USHL: Chicago Steels First Round Victory

The Chicago Steel made the playoffs and upset the first-seeded Indiana Ice in convincing fashion by winning the series 3-1. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Luca Cunti has found his groove now and 2009 prospect John Moore is seeing his stock rise rapidly. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese has notes on Moore and Cunti, as well as several other Steel prospects.

John Moore (2009), D, Chicago Steel

Chicago's powerplay took off the instant Moore became the quarterback .. his high skill level, poise with the puck, and terrific vision are all qualities that make him a dynamic offensive package from the backend .. mistake-free carrying the puck out of his own end, as he can elude defenders with his skill before hitting a teammate in full stride with the first pass, which allows Chicago to gain the offensive zone with momentum .. superb skater with a beautiful stride and great feet that provide him with exceptional speed .. ingenious at picking his spots when to jump into the rush and is one of the best pure passers in the USHL .. made a beautiful play where he utilized his patience with the puck to freeze everyone around him before going behind the net for the wrap-around goal .. feet work in unison with his hands, as he skates well with the puck .. will need to add strength but his one-on-one defensive game continued to solidify as the year progressed .. Colorado College recruit that will be under the microscope by NHL scouts and a highly sought after prospect in the 2009 draft.

Max Nicastro (2008), D, Chicago Steel

Young and green prospect that battled through an up and down season to emerge as a key defenseman for the Chicago Steel .. learned through trial by fire, as he was asked to play in all situations even when he was not fully prepared for them .. in the absence of Will Weber, Nicastro was asked to shut down the oppositions top lines and by most accounts did an effective job .. when he marries his swift mobility and strong stride with his big frame, he is a very effective defender .. competes admirably and his work ethic is never in question .. plays with a physical edge every night and can be a one man wrecking crew on the penalty kill .. not a natural puckmoving defenseman, as his hands could be softer and his passes could be tighter .. shot is okay but he needs to display more poise when scoring areas present themselves .. not a liability with the puck when he plays within himself, although his puck instincts at times are questionable .. decision-making remains raw but his upside is high and would be a wise project for an NHL team to take on.

Luca Cunti (TB), C, Chicago Steel

The Steel's offensive attack began to go directly through Cunti after the departure of Andy Miele and Luca's game has thrived because of it .. simply fun to watch skate, as he is so smooth with his effortless acceleration and the ability to stop on a dime .. his world-class skill is undeniable even though he can be invisible for long stretches of time .. a creative, playmaking type that displays good instincts on the powerplay by sending crisp passes through the opposition's penalty kill box while his teammates are keeping everything to the perimeter .. puck control is outstanding, as he is a slippery puckhandler that can slow the game down to his liking .. began to backcheck harder, ventured into traffic areas with more regularity late in the season, and was often able to stay on his feet while taking a check .. along with his glaring lack of consistency, Cunti will need to prove his toughness and passion for the game at higher levels of play.

Mark Anthoine (2008), RW, Chicago Steel

Effectively provides a physical presence and is a reliable defensive player that can kill penalties .. a heavy hitter that is very strong along the wall thanks to his short but very thick and wide build .. aggressive defensively and generates some offensive opportunities for himself through his hard work, although he simply cannot finish, as his release is terribly slow and his horrible accuracy often leaves him putting the puck into the goaltenders midsection .. does not see the ice well with the puck and has limited offensive upside despite his adequate hands and mobility .. projects as a pesky checking-line center for Maine.

Nick Pisellini (2008), G, Chicago Steel

Vermont recruit Rob Madore and not Pisellini has been the Steel's man between the pipes all year and throughout the playoffs, although Pisellini did receive playing time in a few key games down the stretch .. opens some gaping holes for the opposition shooters to look at while moving laterally .. first move is always down, as he often goes down too early on shots that he could have easily stayed on his feet to make .. rebound control needs improvement, as he fumbles pucks up high and kicks out juicy rebounds on shots he should be able to handle .. gets his big frame square to the shot but is often guilty of playing too deep in his crease .. over commits to the shooter and loses his angles .. adventurous playing the puck .. athletic goaltender with quick legs and plenty of raw potential making it too early to give up on him yet, although he will go undrafted this year.

Barron Smith (2009), D, Chicago Steel

Was afforded more icetime because of Will Weber's wrist injury .. absolutely has no presence with the puck, as he just whacks the puck away even when he has the time and opportunity to make a play right in front of him .. however, he did show improvement as the year progressed when he began to simplify things and kept mistakes out of his game .. owns a big shot but he often either forces it into legs or misses the net completely.. effectively used his massive frame to staple opponents along the boards and shows signs of becoming an overpowering open-ice hitter .. played a two-on-one horrendously by not either taking away the pass or pressuring the puckcarrier .. okay skater considering his size, as he is beginning to accelerate quicker but his pivoting and backwards mobility still need to be upgraded.

Drew LeBlanc (2008), C, Chicago Steel

Displays strength and soft hands in traffic .. astutely attacks the net and the defense once he gained the zone with or without the puck .. instinctively initiates give and go's from the half-wall .. sees the ice well and is a skilled playmaker that is aware to move his feet to get open the instant after he makes the pass .. still needs to lengthen his stride more but it did appear to become stronger as the year progressed .. character two-way player that does not cheat on his defensive assignments by coming deep into his own zone to aide in defensive coverage .. only plays at one gear and this tends to leave him to being receptive to big bodychecks .. could be more physical and is not a hardnosed player .. is going to be a productive collegiate athlete for St. Cloud State.

Alex Simonson (2008), RW, Chicago Steel

Back in the Chicago lineup after making spot appearances throughout the season while playing High School Hockey in North Dakota for Red River .. feisty player that displays a tenacious mean streak while battling along the wall .. does a nice job playing away from the puck but his lack of skill and offensive ability is clearly evident .. unable to corral passes smoothly and his loose skating mechanics hinder his mobility.

Simon Olsson (2008), LW, Chicago Steel

Diminutive winger that stands at just 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds .. can be a selfish player that puts himself above the team by refusing to come off the ice during the powerplay .. owns a heavy shot and can be a creative set-up man at this level, but with his lack of size and true speed, he won't touch the NHL.