USHL: Jr. Blue Jackets in 3-D

Despite missing the USHL playoffs, the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets received heavy scout traffic, as their roster includes three talented defensemen eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese has notes on all three of the Blue Jackets promising young defenders that include Luke Witkowski, Greg Pateryn and Steve Spinell.

Luke Witkowski (2008), D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Big and rangy defenseman with a formidable mean streak and commanding mobility .. phenomenal skater for a big defenseman that uses his brilliant lateral speed to come across the ice swiftly before hammering the opposition off their feet with a thunderous hip check .. can accelerate backwards faster than most can forwards .. owns a blistering top gear but is not a puck-rushing threat, as his hands aren't nearly as good as his feet .. innately identifies when to jump into the rush or pinch into the slot to exploit holes in the opposition's defenses, although he fumbles the puck when he gets his chances .. a mean-spirited player that uses his concrete strength to clear his crease vigorously and opponents had better have their heads up in the neutral zone, as he is capable of destroying guys with a big open-ice hit .. needs to pick his spots better, as some times he can be a train wreck by taking himself out of position while going out of his way for the big hit .. big, mobile, and mean but raw with the puck, this Western Michigan recruit has monstrous upside and is an enticing project.

Greg Pateryn (2008), D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Polished two-way defenseman that gives you a little bit of everything but does not dominate in any facet of the game either .. not a pretty skater but an effective one with the coordinated footwork to excel in small-ice areas and the productive backwards mobility keep the opposition at bay in the open ice .. utilizes long strides to win foot races .. not a game-breaking offensive defenseman, although he is cerebral in possession and makes quick decisions with the puck .. can be robotic at times if pressured and send passes to where his teammates are expected to be instead of where they currently are .. receives time on the powerplay and does an adequate job distributing the puck from the point while also getting his shot low and on net .. strong one-on-one defender that maintains a healthy gap before physically standing up his man at the appropriate time .. displays good timing for catching the opposition with their head down by landing a thudding open-ice hit .. can be undisciplined at times but his tenacity is a likable quality .. sound two-way defenseman that is committed to Michigan.

Steven Spinell (2008), D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Stay-at-home defenseman with decent size and mobility that would be a highly regarded prospect for next years draft if he were just six days younger .. fluid all-compass skater with deceptively good first few strides .. pivots and moves laterally respectably, although he can be caught flatfooted while challenging his blueline aggressively at times .. a thick-bodied defenseman that likes to sustain a tight gap with his man .. effectively takes the opposition off the puck with either his long reach or by utilizing a heavy bodycheck .. savvy in defensive coverage, Spinell is a mature penalty killer that takes away lanes with his active stick and does a fine job fronting the puck to block shots .. there is some hidden skill here, as he displays the ability to finesse a clean first pass while carrying the puck out of his own end time-to-time .. slapshot is heavy but he is still figuring out how to fully harness it and get it on net .. pro-style defenseman that is committed to Miami-Ohio and projects as a healthy sized, stay-at-home type that can make the first pass.

Tim Hall (2008), C, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

This diminutive center is Ohio's second leading scorer, as he makes up for his lack of size with intuitive and skillful play .. smooth and agile skater that can separate himself from the rest in the open ice thanks to his rapid acceleration .. immensely skilled with slick hands and a dangerous shot in tight .. a clever playmaker that creates a lot from behind the oppositions net and displays innate offensive timing .. despite his 5-foot-8, 160-pound frame, Hall effectively maintains balance while being checked and successfully covers the puck in traffic .. a two-way player that backchecks hard, plays on the penalty kill, and displays astute marking skills .. committed to Colorado College, Hall is going to be an impact collegiate athlete and would surely be drafted if only he was not so small.

George Michalke (2008), C, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Checking-line center with good mobility .. with a compact stride and the ability to accelerate out of his crossovers, Michalke possesses the type of speed that can make plays .. stuck on the Jackets fourth-line and while his skill never comes to the forefront, he does display the ability to finesse a pass coming through the neutral zone with speed .. skates fairly well with the puck .. not an impact goal scorer or playmaker, Michalke still makes himself useful in the offensive zone by opening up the ice for others by driving hard down the middle .. effectively checks the opposition and hems them in their own end with his tireless forecheck .. utilized on the penalty kill for his speed and high-pressure .. offensively too immature to receive NHL consideration but is a solid collegiate prospect.

Matt Leitner (2009), C, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Skilled playmaking center with terrific puck sense and mobility .. such a smooth skater making him deceptively fast with the puck .. virtuous momentum skater that can fluidly make directional changes in full-flight without losing a step .. the instincts he displays with the puck is what make him a special player .. Leitner will use his speed to back off the opposition's defenseman before hitting the breaks to allow open lanes to develop before striking with his skilled passing game .. athletic center with a vast arsenal of moves, although he is guilty of over handling the puck and getting too cute at times .. not the biggest player at 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but he never shies away from contact and successfully maintains his footing and possession after being checked .. calm and poised in possession .. defensive effort is there, as he often backchecks so hard and quickly that he ends up facing the rush while skating backwards like a defenseman .. definitely a prospect to watch for the 2009 draft.

Matthew Stewart (2009), D, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Young defenseman that is still trying to make his game work in the USHL .. quick skater with good feet and agility .. skillful defenseman that likes to carry the puck up ice, although he can be careless at times and commit ill-advised turnovers ..undersized at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds, his defensive game is just as frail .. proactively likes to pressure the opposition and take away time and space, however this often leads to him being caught in transition and on the wrong side of the puck in his own end .. takes himself out of defensive positioning too often and can be sucked to the outside giving the opposition a free-lane to the inside too easily .. one of the youngest players in the USHL, Stewart's skill-set is intriguing but he will need to add strength and refine his defensive game to warrant draft consideration next year.

Danny Hobbs (NYR), LW, Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets

Statistically much improved this season, although his on-ice play does not reflect that .. a powerful straight-line skater with a fast top gear and a strong stride .. lacks a dynamic explosion out of the gates and his agility is still a bit rough .. owns a heavy wristshot with an adequate sense of timing around the goal .. does not possess the high-end finesse to excel in an east/west style of game, instead he's most effective using his speed and decent size to bull his way up and down the ice .. needs work defensively and must compete with more fortitude in the battle areas, as Hobbs can surprisingly be beaten one-on-one off the wall with relative ease .. committed to the University of Massachusetts, Hobbs is a fast winger with a good shot that may sink or float at a higher level of play.