Ottawa 67’s – McKeen's Hockey

OHL star Dante Salituro focused on hockey after draft snub

Scott Wheeler — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 17:09:03 +0000

Every year, a handful of draft prospects slip as teams focus in on their mid-to-late round targets.

Last season, Ottawa 67’s leading scorer Dante Salituro went undrafted after posting 78 points in 68 games. Despite registering a 1.15 points per game clip, higher than teammate and first round pick Travis Konecny’s 1.13, Salituro watched 211 other players get their name called at the end of June.

After failing to earn a contract from a camp invite from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the undrafted, highly skilled winger and centre has picked up where he left off in the OHL to make sure he isn’t forgotten twice.

Through 16 games, Salituro has elevated his points per game to 1.38 this season with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points.

Ranked 50th overall in my final top 60 ranking for the 2015 NHL Draft and 49th in my November ranking for the 2016 class, Salituro is performing well enough to merit being selected as an over-aged draftee.

In fact, Salituro was one of only three players ranked in my top 60, along with Sweden’s Sebastian Aho and two-way centre Nathan Noel, who went undrafted in Florida.

Despite standing just 5-9, Salituro is one of the OHL’s most gifted players with the puck.

“I’m working hard and trying to get chances,” he said following a 3-1 loss to the undefeated-in-regulation Kitchener Rangers on Friday, when he registered an assist on the only 67's goal. “I’m just trying to make my game better and not worry about the draft, I’m going to be successful in the long run if I keep working hard."

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Here's my scouting report:

Dante Salituro: C/RW, #96, Ottawa 67's

Playing to prove people wrong after being passed up in the 2015 NHL Draft .. prone to over handling the puck but he can also hang onto it to create plays that few others can .. can get caught taking unnecessary penalties away from the puck at times .. can make poor decisions with the puck at times with soft, careless passes .. excellent at managing the wall on the PP .. great vision and is often rewarded for his risks .. shies away from contact and turns the puck over too much, often in dangerous situations .. keeps his knees bent when stationary with the puck in order to spin off checks and maneuver between defenders, almost invites players to challenge him with the puck at a standstill .. plays with a chip on his shoulder and exudes confidence .. shifty player who loves to make high risk no-look plays .. loves to have the puck on his stick, but it can be at the expense of his line mates, even with open opportunities .. incredible stick handler who can embarrass defenders one-on-one .. strong skater with lower body strength to fight off defenders despite being one of the smaller players on the ice .. agile, particularly in an inside-out transition .. loves to shoot high and has the accuracy to go to post-in .. will draw intrigue as one of a handful of strong over-aged players worthy of a 2016 selection .. has the skill to push 100 points with the right usage.

Alex Nylander leaving family’s shadow behind ahead of 2016 draft

Scott Wheeler — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:00:08 +0000

The heir to one of Swedish hockey’s thrones is playing his way out of his family’s shadow and into the spotlight.

You’re easily forgotten when your father, Michael Nylander, is a two-time World Championship gold medalist and Sweden’s 13th highest scoring NHL player of all-time and your older brother, William, is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ next big thing.

But Alex, the youngest of the Nylander clan, is making a name for himself away from home ahead of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Now 17, Alex has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Mississauga Steelheads.

A rookie, Alex came to the OHL to get noticed in one of the NHL’s biggest feeder leagues.

Back home, everyone in the Swedish hockey world knows who the Nylanders are. Even Alex’s uncle Peter – a 356-game veteran of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Sweden’s top professional level – is famous.

Sweden wasn’t always home though. Born in Calgary while Michael played for the Flames, Nylander grew up playing in North America. That familiarity has helped ease his transition to the OHL according to Steelheads head coach James Boyd.

“He (Alex) doesn't have to get used to the ice surface or the culture, he speaks perfect English,” Boyd said in an interview before Wednesday’s game against the Ottawa 67’s.

The transition hasn’t distanced him from his family either. Michael has joined the Steelheads as an assistant coach and William, an eighth overall pick to the Leafs in 2014, plays nearby with the Toronto Marlies.

That familiarity, and having his dad behind the bench, has made the transition seamless, Boyd said. In fact, Alex is the team’s leading scorer.

“He’s got a very accurate shot, he’s got great hands, he’s poised with the puck, he’s an elusive skater, he can twist and turn in tight and get himself out of trouble,” Boyd said, adding that comparisons to his brother are warranted. “He’s very much like his brother William with his skillset – exciting to watch.”

Wednesday night, the 67’s saw it first-hand.

Used on the penalty kill (rare for a top prospect), Nylander broke up two Ottawa chances early in the first period. And he was just getting started.

A shift later, Nylander intercepted the puck behind the net and carried it out in front, spinning and firing a shot off his backhand under the crossbar to give the Steelheads the 1-0 lead.

After the teams traded goals, with Drake Rymsha and Montreal Canadiens prospect Jeremiah Addison scoring for the 67’s and fellow top 2016 NHL Draft prospect Sean Day for the Steelheads, Nylander took over again.

On his first shift of the second period, Nylander nearly scored his second of the game with a shot that just missed the crossbar before creating chances for teammates Austin Osmanski and Josh Burnside a shift later.

After his team regained the lead in the third, Nylander could be seen bouncing on the bench as he waited for his next shift. That intensity, it turns out, runs in the family.

“Mike’s an intense, intense dude,” Boyd said of his new assistant coach, raising his eyebrows. “He’s passionate about hockey.”

Late in the third, Nylander was rewarded for his enthusiasm with a goal on a delayed penalty. With it, the game finished just as it started with a Nylander goal.

Despite the two-goal night though, the young Swede was tough on himself.

“I played okay today but our team was playing really good,” Alex said following the win, noting that he’s lucky to have played at last year’s Under-17 World Championships in Sarnia, Ont., where he was able to acclimatize himself to the North American game.

67’s head coach Jeff Brown was more complimentary.

“He’s (Alex) a good player, skilled player, you’ve got to be hard on him, you've got to finish checks on him,” Brown said. “It’s disappointing to have a guy like that come into our building and I don’t think we finished a check on him once tonight.”

That focus from opposing coaches like Brown can be challenging night to night and handling the distractions in a draft year can be tough for a top prospect like Alex, according to Boyd.

Michael credited his son for his work ethic and overall handling of the transition.

“He’s a pretty good all around player and he works like everyone else on his team so that’s what’s exciting about it,” the 920-game NHL veteran said before the game.

As he approaches the draft, Nylander intends to show people he’s an offensive threat and a two-way player. Though his brother might disagree, according to Michael.

“They (Alex and William) like to chirp each other when they see each other play when there’s something they don't like.”

Now with 16 points in 11 games, good for third in OHL scoring, it looks like Alex may not need his brother’s advice.

Konecny and Addison trying to focus on 67’s, not draft

Scott Wheeler — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:17:20 +0000

Travis Konecny and Jeremiah Addison, two top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft have put together strong personal seasons, but their coach is trying to keep them focused on the team.

Despite two early goals on Friday night for Konecny, Ottawa 67’s head coach Jeff Brown wasn’t pleased with his team’s attitude.

The 67’s blew an early 3-0 lead, falling to the London Knights 6-5 in overtime.

“For 20 minutes we played pretty well and then everybody got their calculators out and thought it was point night,” Brown said following the game. “You can’t cheat, and I don’t know why we choose to do this, we played so smart and so hard the first period and then we just shut down.”

Friday wasn’t the first time the team has blown a late lead either, Brown said, pointing to a last minute goal they allowed against Windsor on Feb. 26 as another recent example.

“We started playing pond hockey, and we’re going to lose that,” Brown added. “If it was no check pond hockey out there they’d beat us by 20.”

Despite a late goal of his own to give the team another lead, Addison expects more from himself and his teammates.

“We’ve been going through this a few times, I mean it happened earlier last weekend as well in Windsor and then happened in Plymouth,” he said. “It keeps happening so we have to learn to shut it down, especially in the last few minutes and finish games.”

Brown said he thinks his team is focused too much on the individual or their statistics.

“Our guys apparently think that they’re better than they are and that’s what happens,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s unbelievable to me how at that stage, all you have to do is be on the defensive side but we choose to cheat.”

Konecny, the team’s captain, attributed part of the loss to bad luck after a referee got in the way of a puck that looked to be headed towards the empty net in the dying seconds before London tied it up. His coach disagreed.

“We’ve got guys concerned more about getting a goal and a freebie at the end into the empty net instead of playing defense,” Brown said.

Still, Konecny said he knows the little mistakes and breakdowns are preventable.

Come playoff time, Brown is unsure of the team’s commitment.

“We have no chance come playoff time if this is what’s going to happen, we might as well just pack it in and move on to next year because unless the guys buy in to one another and play for one another, we have no chance,” he said.

“We’re not good enough, we’re not talented enough to get away with that kind of stuff, we have to play pretty perfect hockey to have a chance,” he added.

Addison hoped the team could turn their play around with Saturday and Sunday games to follow against Niagara and Mississauga. They lost both by a combined score of 11-5.

My scouting reports:

Travis Konecny, Ottawa 67’s:

The top selection in the OHL draft and rookie of the year turned heads at Ivan Hlinka before battling injuries to start his draft year .. served as captain for Canada and Ottawa for a reason .. not afraid to take a hit to make a play, often invites contact despite being undersized .. has had some concussion scares but didn’t miss significant time .. very elusive player with great hands in tight .. likes to beat the goalie laterally .. always has his head up with the puck and likes to find forwards cross ice in the offensive zone .. turned it on after a slow first quarter to the year .. quick release with a heavy snapshot due .. keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone .. great passer off his backhand .. one of the best lateral movers off the rush in the draft class .. when his minutes could afford it in Ottawa he was an effective penalty killer .. doesn’t lack strength but a high stance in his stride can leave him off balance .. plays the point or off-wing on the powerplay .. does a good job of avoiding checks when skating hard down the wing, but can take punishment going to the net .. likes to shoot in stride over the goalie’s pad.

Jeremiah Addison, Ottawa 67’s:

Good hands and extremely aggressive on the forecheck with strong acceleration .. tends to roam in all three zones and can get caught out of position because of it .. not afraid to stick up for his teammates .. goes to the net to score his goals by finishing plays in tight or jumping into the rush for a rebound .. structured, balanced stride but more effective down the sidewall with the puck than taking it inside .. great release but enjoys trying to screen the goalie and redirect pucks .. remains extremely active and involved without the puck .. not a gifted puck carrier but makes the smart, low-risk play .. a linear player.

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.