Making the Jump: OHL talent getting accustomed to NHL
The next wave of NHL talent features strong OHL representation as 10 grads who skated in the league last year, many of whom are eligible to return, have had their first taste of the world’s premier hockey league.
Making the jump isn’t easy, but these exceptional talents are getting themselves noticed as they make a case for permanent NHL roster spots in 2016-17.
JAKOB CHYCHRUN (Sarnia Sting) – Arizona Coyotes
We begin in the desert, where Jakob Chychrun is one of four recent OHL faces bidding for a role with the Arizona Coyotes this season.
Chychrun, who was Arizona’s first round (16th overall) pick this past summer, made his NHL debut at the age of 18 on Saturday, registering an assist while playing 12:09 in a 4-3 overtime win over Philadelphia.
First @NHL game.
First @NHL point.Congrats @j_chychrun7 & @10_CD! #NHLFirsts pic.twitter.com/xDZ33AnLpZ
— Yotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 16, 2016
“It’s very exciting but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Chychrun told coyotes.com’s Dave Vest after learning he’d been named to the club’s opening night roster. “I’m hoping this is just the beginning, I’m going to treat it like that, still come in every day and work just as hard if not harder. You have to fight just to make the lineup every night. You have to act like a pro, you have to go about your business every day and continue to get better. You can’t be complacent.”
LAWSON CROUSE (Kingston Frontenacs) – Arizona Coyotes
Another of the Coyotes’ prized OHL possessions is power winger Lawson Crouse who they acquired in an offseason trade with the Florida Panthers.
The Kingston Frontenacs flank earned a spot with Arizona out of training camp, making his NHL debut on Oct. 15 in a 4-3 overtime win over Philadelphia. Crouse saw 5:36 of icetime in his debut, a figure that jumped to 11:01 on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
#ARI20NA puck for @LawCrouse for his first career @NHL game! pic.twitter.com/4s5RJI5io3
— Yotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 16, 2016
“My goal all summer long was to make the NHL this year,” he told Vest. “When I got traded to Arizona that didn’t change. I was just trying to do whatever I could to come in here and send a good message and show them that I don’t want to get sent home and that I want to be here all year long.”
CHRISTIAN DVORAK (London Knights) – Arizona Coyotes
A big piece of London’s Mastercard Memorial Cup championship last season, Christian Dvorak, who led the OHL with 52 goals and was a first team all-star in 2015-16, made his NHL debut on Oct. 15, collecting an assist in 16:17 of icetime against Philadelphia.
.@10_CD on Rookie Camp: “It’s a special group of guys & nice to compete against them. It only makes you get better.” pic.twitter.com/qBbmJf1uIx
— Dave Vest (@davest4yotes) September 18, 2016
Dvorak, who took on a leadership role at Coyotes rookie camp in September, has noticed intricacies to the NHL game early in his pro career.
“There’s not a lot of room out there compared to junior,” he told NHL.com’s Mike Brophy. “There’s not too much space to make plays, so you have to think quicker out there. There are smarter players in the pro game, and it’s definitely a step ahead.”
DYLAN STROME (Erie Otters) – Arizona Coyotes
A former Eddie Powers Trophy recipient and marquee player in Erie, Dylan Strome is looking to stick with the Coyotes as a 19-year-0ld and got off to a good start on Tuesday, collecting an assist in his NHL debut. The Coyotes fell 7-4 to the Ottawa Senators, but Strome saw 14:13 in icetime, assisting on a goal by Kitchener Rangers graduate Tobias Rieder in the first period.
When your dream comes true. pic.twitter.com/tMgFWhyvAA
— Yotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 19, 2016
“It’s where I wanted to be,” Strome told Vest after making the opening night roster. “Now it’s about getting in the lineup and playing every day and being a good pro. Hopefully, I can get into some games and show them that I deserve to be a pro for the whole year.”
TRAVIS KONECNY (Sarnia Sting) – Philadelphia Flyers
Former first overall OHL Priority Selection choice Travis Konecny is off to a bang in the NHL, recording four assists over his first three games with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The buzzsaw winger opened up his pro career with a pair of assists on Oct. 14 as the Flyers took a 4-2 road win in Los Angeles. He added a helper in an overtime loss in Arizona a night later and picked up an assist in Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Konecny has played over 13 minutes in all three contests.
First goal (season) – Sean Couturier
First assist (career) – @traviskonecny#PHIvsLAK pic.twitter.com/ZusN3B2gHI— NHL (@NHL) October 15, 2016
Konecny, as well as Brandon Wheat Kings talent Ivan Provorov, was informed by Flyers GM Ron Hextall that the club expects to keep him around for the long haul.
“That was the biggest thing for me in that meeting,” Konecny told flyers.com’s Brian Smith. “Obviously I still have to perform and do what I had to do to make the roster each and every day. But hearing it’s not a nine-game tryout kind of gave me the relief to relax a little bit, settle in and just play my game and have fun and enjoy the moment.”
MITCH MARNER (London Knights) – Toronto Maple Leafs
After skating 17:36 with six shots on goal in his NHL debut on Oct. 12, Mitch Marner connected for his first NHL goal in Saturday’s win over Boston.
The reigning CHL Player of the Year and Mastercard Memorial Cup MVP has seen plenty of ice with the Leafs so far, bringing the fans to their feet in the club’s home opener on Saturday.
Mitch Marner has his first #NHL goal for the @MapleLeafs. pic.twitter.com/YriH1zAOrU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 15, 2016
A little souvenir for Mitch Marner. #TMLtalk #StandWitness pic.twitter.com/zC0BxXqbbR
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 16, 2016
Saturday’s unforgettable jersey retirement and recognition of some of the franchise’s all-time greats is still resonating with Marner, who is proud to wear the maple leaf.
“It was pretty crazy seeing all the people that have played for this team and how they’re still remembered by the city,” he told mapleleafs.com’s Adam Proteau. “Obviously everyone wants to be a part of that one day in their life, and I think we really made an impact in that game and showed what we’re about.”
MIKHAIL SERGACHEV (Windsor Spitfires) – Montreal Canadiens
Reigning OHL Defenceman of the Year Mikhail Sergachev made his NHL debut on Oct. 13 vs. Buffalo, playing 11:48 in the 4-1 win. After being out of the lineup on Saturday against Ottawa, Sergachev skated 8:30 in a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Montreal’s first round (9th overall) pick last summer, Sergachev is eager to make an impression with the Habs. His family was able to make it to Montreal’s home opener, braving the long trek from Nizhnekamsk, Russia for the special occasion.
The @CanadiensMTL are slotting an 18-year-old @sergachev31 into their opening-night lineup.https://t.co/i9n8FhttKW
— NHL (@NHL) October 11, 2016
“It’s the best moment of my life and of their lives, too,” he told canadiens.com’s Matt Cudzinowski. “They put me in hockey. I’m their son and they’re so proud of me. This is special.”
Sergachev has been paired alongside fellow Russian rearguard Alexei Emelin.
BLAKE SPEERS (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) – New Jersey Devils
A former third round pick by the Devils in 2015, Blake Speers continues his ascent to the NHL, making his debut on Oct. 13 in a 2-1 loss in Florida. He returned to the lineup on Saturday, skating 12:50 in a loss to Tampa Bay.
The Greyhounds’ captain, Speers comes off a 74-point (26-48–74) season in 2015-16.
We’re thinking of our #Captain today, as he’s set to make his @NHL debut with @NJDevils. Excited to add your name to the Wall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/8isPIy4fLm
— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) October 13, 2016
“It was a pretty cool moment to call them and tell them I’d made the NHL,” Speers told the Sault Star’s Peter Ruicci about informing his parents about the news that he’d made New Jersey’s roster. “Honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in. It’s been a pretty crazy ride, but I couldn’t be any happier. This is nothing short of a dream come true.”
PAVEL ZACHA (Sarnia Sting) – New Jersey Devils
Though he made his NHL debut at the end of last season, former first round (6th overall) pick Pavel Zacha is determined to be a central part of New Jersey’s success this season.
Through three games this season, the big Czech centreman has one assists and hasn’t seen less than 11 minutes of icetime in a contest.
#tbt my first NHL win ???? @NJDevils @NHL pic.twitter.com/7j78fSC9dR
— Pavel Zacha (@Pavel_Zacha) April 20, 2016
MATTHEW TKACHUK (London Knights) – Calgary Flames
Last year’s Mastercard Memorial Cup overtime hero picked up his first OHL goal on Tuesday, helping the Calgary Flames defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime.
Matthew Tkachuk has skated in four NHL games after making his debut on Oct. 12. The London Knights winger has skated in no less than 10 minutes in any of the four games, recording a total of eight shots on goal.
A moment @TKACHUKycheese_ will never forget. pic.twitter.com/e0g4JrryZ5
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 19, 2016
.@TKACHUKycheese_ with the puck from his first @NHL goal! pic.twitter.com/5h31LvywiY
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 19, 2016
“I’ll probably give the puck to my parents next time they’re here and they can take it back to St. Louis,” Tkachuk told flames.com post-game. “It feels great. I’m just trying to be out there and getting involved in everything.”
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