AHL: Sharks Invade Norfolk Waters

The Worcester Sharks traveled to Norfolk recently for a weekend two-game set with the Admirals. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Hopson has notes on several Sharks prospects, including Torrey Mitchell, T.J. Fox, Steve Zalewski, Lukas Kaspar, Jamie McGinn, Frazer McLaren, Jason Demers, Mike Moore and Thomas Geiss.

Torrey Mitchell (SJ), C, Worcester Sharks

Mitchell was voted San Jose's Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 and was recently assigned to Worcester for a conditioning stint with the team .. it was his first game of the season, at any level, after suffering a broken leg during NHL training camp .. however, Mitchell did not miss a beat in his debut, as he recorded a goal and created several other scoring opportunities on the night .. Mitchell is a swift skater who displays first-class vision and has the ability to nourish puck-hungry teammates with his quality distribution game .. he is lively with the puck and possesses a sneaky and rapid release in close .. successful at finding open ice and putting himself in opportunistic situations away from the puck .. a key component on the man advantage, given his offensive prowess, and a defensively responsible pivot that can also play in his own end.

T.J. Fox (SJ), C/RW, Worcester Sharks

Fox is a dynamic forward who possesses good size, a quick first step and quality intuition in the offensive end .. he has the capacity to spot open teammates and hit them in stride .. Fox is also dominant at getting shots on net given his swift release .. he owns limber hands and can work in tight spaces but needs to display better strength on the puck, as he can get outmanned down low despite his 200-pound frame .. unfortunately, Fox has been a disappointment this season and will need to raise his level of play significantly if he is going to surpass last year's point total.

Steve Zalewski (SJ), C, Worcester Sharks

Zalewski is a quality, playmaking center that excels at both ends of the ice ..his attention to detail in the defensive end and his eagerness to produce in the attacking zone has molded him into the ideal special teams player ..Zalewski is successful at winning battles along the boards, as he can dissect the puck out of traffic with his quick stick and immediately feed it to one of his teammates ..he keeps the puck tight to his body, which allows him to work in difficult spaces and carve a path through the opposing defense when he wants to charge the net ..owns clear vision and can get the puck to teammates in a straight shot ..displays patience with the puck, especially around the net, where he can wait for an opening before shooting or distributing the biscuit ..an agile skater who maneuvers well around the ice but needs to improve his play in the circle, especially considering the importance of his draws on the PP and PK.

Lukas Kaspar (SJ), LW, Worcester Sharks

Kaspar is a strapping forward who is on pace to have his most productive season yet .. he is a reliable skater with above-average speed but lacks a true top gear .. displays quick vision and a dangerous passing game, particularly below the hash marks .. has a nose for the net and will drop anchor in front of the crease or the high slot area in anticipation of putting one home .. owns supple hands, which allow him to be shifty with the puck in 1-on-1 situations .. is becoming a formidable two-way player given his defensive awareness and ability to strip opponents of the puck .. Kaspar exhibits all of these skills as a regular special teams player.

Jamie McGinn (SJ), LW, Worcester Sharks

McGinn is an industrious winger who looks and plays bigger than his size (6-0, 200) .. he enjoys a smooth skating stride and does an efficient job of getting from point A to point B .. McGinn is not flamboyant but he possesses solid puck skills and is dependable at keeping the puck in the offensive zone .. demonstrates the ability to make crisp passes when given sufficient time and space to work with .. labors in both ends and sees special teams duties as a result of his hard work and consistency .. plays with an edge and is not afraid to drop the gloves should the situation present itself .. can seal the deal in front of the net, as evident by his shootout capabilities.

Frazer McLaren (SJ), LW, Worcester Sharks

McLaren is a colossal winger (6-5, 228) whose primary focus is to separate opponents from the puck .. he is not much of a contributor in the offensive end, statistically speaking, but he can help create opportunities on the forecheck .. plays an extremely physical game and acts as the team's official enforcer .. painstaking along the boards and sees PK time given his toughness and willingness to block shots .. an adequate skater who can also use his big frame to go strong to the net.

Jason Demers (SJ), D, Worcester Sharks

Demers is an offensively gifted defenseman who shines at moving the puck .. he benefits from his strong skating abilities, as he can carry the puck deep into the opposing zone and then feed teammates with his short, precise passes .. Demers is a budding PP quarterback who also owns a rapid and heavy slapshot from the point .. he is not as strong in his own end but is starting to improve this part of his game .. earlier in the season, Demers was making some questionable decisions in the defensive end, especially down low, and held on to the puck too long at times .. however, he is displaying more confidence on the puck now .. not only has his decision-making process speeded up, but he is making better choices on the ice.

Mike Moore (SJ), D, Worcester Sharks

Though he is not a big point producer for the Sharks, Moore demonstrates some good offensive skills for a defenseman .. he looks a little heavy-footed at times in the defensive end but displays good acceleration and straight-ahead speed once his feet start moving .. can unload a booming slapshot from the point and is not afraid to pinch aggressively in order to work down low .. steady in his own end, as evident by his positive plus/minus rating, and plays a physical brand of hockey .. also shows no hesitation in dropping the gloves when the time arises .. sturdy on his feet and strong on the puck, as he possesses excellent leverage and balance, and can sometimes draw penalties as a result.

Thomas Greiss (SJ), G, Worcester Sharks

Greiss is a typical butterfly goalie in the sense that he likes to drop to his knees and take away the lower part of the net on a regular basis .. however, he also has the leg strength to get back to his feet quickly .. Greiss moves well laterally and has good leg extension, which makes it difficult for opponents to maneuver the puck around him, particularly on breakaways .. he is skilled at playing the puck and shows incredible calmness when handling the rubber in traffic .. on the downside, Greiss has a tendency to give up fat rebounds and is vulnerable to being scored on when there are a lot of bodies in front of him.