My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft - Part 2: 50-31

Here's Part 2 of my Top 50, with players ranked 50 through 31.

50. Sam Pavorozniouk - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
Following a trade to Kingston, Pavorozniouk (one of the hardest names in the OHL to spell by memory) was a completely different player. In Saginaw, he struggled to get much ice time and didn't really develop an identity. In Kingston, he was given time on a scoring line and with the man advantage. This allowed for his production to significantly increase. He's not a big guy (~ 5'10), but he's a pretty hard worker in the offensive zone. He started to develop a bit of a pesky streak in Kingston, digging in the corners and playing the role of crease disturber. I'm not sure he's particularly skilled in any one facet, but his hockey sense allows him to be a pretty solid complimentary guy with skilled players. I think size is probably an issue moving forward, but he at least seems like he'll develop into a very solid OHL player.

49. Sergey Kuptsov - Forward - Ottawa 67's
Kuptsov is a big Russian forward who I thought would perform much better this season. I liked what I saw from him as a rookie with Mississauga last year, but he failed to progress much this season, with either Belleville or Ottawa. In Ottawa, he managed to see some time with Sean Monahan on the top unit, but consistency remained an issue. He's a pretty good skater for a big guy, and he can carry and move the puck pretty well, but he seems a step behind in the hockey sense department. One of those guys who should be better than he is based on his natural abilities. He seems to have some trouble finding open space on the ice or anticipating the opening of passing lanes. His finishing skills are also suspect and his wrist shot and slapper lack accuracy. He can play physical at times, but is not nearly consistent enough in this area. I think he's still got a lot of potential, but as a late '94, time is running out for him to figure it out.

48. Mike Vlajkov - Defenseman - Ottawa 67's
Vlajkov was just starting to play better when he suffered a season ending upper body injury at the end of February. Vlajkov started the season very poorly and often looked lost through the opening months of the season. His skating still not improved from his rookie season, and he was having a lot of issues with reads in the defensive zone and with turnovers with the puck. But as 2013 came around, he was slowly gaining confidence, especially with the puck. In January and February, he was playing much better, but then he got injured. Moving forward, I think Vlajkov still has a fair amount of potential. He's got good size and has flashed an ability to perform at both ends of the ice. But he's going to need to continue to improve his skating, continue to gain confidence (what 67 player had confidence this season?), and learn to play more physically in his own end.

47. Tyler Ganly - Defenseman - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Ganly was a surprise workhorse for the Hounds this season, playing in his first OHL campaign. He played a bevy of roles for the Soo and was quite dependable for the team, especially during the time of Ryan Sproul and Colin Miller's injuries. He's got good size at 6'2 and he uses it well in the defensive end. He's physical in front of the net and in the corners and will drop the gloves to protect teammates or to try and swing momentum (lead the club with 8 fights). Ganly can also make a pretty good first pass out of the zone and was fairly reliable with the puck in his own end. Moving forward, skating is going to be an area of focus. He can get beat by quicker forwards off the rush and his lack of overall speed and acceleration prevents him from being a big part of the transition game offensively. But he's a safe pick right now and he'll definitely get more ice time next year with Sproul, Miller, and Buonomo gone.

46. Michael Webster - Defenseman - Barrie Colts
I think Webster is a real interesting and intriguing defensive prospect. He's a very raw player who only played his first season above the midget level this year. He's a terrific skater and he can handle the puck, but he's still learning how to play the game at this level. He can be prone to some mistakes and can get caught running around a bit in his own end, but I felt like he got better and better as the season went on. This is especially true for the playoffs, where I felt like he was one of the defenseman who really stepped up his game with Ryan O'Connor out of the line-up. Webster also shows flashes of being an effective physical player in his own end and doesn't show fear against some of the bigger forwards in the league. As he gets more experience, I think he's got a shot to develop into a pretty solid two-way defender. Could surprise some people.

45. Erik Bradford - Forward - Barrie Colts
Bradford is a solid two-way center, who has been an important cog in the Colts' long playoff run this year. He's a late '94, but is only playing in his 2nd full OHL season. Because of the Colts depth, he was asked to play more of a 3rd line checker role this season, but next year he'll have to be one of the remaining forwards who steps up and fills in the shoes of Scheifele, Beyers, Camara, and possibly Theoret. He's got great speed and he's a very valuable player on the backcheck for Barrie. He's not an overly physical player or anything, but he anticipates plays well and has an active stick which disrupts passing lanes, especially in the neutral zone. Offensively, he's a smart player and is the type of guy you can put with any player and he'll be able to make things work. He was actually excellent in the playoffs for Barrie this year too. I really like him as a player, certainly more so than some of the players I have ranked ahead of him. But his ranking is 45th because I'm not sure about his potential at the next level. I wonder if he's got enough offensive ability to play a top 6 role, and whether his lack of size and physical abilities prevent him from fulfilling a checker role at the NHL level. Could be a tweener.

44. Trevor Murphy - Defenseman - Windsor Spitfires
Was significantly better in Windsor after a trade from Peterborough. Murphy is an undersized, offensive defenseman who can run the point on the powerplay and lead the rush. He's got a very heavy shot from the point and is very aggressive in jumping into the rush as the trailer. He really re-invigorated Windsor's powerplay after the trade and he's definitely going to end up near the top of the defenseman scoring race by the time his OHL career is over. Murphy does come with his warts though. Defensively, he can be way too aggressive and is prone to mistakes in his own end. He also gets himself caught up ice a fair amount with some poorly timed pinches, or by trying to lay the body and missing. On a positive note, he is a physical player for a smaller guy and doesn't back down from bigger forwards. He's just still very raw as a defensive player, as he focuses on trying to put points on the board.

43. Dominik Kahun - Forward - Sudbury Wolves
Kahun is a speedy little German forward with a lot of skill. Loves to pick up the pick behind his own blue line and just explode into the offensive zone. As of now, he's not quite strong enough to consistently create using his speed, but he can be hard to contain if defenses are caught standing still. He's a crafty playmaker too and is able to keep plays alive in the offensive zone by keeping his feet moving with the puck. The rest of his game (defensively, in the corners, in traffic) is a work in progress, but he's certainly an exciting player to watch and was a great find by Sudbury in the import draft this year. On top of having a solid season in Sudbury, Kahun was also solid internationally this year. He finished top 10 in scoring at the Under 18's (7 points) and was a contributor for Germany at the Under 20 WJC's too.

42. Alex Fotinos - Goaltender - Barrie Colts 
When you're a back up goaltender, sometimes it can be hard to get noticed in your draft season. It really depends when and how often a team has seen you play. It also causes wild fluctuations in your draft ranking. In the case of Fotinos, he's not currently even ranked by NHL Central Scouting, yet he's ranked as the 8th best goalie in North America by ISS. Talk about a difference of opinion. I fall somewhere in the middle. I've seen Fotinos play great and I've seen him play awful the past couple of years. Inconsistency (especially this season) has definitely been something that has plagued him. But what young goaltender doesn't battle that? When he's on, Fotinos plays calm and collected in net. He's not a big goalie, but he does well to make himself bigger and is aggressive in challenging shooters. I also think he does a pretty decent job of controlling his rebounds for a younger goalie. The one thing that does concern me slightly is the lack of obvious progression from last year to this year. But without an increase in playing time, is it even possible for him to greatly improve? At the very least, we'll see what he's made of next year when he's the Colts' starter.

41. Jordan Maletta - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
A former first rounder by Windsor, Maletta just never progressed with the Spits so they decided to give him a change of scenery (back home to St. Catharines). In Niagara, he was a different player than he was in Windsor, even if the offensive numbers he put up aren't terrific. With the Dogs, he was much more aggressive in using his size and the consistency in his effort level was much better. Offensively, he remained a bit tentative (would love to see him use that size more consistently to take the puck to the net) and even a bit unlucky. But I think he's still got a lot of potential moving forward as a power forward in this league. He just needs to gain some confidence in his ability to handle and shoot the puck and learn to get himself in better scoring position without it. If I was an NHL team, I'd probably use a late round pick on him in hopes that he can develop in an environment he's more familiar with.

40. Dominik Kubalik - Forward - Sudbury Wolves
Kubalik got better and better as the season went on, right up until the playoffs, where I felt like he was one of Sudbury's best players (especially in the series against Brampton). At this moment, he's more of a complimentary offensive player. He gets himself in good position to earn scoring chances and he improved his ability to play the cycle game as the season went along. I particularly enjoyed the chemistry that he and fellow Import Dominik Kahun showed by season's end. Kubalik won't really WOW you in any area on the ice, but he's a smart guy who will certainly put up some points in this league as he gains more confidence. What he needs to do is learn how to make himself more visible without the puck and do more to create his own scoring chances. I'd like to see him more engaged in going to the net (especially if he's playing with a guy like Kahun) and by working harder to play both ends effectively. Right now, he's that guy you only really notice when he hits the score sheet.

39. Hunter Garlent - Forward - Guelph Storm
The 2013 season was filled with many ups and downs for Garlent. I found him to be one of the best 1995's in the league last year; his tenacious playing style and high energy level made him a very exciting player to watch. This year, he had a regression, which has to be a bit concerning. He started off the year pretty well and was even named player of the week at the end of October. But then he suffered an ankle injury and he just wasn't the same in the 2013 calendar year. He wasn't playing with as much fire (at least consistently) as he did last year. I felt like he was trying to do too much with the puck at times, and wasn't as effective or hungry without the puck. Garlent needs to get back to keeping things simple and creating offense from energy and effort. On the plus side, I was happy to see him get the call to the Under 18's. He may have played a bit role, but I thought he played pretty well and was able to get back to doing some of the little things he did well last year in Guelph (being very active on the forecheck, playing physical, working hard on the backcheck). Hopefully he can take that confidence back to Guelph next year. As a little guy (5'9), he's got to be hungrier than the opposition.

38. Anthony DiFruscia - Forward - Niagara IceDogs
I found DiFruscia to be wildly inconsistent this year. When he's at his best, he looks like a quality, pesky goal scorer who can win battles for loose pucks, find openings in the slot/near the crease, and work the cycle. He also has the potential to play a pretty physical game, especially on the forecheck. But he went through disappearing acts, where that aggressive style turned into more of a passive/puck possession approach. And this sort of game just didn't fit him, where he's still somewhat easily pushed off the puck. I think the issue is that his conditioning and strength just isn't at a level yet that allows him to play that attacking winger role with consistency. DiFruscia was only playing in his first OHL season after playing last year with Salisbury Prep. On the plus side, I did feel that he ended the season well and was one of Niagara's best players in the Oshawa series. He definitely has potential to develop into a quality goal scorer in this league.

37. Danny Vanderwiel - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
I haven't really seen Vanderwiel on any scouting lists this season and I'm not particularly sure why. I like him. He reminds me a lot of Cody Payne last year in Plymouth. Not getting a ton of ice time (including in and out of the press box in the playoffs), but making the most of it. He's a big guy who I think has power forward potential. He skates well for a big guy and has the ability to carry the puck. Once he gets going, he can be tough to stop. He just needs to work on his shot to improve his finishing skills. He throws the body around and is pretty active on the forecheck too, although I think he could be even more aggressive in this area (might have to fill the shoes of Tom Wilson next year). Plymouth was so deep at forward this year, it was definitely difficult for Vanderwiel to make a consistent impression. But I saw enough to believe he's a diamond in the rough and possible late round gem for someone.

36. Bradley Latour - Forward - Oshawa Generals
Latour has to be the youngest player available for this year's NHL draft (a Sept.13, 1995 birth date); in just before the cut-off. He's a scrappy winger who was playing in his first OHL season. One thing I really liked about Latour is that he got better and better as the season went on; even saving his best for the playoffs. He's not large (5'10), but he's a real battler in traffic and by season's end, was starting to win more battles for the puck. He's also got a great nose for the net and gets himself in good scoring position. While he's not a physical winger, he does work hard without the puck and has a very active stick. Oshawa had a very deep forward unit this year and I think we're only beginning to see what Latour is capable of. As one of the youngest guys available in this draft, I think he's worth a late round flyer, given how he performed down the stretch.

35. Miles Liberati - Defenseman - London Knights
A very tough player to gauge because of his lack of playing time. Towards the end of the year, he was even seeing time up at forward to keep him in playing shape (where he actually didn't look out of place). London's defensive unit was just so deep this season, it was hard for Liberati to find consistent playing time once everyone was healthy. He's a big part of London's future on the back end though, and he played enough this year to show pro potential. Liberati can be categorized as a puck moving defenseman who possesses great mobility and the poise to create plays off the rush. As a puck rusher, he's still learning and can be prone to getting caught up ice, but his skating was good enough to cover those mistakes most of the time. Defensively, he's definitely still learning, but I think his mobility and intelligence will allow him the opportunity to develop into a solid two-way guy at some point. In terms of the NHL draft, I think it will come down to whether teams saw him enough to feel confident in the fact that he could be a future NHL player.
   
34. Jordan DeKort - Goaltender - Windsor Spitfires
DeKort is a huge goaltender who remains a work in progress. At 6'4, he's going to get a long look from NHL clubs. He's also one of the younger players available for the draft, with an August birthday (meaning he could still grow some more). He shows a solid ability to drop down into the butterfly and take away the bottom of the net, but he's still learning how to track the play and work his angles. His rebound control is also still a big work in progress, especially when trying to control/swallow higher shots, or directing pad saves away from the slot. Bottom line; DeKort is a big athletic goalie who's still learning his position. He's the type of guy NHL teams take a chance on.

33. Kyle Platzer - Forward - London Knights
Platzer did absolutely everything London's coaching staff asked him to do this year, including seeing some time on the blueline to cover for injuries. That's why he managed to (mostly) avoid the carousel many of London's other younger players had to ride (like Jammes, Liberati, Pawley, etc) in 2013. His numbers don't jump out at you, and they won't with the barely 10 minutes of ice time he saw a game. But you have to assess him based on what he was able to do with that ice time (similar to Remi Elie who's rated higher). Platzer may not be huge (pushing 5'11), but he's a skilled player who also can provide energy and persistence away from the puck. You might notice Platzer outworking opposing defenses along the boards, or beating them to loose pucks, but he's also clearly a very intelligent offensive player who is capable of putting up higher point totals. He did lead his Waterloo GOJHL team in scoring as a 16 year old in 2012. The one thing I admire about London is their ability to make younger players work hard to stay in the line-up. Ice time is earned, not given. And Platzer earned every second of time he received this year.

32. Tyler Bertuzzi - Forward - Guelph Storm
I think Bertuzzi is a very interesting prospect. He missed over two months of action this year with a concussion/neck injury, suffered mid season after a fight with fellow Top 50 recipient Tyler Ganly. Once he returned to action, he actually played pretty well (although tired toward the end of the season). He plays the game similarly to his uncle Todd. He's most effective as a crease crashing winger who works his butt off without the puck. Bertuzzi can be a dangerous forechecker and is still learning how to become a complimentary goal scorer. I think he has the hands to develop into a pretty solid finisher at some point. The other thing to note is that Bertuzzi grew this year. He was about 5'10 entering the league last year, but probably measures in at about 6'1 now. The bigger he gets, the more effective he'll be at playing the role of offensive pest.

31. Ben Harpur - Defenseman - Guelph Storm
Harpur is a hulking defenseman who was much better in the second half of the season than he was the first. That sort of progression has to be encouraging. In the second half, he looked much more comfortable handling the puck (especially in his own end) and really improved his breakout pass. Defensively, he looked more confident using physical force, in addition to his long reach, to break up plays. By the end of the season, he looked more comfortable in his role as a shutdown type of defenseman. He certainly has the size to be a force in his own end. His skating is a bit of an issue, but it's not awful, especially for a defender of his size. He'll just need to work on his lateral and backwards agility in order to become a more reliable defender off the rush. And obviously, he'll also need to continue to get stronger and become more of a physical force, especially in front of his net. But I think he's trending upwards.

My Final Top 50 OHL Players for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft - Part 1: Honorable Mentions

The race to the draft is on. We're about a month away from the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, so that means it's time for me to release my rankings.

The top 50 will be released in four parts: Part 1 - Honorable Mentions, Part 2 - Prospects 50-31, Part 3 - Prospects 30-11, and Part 4 - Prospects 10-1.

Just for clarification, for my top 50 ranking, I haven't included any players eligible for draft re-entry, such as Eric Locke or Cameron Brace. This has been consistent all the way through my lists. Instead, I did a list of the top 10 draft re-entries, which can be found here.

Also for clarification, this list is MY list of the top 50 OHL prospects, as if I were drafting for my own team. In other words, this isn't a list of where I THINK or believe players will go, but a ranking of my own opinion on the top players eligible for this draft based on my viewings this season. If you want a draft projection and information about players outside the OHL, be sure to order the Future Considerations and/or McKeen's Draft Guides.

This first part includes the Honorable Mentions of my list. These are the players who received consideration for my top 50, but who fell just short. There are 13 in total.

In alphabetical order...

Aaron Berisha - Forward - Belleville Bulls
One of several players to join the OHL from Salisbury Prep this season (DiFruscia, Nichols, Welsh), Berisha had a pretty decent rookie OHL season. I had heard great things about him going into the season, but he wasn't able to make as big of an offensive impact as people expected. He's got some offensive skill, in particular as a goal scorer with a quick release, but I felt like strength wise he was a bit overmatched in the OHL at times this season. Although I will say that later into the season and into the playoffs, I was impressed with his dedication to embracing his role as an energy guy. He upped his intensity level without the puck and even became a bit of a factor on the forecheck. Next year, he'll get a chance to be a more critical component to Belleville's offense and I'll be interested to see if he improves.

Nick Betz - Forward - Erie Otters
A real project. The 6'5 forward was never able to find a groove this year after contracting appendicitis early in the season. The size is obviously very appealing, but I feel like he's yet to fully figure out how to use it to be an effective player. He can play physical, but isn't consistent in that area. His ability to receive passes and carry the puck is also still a work in progress and it prevents him from being more of a contributor offensively. There's obviously potential for him to develop into a terrific board player and a guy you can put in front of the net, but he's not yet the sum of his parts. I felt like I was more impressed with him last year as a 16/17 year old and that his development stalled this season (perhaps because of the abdominal surgery). Could still be a solid pick later in the draft for a team willing to be patient.

Jean Dupuy - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
Dupuy finished tied for 2nd in the OHL in fighting majors this year with 13. He's got great size at 6'3 and is a real heart and soul, character type of guy. While he's certainly no stranger to dropping the mitts, I wouldn't necessarily call him a terrific enforcer at this point. In a couple of the fights I saw him engaged in this year, I don't really remember him clearly winning any. But he plays hard at both ends of the ice, will block shots, smash bodies and come to the aid of his teammates. At this point, his offensive upside appears limited but his work ethic should be applauded.

Jake Evans - Forward - Erie Otters
Evans is a player that I had high expectations for this season. I was very impressed with him as a 16/17 year old, but he just didn't take that next step forward in 2013. If anything, I felt like he regressed a bit and was less noticeable on the ice. He's a hard worker at both ends of the ice, and he became a more physical player this season. But his offensive game just failed to progress. He's able to work the cycle on some occasions, but still lacks the strength to consistently win one on one battles and it limits his effectiveness to create scoring chances for his linemates. Erie's depth at the center position continues to get better and better, so Evans might be running out of time to impress.

Ryan Hutchinson - Forward - Kingston Frontenacs
I felt like Hutchinson was having a very solid sophomore season in the OHL before things started to unravel for him. First was the suspension due to his temper tantrum (which went viral and can be found here). Then, he was sent home by the Fronts for a curfew related incident. But when he played this year, Hutchinson provided a lot of value as a rugged, stay at home defender. He's got size and he's a very physical guy who can help to intimidate the opposition. He'll also drop the mitts and was no stranger to fighting or sticking up for teammates. Hopefully he's able to resolve things in Kingston, or at least find a new home in the OHL next year.

Mitch Jones - Forward - Plymouth Whalers
While he didn't play a ton this year (missed two months with an undisclosed injury), Jones impressed me a lot every time I saw the Whalers and he was in the line-up. He's a real stocky defenseman who I saw make a lot of very solid defensive plays this season. He's got great positioning while defending the rush and keeps forwards to the outside. I also liked how physical he played, despite not being the biggest defender (a shade under 6'0). I think he's got a lot of potential in this league and I see him taking on a much larger role in Plymouth next season.

Justin Nichols - Goaltender - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Looked a bit overmatched at the beginning of the season, when he earned the back-up job behind Matt Murray. But he got better as the season went on (save his two awful performances at the very end of the year). Nearly every facet of his game took a step forward from beginning to end and he looks like he could be a solid starter some time in the future. That said, he's not the biggest goalie and he was prone to giving up some softer goals as he's still learning his angles at OHL speed.

Daniel Nikandrov - Forward - Sarnia Sting
Nikandrov is a smooth skating center with some size and offensive ability. He was used primarily as a depth player by Sarnia this season (his first full one in the OHL), but did see some time on the penalty kill where he was fairly effective. NHL Central Scouting has him ranked a lot higher than I do, but I'm not entirely sure where he fits in at the next level. I didn't see a ton from him this year that would suggest he's a future top line player. But I also didn't see much that would suggest he could be the type of role player an NHL team would want on their bottom 6. Admittedly, I didn't get a terrific read on him this season.

Stephen Nosad - Forward - Peterborough Petes
Not really sure what happened to Nosad this year. I thought he was going to have a great year after contributing so much as a rookie in 2012. But he took a step back this year and not forward. He has some offensive skill and is a pretty cerebral player, but the skating, strength, and play without the puck didn't improve enough to make him a consistent offensive contributor. He was actually quite invisible in the times I saw Peterborough this year. A big disappointment in 2013 (kind of like the rest of his Peterborough teammates).

Mark Raycroft - Defenseman - Brampton/North Bay Battalion
Raycroft is not flashy at all, but he is an effective stay at home defender at this point in his development. He's not a physical player by any means, but he is a good skater and he has some size, which allows him to defend pretty well off the rush. He'll need to continue to get stronger (and maybe a little meaner) in order to take his defensive game to that next level. He barely played this year, as I felt like Butler preferred to role his top 5 defenseman out there more often (with all of them being very solid players). With Cameron Wind gone, he'll have a chance to earn more icetime next year, especially on the penalty kill and in important defensive situations.

Mathew Santos - Forward - Brampton/North Bay Battalion
A walk-on to the Battalion this year, Santos proved to be a pretty effective energy guy who saw ice time in a lot of different roles this season. He's got some speed coming down the wing and he works his butt off in the offensive end to gain and keep possession. Not sure he's the most skilled guy in the world, but if you put him with some solid playmakers, I think he's got offensive potential in this league. As the season went on, I felt like he was also more confident in throwing his weight around and playing physical (something he'll have to do more consistently).

Jonatan Tanus - Forward - Peterborough Petes
A speedy little guy who was definitely one of the more consistent players in Peterborough this year. He's got lot of skill with the puck and is a very effective north/south type of guy. Likes to dart in and out of traffic and can be elusive in coverage. He's also not afraid of playing in traffic despite being smaller and will even get his nose dirty from time to time. He was also a solid contributor for team Finland at the Under 18's this year. I think some might be surprised that he's not in my top 50, but I'm not sure I see enough in him to suggest he'll be anything more than a solid scorer in Europe (when he eventually returns).

Thomas Welsh - Defenseman - Mississauga Steelheads
Welsh joined Mississauga about half way through the year, coming over from Georgetown (Junior A). He was a pretty highly touted prospect for Mississauga, who struggled a bit with adapting to the speed of the OHL game. He's a smaller/stocky defender, but he can look slow out there. He'll need to work on his mobility, especially if he wants to involve himself more offensively in transition. But, I saw some things in his game to suggest there could be a lot of potential in there. He's a very physical player, and he'll be effective in a defensive role when he learns to pick his spots better and improves his agility. I don't think he's a draft prospect now, but I like his potential to develop into something down the road.

Podcast with Talking Red

David Sarch of the podcast "Talking Red," had me on the program to talk about some OHL prospects recently.

You can check it out HERE.

Sunday Top 10 - 2013 NHL Draft Re-Entries

It's that time of the year for my annual (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009) list of the top second and third year eligible OHL players for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. This is always one of the most read articles I put out each year. It's also the topic which I receive the most questions on, whether through email or blog comments. For whatever reason, the concept fascinates people. Of course, I'm referring to the concept of the "draft re-entry." A shift in drafting philosophy has seen an enormous rise of these players getting drafted in recent years. This is mostly because drafting a second or third year eligible player gives NHL teams a lot of flexibility in their development under the new CBA. Plus, a lot of these guys have been having success in recent years (Andrew Shaw is a great example from the OHL), which basic psychology tells us that other NHL teams will try to mimic.

Just to clarify yet again, for those with limited understanding of the NHL draft system; North American players have either two or three years to get drafted, depending on their birth date. For those born from January 1 to September 15, they will go through three NHL drafts. For those born from September 16 to December 31, they will go through two NHL drafts. The players on this list are a mix of those having been passed over once or twice already.

Also, do not confuse this list with players drafted in 2011 who will re-enter the draft should they fail to come to a contractual agreement with their NHL team by June 1 (and whose birth date still allows them to be eligible). Quite often those too are referred to as draft re-entries. But this list does not contain them because it is not yet known who those players will be.

Last year was a crazy year for the selection of 2nd and 3rd year eligible players. We had one go in the first round (Tanner Pearson). We had four go inside the top 60. And we had 12 go inside the top 100. All together, 48 players who could be classified as "draft re-entries" were selected. That made up about 23% of all players selected in 2012...or close to one quarter. 9 of those 48 were OHL players.

This year, I could easily see another 9/10 players of this ilk selected from the OHL. Any of the players that I've listed below (either on the list or as HM's) could develop into NHL players IMO.

Without any further rambling, here's my list:

10. Mathew Campagna - Sudbury Wolves
Finally started showing signs of living up to his high draft selection in the 2010 Priority draft. He's always been incredibly skilled with the puck, but there had been reservations about the rest of his game. This year was a breakout campaign for him. He was voted as the 3rd most improved player in the East in the Coaches poll and he deserved it. While there's still room for improvement in his "overall game," he definitely looked more hungry without the puck and more engaged in high traffic areas this year. Previously he was kept to the perimeter a lot, but this year he was getting his nose dirty more in the slot and looking to take the puck hard to the net on rushes. He's a very skilled player with the puck and is able to create offensive opportunities for his linemates through creativity and poise. You definitely have to give him credit for making some necessary refinements to his game this year.

9. Zach Hall - Barrie Colts
Exploded offensively this year, playing alongside Mark Scheifele in Barrie. But Hall is not simply a by product of Scheifele. When Scheifele was at NHL camp at the beginning of the season, and at the WJC's, Hall put this Colts team on his back and has been a consistent contributor all season long. He's a terrific playmaker and is at his best off the rush where he's got great hockey sense to make plays at high speed. He definitely sees the ice well and makes those around him better players. An underrated aspect of Hall's game is his play in the neutral zone and in his own end. He's a very competent defensive player and a very hard worker on the backcheck. He's not the biggest guy (pushing 6'0 ft), so he's not going to outmuscle anyone, but he does work hard at both ends and has enough offensive skill to contribute on the score sheet at the next level.
 
8. Dakota Mermis - London Knights
I may not be as enamored with Mermis as NHL Central Scouting is, but he was definitely a solid contributor to the Knights line up after joining the team midseason from the U of Denver. He's just a very solid defenseman. There isn't one aspect of his game that REALLY jumps out at you, but he's very well rounded. He does a good job of skating the puck up ice and out of trouble, and is developing well as a powerplay quarterback. Even though he was billed as more of an offensive defenseman, I think I was most impressed with him defensively. He closes gaps well and does a great job of defending off the rush. And he's a more physical defender than I expected him to be. He's small and stocky. Reminds me a lot of former Spitfire Mark Cundari.

7. Barclay Goodrow - Brampton Battalion
I've always felt like despite his skating deficiencies, he should have been drafted these past few years; I've always been a fan. But this year I truly think is his year. The skating looked much improved and it allowed Goodrow to be a better player in all three zones. He was able to be more active and effective on the forecheck, and was also more explosive coming off the wall with the puck. His defensive game really improved this year too, to the point where he was one of the better two-way forwards in the league. He's very aggressive in his pursuit of the puck. Scouts also have to love the fact that he wore the C in Brampton this year and led the team to another playoff appearance. And even with all the improvements in the rest of his game, he can still shoot the puck (which has always been his bread and butter). Goodrow set a career high with 38 goals this year. As I said, I think this will finally be his year.

6. Zac Leslie - Guelph Storm
Leslie should have been drafted last year following a solid rookie campaign in Guelph. This year, his sophomore season, Leslie really took off as a player (2nd most improved in the West in the Coaches poll). Nearly every facet of his game improved and he was one of Guelph's top defenseman. I actually felt like he was better than Matt Finn this year. Leslie ran the point on Guelph's powerplay well and does a good job of keeping pucks in at the line. His overall confidence with the puck greatly improved and he was willing to take more chances offensively. Defensively, he remained solid but was more consistently physical and was able to do a better job of winning battles in the corners and moving bodies in front of the net. Teams should be angry that they didn't jump on him in the 7th round last year.

5. Cameron Brace - Owen Sound Attack
A speed demon; Brace is definitely one of the fastest north/south players in the league. He's got a very high motor and is always working hard to make things happen. Brace has actually lead the league in short handed goals the past two years, a testament to his ability to use his speed to disrupt plays in the neutral zone and on the forecheck. He's also got a very good wrist shot that he can fire coming down the wing. The key to Brace's game is playing with consistent ferocity. He's definitely not the biggest (5'10), so he needs to outwork and outskate the opposition. In the playoffs, I felt like he was completely ineffective following the hit on Jared McCann and subsequent suspension. It was because he was playing cautious after that and it limited his effectiveness. Hopefully his finish to the season didn't leave a sour taste in the mouths of scouts.

4. Henri Ikonen - Kingston Frontenacs
I really liked what I saw from this first year Import this season. Ikonen found great chemistry playing with two other rookies this year, 16 year olds Sam Bennett and Spencer Watson. Ikonen was like the middle ground/well rounded offensive playmaker on that line. Bennett was the feisty workhorse, Watson the skilled finisher, and Ikonen the smart distributor/catalyst. I was impressed with his ability to work the cycle and make things happen from behind the net and off the wall. He's got a great hockey IQ and seems to be a very well rounded offensive player. He wasn't one to shy away from playing physical at times either, and working hard on the backcheck. After leading Kingston in scoring this year, I'm hoping he returns again next year to continue to develop his bond with Bennett and Watson.

3. Dane Fox - Erie Otters
I had him ranked 18th from the OHL last year, but he ultimately went undrafted, which unfortunately didn't seem to surprise too many people inside the NHL realm. He's had some issues with the authorities in the past and that seemed to hurt him on draft day. I did a feature on Dane last year and in my relations with him, he seemed like a really great kid, so I'm going to continue to support him and my opinion of him as an NHL prospect remains unchanged. The year didn't start off great for Dane (thanks to a broken foot), but when he returned, he did play well. He's got the skill and potential to develop into a solid 3rd line NHL center (think David Bolland). He's got speed, skill with the puck, good vision with the puck and a real edge to his game. If he doesn't get drafted again this year, I hope he comes back to Erie strong as an overager next year and really takes his game to the next level to earn a contract.

2. Justin Auger - Guelph Storm
Auger is still a massive project, but one who could be worth the risk of drafting. He improved a lot in his 2nd year in the league, which I think is a great sign of things to come as he continues to grow into his body. At 6'7, he can be a real load for defenseman to handle in the corners and in front of the net. In particular, his work on the cycle is impressive. His long reach and improving strength make him a very difficult player to separate from the puck. I'd still love to see him be more aggressive and use his size more to be a crease presence though. His skating is still an issue, but it DEFINITELY improved this year. Last year, I felt like he was one of the ugliest skaters in the league. This year, he looked better and more stable on his skates. Improving those first few steps will be the key to increasing his offensive production. You need to look down the line with a player like Auger. Right now, he's still trying to find his game. But you have to be impressed with his development thus far and take a chance on a big 6'7 forward with some skill.

1. Eric Locke - Saginaw Spirit
It's like the lightbulb finally went off or something. Previously, I'd always been hard on Locke as a player. I didn't even rank him inside my top 50 last year, despite the fact that he had previously been a fairly high profile player. I just felt like he hadn't really improved during his time in the OHL up to that point. He was still just trying to get by on being a speedy wing scorer, with little else to his game. This year, Locke was a completely different player. He was an obvious choice for most improved player in the West in the Coaches poll. He suddenly started using his speed to help him be a factor without the puck. And he added a mean streak and truculence to his game that wasn't previously there. Basically, Locke was no longer satisfied with being a complimentary player who let others do the hard work for him. He began taking over shifts by being all over the ice and getting involved in all facets of the game. He's always been a skilled player, but now the effort level and play in all three zones was improved to match it. If Locke would have played this way last year, he would have been a lock (no pun intended) for the first three rounds. This year, I think it remains to be seen where he goes, but I'd be VERY surprised if he doesn't go somewhere.

Honorable Mentions

Goaltender

London's Jake Patterson was very close to cracking this list. At midseason, he would have been on it, but his play slipped a bit in the second half and he lost his starter's job to Anthony Stolarz. For someone playing in their first full OHL season, Patterson acquitted himself quite well this year. Yes, he had some rough patches, but he has the potential to develop into a quality netminder. The one thing I like about him as a goalie is how aggressive he is in challenging shooters. He comes out as far as any goalie in the league. He can be a bit slow post to post though and will need to work on his general agility, as well as his rebound control moving forward.

Franky Palazzese cracked this list last year, but is just on the outside looking in for this year's installment. It's his last chance to be drafted, before becoming a free agent, so we'll see how he does. I felt like he probably had a better season last year when he failed to get drafted, so I'm not sure what to expect. Palazzese is just a solid netminder.who gives his team a chance to win every night. He moves well in his crease and has a penchant for that "highlight reel" save. If he doesn't get drafted this time, I think he'll have a big overage year with the Wolves next year.

Defense

Saginaw's Dalton Young is a very underrated player in this league. He had a real breakout season from the back-end. He skates as well as any defender in the league and he's got good size for a PMD. Defensively, he's pretty solid and won't hurt you either. I think he profiles well as the type of defenseman an NHL team could look at as a puck rushing option.

Brenden Miller didn't see a ton of time with Brampton last year, playing on the team's third pairing and receiving few responsibilities. This year he earned more ice time and really saw his game grow. He was on the Battalion's top powerplay unit with Dylan Blujus and I actually think he did a better job of running the point than the Lightning high selection did. Defensively, he's also pretty solid and isn't afraid to use his size either. His skating needs some work, especially if he wants to play more of an offensive role at the next level, but there's some potential there.

Another guy who cracked last year's list, but not this years is Sarnia blueliner Alex Basso. I'm still a big fan of Basso's, but I don't think there was a ton of progression this year (from last year), other than staying relatively healthy. He's still a terrific offensive blueliner who moves the puck well, skates well, and who has a big shot from the point. Defensively, I think there's still room to grow, but I do really like how he keeps forwards honest by delivering a big hit from time to time. Just don't know if he gets drafted this year, considering he's basically the same guy who went unselected last year.

A sort of under the radar name is Barrie's Jonathan Laser. He got better and better as the season went on, which is something you love to see from a player playing in his first full OHL season. He's developed some great chemistry with Aaron Ekblad and plays a really simple, yet effective game. At the same time, I think there's real offensive upside in his game once he learns to move and skate with the puck more confidently. With Ryan O'Connor out in these playoffs, I felt like he stepped up hugely.

Forward

Erie's Connor Crisp is one name that could certainly draw some interest from NHL scouts. He makes for a great story. He barely played last year, save for an embarrassing emergency goaltending performance against Niagara, but this year he really made himself a big part of Erie's offense. He's a massive kid at 6'4, 225lbs and he loves to drop the gloves. But he's also got good hands in close (as evidenced by his 22 goals) and has potential as a crease crasher/garbage guy at the next level.

If one Rupert twin gets drafted, you have to think the odds are good that the other one draws some interest. Ryan went in the 7th last year to Toronto, maybe this year the Leafs select Matt Rupert? Matt plays the game very similarly to his brother Ryan, except he's more of a finisher than a playmaker like Ryan. 

OHL Playoff Predictions: OHL Championship

Well we're finally there. The OHL Championship series is upon us. On Friday, the London Knights and the Barrie Colts will engage in battle, in what should be a terrific series.

Throughout the playoffs thus far, I've compiled an 11-3 record; so I'd obviously prefer to finish on top with a correct prediction!

So, here we go:

1. London Knights vs. 2. Barrie Colts
Season Series: 2-0 London
My Analysis: While London did take the season series, both games were played early in the season (before December). Thus, I don't think we can use those as an accurate gauge. I don't think there's any question London has faced the more difficult route in this year's playoffs, so it's hard to compare the numbers. But I'll do it anyway. On paper, the Colts have the advantage in nearly every category thus far. They've allowed fewer goals. They've had the better powerplay and penalty kill. They've done a better job staying out of the box. And they've got the leading scorer of this year's playoffs in Mark Scheifele. Based on the above information, London has to do the following things in order to capture their second straight OHL championship: Firstly they've got to stay out of the box. Barrie's powerplay has been lights out this postseason and they can't give them numerous chances per game with the man advantage. Secondly, they've got to get bodies in front of the net to screen Matthias Niederberger. The Bulls were the first to be able to do that effectively in these playoffs, but they didn't do it consistently enough to win the East. No offense to Anthony Stolarz, but Niederberger is the better and more experienced goaltender in this match-up. And Thirdly, they've got to shutdown the Schefiele/Hall/Camara line like they did Vincent Trocheck last round (Bo Horvat has been sensational in a defensive role during these playoffs). And I think London is capable of doing those three things. As much as I'd love to see Barrie win (to spread the wealth), I think London's depth and playoff experience will help them win this series. But it's going to be closer than people are predicting. One side story I'm really interested to see unfold is the play of Andreas Athanasiou this series. He's quietly had a terrific bounce back season in Barrie and I'm sure he's going to be eager to stick it to the Knights for tossing him aside.
Prediction: London in 6

Would love to read your predictions in the comments section.

NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings for 2013

NHL Central Scouting has released their final rankings for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Here's how the OHL shakes down.


SKATERS

1. Darnell Nurse
2. Sean Monahan
3. Zach Nastasiuk
4. Chris Bigras
5. Bo Horvat
6. Ryan Hartman
7. Kerby Rychel
8. Max Domi
9. Jimmy Lodge
10. Nikita Zadorov
11. Jason Dickinson
12. Justin Bailey
13. Jordan Subban
14. Nick Moutrey
15. Nicholas Baptiste
16. Ryan Kujawinski
17. Remi Elie
18. Dakota Mermis
19. Greg Betzold
20. Ben Harpur
21. Carter Verhaeghe
22. Kyle Platzer
23. Jeff Corbett
24. Sergei Tolchinsky
25. Cole Cassels
26. Josh Burnside
27. Nick Paul
28. Brent Pedersen
29. Stephen Harper
30. Daniel Nikandrov
31. Dominik Kubalik
32. Cameron Brace
33. Erik Bradford
34. Zach Leslie
35. Miles Liberati
36. Hunter Garlent
37. Zach Hall
38. Brody Silk
39. Tyler Ganly
40. Josh Brown
41. Henri Ikonen
42. Jean Dupuy
43. Anthony DiFruscia
44. Stephen Nosad
45. Tyler Bertuzzi

GOALIES

1. Spencer Martin
2. Michael Giugovaz
3. Jordan DeKort
4. Jake Patterson
5. Frank Palazzese
6. Charlie Graham
7. Jacob Blair

Here are the links to the full rankings:

SKATERS & GOALIES

Some thoughts on the rankings...

• First thing that shocked me was the aggressiveness with Nastasiuk's ranking. Quite frankly, I like it. I've been a big supporter of the kid since he joined the league and he was amazing the final few months of the season (and has continued that on to the Under 18's). He's firmly in my top 10 for the league too.
• Also continue to be surprised by Zadorov's low ranking. CSS seems to be the only place ranking him that low. I haven't been incredibly impressed with his play in the 2nd half, but he's still firmly a first round talent IMO. But...they've been low on him all season long.
• The lack of Alex Fotinos in the goaltenders category is still shocking. ISS has him ranked quite highly (in the top 10), while CSS doesn't even feel the need to rank him. Very odd and silly IMO. Fotinos is a solid goaltender and prospect and deserves to be ranked...ahead of a few of those OHL goaltenders IMO.
• Stephen Harper continues to free fall. Was talked about as a first rounder to start the year and now he's being ranked by Central Scouting as a possible 4th/5th round selection. It's deserving, but I still feel bad for him.
• The ranking of the "overagers" is a tad odd to me. IMO, the two top re-entry candidates available from the OHL are Justin Auger and Eric Locke. And neither of them are ranked, while a handful of others (some very deserving too) are. Strikes me as odd.
• Outside of that, I don't think they're all that bad, even if they may be a tad shocking to some.

OHL Playoff Predictions: Conference Finals

The 2013 Conference Finals are set to begin tomorrow night. Time to take a look at the match-ups.

Throughout the first two rounds, I'm 10-2 on my predictions. Let's keep the good times going.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Belleville Bulls vs. 2. Barrie Colts
Season Series: 1-1 TIE
My Analysis: Honestly, both of these Conference finals set up to be terrific match-ups. Both the Bulls and the Colts ran over their second round opponents. In fact, the Colts have yet to lose a game in these playoffs, despite losing their captain, Ryan O'Connor, to a 10 game suspension. O'Connor will be eligible to return Game 5 (should there be one). It's hard to find a match-up discrepancy between these two squads. Both teams have been terrific on special teams. Both teams have been getting sensational goaltending. Both teams are putting the puck in the net and getting scoring from all lines. So how do we predict a winner? I'm going on a gut instinct here. While both teams have good size up front and some physicality from the forward position, I like Barrie's larger and more physical defense more than Belleville's. I think the Bulls will have a harder time scoring than Barrie and if this series goes long (which I think it will), the Colts will get an emotional lift from O'Connor's return in game 5.
Prediction: Barrie in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. London Knights vs. 2. Plymouth Whalers
Season Series: 3-1 London
My Analysis: You can throw London's dominance in the season series out the window. These teams haven't met since 2012 (Dec. 29), and anyone who covers the OHL can tell you how much better the Whalers look in 2013. They're a significantly more confident team since the new year. Bottom line, London hasn't played the Vincent Trocheck version of the Whalers. Goaltending is going to be a big factor in this series. Stolarz and Nedeljkovic have both been fairly solid for their respective teams thus far. But, neither has been perfect. Let us not forget that both are OHL rookies. Going against the offensive firepower both team's possess will be a big test for both goalies. I think the other big factor (possibly in swaying the series in Plymouth's favor) has been London's lackluster special teams play this offseason. In particular, their powerplay just isn't running on all cylinders right now. I absolutely can't wait to watch this series. Again, I'm going with a gut instinct, and that's Plymouth.
Prediction: Plymouth in 7