NHL Eyes OHL Talent

By Paul Krotz/OHL

OHL fans reviewing NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings should recognize a few names.

The list, which was released Wednesday morning, features 65 OHL players among the 236 ranked prospects that make up the North American Skaters and Goaltenders eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft which takes place June 22 in Pittsburgh.

The 65 OHL players include 53 skaters and 12 goaltenders which equal over a quarter of the players that appear in the rankings with all 20 OHL member clubs represented including the Windsor Spitfires who lead the CHL with eight players ranked.

Furthermore, 13 of the 65 OHL players are slated in the top-30 headlined by Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting who recently earned a silver medal with Russia at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

“He’s a dynamic player who plays with offensive energy. He wants the puck and he loves to score,” NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. “But what he’s learning now is how to play the game without the puck; he’s not an individual player and he has a pretty good sense of responsibility.”

While it is certain that Yakupov’s name will be among the first chosen in June, players such as Radek Faksa of the Kitchener Rangers (4), Olli Maata of the London Knights (6), Brendan Gaunce of the Belleville Bulls (11), and Matt Finn of the Guelph Storm (15) have all impressed scouts so far this season and have been rewarded with top-15 rankings to date.

The same can be said for OHL goaltenders including the Bulls’ Malcolm Subban, who currently leads the league with a 1.93 goals-against-average and a .938 save percentage earning him top spot among North American goaltenders.

“Subban’s got phenomenal quickness, athleticism and flexibility,” Central Scouting’s Al Jensen told NHL.com. “He’s aggressive and consistent. He can make the big save to either hold his team in the game or to keep the lead. He’s very confident and smart at reading plays developing in front of him.”

The draft eligible crop of OHL netminders is strong after Subban who is listed just ahead of Matthew Murray of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (2), Jake Paterson of the Saginaw Spirit (5), and Daniel Altshuller of the Oshawa Generals (7).

Despite the OHL talent spread throughout the rankings, one dynamic OHL star was absent from the list. The Sting’s Alex Galchenyuk, who has not played yet this season due to injury, was not ranked after appearing second among OHL skaters in the preliminary rankings released in November.

“One element for Galchenyuk is the fact he played last year, and going into this season he was already recognized as one of the top prospects,” Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr, told NHL.com. “I think most of the teams are pretty comfortable in knowing the type of player they’ll be getting. Obviously you’d like to see him play during his draft year, but the scouts and general managers are going to be more concerned with how the surgery went, what type of surgery it was and how the recovery process is going along.”

Although it may be too early to suggest a record showing by the OHL in the upcoming draft, fans can certainly be excited about this year’s group and the possibilities that may unfold.

Last season’s midterm rankings, for example, only had 10 OHL players projected in the top-30 before 11 heard their names called in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota. Those 11 players helped pave the way for a total of 46 OHL players selected last season that matched 2008 as the OHL’s best draft since 1999 when 52 were selected. Last season the CHL also matched a record set in 1998 with 21 first round selections.

The OHL’s top prospects will have the opportunity to showcase their skills among the CHL’s best in three weeks time at the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game February 1 in Kelowna live on Sportsnet.