NHL Draft Scout Series: OHL
9 years ago
Our first installment of the NHL Draft Scout Series focusing on the WHL was something of a success, so it was imperative we kept the
momentum going and fired up a new one as fast as we could.
Fortunately, Todd Cordell, of TheHockeyGuys, was kind
enough to virtually sit down with us on short notice and discuss 2014 draft
eligible’s coming out of the Ontario Hockey League.
enough to virtually sit down with us on short notice and discuss 2014 draft
eligible’s coming out of the Ontario Hockey League.
Christian: The
OHL always offers a solid crop of players, usually the best, for the draft,
what do you think the strength of this class is as a whole?
OHL always offers a solid crop of players, usually the best, for the draft,
what do you think the strength of this class is as a whole?
Todd: I think
it’s a pretty good crop. Obviously near the top you have a lot of guys with
star potential led by Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Michael Dal Colle. There’s
a nice group that follows with Nick Ritchie, Brendan Perlini, etc. and I like
the variety of players as a whole. Whether you’re looking for a power forward,
a two-way center, offensive defenseman or anything else, I think this class has
several quality players to offer that fit the billing.
it’s a pretty good crop. Obviously near the top you have a lot of guys with
star potential led by Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Michael Dal Colle. There’s
a nice group that follows with Nick Ritchie, Brendan Perlini, etc. and I like
the variety of players as a whole. Whether you’re looking for a power forward,
a two-way center, offensive defenseman or anything else, I think this class has
several quality players to offer that fit the billing.
C: Ekblad has jostled
for position atop the overall rankings all year, what can you tell us about
him? Is he really as good as people say?
for position atop the overall rankings all year, what can you tell us about
him? Is he really as good as people say?
T: I’ve scouted
Ekblad live well over 100 times since he entered the OHL, and he is the real
deal. He has the size to be physically dominant when he wants to, he skates
well for a big man, and has a bomb of a shot. There’s a couple areas of his
game that could use some work, notably his pivots in the defensive zone, and
his outlet passing – he misses moving targets at times – but I don’t see
anything that leads me to believe he can’t be a very good player at the NHL
level. His hands are surprisingly good, he’s confident with the puck, and can
skate it out of trouble when necessary. Ekblad logs big minutes in all
situations, and if he learns to use his big frame a little more – he’s not
soft, but not as physical at he could be – he should be elite.
Ekblad live well over 100 times since he entered the OHL, and he is the real
deal. He has the size to be physically dominant when he wants to, he skates
well for a big man, and has a bomb of a shot. There’s a couple areas of his
game that could use some work, notably his pivots in the defensive zone, and
his outlet passing – he misses moving targets at times – but I don’t see
anything that leads me to believe he can’t be a very good player at the NHL
level. His hands are surprisingly good, he’s confident with the puck, and can
skate it out of trouble when necessary. Ekblad logs big minutes in all
situations, and if he learns to use his big frame a little more – he’s not
soft, but not as physical at he could be – he should be elite.
C: Do you buy
into the theory that Ekblad is as good as he is at the moment due to him
peaking (both physically and hockey-wise) now, and has little room to grow from
here?
into the theory that Ekblad is as good as he is at the moment due to him
peaking (both physically and hockey-wise) now, and has little room to grow from
here?
T: I think being
so physically mature at a young age definitely helped him, but he earned all
the credit he gets. He’s a good player, but there’s lots of room for
improvement – that’s not a knock – and if he continues to work at it, he should
be able to live up to the hype. One thing I stress for fans is patience. He’ll
likely make the jump straight to the NHL, but defensemen usually take 200+
games in the NHL before you start to see their full potential. Let the guy
breath, and give him time to develop.
so physically mature at a young age definitely helped him, but he earned all
the credit he gets. He’s a good player, but there’s lots of room for
improvement – that’s not a knock – and if he continues to work at it, he should
be able to live up to the hype. One thing I stress for fans is patience. He’ll
likely make the jump straight to the NHL, but defensemen usually take 200+
games in the NHL before you start to see their full potential. Let the guy
breath, and give him time to develop.
C: After Ekblad,
who’s your second ranked OHL skater, Bennett or Dal Colle?
who’s your second ranked OHL skater, Bennett or Dal Colle?
T: I have Bennett
as my No. 2 skater right now. He has elite skating ability, and is a much
better two-way player than Dal Colle, so that’s the biggest thing for me. Dal
Colle is an unbelievable talent, but he needs work in the defensive zone. He
plays his man way too lose for my liking, and looks disinterested in playing defence.
He likes to blow the zone to get a head start the other way, and that hurts his
team at times.
as my No. 2 skater right now. He has elite skating ability, and is a much
better two-way player than Dal Colle, so that’s the biggest thing for me. Dal
Colle is an unbelievable talent, but he needs work in the defensive zone. He
plays his man way too lose for my liking, and looks disinterested in playing defence.
He likes to blow the zone to get a head start the other way, and that hurts his
team at times.
C: It’s rare to
find a mock draft without one of those two landing in Calgary’s lap, what can you tell us about
them?
find a mock draft without one of those two landing in Calgary’s lap, what can you tell us about
them?
T: Bennett is a
very fast, skilled two-way player. He plays the game at a high pace, sees the
ice well, and can score goals, too. He’s not afraid to get involved physically,
and he can play in all situations. Dal Colle has an NHL release, and is
exceptional offensively. He needs to work on his defensive game, but he should
be a guy who can produce points at a high rate in the NHL.
very fast, skilled two-way player. He plays the game at a high pace, sees the
ice well, and can score goals, too. He’s not afraid to get involved physically,
and he can play in all situations. Dal Colle has an NHL release, and is
exceptional offensively. He needs to work on his defensive game, but he should
be a guy who can produce points at a high rate in the NHL.
C: Of the two
power forwards ranked within the Top 10 ,who do you like more, Perlini or
Ritchie?
power forwards ranked within the Top 10 ,who do you like more, Perlini or
Ritchie?
T: Nick Ritchie
is inconsistent at times, but I give him the edge. He plays a much more
physical style, and has the ability to take over games. Perlini is a big body, but
he’s not overly physical, and is more of speed guy than a true power forward. A
lot of his goals came on the power play, and he likes to play on the perimeter.
is inconsistent at times, but I give him the edge. He plays a much more
physical style, and has the ability to take over games. Perlini is a big body, but
he’s not overly physical, and is more of speed guy than a true power forward. A
lot of his goals came on the power play, and he likes to play on the perimeter.
C: Which eligibles
have surprised this OHL season?
have surprised this OHL season?
T: Andrew
Mangiapane is a name most haven’t heard of, but to me he was a big surprise
this season. He wasn’t drafted into the OHL, before Barrie
picked him up. He had a really nice season there, and was a consistent
offensive threat. Mangiapane is a guy who’s not on a lot of people’s radar
because of his size, but he doesn’t back down from bigger players and will
battle in the dirty areas of the ice. He sees the ice well, is a good skater,
and is real smart with the puck. Mangiapane scored 24 goals and recorded 51
points in 68 regular season games, and posted seven points in 11 playoff games.
He’ll be a late pick if he’s drafted, but considering he wasn’t expected to
even play in the OHL this season, it’s quite a story.
Mangiapane is a name most haven’t heard of, but to me he was a big surprise
this season. He wasn’t drafted into the OHL, before Barrie
picked him up. He had a really nice season there, and was a consistent
offensive threat. Mangiapane is a guy who’s not on a lot of people’s radar
because of his size, but he doesn’t back down from bigger players and will
battle in the dirty areas of the ice. He sees the ice well, is a good skater,
and is real smart with the puck. Mangiapane scored 24 goals and recorded 51
points in 68 regular season games, and posted seven points in 11 playoff games.
He’ll be a late pick if he’s drafted, but considering he wasn’t expected to
even play in the OHL this season, it’s quite a story.
C: Which have disappointed?
T: To me, Blake
Clarke was far and away the most disappointing player in the OHL this season.
He entered the year projected to be a top-10 pick in the NHL draft, and now
he’ll probably be taken late in the draft, if at all. He’s loaded with talent,
but he got off to a slow start this season, lost his confidence and never
really recovered. I think he’s too talented to fall off the face of the earth,
and given his talent he could be a good sleeper pick. A summer off to recharge
could be just what he needs.
Clarke was far and away the most disappointing player in the OHL this season.
He entered the year projected to be a top-10 pick in the NHL draft, and now
he’ll probably be taken late in the draft, if at all. He’s loaded with talent,
but he got off to a slow start this season, lost his confidence and never
really recovered. I think he’s too talented to fall off the face of the earth,
and given his talent he could be a good sleeper pick. A summer off to recharge
could be just what he needs.
C: The 1st round
always holds a lot of weight with fans, but the later rounds often offer solid
value as well, who are some potential gems that are currently ranked outside
the Top 30?
always holds a lot of weight with fans, but the later rounds often offer solid
value as well, who are some potential gems that are currently ranked outside
the Top 30?
T: Michael Amadio
is a solid two-way center who skates pretty well, and has some untapped
offensive potential. He didn’t post big numbers playing on a low-scoring,
defensive team in North Bay,
but I think he has ‘pro player’ written all over him. He needs more polishing,
but he’s a guy who can play in any situation, and is someone I could see in the
NHL a few years down the road. Another guy I like is Barrie Colts forward Kevin
Labanc. He’s not a big guy at 5’10”, but there’s room to grow there. He
can skate, is good with the puck, and can play on the power play or penalty
kill. I think with more of an offensive role in Barrie next season people will get to see how
good he can be.
is a solid two-way center who skates pretty well, and has some untapped
offensive potential. He didn’t post big numbers playing on a low-scoring,
defensive team in North Bay,
but I think he has ‘pro player’ written all over him. He needs more polishing,
but he’s a guy who can play in any situation, and is someone I could see in the
NHL a few years down the road. Another guy I like is Barrie Colts forward Kevin
Labanc. He’s not a big guy at 5’10”, but there’s room to grow there. He
can skate, is good with the puck, and can play on the power play or penalty
kill. I think with more of an offensive role in Barrie next season people will get to see how
good he can be.
C: Who are some
OHL prospects you see as overrated?
OHL prospects you see as overrated?
T: I don’t know
if overrated is the correct term for it, but I’ll go with Robby Fabbri. He’s a
guy who’s game I really like, but due to size concerns, and somewhat inflated
numbers on a powerhouse Guelph
team, he’s rated higher by some people than he should be. (Christian’s Note: The scouting community has been torn over Fabbri all
season. There’s no doubting he has tremendous skill, but many are concerned
about his size and the likelihood his numbers translate to the pro game. I’ve
heard some list him as Top 10, while others question him as a 1st round
talent.)
if overrated is the correct term for it, but I’ll go with Robby Fabbri. He’s a
guy who’s game I really like, but due to size concerns, and somewhat inflated
numbers on a powerhouse Guelph
team, he’s rated higher by some people than he should be. (Christian’s Note: The scouting community has been torn over Fabbri all
season. There’s no doubting he has tremendous skill, but many are concerned
about his size and the likelihood his numbers translate to the pro game. I’ve
heard some list him as Top 10, while others question him as a 1st round
talent.)
C: How does the
2014 OHL class compare to recent ones? Do you buy the notion that 2014 is a
weak draft?
2014 OHL class compare to recent ones? Do you buy the notion that 2014 is a
weak draft?
T: I don’t think
it’s a weak draft. The perception many people have is if it’s not considered to
be one of the best drafts ever, it’s a weak draft. I don’t think that’s the
case. There’s a lot of good players in this class, and several guys have the
potential to be elite.
it’s a weak draft. The perception many people have is if it’s not considered to
be one of the best drafts ever, it’s a weak draft. I don’t think that’s the
case. There’s a lot of good players in this class, and several guys have the
potential to be elite.
C: Are there any
second or third time eligibles that have made a considerable case this year to
finally be picked?
second or third time eligibles that have made a considerable case this year to
finally be picked?
T: There are
several, actually. Center Erik Bradford is a guy who should have been selected
last year. He was kind of buried on a high-end Barrie team, but his defensive play was
excellent, and he produced points whenever he was given a chance. He was traded
to Ottawa
midway through the season, and he recorded 42 points in 27 games there playing
on the top line. His season ended early due to an unfortunate injury, but he
showed enough to get drafted. Defenseman Brandon Devlin was given an
opportunity to play big minutes in Peterborough,
and he used his big shot to his advantage scoring 14 goals and picking up 40
points. I think he has potential to be taken late, too. There’s a handful of
guys just like that, in fact.
several, actually. Center Erik Bradford is a guy who should have been selected
last year. He was kind of buried on a high-end Barrie team, but his defensive play was
excellent, and he produced points whenever he was given a chance. He was traded
to Ottawa
midway through the season, and he recorded 42 points in 27 games there playing
on the top line. His season ended early due to an unfortunate injury, but he
showed enough to get drafted. Defenseman Brandon Devlin was given an
opportunity to play big minutes in Peterborough,
and he used his big shot to his advantage scoring 14 goals and picking up 40
points. I think he has potential to be taken late, too. There’s a handful of
guys just like that, in fact.
C: Like always,
we’ll end on a personal note, who’s your favourite OHL eligible and why?
we’ll end on a personal note, who’s your favourite OHL eligible and why?
T: I’ll go with
Sam Bennett, just because I think he has the potential to be an elite two-way
forward who can produce points at a high rate, and drive possession. Those
don’t come around too often. (Christian’s
Note: And Flames fans drool.)
Sam Bennett, just because I think he has the potential to be an elite two-way
forward who can produce points at a high rate, and drive possession. Those
don’t come around too often. (Christian’s
Note: And Flames fans drool.)
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