OHL: A Tale of Two Zachs

OHL: A Tale of Two Zach's (posted 01.24.07)

by David Burstyn

The price of making a run at the Memorial Cup is always felt the year after. Last year's OHL champs, the Peterborough Petes lost their top ten scorers via graduation and trades. The loss of Jordan Staal really set the program back as it forced Pete's management to deal away its two best players in Steve Downie and Daniel Ryder at the trade deadline in an effort to prepare itself for the future.

Trevor Cann (2007), G, Peterborough

Was the youngest of all four goalies invited to Canada's WJC training camp .. put up solid numbers last season on a team that was stacked .. this season he faces many more shots a game and although his save percentage is good he still has many more areas of his game to work on .. a smaller goalie he goes down a little too early .. makes himself smaller when hugging the post on plays towards the side of the goal .. still struggles with crease crashers as his concentration and overall strength in traffic suffer .. average rebound control, he centred the puck too often in the front and failed to make routine plays when pucks bounced off of him .. more of a reaction type goalie, his reflexes are quick for a goalie of his size as he has active pads .. average glove hand .. stays relatively square to the shooter on most occasions and is not overly aggressive in terms of challenging shooters .. a big year for him as he will be looked upon to steal some games as he is clearly one of the better Pete's players after the overhaul.

Yves Bastien (2007), LW, Peterborough

The only player acquired in the deal that sent Steve Downie to Kitchener .. should flourish in this environment as his ice time will increase substantially .. a good PK player as his speed allows him to move effortlessly on the ice although he could still do a better job identifying his man first and staying with him .. modest offensive savvy however he seems to lack an offensive instinct .. he is not overly gifted with his hands and his inability to position himself well in scoring chances hurts his totals .. strength and size are immediate concerns .. a good role player who needs a proven finisher on his line to have any success on the score sheet.

Pat Daley (2007), C, Peterborough

Acquired earlier in a deal with the 67's, Daley has already been thrust onto the second line .. average skater with limited speed .. he is build ok as he is sturdy on his skates .. very limited in terms of involvement both offensively and defensively .. he does have decent vision however his line mates were unable to convert on any of his passes .. competes and makes an effort to get to loose pucks or at the very least lean on guys .. slowly maturing into a commendable OHL player as the increased ice time will certainly help his confidence this year and going into the next.

Zach Harnden (2008), RW, Peterborough

Played a sensational game as he was all over the ice .. oozing with potential, he has size and power and a skating style similar to Eric Staal .. next year his long stride should be a little crisper which may also help his first step ability .. long reach and starting to gain some confidence in this league by asserting himself albeit slightly, by using his massive frame in all game situations .. if he learns how to position his body and hips a little better when going to the net he could be a very dangerous player next year .. promoted to second line after the departures of many Petes and the additional ice time has been just what he needed to reenergize his career.

Zach Bogosian (2008), D, Peterborough

The rookie defender has been thrust into every game situation possible .. he makes his fair share of mistakes but that is to be expected from a rookie blue liner .. he does not respond well to being pressured and usually coughs the puck up when he is hit or forced to make a pass .. needs to settle down, retreat into his zone and be patient for a play to develop not try to force it .. ultra smooth skater, he has good mobility but he also suffers from a lack of strength as he was pushed aside on a few rushes .. offensively he has good puck skills, he can control a PP, lead a charge or make a decent first pass .. his ability to be an offensive contributor on this team is not in question however his lack of defensive acumen is.

John Armstrong (Cgy), C, Peterborough

The first line centre in Peterborough following a trade that sent last year's OHL Playoff MVP Daniel Ryder to Plymouth .. tall and lanky centre still struggles to find his spots and assert himself physically .. he lacks intensity and there are some shifts where he does absolutely nothing redeeming .. a change of scenery is what he needed and it should serve as a wake up call for him to get his act together and play like he is capable of.

OHL: The Melnyk Cup (posted 01.20.07)

by David Burstyn

Prominent businessman Eugene Melnyk is the owner of two OHL franchises the Mississauga Ice Dogs and the St.Mikes Majors. It has been announced that the Majors will move from their severely out dated rink in Toronto to the Hershey Centre, forcing the Dogs to find a new home. While it is uncertain as to where the Dogs will relocate their line up features many young players with ample potential. The Majors on the other hand are an organization that has struggled this year and look to finish out of the playoffs for the first time since their inception into the league back in 1997.

McKeen's takes a look at several Ice Dogs and Majors.

Stefan Legein (2007), RW, Mississauga

Continuing to impress in his draft year as his 23 goals in the first 38 games can attest too .. his hand/eye coordination is impressive as he constantly batted down pucks or had healthy tips in front .. very hard to knock off the puck, players took runs at him but he held his ground as his strength on his skates was evident .. has good velocity in his shot and he will release it from anywhere or drive to the net and try to make a play .. he can skate and he can shoot, two qualities that will certainly capture NHL scouts attention .. a similar comparison to Sean Avery may be apt.

Luca Caputi (2007), LW, Mississauga

Finally starting to emerge in his third year in the league after two very unsuccessful campaigns in the OHL where he scored eight goals in eighty games .. playing with more confidence and a coaching staff that gives him the opportunity to not only play but make mistakes .. has good size but is still lanky .. is strong down low when he is moving his feet and generally causing a disturbance as he is hard to contain when he goes to the net .. his skating is very awkward in appearance and this could be a direct result of not having fully grown into his body yet .. has some offensive tools and he mainly uses his wrist shot to score goals .. his size/presence and potential to be better may be interesting to some NHL team that has a few extra picks to burn, as right now despite the statistics Caputi brings very little to the table.

Alex Pietrangelo (2008), D, Mississauga

Recently named to the Ontario Under 17 team that will compete in the Canada games in Whitehorse later this year .. the maturity in his play improves every game .. he has reached a good comfort zone as far as recognizing his time and space with the puck and how long he can hold onto it as he plays within his limits .. not a flashy player but very economical .. dictates the flow of the game from the back end and considering his young age that is very impressive .. a fluid, effortless skater who achieves top gear within a few strides .. his play is very reminiscent of Jay Bouwmeester.

Kriss Grundmanis (2007), D, St.Mikes

Playing in the small rink at St.Mikes certainly helps a player like Grundmanis as he is able to skate less and cover more room .. he has failed to make improvements in his game and his hockey sense could be questioned as too often he shoots it when clearly the lane is being blocked .. lacks offensive skills and his puck protection skills need drastic work .. defensively not much can be said as with the smaller ice surface he can cheat a little bit in terms of positioning .. the biggest problem he will have is the lack of leadership on the back end as the St.Mikes defensive corps is not stable and they do not have a go-to-guy on defence.

Mike McGurk (2007), D, St.Mikes

The big Hamilton born defender had a good minor hockey career but has failed to bring that game to the OHL .. an ok skater whose mobility is average as he still tends to lose footing to faster players in the defensive zone .. physical specimen as he is build solidly at 6'2, 200 he often looks to hit and be aggressive yet he is drawn out of his assignments as a result of looking to be nasty .. has developed a reputation and while his opponents may fear him too often he takes foolish penalties on account of him not being disciplined .. his puck skills need major work.

Anthony Tapper (2007), C, St.Mikes

Entering his first full season in the OHL as he was used primarily as an injury call up last year .. decent stride and skater, he is not breathe taking by any means .. in terms of offence he brings very little as he has struggled to stay involved .. he gets lost in plays and is unable to keep up as he lacks hockey sense .. tries to throw his weight around in an effort to make a contribution to the team to garner more ice time.

Kaspars Daugavins (Det), LW, St.Mikes

The only bright spot on this team as he is a tireless worker and despite the scores always being so lop sided against the Majors he gives an honest effort every night and doesn't back down .. modest size but he plays with a bigger heart .. strong along the boards he always keeps his feet moving .. a leader on the ice as he is in constant communication with his team mates .. his puck skills are sensational, he can make plays at top speed and often tries to fool defenseman one-on-one with creativity and agility as he can really dangle .. very adept at positioning himself in the offensive and defensive zone, his anticipation skills are at a premium .. it is hard to imagine what this team would be like without him as he is the straw that stirs the drink, mind you in St.Mikes there is not much liquid to stir.

Michael Pelech (2008), C, St.Mikes

Has a great opportunity to play on the first unit and produce with the recent departure of Justin Donati to the Wolves .. needs to play with more urgency and he is making adjustments to improve on that as he has driven to the net with more frequency and is starting to use his size to his advantage .. his balance is still an issue as is his strength and off season work is mandatory if he hopes to make an impression in his draft year .. he possesses decent hockey sense as he made some smart passes and found the open ice to utilize his skills better .. has potential but has a lot to learn and a concentrated effort in the defensive zone is a must.

Dylan O'Neil (2008), C, St.Mikes

Has struggled to remain in the line up as Coach Stefanski has groomed him slowly as he has with all the 90 born players on this roster .. lack of ice time has crippled his confidence as he is the type of player that needs to play .. he is also shuffled around on the lines and never is able to develop any chemistry .. strength is a glaring concern, too many times he gets out muscled in all areas on the ice, and on one occasion former team mate (Markham) Stamkos carried him on his back around the net to score a goal .. defensively he needs to be more involved and react quicker .. it has been a tumultuous season for O'Neil and hopefully he salvage some dignity in the last 20 games so he can draw on some positives for next season.

Tyler Allen (2008), RW, St.Mikes

Is another player that has suffered at the coaching hands of Stefanski .. under used and rarely utilized too many times he has had to sit on the bench when his development would have been better suited playing Tier II .. sees limited minutes and when he is on the ice looks very out of place .. he is a bigger body but seldom uses it to his advantage .. like O'Neil he is shuffled around way too often for him to develop any chemistry .. his defensive play especially in the neutral zone is non-existent as he needs to be taught how to play without the puck .. a project and hopefully Coach Stefanski can work and develop him.

Zac Rinaldo (2008), C, St.Mikes

A recent call up from Hamilton Tier II, he was a 14th overall selection last year proving that hard work and desire can pay off .. his work ethic and pugilistic approach to the game are his best assets .. he is a bang and crash type player, his play hopefully will inspire others to compete and battle much like he does .. he has limited offensive skills and poor anticipation skills .. his skating is ok, he certainly can keep up with the pace of the league in that regard .. with recent trades and various injuries, Rinaldo may get a chance to stick the rest of the year with the Majors.

Tim Billingsley (2008), D, St.Mikes

Unfortunately he doesn't play much when he really should .. in terms of offence and a defender with mobility he is the best Majors defender even though he is a rookie .. while other teams have played their second round picks, the Majors once again cripple the development of Billingsley with staggered shifts and not as much ice time as he deserves .. he is positionally sound and plays a solid game .. his agility and effective stride are strong points and he should only get better once he gets stronger next year .. he saw some PP time and made smart plays at the line, batting down pucks and saving the play at the line .. should develop into the Majors go to guy on the PP as early as next year.

Chris Carrozzi (2008), G, St.Mikes

One of two goalies named to the Ontario Under 17 team .. has appeared in over 17 games this season .. struggled in this contest as he was pulled within the first 12 minutes of the game after allowing three goals on ten shots .. defence in front of him is relatively poor as he had to make two or three saves in succession which led to goals .. moves ok laterally and sees the puck ok in traffic .. his 6'2 frame covers the net pretty well however he would do a much better job if he came out of the blue paint and challenged as he plays too deep in his net giving shooters more net to shoot at.

OHL: Attention - Generals Line Up (posted 01.17.07)

by David Burstyn

The Generals are a combination of skill, youth and inexperience. They boast an impressive crop of young players who in a short period of time have made their mark in the league. Their inexperience is their only draw back as the majority of the team has yet to play a post season game. That may all change as this surging team is trying to accomplish something it hasn't in two years; a playoff game.

Brett MacLean (2007), LW, Oshawa

The enigma of the draft will most certainly be MacLean as some teams may not know what player they are getting .. he is very inconsistent from shift to shift which raises many red flags .. his skating has improved since he first broke into the league and while it still has an awkward appearance his hunched over style does not prohibit him from getting to where he needs to be .. question is how will that translate at a pro level and can he make the adjustments in his play away from the puck to be successful .. back checked with commitment one shift and then skated leisurely the next .. offensively he reads the plays well and playing alongside Tavares and Clutterbuck certainly helps however he can create on his own .. he is the dark horse of OHL eligible players.

Dale Mitchell (2007), RW, Oshawa

Struggled in this contest to find the net despite a plethora of chances .. got frustrated and it showed in other chances as he took too long to release the puck .. despite his lack of scoring in this game he does have a good release and solid offensive instincts to draw from .. displays a temper in his game and willingly fights if the game calls for it .. weight is still a concern for me, he gets around ok but I could only imagine what he may be able to do with an eight pound loss .. his mental approach to the game still needs to be worked on.

Brett Parnham (2007), C, Oshawa

There is no denying his speed and first step quickness however it is hockey sense which comes into question .. the development for Parnham has been a gradual one and he is starting to see the net with some more regularity yet too often he struggles to find his spots and be effective .. very weak in terms of strength and is like an insect on the ice trying to assert himself but gets swatted every time .. generously listed at 5'10, his lack of size makes him an outside chance to get drafted .. a player better suited for University hockey.

Ziga Pance (2007), RW, Oshawa

The only European player on the roster, Pance, 24th in the Import draft occupies the third line .. ok skater but not a strong one, his stride is average as is his speed .. still getting used to the North American game as he has found it difficult to stay involved in the play .. he suffers from not being patient enough and trying to force plays thus getting himself locked out of position when the play breaks the other way .. returned after sustaining an injury and has not played often this year so time will determine his fate in terms of production.

Peter Aston (Fla), D, Oshawa

The over age defender who was acquired at the beginning of the season from the Spitfires .. gives the back end a presence as he is a big body .. not overly aggressive, and his strength could be improved slightly as at times he loses guys in the defensive zone .. more employed for his outstanding puck skills and vision on the PP where he is a fixture with Del Zotto on the first unit .. should be able to provide a little bit of experience and leadership should this team make the playoffs, as he has the most games played in the post season on the roster.

Michael DelZotto (2008), D, Oshawa

It is pretty remarkable what he has managed to accomplish offensively as he is currently tied for second in OHL scoring among defenders .. his reads on the point, shot and awareness in the offensive zone contribute greatly to his stats .. he has free reign to do whatever he wants in the offensive zone as he is encouraged to pinch aggressively and jump into the rush .. his mobility is good which makes him just lethal on the PP and in a short period of time he has commanded the respect of the league as the opposition plays him real close not allowing him to get his shot off .. solid understanding of offensive systems as his vision and ability to make a pass opens up the opposing team's defensive box and creates ample scoring opportunities .. defensively he still needs to make adjustments and slowly that will come .. his play is very similar to that of Bryan McCabe.

Dean Howard (2008), RW, Oshawa

Slowly finding his game and earning his ice .. showed creativity with the puck however he lacked the strength to really gain positional advantage .. decent speed, he has a smooth stride .. played and used sparingly on the fourth line however he did show flashes and with the opportunity to play with better skilled players he could develop into a decent second line player next year.

John Tavares (2009), C, Oshawa

Failed to make the WJC however the fact that he made training camp is impressive .. technically this should be his first year if not for exceptional status and he has lived up to that by remaining in the top three in league scoring for the past month .. showing increased confidence in his play especially along the boards where he uses his big frame to shelter it .. solid vision coupled with an accurate shot makes him a threat to score every time he touches the puck .. his hands are softer than a baby's bottom as he was able to roof a puck upstairs with merely a flick of the wrist and in extremely tight quarters .. an NHL comparison would be a Spezza like skater and passer with a Sakic shot.