Tag Archives: Prospects

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, Prospects

Prospect Profile: Oil Country

My final edition of Prospect Profile is one that I’ve been waiting to put together since I started the series early this summer. I’m a huge Oil Kings fan, and it so happens that the Oilers have quite a few former members of the WHL team in their system, all of which were huge parts of the Oil Kings that won two WHL Championships in three years, and a Memorial Cup. Some have been drafted directly from the Oil Kings, and others have come to the Oilers after being drafted by other organizations. But they should all be familiar faces to hockey fans in Oil Country.

 

Griffin Reinhart

Connor McDavid wasn’t the only exciting addition to the Oilers on draft day this year. To go along with the 1st overall pick, the Oilers also had the 16th overall, which was acquired from the Penguins in the David Perron trade. As the Oilers were on the clock to draft a player, it was announced that the 16th pick, along with the 33rd pick, had been traded to the New York Islanders for Griffin Reinhart. Drafted 4th overall by the Islanders in 2012, Reinhart was a key piece on the blue line for the Oil Kings, captaining the team to consecutive WHL Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014, winning in the latter year before going on to capture the Memorial Cup. Prior to that, he helped the Oil Kings win the WHL Championship in 2012 as well. There are many who feel that if not for Reinhart being injured in 2013, the Oil Kings very well could have won three consecutive championships.

Following his Memorial Cup Championship, Reinhart turned pro, playing a majority of his games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, before making his NHL debut with the Islanders late in the 2014/15 season, picking up his first NHL point in those 8 games. While there are many who have criticized Reinhart’s first year as a pro, you only need to compare his AHL numbers to his WHL numbers to see that, while he didn’t light the world on fire, he stayed consistent along his career. His AHL totals were 7-15-22 in 59 games. In comparison, Reinhart’s best season with the Oil Kings was in 2011-12, were he went 12-24-36 in 58 games.

It’s going to be an interested camp for Reinhart in somewhat of a home coming. While it’s expected he’s be around until the final cuts are made, more than likely Reinhart debuts in Bakersfield this season. Not a bad thing at all. My feeling is that he and Nurse should both start the year in the AHL, unless they have stellar camps. I’m excited by the prospect of Reinhart and Nurse being THE guys for the Oilers in the near future.

 

Mitch Moroz

Mitch Moroz suffers from his draft position. Taken 32nd in 2012, there seems to be unfair expectations cast upon the young forward. Be that as it may, Moroz was an emotional lightning rod for the Oil Kings, and a fan favorite as well. Not afraid to drop the gloves, Moroz was the ultimate team guy on those Oil King championship teams. His final three years in junior saw him accumulate over 400 PIM, but also over 100 points. His best season was in the Memorial Cup Championship year of 2013/14, when Moroz registered 35-28-63 in 70 games. It was this same year that saw the Oil Kings rally around the tragic loss of one of Moroz’s closest friends, former Oilers prospect Kristians Pelss, who passed away the previous summer. Moroz can be seen in the team photo holding Pelss’s jersey, who also got his name on the Memorial Cup that year.

His pro debut did not seem to fair as well as his junior swan song however. Moroz  had a tough time adjusting to the AHL game, picking up only 9 points in 66 games with the Oklahoma City Barons. Many are viewing this as a draft bust, which is truly unfair to someone in their first year of pro. Moroz needs time in the AHL to really find his groove in the pro game, as it is a different experience compared to playing junior hockey.

Like I mentioned, Moroz is a victim of draft position. His play thus far is not in line with what is basically considered a late 1st rounder. But had Moroz gone in the third round, would people be as critical? I view Moroz as a player who has a chance to become much like his mentor, Ryan Smyth. He’s not the prettiest player on the ice, but he puts the team first, and is all heart. Hopefully a few years in the minors can help get Moroz ready to step into the Oilers line up, and bleed copper and blue.

 

Martin Gernat

The clock may almost be up on Martin Gernat. Drafted by the Oilers in 2011, Gernat was another key piece on the blue line when the Oil Kings won their first WHL Championship in 2012, putting up 9-46-55 in 60 games. The following year saw his season shortened to only 23 games with an injury, but he made it back to the line up in time to help the Oil Kings make another run to the WHL Finals, falling to the Portland Winterhawks in six games, after defeating them the year before.

Gernat would turn pro the following season, missing out on the WHL Championship rubber match between the two teams later that year. Things seemed to be on track for Gernat, as he came into his first AHL season, and posted 21 points in 57 games, including 4 goals. However, the next season saw some regression from Gernat, as he only managed 9 points in 54 games.

The writing may be on the wall for Martin Gernat at this point. He’s seen other players such as Oscar Klefbom and Martin Marincin get call up consideration before him. And now with Darnell Nurse and Reinhart in the mix, it’s going to be even harder for Gernat to move up the depth chart. As much as I would like to see him succeed and make his Oilers debut, it’s possibly time to cut ties with the Slovakian defender. Until then however, here’s hoping he has a bounce back season this year in Bakersfield, and can help mentor a couple of the young defencemen who may find themselves there.

 

David Musil

He wasn’t an Oil King for long, but it was long enough for David Musil to collect a pair of championship rings to close out his junior career. Drafted 31st overall in 2011, Musil was a member of the Vancouver Giants for three years, before an early season trade added him to the Oil Kings blue line. Now playing in the city that saw his father, Frank Musil, have so much success, Musil offered immediate stability to a team that saw so many key defenders turn pro over the summer.

Musil himself would go pro in the summer of 2014, following the Memorial Cup win. His first year saw him post 12 points in his 61 games with OKC. Respectable numbers for a shut down defenseman who saw his best totals in 2009-10, putting up 7-25-32 in 71 games with the giants. The following year saw much of the same, as Musil would go 2-9-11 in 65 games with the Barons. Again, not stellar numbers, but his play was good enough to warrant a 4 game stint with the Oilers, making his NHL debut amongst a number of injuries. Musil would pick up two assists in his brief time with the Oilers.

This looks to be a significant year for Musil. Much like Gernat, he’s going to find it hard to gain on the depth chart now with blue chippers Nurse and Reinhart in the fold. That being said, he’s had a taste of NHL hockey, and acclimated himself well to it. While I would say there is a bit of a chance he sees NHL ice again this year, depending on how player health pans out, Musil will be better served playing big minutes in Bakersfield, taking on more of a veteran leadership role.

 

Laurent Brossoit

The Oilers have long needed a top goalie prospect to call their goalie of the future. The good news was there was just such a player on the ice almost nightly in Rexall Place. The bad news was he was a Flames prospect. Cue the Ladislav Smid trade, and welcome Laurent Brossoit to the organization. Brossoit was the anchor for the Oil Kings teams that made runs in 2012 and 2013, helping win the WHL Championship in 2012, and collecting the MVP award while he was at it.

Brossoit is the real deal in my estimation. The addition of Cam Talbot this off season is a blessing for Brossoit, who should be getting the bulk of the workload this year in Bakersfield. Talbot should help solidify the crease, and keep it warm for Brossoit as her continues to develop. I expect Brossoit to be the backup on this team as early as next season, and could see split time as soon as two years from now. I’m extremely high on Brossoit as a goalie, as should the rest of Oil Country after seeing him make his NHL debut with an outstanding effort last season, despite suffering the loss.

 

And this will conclude my 8 part Prospect Profile. I hope everyone enjoyed what I had to offer over the summer. There’s not a lot of news to cover on the prospect side of things between the draft and the start of camp. As this goes up, we’ve already concluded the Penticton rookie tournament, that saw many of these players get in front of Oilers fans for the first time. Next up will be the annual Oilers Rookies vs Alberta Golden Bears game, followed by the start of the main camp. As training camp progresses, we’ll get a better idea of where this players will be during the upcoming season. Stay tuned to beerleagueheroes.com all season long, as I’ll be providing a weekly round up of Oilers prospect performances. And don’t forget to check out all the great content found on the site, including the ongoing Season Primer series, which is profiling all 30 teams. Hockey season is almost here. Enjoy it Oil Country.

 

Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

WHL Players to Watch

Another exciting season of WHL hockey is right around the corner, and with main camps kicking off this week, the anticipation of opening night is almost unbearable. There are tons of enticing storylines to watch for as the season gets underway, and the one I will be watching the closest is how the 2016 draft eligibles will perform. Over at DraftGeek.ca, we currently list six WHL’ers in our top thirty which is somewhat underwhelming, however I fully expect to see Sam Steel, Tyler Benson, and Jake Bean’s stock rise over the course of the year, meaning we could see three WHL players in the top ten come draft week. Aside from the draft eligibles, there’s a laundry list of players to keep an eye on this season for a number of different reasons.

Mathew Barzal (C) – Seattle Thunderbirds

After an injury plagued campaign in 2015, Mathew Barzal has possibly the most to prove out of any Western Hockey League player. Barzal will be a huge threat this year as his elite level puck skills and vision make him a dangerous junior hockey player. The T-Birds are a team on the rise with a good, young core in place; it’s possible we see them take over as the top squad in the U.S division. Though they will lose veterans like Shea Theodore, Roberts Lipsbergs, and Justin Hickman, players like Nolan Volcan, Gropp, Kolesar, and Bear will be able to pick up the slack, and along with Barzal carry the team into the playoffs.

Nolan Patrick (C) – Brandon Wheat Kings

Nolan Patrick may be the next superstar to come from the WHL. Since Ryan Nugent Hopkins, the WHL has lacked in elite talent near the top of the draft order, and I’m not saying they haven’t been producing great talent, there just hasn’t been a Jonathan Toews or Steven Stamkos level prospect come around for a while. That changes with Nolan Patrick. I believe he’s the next one. Nolan brings a unique package to the Wheat Kings in that he’s as good of a goal scorer as he is a puck distributor. He has a big frame and gets around the ice extremely well. The Wheaties will push for a memorial cup this season, and it will be on the back of Nolan Patrick.

Carter Hart (G) – Everett Silvertips

The 2014/15 season was an interesting one for the young netminder. Playing behind a veteran goaltender usually means you won’t see a ton of starts, and it’ll be a while before you see time as a regular. Carter had a different story to write. After unseating Austin Lotz as the starter late into the season, Hart ran with the starting gig throughout the playoffs posting a .929 save percentage along the way. Coming off a gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, expect Carter to come into the season with a ton of confidence. Without anyone to really push for the job, I fully expect Carter to run with the job and finish top 10 in the league.

Conner Bleackley (C) – Red Deer Rebels

It wouln’t be a huge surprise to see Bleackley stick around in Colorado this season, but with the additions of Carl Soderberg and Mikhail Grigorenko, it’s more likely he suits up for the Rebels this season. With a lack of game breaking forwards up front, Bleackley will be heavily relied upon as the key offensive spark plug for the Mem Cup hosts. Conner is a strong two way player who isn’t necessarily considered an offensive minded player, but this will be the year we get to watch him emerge as a dominant junior hockey player. If all goes well for Conner, his offensive totals will be in the 70 point range. If he can prove to be a reliable point producer this season, it’s likely he’s brought in as a third line NHL’er next season.

Of course there are a ton of players who will play key roles on their clubs this season, but if I were to list every player who’s poised to have a breakout campaign I’d be writing for weeks. In a year that almost any team will be able to push for a playoff spot, I think this will be a very exciting season, and I can’t wait to get things rolling.

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Prospects

Prospect Profile: In the Crease

Part Five of my Prospect Profile series looks at a handful of young goaltenders in the Oilers system. Goaltending is easily the most important position on a hockey team. And with more teams locking up all-star goalies long term, the need to develop your own guy to be in the crease is more important than ever.

Zack Nagelvoort

At 21 years old, Zack Nagelvoort is preparing for his third year at the University of Michigan. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 Entry Draft, Nagelvoort is a goalie prospect that seems to have been lost in the shuffle by Oilers fans. At 6’2″, his height is almost below average when it comes to NHL goalies these days, as the trend has been moving towards larger goalies. That doesn’t seem to be an issue at U of Michigan, as Nagelvoort has gotten the lions share of starts in the last two seasons, posting records of 11-9-3 and 11-9-0 in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, respectively. His stats during those two years aren’t terribly impressive, with a GAA of 2.42 and a save percentage of 0.918.

There’s a big question mark, in my opinion, as to whether or not Nagelvoort is going to develop into anything for the Oilers. I personally feel he’s behind many of the prospects the Oilers have in net, including newly drafted Miroslav Svboda. He did not stand out at all during the development camp. I n fact, camp invite Jordan Paperny of the Brandon Wheat Kings had a better showing than Nagelvoort. There’s a chance that two more years in college could help. That being said, Nagelvoort wouldn’t be facing the type of competition he would need to develop into an NHL goalie. And with a bevy of goalies already signed, I don’t imagine the Oilers are going to be offering Nagelvoort a contract to come out of college anytime soon. Unfortunately, I can see this being another case of a goalie drafted by the Oilers, that turns into nothing more than a wasted draft pick.

Keven Bouchard

If there is one player in the Oilers system that would love a mulligan on last season, it’s Keven Bouchard. His stats last year playing with the Val-d’Or Foreurs were absolutely abysmal, (3.85 GAA and 0.872 S%) with a record of 15-13-5 in his 36 games. He’s a big body, but his mobility is lacking, particularly his side to side motion in the crease. Traded to Baie-Comeau Drakkar at the QMJHL Bantam draft, hopefully a change of scenery can jump start Bouchard’s development.

As with Nagelvoort, Bouchard is projecting to be another bust from the 2014 draft, after being taken in the 7th round. He’s well behind both Svboda and Laurent Brossoit, and like Nagelvoort, saw himself be outperformed by Paperny at the development camp. Honestly, I don’t really have anything else to say about this kid, other than I hope he’s able to salvage what’s left of his junior career, as I can’t see him advancing anywhere beyond that barring a major turn around.

Eetu Laurikainen

A relative dark horse when it comes to Oilers goalie prospects, one has to wonder just what Eetu Laurikainen is going to add to the system. He’s already dipped his feet into pro hockey, spending last year with the Blues of the SM-Iiiga in Finland. In his 37 games, Laurikainen compiled a record of 17-10-9, while posting a GAA of 2.10 and a 0.933 save percentage. However, Laurikainen is no stranger to the North American game, having spent two seasons with the Swift Current Broncos on the WHL. As the starter for the Broncos, Laurikainen posted both a 30 and a 25 win season.

I would imagine coming into this year, Laurikainen will be playing in Europe once again. The Oilers have three goalies coming into training camp on one-way deals, and I assume will be letting Brossoit run with the starting job in Bakersfield for the majority of the year. But it never hurts to have a goalie prospect in the system who is cutting his teeth in pro hockey, putting up respectable numbers at that.

Corey Mitchell, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Prospect Profile: Class of 2015

2 Comments

Part 3 of my summer feature, Prospect Profile, focuses on the Oilers draft class of 2015. Or rather, the players drafted in 2015 not named Connor McDavid. The significant aspect of the 2015 draft is that it was the last draft that Stu MacGregor and his staff had any input on. With so many middling prospects taken in the previous years, this was welcome news for many Oilers fans, as it signified true change continuing to happen throughout the organization. While McDavid may be the only guaranteed slam dunk of a pick, the Oilers selected some very interesting players this past June

Caleb Jones

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The younger brother of Nashville star Seth Jones, Caleb may not have the same pedigree as Seth at the moment, but that’s not to say Caleb Jones doesn’t have potential. Jones is joining the Oilers organization after having a reasonable season with the US National U18 Development Team of the USHL, posting 8 only 8 points in his 25 games, but doing so while having a +/- of 14, alluding to some decent defensive play.

But it’s really the next couple of seasons that should set the stage for where Jones will rank as an Oilers prospect. The 2015-16 season will see him take the same path Seth did, with Caleb preparing to join an outstanding program with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Along with Seth Jones, the Winterhawks have produced a significant number of stand out NHL defencemen, such as Braydon Coburn, Matt Dumba, Derrick Pouliot, and the Oiler’s own Andrew Ference. Jones should benefit greatly from the increased competition level the WHL has to offer, as I assume he will be playing top four minutes for the Winterhawks.

Jones also looks to be a big part of the US World Juinors squad for the next few years, having already been named to the camp earlier in July. The US has been building a very strong U20 program in recent years, and Jones should be prepared to take on the best the world has to offer this Christmas, as a strong showing in Portland will only help to cement his place on this year’s team.

Two strong years of increasing responsibility in major junior is going to be a huge factor in the development of Caleb Jones. While no one is going to go out and say the 4th round pick is going to match the skill level of his brother, the Oilers will be very happy if Caleb can develop into half the player Seth is. He has the pedigree for it, and comes to the team at a point where, when he is ready to compete for a spot, he’s going to have a very capable mentor in Darnell Nurse. Keep on eye on him as the 2015-16 WHL season starts up.

Ethan Bear

Taken in the 5th round of the 2015 Draft, Ethan Bear looks to be a solid prospect for the Oilers. He finished last season tied for 6th in scoring with the Seattle Thunderbirds, going 13-25-38 in 69 games. Expect those numbers to increase over the next two seasons in the WHL, as Bear should be counted on to play a bigger role with Seattle. I say two seasons, because even though he will be eligible to turn pro after this year, I really believe he would benefit from playing his overage year in junior, much as Ben Betker did. Of course, that could be contingent on how competitive Seattle is at that point, as well as how Bear progresses in his development. There is every chance the Oilers would prefer him to move into the AHL ranks to gain more experience.

While Bear isn’t the world shaking pick that McDavid was, or have the family pedigree of a Caleb Jones, I fully expect to see him with the Oilers in some capacity in the next 4-5 years. There are lots of bodies on the blue line, both on the Oilers and in the system. This gives the team the luxury of being patient with Bear, allowing him to develop his game at the major junior and minor league levels, and add the size he’s going to need to play professional hockey. He already has good strength, and a tremendous compete level, both of which I saw first hand at the development camp earlier this summer.

John Marino

It could be a very long time, if at all, until Oilers fans see John Marino wearing Oilers colors anywhere but training camps. Taken in the 6th round, Marino will be heading out to the USHL this upcoming season, to play for the Chicago Steel after two years with the South Shore Kings of the USPHL-Pr league. In those two seasons, Marino managed to tally 45 points in 83 games, which isn’t exactly lighting it up, but is also fairly respectable for a defenceman.

While the USHL should be a step up in competition for Marino, time will tell if that factor is going to help or hinder his development. For those unsure by what I mean, think of the USHL as a comparable league to the BCHL, or the AJHL. It’s Junior ‘A’ hockey, a tier below the major junior level of the CHL. As of now, he seems a bit too small for my liking to really have a legit shot at becoming an NHL defenceman. Granted, he is only 18, and still has time to grow muscle mass, but I’m thinking he projects to be a depth player for the organization at the ECHL and AHL levels. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong, as Edmonton desperately needs some of these late round picks to surprise, and not just be throw aways.

Miroslav Svoboda

Even after the acquisition of Cam Talbot at the 2015 Draft, everyone knew the Oilers had to take a goalie on the second day. Enter Miroslav Svoboda. The 6’3″ goalie immediately jumped to 2nd on the Oilers goalie prospect depth chart in my opinion, behind Laurent Brossoit. He was easily the best goalie the Oilers had at the development camp this year, looking more ready for pro hockey than either Keven Bouchard or Zach Nagalvoert. The only question is, how ready is he?

I in no way expect to see Svoboda in North America until he’s ready to jump to pro, instead playing a handful of seasons in Europe to develop. There’s also a chance he could see an invite to the Czech world junior team this season, although there’s been nothing official I can find, and is just speculation on my part at this point.

As another overage draft pick, the Oilers should be watching Svoboda closely, and can hopefully get him signed to a contract sooner rather than later, and let him continue his development in North America. Like the defensive depth, the Oilers have time to let Svoboda develop properly as a prospect. Talbot is the here and now for this team, and Brossoit isn’t too far away from being a regular with the Oilers himself. Svoboda is a player the Oilers need to take their time with, after seeing Tyler Bunz fail as a prospect, and Keven Bouchard no exactly looking all-world at this point in his young career.

Ziyat Paigin

Taken in the 7th round this year along with Miroslav Svoboda, defenseman Ziyat Paigin joins the Oilers organization as another overage pick, with a year of pro hockey in the KHL already under his belt.

Standing at 6’5″, Paigin could be one of those late round picks that really turns into something. He gets the puck on the net, has a very good shot from the point, and is extremely aware in his own zone. He had an outstanding showing this past winter at the world juniors, helping Russia to a silver medal, and looks to be poised to return to the team this year as well.

The trick for the Oilers is going to be if they can intice him to come over to North America when his contract is up. Paigin is already a full time player of Ak-Bars Kazan, and with the lack of a transfer agreement between the NHL and KHL, there’s no guarantee he even sees ice time with the Oilers or their affiliates. My hope is that isn’t the case, as it looks like Paigin has the tools to be a very capable NHL player in the future.

NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

Defenceman in the 2016 Draft

The 2016 NHL Draft will not receive the same attention from the media as the 2015 version, that being said, there’s still a lot to be excited about.

As it stands right now, there looks to be a higher talent level when it comes to defenceman. Headlined by Jakob Chychrun, the list of 2016 defenceman is quite extensive and features more than just two way defenders like we saw in the first round of the 2015 draft. Beyond Chychrun, you will see names like Chad Krys, Charlie McAvoy, Sean Day, Jake Bean, and Dante Fabbro as guys who will likely rise and inhabit a top 20 spot. Aside from those more highly touted prospects, this is also the year we see Max Lajoie, Luke Green, Olli Juolevi, Kale Clague, and Victor Mete being selected. Whether or not they’re first round selections remains to be seen, but I do believe it’s possible that we see a draft with ten defenceman being selected in round one.

Here’s a brief synopsis of what to expect from the potential first round defenceman:

Jakob Chychrun – LD – Sarnia Sting: Expect Jakob to build on what was an impressive rookie campaign. After recording 33 points and playing more minutes as the season progressed, it’s clear that the 6’2 blue liner is ready to take over the blue line in Sarnia and dominate the OHL. He does have top pairing NHL potential, as well as NHL ready size so don’t be surprised if he puts up 50 points and is relied upon as the top shutdown guy.

Chad Krys – LD – USNTDP: The 5’11 blue liner is coming off a very strong offensive season. Being in the American system, Krys jumped around to five different teams as the season unwound, but never dropped below 0.70 ppg. If Krys wants to stay in the conversation as a top 5 talent, he needs to show a commitment to playing strong in his own end, as well as continue to be dominant in the offensive zone. Expect him to be a point per game guy at each level he plays at this season.

Charlie McAvoy – RD – Boston University: As one of my favourite players in this upcoming draft, it’s hard for me to find a flaw in his game. He could always get quicker and more agile, but as it stands now, the BU commit has shown both a strong defensive zone presence as well as the ability to control offensive zone play. As he takes the next step, I’d hope to see him bring his level up to the point that he’s a top four defender at the NCAA level.

Sean Day – LD – Mississauga Steelheads: Opinions differ a ton when it comes to the 229 pound defenceman. According to some opposing players Day is soft and his skating is the only reason he’s in the O. Others believe he brings a fairly well rounded game and has shown hints of dominance. If he’s going to be in the conversation for a top 10 spot come next July, Day has to commit to controlling his own end. If he can prove to be a reliable defender, the offensive side comes naturally to him. Going into the 2016 season, he’s my biggest wildcard.

Jake Bean – LD – Calgary Hitmen: After going undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft, the Hitmen listed a potential top 20 NHL draft pick (further proving why I believe the WHL draft should be changed, but I digress), without knowing that he would progress this much. Jake had a good rookie campaign, proving he can be relied upon in both the offensive zone and defensive zone. Bean chipped in 39 points in 51 games and will look to build off that. He’s a skilled two way defender, and we’ll see if he can play at a similar level as Travis Sanheim did in his draft year.

Dante Fabbro – RD – Penticton Vees: It would be great to see the 6’2 right handed defender jump up to the WHL ranks, but he will spend the next year in Penticton meaning two things. First, there won’t be a ton of mainstream coverage. Secondly, for those who won’t get a look at him, he will likely be talked about as a two way defenceman who is good offensively. He’ll be a bit of a mystery but one thing is certain, the kid is good. He’s solid in almost every aspect, from his skating to passing. He should be able to dominate the BCHL this year.

Max Lajoie – LD – Swift Current Broncos: Lajoie had one hell of a coming out party this year as he posted 40 points in 72 games. It’s rare to see a player put up 40 points as a rookie defenceman, but it’s even more rare to see a guy play a full season without missing a single game. Lajoie looks to be rounding into a solid two way defender, but he will still need a strong outing in 2015-16 to be considered for a first round selection. Development in his case, much like the other defenders in the first round, will be seen if he is relied upon in key situations. I want to see him on the PK, and continue the offensive production we saw last season.

Luke Green – RD – Saint John Sea Dogs: After being selected first overall in the QMJHL draft, Luke Green had a decent rookie season. As an undersized defender, Green showed he’s a fairly strong offensive defender who has decent defensive instincts. The good thing for Luke is that he will be playing on a stacked Saint John team that will allow him to develop next to guys like Thomas Chabot and Jakob Zboril. I’d expect Green to post around 45 points and the Sea Dogs to finish top three in the league.

Olli Juolevi – LD – London Knights : As a player makes the transition from Europe, it’s hard to come up with an accurate prediction of how they may fair in North America. At the same age, Julius Honka posted 0.36 points per game where Juolevi (at the same age and level) recorded 0.65 ppg. Stats say very little about a player, but this is an interesting comparable. It’s a wait and see situation with Olli, but with his skating and puck moving ability, it’s likely he puts up pretty solid offensive totals in London.

Kale Clague – LD – Brandon Wheat Kings: Clague was dominant in his Midget and Bantam AAA years, but struggled with injuries in his rookie season. He’s a great – and I mean great – skater. He has good puck moving ability, and a pretty good shot. His biggest problem is the fact that he plays like he’s 5’10. In my viewings, I rarely saw him engage in body contact, and a few times saw him shy away from contact. This season will be a better test as he is likely to play more than 20 regular season games, and if Provorov ends up in Philly, he will take a larger role on a strong Wheat Kings team.

Victor Mete – LD – London Knights: After a decent rookie season, Mete looks like he will be one of the best offensive defenceman in the league in the coming years. He’s an aggressive, smooth skating defender who battles. I’d expect him to pick up his offensive numbers quite a bit given the fact he’s on a loaded London Knights squad. He’s drawn comparisons to Ryan Murphy which I find intriguing given the fact that Murphy dominated offensively during his draft season.

There are plenty more defenders who are going to be in the conversation come next June. It will be exciting to see who is the Provorov-like riser of this year, but one thing is certain, this will be a year where many teams walk away with a top four defenceman who they will be able to ride over the next 10-15 years.