OHL: Logan’s Run

McKeen's Chief correspondent David Burstyn looks at several Ottawa 67's, a team that has surprised many as they sit third in the Eastern Conference. San Jose Sharks prospect Logan Couture is on pace to set personal bests this season and is one of several 67's featured.

Chris Perugini (2009), G, Ottawa

Perugini has doubled all of his totals from last year including games played, wins, minutes, saves and goals against .. he has assumed the starting duties and has done a modest job .. he has good height but is incredibly thin, as he has simply not been able to add weight to his body and is still 145 pounds .. this marks a 20-pound improvement as to when he was drafted two years ago .. very agile and athletic, he can make saves, as he relies heavily on his reflexes .. he does a good job of challenging shooters and coming out of the paint .. still tends to go down too early and not being overly big, he can get beat up top .. has a good shuffle when sliding across but his stance is not compact enough and he leaves too many openings .. decent stickhandler, he likes to push the puck up ice and has already logged four assists this year .. Perugini will allow in soft goals and lets them in at inopportune times .. his size and body structure are glaring concerns at this point for him to withstand the rigours of the pro game.

Marc Zanetti (2009), D, Ottawa

Played in a mere six games last season while splitting the season with Markham of the OPJHL .. considered more of a depth defenseman, he tends to be overzealous in his defensive reds .. he sports the worst plus/minus on his team as a result .. ok first step but very poor mobility that often leaves him flatfooted against players who are shifty .. has a difficult time defending against speed .. average in terms of offensive skills including shot, pass and overall vision .. not a difference maker, as he has never been a scorer at any level of hockey .. Zanetti needs plenty of time and at best will only develop into a fourth defenseman at the OHL level, as other prospects will surpass him.

Brian Birkhoff (2009), D, Ottawa

Late round selection of the 2007 draft (11th round, 206th overall) is making good by playing in a top-six rotation .. more of a defensive-minded player, he does a good job with his attention to detail in his own zone .. not blessed with an abundance of skill with or without the puck, he minimizes his mistakes and concentrates on playing his own game .. average in terms of footwork, he lacks agility and gets beaten very easily in open ice .. he has a decent frame and is physically strong so he generally tries to force guys out wide and contain them along the boards .. has a decent hard shot but is not used in many offensive situations .. was the captain of his team (Wexford Raiders) all the way through minor hockey, as he is a character player who relies on his hockey IQ .. should make a very competent CIS player in a few seasons.

Julien Demers (SJ), D, Ottawa

Demers has improved in all facets of his game this season .. partnered with Travis Gibbons, the duo have formed solid chemistry, as not only a shut down unit but one capable of creating offensive chances .. he does not see the ice as well as he should but he can make a play with the puck .. he is better at reading the rush but does not break up the ice to formulate a play .. down low, he uses his size to lean on guys and his agility and quick hands to flick the puck out of harms way .. is making quicker decisions with the puck and not over handling it .. naturally aggressive, he has done a better job this year of neutralizing his man in front and intimidating the opposition without drawing a penalty .. his agility and footwork have helped him become more confident in this league and with his imposing frame (6-1, 215), he has made considerable leaps in his development.

Derek Hartwick (2010), D, Ottawa

Rookie added two inches and 25 pounds in the off-season prior to joining the 67's .. second round selection has seen the ice in many different situations and as is typical with a rookie defenseman, he has made his share of mistakes .. has an awkward manner in his skating but this could be in direct correlation with his sudden growth spurt .. nonetheless, his reverse and lateral movement need definite upgrading .. Hartwick does have above-average offensive ability on this Ottawa backend .. he has been given time on the point in PP situations and has responded well .. he has an ok shot and is generally comfortable handling the puck .. he is poised and makes decent decisions when unharassed .. his biggest obstacle at this point is himself and adjusting to the pace of the league, as he lacks confidence at times .. once again, given his age this is understandable.

Jon Carnevale (2009), RW, Ottawa

Carnevale has done very little to establish himself on this team but does play his role very well - a third line winger who goes up and down his side .. very limited in terms of speed and agility, he has a difficult time changing direction and struggles with his stop and starts .. tends to stop only when he runs into something or the boards .. strong and balanced on his skates, he makes plays down low and prefers to cycle the puck .. he thrashes his body all over the ice and is difficult to defend against as a result .. he lacks hands but has a good snap and wristshot just outside the dots .. Carnevale understands his role and is content to play six to eight minutes and work hard to get them.

Logan Couture (SJ), C, Ottawa

Couture is on pace to set personal bests this season and has already surpassed his single-season goal total with 31 .. has managed to stay relatively healthy this season, as injuries have had a way of plaguing him in the past .. is on pace to be the team scoring leader for the first time in four years .. leader both on and off the ice, Couture handles himself well in all areas of the ice leading by example in terms of work ethic .. competes, although he does not physically assert himself as much as he should .. he plays the F1 role and works well within the team system of supporting his second man in an effort to intercept passes or neutralize a play before it hits the redline .. lacks speed but is able to stay involved due to his intelligence and the way in which he angles off the puck .. Couture will struggle at the next level because of his lack of high-end speed, as he can get lost in a speed game .. he can score and is an adept passer, however should he manage to make a spot on the Sharks roster, he will be typecast as a fourth-line centre, capable of winning draws and being a utility player.

Tyler Toffoli (2010), RW, Ottawa

Toffoli has excelled this season and is putting up solid numbers for a rookie with 14 goals and 42 points through 50 games .. missed a handful of games due to a concussion .. Toffoli played on Team Ontario and finished 10th in tournament scoring with nine points in the six game tournament .. a highly offensive player who understands what to do in the offensive zone .. he is patient with the puck and his shot is improving .. he can bury shots in close but still lacks the strength to score from a distance on a consistent basis .. he is always trying to manufacture offence and eagerly pushes up, constantly flirting with the blueline in break outs .. defensively, he has been experimented on the PK, however he is still very unsure on how to defend, as he does not move his feet enough .. still a tad apprehensive in engaging in traffic, he is more of a perimeter player and an opportunistic scorer .. Toffoli has a decent frame to build on, as he is thick but he will need to learn how to administer a hit because the physical element in his game simply is not there .. should be a highly scouted NHL prospect next year, as he will put up the points.