Nick Spaling: Kitcheners Diamond in the Rough

Nick Spaling of the Kitchener Rangers managed to fly under the radar in his first year of OHL eligibility. The second time around, the Kitchener Rangers used their sixth round selection to take the solid two-way centre. Just one season later, Spaling has no chance of flying under the radar a second time and will be catching the eye of every NHL scout in the rink.

Spaling, checking in at 6 foot 1 and 185 pounds, is what Rangers' Head Coach and General Manager, Peter DeBoer, describes as, "a typical late bloomer. His size is what really held him back in his first year of the OHL draft. "

Spaling added some much needed size for the 2004-2005 season and went on to play a key role in the Listowel Jr. 'B' Cyclone's run to the Sutherland Cup Finals. Despite losing the in the finals, Nick's play earned him consideration by the Rangers. He hasn't looked back since.

The small-town guy from Drayton, Ontario stepped right into the Rangers' OHL lineup, as expected by DeBoer, and had a solid campaign in his first year, putting up 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 62 games. He finished the 2005-2006 season very strongly and has picked up right where he left off heading into this season. The only difference is 15 more pounds of muscle.

After only a few minutes talking with Peter DeBoer, his confidence in Spaling is obvious: This is a top-notch forward who will get every possible chance to showcase his talents for the NHL scouts. "He's extremely competitive. He's willing do what it takes to play in the NHL…and his play will speak for itself," says DeBoer. There is no hesitation in his voice when asked if Spaling is a go-to guy with a minute left in a one-goal game: "Absolutely. 100%."

Just four games into the season, Spaling's presence is being felt in Kitchener, and it will not be long before NHL teams take notice. With six points through his first four games, the silky-smooth centerman is delivering on a truckload of potential. He plays in all situations and has a penchant for killing penalties. His consistent positional play often makes him as much of a threat to score as the team on the power play.

Nick Spaling is not a razzle-dazzle, highlight reel type of player but has been known to bring the crowd to its feet with a spectacular play. He offers a level of dependability unparalleled by the average player. Rarely is he caught out of position and he takes care of his own end of the ice first.

In the offensive zone, Spaling knows how to spread the puck around. Not blessed with an especially hard shot, he uses above-average vision to spot open teammates and manufacture scoring chances under seemingly hopeless circumstances.

The Kitchener Rangers are off to a rough start with just one win and three losses. Spaling, one of Kitchener's brightest young players, picked up two assists in an opening night 3-2 loss to the Soo Greyhounds. A week later, he picked up another pair of assists in a 4-2 win over the Erie Otters, and then managed an assist in each of two losses to the Owen Sound Attack and Guelph Storm.

Despite losing 5-3 to the Guelph Storm on October 1 on an empty-net goal, Kitchener got to within one of the Storm on a power-play goal set up by Spaling. Spaling had a chance to tie the game with just over a minute remaining: He managed to split two Storm defenders but was hauled down before getting a quality shot on goal.

In hockey terms, Nick Spaling is the complete package. Watch for his stock to rise dramatically as this season wears on.