QMJHL: Mooseheads-up

To say this has been a difficult season for the Halifax Mooseheads is an understatement. From fourth overall in 2007-2008 to dead last this season, the organisation is looking at the possibility of a long road back to a winning record, as they need to rebuild the team with younger players. McKeen's correspondent looks at a few Mooseheads that will look to make an impact next season.

Gabriel Desjardins (2011), LW, Halifax

Moves his feet non-stop, especially on the forecheck .. quick skater who hits his top speed quickly and does this without losing his balance .. anticipates the play well in the offensive zone but has to use his linemates a little better .. willing to go to the net hard .. always willing to battle for the puck, but must improve his strength to play that kind of game effectively .. good hand-eye coordination when it comes to deflecting shots from the point.

Ned O'Brien (2009),C, Halifax

Average skater, does not possess explosive speed, although he does alright after the first few strides .. at times, he manages to show some impressive skills when it comes to stickhandling, but not often enough .. very underrated upper-body strength makes it difficult for opponents to get the puck off him .. not a great passer .. to his credit, he tries to keep his game simple .. battles hard for the puck in the corners doing a lot of the dirty work for his linemates .. can be a handful when he plays the physical game .. would probably be used more in defensive situations if he could improve his faceoff percentage.

Gabriel O'Connor (2009), D, Halifax

Smart player who plays within his limits .. average speed in terms of skating, but he seems to have trouble with his pivots .. plays the body effectively using his large frame to neutralize opponents .. stick is very active when playing shorthanded .. communicates a lot with teammates and coaches .. used in all situations by the team, but that may be out of necessity more than anything else, as he does not possess very good offensive skills or vision .. does get a decent shot on net but his windup is a little slow leading to lots of blocked shots .. get's into trouble when he tries to do too much .. usually is better off just trying to get the puck out of his zone safely via a pass instead of trying to carry it up the ice .. excellent work ethic.

Travis Randell (2009), RW, Halifax

Can surprise with some good one-on-one moves, although his skill set is better-suited to play a north-south game .. should be careful not to cough up the puck at the wrong time by taking unnecessary risks .. plays the body well .. average skater .. straight-ahead speed is good, but pivots could use some improvement .. has to take advantage of his scoring opportunities .. decent shot, but release should be a little quicker .. does a fair job defensively in terms of effort, but needs to better understand positioning and decision-making .. needs to play a more physical game for the type of player he projects to be.