OHL Priority Selection: Sudbury

No team did a better job identifying and addressing team needs than the Sudbury Wolves with their first two selections. After allowing 282 goals (the most of any playoff team), the focus was clearly on drafting defenders. The additions of Justin Sefton and Frankie Corrado will be the backbone of the team's backend. The Wolves switched their focus to forwards with their next few picks with Kyle Shaw and Greg Jambrosich, players who could find themselves in the lineup at some point in their junior career. McKeen's profiles these players.

Justin Sefton (2011), D, Sudbury

The Wolves have not had a big, strapping, offensive-minded blueliner since Marc Staal. Sefton should be able to fill that void, as he encompasses everything the Wolves backend desperately needs. Sefton has been pigeonholed as strictly a defensive defenseman but the truth is there are many layers to his offensive game. He shows a propensity to go end-to-end in rushes as evidenced by his three shorthanded goals and he was able to operate the PP with his blistering pointshot. He scored 19 goals and added another 15 assists in 40 league games as a member of the 2009 Telus Cup Champion Notre Dame Hounds. The youngest player on the team, Sefton earned his ice with his punishing style of play that scored top marks with the coaching staff. At no point this season was he ever intimidated off the puck and he played against forwards that were upwards of three years older than him. Sefton still tends to get over zealous in the defensive zone looking for the big hit and taking himself out of the play, however to his credit he learned to let the play come to him in the playoffs while still being physically effective. At 6-foot-2 and190 pounds, he was one of the bigger players available for the draft and is the most naturally aggressive. Sefton is also very capable of holding his own in the fighting department. He fits the Wolves criteria for defenders, as they have always gravitated toward big, mean and mobile defenseman. Sefton will be a favourite of coach Foligno who has already praised his skill set. He will be forced into many situations but the maturity and poise he played with last year combined with the winning culture he is coming from should make the transition into the OHL that much more gradual.

Frankie Corrado (2011), D, Sudbury

The highest player chosen from the Vaughn Kings of the GTHL, Corrado was the centrepiece of the team and led his team into the second round of the playoffs. Corrado was instrumental in designing and executing any type of offensive breakout that led to team success. His offensive skills but more importantly his hockey sense and ability to remain calm under pressure will be attributes the Wolves will lean on. He has already been signed and is expected to be a big part of the Wolves turnaround next season. The physical dimension of his game marries well with his puck-moving skills. He scored 15 goals, recorded 48 points in 62 games but posted an impressive 136 PIM. At 6-feet and 170 pounds, he is very wiry but unbelievably strong, as he was able to physically tackle guys when called upon. Early in the season, he had a tendency to chase down plays/players when they got around him but he matured toward the second half of the season and was much more composed in his own end. Corrado still needs to work on the finer nuances of the defensive game. Corrado is a very versatile player who can and will be able to play any type of game at the OHL level. It would not be a surprise to see him lead the team in defensive scoring in his NHL draft year, as he has the skills to be a top point producer in the OHL but only needs the confidence of the coaching staff to bring it out of him.

Kyle Shaw (2011), LW, C Sudbury

Scouts had plenty of chances to see Shaw as a member of the Sun County Panthers and linemate of Matthew Puempel (5th overall, Peterborough). Shaw played with tenacity and was often given the assignment of digging out the pucks in the trenches for the offensively gifted Puempel. He worked hard to get into position and even though he was labelled as energy forward, he successfully managed to score 32 goals and average over a point a game with 74 in 70 games. Shaw has a nice assortment of stickhandling moves and he was able to mesmerize the opposition with his quick hands. The bulk of his goals were scored in the danger areas, as he did not mind taking the abuse to score. Shaw was a great option in PK situations. Although his foot speed would not allow him to get to the puck, his presence and strength down low ate up valuable ice and time. His skating is the area of his game that will require the most work. He shows an occasional burst of speed but all in all his top-end speed is very limited. His first step simply is not there despite having a nice stride and decent skating mechanics. His lack of speed will prohibit him from being a top two-line player but he could be a very modest utility player.

Greg Jambrosich (2011), C, Sudbury

Jambrosich may have been the most naturally gifted skaters amongst the 1993 draft class. His silky smooth stride coupled with his first-step acceleration and lengthy stride gave opposing defenders nothing but trouble this season. Jambrosich could beat anyone to the outside, however he did not want to pay the price to score goals. Jambrosich's hands were also below average, as he simply could not convert on his chances. He often looked good but failed to produce. He scored a measly 17 goals in 70 games and toward the end of the season became more of a special team's player, especially on the PK, as he was employed as the F1. Jambrosich is effective when he plays the cycle and constantly moves his feet, as the opposition simply cannot keep up or cover him. He tried to incorporate more jam into his game toward the end of the year but it is doubtful that he will ever intimidate a player off the puck with his strength. His role would be best served as a complementary, bottom-line player, that can give the top players a rest, pressure defensemen off the puck with his speed and shadow the opposition's top guys. He should get a chance to play Jr. B for the Stoney Creek Warriors and improve on his strength and conditioning, as he will need to put on some much-needed weight to his spindly frame (6-0, 155), if he is ever to join the Wolves.