NHL Draft: OHL Overview Part X

In his tenth and final installment of OHL prospects selected at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn looks at the players selected in the tail end of the sixth round and players chosen in the seventh. Stephen Johnston, Tim Billingsley, Harry Young, Stefan Della Rovere and Nicholas D'Agostino are featured.

Stephen Johnston (Det), C

The Red Wings may have uncovered another gem in the last pick of the sixth round, as Stephen Johnston is a player that oozes potential. Johnston was buried on a deep Belleville team and did not get a chance to display his game unless a player went down with an injury. Fortunately for Johnston, an ex Red Wing draft pick, Shawn Matthias was diagnosed with mono before the playoffs essentially opening the door for him. He played exceptionally well in the playoffs but once again, his icetime was cut short upon Matthias' return just before the Memorial Cup. Johnston has shown tremendous progress in just a few short months. He is one of only a handful of players to make the jump from midget to the OHL this season and for him to crack a spot on a roster so deep in forwards it is the ultimate compliment to his game. Johnston could have very well been a top-six forward on over half the teams in the league. He is a character player with a modest skill set, skates well and competes hard. He will need to work on developing his offensive game but given the graduation of several Bulls players, he will have more than ample icetime to prove himself.

Tim Billingsley (Phx), D

Given that head scout Keith Gretzky sees the OHL more than any other league on account of him living in the province it is not surprising that three of their eight picks come from the league. The Coyotes wisely selected Tim Billingsley with the team's last pick. Billingsley was groomed slowly last season, as he simply was not given a chance to develop under Bud Stefanski, however a new coaching change saw a dramatic improvement in his overall play. Under the guidance of Dave Cameron his point totals increased, he became more physically involved and his icetime increased in all situations. Billingsley has good mobility and plays within his limits. He has average height but a nice frame to work with and should he put on 15 additional pounds of muscle in the off-season, he could really start to dominate games this year. Billingsley is a nice combination of skill and athleticism and like many of the Majors players this season, as the team has improved so will their offensive output, Billingsley included.

Harry Young (NJ), D

Harry Young is your prototypical stay-at-home defender who boasts a long wingspan and an aggressive mean streak. Young is best suited when coupled with a defenseman that can take off in a moment's notice, as he lacks the requisite puck skills to move up the ice. Young was disguised well on a team that exploded for 279 goals, fourth best in the league and won many of their games by simply out scoring the opposition. He made his fair share of mistakes and certainly is not a player without warts, however the forwards supported the backcheck well and gave Young options when he had the puck. Young played the season with Cundari and the duo worked well in unison on the PK. Young would be no more than a seventh defenseman given his skill set. He has a considerable amount of work to do and a return to junior on a high-octane team such as Windsor should allow him to play deep into the season next year.

Stefan DellaRovere (Wsh), LW

The last player from the OHL to be selected in the NHL draft was also the lone Barrie Colt player to be picked by an NHL team. Della Rovere put fourth an honest effort all season doubling most of his offensive totals from his rookie year and engaged in 15 fights while playing in all 68 games for the Colts. Della Rovere is a leader by example on the ice, as he always competes down low and will fight only if he thinks it will energize his team. He developed quite a reputation for being able to throw the gloves, as he won the majority of his fights this season. Della Rovere struggles with his skating, as his feet are very heavy. When he is working in tight spaces, he is effective due to his balance and strength, however in an open-ice game he tends not to be able to keep up. Della Rovere has such a great attitude that the Capitals organization will give him every opportunity to succeed. The Colts have a very young but talented team next season so expect Della Rovere to fill a leadership role, which should help him mature as a player. His ceiling may only be 20 goals in the OHL, however, the intangibles he brings to the table cannot be measured in statistics.

Nick D'Agostino (Pit), D

The Penguins had only four picks this season and three of them played in the province of Ontario. D'Agostino was one of only five players chosen from the OPJHL this season. D'Agostino who is a student with a 95% average decided to go the school route and is committed to Cornell. He certainly has the skill set to play in the OHL, as his game compares with that of Tim Billingsley. They play a similar game and even have the same body structure. D'Agostino played for the St.Mikes Buzzers, a team that was projected to go far in the playoffs but was turned aside by Markham in the second round. This by no means was a reflection of his play, as he was the ultimate shutdown defender and used in all PK situations. He is years away from reaching his NHL potential, however coming back for another season and being the go-to-guy with the Buzzers due to Burlon's graduation to Michigan should allow him to develop better. D'Agostino's decision to attend Cornell is a solid one, as their hockey program is on the rise most recently sending Ryan O'Byrne of the Montreal Canadiens to the show.