OHL: Shutron Front and Centre

The youthful Kingston Frontenacs have risen from the dead to feast on the flesh of the living… actually the youthful Fronts resemble anything but a pack of plodding zombies – these kids are finally paying dividends for a team certain to make its way out of the league basement. Ben Shutron and Cory Emmerton are already amongst the OHL's best and lead a talented squad that also includes the likes of Chris Stewart, Bobby Hughes, Lukas Pither, Andrew Wilson and Oskar Osala.

Ben Shutron (2006), D, Kingston

An offensive wiz .. an elusive, imaginative player with globetrotter-like puck antics .. offensive aggressiveness and assertiveness remind some of Brian Leetch .. boasts a strong shot from the point .. shoots for rebounds with a low point shot .. outstanding patience and confidence in possession .. does not panic and makes smart plays when pressured .. shakes off defenders with 180-degree turns .. on the downside, he lacks physical approach, just allows guys to stand in front of the net without even so much as a chop .. already an assistant captain .. solidifying already top-drawer stock for the coming draft.

Cory Emmerton (2006), C, Kingston

Has emerged as the Fronts' most relied upon scorer .. a good skater with a modest stride and speed .. dances in the offensive zone with quick hands and fine stickhandling ability .. offensive weapons are quite impressive; impressive, sharp wrister with a rapid release .. much like teammate Shutron he thrives with the puck but does much less without it .. plays the point on the PP, and logged an entire two minutes in one PP opportunity .. keen offensive instincts but must tone down on his dekes and keep things simpler, with a simple dish or dump in on occasion.

Bobby Hughes (2006), C, Kingston

Solid looking forward plays on the top line and provides size and a decent skill set .. parks himself in front of the net and looks to bang away at rebounds .. plays a good two-way game as he can often be found blocking shots and helping out defenders .. unimpressive faceoff skills, especially for his strength .. very sturdy and looks to hit .. knocked defender standing still, prying the puck free for a partial breakaway .. his linemates make him look better than he is at times .. not an overly fast skater but covers a lot of ice with a graceful stride.

Chris Stewart (2006), RW, Kingston

Early production is indicative of the tremendous strides he has made to become a solid player and a legitimate NHL prospect .. absolute freight train once he gets rolling .. strong backchecker; broke up a two-on-one due to some hustle and quick-moving feet .. soft hands around the net and is a good stick handler .. size really plays to his advantage as he is coordinated and fluid in his movements .. bullies himself to the net as his 6'1, 225-pound frame is one of the more imposing in the OHL .. wears an A .. would like to see him shoot the puck more; has acted somewhat as a set-up man to Emmerton at times .. definitely shows creativity and finesse touches but could be more goal-hungry .. when he is five feet in front of the net there is no better time to shoot.

Luke Pither (2007), C, Kingston

After a completing dominating performance at the OHL cup, he finds himself fighting for icetime rotating between third and fourth lines .. has yet to adjust to the pace of the league game and the top end speed that was displayed in minor midget is rather ordinary in the OHL .. a fluid skater with a smooth stride .. will need to increase his strength as he was knocked off the puck on way too many occasions .. it is tough to get an overall idea of his development as he rarely saw the ice or played the puck .. second half will be a better indication; stay tuned.

Andrew Wilson (2007), RW, Kingston

Smoother OHL transition than counterpart Pither .. healthy stride with good up-and-down speed .. plays primarily on the right side, and rarely uses other areas of the ice .. smart player who moves his feet and puts himself in open positions to score .. playing alongside Bolt and Cameron .. likes to shoot the puck and will be a go-to-guy probably as soon as next year.

Shawn Connors (2006), D, Kingston

Very raw .. an offensive defenseman who likes to play deep within the zone .. overskates the puck and is too eager to rush plays that do not materialize .. limited icetime due to mistakes made in his positional game and decision making with the puck.

Jordan Owens (FA), LW, Mississauga

An agile skater with strong balance .. quick legs and great speed .. nose for the net, stands in front looking for tips or tries, when permitted, to stand in front of the net and cause disturbance, however skinny frame doesn't allow him much time in front .. catalyst in most offensive situations, always involved .. has a good skill set, delivering crisp passes and has a nice hard low shot .. plays the first PP unit .. wears an A .. superb hand/eye coordination as he knocked a loose puck out of mid-air through his legs to create a scoring chance the other way.

Oskar Osala (2006), LW, Mississauga

Import is still getting used to the nuances of the North American game .. big forward who generates good speed once he gets moving but his first step quickness just isn't there .. change of direction also leaves much to be desired .. corrals pucks along the corners with fair success and charges the net as his big frame usually tries to gain positional advantage when he can .. does not assert himself physically as he doesn't follow through when hitting players .. patience is key here as payoff is expected, but so far a bit of a disappointment.