OHL: Sting Get Stung

In an effort to make a run for the Memorial Cup with the projected first overall NHL pick, Steven Stamkos still in the lineup, the Sarnia Sting made a blockbuster deal trading away many young players for veteran scoring and goaltending. So far, the move has backfired, as both players acquired, Nikiforov and Perugini have sustained injuries. The Sting have been playing average and inconsistent hockey and have since slipped to last in the West Division. Perhaps the only bright spot has been Steve Stamkos, as he continues to lead the team in goals and points. McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn looks at several Sting prospects.

Steven Stamkos (2008), C, Sarnia

Hard to imagine Stamkos not being a top-two selection due to his play thus far on both the OHL stage and International one .. it is all contingent on who wins the lottery and which team is looking to address what type of need .. Stamkos is a multi threat, as he can score and pass .. his shot in the slot is lethal and his vision and ability to make others better has been well documented in the case of teammate DiBenedetto, who has scored over 130 points in the two seasons he has played with him .. extremely athletic, Stamkos uses all parts of his body to settle down loose pucks .. very good with his feet especially on faceoffs .. agile and possesses outstanding finesse skills, as he is light on his skates and can make quick turns to elude defenders .. plays through checks and never complains, as he understands it is part of the game and does not expect or look for special treatment .. follows plays exceptionally well .. his keen offensive instincts allow him to always be around the play .. Stamkos will have an uphill battle in the West division come playoff time .. if his team does not elevate their play, they may have the daunting task of facing Kitchener in the first round.

Jamie Arniel (2008), C, W, Sarnia

Despite averaging close to a point a game, Arniel is playing lackluster hockey .. his plus/minus is unacceptable considering the linemates he plays with and the opportunities he has to score .. his play borders on uninspiring at times, as he is barely noticeable on the ice .. a healthy skater, he can buzz around the ice and can architect plays .. he has a quick stick and makes touch passes in traffic .. his shot is average and he needs to rely more on positioning in close to score his goals .. a good player at the goalmouth .. has the luxury of playing with Nikiforov and Stamkos on the PP so he should register points .. walking out on Guelph coupled with his average performance has affected his draft stock considerably.

Tomi Karhunen (2008), G, Sarnia

It would appear that management was not as sold on Karhunen, as they were at the beginning of the year, as they addressed their goaltending issues with the acquisition of Perugini .. quick and agile yet very small and does not cover much of the net .. goes down to the butterfly and actually makes himself smaller .. cheats on shots coming down the wing and often leaves the short side open .. can allow weak goals and suffers from poor mental composure, as he lets it affect his play afterwards .. average rebound control on lively pads .. has not been the answer, as his game has been exposed by North American shooters.

Mark Katic (NYI), D, Sarnia

Hard to imagine how badly his game has digressed .. plagued with injuries this season, Katic has not been able to draw on his offensive totals and overall game that made him a third round NHL selection last season .. has gotten thicker but is still beaten with ease at this level down low by more physically stronger players .. he relies heavily on keeping forwards in check with his outstanding mobility .. one of two options on the backend to QB a PP, Wilson being the other .. he can move the puck swiftly and effectively to manufacture plays .. has been very unspectacular however, he could salvage a poor regular season with a healthy playoff .. hard to imagine him competing at any level higher than the ECHL or playing in Europe if his strength does not improve.

Michael Santini (2009), RW, Sarnia

Fifth round selection was enjoying a productive season with the Mississauga Chargers (OPJHL) prior to the call up .. small and physically underdeveloped, he possesses speed and quick hands .. his size on many occasions is a detriment, as he is muscled off the puck and makes plays faster than he should for fear of being hit .. offensively minded player who can score makes him an intriguing prospect and one to monitor for next season .. he has OHL bloodlines, as his brother plays for Owen Sound.

Ben O'Quinn (2009), C/W, Sarnia

Made the team out of camp as the former scoring leader for the Brantford 99'er minor midgets was a seventh round selection .. might have gone higher in the OHL draft had he not sustained a freak injury prior to last year's OHL draft that almost led to his death and resulted in him losing over 25 pounds .. has struggled to put the weight back on but fortunately, he has time on his side .. playing tentative, as he again sustained an injury this season and has not been completely healthy all year .. he does show terrific anticipation but at this point, the players are just too big and he cannot make a difference, as is the case with most rookies .. the coaching staff has confidence in his abilities, as he did lineup with Stamkos for a few shifts during a recent game against Guelph .. should come along nicely but is being rushed like Santini because they traded away their top pick Colt Kennedy, and need some 1991-born forwards up front.