of the best offensive-minded defenders that we have seen in the OHL in some time.

Lawson Crouse (LW, 2015), Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs - 6'3" - 189 pounds - June 23, 1997

Drafted fifth-overall by the Kingston Frontenacs

A skilled and competent puck-handler thanks to strong hands and an ample wingspan .. deceptively quick off the mark, leaps in crossovers and initial steps before setting into a wide, lunging skating stride .. may lack elite mobility, however, but is a strong skater with surprisingly effective agility and lateral mobility .. hard to contain as he enters the offensive zone, using his large frame to protect the puck as he drives to the net .. possesses an elite-level snapshot with an unpredictable release point .. increasing his playmaking tempo and intensity .. misses some vision, but distributes effectively when operating on the sideboards .. at his best when powering through the offensive zone, gaining positioning on opposing defenders through his determination levels .. thrives when working without the puck, getting into open-ice and allowing a teammate to find him driving the net .. forces defenders to back off as he hits top speed, using his combination of agility and power to intimidate .. gets caught flat-footed watching defensive sequences, must stay active and strive to stay involved .. has the frame to be a powerful force, but needs to physically mature while adding strength and mass to his core .. should be an offensive leader for the Frontenacs while developing his defensive zone awareness and physical maturity .. high potential forward has the tools to be an impact forward at the OHL level .. will be initially placed in a depth role of the Frontenacs, learning about the game and adjusting to the speed, but don't be surprised if he’s in the team's top six by the second half of the year .. should mesh well with ’96-born centre Sam Bennett.