OHL: Midwest Division Draft Eligible Prospects

In our third installment of NHL draft eligible prospects playing in the OHL, McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn looks at teams from the Midwest division entailing the Owen Sound Attack, Erie Otters, Guelph Storm, Kitchener Rangers and the London Knights featuring Nazem Kadri (pictured), who is already being mentioned as a possible top-10 draft pick.

Midwest Division

Owen Sound Attack

The Attack made many moves in the off-season, however none will quite have the impact of bringing Garrett Wilson into the fold. GM DeGray may have caught Warren Rychel (GM Windsor) in a vulnerable mood because Wilson gives the Attack a first line winger capable of scoring 20-plus goals this season. The Attack have done little else to bolster their roster up front, however there could be an interesting battle that ensues at the goaltending position, as rookie Scott Stajcer should push Tyler Beskorowany.

Garrett Wilson (2009), LW, Owen Sound

Garrett Wilson's name has been synonymous with improvement. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound winger has made monumental strides in his game and continues to get better. He plays a very similar style to a young Keith Primeau, as he is constantly moving and using his imposing size to his advantage. The product of Elmvale has grown two inches and gained 20 pounds since being 'stolen' in the third round of the 2007 OHL entry draft by the Windsor Spitfires. He was shipped off to the Attack in the off-season for Owen Sound's first round import selection. The move gives the Attack size and more importantly skill on the left side, an area where they have little depth. While there are no guarantees, it is likely that he will start on the first line due to his size and scoring prowess. He was an integral part of the Tecumseh Chiefs Sutherland Cup victory (top Jr.B team in Ontario) as he exploded for 13 goals and 21 points in 14 playoff games. He also averaged close to a point a game in the regular season. Wilson has the potential to be an explosive power forward in the OHL and already brings a winning attitude to a team that has seen its fair share of losses. As the old saying goes 'you have to give up something to get something' as GM Rychel may be feeling the sting of this move for years to come.

Scouting News

Hulking forward with uncompromising strength and a non-stop motor .. committed to team success and works diligently in all three zones .. throws weight around and can play either a physical or a finesse game, as he can adapt to any game situation .. a fixture on both special teams, he employs his keen anticipation to both set up and break up plays .. more of an up-and-down winger, he exhibits agility and balance as staples to his skating .. great shot and offensive finish in close, he likes to park himself within 10 feet of the goal, as he is a big body to contain down low .. unrivalled work ethic will be the bearer of great things this season for him, as he simply out works the competition.

Scott Stajcer (2009), G, Owen Sound

The fourth goalie selected in the 2007 OHL entry draft, Stajcer spent the bulk of the season with a rebuilding Owen Sound Grey's team that only won eight games. The good news was that Stajcer won all the eight games, the bad news was that he lost 21. His numbers in all categories were well below the league average but considering his youthful age, it is a testament to his mental composure by finishing as strong as he did. His play warranted a brief six-game audition with the parent club where he went 1-3, despite winning his first ever OHL start against the IceDogs. A product of Cambridge, Ontario, Stajcer had to flee his home centre in his draft year due to the misfortune of playing behind the best goalie in the draft and possibly the number one ranked NHL-draft-eligible goalie this year in Brandon Maxwell. Stajcer combines athleticism with a strong butterfly game. He is technically sound and mentally prepared and at 6-foot-3, he covers the majority of the net. There are some in the organization who think Stajcer can usurp Beskorowany and improved play throughout the course of the season may force GM DeGray's hand come the trading deadline.

Erie Otters

The Otters return as one of the youngest teams in the league, dressing as many as seven under age players once their OPJHL affiliate – the Huntsville-Muskoka Otters - were eliminated from postseason play. Still vastly inexperienced, the Otters were dealt a huge blow when veterans Jordan Skellett and Nick Palmieri refused to report to training camp, both requesting a trade. The Otters have done ok to acquire some pieces, however they still lack a nucleus that is capable of leading. Second year player Ryan O'Reilly will be relied upon heavily to carry the load offensively.

Ryan O'Reilly (2009), C, Erie

The first overall selection made good last year with a spellbinding performance that included two gold medal wins on the International stage, the Under 17 and the Under 18. It did not take long for O'Reilly to become a permanent fixture on both the PP and PK, as he established himself early as a first-line candidate. The level of improvement from O'Reilly was realized in December, as he recorded four multi-point games heading into the Under 17 tournament. In front of capacity hometown crowds in London, Ontario, O'Reilly captained his team to a perfect 6-0 record, compiling six helpers on many crucial goals. O'Reilly returned to the Otters with renewed confidence and even though his Otters were all but mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture, he continued to put fourth consistent efforts under the new direction of coach Ftorek. A demanding and stern coach, O'Reilly's play did not waiver under the added scrutiny of coach Ftorek's systems and he adjusted immediately to flourish in the new setting. This year will be a breakout season for O'Reilly and the Otters have a player with blinding speed and lights out scoring ability in second overall selection Gregg McKegg. He scored over 70 goals last season in minor and if partnered up with O'Reilly, the duo could do for Erie this season what Hall and Bailey did for Windsor last year.

Scouting News

Cerebral player with uncanny hockey sense and vision .. makes adjustments in his play and is always in a position to get to a loose puck .. physically strong, especially along the boards, he not only uses his smarts to win battles but has a determined will about him to simply out-muscle the opposition .. magnificent knack for finding the open man and delivering passes in traffic or open ice with pinpoint accuracy .. criticized for his skating but his intelligence coupled with reliable work ethic puts him into a position to succeed .. has leadership abilities, as he oozes character .. needs to work on confidence in his shot, as he tends to get inside to score a majority of his goals .. soft, velvet hands to make goalies bite on his moves .. great patience with the puck, as his masterful passing skills are a result of his penchant to hold onto the puck until the last possible moment .. has the potential to be a top-12 NHL pick, as he brings many tangibles and intangibles to the table.

David Shields (2009), D, Erie

Shields was put into a no-win situation last season and made the most of it. He was more than likely rushed into playing Major Junior A, as at times, he appeared as if he did not quite belong. To his credit, he learned on the job and had to learn even quicker when Mitch Gaulton went down with a season-ending elbow injury thus increasing his workload. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he certainly has a pro-like frame but the Rochester NY native did not always play up to his statistics and was pushed around too easily. He needs to become leaner and meaner. For his size, he showed impressive skating skills and commanding puck-rushing ability. He relished in being able to mount an attack and when he had the puck, he was most comfortable. He only scored a goal and recorded three assists in 60 games played but showed the type of poise associated with being a number one offensive-minded defenseman. Shields is not without warts but considering his size and his skating talent, he will get hard looks by many NHL scouts if he can build on his confidence early by getting on the scoreboard.

Guelph Storm

This year's Storm team will be considerably different in every conceivable way. Gone is GM and coach Dave Barr, who successfully guided the Storm for the last four seasons and also missing from the picture is Drew Doughty, the face of the organization for the last three seasons. This year's edition is loaded with several NHL-draft-eligible prospects and they start with the Storm's top two picks from last season's OHL entry draft. Taylor Beck and Peter Holland established themselves and youngsters Timothy Campbell, Tyler Osborne and Ben Chariot will all be looking to make their mark on the backend.

Peter Holland (2009), C, Guelph

Holland had a respectable rookie season but showed signs toward the end of the season that he can become a dominant force in the league. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Holland is a wrecking ball on the ice, as he asserts himself physically. He brings size to the Guelph roster, as he is one of the more developed players on the team. He played primarily in a third-line role with little PP time and scored 8 goals and posted 23 points in 62 games - only missing six games due to his involvement with Team Ontario's Under 17 gold medal win. He played in a top-six forward role on that squad, as coach Brooks had the utmost confidence in his ability to produce. Holland saw his icetime diminish substantially in the playoffs for the Storm, however the experience really opened his eyes as to what he needed to do to get to the next level. The graduations of several top offensive players should open the door for him to step into a top-six role with ample PP time.

Scouting News

Talented, big and physical are three words that sum up Holland .. he can do many things with the puck and is as intelligent with it as he is without it .. a strong centre who wins a majority of his draws due to his timing and strength .. does not realize how strong he is .. he is a natural athlete and makes things look effortless .. very good offensive repertoire, as he carries a tight wristshot and exhibits understated passing skills .. fluid skater but does not have blazing quickness, rather a satisfactory level of speed that still keeps him involved in most plays.

Taylor Beck (2009), LW, Guelph

Beck looked like a different player after his gold medal victory as a late addition to the Under 17 Team Ontario team. He showed more composure on the ice and processed the game better. Beck has good offensive skills and uses his big body to create down low, as he is a virtual force below the net. For as difficult as he is to contain, he plays an honest, hardnosed game and rarely gets called for a poor penalty. Beck is considered more of an up-and-down winger, as his skating lacks agility and grace for him to be cutting into the slot. He has quicker hands than feet and makes good use of his size and offensive skill set, as he scored 21 points in 56 games in his rookie season. Beck should be able to improve on those totals, as Leigh Salters will be indisposed for the first few months of the season with an injury essentially opening the door for him to jump into a prime scoring role.

Tim Campbell (2009), D, Guelph

As a member of the North York Rangers last season (OPJHL), Campbell posted respectable numbers including 20 points in 45 games. Campbell's laid-back approach helped him look in sync with his much older teammates. He is a very methodical player who conserves his energy and plays an intelligent game. Not a blinding skater, he relies more on his positional play to stay involved. He sees the ice well and is patient with the puck to allow plays to unfold. It was his unrivalled hockey sense that made him a fixture on the PK by the midway point of the season. Campbell also developed physically, which helped him be more comfortable playing defense. His biggest question mark coming into camp was his strength and it appears that a year of Tier II served him well, as he was able to add two inches and over 25 pounds in a single season. He should be groomed slowly but could have an outside shot of cracking the top four by year end.

London Knights

The midseason acquisition of Nazem Kadri returns the Knights to instant respectability, as it gives them a first-line scorer and a potential top-10 NHL draft pick. The additions of American-born John Carlson (27th overall 2008) and newcomer Jared Knight should make the team stronger up front and on the backend. The Knights will be one of the more competitive teams in the entire OHL this season but could be an absolute force next season.

Nazem Kadri (2009), C, London

Kadri established himself last year as a key go-to-guy in Kitchener, no small feat when one examines the depth of their roster. He shined particularly in the playoffs scoring well over a point a game (20-9-17-26) and looked stellar on a line with Boedker and Duco. Acquired at the trading deadline as compensation for Steve Mason, he was able to play for the Rangers and participate in their Memorial Cup run before being flipped to his hometown in exchange for draft picks in the off-season. Kadri improved on his goal scoring totals from 7 in his rookie year to 25 in his second season. Kadri would have been considered a first round NHL pick had he been eligible last season but this year the landscape is set for him to potentially crack the top ten. His strong performance at the WJC training camp in August created quite a stir, as he is considered a leading candidate to make the team. Kadri has experience on the International stage, as he was a part of the Under 17 gold medal Team Ontario team two seasons ago and has also participated in the Under 18's. Kadri is a versatile forward who can thrive in either a first or third-line role and can play either centre or the wing. When his OHL career is finished, Kadri will be able to boast that he learned from two of the better coaches in the league. Kadri established himself as a very versatile forward under coach Peter DeBoer and became a two-way threat. Under the tutelage of coach Dale Hunter, Kadri should see his icetime flourish especially in PP situations, which should help pad his stats and make him even more endearing to NHL scouts.

Scouting News

A gifted puckhandler with unparallel puck skills and vision .. hard worker, battles in all areas of the ice and plays with an edge .. wiry strong, he is able to launch his body at many players bigger than him and due to his balance, he is able to absorb and administer hits .. has developed a solid reputation as a two-way hockey player .. shifty and an elusive skater, he can dangle into open ice and is not afraid of the danger areas either .. solid shot but lacks velocity, he is not a natural finisher but shows enough at this level to be a productive scorer .. a healthy skater who is blessed with agility but not a high end gear .. tends to over handle the puck and will need to make quick plays to exploit offensive chances his play-reading ability can create.

Daniel Erlich (2009), RW, London

Despite the new rule changes in the NHL, players who are 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds need to be pretty dynamic to get noticed, however that is exactly what Daniel Erlich is. One of the smallest if not the smallest players in the league, he handles the puck at lightening-quick speed and plays the game at a high tempo. He takes short, choppy strides to generate his speed and due to his low centre of gravity he is very difficult to contain or catch. He suffered a concussion last season, which forced him to miss the final two months of the season. He did however return for the final three games of the playoffs and was the Knights best player in the series scoring a goal and assisting on another. Erlich did not decide to commit to the Knights immediately and after tearing up the OPJHL for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, he made his debut almost three months into the OHL season. It took him over a month and 15-plus games to get acclimatized to the pace of the league but he eventually got it and started to produce in bunches before his untimely injury. Erlich has all the tools to be a quality scorer at the OHL level, he has Patrick Kane-like ability to suck guys out of position and make a brilliant play, however size is a huge concern and will continue to be for the rest of his hockey career.

Kitchener Rangers

The Rangers decided to only dress one 1991-born player last season in Michael Catenacci and he only saw action in two games. The Rangers did very little in terms of signing their 1991's and after failing to land Jeremy Morin and Cam Fowler the team's first two picks they had very little to show for. Catenacci, Christian Stevens and Jason Akeson (1990-born) are the only three players to have been signed by the 2007 draft and of the three, Akeson shows the most promise, however he was passed up last year.