OHL Cup: Marlboro Country

The Toronto Marlboros dominated OHL Cup play and boasted a first line that could have been the tournament's all-star team. David Burstyn reviews the performance of several Marlies who hope to have an impact in the OHL next season.

Brendan Smith – (2007), D

A fantastic skater; nice smooth stride, excellent lateral movement, speed enables him to join the rush freely .. develops plays with quick feet and able to carry puck deep into offensive territory .. confident with puck.. rushes plays but still gets back to support partner .. power play quarterback .. makes nice tape-to-tape passes .. is always aware of his position on the blueline .. patient with the puck .. has soft hands and is able to make a nice first pass.

Projection: Played in all game situations throughout the year and the OHL Showcase. He has a very complete game and shows remarkable poise for a defenseman. His ability to join the rush and get back with such ease should make his transition to the OHL a smooth one. A likely first round pick.

Justin Vaive (2007), LW

Surprisingly more of a playmaker as opposed to a scorer like his dad was .. huge player, much taller than his peers .. thrives in a physical game as he throws his weight around .. gets dirty in the corners and man-handles guys .. scores many goals banging away in front .. crashes the net and almost impossible to move .. uses his reach to his advantage when it comes to scoring .. sneaks out of the corner and attacks the net .. tends to skate at times with his head down and must be mindful of this .. needs to develop upper body strength if he is to play a similar game at higher levels.

Projection: There is no denying the stats here. His game needs some tinkering though and his skating needs to get stronger, while his huge frame and potential to get bigger will be his most attractive traits. He'll most likely hear his name called late in the second round.

Bryan Cameron (2007), C

An extremely skilled forward who never stopped moving his feet .. strong lower body allows him to gain maximum speed in a few strides .. able to skate around guys once he gets going .. often draws players out of position with his tenacious game and able to make perfect passes in prime scoring areas .. very smart player who is diligent at both ends of the ice .. competes every shift and wants the puck and will run through guys to get it .. has a wide array of moves and his shot is usually on the money .. delays shot release at times to get the goalie to make the first move.

Projection: This versatile player is the captain of his powerhouse team. He creates a positive attitude amongst his teammates with his strong work ethic and willingness to compete. He could slip into the top two rounds, but he has not yet committed to the OHL.

John Tavares (2009) C

Has tremendous vision and creativity with puck .. is able to lead his teammates with passes to the open ice .. patient with puck .. has a nice quick wrist shot with a timely release .. scored all tournament long with that shot including two goals in finals .. more of a playmaker than a shooter .. patented move is a half turn along the boards or open ice and then passing it off quickly to a streaking winger, catching opposition players flat-footed .. skating is a bit choppy, sometimes seeming as if he is stepping on the ice rather than striding .. blew a tire a few times when turning and changing directions .. is trusted to play in all situations .. long reach helps him effectively cover the ice .. needs to show a greater commitment for the puck when it is not on his stick.

Projection: At 14, this talent is certainly turning heads with his impressive play at this level. His skating is a concern but once his coordination catches up to his body - and with some off-season training – he should be able to make the needed adjustments. He has a solid array of offensive tools and a large frame to compliment his game. Tavares will go first overall in next year's draft and should make everyone around him that much better.