Below are my 2015 draft rankings of Ontario Hockey League eligible skaters. Following each image is a prospect rundown, an evaluation report excerpt called OC Sees for the top five, and a projected outlook of maximum potential.
Note: Goaltenders are not included in these rankings.
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1. Connor McDavid (Erie Otters)
Forward - 6-foot-1 - 187 pounds
There is only one reason why Connor McDavid is ranked first: his name is Connor McDavid, and my name is David O'Connor. What more can I say?
All kidding aside, McDavid is the best pro prospect the OHL has seen in a very long time.
McDavid has an uncanny ability to reach maximum speed in a just a couple of strides. A lot of prospects struggle to maintain their head while they're flying down the ice, but McDavid is able to constantly have elite offensive awareness. Even when he's streaking down the wing, McDavid knows where his teammates are, and he's able to make instinctual reactions based off how much time he has.
If there is a weakness to McDavid's game at this point, it's that he could be a little more goal-oriented. It sounds funny when describing a skater averaging nearly a goal per game, but McDavid does have a tendency to be pass-first. While McDavid is nearly lethal when attacking the net, he tends to only do so when he's in a one-on-one situation. McDavid is one of the most talented goal finishers in junior hockey, and he could still make it happen more often.
OC Sees
McDavid has an uncanny ability to reach maximum speed in a just a couple of strides. A lot of prospects struggle to maintain their head while they're flying down the ice, but McDavid is able to constantly have elite offensive awareness. Even when he's streaking down the wing, McDavid knows where his teammates are, and he's able to make instinctual reactions based off how much time he has.
If there is a weakness to McDavid's game at this point, it's that he could be a little more goal-oriented. It sounds funny when describing a skater averaging nearly a goal per game, but McDavid does have a tendency to be pass-first. While McDavid is nearly lethal when attacking the net, he tends to only do so when he's in a one-on-one situation. McDavid is one of the most talented goal finishers in junior hockey, and he could still make it happen more often.
OC Sees
"McDavid has elite awareness on the ice - always knows what his options are, and displays high-end creativity when picking one...can accelerate in just a couple quick strides, regularly catching defenders off-guard...for such an offensive skater, he could shoot more often...forces the defense to play on their back heels...whenever he's on the ice, the crowd expects something to happen, and rightly so."Projected Outlook: Elite Franchise Center.
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2. Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 187 pounds
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 187 pounds
Through the first quarter of the season, it was a consistent challenge to evaluate Dylan Strome. Last year, Strome was just another impressive rookie learning the ropes under McDavid. This season, with both of them being draft-eligible, it's been nearly impossible not to compare and contrast the two.
When McDavid is one the ice, eyes naturally follow him around. For Strome, that means he just doesn't get as much attention as he would starring for any other team in the league.
But really, Strome couldn't be in a better situation. Strome has been able to show that when he's put in positions of opportunity, he is able to put up ridiculous numbers.
Strome does have a tendency to disappear at times, and that is my biggest concern moving forward. I find that he has had a tough time finding open space since McDavid went down with a hand injury. Being the main offensive weapon on the Otters has resulted in him being shadowed more than usual. He's still putting up numbers, but there should be another gear for him to reach. Strome will need to adapt to the defensive pressure he's going to receive over the next few years.
As Erie's prime offensive weapon next season, Strome will find a huge opportunity to back up his draft status.
Strome does have a tendency to disappear at times, and that is my biggest concern moving forward. I find that he has had a tough time finding open space since McDavid went down with a hand injury. Being the main offensive weapon on the Otters has resulted in him being shadowed more than usual. He's still putting up numbers, but there should be another gear for him to reach. Strome will need to adapt to the defensive pressure he's going to receive over the next few years.
As Erie's prime offensive weapon next season, Strome will find a huge opportunity to back up his draft status.
OC Sees
"Strome has a hunched skating style that reminds of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins...plays at a fairly slow pace in my views, waiting the game out...patient with the puck until he decides to really wire a pass...shot is average, but needs to stop looking to pass all the time and become a shooting leader."Projected Outlook: Top Three, Playmaking Forward.
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3. Mitch Marner (London Knights)
Forward - 5-foot-11 - 164 pounds
The London Knights have already proved a lot of early season predictions wrong, but Mitch Marner just keeps adding to the list. Marner has been on fire for the Knights this season. He's been named OHL Player of the Week multiple times in his draft-eligible season so far, and his pace just continues to roll. Marner has four hat-tricks this season, and sits third in OHL scoring as of publishing.
Marner has a constant creativity to his game; he'll grab the puck from ridiculous angles and bring it between his legs as if it's a casual move for him. When he gains control of the puck in normal ways, he'll stop and start with it in a smooth motion, allowing him a variety of options.
Marner plays with a never-give-up mentality, and he won't settle on opportunities just to say he tried. If he sees a better opportunity, he'll peel back away from the play and reset. If he finds himself in a busy spot, Marner would much rather throw the puck on net than turn toss it away into the corner. When he hands off the puck, Marner makes it look effortless, but he's actually firing off hot passes.
On the defensive end, Marner has a tendency to wait around in the neutral zone if that's his starting position. But if he's coming out of the offensive zone after finishing a check, Marner backchecks consistently hard.
Physically, Marner works hard to outplay his size, but he did disappear in the Subway Series. Marner looked like a boy amongst men out there, even as a draft-eligible. That's something to keep in mind.
Marner has a constant creativity to his game; he'll grab the puck from ridiculous angles and bring it between his legs as if it's a casual move for him. When he gains control of the puck in normal ways, he'll stop and start with it in a smooth motion, allowing him a variety of options.
Marner plays with a never-give-up mentality, and he won't settle on opportunities just to say he tried. If he sees a better opportunity, he'll peel back away from the play and reset. If he finds himself in a busy spot, Marner would much rather throw the puck on net than turn toss it away into the corner. When he hands off the puck, Marner makes it look effortless, but he's actually firing off hot passes.
On the defensive end, Marner has a tendency to wait around in the neutral zone if that's his starting position. But if he's coming out of the offensive zone after finishing a check, Marner backchecks consistently hard.
Physically, Marner works hard to outplay his size, but he did disappear in the Subway Series. Marner looked like a boy amongst men out there, even as a draft-eligible. That's something to keep in mind.
The biggest drawback to Marner's game at the moment is that he can try to do too much with the puck, and he'll stickhandle himself right out of the play. There are worse problems to have.
OC Sees
"Marner has high-end agility in the offensive zone...plays with loops of acceleration - circular skating throughout the offensive zone looking for gaps...sneaky positioning in the slot...pure vision behind the offensive net...assertive with the puck - when he grabs it, everyone starts paying attention...has become somewhat predictable when receiving a pass in the offensive zone - head up means a pass is coming, head down is almost always a shot...oozes confidence - wants the puck everywhere on the ice."
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Scoring Forward.
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4. Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67's)
Forward - 5-foot-10 - 171 pounds
Forward - 5-foot-10 - 171 pounds
Being named captain to start your NHL draft season is a pretty good way to get your campaign going off the ice. Unfortunately, for Konecny, things weren't quite the same on the ice. But after a slow start, Konecny has rebounded and shown why he's seen as such a valuable pro prospect.
Konecny is at his best on the rush, using a strong and powerful stride to gain entry into the offensive zone. Confidence appears at its highest when he flies through the neutral zone. Konecny is able to display fantastic acceleration, and can pounce on the puck before defenders know what's coming.
Being hard on the puck is one of Konency's major strengths. It's because of this that Konecny is able to unleash a lethal snapshot. Konecny can be an NHL goal scorer, and it's his shot that's going to get him there.
Konecny is at his best on the rush, using a strong and powerful stride to gain entry into the offensive zone. Confidence appears at its highest when he flies through the neutral zone. Konecny is able to display fantastic acceleration, and can pounce on the puck before defenders know what's coming.
Being hard on the puck is one of Konency's major strengths. It's because of this that Konecny is able to unleash a lethal snapshot. Konecny can be an NHL goal scorer, and it's his shot that's going to get him there.
OC Sees
"Konecny is very shifty behind the net...when he's on the ice chances start happening - makes others around him much better...quick decision-maker - if he's going to shoot, he doesn't take long to let you know...can sometimes move so fast that he distracts himself, but his speed allows him to cruise right around defensemen...passes can be too hard for teammates to handle, but that's a bonus going forward..when he plays with fire he can be incredibly tough to stop."
Projected Outlook: Top-Nine Scoring Forward. Reminds me of a Brian Gionta / Jordan Eberle hybrid.
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5. Lawson Crouse (Kingston Frontenacs)
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 200 pounds
Crouse can be an absolute beast along the wall and in the corners, but he doesn't always kick into gear in the middle of the ice. When he's up to speed his skating is good enough for a player of his size, but a weak push-off in his stride limits his acceleration and quickness.
It's in the defensive zone where Crouse stands out most to me right now. His positioning is what leads to his defensive success. While he does have a tendency to hover around the top of the defensive zone, Crouse gets his stick into lanes and prevents passing opportunities along the blueline.
Crouse has the potential to make a lot of noise as this season continues. His performance at Canada's World Junior camp will play a big role.
OC Sees
6. Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 210 pounds
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 200 pounds
Lawson Crouse continues to be one of the toughest reads in this OHL class. Crouse has the potential to be second-best eligible out of the league, but for some reason I'm always left wanting more out of him.
Crouse can be an absolute beast along the wall and in the corners, but he doesn't always kick into gear in the middle of the ice. When he's up to speed his skating is good enough for a player of his size, but a weak push-off in his stride limits his acceleration and quickness.
It's in the defensive zone where Crouse stands out most to me right now. His positioning is what leads to his defensive success. While he does have a tendency to hover around the top of the defensive zone, Crouse gets his stick into lanes and prevents passing opportunities along the blueline.
Crouse has the potential to make a lot of noise as this season continues. His performance at Canada's World Junior camp will play a big role.
OC Sees
"Crouse wants to make a difference defensively...uses a long stride to gain positioning in his own end...needs to use his body when he has the puck to be at maximum effectiveness...against lower lines he puts more into body contact and hard checks - against top lines he becomes more of a stick checker, and Crouse can do more than that."Projected Outlook: Top-Nine Power Forward. Moves like Milan Lucic.
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6. Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 210 pounds
Pavel Zacha looks the part of the pro. Zacha has the frame and the skills that make it easy to envision him playing in the NHL one day. But it appears that it's his head that is the biggest obstacle to him getting there.
Zacha is a heads-up player through the neutral zone who does a great job of surveying his options. He displays a smooth skating stride, and positions himself intelligently in the slot. Zacha can sometimes wait for the play to come to him, acting more as an individual than he should. Fortunately, that can be developed in time.
Early in the season, after watching Sarnia and the Oshawa Generals, a thought on Zacha written in my notebook was, "I want to see more fire and aggression." That note has come true, but Zacha has gone a little further than I imagined. Now, Zacha needs to find a control balance. Being suspended and out of the lineup doesn't do any good.
Zacha already has a lot of talent. He wasn't taken first overall in the 2014 CHL Import Draft for no good reason. He should be an intriguing player to watch as the Sting look to secure a playoff spot later in the season.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Scoring Forward
Zacha is a heads-up player through the neutral zone who does a great job of surveying his options. He displays a smooth skating stride, and positions himself intelligently in the slot. Zacha can sometimes wait for the play to come to him, acting more as an individual than he should. Fortunately, that can be developed in time.
Early in the season, after watching Sarnia and the Oshawa Generals, a thought on Zacha written in my notebook was, "I want to see more fire and aggression." That note has come true, but Zacha has gone a little further than I imagined. Now, Zacha needs to find a control balance. Being suspended and out of the lineup doesn't do any good.
Zacha already has a lot of talent. He wasn't taken first overall in the 2014 CHL Import Draft for no good reason. He should be an intriguing player to watch as the Sting look to secure a playoff spot later in the season.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Scoring Forward
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7. Vince Dunn (Niagara IceDogs)
Defenseman - 6-foot - 185 pounds
Sitting in the seven spot is Vince Dunn. This position is certainly one of the higher ones Dunn is placed in online, but there's a whole lot to like about this Niagara defenceman.
Dunn is a smooth-skating blueliner who uses a very casual, heads-up stride. While he's constantly looking to join the rush, Dunn doesn't make many dumb decisions on the ice. High offensive instincts are apparent, and they make him one of the most offensively dangerous defencemen available in this draft.
Dunn has puck-moving skills that can easily be seen translating to the NHL. With smart positioning in the offensive zone and instincts that tell him when to back off, Dunn appears to have received the confidence of his coaches, and it shows in his ice time.
The knock on Dunn right now is that he doesn't always recognize his defensive opportunities. The way I see it, if the biggest reason Dunn can't be a top pick is because he's a junior hockey player who makes defensive judgment errors, then surely he must be the first player to have that problem.
Projected Outlook: Top-Four Puck-Moving Defenseman, Powerplay Quarterback.
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8. Matt Spencer (Peterborough Petes)
Defenseman - 6-foot-2 - 200 pounds
Matt Spencer is listed as the OHL's top eligible defenseman on a lot of lists. Having him second on mine isn't a slight on him, but if I'm looking for a top defenseman to take out of the OHL this year, I want one who has some flair to him. Spencer is a very simple defenceman, and that makes him a relatively conservative pick.
One of the more impressive moments I have noted from Spencer this season has actually come off the ice. While it doesn't carry too much weight in these rankings, Spencer did give a fantastic interview on The Pipeline Show on November 8. Spencer comes across as a very well-spoken prospect with leadership skills. That means something on draft day.
One of the more impressive moments I have noted from Spencer this season has actually come off the ice. While it doesn't carry too much weight in these rankings, Spencer did give a fantastic interview on The Pipeline Show on November 8. Spencer comes across as a very well-spoken prospect with leadership skills. That means something on draft day.
Projected Outlook: Second or Third Pairing Defenseman. Play reminds of Chris Bigras.
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9. Rasmus Andersson (Barrie Colts)
Defenseman - 6-foot - 210 pounds
Rasmus Andersson appears as a prototypical puck-moving defenseman. Andersson remains very calm and collected when breaking the puck out of his zone, moving it with absolute confidence. He's adept at either passing it off on an outlet or carrying it out of the defensive zone himself.
Andersson is swift on his feet and uses his edges to place strength on the puck. Using his wrists is a key component of Andersson's game; he doesn't push the puck around, but instead uses constant wrist control to maneuver the puck in tight traffic areas. With his strength on the puck, Andersson is able to let off a strong wrist shot that he places low between lanes.
Moving forward, I am looking for Andersson to take his high offensive awareness and translate it to a greater attention to detail in the defensive zone. Andersson has the instincts to make intelligent support plays on the offensive zone walls, but can get caught overplaying the puck in his own zone.
Defenseman - 6-foot - 210 pounds
Rasmus Andersson appears as a prototypical puck-moving defenseman. Andersson remains very calm and collected when breaking the puck out of his zone, moving it with absolute confidence. He's adept at either passing it off on an outlet or carrying it out of the defensive zone himself.
Andersson is swift on his feet and uses his edges to place strength on the puck. Using his wrists is a key component of Andersson's game; he doesn't push the puck around, but instead uses constant wrist control to maneuver the puck in tight traffic areas. With his strength on the puck, Andersson is able to let off a strong wrist shot that he places low between lanes.
Moving forward, I am looking for Andersson to take his high offensive awareness and translate it to a greater attention to detail in the defensive zone. Andersson has the instincts to make intelligent support plays on the offensive zone walls, but can get caught overplaying the puck in his own zone.
Projected Outlook: Second Pairing Defenseman, Powerplay Quarterback.
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10. Nikita Korostelev (Sarnia Sting)
Forward - 6-foot-1 - 196 pounds
Forward - 6-foot-1 - 196 pounds
In an ideal hockey world, Nikita Korostelev stops skating around like Evgeni Malkin at the junior level and instead starts acting like him in the NHL. For the record, that's a compliment.
Korostelev has clear puckhandling skills that jump out immediately. When he has control of the puck, it's like he can move it around on a string, and he makes it look effortless. Korostelev is able to to take those handles and use them to dish off passes, using short little taps to place the puck in the exact position he intends. And when he chooses to hold on to it, boy, can he he release a wicked shot.
But it's away from the puck where Korostelev drags himself down in this ranking. While Korostelev shows physical strength in possession, using his body as a shield, he doesn't follow through with it defensively as much as he can. If Korostelev can use his shoulders to make a difference, and stop just floating around in circles, he can be a legitimate game-breaker in the pro ranks.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Scorer. Reminds of Leon Draisaitl.
Korostelev has clear puckhandling skills that jump out immediately. When he has control of the puck, it's like he can move it around on a string, and he makes it look effortless. Korostelev is able to to take those handles and use them to dish off passes, using short little taps to place the puck in the exact position he intends. And when he chooses to hold on to it, boy, can he he release a wicked shot.
But it's away from the puck where Korostelev drags himself down in this ranking. While Korostelev shows physical strength in possession, using his body as a shield, he doesn't follow through with it defensively as much as he can. If Korostelev can use his shoulders to make a difference, and stop just floating around in circles, he can be a legitimate game-breaker in the pro ranks.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Scorer. Reminds of Leon Draisaitl.
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11. Thomas Schemitsch (Owen Sound Attack)
Defenseman - 6-foot-4 - 206 pounds
Defenseman - 6-foot-4 - 206 pounds
Entering this season, Thomas Schemitsch was a relatively quiet name. He was known, and he was watched right from the start, but Schemitsch has exceeded a lot of expectations outside the Owen Sound Attack circle so far.
Schemitsch is very similar to Matt Spencer in that he doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but he does a lot of the little things very well. Schemitsch is a very calm skater who can outlet the puck on smooth strides, and he moves well laterally on the offensive blueline. In his own zone, Schemitsch works hard in the corners and doesn't over-commit very often.
Having an older brother in Geoffrey Schemitsch, a former fourth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning, has likely added confidence to the younger Schemitsch's game. But it is noted that the elder Schemitsch defenseman has not panned out as hoped. Unfortunately, that's a sticker next to the younger Schemitsch's name.
Based off what he's been able to do so far, Schemitsch has shown that he can develop quickly, and that's a positive sign moving forward.
Projected Outlook: Second or Third Pairing Defenseman. Reminds of Dan Girardi.
Schemitsch is very similar to Matt Spencer in that he doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but he does a lot of the little things very well. Schemitsch is a very calm skater who can outlet the puck on smooth strides, and he moves well laterally on the offensive blueline. In his own zone, Schemitsch works hard in the corners and doesn't over-commit very often.
Having an older brother in Geoffrey Schemitsch, a former fourth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning, has likely added confidence to the younger Schemitsch's game. But it is noted that the elder Schemitsch defenseman has not panned out as hoped. Unfortunately, that's a sticker next to the younger Schemitsch's name.
Based off what he's been able to do so far, Schemitsch has shown that he can develop quickly, and that's a positive sign moving forward.
Projected Outlook: Second or Third Pairing Defenseman. Reminds of Dan Girardi.
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12. Mitchell Vande Sompel (Oshawa Generals)
Defenseman - 5-foot-10 - 180 pounds
When Mitchell Vande Sompel was leading the London Jr. Knights Gold squad in minor midget, he was a lot of fun to watch from a pure entertainment perspective. He had evident skating skills that were well beyond most of his peers. That's hasn't changed a whole lot.
In order for Vande Sompel to be a first-round candidate, he's going to need to display even more confidence as the Oshawa Generals seek an OHL championship. I'd like to see Vande Sompel be more aggressive. While his skills make him dangerous on the powerplay, he tends to play back on the point so much sometimes that he starts quarterbacking from outside the offensive blueline. On the positive end, when he moves in, Vande Sompel can feed sharp floaters towards the net; getting those pucks through traffic creates chaos in front.
While he has shown increased confidence as the season has gone on, I do feel there's a lot more room to grow on the mental side of his game. For a player who can make such quick decisions, he still has so much room to take another step.
Vande Sompel can create plays before they even start happening, and that really does make him an interesting prospect. Moving through the neutral zone, Vande Sompel shows off elite speed and offensive awareness. But in the Subway Series, he was closed in on quickly. He's a high-end project.
Projected Outlook: Powerplay Quarterback. A less physical version of Ryan Ellis. Already getting treated like Jake Gardiner. Look for him on Canada's 2016 World Junior team in Finland.
13. Blake Speers (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Forward - 5-foot-11 - 185 pounds
Some days, Blake Speers looks like he can achieve big things; other times, he loses the play before big things can happen.
Speers has the kind of offensive vision that you can just see going through his head constantly, but by the time he executes, the play can be long gone. This leads him to force things, and it's for that reason that I don't feel Speers has outstanding hockey IQ.
When physical play is expected, Speers also tends to throw away the puck; sometimes, he really does look afraid of contact. For such an agile skater, I'd like to see Speers find ways to avoid contact but maintain possession. Mitch Marner has found ways to do this; with the Soo being an organization with publicly-stated values of possession, I imagine this will come with time.
For Speers to be most effective, he needs to get in the middle of the ice and stay there. When he works the perimeter of the offensive zone, I don't feel his potential is maximized. That works for a lot of skaters, but Speers can make things happen when he gets in tight and drives the net. Such a raw prospect.
Projected Outlook: Has to be a top-six forward; can't see him as a bottom-six role player yet.
Defenseman - 5-foot-10 - 180 pounds
When Mitchell Vande Sompel was leading the London Jr. Knights Gold squad in minor midget, he was a lot of fun to watch from a pure entertainment perspective. He had evident skating skills that were well beyond most of his peers. That's hasn't changed a whole lot.
In order for Vande Sompel to be a first-round candidate, he's going to need to display even more confidence as the Oshawa Generals seek an OHL championship. I'd like to see Vande Sompel be more aggressive. While his skills make him dangerous on the powerplay, he tends to play back on the point so much sometimes that he starts quarterbacking from outside the offensive blueline. On the positive end, when he moves in, Vande Sompel can feed sharp floaters towards the net; getting those pucks through traffic creates chaos in front.
While he has shown increased confidence as the season has gone on, I do feel there's a lot more room to grow on the mental side of his game. For a player who can make such quick decisions, he still has so much room to take another step.
Vande Sompel can create plays before they even start happening, and that really does make him an interesting prospect. Moving through the neutral zone, Vande Sompel shows off elite speed and offensive awareness. But in the Subway Series, he was closed in on quickly. He's a high-end project.
Projected Outlook: Powerplay Quarterback. A less physical version of Ryan Ellis. Already getting treated like Jake Gardiner. Look for him on Canada's 2016 World Junior team in Finland.
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Forward - 5-foot-11 - 185 pounds
Some days, Blake Speers looks like he can achieve big things; other times, he loses the play before big things can happen.
Speers has the kind of offensive vision that you can just see going through his head constantly, but by the time he executes, the play can be long gone. This leads him to force things, and it's for that reason that I don't feel Speers has outstanding hockey IQ.
When physical play is expected, Speers also tends to throw away the puck; sometimes, he really does look afraid of contact. For such an agile skater, I'd like to see Speers find ways to avoid contact but maintain possession. Mitch Marner has found ways to do this; with the Soo being an organization with publicly-stated values of possession, I imagine this will come with time.
For Speers to be most effective, he needs to get in the middle of the ice and stay there. When he works the perimeter of the offensive zone, I don't feel his potential is maximized. That works for a lot of skaters, but Speers can make things happen when he gets in tight and drives the net. Such a raw prospect.
Projected Outlook: Has to be a top-six forward; can't see him as a bottom-six role player yet.
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14. Mitchell Stephens (Saginaw Spirit)
Forward - 5-foot-11 - 182 pounds
Mitchell Stephens is a bit a of a hidden favourite of mine. I like to think that if he were playing in a bigger market he would be a bigger deal. That's not a shot at Saginaw in any way, but I am definitely interested in seeing how he grows as a leader in a smaller organization.
Stephens has the all-around offensive package that makes him a desirable pro prospect. With a shot that can be flat-out dangerous at times, Stephens plays a game that looks like it could become a mainstay in the pros.
Projected Outlook: Top-Nine Forward. Could be a legitimate third-line scorer in the NHL for years. Getting Brandon Saad-like publicity levels.
Stephens has the all-around offensive package that makes him a desirable pro prospect. With a shot that can be flat-out dangerous at times, Stephens plays a game that looks like it could become a mainstay in the pros.
Projected Outlook: Top-Nine Forward. Could be a legitimate third-line scorer in the NHL for years. Getting Brandon Saad-like publicity levels.
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15. Travis Dermott (Erie Otters)
Defenseman - 5-foot-11 - 197 pounds
Travis Dermott has taken huge leaps since he entered the Ontario Hockey League. Dermott is a growth project who has been able to show tremendous puck strength this season.
Though he's on the small end of the size chart, Dermott moves the puck with hard force, and ensures that all his passes are directly on the mark. If it's not right on the tape, it was a rare bad pass. And when he's shooting from the point on the powerplay, that shot is going to be hard and targeted for the goal. With a strong frame, Dermott already shows pro strength on the puck, despite his stature.
In the corners, Dermott shows the physical strength that's going to be required of him as a difference-maker on one of the top teams in the Canadian Hockey League. As a late birthday, he doesn't get quite the leeway other prospects may receive, but Dermott does have attributes that are already developed for the next level. Worth a late round pick.
Projected Outlook: Third-Pairing, Second Powerplay Unit.
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16. Graham Knott (Niagara IceDogs)
Forward - 6-foot-3 - 180 pounds
Though he's looking pretty snazzy in that picture, I haven't hopped on the Graham Knott train just yet.
Knott appears as a prospect who could make a lasting impact in the AHL, but that's not really what I'm looking for.
Knott has a choppy stride on the rush, and while he can enter the offensive zone with speed, he loses momentum with the play as he crosses the blueline. With the puck, Knott has a stand-up style that doesn't always allow him to change his angles, limiting his options with the puck.
In front of the net, Knott can be a presence, and that's what I see as his most valuable asset at this time. I'll be looking for a skating coach to put some strength in his stride if he's to make it big. Will be looking for larger-than-life play as he develops.
Knott appears as a prospect who could make a lasting impact in the AHL, but that's not really what I'm looking for.
Knott has a choppy stride on the rush, and while he can enter the offensive zone with speed, he loses momentum with the play as he crosses the blueline. With the puck, Knott has a stand-up style that doesn't always allow him to change his angles, limiting his options with the puck.
In front of the net, Knott can be a presence, and that's what I see as his most valuable asset at this time. I'll be looking for a skating coach to put some strength in his stride if he's to make it big. Will be looking for larger-than-life play as he develops.
Projected Outlook: Bottom-Six Role Player.
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17. Petrus Palmu (Owen Sound Attack)
Forward - 5-foot-6 - 182 pounds
Petrus Palmu hasn't received much press this season, but that may end up being a good thing for the diminutive Attack forward.
Palmu is never going to be a forward who gets by on physical attributes, so he's going to have to do it by outsmarting the players up against him. I wrote about this earlier in the season, so I won't go into it much further here. Suffice to say, Palmu may be worth a late-round gamble.
Projected Outlook: Top-Nine Forward. It's top-nine or bust.
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18. Dante Salituro (Ottawa 67's)
Forward - 5-foot-8 - 178 pounds
As a November 1996 birthday, Dante Salituro has already played two full seasons in the OHL. In those two seasons, I honestly wasn't a huge believer of his NHL future. I'm still hesitant to rank him high, but it's hard to deny that he has come out firing this year.
Salituro is a short and stocky skater. He doesn't gain a whole lot of power in his offensive zone strides, but seems to actually gain strength through gliding momentum. It seems a slightly odd combination to me, but he's making it work in Ottawa.
Salituro can move swiftly with the puck, and can release a surprising wrist shot when he's on his game. On the defensive side, Salituro can stop moving his feet in the neutral zone, giving up on the back-check fairly early. He plays his game between the tops of the circles.
There are games when Salituro fumbles the puck and looks nervous; at times, his offensive style appears sloppy. But then he scores a goal and one starts to wonder again. He's a bit of a hit-or-miss at this point.
Projected Outlook: Will have to be a top-six skater to make his best impact.
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19. Ethan Szypula (Owen Sound Attack)
Forward - 5-foot-11 - 170 pounds
Ethan Szypula is a player I want to rank higher, but I can't do it just yet. There's a lot more to this young skater's game and I can feel it coming.
Szypula has incredible speed that he's just starting to really learn how to use. It allows him to create tricky offensive opportunities, and it also allows him to be a total pain on the back-check. Szypula's defensive potential is actually one of the more attractive parts of his skill set. Though he does focus on grabbing the puck more than playing the body - think of it in a Pavel Datsyuk style -, Szypula has an attractiveness to his game that is hard to ignore.
There are instances where Szypula becomes too focused on moving the puck ahead and not allowing himself to go with it. Once Szypula is able to find a control balance with his speed, he will become increasingly dangerous on the rush.
Szypula was a dynamic offensive threat in minor midget; so far, he has struggled to translate it into the OHL. But Szypula has shown a second gear this season, and I'm looking forward to seeing where he can take his game.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Forward. Speed reminds of Phil Kessel.
Szypula has incredible speed that he's just starting to really learn how to use. It allows him to create tricky offensive opportunities, and it also allows him to be a total pain on the back-check. Szypula's defensive potential is actually one of the more attractive parts of his skill set. Though he does focus on grabbing the puck more than playing the body - think of it in a Pavel Datsyuk style -, Szypula has an attractiveness to his game that is hard to ignore.
There are instances where Szypula becomes too focused on moving the puck ahead and not allowing himself to go with it. Once Szypula is able to find a control balance with his speed, he will become increasingly dangerous on the rush.
Szypula was a dynamic offensive threat in minor midget; so far, he has struggled to translate it into the OHL. But Szypula has shown a second gear this season, and I'm looking forward to seeing where he can take his game.
Projected Outlook: Top-Six Forward. Speed reminds of Phil Kessel.
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20. David Miller (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Forward - 5-foot-9 - 185 pounds
David Miller has been a player I've had my eye on since his days leaving the GTHL's Mississauga Rebels.
There isn't anything overly flashy to Miller's game. It's all about his positioning. Miller puts himself in spots to receive pucks and finish with them, and that makes all the difference in his potential.
Miller finds ways to use his speed on the rush to create hesitation from opposing defensemen. They never seem sure on stepping up on him or letting him carry the puck deeper into the zone. Because of that, Miller has an asset of sneaky skill. When that skill is combined with high on-ice intelligence, Miller becomes an unexpected threat.
Miller is the kind of player who could end up playing through his overage OHL season, but that doesn't mean he isn't worth considering in the later rounds of the draft.
Projected Outlook: Third-Line Scorer.
There isn't anything overly flashy to Miller's game. It's all about his positioning. Miller puts himself in spots to receive pucks and finish with them, and that makes all the difference in his potential.
Miller finds ways to use his speed on the rush to create hesitation from opposing defensemen. They never seem sure on stepping up on him or letting him carry the puck deeper into the zone. Because of that, Miller has an asset of sneaky skill. When that skill is combined with high on-ice intelligence, Miller becomes an unexpected threat.
Miller is the kind of player who could end up playing through his overage OHL season, but that doesn't mean he isn't worth considering in the later rounds of the draft.
Projected Outlook: Third-Line Scorer.
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