Merry Martindale

McKeen's Director of Scouting David Burstyn looks at the Ottawa 67's who boast an impressive lineup of prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Ryan Martindale, Tyler Toffoli, Dalton Smith, and Petr Mrazek are featured as well as 2011 draft hopeful Steven Janes.

Ryan Martindale (2010), C, Ottawa

Following a very productive November where he registered 19 points in 12 games and had a 16-game scoring streak including games played in October and December .. first-line centre has elevated his game by imposing his will and leaning on guys with more regularity .. he even got into his first fight in junior albeit with Andreoff of the Generals, nonetheless it does show a willingness to engage .. at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, he has a great pro frame but still needs to add on weight, as he is not physically developed in his upper body .. ok lower body strength along the boards but he does not actively battle, preferring to let his linemates do the work down low while he gets into position .. makes pro-like plays with the puck, as he is very athletic and is clever in his passing ability to open up ice for his linemates .. more of a playmaker than a natural scorer .. his ability to draw guys to him and distribute the puck makes him an ideal centre .. at his best in PP situations or 4-4 where he can use his slippery skills to elude a check and move in closer to the goal .. makes quick decisions with the puck and his acute hockey sense in the offensive zone makes him a threat to score .. he needs to work on the power of his shot, as he does not have a blistering slapshot or wrister but it is plausible at this point .. Martindale needs to get stronger, as he loses battles against smaller players that he simply shouldn't .. in front of the goal or in centre ice, he lacks the wherewithal to come up with the puck, despite his range and size .. he must also be willing to take a hit to advance the puck .. he loses the puck under pressure or simply throws it away .. is doing a better job in terms of being more involved but is far from a complete hockey player .. nonetheless, his sheer skill and size should see him land in the first round, as his game mirrors that of a poor man's Mats Sundin.

Tyler Toffoli (2010), RW, Ottawa

Toffoli went on a complete offensive rampage scoring 19 points in 8 games, capturing the Player-of-the-Week award .. he has taken full advantage of being placed on the wing and not having to deal with all the responsibilities of the centre position .. playing along side Smith and Martindale has brought out his offensive talent .. his stick preparation is impeccable, as he is an accomplished scorer .. he likes to handle the puck but is not a great stickhandler and can be rather careless with the puck, coughing it up because he does not pass it off quicker .. does not always see his options with the puck, as he has more of a shooter mentality than that of a passer .. he tends to slow down with the puck and is not always able to settle down his passes .. drives to the net and gets into prime scoring positions .. he reads plays well in the offensive zone and reacts quickly with keen anticipation .. he does not have breakaway speed but plays his wall ok by angling off guys to offset his lack of quickness .. he needs to motivate himself to compete hard in all areas of the ice .. Toffoli is not creative so he needs to be partnered with someone who can get him the puck .. his slow start raised some question marks but he appears to have put that behind him .. he will need to continue to score to be considered a first-round talent.

Dalton Smith (2010), LW, Ottawa

No player has done more to improve his draft stock than Smith .. a key catalyst on the top unit with Toffoli and Martindale, Smith has produced modestly with 13 goals through 25 games but even more impressive has been his plus-17 rating .. he has shown that he not only produces on the score sheet but is keeping pucks out by competing on the backend .. Smith's acute hockey sense and timing make him a perfect complementary winger for talented linemates such as Toffoli and Martindale .. it is a testament to his game that he not only can play with these elite players but also carry the line .. his smart, clever chip plays and positioning often force the opposition to throw the puck away, allowing the 67's to gain possession .. industrious winger is both an accomplished shooter and passer, as he can perfect the give-and-go with alarming accuracy .. Smith's stock continues to rise due to his offensive production and steady all-around play.

Petr Mrazek (2010), G, Ottawa

The inconsistent goaltending continues to plague the 67's, as neither Mrazek or Perguini has been able to hold down the No. 1 job .. Mrazek was not overly tested in his last start against the Battalion registering a shutout .. he shows remarkable poise at times and at others, he can be flopping like a fish out of water .. boasts athleticism and is able to execute a series of saves expending little to no effort .. his problems arise when he panics, as he loses his position .. when he is calm and reserved and lets the play come to him, he is an elite-level goalie .. the problem is one is never sure which Mrazek will show up .. he reads the play well and moves across his crease swiftly .. needs to play the puck better and be more selective when he chooses to play it .. Mrazek has to establish himself as the starter in order to improve his draft stock and needs to put together a series of positive starts.

Steven Janes (2011), LW, Ottawa

Janes is slowly starting to earn more icetime, as he gives the 67's good size down the wing .. Janes is not fast but has surprising first-step quickness with an albeit awkward skating technique .. he is studious in terms of getting in passing lanes and making himself bigger than he is .. not much of a finesse player, he prefers to bowl over players and has been doing it with some success, which is impressive considering he is a rookie .. the type of player that could be very difficult to play against when he is 19, as he has a mean streak to his game too .. uses his size advantageously along the boards and in traffic .. he intercepts passes and comes back to defend .. his play away from the puck has definitely been a positive .. his offensive skills are raw .. his shot is hard but lacks accuracy and he does not have the best vision .. Janes should be a complementary winger who skates up and down his side, chipping in the occasional goal and using his size to gain possession of the puck.