Nikita Korostelev – McKeen's Hockey

Wheeler’s Final Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League

Scott Wheeler — Tue, 05 May 2015 13:00:19 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February, and May, and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events, college tournaments, and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

May’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C/RW (#5)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#12)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#13)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#34)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#45)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#48)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#50)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#53)
Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw, C (#54)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke, D (#11)
Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#16)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#18)
Timo Meier, Halifax, RW/C (#19)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#20)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C/LW (#25)
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#26)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#28)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#29)
Nicholas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D (#30)
Nathan Noel, Saint John, C (#32)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#33)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec, LW/RW (#44)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#55)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (#60)

WHL:

Mathew Barzal, Seattle, C (#7)
Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#8)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, C (#17)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#24)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#27)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#31)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#38)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#39)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#40)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#47)
Parker Wotherspoon. Tri-City, D (#59)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#6)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#10)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, RW (#21)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#22)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#23)
Thomas Novak, Waterloo, C (#35)
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Omaha, C (#36)
Jack Roslovic, NTDP, C/RW (#41)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#42)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#56)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, AIK/Farjestad, D (#14)
Jens Looke, Brynas, RW (#37)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda, D (#43)
Joel Eriksson Ek, Farjestad, C (#49)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#51)
Filip Ahl, HV71, RW (#52)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo, D (#58)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS, RW (#9)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#46)

Just missed: Erik Foley, Anthony Richard, Roope Hintz, Michael Spacek, Kay Schweri, Graham Knott, Gabriel Carlsson, Ethan Bear, Rasmus Andersson, Travis Dermott, Adam Musil, Tyler Soy, Glenn Gawdin, Alex Dergachyov, Denis Gurianov, Denis Kase, Jonas Siegenthaler, Julius Nattinen, Adam Marsh, Guillaume Brisebois, Zachary Senyshyn.

Nikita Korostelev: Sarnia sniper drops in NHL draft rankings

David Burstyn — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:04:21 +0000

The Sarnia Stings leading point and goal scoring leader ( 55-24-29-55 ) endured an up and down season for the recently eliminated seventh place team. Korostelev contributed three points while being dispatched by the Erie Otters in five games in the opening round of the playoffs. His draft ranking has fallen to #53 on McKeen’s March rankings after being listed at #40. Recent final rankings released from NHL Central Scouting saw him register a similar drop down the list. An injury to his shoulder December 28^th sidelined him for much of the month of January returning on the 30^th - while still remaining the active scoring leader on the Sting (34-16-20-36) at the time. While his absence from the line-up and an interrupted season contributed to his diminishing draft stock, defensive shortcomings and skating mechanics also played a factor as David Burstyn outlines in a scouting report:

____________________________________________________

Nikita Korostelev (2015), RW

Offensively gifted with the ability to corral loose pucks and make a play in one fluid motion .. stick handling skills coupled with his one timer and release are easily in the upper echelon of this draft .. able to separate himself from coverage and one time a shot .. did not have a true play-making centre to constantly get him the puck which hindered his overall production .. highly opportunistic player that only competes when the puck is on his stick .. owns a patent move in which he takes the puck out of the corner and make a strong move to the net, always getting his shots on goal .. follows up on plays when the puck is in the area of the goal mouth .. skating is a glaring concern, mechanics are simply not conducive to generating any type of speed to be effective at the next level; shuffles his feet and needs to improve his posture .. defensively his game is lacking as he has shown little regard for making an impact and requires more consistent efforts throughout the course of the season .. with a healthier Sting team, Korostlev should be able to draw on his numbers next season and potentially score 30+ goals, despite his limitations.

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

Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (February)

Scott Wheeler — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 19:01:56 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February and May (prior to the draft itself) and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

February’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C (#5)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#12)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#14)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#29)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#46)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#51)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#52)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#54)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke, D (#13)
Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#16)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#18)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#19)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C/LW (#24)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#25)
Timo Meier, Halifax, RW/C (#26)
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#28)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#30)
Nathan Noel, Saint John, C (#34)
Nicolas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D (#35)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#38)
Guillaume Brisebois, Acadie-Bathurst, D (#47)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec, LW/RW (#48)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#49)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (59)

WHL:

Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#7)
Mathew Barzal, Seattle, C (#8)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, C (#11)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#23)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#27)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#32)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#33)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#39)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#40)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#45)
Adam Musil, Red Deer, C (#50)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#6)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#17)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#20)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, RW (#21)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#22)
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Omaha, C (#36)
Thomas Novak, Waterloo, C (#37)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#41)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#43)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, AIK/Farjestad, D (#9)
Jens Looke, Brynas, RW (#31)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda, D (#44)
Filip Ahl, HV71, RW (#53)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#56)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo, D (#58)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS, RW (#10)
Roope Hintz, Ilves, RW (#60)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#42)

Czech Republic:

Michael Spacek, HC Pardubice, RW (#55)

Just missed: Mitchell Stephens, Anthony Richard, Kay Schweri, Graham Knott, Gabriel Carlsson, Ethan Bear, Rasmus Andersson, Travis Dermott, Tyler Soy, Glenn Gawdin, Alex Dergachyov, Denis Gurianov, Denis Kase, Jonas Siegenthaler, Julius Nattinen, Adam Marsh, Parker Wotherspoon.

If you have any questions regarding a player, or his ranking, don’t hesitate to contact me @scottcwheeler. Be sure to check out the latest edition of the McKeen’s 2015 Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings as well.

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

Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (November)

Scott Wheeler — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:22:15 +0000

Each season, I release three installments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February and May (prior to the draft itself) and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

November’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C (#5)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#7)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#12)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#26)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#41)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#45)
Graham Knott, Niagara, LW (#46)
Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw, C/RW (#48)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#53)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#54)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#11)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#16)
Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke Phoenix, D (#17)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#19)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#24)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#27)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C (#28)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#29)
Nicolas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D(#31)
Nathan Noel, Saint John (#32), C
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#42)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#43)
Guillaume Brisebois, Acadie-Bathurst, D (#44)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (#60)

WHL:

Matthew Barzal, Seattle, C (#6)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, RW (#10)
Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#22)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#23)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#30)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#33)
Adam Musil, Red Deer, C (#35)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#36)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#37)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#39)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#52)
Ethan Bear, Seattle, D (#58)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#9)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#13)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#14)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, C (#20)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#21)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#25)
Tom Novak, Waterloo, C (#34)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#38)
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Omaha, C (#51)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, Farjestad, D (#8)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda Jr., D (#40)
Filip Ahl, HV71 Jr., RW (#47)
Gabriel Carlsson, Linkoping Jr., D (#50)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo Jr., D (#59)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS Turku, RW (#18)
Julius Nattinen, JYP, C (#49)

Czech Republic:

Michael Spacek, HC Pardubice, RW(#55)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#56)

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

Youngblood: OHL Sends Strong 2015 NHL Draft Crop [Top 10]

Brendan Ross — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 16:32:43 +0000

Just months after the Ontario Hockey League sent 41 players through the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, evaluation on the 2015 draft class gets ramped up and all signs are pointing towards another spectacular Ontario League group. Generational talent Connor McDavid (Erie Otters) headlines the group of OHLers that will spend the next 10 months chasing their dreams of being drafted into the National Hockey League. McDavid is surely set to reach new levels of publicity and analysis but the Otters’ exceptional forward is joined by some special competition including 2014 OHL Rookie of the Year Travis Konecny, Dylan Strome (the younger brother of Islanders’ prospect Ryan Strome) and Lawson Crouse, a budding power forward ready to breakout.

The following ranking is a preliminary grouping based on live observations over the past two seasons. Not included in the rankings are import players (see Sarnia’s Pavel Zacha and Barrie’s Rasmus Andersson) expected to challenge for Top 10 spots.

1. Connor McDavid, LC, Erie Otters

It has been well-documented and publicized how special of a player Connor McDavid projects to be. He has been a phenom dating back to his minor hockey days and if there was any one player deserving of the exceptional status that Hockey Canada has handed out four times now, it’s certainly Richmond Hill native, Connor McDavid. The most highly-anticipated prospect since Sidney Crosby in 2005, McDavid is unquestionably worthy of all of the hype given the specialness to his game. As a player, McDavid is neither overly flashy or arrogant in his approach but rather, it’s his elite hockey sense, attention to detail and team-first attitude that makes him and his teammates a constant threat.

McDavid has an innate ability to read his opponents and exploit the smallest of errors. Besides being average-sized, McDavid excels in every other possible area of the game. He’s surprisingly strong and is downright fearless in his attacks, never holding back against larger defenders. His calm and poised demeanor radiates confidence throughout the lineup and the ease at how he executes everything on the ice is astonishing. Skating is considered lethal not because of blazing speed but moreso because of a well-balanced stride and strong edge work - used to cut in and out of traffic. Deft puck skills use timely disguises, deceptive delays and merciless in-close control allowing McDavid to draw in defenders and maintain possession under the tightest of physical pressure. Special players possess special talents that sometimes can’t be justified or quantified. A skill that is sometimes referred to as the “it factor”, McDavid has it in spades.

The Erie Otters offensive leader has a knack for executing plays that few can explain and his ability to step up in pressure-filled situations is a rare talent that only star players retain (the it factor). As if McDavid’s special talents on the ice weren’t enough, he is also an exceptional student taking home the CHL’s 2013-14 Scholastic Player of the Year award with a 92 percent average.

McDavid stands alone atop not only the OHL class but all draft eligible prospects around the globe and unseating him will …well … take a miracle.

2. Travis Konecny, RC, Ottawa 67’s

Dating back to his Minor Midget days with the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs, Travis Konecny has always been one of the hardest working and most determined players in his age group. I had the luxury of following Konecny for several years, keeping in close contact with his friends and family along the way – all of whom echo his passion as one of his best attributes. Konecny is a standout player in many aspects but it's his dynamic skating ability and lethal shooting arsenal that draws the most praise. His first few steps generate powerful bursts offering him the separation gear he needs to flank out wide and unleash a shot packed with one of the best releases I’ve witnessed. Even with his smaller stature, he wields a dynamic snapshot that explodes off of the blade generating elite velocity that finds the net with great accuracy.

Hailing from the small hamlet of Clachan in Southwestern Ontario, Travis Konecny is a humble but determined competitor and it shows in his early accomplishments. It was last year that Travis Konecny stated that he wanted to challenge Connor McDavid for the top spot at the draft, which is an admirable goal and shows his ambition to become the best possible player he can be. Following in McDavid's footsteps, Konecny was awarded OHL Rookie of the Year and will have the opportunity to be scrutinized alongside him as both eagerly enter their NHL draft years. Coming off captaining Team Canada to a Hlinka Memorial Gold Medal, Konecny showed his lethal scoring touch snapping home five goals and six points in five games.

3. Lawson Crouse, LW, Kingston Frontenacs

Teammate of the above-mentioned Travis Konecny during their Minor Midget days, Lawson Crouse is an intelligent and robust winger with an astute two-way dedication. His ability to play a number of roles is extremely beneficial and whether he’s starring on the penalty kill or driving the net with a purpose on the powerplay, Crouse is a true competitor that won’t stop until his mission is complete. Extremely attentive to detail, his ability to position himself and shield off checkers with his rangy size allows him to dominate in possession. Add in an effective battery of shots that can be unleashed from afar or in tight crease traffic with great success and you have a power forward that will eat up minutes. Book it, Lawson Crouse will be the breakout player from this year’s draft eligible OHL crop.

4. Mitch Marner, RC, London Knights

For anyone who follows my work, it will come as no surprise that Mitch Marner is ranked as highly as he is here. Sure, there is a case to be made for Dylan Strome to occupy this spot (something I debated in length) but Marner’s accomplishments on last year’s Knights team is worthy of this ranking. In fact, it was rookie Mitch Marner who showed up night-after-night as London’s most consistent and dangerous forward, showing up a bunch of savvy under-performing OHL veterans in most games. Undersized by NHL standards, Marner actually added some notable size and strength in 2013-14. His size is less concerning for me considering his exceptional ability to elude defenders with his great four-way mobility. Given Marner’s outstanding puck skills and creative vision, defenders are forced to respect the crafty playmaker’s abilities and provide him with more space than usual. With more space comes more opportunity to create scoring chances and that’s something Marner does at will. Considering the limited ice time Marner received in his freshman season and the accomplishments he was able to achieve (2^nd in rookie scoring – 64-13-46-59), don’t be surprised when the Markham native becomes one of the OHL’s leading scorers in his upcoming draft season. Playing alongside fellow OHLers Strome and Knott, Marner rattled off a team-high seven points (2G 5A) in Canada’s Gold Medal Ivan Hlinka showing this past week. Again, no surprise here.

5. Dylan Strome, LC, Erie Otters

Great hockey bloodlines aside, Dylan Strome is a special talent and should battle Travis Konecny, Lawson Crouse and Mitch Marner for the second rated OHLer this season. Held to limited offensive minutes due to Erie’s outstanding forward depth last season, Dylan Strome is slated for a massive breakout draft season with more opportunities opening up for him. With a chance to land alongside Connor McDavid on the powerplay, it will be fun to watch Strome’s offensive totals explode this season. He is a natural playmaker with some of the best puck skills and vision of his age group but it’s his imagination and creativity that makes him a constant threat. Capable of playing in traffic because of a well-built frame, Strome shows a rare ability to send no-look passes with an impressive success rate. A prolific scorer for the Toronto Marlboros in his draft season (60-65-78-143), Strome will look to show scouts that his skating is improving (tends to have a heavy footed stride) and that he can become one of Erie’s go-to offensive catalysts.

6. Matt Spencer, RD, Peterborough Petes

Coming off a gold medal performance as Canada’s Alternate Captain at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, defenseman Matt Spencer showed scouts exactly why he should be considered a 1^st round prospect. A responsible and well-rounded defenseman, Spencer is a blue-collared player who excels in the defensive end. A rangy, well-sized frame allows Spencer to use his wingspan and accurate stick checks to close down gaps quickly. Deceptive feet and extremely efficient at sustaining pressure while in movement, Spencer transitions from backwards to forwards flawlessly providing him with the skills to keep elusive attackers in check. A capable puck-mover who is developing more confidence at jumping into the rush, his offensive game is one area that remains relatively raw with some room to grow. Assuming Spencer can activate the underlying offensive skills more consistently, he could experience a big jump in his draft stock.

7. Mitchell Vande Sompel, LD, Oshawa Generals

A personal favourite dating back to his London Jr. Knights’ days when he would rotate from forward to defense as his team needed scoring, Mitchell Vande Sompel is a player to watch heading into the 2014-15 OHL Season. Few players are capable of immediately jumping into the OHL and making as much of an impact as Vande Sompel did last year with Oshawa. An excellent skater capable of finding open space while dangling with the puck, Vande Sompel was born to operate the powerplay. His ability to distribute the puck from the blueline and find open teammates is rare. The Generals likely didn’t expect him to become such an important part of their transition game so early but he forced their hand as he just kept getting better and better. Vande Sompel’s 0.43 points-per-game were highest among all Oshawa blueliners and he should drastically improve upon that number in 2014-15 as a vital member of a younger Gens squad.

8. Nikita Korostelev, LW, Sarnia Sting

Playing on the OHL’s last place team can be trying for a rookie but Sarnia’s Nikita Korostelev has to be pleased with his first season after scorching the net 17 times for 38 points (7^th among OHL rookies). Blessed with an outstanding snap shot that features pin-point accuracy and the power to give goaltenders trouble, Korostelev is just beginning to tap into his scoring potential. His ability to receive pucks and unload a quick release in a fluid motion ranks among the best of his age group. He was able to immediately step into Sarnia’s top-six and add a much needed scoring punch but the rebuilding Sting will need him to continue to elevate his game more in 2014-15. Expected to garner prime offensive minutes alongside NHL 1^st rounder Nikolay Goldobin, newly drafted import Pavel Zacha and the OHL’s leading defensive scorer in Tony DeAngelo, expect a notable improvement in Korostelev’s offensive totals. Look for Korostelev to improve upon his somewhat sluggish start-up gear and as he aims to establish himself as a true 1^st round prospect.

9. Mitchell Stephens, RC, Saginaw Spirit

A treat to watch move about the ice, Mitchell Stephens’ fluid yet powerful stride is his best asset and it’s the reason he’s able to control the pace of the game. In a close second place, Stephens’ shooting ability is worth noting as well since he does have the ability to change the game with just one shot. He is a shoot-first player who excels at driving towards the net blowing past defenders with excellent first step quickness. There’s room to grow as a playmaker but it’s an area of Stephens’ game that is developing. Look for this streaking forward flying down an OHL rink near you but be sure to keep a close eye, as his shot occasionally leaves a vapour trail.

10. Brett McKenzie, LC, North Bay Battallion

Choosing the last spot in a Top 10 was a frustrating process and the internal debate came down to several players that were all worthy of a placement inside Top 10. In the end, Battallion forward Brett McKenzie holds down the last slot. McKenzie is a high-potential forward with a strong all-around package but he’s a prospect that’s still discovering his game and abilities so there is certainly room for movement in his 10^th ranking. Sparked by strong skating and prominent puck skills, McKenzie shows flashes of becoming a strong possession player but it’s his consistency that needs some rounding into form to make him a true threat. With some offensive minutes opening up in North Bay, McKenzie will have the opportunity to mold a role for himself and is definitely a player worth watching.

The Next Best:

Jeremiah Addison, LW, Ottawa 67’s

Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Barrie Colts

Douglas Blaisdell, LD, Kitchener Rangers

Kyle Capobianco, LD, Sudbury Wolves

Travis Dermott, LD, Erie Otters

Vince Dunn, LD, Niagara IceDogs

Sam Harding, RC, Oshawa Generals

Graham Knott, LW, Niagara IceDogs

Justin Lemcke, RD, Belleville Bulls

Hayden McCool, LC, Niagara IceDogs

David Miller, LC, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Dante Salituro, RC, Ottawa 67’s

Blake Speers, RC, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Follow @RossyYoungblood for 2015 NHL Draft coverage

Untapped Hayden McCool lands in Niagara, OHL draft picks 6-10

Sean Lafortune — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:42:26 +0000

In the second installment of the OHL’s first-round, scouting reports highlight the players drafted in picks six-through-10.

The Niagara IceDogs began their rebuild by taking the imposing Whitby forward with the catchy name, Hayden McCool. McCool is a team-player that can play at both ends of the rink. He’s got most of the tools, but just needs the toolbox now to reach his long-term potential.

Kyle Capobianco became the third defenceman to hear his name called when the Sudbury Wolves tapped him for the seventh pick. Capobianco will bring his dynamic skating and offensive creativity to the Nickel City.

Mitchell Stephens, a former teammate of Connor McDavid’s on the Toronto Marlboros, went eighth to Saginaw. The smooth-skating forward is a bit of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde given the wide-ranging levels of inconsistencies from game-to-game. He can dazzle when he’s at his best.

The Sarnia Sting are hoping Nikita Korostelev can fill some pretty big skates next season. The Sting are banking on Korostelev and Nikolay Goldobin’s past playing experience to provide instant chemistry.

The Battalion franchise will move from Brampton to North Bay but the drafting of Brett McKenzie at No. 10 signals their philosophy won’t change. McKenzie is a responsible two-way player with a potent wrist-shot.

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Hayden McCool (C, 2015), Whitby Wildcats - 6'3"- 185 pounds - April 11, 1997

Drafted sixth-overall by the Niagara IceDogs

McCool played his first year in Whitby after spending his bantam year with the Clarington Toros .. a large-bodied forward, possesses a significant among of tools .. opportunistic and competitive, willing to battle for loose pucks .. digs his feet in when in front of the net, using his elite hand-eye coordination to tip in shots and bat in rebounds .. hands are soft and fast, possesses excellent stick-handling abilities and one-on-one elusiveness .. his upper-body skill separates him from his peers as a prospect .. boasts a multidimensional shot, highlighted by its multiple release points .. displays a sharp sense for protecting the puck in traffic, shielding it from pressure as he drives the net .. wins board battles, exploiting an expanded reach and good balance .. finishes checks, however, not overly-aggressive by nature .. high commitment level and focus in his defensive zone .. provides support for his defencemen by sacrificing offense to ensure defensive success .. does attain good mobility once he hits top speed .. not the most graceful start-ups and tends to struggle with explosiveness .. will benefit from adding both length and strength to a somewhat choppy stride .. prone to tunnel vision, gets fixated on things which can limit his selection process .. projects as a strong, two-way forward with untapped offensive abilities .. may be more effective as a winger at the next level given his size .. will initially slot into a depth role for the Niagara Ice Dogs, continuing to see more responsibilities as he matures .. has an intriguing long-term ceiling given his size and developing puck skills.

Kyle Capobianco (D, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'0" – 155 pounds - August 13, 1997

Drafted seventh-overall by the Sudbury Wolves

Capobianco played with the Oakville Rangers after spending last season with the bantam Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL .. he was one of 42 Canadians who were selected to participate in the 2012 All Canadians camp .. biggest gift is his high-end skating ability .. undersized defenceman is an exceptional skater who is powered by a strong, controlled stride .. he has the ability to change his pace at the drop of a hat .. a natural puck rusher who has the innate ability to shift through open ice and skate past opposing defenders with ease .. anticipates the game well and makes a strong first pass, which is aided by his strong poise and puck-handling ability .. needs to work to add power to his slap-shot .. must continue to add power and strength to his wiry frame .. gets beat down low by size and strength, and goes static at times, losing his focus and coverage .. a risk taker, he pinches aggressively and forsakes defensive responsibilities .. prone to over-handling the puck from time to time .. will be in the Wolves’ lineup initially, adding offence to a defensive core that will lose veteran Charlie Dodero .. expect him to be a strong power-play option right off the bat .. will need to continue to work on his strength and one-on-one effectiveness in the defensive zone.

Mitchell Stephens (C, 2015), Toronto Marlboros - 5'10" - 166 pounds – February 5, 1997

Drafted eighth-overall by the Saginaw Spirit

Stephens is playing his second year of minor midget after seeing a lot of ice with the ‘96 Toronto Marlboros, a team that featured current OHLers Connor McDavid, Joshua Ho-Sang and Sam Bennett .. biggest gift is his excellent footwork and extremely-strong skating stride .. he’s a remarkable skater with a great range of speed .. generates tremendous thrusts from his long and powerful skating stride .. his first few steps are powerful, quick and explosive, which allows him to get a quick step on opposing skaters and creates separation with the puck .. at his best when aggressively driving into lanes and striving to show off an elite shot .. has shown an ability to read the ice and improvise at a moment’s notice, without compromising his puck protection .. a shoot-first player, he looks to take the puck to the net instead of making higher-percentage outlet passes .. needs to continue to work on his core strength and improve his overall ability to win battles down low and along the boards .. struggles with consistency; looks like a star one game while struggling to make an impact the next .. should slot initially into Saginaw's top-nine forward core and be a factor in penalty killing situations .. his speed and shot could be an asset to the Spirit immediately .. has the potential to be a top-line forward at the OHL level, however, patience will be needed.

Nikita Korostelev (RW, 2015), Toronto Jr. Canadiens - 6'0" - 176 pounds - February 8, 1997

Drafted ninth-overall by the Sarnia Sting

This was Korostelev’s second season in minor midget after spending the second half of last year with the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League .. his biggest weapon is a powerful and accurate snap-shot that features an extremely-dangerous release .. has the ability to simply take the puck into his body and let off a hard, strong shot with little-to-no effort .. has high-end puck-skills, as he has displayed the ability to dangle in one-on-one situations or make a smart touch pass .. generates a surprising amount of speed and acceleration from his long and lunging skating stride .. plays with a chip on his shoulder at times and can have a bit of pushback when challenged physically, but that pushback isn’t always consistent .. has shown that he can struggle with puck battles .. has gained a significant amount of weight on his frame compared to where he was last year, but he still has room to be bigger and stronger, particularly in his upper-body .. despite his Russian descent, was deemed eligible for the 2013 OHL draft as opposed to the CHL import draft .. will need to make an immediate impact in Sarnia given the Sting's loss of Reid Boucher, Alex Galchenyuk, Charles Sarault and others .. should find instant chemistry with import Nikolay Goldobin, given that the two have played together in the past in Russia.

Brett McKenzie (C, 2015), Oakville Rangers - 6'1" - 175 pounds - March 21, 1997

Drafted 10^th overall by the North Bay Battalion

A high-potential forward playing his first year in Oakville after playing last year with Eastern Ontario of the OEMHL .. led the Rangers offensively all season and was a significant factor in the team winning the organization’s first OHL Cup championship .. industrious, strong-skating forward with good skills for a big man .. powered by quick, able footwork and lateral mobility .. smooth puck-handler, who rushes and distributes the puck well, displaying patience and awareness in possession, as well as an ability to use his size and mobility to create space and make plays in motion .. adept at shifting the puck out wide, exploiting his large wingspan .. a versatile, hardworking and positionally-responsible player .. packs a heavy wrist-shot that gets prime power from a compact, efficient release .. can play a rugged and scrappy physical game, however, can lack intensity and let up on the fore-check at times .. could be meaner and more belligerent in one-on-one puck battles and positional battles in front of the net .. must continue to elevate his intensity level, however, does bring an understated compete level .. a responsible defender who supports his teammates below his own red line .. possesses a good positional sense and awareness .. a player who can contribute on both the power-play and the penalty kill .. has the frame, but must continue to build muscle mass .. projects as a responsible top-six forward who can contribute at both ends of the ice at the OHL level .. a perfect fit for the Battalion .. McKenzie is going to an organization that has a history of allowing younger players to take on more responsibility .. will probably slot into the third line centre role initially while he learns his craft, but may quickly move up the team’s depth chart.