AHL: Ondrej the Giant

The Chicago Wolves have been reliant on the stellar goaltending of Ondrej Pavelec to take them deep into the AHL playoffs and Latvian defenseman Arturs Kulda has created quite the buzz with his surprise impact. Former first round selections Bryan Little and Boris Valabik are also featured, as McKeen's correspondent Max Giese has notes on several Wolves eager to make an impact in the playoffs.

Ondrej Pavelec (Atl), G, Chicago Wolves

Athletic goaltender with an unconventional style .. especially difficult to beat low, Pavelec uses paddle down techniques to cover the lower portion of the net when shooters are in tight .. owns the fast and flexible legs to rob the opposition with an electrifying kick save .. plays big by stationing himself a good foot outside of his crease while challenging shooters .. remains sizable and can make saves in traffic thanks to his proper positioning .. directs lower shots to the corner and vacuums in shots up high with his flashy glove hand .. his combination of a calm demeanor and the ability to read the game innately prevents him from committing any unnecessary movements .. utilizes an awkward stance where he has his shoulders low to the ice and parallel to his knees .. guilty of staying on the ice for too long and will resort to making unconventional saves such as stacking the pads, which conversely makes him susceptible to being beaten up high by shooters in tight .. will challenge Lehtonen for goaltending supremacy in Atlanta in the near future.

Arturs Kulda (Atl), D, Chicago Wolves

The "buzz" player in the Atlanta organization right now, this 2006 seventh rounder has been a revelation for the Chicago Wolves making an immediate impact that higher-drafted prospects in the system could not .. has become a key performer during the Wolves playoff run receiving a lot of minutes in all-situations, including time on the powerplay with veteran Joel Kwiatkowski .. a phenomenal skater that employs his wide-tracked stride with proper knee bend to stimulate his fast recovery speed and explosive burst of acceleration .. his finesse skills are not as splendid as his mobility but he makes decisive decisions and hard plays with the puck .. remains collective when in possession of the puck on the point where he gets his good shot on the net quickly .. combative defenseman that plays the body well and initiates scrums around his net .. owns a sturdy base but could use more upper body strength .. still raw in certain aspects of his game and can lose his defensive assignments at times .. at times, he is guilty of watching the puck instead of his mans chest when defending one-on-one off the rush .. potential Christian Ehrhoff in the making.

Bryan Little (Atl), C, Chicago Wolves

Savvy and skillful multipurpose pivot that just lacks game-breaking ability .. centered the second line with Joe Motzko and Jesse Schultz on his wings while receiving time on the powerplay .. universal playmaker that has great hockey sense and innate anticipation, as he intrinsically identifies the opening seams in the opponent's defenses and can exploit them with his fast release .. possesses magnetic hands and carries the puck with the poise and ingenuity of a seasoned veteran .. displays satisfactory acceleration out of his crossovers and sufficient foot speed, although he lacks dynamic explosiveness .. undersized but he possesses a strong base and is a frequent visitor in front of the opponents net while also displaying the willingness to take a hit to make a play on the forecheck .. owns a matured defensive game and was trusted with key defensive faceoffs .. projects as a complimentary first line center in the near future for Atlanta where he should be full time next season after respectably contributing 16 points in 48 games this season.

Boris Valabik (Atl), D, Chicago Wolves

Colossal defenseman that remains a project despite taking significant strides forwards in his development this season .. partnered with Brian Fahey in a shutdown role and received minutes on the penalty kill while surprisingly contributing three goals in the playoffs .. covers a lot of ice for a big man, as his first-step quickness and the fluidity in which he pivots have improved mightily during his young pro-career .. works hard not to be caught flatfooted however, he still struggles defending speedy opponents .. has enjoyed marked improvement in his decision-making with the puck and no longer fumbles or panics in possession .. more brawn than brains, Valabik utilizes his 6-foot-7, 239-pound frame and engulfing reach to overwhelm the opposition physically however, he needs to process the game quicker mentally, as he can get caught running around and out of position at times .. a nasty defenseman adversaries love to hate, Valabik carries a bulls eye on his back and was consistently run by opponents attempting to aggravate him into a bad penalty .. dressed in seven NHL games this season and will attempt to bring his size and toughness to Atlanta's depleted defensive core next season.

Nathan Oystrick (Atl), D, Chicago Wolves

Acting as the triggerman for the Wolves powerplay this season, Oystrick emerged as Chicago's second leading scorer amongst defenseman with 15 goals and 43 points .. partnered with the towering Brian Sipotz .. mostly a swift skater with good extension and recovery in his stride, although at times, he regresses to hunched-over stride where his acceleration degenerates .. most effective while handling the puck on the point where his heavy shot is an imposing threat .. can create passing lanes by using fake shots to send the opponents down to the ice ready to block the phantom shot, before making a skillful pass to set-up an offensive opportunity .. maintains tight gaps while defending and is tough when taking the body .. rugged around his net and is savvy in how he establishes good body positioning despite his modest frame .. conquered a slow start to the season with a strong second half and will challenge for a roster spot in Atlanta next year.

Jordan LaVallee (Atl), LW, Chicago Wolves

Has disappointed in the playoffs after his 20-goal regular season campaign and scoring two points in as many games in the NHL .. was a go-to-guy last year for the Wolves scoring seven playoff goals however, this year has been a different story, as LaVallee has contributed zero offense while plodding on the third line .. an adequate straight-line skater when moving in long distances but he must quicken his first step and improve his sluggish acceleration .. overextends himself in form and must refine his loose skating mechanics to progress his mobility .. has seen time on the penalty kill but has been prone to mental lapses on the defensive side of the puck .. a power forward with a hard shot and tremendous strength, LaVallee remains a worthwhile prospect but his disappointing playoff likely has the Thrashers' management unenthusiastic about his chances of filling a rosters spot on the parent club next season.

Brett Sterling (Atl), LW, Chicago Wolves

After failing to secure a full time job in the NHL with a lackluster 13-game audition, Sterling was also unsuccessful in matching the terrific offensive output from his rookie season in the AHL .. played on the top line and powerplay unit with linemates Darren Haydar and Jason Krog .. adequate skater in short distances that utilizes his tight footwork to aide in being agile with passable quickness .. lacks lengthy bursts of speed and isn't dangerous carrying the puck himself, instead he's reliant on his linemates to create most of the offense while he lurks in the weeds waiting to expose the quiet ice near the opponents net before finishing with his compact release .. makes a living cleaning out the trash by willingly getting his nose dirty to score the garbage goal .. surprisingly durable and relentless for a diminutive 5-foot-7, 185-pound winger, Sterling can get under the opponents skin with his fearless play in the offensive zone .. will need to improve his top gear and defensive game to avoid becoming a tweener.

Colin Stuart (Atl), LW, Chicago Wolves

Dressing in 18 NHL games this season with the Atlanta Thrashers, Stuart is a reliable depth forward that can kill penalties and provide a physical spark to the lineup .. a flourishing skater with a strong stride and quick acceleration .. lacks the ability to see the ice when the puck is on his stick and does not possess enough skill to contribute much offensively .. is actually at his most dangerous offensively when he is killing penalties, as his speed and tremendous puck focus make him a threat to intercept a pass and separate himself from the opposition in transition to score a shorthanded goal .. physical player that finishes all of his checks and excels in the battle areas .. provides Atlanta with depth on the wing and may get a shot on the fourth line next season.