Zack Mitchell – McKeen's Hockey

NHL Prospect Watch: Finishing school at the WJC

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 17:41:08 +0000

As I begin writing this post, Team Finland is only a few hours removed from securing their continued participation in the highest level of U-20 global hockey, having outlasted one-and-done Latvia in a best of three relegation round. They won the first game by a 2-1 scoreline and took the clincher in a 4-1 contest in which they spent seemingly the majority of the game on the power play.

Another way of writing that introduction is that the semifinals begin tomorrow. There are many ways to look at an amazing event like the World Junior Championships, such as how the Finns disappointed, how the Danes delighted, how Nico Hischier was showcased to the world on a broader stage, or how players relied on by their regular clubs were put in different roles here, such as Canada’s Mathieu Joseph or Patrick Harper with the Americans.

Instead of looking at big thematic issues, I decided to focus here on three players who showed me parts of their games that I did not know that they had. Usually, for the good. I am going with one Canadian, one American and one European.

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 26: Canada forward Nicolas Roy (25) jumps in celebration as forward Dante Fabbro (8) joins him after scoring against Russia in the second period during the World junior Hockey Championships (Photo by Dan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire)

Dante Fabbro (Nashville, 1/17, 2016, D, Boston University (Hockey East))

Without question, I liked Fabbro coming into the year. He was a very impressive blueliner with Penticton of the BCHL last year and the Hockey Prospectus team thought he was full value for the Predators being taken 17^th overall in last June’s draft. When it came time to look at the Predators prospect pipeline for the Prospect Handbook (http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/2016-17-hockey-prospectus-prospect-guidebook-available-now/) we had him ranked as the number prospect in the system, running away.

Writer Kevin Olexson summarized his game as follows:

"Fabbro’s stats show his exceptional offensive abilities, but he is also very solid in his own end of the ice and in fact considers himself to be a defensive defenseman. He is a great puck moving defenseman who is very mobile, and likes to jump into the play. He shows great poise with the puck, and makes good decisions under pressure. He makes precise passes breaking out of the zone in transition, and makes the long pass with ease setting up odd man rushes or breakaways. He is strong on his feet and does not shy away from physical play. Fabbro is very good with his stick, and reads plays very well. With Fabbro playing in Penticton of the BCHL, he has not received the constant exposure of most of the other top ranked prospects, but he is undoubtedly a top tier defenseman. Overall, the BC native has the skills and overall game to project as a top four defenseman in the NHL."

Making the Canadian squad, there was some uncertainty as to what role he would play. In my preview of the Canadian team for McKeens, I suggested that he would play a sheltered role on the third pairing and perhaps be used on the PK. That suggestion was as much a guess based on the talents of his fellow Team Canada defenders as it was a suggestion as to his abilities.

Fabbro has, in fact, been used in a primary penalty killing role for the Red & White. His offensive game, which we held to be the primary attractive element of his game, has not been a major factor for Canada’s getting a semifinal placing. He has only a single assist to his credit and has only taken six shots on net. Thomas Chabot has clearly outshone all other Canadian blueliners, if not every single other defenseman in the tournament. Kale Clague and Philippe Myers have also demonstrated far more flash.

So what impressed me about Fabbro? His off-puck game. Any time an opponent tried to rush against him, he kept a very tight gap between himself and the puck carrier. He is not blessed with size like Myers, but he uses every inch and pound at his disposal to his benefit. He has been very hard to beat one on one and to top it off, has been far more of a physical presence than I could have expected. Not physical as in dirty, as he is the only Canadian blueliner to have avoided a time out in the sin bin a trait he also showed with BU, with only six PIMs to his credit in 15 games, but he is someone who will enact a toll for attempting to create offense against him. I am more convinced now that his relative lack of size (listed at 6-0”, 190) will not hold back his development. He is also good enough with the puck, owning a nice zippy point shot that he can keep low, that he should take on a more leveraged role at next year’s tournament in Buffalo.

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29, 2016 : USA forward Troy Terry (20) skates the puck out of his zone during play against Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championships (Photo by Dan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire)

Troy Terry (Anaheim, 5/148, 2015, C/RW, Denver University (NCHC))

Although we were optimistic about Fabbro, we were not Terry backers coming into the season. The former USNTDP member had been typecast as a supporting player since his days with the Colorado Thunderbirds U16 team. In viewings of Terry as a freshman with the Denver Pioneers, I saw a player who was struggling to keep up with the pace of the collegiate game, particularly when he had the puck on his stick. He had decent speed, but not necessarily a second gear. In short, he showed glimpses, but seemed to be a long way off.

I am not afraid to admit a mistake, and I was mistaken about Terry. After the electric Clayton Keller, Terry may have been the most impressive American skater so far at this tournament. Terry has already taken on a far more prominent role this year with the University of Denver, scoring close to one point per game, ably filling on a first line that saw the defections of Danton Heinen and Trevor Moore to the professional ranks. Even being away for the WJC, he still maintains the team lead in goals with nine.

For one thing, Terry is no longer struggling to keep up. He is now forcing others to keep up with him. He is a trusted member of the American penalty killing unit. I am not ready to anoint him as a new Kesler for the Ducks, but it would no longer be fair to characterize Terry as an offense only player.

So he can play a two-way game, but he has also been one of the leading scorers for Team USA. He has shown me a quick and accurate snap shot. His hands are very fast and he has impressive puck control skills. He is still quite lean, packing a mere 165 pounds on his six-foot figure, and his physical game is under-developed, but the rest of the package has begun to show up. As a late fifth round gamble by the Ducks in 2015, Terry is starting to pay off.

Another lesson of his development, something I hope to explore in print or podcast form soon, is that when it comes to junior aged players, you have to remember to scout the abilities more than the role. The latter is liable to be arbitrary. The former is what the player can bring to the table. Terry is bringing it.

*postscript – his shootout heroics in both the semifinals and the finals doesn’t really change the above assessment. But it sure was fun.

Matej Tomek (Philadelphia, 3/90, 2015, G, North Dakota (NCHC))

The hardest player to scout is the one who doesn’t play. You may be familiar with the apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, who played in only 22 games between the top two Finnish leagues as a 21 year old before the Predators took an eighth round flyer on the supersized Finnish netminder. The scout who went to see him did not even catch him in game action but made his drafting recommendation on the basis of Rinne’s work in warmups.

Matej Tomek played more than that in the NAHL in his draft year, but he literally has not played since. He went off to North Dakota and spent his entire freshman season sidelined as previously unheralded Cam Johnson backstopped the Fighting Hawks to an NCAA crown. But hey, injuries happen.

This year, Tomek is ostensibly healthy again, but was unable to get into a single game for UND as Johnson has continued to monopolize the nets. So after close to 18 months on the sidelines, it is a treat to witness Tomek in action again, for Team Slovakia. UConn starter Adam Huska was the nominal starter, but Tomek was given the nod in two of Slovakia’s five games. Although his 3.50 GAA was not a showstopper, his .913 save percentage was certainly respectable. Going into the semifinals, that figure ranks seventh among netminders to appear in at least two contests.

His success came in spite of clear rust in his game. Tomek showed solid positioning and a strong glove hand, although his footwork was sometimes labored and he mis-read a few plays. Speed of the game can be a reasonable issue to expect after such a long layoff from competitive hockey.

The question now is what happens from now until the end of the season. I have to assume that he will at least make his game debut for North Dakota. Johnson is a 22 year old junior who some expect to turn pro after the season. Further, Johnson’s numbers have not been as good this year as last. His save percentage has dropped from an otherworldly .935 to a solid but unspectacular .915, which has helped his GAA jump from 1.66 to 2.10. Even assuming some ice time for Tomek with the Fighting Hawks, will it be enough to keep him in the program next year? Has he fallen off the radar for the Flyers, who selected him in the third round? I believe that he has earned some benefit of the doubt with his performance here, especially his game against Russia, but the Flyers are rotten with good goaltenders, and he would not be the first prospect of note to have his career derailed by injuries and other circumstances beyond his control.

And now for something completely different

Most teams have in the neighborhood of 30 prospects in their respective systems. By “prospects” I refer to players aged 26 or younger and with 25 games or fewer of NHL experience coming into this season. These prospects come from all over the place, but the majority of the prospects were, at one point or another, drafted. In fact, many were drafted by the organizations in which they currently reside. That said, every team has at least one prospect in their system who signed as a free agent. Not just a free agent whose original three year ELC with their drafting team expired and are now free to pursue other opportunities, but a free agent who was never drafted at all.

There are currently 121 affiliated players who are with an organization that signed them as undrafted free agents, a hair over four per team. I was recently watching video of the Iowa Wild team, the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate, and the issue came up as it seemed like over a quarter of their players were free agent signees. So I did some research. At present, only two franchises have more than six prospects that they brought into affiliated hockey (this analysis does not include UFAs who were subsequently traded, waived and granted a second round of free agency – no retreads). The Columbus Blue Jackets have eight such players, four of whom were signed out of the OHL last season. The only team with more than Columbus is the Minnesota Wild, with nine.

The Wild nine emerged from all hockey walks of life, including signings from the OHL, QMJHL, WHL, NCAA, and Hungary(?!?). Continuing to ponder the matter, I also noticed that, unlike many of the other UFAs abounding the hockey world, many of whom were undersized and thus overlooked on draft day, or late bloomers who needed three or four years of collegiate experience before being ready, the Wild mostly signed “safe”, very low upside players. I do not like painting with too broad a brush, as I have always been a fan of former Guelph Storm hero Zack Mitchell and recent signee Sam Anas fits the undersized offensive dynamo mold, coming out of Quinnipiac. But the honest truth is that most of these guys are more likely to top out as depth players in the ECHL than NHLers.

In fact, of the nine, Hungarian netminder Adam Vay, forward Brady Brassart, and defensemen Guillaume Gelinas and Alex Gudbranson have yet to really earn much outside of AHL cups of coffees, if that. Mitchell received his first NHL callup, ten largely fruitless games. He is an intelligent player, who has already shown that he can score in the AHL, but is having his worst year so far, as his ELC is set to expire after the season. He has a nice overall game, but no one attribute that makes him stick out. 24 year old Grayson Downing is interesting enough as a decent AHLer who might earn a callup one day if the injury gods smile kindly upon him. A solid scorer at the University of New Hampshire, he has matured into a decent secondary offensive player with Iowa. He has decent hands, but is held back by very slow feet. The aforementioned Anas can be a better version of Grayson, in that his hands are even better and he is a plus skater, but he first needs to demonstrate that a 5-8”, 163 pound skater can withstand the rigors of professional hockey and continue to thrive. With nine points in his first 27 games, he is not there yet.

I have yet to mention Zach Palmquist, and that is for good reason. He simply isn’t very good. He is a prospect as he is signed to an ELC and fits the age (barely) and NHL experience criteria listed above. While a player like Mitchell suffers from lacking any individual attributes that exceed average, Palmquist suffers from not having any that reach average.

That leaves one player who may actually be worth keeping tabs on. That is big blueliner Hunter Warner. Warner is 6-4”, 220 and plays even bigger. In short, if you get too close, he will knock you on your ass. He will hit you in open ice and hit you along the boards. He will never score much and for as much as he hits, he plays relatively clean, generally averaging around one penalty minute per game in his career, other than one season in the USHL. He is an interesting case, as Warner signed his ELC directly out of the USHL, something almost unheard of in my time studying the underbelly of the game. He spent the two seasons after putting pen to paper in the WHL with a mediocre Prince Albert team and this is his first full go-round in professional hockey. He was a shut-down guy for the Raiders and plays a similar role in Iowa. He plays within his means, both positionally and when the puck is on his stick. What we are left with is a player who will probably never excite hockey fans and should never be drafted onto a fantasy team, no matter how deep the rosters are, but one who has an attribute impressive enough that it would not be a shock or even a mild surprise if he earns himself an NHL career of some repute.

I am not giving up on Anas yet, and I will probably hold out hope on Mitchell for longer than is warranted, but taking the UFA nine as a cohort, the Wild have to be disappointed with their haul. As an organizational philosophy, a team should pick up talent wherever possible. Only 210 players (soon to be 217) get drafted ever year and many will fall by the wayside for the usual reasons. There is no reason why a team should not take a stab at one or two players every year, available contract slots permitting and see where it leads. While the Wild lead the NHL in UFA quantity, I am afraid to say that they are in the bottom third when it comes to quality.

NHL Prospect Scouting: Minnesota Wild

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:25:38 +0000

Much like last season, the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa has the worst record in the circuit. Looking at that team last year, one would have been excused for assuming that their record was reflective of the future NHL talent at the level. Frankly, there was little on that team to recommend it to scouts or other talent hawks, especially after Matt Dumba completed his period of temporary exile.

The more things stay the same, the more they are different. The Iowa Wild continue to lose, as if they were tanking for the first pick in an AHL draft that does not exist. But now they do so with talented players on the roster, some of whom have already had NHL cameos this year and others of whom probably should. When we expand our eye on the Wild beyond the AHL and to this year’s WJC rosters, we can see how Hockey Prospectus rated their system as the 14^th strongest in the league . Only middle of the pack, but a damn sight better than the Iowa record would indicate.

That prospect pool has to begin with Mike Reilly, stolen from under the noses of the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer, after the young blueliner refused the contract overtures from the mid-Ohio club who held his rights after leaving school. Simply put, he is living up to his advance billing as one of the top defensive prospects in the game. Only 10 under-24 defenders in the circuit have more than his 18 points, but his game is more than points. Further, on an offensively challenged squad, there is only so much he can do in that category. While he has only 30-odd professional games under his belt, it is easy to watch Reilly and come away convinced that he will be above-average in every facet of his game, with the possible exception of his physicality, and even that will be average. The former Golden Gator is a plus skater who is fearless about engaging deep in the offensive end as he knows that he has the engine and extra gear to get back in time and close on opposing forwards racing to the Iowa end, even if it seems that the forward in question has a breakaway in the offing. His skating also does not suffer when he is carrying the puck, as he is liable to weave through traffic on a carry-in without losing any speed.

His shot carries juice and he can time it fairly well, with one timers from the point able to cause danger and indecision among netminders. I would like to see him try to place them more often, as a shot meant to generate tips and/or rebounds can be just as deadly as a scoring attempt. Even so, it is the type of slapper that would not look out of place on an NHL power play. Speaking of that power play, Reilly’s puck skills also set him apart from most of his blueline peers, as he is a very good puck carrier and has the style of game that will see him utilized often to lug the biscuit through the neutral zone and into the offensive end, as he sees lanes well and can deftly maneuver his way through clogged lanes with his quick hands combined with agility.

So far we have looked at the sexy side of Reilly’s game, the side that will win him casual fans throughout his career. The best thing is that the Chicago-native does not lack in the other side of his game either. While his gap control should and will improve with repetitions, once he realizes that his speed will enable him to make up for some trickiness, he is surprisingly responsible in his own zone. Reilly has an impressively high panic threshold as he has the patience to wait out a routine forecheck before deciding on the best path forwards, without mindlessly dumping the puck out of his zone. Furthermore, he plays with the type of fearlessness that coaches love as he shows no hesitation to drop to a knee to block a shot. As he matures and plays with tighter gaps, he will also be able to use his stick more often and more effectively as part of the defensive process. Finally, a word or two about his physical game. Mike Reilly has decent height, but is still a little on the slight side. He does not go out of his way to lay the body on opposing forwards, but his lack of fear extends to board play and the dirty areas of the ice. He will never be a monster crusher, but no one will accuse him of being a push over either. He made his NHL debut a few days ago and has seen his ice time rise game over game since his debut. Although Reilly should be sheltered for now, the toolset and all-around game suggest very strongly a future second pairing defender who will be a mainstay on the power play and will work his way into a part-time penalty killing role in time.

Gustav Olofsson, D, Iowa (46^thoverall, 2013)

Minnesota’s top pick in the 2013 draft, Olofsson spent a solitary season with Colorado College of the NCAA before turning pro, hoping to get a jump on a long career by spending his age 19-20 season in the AHL. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as an injured shoulder knocked him out of action after only a single game, causing the young Swede to miss the rest of the season. Known as a smart player, the lost season could have been the type of setback that derailed his career.

Thankfully, Olofsson has begun the 2015-16 season healthy and picked up where he left off. Still a smart player who impresses the close watcher more than the scoresheet, he has reminded everyone why he looks like a solid 4/5 defender in the near future who does better work in his own zone and the neutral zone than at the other end. The left shooting blueliner has a very high panic threshold and is happy to take his time waiting for the optimal route of transition. He can carry the puck from zone to zone, and even weave a little bit, showing the basis of sound agility, but his best work is when he elects to pass it out of his end. In general, his puck decisions are solid, although there is still some room for additional consistency on that end, especially his reads when it comes to pinching.

He is not the most fleet of foot, but his general mobility places him around the 50^th percentile among NHL defenders. The lack of outstanding foot speed sometimes comes to the fore when tracking back, as his gap control shows room for improvement. When he anticipates the play in its early stages, he shines, as he can break it up before it even begins as he sees the full 200 feet of the ice even if most of it is behind him. Olofsson will earn plenty of time on the penalty kill, although a mediocre slap shot will keep him away from most power play opportunities. While not a big checker, he is a physical type, mostly of the agitating variety, as he engages in plenty of off-camera stick work, such as repeated crosschecks when the refs are turned the other way.

Olofsson has earned a two game cameo with Minnesota already this season, although he is best served by spending the majority of the year with Iowa, where he can hone his game and work towards a more permanent role with the big club next year.

Christoph Bertschy, C, Iowa (158^th overall, 2012)

A two-time participator for Switzerland at the WJC, Bertschy finally came over to North America after his fourth, and most impressive, season in his home nation’s top flight league, where he put up 30 points in 44 games for Bern. The slightly undersized former sixth round pick is more a skills player than a traditional bottom six player, but he has shown enough with the Baby Wild to profile as a potential energy line contributor with higher upside.

Bertschy sees the ice well, has very quick hands great vision and can execute very clever passes. He has often been used on the point during Iowa power plays as he shows some ability to orchestrate the play in front of him. A good skater, there was some question last season about how he would adapt to the harder North American game. So far, so good. While he lacks the brawn to be an effective checker, he does play in the harder areas of the ice, forechecks zealously, finishes his hits and tries to pester the opposition physically. Like the others in this article, Bertschy has received his first NHL spot duty this year and should expect more as he continues to develop in the AHL.

Zack Mitchell, RW, Iowa (Undrafted free agent, signed Mar. 4, 2014)

A bit of a late bloomer as an OHLer, Mitchell came into his own as an overager with Guelph, helping the Storm reach the Memorial Cup Final in 2014. Known for his intelligent, all-around game as a junior, that trait has stayed with Mitchell in the AHL.

Although his first step quickness fails to impress, he has enough speed to keep up at this level. His shot prowess is similar. Not a pure weapon, but there is enough juice there to suggest a player who can reach double digits in NHL goals at his peak. Mitchell is used heavily on both special teams’ units with Iowa, as well as in late game, close situations, demonstrating the trust held in him by coach John Torchetti. Mostly a right winger, he has been known to line up for faceoffs as he displays a low center of gravity which allows him to be strong on the puck.

Mitchell does not have a high ceiling, but his floor is high and he looks ready to take on a bottom six role in the NHL who should be able to out-produce the likes of Ryan Carter in short order.

Quick Notes on Wild Prospects from the WJC

Kirill Kaprizov – a skilled player who moves the puck well whether passing or shooting, Kaprizov is having a strong sophomore season in the KHL, but struggled during the WJC. Beyond a general lack of production for the Russian squad, he played a very perimeter heavy game, seemingly too timid to engage or play in the dirty areas of the ice. He might skate through the crease, but would not set up there, which resulted in keeping him out of most developing plays.

Joel Eriksson Ek – the Wild’s first round pick last year, Eriksson Ek is in the midst of a very disappointing season, with production levels in the SHL that are scarcely better at 18 than they were at 17 and an underwhelming WJC tournament with only one goal and two points in the six games he played by Team Sweden. Between his gritty two-way play, solid shot, good hands and smarts, he should be doing more.

Louis Belpedio – In the middle of a strong sophomore campaign for Miami University, Belpedio also introduced himself to the wider hockey world with a strong tournament. He made a number of great outlet passes, helping an electric American squad begin their attacks. While not a big blueliner, Belpedio makes his presence felt physically and is strong enough to shrug off physical forecheckers when beginning the transitions. He does not own a booming slapshot, but has a quick release on a nice wrist shot which he will employ from the point. After Reilly and Olofsson graduate from prospecthood, Belpedio will be there to carry the torch for the future of the Minnesota blueline.

Kaapo Kahkonen – Had an up-and-down tournament for the Gold Medal winning host Finnish squad. The final numbers look good, but he could never win the trust of his coach, as rough lateral movement cost him a few goals. His great work in Liiga for the Espoo Blues portends an interesting future.

Ales Stezka – Got in only one game, and allowed far too many goals, but showed some signed of life such as strong lower half agility, anticipation and puck work that he remains worth watching. Unlike Kahkonen, however, Stezka is not having a great regular season in his case with Sioux Falls of the USHL.

Youngblood: 2014 Memorial Cup – Prospects to Watch

Brendan Ross — Wed, 14 May 2014 14:58:07 +0000

We are mere hours away from the puck dropping on the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup and the City of London is gearing up to welcome one of the most competitive fields in recent years.

Returning for their third straight Memorial Cup appearance are the tournament hosts, London Knights, after the injury-riddled squad was bounced in the second round of the OHL playoffs by the eventual OHL Champions, Guelph Storm. Joining the Guelph Storm and London Knights are the Champs of the WHL in the Edmonton Oil Kings, and QMJHL victors, Val d’Or Foreurs, both freshly off game seven wins that punched their ticket to the illustrious major junior competition.

The past three Memorial Cups have been hoisted by the QMJHL representatives after Saint John Sea Dogs (2011), Shawinigan Cataractes (2012) and Halifax Mooseheads (2013) each tasted victory.

The Edmonton Oil Kings are looking for their first Memorial Cup Championship since 1966 when they captured it as members of the Central Alberta Hockey League.

Quebec’s Val d’Or Foreurs have participated in the Memorial Cup twice (1998 and 2001) but have yet to walk away victors, coming close in 2001 when the Foreurs lost to the Red Deer Rebels in the finals.

The Knights will be participating in their fourth Memorial Cup event and the team is hoping for similar results as when they last hosted in 2005, the year the Knights skated away as Memorial Cup Champions.

With four previous attempts at winning the Memorial Cup, the Guelph Storm are rolling into their fifth tournament red hot looking to take home the 95-year-old hardware.

Regardless of which team skates off Budweiser Gardens’ ice as Champions, the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup is loaded with talented major junior players looking to take the next step in their development. As the electric atmosphere takes over London, Ontario, here are several players to watch throughout the tournament.

Edmonton Oil Kings

Curtis Lazar (Senators – 2013, 17^th overall) Arguably the best leader in major junior, Lazar will eat up a ton of minutes, taking important faceoffs and seeing top line offensive minutes along the way.

Tristan Jarry (Penguins – 2013, 44^th overall) Jarry’s 2.19 GAA and .925 save percentage are impressive stat lines but his ability to make the clutch save behind a strong defense core allows the Oil Kings the opportunity to play a stifling defensive game.

Griffin Reinhart (NY Islanders – 2012, 4^th overall) He’s got great draft pedigree and has slowly progressed with each passing game to become a suffocating shutdown defenseman, utilizing his large wingspan and strength against top WHLers.

Henrik Samuelsson(Coyotes – 2012, 27^th overall) Playing a gritty-in-your-face style of puck that would make his father Ulf proud, Henrik has balanced his aggressive attack and skilled offensive bursts well. Led the Oil Kings in playoff scoring with 23 points over 21 games.

Mitch Moroz (Oilers – 2012, 32^nd overall) Not the prettiest skater or the most refined skilled player, Mitch Moroz’ offers a nice blend of size and soft touch around the net to create room and offensive chances. His size could prove to be an asset against some larger Guelph Storm players when the two teams face off Saturday afternoon.

Brett Pollock(2014 NHL Draft) Industrious and versatile, Brett Pollock forced his way up a veteran laden Oil Kings’ depth chart to find a home in the top six, posting near point-per-game numbers during Edmonton’s WHL Championship run.

Dysin Mayo (2014 NHL Draft) An emerging offensive defenseman, Dysin Mayo has earned the trust of Head Coach Derek Laxdal and his game-changing rushes are only improving his draft stock.

Aaron Irving (2014 NHL Draft) Edmonton’s 9^th overall 2011 selection, Aaron Irving is one of the defensive pillars on the Oil Kings’ blue line who has made life hell for intruding forwards with his physicality and nastiness.

Cody Corbett (Signed by Avalanche, 2014) The third year defenseman played his way to a contract with Colorado after posting 61 points in 65 games from the blueline.

Mads Eller and Ashton Sautner (Re-entries for 2014 NHL Draft) – Two mobile skaters, forward Mads Eller (younger brother of Canadiens’ Lars Eller) and defenseman Ashton Sautner use their speed and edge work to force opponents into uncomfortable positions.

Val d’Or Foreurs

Anthony Mantha (Red Wings – 2013, 20^th overall) Big time sniper brings his 81 combined regular season and playoff goals, the most by any CHLer, to Bud Gardens for all to witness. He will be the focus of defences as the tournament’s most natural goal scorer. It is hard to believe that Detroit traded down to acquire this stud prospect.

Ryan Graves (NY Rangers – 2013, 110^thoverall) Brought over from Charlottetown in trade to boost their blue line, Graves has provided a stabilizing presence using his size and strength to contain opposing team’s top forwards.

Antoine Bibeau (Maple Leafs – 2013, 172^nd overall) Selected in his second attempt at the NHL Draft, it appears the selection of Antoine Bibeau has been a shrewd move after the big goaltender earned QMJHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (2014 NHL Draft) Taken 7^th overall by Val d’Or in 2012, Aubé-Kubel’s offensive emergence has provided the team with secondary scoring and this skilled responsible forward looks to use the Memorial Cup as one final showing before heading to Philadelphia for the draft.

Louick Marcotte(Re-entry for 2014 NHL Draft) Fourth year forward, Marcotte, nearly doubled his production playing on the Foreurs’ top line and his 42 goals and 100 points may be enough to draw interest at the draft.

Guillaume Gélinas (Undrafted) Undersized overager who dominated every offensive category by a defenseman in both regular season (67GP-23G-92P) and playoffs (24GP-11G-34P) is also playing for a professional contract.

Anthony Richard (2015 NHL Draft) Diminutive speedy centerman with a case of danglitis experienced a breakout sophomore campaign after being selected 16^th overall at the 2012 QMJHL Draft.

Julien Gauthier (2016 NHL Draft) Selected 6^th overall, rookie Julien Gauthier is a budding power forward to watch heading towards the 2016 NHL Draft as he learns how to use his size and strong shot to take over the offensive zone.

Guelph Storm

Kerby Rychel (Blue Jackets – 2013, 19^th overall) Windsor GM Warren Rychel traded his own son, along with LA Kings’ prospect Nick Ebert, at the deadline to Guelph. The Storm may be forever in debt with Windsor after Kerby buried the tying goal and game winner to clinch the OHL Championship.

Zack Mitchell (Signed by Wild, 2014) The Guelph Storm journeyman has bled maroon and grey in his five years of service and after being rewarded with an NHL contract back in March, Mitchell is keen on capping off his OHL career with a Memorial Cup Championship.

Scott Kosmachuk(Jets – 2012, 70^th overall) Among the OHL playoff scoring leaders, Kosmachuk was one of only three players to clear the century mark in points during the regular season and is called upon when the team needs a goal or a big hit.

Brock McGinn (Hurricanes – 2012, 47^th overall) After returning from an eight game suspension, Brock McGinn scored points in all but two playoff games while playing his usual irritating brand of hockey.

Jason Dickinson (Stars – 2013, 29^th overall) Drafted in the opening round in 2013 as a unfinished lanky prospect, the third year Dickinson has really came into his own learning how to use his size as a skilled power forward. Dickinson is one of five Storm players who recorded over a point-per-game in the post-season.

Matt Finn (Maple Leafs – 2012, 35^th overall) Awarded the Mickey Renaud Trophy as the league’s most dedicated and passionate captain on and off the ice, Matt Finn is a true leader and a stabilizing presence on the blue line.

Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings – 2013, 58^th overall) Ironically, the Red Wings traded down at the 2013 draft to select Anthony Mantha and received the 58^th pick as a result. That pick was used to select agitating forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Now, Foreurs’ Mantha and Storm’s Bertuzzi will be competing, at all costs, to take home the Memorial Cup. Mark it, Bertuzzi will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenses.

Nick Ebert (Kings – 2012, 211^th overall) Nick Ebert wasn’t the centrepiece of the trade that brought Kerby Rychel to Guelph but he’s been, arguably, the most crucial piece. Leading the team in playoff scoring from the backend, Ebert elevated his game as a member of the Storm.

Zac Leslie (Kings – 2013, 178^th overall) Drafted into the Ontario league in the middle rounds from the Ottawa Jr. 67’s, Leslie has improved on his production with each passing season giving the Storm depth on the blueline and a dangerous powerplay option.

Ben Harpur (Senators – 2013, 108^th overall) The towering 6-foot-6 blue liner will wreak havoc on attacking forwards as he wields his active stick and staples trespassers to the boards.

Robby Fabbri (2014 NHL Draft) No player has experienced a larger potential draft rise than Robby Fabbri, who is coming off OHL Playoff MVP Honours. The undersized yet competitive and skilled forward refuses to lose and his draft rise is reminiscent of former Kitchener Rangers’ forward Jeff Skinner after his 2010 standout playoff performance.

Phil Baltisberger (2014 NHL Draft) Another player exceeding expectations in his draft year, Swiss import Phil Baltisberger displays a strong two-way game with an ability to push the pace with his smooth skating stride. Eats up big minutes on the blue line.

Justin Nichols (Undrafted)and Matt Mancini (2014 NHL Draft) Acquired from Sault Ste Marie prior to the season, Justin Nichols’ game hasn’t been perfect every night but this undersized goaltender has had some of the most electrifying performances in the league. He’s getting noticed just as his understudy, Matt Mancini, is. Mancini is a highly touted young goaltender who continues to learn the intricacies of the game

London Knights

Max Domi (Coyotes – 2013, 12^th overall) Coming off a disappointing post-draft season, albeit by Domi’s standards, the Knights’ leading scorer was medically cleared to play after injuring his shoulder in the post-season. Look for the refreshed Domi to put on an offensive clinic as London attempts to prove their team is deserving of the Memorial Cup host spot.

Bo Horvat (Canucks – 2013, 9^th overall) The astute two-way forward with underrated offensive skills may be playing in his final OHL season and would love to add the elusive Memorial Cup title to his resume. With a history of scoring big goals, Horvat will be leaned upon in every possible situation.

Chris Tierney(Sharks – 2012, 55^th overall) Living up to his 2^nd round NHL Draft status after many questioned San Jose’s thought process, Chris Tierney went on an absolute tear during the playoffs ringing off 17 points in just nine games attempting to single-handedly advance the Knights.

Josh Anderson (Blue Jackets – 2012, 95^th overall) Anderson is a big bodied winger who won’t always fill up the game sheet but his heavy, physical approach and strong cycle game could tire out opposing defenses in a long intense tournament.

Ryan Rupert (Maple Leafs – 2012, 157^th overall) A skilled agitator in every sense of the word, Ryan Rupert, along with twin brother Matt (Undrafted), provide the Knights with outstanding depth as they make an impact by crawling under opponents’ skin or by crashing the net for a goal. The home fans will enjoy them but the road teams certainly will not.

Gemel Smith (Stars – 2012, 104^th overall) A true sniper who relies on his shot and blazing speed, Gemel Smith has had an okay transition to the Knights after coming aboard mid-season but he’s eager to pick up where he left off after a better OHL playoffs (12 points in nine games).

Michael McCarron (Canadiens – 2013, 25^th overall) The big power forward experienced a rather slow transition to OHL life but Michael McCarron has stepped up his game over the final few months showing the skill set that gave Montreal reason to draft him in the first round.

Mitch Marner (2015 NHL Draft) In a similar mold as Guelph’s Robby Fabbri, Marner is a sneaky player who makes an impact on every shift. No player does more with limited playing minutes as Marner and his ability to dance around defenders and find open teammates is only one reason he’s considered a top 2015 NHL Draft prospect. He’s been London’s best player, as a rookie, on most nights.

Christian Dvorak(2014 NHL Draft) One of several Knights returning from the infirmary, Dvorak is hoping to suit up for the first time since December 14^th when he injured his knee. His draft season viewings were limited but positive before being sidelined.

Nikita Zadorov (Sabres – 2013, 16^th overall) The only NHL drafted player on the Knights with NHL experience (seven games), Nikita Zadorov is undoubtedly the most crucial defender on their blueline. His offensive game has progressed to new heights and he’s still capable of intimidating with his bone-crushing open-ice hits.

Brady Austin (Sabres – 2012, 193^rd overall) Cleared to play after battling mononucleosis, overage defenseman Brady Austin is a huge returnee to what was a spotty blue line. After dealing with his illness and the passing of his father, Austin and his teammates will be playing inspired hockey.

Zach Bell (Undrafted) Bell is a bruising defenseman that has his own feel-good story after quickly recovering from a broken leg and his presence will be felt defensively.

Brett Welychka (Undrafted) It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider Welychka one of the most versatile players in the league, after the forward logged big minutes on the blue line when injury struck the Knights’ backend. Look for Welychka to return to the front lines adding to London’s incredible offensive depth.

Anthony Stolarz (Flyers – 2012, 45^th overall) Flying under the radar somewhat is the fact that Anthony Stolarz’ eight-game suspension for his slashing incident was reduced to six, after the Knights were knocked out of the playoffs early. Whether right or wrong, London’s biggest returnee for the Memorial Cup is between the pipes in Stolarz because he is capable of stealing games.

The 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup action begins Friday evening with the London Knights taking on Val d’Or Foreurs.

Follow @RossyYoungblood for all the #MemorialCup action.