Sam Miletic – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Pittsburgh Penguins Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:45:09 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Pittsburgh Penguins prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Samuel Poulin, RW (21^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Poulin is a well-rounded offensive player, who has looked dominant at times in his junior career with Sherbrooke. It is hard to find fault in his game: great skater, great puckhandler, excellent hockey mind, deadly shooter, plays the whole ice and strikes on the counterattack. He plays with intensity and with a strong work ethic to find the seam and attack. His reads are top-notch. He is at home anywhere on the ice because of his great balance and strong physical play. He is already at a solid size at 216 pounds yet can still move quickly. He is a strong forechecker, and finishes his hits, setting an example for his teammates. It is not difficult to foresee a path to the NHL for Poulin, as he has all the tools. The sky is the limit for the winger, who has passed every test in the Q with flying colours. A top line do-it-all forward to carry the torch in the waning years of Crosby and Malkin era is not out of the question, and a very solid middle-six winger is at the very least in his sights. - MS

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23^rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). Previous ranking: 2)

A prospect who is not nearly as flashy as other top ranked players is the quiet, yet dangerous Joseph, acquired from Arizona in the Phil Kessel trade. In his rookie professional season, he brought poise, calmness, high hockey IQ, and strong skating to the blueline for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He is very accurate and smart when it comes to passing and is a good two-way defenseman, offering dependable coverage in the defensive zone and strong puck carrying abilities and passing in the offensive zone. Still a lightweight, Joseph will have to keep working on getting bigger and stronger in order to be able to move opponents off the puck and win important battles as well as avoiding being easily separated from the puck himself. Overall, there is nothing wrong with the way Joseph plays and he has much to offer in terms of smarts and individual composure and skill. Look to see him earn his first NHL call up next year and add depth to Pittsburgh’s bottom four. – SC

Joel Blomqvist, G (52^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

With the possible exception of his ability to harness rebounds, there is no one trait in which Blomqvist stands out among goaltending prospects. He has an uncanny ability to push shots with his blocker, pads, or stick to the corners. Thankfully, there are no major chinks in his armor, which made him one of the top netminders in the 2020 draft class after Yaroslav Askarov. In every aspect you could look in a goalie, he grades out well. He is a good skater and is steady on his feet. He is calm and patient in the paint, not changing his demeanor in traffic or when staring down a breakaway. He tracks the puck well and does a good job of reading the shooters. He does a good job of knowing when to stay tall and when to drop into a butterfly. He can even handle the puck as needed. He is set to play against men this season in Finland. With skaters, we generally preach upside. With goalies, the risk is high enough that there is merit looking for steadiness. Blomqvist has it. – RW

Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 3)

At 6-5”, Angello is one of the bigger forwards in the pro ranks and he carries himself well, finding ways to get to the net with ease. He uses his size to win battles and clean up garbage around the net, although he needs to also be careful of penalties when he throws his body around. Angello is a good puck handler and a good skater but he needs to be more aware in the neutral and defensive zones, and he cannot afford to turn the puck over or make bad passes, because he recovery ability is not the greatest. He could see NHL powerplay action in time, but he will have to earn another call up and capitalize on that opportunity as a bottom six forward first before being considered for regular special teams’ duties. He is an asset based on size alone and once considering his skills it will be safe to say that he will be receiving additional NHL opportunities, with a good chance of staying up for good. - SC

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Puustinen is a very crafty and skilled winger. He can be unpredictable with the puck and pull off great plays to surprise opposing defensemen and goalies. He has some nice creativity to his game. He reads the game at a high level and sees the ice well. He does not try to force plays. His skating is an asset – with quick first few strides and he is light on his skates. He is quick to pucks. If he improves his shot and finishing ability, he will be even more dangerous offensively, particularly on the power play. He is dependable without the puck and does not leak defensively, but his puck play has impressed me the most. Puustinen has improved significantly over the last few seasons and has developed from a promising junior player into a solid NHL prospect. Assuming he keeps improving, it won't be too long until he moves to North America. Eventually, he could become a versatile middle-six NHL winger, one who can contribute in a lot of ways. Whether he manages to become one is far from a sure thing, but he has a chance. – MB

Jonathan Gruden, RW (95^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 18)

A former NTDP member, Gruden left Miami University after his freshman season in order to join the London Knights this year. Gruden operates well as an offensive support player. He controls the wall well, keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone, and possesses the vision and awareness to find those soft spots in coverage. While his skating ability, skill level, and physical skill set would be deemed average, he is successful at the OHL level due to his high-end IQ. As such, Gruden projects best as a bottom six forward at the NHL level. At the pro level, there may certainly be an adjustment period as his skating and strength improve to the level that they need to in order for him to succeed in a “grind it out” role against men. - BO

Nathan Legare, RW (74^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Légaré has potential to truly establish himself as a power forward in the pro game, but his skating is not yet good enough to ensure success. The bulky bruiser has good size for the next level and finishes his checks when he gets there. He can be a strong forechecker on a defense that does not move the puck quickly. He also has an excellent shot, including both a booming slapshot and a wrist shot from closer range. His effort is never questioned, and his feet stay moving, but his skating is only average for the junior level. As a positive, Légaré plays well with talented linemates, especially ones that can time his skating with their playstyle. He needs to be put in a position to use his shot effectively, and he is a strong player in the half-court offense when speed isn’t as much of a factor as are awareness and positioning. He will need to continue to develop an elite-level hockey sense and the awareness to be able to compete with his skating deficits. With improvements, he could be a power forward who can score, but his skating will need to take a few strides to get there. - MS

Jordan Bellerive, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 16, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

After a scary fire-related accident had the Penguins concerned for their prospect’s health, as of the beginning of last season, Bellerive managed to come back in good shape and perform well in his professional rookie season in the AHL. As a player with a stocky build, he is solid on the puck and carries it well, he can win battles and knows how to use his body when protecting the puck. As his points were nearly evenly divided for goals and assists in major junior, his points this past season in the AHL saw no changes in breakdown, proving that he is capable of making the right plays, seeing the ice well and contributing with good individual efforts as part of his transition to the professional ranks. With his work ethic he should be able to find the extra speed needed to keep up at times for next season in order to earn some time up as part of Pittsburgh’s bottom six. - SC

Will Reilly, D (217^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

The Pittsburgh draft pick spent four years at RPI maturing his game after playing a few seasons of junior hockey in the OJHL and the BCHL. The seventh-round draft pick has proven that he can contribute offensively. He was named the OJHL top prospect in 2014-15 as a 17-year-old. He isn’t the fastest defenseman, but he can still skate with smooth strides and can join the rush as a winger, allowing him to create opportunities for his teammates. He served as a captain during his senior season and played on the second penalty kill unit. Reilly is a steady defensive presence and knows when to join the rush and when to hang back. He can be physical, blocks shots and has a quick defensive stick. His passes are crisp and clean. At 22 years old, there is still some room for Reilly to grow. - JS

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

Despite having only played six games this past season in the AHL, former Providence College captain Bjorkvist had strong showings when he was able to play. He managed to handle a good amount of ice time, including time of the penalty kill, and even earned one goal. He stands out as a good skater, a good two-way player with plus awareness on the ice due to his constant motion and ways of finding open ice. He still needs to work on his passing and his puck movement while in the attacking end, as turnovers need to be eliminated which have been a consequence of poor passing decisions and accuracy. Hopefully, Bjorkvist can work towards completing a full season next year, coming back healthy and ready to play in order to make an impact in the AHL before a call up to Pittsburgh as a positionally sound and physically ready-to-play forward capable of handling a bottom six role at the highest level. - SC

Santeri Airola, D (211^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Airola is a mobile defenseman with very good acceleration. He can carry the puck up the ice and skate away from pressure – the puck does not slow him down. He is an effective puck transporter and can gain the offensive zone with speed. He makes a firm first pass, and both his short and long-range passes are accurate. He is very active in the offensive zone, both with and without the puck. His shot lacks power, but it is accurate, and he is not afraid to use it. He needs to add velocity to be able to score more goals, though. He handles the puck well and plays with his head up. He has work to do on his defensive game. He can be a bit inconsistent with his defensive zone coverage. He also needs to improve his defending in small spaces and get much stronger. He will compete for ice-time on Ilves' Liiga team next season. - MB

Drew O’Connor, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 10, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

O’Connor was one of the biggest free agent signings of the year. An undrafted player, he epitomized late bloomer development, leaving school after playing his sophomore season at 22 years of age. He played prep school hockey in New Jersey followed by the T1 elite hockey league and went to the NCDC before finally heading to Dartmouth. After being named to the All-Ivy Second Team as a freshman, he was named the Ivy League player of the year this year. O’Connor is always a scoring threat and appears all over the ice. He earned first unit power play time and led the Big Green in scoring. He has a big frame and moves well for a skater of his size, using his speed to blow past opposing defenders. He was able to score this year despite teams often double teaming him to neutralize the threat. He needs to work on protecting the puck better before he will have a chance at the NHL. – JS

Chase Yoder, C (170^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Yoder has never been a big scorer, even playing U16 hockey in the Dallas area, but he has proven himself to be a viable and important member of the USNTDP in his two years in the program. For starters, he is an excellent skater, with plus edges and great acceleration. Most of the scoring chances he manages to work his way into come from that skating power. Another plus feature of his game is his aggressiveness. He is slight but plays a very feisty brand of hockey. The third trait that helped convince the Penguins to draft him was his brain. The Providence commit is a very good defensive forward and can play the tough minutes. His hands aren’t bad, but they aren’t what will help push him to the NHL in time. Yoder reads the game well and that maturity will help him adapt to the next level, even if his ceiling will remain low for the duration of his development due to the lack of offensive tools. – RW

Sam Miletic, LW/C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Passed over in the draft despite having played a key role for one of the top ranked teams in the CHL with the London Knights, where the bulk of that team was drafted and some now play in the NHL, the work Miletic has put up to keep his level of competition up high enough to attract the eye of the Pittsburgh Penguins is impressive. Finishing fourth in points last season with the Baby Penguins in the AHL, it is clear to see that he was a good signing choice with a strong presence on the left wing. Playing on both special teams units, Miletic was given more responsibility last season and has proven that his skating ability as well as the quick and methodical way he moves the puck is more than enough to prove himself at the AHL level. Look for him to earn his first call up to Pittsburgh to fill a bottom six spot in the coming season. - SC

Cam Lee, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 17, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

A Nova Scotian who played prep hockey in New York State before moving on to the USHL, Lee was a potential NHL draft pick by his second year of eligibility, when his power play strength had him finish the year as a third-team All-Star in the league. He went unselected and instead spent the previous four seasons doing the same thing for Andy Murray’s Western Michigan. In those four years, Lee has developed a more robust two-way game, capable of contributing on both special teams’ units. He lacks any one standout tool, but does everything well enough, and occasionally even above average. He skates well and is comfortable carrying the puck up the ice. He has a hammer of a one-timer. He reads and recognizes the play well, allowing him to protect the puck. Should he make another quick transition to the pro game, Lee could soon be vying for third pairing minutes in the NHL. - RW

Judd Caulfield, RW (145^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

A big winger who has never been a big point producer, Caulfield has flashed a robust enough total package both in his years with the USNTDP and now at North Dakota, to hold out some hope that he could yet develop into more than a fourth liner at the highest level. Even if he never finds a better use of his soft hands, or his smooth wheels – the latter being rather impressive at his size – he has always more than earned his keep on the roster through his two-way play and particularly his defensive reliability. He is a high IQ, meat-and-potatoes winger who can play a shutdown role. If his lack of offensive production turns out to have been a lack of confidence as opposed to a lack of creativity (although we suspect his issue is the latter), he could produce enough to eventually play higher up the lineup. For now, he is a safe, if unsexy prospect still a few years away from the pros. - RW

Clayton Phillips, D (93^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

After Phillips could not get out of the third pairing over a season and a half with the University of Minnesota, he transferred to Penn State where the situation was much the same. The burgeoning two-way defender who made the USHL’s top rookie team in his draft year lacks the big tools to do more than flash the occasional big moment. He reads the play well, is patient with the puck and recognizes opportunities to impact the game in the offensive end. On the other hands, he is small and is not a fleet enough skater to overcome the size deficiency with ease. He can show some cleverness with the puck but falls short of dynamic and his shot is not powerful enough to project as a power play option. There is still some hope that he could carve out a depth role at a higher level, but he needs a big season to be assured of an NHL contract after completing his collegiate eligibility. – RW

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95^th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 15)

After playing his first full season in North America as part of the Toronto Marlies blueline squad, Jesper Lindgren has now been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, along with Kasperi Kapanen. For an undersized defenseman, he brings a good skill set with good skating and puck handling. He is solid at starting plays and does well at managing gap control and defending in his own end. Offensively, Lindgren is dependable at getting pucks deep and moving the puck accordingly across the blueline, becoming a more team focused player than a strictly shot-first. He will offer the Penguins organization a lot in the future as he continues to develop, although it is uncertain as to where Lindgren will fall as his development has been so slow to date. Not to say he is bad but rather just in need of a few tweaks to bring his game up a level. At the rate the Penguins are drafting and with the depth of their prospect system, Lindgren should get a chance to play up sometime in the next season (if he remains in North America) as part of the Penguins bottom four. – SC

Calle Clang, G (77^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

An unorthodox goaltender who plays a hybrid style and is aggressive in challenging shooters, Clang excelled for Sweden internationally last year while playing in the shadow of the more hyped Jesper Wallstedt (2021 eligible). Clang has good size and was one of the top goaltending options out of Europe in the 2020 draft class, albeit not as promising as Joel Blomqvist, who the Penguins drafted in the round before they selected Clang. Clang may be able to rise up this list in future seasons, as he has plus athleticism and mobility, and he always rises to the occasion in tough situations, but he will also need to improve in a number of areas that are currently weak, including his tracking ability, his rebound control, and his ability to play the puck when called upon. To Clang’s credit, he has performed well in limited opportunity so far this year in his first experience of men’s hockey, playing in Sweden’s second pro league. – Brock Otten

Joshua Maniscalco, D (UFA: Aug. 21, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

The third member of this top 20 to have been signed as an undrafted free agent out of the college ranks in 2020, Maniscalco’s inclusion in the list is as much a reflection of the utter shallowness of the Penguins’ system as it is a reflection of his own actual prospects to develop into a viable NHL’er. A former depth player with the USNTDP (not unlike Chase Yoder and Judd Caulfield, above), Maniscalco took an extra year in the USHL, with Dubuque, before moving on the Arizona State, where he truly blossomed as one of the better offensive defensemen in college hockey, finishing sixth in NCAA in defenseman scoring. A right-handed shot, he has overcome some of the lack of discipline he demonstrated in his junior days, while showing a full set of decent, if unspectacular tools. The key for hi to improve his stock as a prospect will be to shore up his play away from the puck and prove that he can be reliable. He is definitely a good gamble for a system that rarely uses all of its draft picks. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 24

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:19:38 +0000

Pittsburgh Penguins

It is time to talk about the East Coast Hockey League. In all my years of writing about the hockey development world, I might never have written more than a half sentence about the third highest professional league in North America, but it’s time. Of course, I am not alone in essentially ignoring the circuit. The third highest professional circuit in baseball, AA, actually receives more press than the penultimate league, AAA. So why the difference in hockey?

While the path from amateur to MLB is due for a massive shakeup, helped along by the side effects of COVID-19, but historically, a drafted player would advance from Rookie Ball to Short-season ball, to Low A, to High A, to AA (ECHL), to AAA (AHL) to MLB (NHL). Top prospects can sometimes skip levels, maybe starting their pro careers in Low A, or jumping from Short-season Ball to High A. Often times, the best ones, the ones who make sudden leaps in their progression, skip over AAA altogether. That leaves the second-best level of baseball in North America to be filled by players who project to the bottom fifth of an MLB roster, or players on their way back down. The most advanced, highest ceilinged prospects are often found in AA ballparks.

Not so with hockey. For starters, not every team even has an ECHL franchise. The league currently has 26 teams, one of which (the Norfolk Admirals) is independent. While the AHL has rules regulating how many seasoned veterans can suit up on each team, the ECHL does not, which makes the league more of a home for dreamers than prospects and not as much of a development stage for the future of the game. That is not to disparage the players in the league, but to simply point out that its players are by and large not fighting to move up the ladder as much as they are fighting to remain employed as players.

Some teams though, use the ECHL as an entry point to the NHL path. The Maple Leafs under Kyle Dubas as one such team, with Newfoundland being a first stop in the pros before a job in Toronto with the Marlies and then the Maple Leafs. Pittsburgh is another such team. The Penguins have a franchise in Wheeling, West Virginia, less than 60 miles southeast of Pennsylvania and more than four hours drive closer than their AHL club in Wilkes-Barre Scranton. They often put some of the organization’s rawer prospects there to start their pro careers, where the Penguins brass can keep a close eye on their progress. Some players who we considered – but ultimately decided against – for this list spent a good chunk of this past season with the Nailers, including Jan Drozg, Justin Almeida, and Emil Larmi.

I sincerely wish that more clubs would use their ECHL affiliates as development league, as opposed to glorified taxi squads for their AHL clubs. Hockey as a sport would be richer if more players could legitimately pursue their dreams of reaching the top. Until that happens, we have a tremendous challenge in adequately judging players who have spent their seasons on the Coast. The context of the league is almost foreign to real development in hockey that what a younger player of promise does there cannot be compared apples-to-apples against a rookie pro in lesser minutes at the AHL level. So just because we have left Drozg, Almeida, and Larmi off the current top 15, it doesn’t mean that they won’t, or can’t get there next year. It means we are less confident in what we have seen through the lens of the ECHL.

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 19: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Samuel Poulin (22) looks on during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 19, 2019, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Samuel Poulin, RW (21^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

A year without playoff hockey for Poulin robbed Sherbrooke Phoenix fans of an encore performance of his post-season last year. Poulin has looked dominant at times in his junior career with Sherbrooke and is a very well-rounded offensive player. It is hard to find fault in the forward’s game: great skater, great puckhandler, excellent mind for the game, deadly shooter, plays the whole ice and strikes on the counterattack.

He plays with intensity and with a strong work ethic to find the seam and attack. His play reads are top-notch, and he has the pedigree to play at a high level from his NHLer father. He is at home anywhere on the ice because of his great balance and strong physical play. He is already at a solid size at 216 pounds and can move quick at that size. He is a strong forechecker, and finishes his hits, setting an example for his teammates.

So smitten by his game, the Penguins invited him as a black ace in the bubble for the play-in qualifying round. It is not difficult to foresee a path to the NHL for Poulin, as he has all the tools and seems to have a great toolbox, too. He showed his character by captaining the Phoenix this season to the league’s best record. The sky is the limit for the winger, who has passed every test in the Q with flying colours. Poulin was one of the players with the highest floors in the draft last year, and that is still true. A top line do-it-all forward to carry the torch in the waning years of Crosby and Malkin is not out of the question, and a very solid middle-six winger, like his father, is at the very least in his sights. - MS

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23^rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). 2019 Rank: 3)

The last few seasons for the Penguins organization has been barren in terms of earning top level draft picks. With the Penguins still feeling the draft consequences of winning cups, their prospect system is one of the more quiet ones in the entire NHL, which is also synonymous with being dull and lacking flash. An example of a prospect who is not nearly as flashy as others is the quiet, yet dangerous Pierre-Olivier Joseph, acquired from Arizona in the Phil Kessel trade.

In his rookie professional season, he brought poise, calmness, high hockey IQ, and strong skating to the blueline for the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He is very accurate and smart when it comes to passing and he is a good two-way defenseman; offering dependably good coverage in the defensive zone and strong puck carrying abilities and passing in the offensive zone. As a lightweight still, Joseph will have to keep working on getting stronger and bigger in order to be able to move opponents off the puck and win important battles to avoid being easily separated from the puck.

Overall, there is nothing wrong with the way Joseph plays and he has much to offer the Penguins when it comes to smarts and individual composure and skill. Look to see him earn his first call up to the NHL in his second professional season next year in order to add depth to Pittsburgh’s bottom four. Be mindful that it is imperative that he work on getting bigger and stronger to avoid injury as he seeks to move up a level. - SC

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – SEPTEMBER 12: Anthony Angello of the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Angello had a brief stint with Pittsburgh this past season, playing eight games and earning his first NHL goal and spending four minutes in the penalty box. At 6-5”, he is certainly one of the bigger forwards in both the AHL and NHL and for a big body he carries himself well and finds ways to get to the net with ease. He uses his size well to win battles and clean up garbage around the net but that being said, he needs to also be careful of penalties when he throws his body around.

Angello is a good puck handler and a good skater but he needs to be more aware in the neutral zone and the defensive end, and he cannot afford to turn the puck over or make bad passes, because despite being a good skater for his size he is not the fastest. With big shoes to fill for the Penguins organization when their big guns retire, some of that weight will most likely be transferred to Angello as one of their top prospects and most physically ready to play at the NHL level. He could see NHL powerplay action, but he will have to earn another call up first and capitalize on that opportunity as a bottom six forward first before being considering for regular special teams duties.

He is an asset to any team based on size alone and then after considering his individual skills it will be safe to say that he will definitely make an NHL appearance again within the next two seasons, with a good chance of the opportunity morphing into a permanent placement. - SC

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Puustinen had an impressive season with HPK in the Liiga. He started the season really well and he was able to build confidence off his strong performances. He maintained a high level of play throughout the season. He even earned a call up to the Finnish national team. He is a very crafty and skilled winger. He can be unpredictable with the puck and pull off great plays to surprise opposing defensemen and goalies.

Puustinen has some nice creativity to his game. He reads the game at a high level and sees the ice well. He does not force the game, which I like. Skating is an asset – his first few strides are quick, and he is light on his skates. He is quick to pucks. If he improves his shot and finishing ability, he will be even more dangerous offensively, particularly on the power play. He is dependable without the puck and does not leak defensively, but his puck play has impressed me the most.

Puustinen has improved significantly over the last few seasons and has developed from a promising junior player into a solid NHL prospect. Assuming he keeps improving, it won't be too long until he moves to North America. Eventually, I could see him become a versatile middle-six NHL winger, one who can contribute in a lot of ways. Whether he manages become one is far from a sure thing, but he has a chance. The Penguins have a possible late-round steal in their hands. - MB

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – SEPTEMBER 12: Nathan Legare of the Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

Nathan Legare, RW (74^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Légaré has more potential than most out of the QMJHL to truly establish himself as a power forward in the pro game, but the questions surrounding him persist: will he be a good-enough skater to have success beyond the Q? Légaré’s point totals this year were right around where they were a year ago, but with much less weaponry in the Drakkar’s quiver, he became a focal point for opposing teams, and his goal totals dropped.

The bulky bruiser has good size for the next level and finishes his checks when he gets there. He can be a strong forechecker on a defence that does not move the puck quickly. He also has an excellent shot, be it a booming slapshot from deep or a wrist shot from the circle. His effort is never questioned, and his feet stay moving, but his skating is average at the junior level with those attributes.

As a positive, Légaré plays well with talented linemates, especially ones that can time his skating with their playstyle, and with Pittsburgh, he had a great camp last season. He was put in a position to use his shot effectively, and he is a strong player in half-court offence when speed isn’t as much of a factor as are awareness and positioning. He will need to continue to develop an elite-level hockey sense and awareness to be able to compete with his skating at the higher levels. With improvements, he could be a power forward who can score, but his skating will need to take a few strides to get there. - MS

Jordan Bellerive, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 16, 2017. 2019 Rank: 6)

As a player with a stocky build, he is solid on the puck and carries it well, he can win battles and knows how to use his body when protecting the puck. As his points were nearly evenly divided for goals and assists in major junior, his points this past season in the AHL saw no changes in breakdown, proving that he is capable of making the right plays, seeing the ice well and contributing with good individual efforts as part of his transition to the professional ranks. With his work ethic he should be able to find the extra speed needed to keep up at times for next season in order to earn some time up as part of Pittsburgh’s bottom six. - SC

Will Reilly, D (217^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

He served as a captain during his senior season and played on the second penalty kill unit. Reilly is a steady defensive presence and knows when to join the rush and when to hang back. He can be physical, blocks shots and has a quick defensive stick. His passes are crisp and clean. At 22 years old, there is still some room for Reilly to grow. - JS

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

He still needs to work on his passing and his puck movement while in the attacking end, as turnovers need to be eliminated which have been a consequence of poor passing decisions and accuracy. Hopefully, Bjorkvist can work towards completing a full season next year, coming back healthy and ready to play in order to make an impact in the AHL before a call up to Pittsburgh as a positionally sound and physically ready-to-play forward capable of handling a bottom six role at the highest level. - SC

Santeri Airola, D (211^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 18)

He needs to add velocity to be able to score more goals, though. He handles the puck well and plays with his head up. He has work to do on his defensive game. He can be a bit inconsistent with his defensive zone coverage. He also needs to improve his defending in small spaces and get much stronger. He will compete for ice-time on Ilves' Liiga team next season. - MB

Drew O’Connor, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 10, 2019. 2019 Rank: IE)

O’Connor is always a scoring threat and appears all over the ice. He earned first unit power play time and led the Big Green in scoring. He has a big frame and moves well for a skater of his size, using his speed to blow past opposing defenders. He was able to score this year despite teams often double teaming him to neutralize the threat. He needs to work on protecting the puck better before he will have a chance at the NHL. - JS

Sam Miletic, LW/C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Finishing fourth in points this season with the Baby Penguins in the AHL, it is clear to see that he was a good signing choice with a strong presence on the left wing. Playing on both special teams units, Miletic was given more responsibility this season and has proven that his skating ability as well as the quick and methodical way he moves the puck is more than enough to prove himself at the AHL level. Look for him to earn his first call up to Pittsburgh to fill a bottom six spot in the coming season. - SC

Cam Lee, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 17, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

He lacks any one standout tool, but does everything well enough, and occasionally even above average. He skates well and is comfortable carrying the puck up the ice. He has a hammer of a one-timer. He reads and recognizes the play well, allowing him to protect the puck. Should he make another quick transition to the pro game, Lee could soon be vying for third pairing minutes in the NHL. - RW

Judd Caulfield, RW (145^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

He is a high IQ, meat-and-potatoes winger who can play a shutdown role. If his lack of offensive production turns out to have been a lack of confidence as opposed to a lack of creativity (although we suspect his issue is the latter), he could produce enough to eventually play higher up the lineup. For now, he is a safe, if unsexy prospect still a few years away from the pros. - RW

Clayton Phillips, D (93^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

On the other hand, he is small and is not a fleet enough skater to overcome the size deficiency with ease. He can show some cleverness with the puck but falls short of dynamic and his shot is not powerful enough to project as a power play option. There is still some hope that he could carve out a depth role at a higher level, but he needs a big season to be assured of an NHL contract after completing his collegiate eligibility. – RW

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95^th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. 2019 Rank: UR)

He will offer the Penguins organization a lot in the future as he continues to develop, although it is uncertain as to where Lindgren will fall as his development has been so slow to date. Not to say he is bad but rather just in need of a few tweaks to bring his game up a level. At the rate the Penguins are drafting and with the depth of their prospect system, Lindgren should get a chance to play up sometime in the next season (if he remains in North America) as part of the Penguins bottom four. - SC

Pittsburgh Penguins 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:03:53 +0000

The worst systems in the game usually are handicapped by a combination of a shortage of picks and a pronounced shortage of high end picks. Those teams are often perennial contenders and had traded those picks – and sometimes players who still retain the sheen of youthful promise – in exchange for players that are more able to assist in the present need to fortify a contender. In other words, they abide by the maxim that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.

The Penguins most definitely meet both problems head on. The last time they had their full complement of seven picks was back in 2012. In the seven ensuing drafts, they have only made a pick on day one twice. One of those first rounders was made just this year, as the Penguins added a big-bodied, mature power winger in Samuel Poulin. The other first round pick Pittsburgh made in that span, Kasperi Kapanen, selected with the 22^nd pick in 2014, was traded to Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade, before he ever suited up in Pittsburgh.

Outside of those two first rounders, likely the most skilled player selected by Pittsburgh in the past seven drafts was the Dutch Dangler, Daniel Sprong. The skilled winger did play in 42 NHL games for the Penguins, before he, too, was sent away, shipped to Anaheim in a one for one deal for blueliner Marcus Pettersson. In fairness to GM Jim Rutherford and company, Sprong wasn’t traded so much for a veteran, as Pettersson was also very young, as much as they deemed Pettersson to be a better fit on the main squad than Sprong. Pettersson actually equaled Sprong’s rest of season point totals, albeit in ten additional games. For a defenseman deemed a stay-at-home type though, neither the Penguins not their supporters should be dismayed by the sell off of one of their top young talents.

Other Penguins’ draft picks of recent vintage who have played at least 100 NHL games, but are long out of the Pittsburgh system include Derrick Pouliot, and Stanley Cup champ Oscar Sundqvist. On the other hand, in the past seven drafts, the only current NHL Penguins are Jake Guentzel and Dominik Simon. Even on a winning team, you would expect a better hit rate than that.

One other way that the Penguins may be hampering their draft and development efforts is by how limited their selection pool is. The draft (and sign) extensively from the QMJHL, the WHL, the college bound ranks and Finland, but ignore Russia – the only player drafted out of Russia since the selection of Malkin was netminder Alexander Pechursky in 2008, and the OHL – only two Ontario based picks in the last seven years, neither of whom was ever offered an ELC.

For as heavily as the Penguins supplement their prospect base with undrafted free agents, four of whom grace the list below, there is a distinct lack of upside in any of them, and in fact, in the system as a whole. Even if the team hopes to remain a top competitor in perpetuity, they will need to change their approach to player acquisition to continue to surround Crosby and Malkin with suitable teammates.

-Ryan Wagman

CRANBERRY, PA - JUNE 28: Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Forward Samuel Poulin (18) during the Pittsburgh Penguins Development Camp 3-on-3 Tournament on June 28, 2019 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, PA. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire)

1 Samuel Poulin, RW (21^st overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the more complete players in the draft this past June, and one of the more pro-ready players, Poulin has many qualities NHL coaches will love right out of the box. Poulin is the son of former NHLer Patrick, and his hockey sense proves that. His ability to shoot or pass with equal aplomb and his abilities to use his teammates are all at a high level. His defensive play on the backcheck and in transition is noteworthy. His skating is strong, especially his balance, as he can anchor himself along the wall under pressure. He plays a two-way game, does not skip on the details and can carry a team on his back, like his Sherbrooke team in the playoffs with 14 points in 10 games. Poulin will be a strong winger who can play all situations and be a reliable two-way threat for a long time. - MS

2 Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Addison is a dynamic offensive weapon from the back end. He has a great ability to generate offense and push the pace of play with his skating and knack for jumping into the rush. Back-to-back 65 point seasons have shown that he has the puck skills and vision to make key offensive plays. Defensively he gets in trouble once the puck is in his own zone. He rarely kills penalties, or is on for key defensive zone draws, he can be physically overmatched and struggles to protect the front of the net or break up the cycle game. If the Penguins are patient with him he could develop like Tory Krug, a powerplay specialist and on a 3rd pairing at even strength until he is better prepared to handle tougher assignments. - VG

3 Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (23^rd overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Last Year: 4 [Arizona]) The former Charlottetown Islanders captain has seen his game grow leaps and bounds since he joined the QMJHL in 2015-16. Joseph’s best two assets are his work ethic and his hockey sense. He rarely makes a bad decision and, most importantly, knows his limitations. He has blossomed into a leader by both his words and his example, and his effort is contagious for other players. He is slight for the pro game at 168 pounds, but he is as adept at defending positionally as he is physically, and has figured out how to read many schemes with the puck to best attack from the back end. He is poised and strong at moving the puck and patient to allow the defense to open up to his benefit. While he may not have any truly elite traits, he does not have many weaknesses. He is a future solid, dependable, middle-pair blueliner. - MS

4 Filip Hallander, C (58^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Hallander is starting to look like a good second round pick, not Jake Guentzel-in-the-third good, but good. The 18 year-old played his first season in the SHL and was one of the best forwards on his team. He is a smart power forward with nice hands and skills. He works hard in all three zones and reads a forecheck very well. When he creates scoring chances, he often does so through winning the puck over for his team and going hard to the net. The knock on him so far is that he hasn’t got any tools that are elite other than his compete level and forechecking. The skating, shot, and puck skills are slightly above average, but non are elite. As a future NHLer he isn’t an elite producer, but he can play and contribute in various roles. He is strong on the PK and around the net on a power play. Next season he will play in SHL again. - JH

5 Nathan Legare, RW (74^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Légaré has the shot to become a sniper at the NHL level. 45 goals as a draft-eligible player in any league is impressive, and the fact that his goal totals jumped from 10 to 45 made it even more impressive. He was a triggerman on a strong Baie-Comeau powerplay and can hammer a one-timer swiftly to the net. Having said that, many of his goals are scored in front of the net off rebounds or small set-ups, using his superior size and strength at the QMJHL level. His hockey sense and physicality is strong, but his skating holds him back. He knows where to go, but often gets there late, and is more effective in zone set-plays rather than off the rush. His agility, edgework and acceleration all need work. For this reason, it is hard to project his impact going forward, but his shot is impossible to deny. - MS

6 Jordy Bellerive, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Sep. 16, 2017. Last Year: 11) Bellerive is a player who can play the game in any style. He is happy to drive the net and work hard to create his offense but he has a shot that can beat goalies cleanly from distance. He works his tail off in both zones and often generates additional chances from chasing down the play. He makes good passes both in transition and below the dots. He camps out around the net and will take a beating to make a play. He has good puck skills in tight where he makes subtle plays that catch defenses off-guard. He may never reach beyond a third line player at the pro level but his effort is consistent enough that he could excel in that role. - VG

7 Emil Larmi, G (Undrafted free agent, signed Jun. 2, 2019. Last Year: IE) Larmi put together three strong seasons for HPK in the Liiga including a championship win in 2019 before signing an entry-level contract with the Penguins. He is a competitive goalie with great reflexes and the ability to make highly athletic saves. He plays an aggressive and intense style in net. He likes to challenge shooters to cut down angles and he is very effective in doing so. He is mentally strong, remains unrattled even when allowing a soft goal and can bounce back quickly. Larmi's positioning can be a slight issue at times, but his athleticism and quickness help him quite a bit on those occasions. It remains to be seen how he adapts to the North American game, but the 1996 born netminder has definitely shown NHL potential. -MB

8 Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 6) While Bjorkqvist has progressed nicely in his three years in North America, increasing his point totals from 9 to 23 to 30 with NCAA Providence, the versatile Finnish winger enters the pro ranks with rawness and inconsistency still running through his game. He uses his solid size to play near the opposing crease and has a plan for the puck when he gets it, resulting in quick touches and quickly released shots. At his best, he has a nice shot an can play or pass the puck well, but he can go for prolonged stretches at less than his best, effectively becoming a non-factor in the play. He is also not as aggressive as his strength would allow. He will need some time to continue developing in the AHL, but if he can play a more steady game, he could find a home as a bottom six winger in the NHL within two years. - RW

9 Judd Caulfield, RW (145^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The fact that their fifth round pick from the most recent draft ranks ninth in this system – and no one has claimed him to a steal, either on draft day or in the weeks since – is another point of concern for the Pittsburgh system. Caulfield is a heart and soul player, a big winger with good speed and surprisingly deft hands, although lacking in the overall game or creativity to turn those hands into weapons with any frequency. He has a heavy side and can be a penalty kill asset, but is definitely more of a supporting piece than the type who can drive a line or force an opposing team to game plan around him. Heading to play for his home town University of North Dakota, he has a ways to go to reach his third line upside. - RW

10 Justin Almeida, C/LW (129^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 12) Almeida is an undersized forward with excellent playmaking skills. He is a pass first player that can hold onto the puck for an extra second, creating spacing for his teammates and his passes. His skating is OK, but for a smaller guy you would like him to have better breakaway speed. Where his speed is noticeable is in how quickly he can process what to do with the puck. His shot is very accurate even though it lacks in power. He often seems like he will have a long, successful offensive career at the AHL level, and in the right situation could find top six minutes in the NHL one day. - VG

11 Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4) In his first professional season, Angello fared well applying his NCAA experience to the AHL. He is a massive forward who plays an equally strong and physical game. By managing 29 points last season, he proved that he was a good fit for Wilkes-Barre and also ensured he would not be looked over in the Penguins ranks. Angello has the hands to match his size which makes him a difficult opponent, however he would be even more threatening if he were that much faster. His general speed is not what is hurting his chances but rather his reaction time and the missing jump to his game. Saying that his large frame is the cause for the missing spark in his stride is not good enough when a player comparable in size such as Colton Parayko seems to have little problem with speed. Angello will have to push harder and find a higher gear if he wants a chance at cracking the bottom six. - SC

12 Teddy Blugers, C (52^nd overall, 2012. Last Year: 7) Blugers is set to start his next professional season up with the Pittsburgh Penguins which is well deserved. He is a naturally skilled forward whose game is nothing special but fast paced and efficient enough to get the job done. His shot and quick release make him especially deadly when given the puck in a scoring position as he can adapt quickly to get quality scoring chances. Blugers needs to make sure to keep his feet moving in the corners and not rely so much on teammates to do his dirty work below the goal line. If he can up the pace of his aggressive play in all areas of the ice to match the NHL pace then he will stand a better chance at earning a bottom six roll with the Penguins next season and into the future. - SC

13 Jan Drozg, LW/RW (152^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 15) Drozg is more ready-now than most on this list in terms of joining the pro ranks. He isn’t that physical but he has great balance and is not afraid to carry the puck into danger zones and take abuse. He can be a buzz saw in pursuit of the puck, and can pass quickly and accurately, including cross-zone and stretch passing. His playmaking skills are very strong, as is his hockey sense offensively. His defensive game is adequate, and his skating is fine, but both will need to improve to have an effect at the NHL level. Drozg’s play elevates with the stature of the game, and he will be a feature for Team Slovenia as long as he wants to be, but his deficiencies will need to improve to become a secondary scoring option at the NHL level. - MS

14 Niclas Almari, D (151^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 9) Almari was part of the gold-winning HPK team in the Liiga and showed stable improvement in many aspects of the game this past season. The Penguins fifth round pick is mobile and skates well backwards. He can move the puck well and start offensive transitions with long-range passes. He has good offensive vision and puck skills. That all said, there are some question marks around his game. In juniors, Almari displayed decent offensive abilities and potential but he hasn't been able to make a similar impact at the pro level. He plays a solid, yet unspectacular game at both ends of the ice, without much flash or physicality. He could end up being a third-pairing NHL defenseman at best, unless he makes major strides in his game in the coming years. - MB

15 Sam Miletic, LW/C (Undrafted free agent, signed Sep. 25, 2017. Last Year: 10) Miletic had a good transition into the AHL with 35 points in 49 games and only 14 penalty minutes. He is a good offensive player whose speed helps him stand out from other players. His strong skating helps propel him to the net and with his strength he drives the net with ease and can easily lead a breakout. Whereas he was able to regroup with time and space to quarterback breakouts at the major junior level, at the professional level breakout execution time is a lot more limited, leading to more turnovers, and he will need to adapt to the fast pace better in order to not fall behind the play. Miletic will most likely settle into a top six spot next season with Wilkes-Barre and that should improve his play enough to get to a similar role with the Pens down the line. - SC

16 Adam Johnson, LW (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 6, 2017. Last Year: 20) Johnson is a nifty offensive player with slick hands and nasty pickpocketing ability. He is skilled and can adapt to playing with various lines. As his scoring pedigree in both the NCAA and USHL show, his ability to read the play and alternate between being the shooter or the playmaker has improved greatly. The only somewhat underdeveloped part of his game is his two-way play and defensive end coverage. In the meantime, Johnson will have to touch up his play in the defensive end and work on his awareness in his own zone. He has what it takes to make the NHL squad and to play at the highest level but he may not yet be ready for a permanent spot in the bottom six. The Penguins have tough competition for their forward roster and he will have to continue to put up points and work hard to cement his spot. - SC

17 Sam Lafferty, C (113^th overall, 2014. Last Year: Not ranked) Lafferty is an enjoyable player to watch, especially as he never takes a shift off and wins a fair percentage of the draws he takes. Last season with Wilkes-Barre he did well putting up 49 points in 70 games and stepping up to stand out amongst a rather average team. He is a good playmaker and a good passer, and his creativity will certainly be a contributing factor to his success at a higher level. Although Lafferty is a great passer he could do well at shooting more and being a little more selfish with the puck to prove himself as an even greater offensive threat. He has a lot of potential at clocking a bottom six spot in the NHL and even growing from there, as his work ethic and his outside the box way of thinking will certainly get him to the next level. - SC

18 Santeri Airola, D (211^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Airola had an impressive season for SaiPa U20 and showed promise with the U19 national team as well. The smallish right0-shot defenseman is offensively gifted and skates very well. He can travel with the puck through the neutral zone as his hands enable him to keep up with his quick feet. He is agile, shifty on his skates, and can accelerate quickly from a standstill. Airola has many attributes that make him a good power play quarterback for a junior player: poise, mobility, and distribution skills. He is not afraid to take responsibility on the ice either. He needs to work on his defensive game, particularly to become more assertive in his own zone and improve his angling. He is a late bloomer whose development is trending upwards, yet he is still, at this point, a long shot to make it to the NHL. - MB

19 John Marino, D (154^th overall, 2015 [Edmonton]. Last Year: 10 [Edmonton]) Four years after the Edmonton Oilers took Marino in the sixth round, Pittsburgh sent a future sixth rounder to Central Alberta for his rights, and immediately signed him to an ELC. While Marino was a two way threat in his junior level days, he has evolved into more of an own-zone specialist over three years at Harvard. He has decent size, but is rather strong and rangy and plays a physical game. He reads the play well and plays instinctively. He lacks the offensive elements to his game to profile as more than a third pairing defender who could get some time on the PK, but that’s pretty good value for the sixth round. - RW

20 Ryan Jones, D (121^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 18) Drafted in his third year of draft eligibility, Jones had parlayed a strong second season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL to a spot on the NHL radar. While he hasn’t been that bad with Nebraska-Omaha over three seasons, he is strongly suggesting that his draft year performance was more a matter of an older player beating up on younger kids than a true breakthrough. He is a tough blueliner with some capability of nullifying opponents in his own zone, but his offensive contributions are somewhat meagre, leaving his upside as a sixth or seventh defender at the highest level. Barring a last minute change of heart by Pittsburgh, he will be returning to Omaha for his senior season, and his last chance of earning an NHL contract. - RW

Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:40:25 +0000

If you don’t draft high, draft often. If you don’t draft often, draft well. If you don’t draft well, you are left picking among the scraps, the players who were not among the 210-217 drafted every year.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have not selected in the first round since drafted Kasperi Kapanen 22^nd overall in 2014. They made only four second day selections this year, marking the second time in four years in which they only added four players through the draft. The last time the Penguins had seven or more draft picks at all was in 2012, when they famously made a draft floor deal sending Jordan Staal to Carolina for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the eighth overall pick, which they used to select Derrick Pouliot. Who could have guessed that Dumoulin would have been the most (only) player to contribute to the Penguins back-to-back championships four and five years later?

In the five drafts – including the one recently completed – since 2012, Pittsburgh has made 31 combined selections, one of whom (Jake Guentzel) has gone on to be a high-end contributor at the NHL level, although it is clearly too early to finish the book on any of the players taken.

So clearly the Penguins are not really building or replenishing the ranks through the draft. That, on its own, would be noteworthy. But even more notable is that the picks they have made have more often than not failed to pan out. Of all of the prospects fitting our definition (25 or under, fewer than 60 NHL games, or 35 in one season) from the Pittsburgh system, the one with the second highest draft position (Zachary Lauzon, 51^st overall in 2017) could not even crack the organizational top 20 between injuries and poor play with Rouyn-Noranda in the QMJHL. Some, like Connor Hall (3^rd round, 2016), Jaden Lindo (6^th round, 2014), and 2013 picks Ryan Segalla, Blaine Byron, and Troy Josephs (4^th, 6^th, and 7^th rounds, respectively), 2015 sixth rounder Frederik Tiffels signed with Pittsburgh but struggled through his ELC and is largely expected to return to Europe for next season. Some of the better success stories, like Kapanen a 2016 second rounder – and top Pittsburgh selection – Filip Gustavsson, were traded away for NHL-level help. The former was part of the package that sent Phil Kessel to Pittsburgh and the latter went to Ottawa in the Derick Brassard trade.

With such meagre results from the draft, the Penguins have devoted greater resources to alternate player acquisition methods, namely free agency. More than any other team, the Penguins’ system is stocked with players who were passed over as many as three times in the draft but blossomed enough late to convince Pittsburgh to add them to the fold. This method has been so prevalent for the Penguins that fully six of their top 20 prospects were free agent signees, including three in the top ten. If we had taken the lists to 25, Pittsburgh would have had eight free agent signees making the grade.

The Penguins should be commended for making it easy for late blooming prospects to choose their offers. They get injections of prospects who are closer to NHL ready than most draft picks generally are. On the down side, what these free agents have in proximity to the NHL, they similarly lack in appreciable NHL upside, with most profiling as bottom of the roster players.

Daniel Sprong

1 Daniel Sprong, RW (46^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 1^st) A high end offensive talent, the knock on Sprong today remains the same as it was when the Amsterdam native was drafted two years ago. As much as he can excite with a high end shot, strong skating and skillful dangles, he can almost as often exasperate with a lack of commitment to the game in his own zone or to fighting for the puck when he doesn’t already have it. He was a rare second rounder to spend significant time in the NHL in his D+1 year, but injuries at inopportune times have prevented him from adding much to that in the two years since. After recording a point per game in his first AHL campaign, he should lose his rookie eligibility this year. He has top six upside, but some bust potential too.

2 Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Take everything you just read above for Sprong, and make it a defenseman, and you have Calen Addison. Not the part about what he has done since being drafted, as Addison was Pittsburgh first pick this year, but all the rest. Addison is a fantastic offensive talent from the blueline, at the extreme end of what is meant by the term “modern defenseman.” He is an exceptional skater, very skilled carrying the puck and packs a strong shot from the point. Unfortunately, he can sometimes give it all back through his game away from the puck. He is small and does not play a style of game that allows you to forget how small he is. He should have two more full years in the WHL to round out his game before the Penguins will need to worry about him.

Filip Hallander

3 Filip Hallander, C (58^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Were it not for a knee injury which hampered him for a large portion of his draft year, and ultimately prevented him from representing his native Sweden at the WU18 tournament, Hallander would not likely have been available for the Penguins to trade up in the draft and select towards the end of the second round. A full bodied and strong young center, Hallander has already shown the ability to impose himself on men, a trait which worked well as he had a point every other game playing adults in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier of hockey. Assuming a full recovery from his injuries, he projects to bring above average play almost across the board, notably for his powerful stride and strong shot. He is also accustomed to playing a 200-foot game.

4 Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 10^th) After struggling to an extent as a sophomore, Angello was far more impressive with Cornell as a junior. At his best, Angello is a powerful skater who handles the puck at an above average level. At his worst, he can struggle to keep up with the pace of the play and his hands look stiff or clumsy as he is not ready. On good days and bad days, Angello is a large specimen, carrying a well-built 6-4” frame, finishing checks and overpowering opponents. There is an open and justified question about whether he can be a big offensive contributor at the highest level, but he seems pretty safe in projecting an NHL career of some shape within a few years.

5 Juuso Riikola, D (UFA: May 18, 2018. Last Year: IE) Signed as a free agent this May, Riikola has spent the past five and a half seasons playing in Liiga with KalPa where he had slowly moved up the ranks to be one of their most consistent, productive blueliners. Without any notable experience on the smaller ice surfaces of North America – the one time he represented Finland in the WJC, it was in Russia, on the large ice, Pittsburgh believes that his high-end skating prowess will allow him to succeed in Pennsylvania. Above average puck skills along with a solid point shot are also reasons for optimism with Riikola. On the down side, he can struggle off the puck, and at age 24, there is only so much more room for development. His window to succeed in Pittsburgh will not be open for long.

6 Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 8^th) Drafted in his second year of eligibility with the last pick of the second round in 2016 as a very high scoring winger in the Finnish junior circuit, Bjorkqvist immediately came stateside and struggled at times to acclimate his game to the NCAA, with Providence. In his sophomore campaign, he took a big step forward, with nearly two goals for every point he had as a freshman. Goal scoring ability aside, he is a smart, two-way player with a solid build that should enable to hold his own, if not more, in the professional game. More a shooter than a passer, a strong junior season with the Friars would likely prompt Pittsburgh to offer him an ELC once his season ends.

7 Teodors “Teddy” Blueger, C (52^nd overall, 2012. Last Year: 15^th) Since being drafted in the second round of the 2012 draft out of the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep school in Minnesota, Blueger has taken a deliberate path up the Pittsburgh organizational depth chart, with four full seasons at Minnesota State-Mankato and now two full campaigns in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In his second go round at WBS, Blueger began to show his offensive upside. His skill set is roughly average, but through keen understanding of the game and a gritty style, he gets himself into position to create offensive impact. The Latvian battles hard and would not look out of place in a bottom six/PK role in the NHL.

8 Zach Aston-Reese, C/RW (UFA: Mar. 14, 2017. Last Year: 3^rd) When the Penguins inked the undrafted Aston-Reese shortly after the graduating forward completed his collegiate eligibility at Northeastern much was expected. A Hobey Baker finalist, he had tied for the NCAA scoring lead. Not only that, he was a solid skater with a pro-sized frame and decent individual skills to boot. Perhaps we all expected too much. As good as the level of play in Hockey East is, the professional game is another beast altogether. Aston-Reese was fine, providing secondary scoring at the AHL level and not embarrassing himself in an NHL trial – including nine games for the Penguins in the NHL postseason. He has a decent collection of tools tied together by an above average ability to process the game. Going into is age 24 season, there is little reason to suspect further skills growth, but he is probably going to be a full time NHLer this year.

9 Niclas Almari, D (151^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Very lean, but very fast, Almari has often stayed below the radar and was never called upon to represent his native Finland internationally outside of the U17 tournament in 2014-15. Despite being overlooked by the national team, he has steadily grown into a reliable player in Liiga for HPK. After helping their U20 team to a Jr. A SM-liiga championship in 2017, he spent nearly the full season in Liiga this year and his hockey sense and puck handling skills allowed him to hold his own. Although Almari came stateside at the end of the year for a brief trial with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he is expected to spend this season back in Finland. He needs more physical development before being ready to move to North America full time.

Sam Miletic

10 Sam Miletic, LW/C (UFA: Sep. 25, 2017. Last Year: IE) Miletic was passed over at the draft first as a moderate scoring forward with Green Bay of the USHL. Twice more, after moving to the OHL to play with the London Knights, he was ignored. Shortly before his age 20 season in the OHL got underway, the Penguins offered Miletic an ELC and he took off. Whereas he had previously been a pure goalscorer in the OHL, after signing he added playmaking to his repertoire and finished his final OHL season with 92 points (sixth in the league) in 63 games. Miletic is a good skater with developed hockey instincts and a modicum of physicality, but his pure offensive skills leave doubt that he can repeat his offensive exploits as a pro.

11 Jordy Bellerive, C (UFA: Sep. 16, 2017. Last Year: IE) First, please note that this ranking was made with full knowledge of the burns suffered by Jordy Bellerive in the offseason that will force him to miss the Team Canada WJC selection camp. We wish Bellerive a speedy recovery and believe that he will recover fully. The Penguins signed Bellerive to an ELC nine days before they inked Miletic above. Bellerive was passed over on one draft day and Pittsburgh was impressed enough by his performance at Rookie Camp that they did not want to chance that he would be available for them the following draft. Considering his 92-point regular season and 25 points in 16 postseason games, they may have been right. A high IQ pivot with a modicum of offensive skills, Bellerive will return to Lethbridge after his recovery, trying to repeat last year’s exploits.

12 Justin Almeida, C/LW (129^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Considering the relative success experienced by the Penguins in acquiring talent outside of the draft, after they had been passed over, it should not surprise that they also are on board with drafting players in their second year of eligibility. Like Kasper Bjorkqvist above, Almeida was overlooked after putting up 28 points in his first draft year. Thanks to a 98 point follow up with a powerhouse Moose Jaw Warriors, he was not overlooked again. Undersized, but not lacking in skill, Almeida split his points evenly between goals and assists, but his playmaking abilities figure to stand out more as he attempts to climb the ladder to the pros. He is a decent skater as well, although he could stand to improve there to increase his odds of success at his size.

13 Dominik Simon, C (137^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) Had Simon appeared in two more regular season games last year, he would not have been eligible for this list. Considering how he meshed with Sidney Crosby at times, he figures to graduate this season. Although he lacks any one true standout trait, he plays a heads-up game and plays with the type of energy that helps to create space for elite talents like Crosby to operate within. On most teams, Simon would profile as a fourth line sparkplug type, but Crosby has a history of performance when flanked by lesser talents like Simon. The versatile Czech forward is likely done playing in the AHL.

14 Jean-Sebastien Dea, C (UFA: Sep. 16, 2013. Last Year: 19^th) Yet another undrafted free agent in the Penguins’ system. Dea, like most of the prospect in this range of the system, lacks much in the way of offensive tools, but makes up for it just enough with above average hockey IQ. Last year was his fourth I the system and it was his best season yet, with 50 points in 70 AHL games – 14 more points than his previous high, and five games in the NHL, during which he potted his first career goal. He would have a better chance at breaking camp in Pittsburgh were he a winger, but Dea should receive some chances in the NHL this season regardless.

Jan Drozg

15 Jan Drozg, LW/RW (152^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) The first of two fifth rounders drafted by the Penguins in 2017, Drozg is surprisingly the best asset one year later. Some of the others will have their excuses, which we will get to later, but the Slovenian Drozg came to North America to play for Shawinigan in the QMJHL and led the downtrodden Cataractes in assists and points. He also showed well in a season-ending one game cameo in the AHL. More a playmaker than a shooter in junior, he has an impressive release and wrist shot, indicating there may be more goals in his stick yet. He also showed well for his country, with nine points in five games for Slovenia at the D1B WJC. A strong return trip to Shawinigan could see Drozg finish way higher on this list next year.

16 Linus Olund, C (155^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 18^th) Selected by the Penguins three spots after they grabbed Drozg, Olund was in his third ear of draft eligibility, and had just completed the first year in which he spent the plurality of his time in the SHL. After a full season with Brynas in the SHL, in which his point production ticked slightly upwards, Olund is heading to the U.S., expecting to spend the season in WBS. A strong skater who plays an intelligent game, Olund’s offensive tools rate around average, and while he has a decent frame, he shies away from physicality. His upside is bottom six NHL forward, but his adjustment to the North American game may be rocky to start.

17 Clayton Phillips, D (93^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 14^th) On the one hand, it may not be fair to Phillips to rate him so low on what is, frankly, a very weak system. The former third round pick went back to Fargo of the USHL to start the year, was traded to Muskegon after only three games, and less than two months later, was invited to join the University of Minnesota mid-season. A smart defenseman off the puck, who swings above his weight-class physically speaking, did not produce at all with the Gophers, but will have chances to play higher up the depth chart this year with at least three veterans leaving for the professional game. If his skills catch up to his instincts, he could rise up this list next year.

18 Ryan Jones, D (121^st overall, 2016. Last Year: unranked) Even though Jones more than doubled his offensive production from his freshman year at Nebraska-Omaha to his sophomore campaign, it is still fairly safe to say that his hopes of a professional career ride on his game away from the puck. He does not have much of a shot and his puck game mostly consists of making the first pass from behind his own net. As a skater, he is basically average. But he is very good positionally, senses danger well and is reliable. Further, he has a good-sized frame and knows how to use his body to clear the crease, or cut off a passing lane. Not fancy, but fairly effective.

19 Tobias Lindberg, RW (Trade: Feb. 22, 2018. Last Year: unranked (Toronto)) After a whirlwind of a season, in which Lindberg was traded twice, he ends up in the organization in which he has the greatest chance of reaching the NHL. Drafted by Ottawa, he was traded in his first pro season to Toronto as part of the Dion Phaneuf deal. After two seasons in the Toronto system, he was traded just before the season started to Vegas in exchange for netminder Calvin Pickard. Finally, at this year’s deadline, he was sent from Vegas to Pittsburgh as part of the Golden Knights’ role in the three-way Derik Brassard trade, although he was able to stay with the Chicago Wolves on loan until the end of the season. He can show flashes of skill, pulling out surprise toe drags or occasionally lasering a wrist shot over a goalie’s shoulder, but Lindberg has mostly established himself as a defensive forward who can kill penalties. He is likely in line for an NHL cameo or two this year.

20 Adam Johnson, LW (UFA: Jul. 6, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) The number two scorer in the USHL in 2014-15, Johnson was passed over on draft day for a third time. Moving to Minnesota-Duluth, he was close to a point-per-game as a sophomore before impressing Pittsburgh decision makers with a strong showing at their rookie camp. Johnson is on the small side and is not as fast as he needs to be, but he has a chance because he has great vision and has proven himself capable of setting up a play out of nothing for a linemate. He lacks the skill to play a top six role and is too old (24) to expect much growth, while not playing a style usually seen on the bottom six. He may be a tweener, but there is enough here to keep an eye on.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

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

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

State of the CHL: The Ontario Hockey League

Brock Otten — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:07:48 +0000

Frontrunners Load Up at the Trade Deadline

Showdown in the East Division

This year’s OHL trade deadline was exceptionally busy with over 40 players and 70 draft picks moved. OHL fans have become accustomed to the proverbial arms race with many teams in the Western Conference loading up at the deadline each year. So it was remarkably refreshing to see two Eastern Conference teams step up and be among the league’s top buyers. And it just so happens that both of these teams, Hamilton and Kingston, play in the East Division.

Kaden Fulcher of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Hamilton has been the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference for the majority of this season. Thanks to some great goaltending from Detroit prospect Kaden Fulcher, a deep defensive unit, and balanced scoring, the Bulldogs have held the lead atop the Conference for several weeks and have held a place in the CHL Top 10 for seven weeks running.

It was also the Bulldogs who struck early on, capitalizing on a hot start, by bringing in forwards Nic Caamano (Dallas) and Ryan Moore from Flint in a blockbuster deal. These two helped Hamilton increase their division lead over Kingston to double digits as we approached the deadline. But it didn’t stop Hamilton from continuing to build by adding defenders Riley Stillman (Florida) and Nic Mattinen (Toronto), in addition to London’s Robert Thomas (St. Louis). The Thomas add, in particular, is huge. The gold medalist from the most recent World Junior Hockey Championships is a dynamic offensive player who also happens to be terrific in all three zones and can play in all situations. He gives the Bulldogs one of the top centerman in the entire OHL.

However, do not tell the Frontenacs that the division is locked up already. With overager and Hurricanes prospect Jeremy Helvig in his last OHL season, Kingston decided to go all in and make a run for an OHL Championship. They owe it to their dedicated fan base, having lost in the Conference Semi-finals the last two years. In fact, Kingston has never made a trip to the OHL Finals and hope to re-write that part of history this year.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Kingston brought in star forwards Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), and Cliff Pu (Buffalo) to insulate offensive dynamo Jason Robertson (Dallas). They also added former exceptional status grantee Sean Day (NY Ramgers) to an already large, and menacing blueline. The addition of Vilardi was a risky one, considering he had yet to play this year due to back surgery. But the early results have been fantastic as the Kings’ first rounder is showing little rust and has 14 points in 9 games.

As this article is being written, Hamilton’s lead over Kingston in the division remains double digits with just over 20 games left to play. The two teams will meet only one more time this regular season, on Friday, February 23rd in Kingston. Even if the division may be a tall order for the Frontenacs, they look poised to overcome Barrie or Niagara (who are battling for the Central Division) to take that coveted 3rd spot in the Conference heading into the playoffs. That would mean, pending no upsets, we could see a Hamilton/Kingston Eastern Conference final and that would be one heck of a series.

Catching Up to SSM in the West

Meanwhile, the Western Conference also saw a few teams loading up, in this case to try and catch the Soo Greyhounds atop the standings. While the regular season crown may be a far-fetched goal, Sarnia and Kitchener each brought in a host of talented players in order to push Sault Ste. Marie come playoff time.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Sarnia has been one of the league’s most surprising teams this season. Thanks to superstar Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), who was leading the league in scoring before leading Canada in scoring at the World Junior Championships, and OA goaltender Justin Fazio, the Sting have been pushing the Greyhounds all season long. It was becoming apparent (especially with Kyrou and Adam Ruzicka [Calgary] away at the WJC’s) that their depth just was not at the same level as the Soo’s. So before their hot start fizzled away, the team went out and brought in Jonathan Ang (Florida), Michael Pezzetta (Montreal), and Cam Dineen (Arizona). This gives them two terrific scoring lines, and the puck moving defender and PP Quarterback that they sorely lacked.

Kitchener, on the other hand, has had a firm grasp on the Midwest Division all season, thanks to the disappointing starts of London and Owen Sound and the rebuild of the Erie Otters. This was despite not having a ton of confidence in their goaltending. It has been the worst kept secret in the league that the Rangers were out to improve their goaltending at this year’s deadline. Fans were shocked when it was not Michael Dipietro (Vancouver), Dylan Wells (Edmonton), or another star netminder brought in, but overager Mario Culina, who had actually spent time with Ryerson University (of USports) earlier this year after he failed to catch on with an OHL team this offseason. Yet the early results have silenced critics and arm-chair scouts. Culina remains perfect with the Rangers and even sported a shutout streak of over 150 minutes recently.

The Rangers also brought in hulking center Logan Brown (Ottawa), veteran defender Austin McEneny, and power forward Givani Smith (Detroit) to ensure that they hold off all on-comers in the division.

The question is, even with the moves Kitchener and Sarnia have made to shore up any weaknesses, are they in the same league (metaphorically of course) as the Greyhounds?

Greyhounds The Team to Beat

That, of course, brings us to the Greyhounds, the top ranked team in the entire CHL, and owners of a 23 game win streak earlier this season. You would be hard pressed to find a single person who believes that any other team in the OHL is the frontrunner for this year’s OHL Championship, even with the bevy of deals made by other competitors.

Rasmus Sandin of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The Greyhounds boast the league’s current leading scorer in Morgan Frost (Philadelphia). They have the league’s second leading goal scorer in Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay). They have two of the highest scoring defenders in the league (points per game) in Conor Timmins (Colorado) and Rasmus Sandin (2018). They have the current goals against average leader in Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) manning the pipes. They have the league’s second best powerplay at over 25%. They also have a remarkable 17 shorthanded goals so far (the Saginaw Spirit have 25 powerplay goals this year as a comparison). Get the drift yet? This is one heck of a dominant team.

Yet, the Hounds were not content to stand pat at this year’s trade deadline. They acquired veterans Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay) and Jordan Sambrook (Detroit) from the Erie Otters, who have a combined 89 games of playoff experience. This includes winning an OHL Championship last season. Raddysh showcased terrific chemistry with Boris Katchouk at this year’s World Juniors and will make an already stacked powerplay that much stronger.

The OHL playoffs will begin the week of March 19th and it will be then, and only then, when we will find out if a team can usurp the Greyhounds; if all those moves and all the young assets jettisoned out were worth it. But one thing is certain, the favorite to represent the OHL in Regina at this year’s Memorial Cup is still Sault Ste. Marie.

Don’t Sleep on

Steelheads look to Repeat on Last Year’s miracle second half

Last year, the Mississauga Steelheads were the near unanimous selection to take the OHL’s Eastern Conference in preseason polls. Yet at midseason, they found themselves near the bottom of the Conference. Miraculously, they exploded in the second half, played up to their capability, took the Central Division, and ultimately the Eastern Conference title come playoff time.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

This year, the Steelheads were picked by many to repeat as Eastern Conference champs and Division winners. Yet again, they had a disappointing start to the year and find themselves near the bottom of their division. Many expected them to sell off a few key assets (like Michael McLeod [New Jersey] or Nic Hague [Vegas]) and rebuild. Instead they stayed the course, made a few minor acquisitions (like Mathieu Foget, Reagan O’Grady, and Cole Carter), and are suddenly blazing up the standings again. Since the Foget deal, the Steelheads are 6-2, with victories against Sault Ste. Marie (ending the latter’s 23 game win streak), Kitchener, Kingston, and division leaders Barrie.

Do they have another remarkable comeback in them? I would say that it is unlikely. Last year, the Central Division was atrocious with Mississauga as the only team above .500. This year, the Barrie Colts and Niagara IceDogs are playing excellent hockey and made some key acquisitions themselves. The better question is, do any of these Eastern Conference contenders want to see the Steelheads in the opening round(s) of the playoff? A very likely scenario could be a first round match-up between Kingston and Mississauga, or a second round match-up with Hamilton. And if the Steelheads continue to close out the regular season on a high note, we may not even be able to consider them as underdogs.

Owen Sound Attack Better than standings show

Another team that has underwhelmed this year is the Owen Sound Attack. They were able to return, fully intact, one of the league’s most dangerous lines from last year; Nick Suzuki (Vegas)-Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver)-Kevin Hancock. And even though they were losing their captain, Santino Centorame, and their starting goaltender, Michael McNiven (Montreal), the expectation was that they had the depth to counteract those losses.

But it’s been a frustrating year for the Attack and its fans. Injuries have been an issue, especially with Hancock and Gadjovich both missing significant time. And finding a replacement for McNiven has been near impossible. They picked up Zach Bowman from Sudbury this offseason, but he left the team at midseason for personal reasons. Then they recently acquired Olivier Lafreniere from Ottawa, but he has since injured his groin and is out long term. So the reigns have been given to 17 year old rookie Mack Guzda.

However, the Attack are finally healthy again with Hancock returning to the lineup recently. They went out and got Brett McKenzie (Vancouver) from North Bay to improve their second line. Import (and Flyers pick) Maksim Sushko is playing terrific hockey since returning from the World Juniors. And Aidan Dudas (2018) and Sean Durzi are in the middle breakout seasons as stars in the OHL. The team looks to be turning a corner and certainly has the talent and experience to do damage in the playoffs, even if they draw one of the big three (Sault Ste. Marie, Kitchener, or Sarnia) in the first round. Like Mississauga, this is a potentially dangerous team come playoff time; and one capable of pulling off an upset.

Re-Tooling to Fight Another Day

London and Windsor start the cycle

Having already discussed many of the contenders loading up at this year’s deadline, one had to ask, “where are all these players coming from?” The answer this year is rare, as perennial contenders the London Knights and Windsor Spitfires sold off assets. The Knights traded Robert Thomas, Max Jones, Cliff Pu, and Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh), while the Spitfires traded Logan Brown, Gabe Vilardi, Sean Day, and Austin McEneny. While it has not been uncommon for these two to sell off assets, it has been rare for it to occur in the same year. We have to go back to the 2001-02 season (16 years ago) to see neither London nor Windsor with home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. With the Knights and Spitfires currently sitting 4th and 6th (respectively) right now, that is an entirely possible outcome.

Even then, this is not a normal sell-off. We’re looking at two firmly established playoff teams with a chance of finishing in the top four of the Conference, selling off assets. The question is...why? And the answer is the reason why London and Windsor have remained such competitive forces in the OHL over the last 15 years (they combine for five of the last six OHL Memorial Cup victories). Spitfires GM Warren Rychel gave an interview recently where he was asked about the concept of re-tooling. His response was that it made no sense to be in limbo. You either need to be competitive for first, and if you won’t be, then you might as well finish lower in the standings and get assets that can help you finish first again in the near future. This is the credo that the Knights and Spitfires have lived by and it is the reason why they have been able to win so many championships in recent years.

Curtis Douglas of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This year is a perfect example. London and Windsor trade off their best veteran players and pick up three outstanding young players (each), in addition to a boatload of high end draft picks. These young players (like Nathan Dunkley [2018] or Curtis Douglas [2018]) are already good players and they slide into the line-up and contribute. Both London and Windsor now have three recent first round picks (among the top 2001 born players in the province) in their lineups, allowing them to grow together and improve under the tutelage of excellent coaching staffs. With a boatload of draft picks, they also are not afraid to take a chance on the top American players available in hopes that they eventually commit to the Ontario Hockey League. And you better believe that with high selections at this year’s Import Draft, both of these franchises will be selecting high end talents.

That is what separates the Knights and Spitfires from many of the other franchises in the OHL. They hate mediocrity. They aspire for a Championship. And if they do not feel that they can achieve that, they cut and run and bring in as many future assets as they can, even if it means an early playoff exit. It also might mean trading off players who still have potential service time, like Robert Thomas or Gabe Vilardi. If these two return to the OHL next year, they will be among the better players in the league. However, it is also possible that they make their respective NHL rosters and then London and Windsor would have received nothing for them (like the Guelph Storm, who are still feeling the effects of not getting anything for Robby Fabbri a few years ago after he left early for St. Louis).

Other OHL teams become obsessed with merely making the playoffs in hopes that anything can happen. But the way teams load up (call it the NBA super team effect), it’s a pipe dream for most. Would you not rather bring in three quality young players and maybe lose in the first round, than keep your veterans, get swept in the second round and then lose them for nothing when they graduate?

The Race for Quinton Byfield

Erie, Sudbury, & Flint battle for the highly touted youngster

As many teams hunt for a conference crown, division title, and playoff spot, an equally important battle is occurring at the bottom of the OHL standings; the race for the Jack Ferguson recipient. And this year, the crown jewel appears to be quite a special player. His name is Quinton Byfield and he’s a 6-3”, 200lbs center who seems destined to become the league’s next true superstar. Many consider him to be one of the better talents to come out of the province in recent years.

The race for Byfield is occurring between three teams, all of whom have different storylines. Those three teams are the Erie Otters, Sudbury Wolves, and Flint Firebirds.

Erie is rebuilding after four straight years of excellence on the backs of the likes of Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, and Alex DeBrincat. This includes an OHL Championship last year. A player like Byfield would accelerate the rebuild nicely and spoil the Otters’ fanbase yet again with another potential generational talent.

Sudbury, on the other hand, is stuck in what seems to be a perennial rebuild. They’ve drafted first, second, and seventh the last three years and once again find themselves at the bottom. With new ownership, and new management in place, things are finally starting to look up for this once storied franchise. A dominant power center like Byfield would be just what the doctor ordered to get this team back near the top of the standings, perhaps even as early as next year.

Lastly, Flint is still looking to escape the shadow of the controversy that dominated their inaugural season. 2016/17 saw them take a significant step forward but this year has been a step in the wrong direction and suddenly the team is rebuilding again (after trading away top talent like Nic Caamano, Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen). But this is a very talented young team that is bound to explode either next year or the year after. Forgive me if you have heard this before, but Quinton Byfield is the star this franchise needs in order to climb out of mediocrity.

A Broken System

OHL Teams Will Soon Trade for the Unborn

As previously mentioned, over 70 draft picks changed hands this trade deadline. Due to crazy circumstances, over half of those picks are from beyond the year 2020. This includes the movement of draft picks from the year 2026, 2027, and 2028. Yes, that is correct. A 5 year old was traded this January.

For those that find this absurd, you would be correct. In the Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, teams cannot move draft picks that far in advance. And unlike the OHL, teams are also permitted to move their first round draft picks. Let us examine some major moves in all three leagues this trade deadline to compare the effect this has. Kale Clague moved for two quality young players, two first round picks, and a 2nd round pick. Drake Batherson went for three solid young players and a first round pick. Robert Thomas went for a top young player, four 2nd rounders and two 3rd rounders. Because of the high prices and inability to move first rounders, teams like Hamilton and Kingston are almost completely devoid of 2nd round picks for the foreseeable future. Hamilton has two 2nd rounders this year, but then does not own one until 2026 after that. Kingston does not have a 2nd round pick until 2026.

The prices being paid for these players who are essentially rentals, has also spiraled out of control. Let us examine some past deadline deals in the OHL for perspective.

In 2012, the London Knights and Niagara IceDogs battled for an OHL Championship. The Knights brought in rugged two-way star Austin Watson from Peterborough at the deadline at the cost of a moderate young player, two 2nd round picks, and a 4th. Meanwhile, Niagara brought in power forward Brett Ritchie at the cost of three 2nd round picks.

In 2000, perhaps the largest trade in OHL history up until that point occurred and that was the trade of Jason Spezza from Mississauga to Windsor. In return, Mississauga got four players (none could be considered among Windsor’s top young players, save maybe Ryan Courtney), a 2nd round pick and a 6th round pick.

Needless to say, things are changing and these trades are getting out of hand. We’re seeing upwards of six quality draft picks in addition to a team’s top young player changing hands in exchange for one player.

Just what the OHL can do to rectify this remains to be seen, if they wish to rectify it. Would allowing teams the option of trading first rounders lower the cost? What about putting a restriction on how far in advance draft picks can be moved? Regardless, it no longer makes sense for the OHL to differ from the WHL and QMJHL in accordance with transaction limitations. This broken system needs to be fixed. How soon before we get a draft pick trading hands where said future draft pick is not even born yet?

Sam Miletic – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Pittsburgh Penguins Top 20 Prospects

Samuel Poulin, RW (21st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). Previous ranking: 2)

Joel Blomqvist, G (52nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Anthony Angello, C (145th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 3)

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jonathan Gruden, RW (95th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 18)

Nathan Legare, RW (74th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Jordan Bellerive, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 16, 2017. Previous ranking: 6)

Will Reilly, D (217th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Airola, D (211th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Drew O’Connor, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 10, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Chase Yoder, C (170th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Sam Miletic, LW/C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 25, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Cam Lee, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 17, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

Judd Caulfield, RW (145th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Clayton Phillips, D (93rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 15)

Calle Clang, G (77th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joshua Maniscalco, D (UFA: Aug. 21, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 24

Pittsburgh Penguins

Samuel Poulin, RW (21st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). 2019 Rank: 3)

Anthony Angello, C (145th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Nathan Legare, RW (74th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Jordan Bellerive, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 16, 2017. 2019 Rank: 6)

Will Reilly, D (217th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61st overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Santeri Airola, D (211th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 18)

Drew O’Connor, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 10, 2019. 2019 Rank: IE)

Sam Miletic, LW/C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 25, 2017. 2019 Rank: 15)

Cam Lee, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 17, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Judd Caulfield, RW (145th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

Clayton Phillips, D (93rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. 2019 Rank: UR)

Pittsburgh Penguins 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect System Overview

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

State of the CHL: The Ontario Hockey League

Frontrunners Load Up at the Trade Deadline

Showdown in the East Division

Catching Up to SSM in the West

Greyhounds The Team to Beat

Don’t Sleep on

Steelheads look to Repeat on Last Year’s miracle second half

Owen Sound Attack Better than standings show

Re-Tooling to Fight Another Day

London and Windsor start the cycle

The Race for Quinton Byfield

Erie, Sudbury, & Flint battle for the highly touted youngster

A Broken System

OHL Teams Will Soon Trade for the Unborn

Samuel Poulin, RW (21^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23^rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). Previous ranking: 2)

Joel Blomqvist, G (52^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 3)

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jonathan Gruden, RW (95^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 18)

Nathan Legare, RW (74^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Will Reilly, D (217^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Airola, D (211^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Chase Yoder, C (170^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Judd Caulfield, RW (145^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Clayton Phillips, D (93^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95^th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 15)

Calle Clang, G (77^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Poulin, RW (21^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D (Trade: Jun. 29, 2019. Originally: 23^rd overall, 2017 (Arizona). 2019 Rank: 3)

Anthony Angello, C (145^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Valtteri Puustinen, RW/LW (203^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Nathan Legare, RW (74^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Will Reilly, D (217^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Kasper Bjorkqvist, RW (61^st overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Santeri Airola, D (211^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 18)

Judd Caulfield, RW (145^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

Clayton Phillips, D (93^rd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Jesper Lindgren, D (Trade: Aug. 25, 2020. Originally: 95^th overall, 2015 [Toronto]. 2019 Rank: UR)