OHL: Calvin Cool and Stumpy Jr.

McKeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn looks at several Oshawa Generals players such as Calvin de Haan that are eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, as well as Christian Thomas, the son of former NHLer Steve Thomas who is carving out a name for himself for 2010.

Calvin deHaan (2009), D, Oshawa

Continues to excel on a team that has been decimated following the trade of John Tavares to London .. slick, mobile and possesses a strong level of acceleration, de Haan is able to escape coverage even when it appears he has run out of options .. he does not jump into offensive situations but can create them .. extremely intelligent in all areas of the ice .. modest in size, he will still need to add weight to his frame .. his shot is average in terms of quickness but he almost always gets it through and low to the net .. QB's the PP very effectively employing his cool, calm demeanour forcing the opposition to play his options tighter for fear he will slice a pass through traffic .. his vision and natural instincts make him stand out as a prospect .. should the Generals not make the playoffs he would be a shoe-in for Team Canada's Under 18 team.

Andy Andreoff (2009), RW, Oshawa

Andreoff has made the most of his icetime and sees spot duty on the first PP unit and a regular shift on the second line .. a complementary scorer with a good understanding of what to do in the offensive zone .. he is passive though and does not engage voluntarily to get the puck .. is a perimeter player who occasionally darts into the slot to get his shot off .. equipped with a zippy wristshot, (which has improved), it stings goalies, however his accuracy is simply not there .. he is more of a shooter than a passer and given the lack of scoring on the Generals roster that might be a good thing .. healthy skater, backed with agility to make quick cuts and is firm on his feet .. Andreoff is still rather frail and size concerns raise immediate red flags .. he does boast a good package and given another year of physical development he should be able to make an impact at an NHL training camp.

Michael Zador (2009), G, Oshawa

A first round selection in the 2007 OHL draft, Zador was never able to find his game by the team that drafted him - London .. after a failed stint in the Western Jr. B league with the now defunct Petrolia Jets, Zador's confidence took a nose dive and he was never able to rejuvenate his career the following season with the London Knights .. a part of the Tavares blockbuster trade, Zador has become the Generals starting goalie .. rather unsavoury technique, he is a butterfly goalie but is very ordinary in all facets of his game .. readily comes out to challenge, as he has good size at 6-foot-2 .. displays a healthy level of concentration and patience in his crease .. often staying with plays and out waiting a shooter to make the first move .. struggles with rebound control and overall athleticism .. Zador came into the league with considerable promise after going a perfect 5-0 at the Under 17 before withdrawing from the gold medal game due to a flu .. since then he has been fighting the puck and has yet to find a consistent game.

Christian Thomas (2010), RW, Oshawa

Small in stature but plays much bigger than the stats on the back of his hockey card .. he plays a game very similar to his father, Steve, a successful 20-year NHL veteran .. he has a strong wristshot and keen offensive skills .. is producing healthy offensive totals considering his lack of size (5-9) and he being a rookie in the league .. his quick wrists and savvy playmaking also help to round out his skill package .. he is very intense and much like his father he plays a north-south game, as he does not employ much in terms of agility to get around players .. is learning to curb his offensive enthusiasm and hang back in the defensive zone before eagerly pushing up the ice .. needs confidence but the skill set is there and he should be able to step in next season and score over 25 goals given the powerplay icetime that will be thrust upon him.