OHL: Erie, Rebuilding a Franchise

The bad news is the Otters are currently in last place in the entire OHL. The good news is there is optimism, as the team has done a complete face-lift and managed to get good return for their veterans. The Otters are a team that should be able to improve in the next few years.

McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest and files these notes on several promising players.

Zack Torquato (2007), C, Erie

Gives the Otters a good centre to build around, as he is capable of carrying a line .. was overwhelmed in this contest against the Knights and was subsequently knocked out of the game by a clean open ice hit by Todd Perry .. many facets of Torquato's game need to be tweaked but overall his vision and hockey sense with the puck are certainly his best assets .. his defensive game has been forced to get better as too often the Otters do not have possession of the puck, he needs to be more cognizant of his position on the ice as he tends to skate furiously, only to be beaten with a touch pass .. endurance may be a concern, he appeared winded after some shifts .. skating still needs work, as he is a little behind, can salvage for it at this level however at the pro game that may be exposed .. overall, he is performing well, he was forced to miss the Top Prospects game, but that should not have too much barring on his draft position ..

Nick Palmieri (2007), RW, Erie

Missed a few games with injuries and his presence was sorely missed .. brings a highly offensive game to the table, as he is one of the true finishers on this team .. he has adapted very well this year and continues to add to his career high offensive totals this season .. he is capable of making things happen as he readily uses his size to create room for himself .. when his decision-making improves, in terms of making quicker plays he will produce more offensively .. good fluid skater, he boasts an elegant stride and his development in this area, proves he is capable of improving his overall game .. his puck handling skills are good however, he tends to skate with the puck too far ahead of him and needs to pull it closer to his body and protect it better .. he has nice hands and a solid release for a player of his size .. should cause quite a ripple on draft day.

Josh Kidd (2007), D, Erie

The captain has made improvements to his game and his development curve continues to climb .. he gets top marks for sticking up for and defending his teammates .. appears to only have one level of quickness, his first few strides will need some work but his long extended, deep knee bend of a stride is powerful and can only get better with time and proper conditioning .. makes some charges up the ice but his puck skills albeit improving, it is doubtful he would be employed for that aspect of his game as at times he makes simple gaffes with the puck .. defensively he is learning, time and maturity will go a long way but he needs to identify his time and space better and close the gap .. suffers partly due to foot speed but recognizing changes in the play will help him improve him in this area, which should come with experience .. a good project.

Anthony Peluso (2007), D, Erie

Continuing to learn on the job as his confidence at this level is slowly improving .. individual skill set is very poor, his puck skills and skating skills are average .. injuries have set him back but his production and value to his team pales in comparison to other first round players .. he is strong and a good enforcer if need be as he willingly took matters into his own hands when Torquato was checked and not only fought with Perry but cleaned his clock with an uppercut punch .. slowly earning a reputation in this league as a heavy weight fighter .. his skating holds him back as he has a choppy stride, lacks balance and his edges need work .. when he joins the offensive rush, he usually goes straight ahead, as his mobility does not allow him to find an alternate route .. sheer force and brute strength is not enough to warrant NHL considerations.

Jordan Skellett (2008), LW, Erie

Was acquired in a three-team deal from the Spirit .. came out with energy to burn in the opening frame as he was playing in his hometown however, his play trailed off in the later stages of the game .. actually played with some jam and not only finished his checks but also looked to administer them as well .. crafty puck handler, he has skills with the puck and can make plays .. a tad too impatient, he has a tendency to rush plays and needs to wait an additional second while the play develops .. guilty of inconsistent shifts, he needs to bring the same intensity level every game .. moves well and with some added strength he may be able to open some NHL scouts notebooks.

Kelly Geoffrey (2008), LW, Erie

The pint size forward shows all the makings of being an offensive leader for this young Erie team for many years to come .. he has exceptional puck skills and great vision .. he is able to spot guys in traffic and open ice, as he does not let his size hold him back .. a good skater, he exhibits quick bursts of speed and is able to weave around the ice like a little water bug as he has good agility .. defensively he is making adjustments, he gets discouraged when he is on the ice for a goal against .. engaged in his first OHL fight and was out matched against Jordan Foreman but held his own and did not back down .. will be a fan favourite for his work ethic and for his ability to score highlight reel goals.

Mitch Gaulton (2008), D, Erie

The building block on the back end, Gaulton will represent the Ontario Under 17 team at the Canada games; the experience should help his confidence .. has matured considerably since the start of the season as he is already being played in many key situations including both the PP and the PK .. he QB's the PP and does a good job as teams already have clued in on his shot, allowing him to work the play down low with a quick pass .. cannon of a shot when he is able to use it, should only get harder and faster with added strength .. not afraid of confrontation, he goes for the body and does not back down in the corners .. constantly leading the rush, his puck skills are quite possibility the best on the team among defenders .. many expectations will be thrust upon him and it should be interesting to see how he handles the pressures in his draft year.