WHL Report: Kamloops Blazers

McKeens correspondent Matt Bugg weighs in from the WHL with a look at the Kamloops Blazers. Dylan Willick and Tyler Hansen, both eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, as well as Logan McVeigh and Brady Gaudet - both eligible in 2012 - are featured.

Dylan Willick (2011), C/RW, Kamloops

With numerous injuries to the Kamloops roster, he is starting to differentiate himself from both teammate and age group .. defensively, Willick is improving by leaps and bounds every game .. utilized in all situations, from first-unit penalty kill time to 4-on-4 and to action in a tie game with seconds remaining .. made a key stick save on an empty net at the beginning of a recent overtime game that led to a Blazers rush and eventual goal .. always displays excellent hustle away from the puck, and works hard despite his smallish frame to harass the puckcarrier .. skating is fluid and technically sound, allowing him to follow the play seamlessly .. offensively, Willick is starting to get away from forcing plays one-on-one .. now mixes up offensive zone penetration attempts with dump-ins and long-range shots .. showing increased confidence around the net, and is slipping into prime scoring areas with regularity .. while one should still likely be concerned about his lack of consistent offense to date, he has out-performed similar defensive specialists at the same age and could be an 80-90 point scorer next year with additional mass and hunger in the offensive zone.

Tyler Hansen (2011), D, Kamloops

Big defenseman (6-foot-3), continues to establish himself as one of the WHL's most under-appreciated talents .. smart, poised player in one-on-one situations, and only encounters misadventures when forced to skate the puck without linemate support .. not a player to bite on half-moves and fakes, and leverages his mobility to remain lock-step with a forward .. in the event he does lose body position, he will make the smart play and gobble up rebounds, rather than continue to chase the shooter into the corner - a bad habit of young defenders .. blossoming into a wonderful skater for a big man .. although his stride could be longer, Hansen has become more agile and sure on his feet, and the result is quick, hard steps that generate plenty of speed .. offensively, he is earning more and more touches with the puck, and flashes a strong outlet pass when able to use it .. hard, slow slapshot, and this weapon would generate more offense if used with greater frequency .. in the span of a few months, Hansen has gone from borderline player of interest to a bona fide late pick .. players with his size, strength and intelligence are a rarity, and the big man may very well surprise in Minneapolis by having his name called in the middle of the Draft.

Logan McVeigh (2012), C, Kamloops

Former 2nd overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft enjoying a banner year .. member of Team West at the U17s, where he tallied five points in five games .. former Saskatoon Contacts midget star acquitting himself well in early major junior action, despite limited icetime and production .. utilized as Kamloops' fourth-line center, with no additional special teams time .. excellent and willing shot-blocker, and clogs up passing lanes in his defensive zone with regularity .. a team-first player, and communicates well with his defensemen in establishing the breakout .. strong on faceoffs, and scrambles the draw with expert proficiency if he cannot win it cleanly .. while not a pure offensive dynamo, McVeigh creates his opportunities with heads-up pass interceptions and deceptively quick hands .. has demonstrated a hard, fast release, but at 6-feet and 180 lbs, he must gain mass if he is to survive in the crease where he likes to stake out position for rebounds and deflections .. has grown from 5'5 to 5'7 to 6'0 over the last three summers, so there is likely still untapped growth.. skating ability is also a rub.. could use additional lateral agility and explosiveness, as he does yet own enough to make quick directional changes in mid-flight.

Brady Gaudet (2012), D, Kamloops

Intriguing mix of high-end puck skills, vision and skating ability harkens back to former great WHL quarterbacks such as Kris Russell and Thomas Hickey .. a relatively solid 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds .. aggressive and willing to take a penalty to ensure players give him the necessary respect and space to work .. oozes confidence with the puck on his stick .. has already mastered the art of hiding the puck with his blade just prior to a pass so opposing players cannot easily guess its destination .. passes the puck with hard, slick feeds that sail effortlessly up ice .. although he skates with a shorter stride than most smaller players, he owns quick feet and is lithe when navigating through traffic .. despite having played just 46 games, Gaudet sits second on the Blazers roster in goals from the defense .. loves to pinch when set up in the offensive zone, and owns a high-powered wristshot that can handcuff goalies .. here, again, displays his penchant for not telegraphing shots or passes, and appears to own excellent peripheral vision .. defensively, he has trouble reading dump-ins correctly off the wall .. often chases the puck at the wrong angle and leaves himself open to losing footraces for the puck, even with his speed advantage .. also tends to panic when his passes are intercepted or otherwise sent back the other way .. freezes momentarily and thus, further worsens odd-man breaks .. represented Team West at the U17s where he potted two assists in five games.