By Steve Fitzsimmons /
There has been a fair amount of wheeling and dealing in the OHL in the last few weeks, with trades, free agent signings and players leaving U.S. College to join an OHL club among other things.
Trade speculation has been running high and will increase even more as we move closer to the early January OHL Trade Deadline. There could be some big deals to be had, with the possibility of C Cody Hodgson and potentially the rights to NHL D Alex Pietrangelo being moved. We’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds.
Windsor Spitfires
Talk about playing on both sides of the puck. This team has nine of the league’s top ten players for plus-minus. That is a combination of their domination offensively, but also their commitment to defensive zone coverage...RW Justin Shugg has been Mr. Clutch for the club this year. He leads all OHL players in game winning goals, with five. His efforts have earned him a ranking of 11th among all OHL players by NHL Central Scouting for the 2010 NHL Draft on their initial list.
London Knights
C Jared Knight has been diagnosed as having diabetes. He had been feeling not too well lately and this explains why. Teammate Leigh Salters is also a diabetic and should be able to help Knight adjust to the changes that will be needed, especially diet-wise, in his life. Knight has 12 goals and 18 points in 24 games and is an impressive plus-16, but was not ranked among NHL Central Scouting’s top 25 OHL Prospects for the 2010 NHL Draft.
Kitchener Rangers
Made an early strike in the trade market, picking up LW Matt Tipoff from the Belleville Bulls for C Alex Aleardi and a swapping of draft choices. Tipoff is on pace for a career season, with 12 goals and 33 points in 29 games. He had a career-high 40 points last season. Tipoff is a 1990-birthdate, which makes him an overage candidate for Kitchener next season, as well.
Saginaw Spirit
LW Jordan Skellett is the most improved player in the OHL bar none this year. Coming into the season, Skellett had a career high of 45 points, but has taken off with 13 goals and 47 points in only 27 games, good for second place behind Taylor Hall in the OHL scoring race. He also leads the OHL in assists. A former coach of his told me a few years ago that he considered Skellett one of the most skilled and underachieving players in the league. I’d say he’s reaching his potential now.
Soo Greyhounds
Have turned things around with a successful road trip that has kept them above .500 for the season. The team’s captain D Jacob Muzzin has been a revelation offensively to the club, stepping up at key times with points and with his leadership on the ice. After putting up 21 points for all of last season, Muzzin ranks among the top defencemen in the OHL, with 31 points in 26 games.
Plymouth Whalers
C Tyler Seguin was ranked first by Central Scouting among OHL players for the upcoming 2010 NHL Draft. He’s having a tremendous season thus far, with 20 goals and 40 points in 24 games. Several NHL scouts say he reminds them of Steve Yzerman, who happens to be his hockey hero...C Robbie Czarnik has joined the team, leaving the Michigan Wolverines to join the Whalers. He is a 1990-birth-year and was a third round selection of the L.A. Kings in the 2008 NHL Draft.
Guelph Storm
D Sam Lofquist has been a solid addition to the club so far, offering so offensive jam from the blue line, with seven points in eight games so far...The team has been beset with injuries, but received the welcome return of F Mike Latta, who brings a nice blend of scoring and grit to his game. The club is still without D Evgeny Molitilov and Captain Matt Kennedy. Molitilov is out until February, while Kennedy could return in the next couple weeks.
Erie Otters
C Andrew Yogan got a nice boost from NHL Central Scouting last week, being listed as the 10th-ranked prospect among OHL players for the 2010 NHL Draft. The Boca Raton, Florida-native has notched 13 goals and 27 points in 28 games this season...G Ramis Sadikov played for Team Russia at the Subway Super Series, in which Russia matched up against teams from each of the CHL’s three leagues. The youngster looked sharp and performed well in his action.
Owen Sound Attack
A very surprising omission from the Top 25 Ranked OHL Prospects by NHL Central Scouting was C Joey Hishon. Although injured currently, Hishon fashioned 81 points last season for the Attack and performed well at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in the summer...C Steven Shipley was on the C.S. list, ranked 19th. Shipley is fashioning a nice season for himself and the Attack, with seven goals and 30 points in 30 games, after notching 39 points in 63 games in his rookie season last year.
Sarnia Sting
D Nathan Chiarlitti has been a nice story for the team this season. The second-year Maple, Ont.-native had one goal in 53 games last season for the Sting, but is showing he has some offensive instincts this season. In 28 games, he’s notched three goals and nine points...first round draft choice Brett Richie is starting to look more comfortable and is performing well, with four goals and 10 points in 28 games this season.
Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors
The club has been getting the benefit of great goaltending from both of the team’s goalies. Chris Carrozzi and J.P. Anderson ranked among the league leaders in goals against, save percentage and wins as well. They have been splitting the job virtually equally thus far, with Carrozzi making 16 appearances and Anderson 13. Anderson was the fourth-ranked OHL Goalie on NHL C.S’s list of the top seven OHL goaltenders for the NHL Draft.
Barrie Colts
C Luke Pither is finally realizing the immense potential OHL scouts felt he had back in his Draft Year. Drafted fouth overall by Kingston (one spot ahead of D Drew Doughty) Pither couldn’t meet the type of expectations that went with that high selection. Now in his fifth OHL campaign, Pither is sizzling with 20 goals and 39 points in 26 games. He also leads the OHL in powerplay goals and is giving himself a serious chance at an OHL title and a potential pro opportunity with his strong play.
Brampton Battalion
A guy you don’t appreciate until you see him up close in action is C Sam Carrick. A hard working, industrious type who gives his all every shift, Carrick has fashioned 10 goals and 18 points in 28 games and is playing in key situations. The second-year Markham-native was listed 23rd on the NHL Draft rankings among OHLers, a tribute to his potential upside as a future pro player.
Peterborough Petes
A guy that’s starting to heat up is RW Zack Kassian. The Buffalo Sabres first round pick plays a strong physical game, combined with excellent offensive instincts. In 20 games, he has 19 points, but has eight points in his last five games and seems to be putting his game all together. If he gets red hot, he’s capable of a significant offensive run and leaving opposing players in his wake.
Kingston Frontenacs
Trade speculation has reached a fever pitch on D Taylor Doherty, whose been rumoured to be traded to several different teams. The rumour mill had him going to either one of Guelph or Kitchener...C Nathan Moon has been performing well for the club, with 13 goals and 32 points in 29 games. His play is also showing great improvement on the defensive side of the puck.
Ottawa 67’s
One of the hottest players in the OHL is RW Tyler Toffoli. The Scarboro, Ont.-native has cranked up the offence, with a whopping 16 points in the last six games and has 16 goals and 31 points in 25 games this season. He had 46 points last season in 54 outings as a rookie. Toffoli is ranked 14th by NHL Central Scouting, but the interesting thing is he’s creating strong numbers playing with less offensive type players as linemates than many of his draft counterparts.
Belleville Bulls
Picked up promising C Alex Aleardi from the Kitchener Rangers in a trade. The Farmington Hills, Michigan-native had nine poin |