ITO Hot-Stove: Who is the best draft eligible player in the Ontario Hockey League?

Considering we at InTheORadio.com have been debating who the best teams and goaltenders in the league are as of late, I figured it was time to examine who the best  draft eligible player in the OHL is. There was one condition: nobody could select Nail Yakupov as most, if not all of us, would select him which would make the Hot-Stove pretty plain. Joining me in this week's hot-stove is Thayne Hallyburton, Jason Ray, Brandon Sudeyko, Phil Phillips and Alex Quevillon.

Without further ado I'd like to introduce you all to this week's debate question: who is the best draft eligible player in the OHL (besides Nail Yakupov)?

Todd Cordell

My choice for this question will be another member of the Sarnia Sting (go figure). I'm going to go with Alex Galchenyuk. He has all the tools you look for in a player and took the OHL by storm last year. His skill set is unbelievable and his hockey IQ is through the roof. I truly believe that if he were healthy and had been playing all season long he'd be up there with Yakupov and Mikhail Grigorenko. Luckily for Galchenyuk, there's a solid chance that he can return to the Sting's lineup in time for the end of the regular season and their playoff run.

Thayne Hallyburton

Matt Finn.

I know people will look at a high-end guy like Alex Galchenyuk or Cody Ceci but Matt Finn is so dynamic. He is the best all-round defender
available in this draft besides Ryan Murray. He has an innate ability to find space on the ice. He is like a veteran down low in how he handles guys much bigger than him. Finn also has a lot of offensive upside, as he matures, so too will his shot and he will begin to jump into the rush even more. You can see his confidence growing over time and as it grows he will start to take a few more risks. Matt Finn's game is extremely similar to Nicklas Lidstrom's game. Not a bad guy to be compared to.

Jason Ray

I have to say Malcolm Subban of the Belleville Bulls. This is a deep draft so there's going too be a ton of offensive and defensive talent. But Malcolm Subban looks like this kid is going too be a stud in between the pipes. Ask the Tampa Bay Lightning how important goaltending is. As most of you know, they went from a deep playoff run too "see ya" - back too the basement they went.

Brandon Sudeyko

While other players are making them case, I still believe in the Sarnia Duo as 1-2 from the OHL. Yes a Subban is close, a few defenceman even. But after what Alex achieved last year, how do you discredit what he is? You saw him as a 16 year old completely destroy the competition. He was bigger and stronger than the year prior. Yes, he has played what 3 games this season? Take a look at his high ceiling of potential and talent. No one can come close to it (except Nail). Where several players can move up and down while playing, I don't find any reason to keep yo-yoing Galchenyuk. Number 2 in the OHL hands down. Could have been one but injuries happen.

Phil Phillips

The best draft eligible OHL player other than Nail Yakupov is Belleville Bulls Center Brendan Gaunce.

Gaunce has what it takes to become an NHL player, both on and off the ice, from skills, to diet, to attitude, he's the real deal and will play in the NHL. Its up to him whats role he plays when he gets there. Brendan is a big (6'2" 215lbs), physical forward who has speed and scoring touch but also plays well defensively. He thrives playing under Coach George Burnett and his two way system. He will join the impressive list of Forwards that Burnett has developed, like Keith Primeau, Manny Malhotra, Nathan Horton, and former Bulls Shawn Matthias, and Matt Beleskey. If he adds a little more grit to his game.

Brendan put up 55 goals and 93 assists in 86 games in 09-10.  Great totals that made him the highest-scoring player of his age in Ontario that season. That season also seen him captain the same minor midget team, the Markham Waxers, he grew up watching his brother Cameron Gaunce a Colorado draft pick play for. Brendan won a Gold Medal with Team Canada in 2011 at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. This season he was invited to play and wear an "A" in the Top Prospects game. He currently wears a "A" with the Belleville Bulls and is the fans pick to wear the "C" next season. Next year he will get a real good look from Team Canada's World Jr Team selection committee. "As a young man, he’s very mature, very focused, very dedicated...he doesn't have a chink in his armour." is how Bulls assistant coach Jake Grimes has described him.

He currently leads the Bulls in scoring this season. Next year even when continuing to play in a defensive system he should be a top ten OHL point producer. Every year he gets better and better at both ends of the ice, something that makes NHL teams take notice. Two way players have never been as important as they are in today's Pro Game. He fits the bill, and it would surprise few he is drafted very early this June in Pittsburgh.

Honourable Mention to Radek Faksa of the Kitchener Rangers.

Alex Quevillon

Although he isn't eligible in this question, I just have to throw in that Nail Yakupov IS the #1, and I don't know why Grigorenko is being mentioned as a candidate to go first. It's going to be the Fail for Nail with NHL teams losing now, not the fail for Mikhail. 

But after Yakupov and, potentially Galchenyuk as we haven't seen enough of him to come to a verdict, I would love to pick a defenceman but I'm going to have to go with Brendan Gaunce.  Gaunce might not be the most stunning player on the ice at all times, but he's as solid as they come at the age of 17.  Last season, scouts said that Gabriel Landeskog reminded them of Mike Richards but down the middle.  Well, I don't think Gaunce-Richards is quite a fair comparison, but I see a lot of Landeskog in Gaunce's game, of course with Brendan being a center.  Gaunce is the most NHL ready in this draft, I believe.

Honourable mention to Ceci and Koekkoek - most drafts I would peg the defenceman over the forward no matter what.  The offensive talent in this draft makes me think otherwise, but I still do believe that these two Ottawa-area-born d-men will go higher than expected.  

Will Landeskog Be the Only One to Leave the 'O' for the 'Show'?

Special Thanks to Bryan Thiel:

In the next few days, players will arrive from all parts of the globe for NHL Training Camps. It gives teams their first opportunity to take a look at new players, and find answers to the questions of why 29 of the NHL’s clubs fell short in the chase for the cup.

Their CHL counterparts have their own questions that they’re trying to answer right now, and depending on how some of their stars do at NHL camps, maybe a few more.

You see, so many things can happen in an NHL training camp, many of them with implications on junior hockey. An NHL star can go down injured and open up a spot for a hungry rookie eager for a nine-game tryout. A first-round pick once thought to need a few more years of seasoning could prove everyone wrong and evolve into a Calder candidate. Or, that undrafted training camp invite could suffer an injury, throwing a wrench into your OHL team’s championship aspirations.

The easiest example of the NHL foiling a junior hockey team’s plans is last year with the Kitchener Rangers. Following a surprise run to the Western Conference finals the previous spring, the Rangers were expecting both high-scoring winger Jeremy Morin and the physically-fluid wonderkid Jeff Skinner to be back in 2010-11. The hope was that the two would tag-team to lead the Rangers, along with future first-rounders Ryan Murphy and Gabriel Landeskog, to Mississauga for the Memorial Cup.

During the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner was expected to be a mid-first round pick, probably falling in the 15-17 range. Jim Rutherford and the Carolina Hurricanes stunned onlookers however, when they selected the athletic centre seventh overall.

That wasn’t the only surprise however.

While many pegged Skinner as too small physically to make the NHL at that time, he outshone other ‘Canes rookies in summer camps and rookie showcases. His raw talent and fluid physical abilities made him impossible to ignore during training camp, so much so that he earned a third-line spot as an 18-year old and eventually worked his way up to top-six minutes.

Skinner’s departure would have been fine had the Rangers been left with Morin. But an off-season trade sending his rights to the Chicago Blackhawks and a new ruling passed down allowing Morin to play in the AHL following his time in the US Developmental System made sure that wouldn’t happen. Chicago sent Morin to Rockford, Skinner went on to win the Calder, and the Kitchener Rangers sat there shell-shocked. They were more-than-willing to admit that they had been preparing to live life without one of their stars. But both? Surprise…

This year NHL camps are full of similar questions, some of which have already been met with answers that rubbed some the wrong way.

The Rangers were in the middle of a summer whirlwind again when Import Winger and Captain Gabriel Landeskog was drafted second-overall by the Colorado Avalanche. With both Landeskog and Tobias Rieder filling the two Import Selection spots and Landeskog deemed the most-likely prospect to make and stick in the NHL, the Rangers were forced to decide whether they would keep Gabe on the roster, occupying both a roster and import slot, or release him and draft another Import. Kitchener did the later when they deleted Landeskog from their roster and drafted Czech Radek Faksa to avoid being hamstrung once again.

Along with Landeskog, questions surround some of the OHL’s brightest stars on the best teams. Niagara’s Ryan Strome has already turned heads on Long Island, and if he impresses the New York Islanders any more, he could find himself in a spot similar to Skinner’s last year. While it’s likely that Boston’s deep blueline will ensure that Dougie Hamilton will be back with the Ice Dogs this season, how deep in to camp is Hamilton kept? It depends how enamored the Bruins become with their ninth-overall ‘steal’, and who knows? Deep team or not, they may still want a first-hand look at the well-rounded blueliner.

The Ottawa Senators had a big haul in the first round of the NHL draft, landing Plymouth’s Stefan Noesen and Peterborough’s Matt Puempel three picks apart. While people rave about the player taken ahead of them by the Sens, Mika Zibanejad, on a roster that’s fairly underwhelming there could be room for one of the two OHL’ers to get a trial if they have a strong camp.

And how about this? The London Knights, who are quickly becoming a trendy pick to win the Midwest, could be in the same position with towering defenseman Jarred Tinordi as the Rangers were with Morin last year. You may remember that Tinordi went to London last year following his time in the USNTDP. It could happen with Jack Campbell too, but is far less likely.

So as you wonder whether your team has the pieces to make it all the way, your new drafts picks will have an immediate impact or you’ll have to wait a little bit for them to come along, or that overage goalie will lead your team of young upstarts to a couple of upsets, keep in mind that not all of the questions are right in front of you. Some of them will end up coming from above.

The 2011/12 Kitchener Rangers

So here's the deal... I wanted to be done this by May, but due to time restrictions and travel it is happening now. For 20 days, In The O... will be looking at each OHL team and thanks to a consensus Panel will formulate what we believe the 2011/12 roster for these teams will look like. To decide this, the consensus panel first pitched who they thought, would be the OA players for the team. We then took 2 of their OHL priority Draft selections and added them to the roster. We did not look at 2010 selections in determining the roster and looked at a 13 Forward, 7 Defence and 2 Goalie system, thus leaving 8 player cards open for each team. We did not look at trades or other additions to the roster. Just simply took the 10/11 Roster and made minor changes. Sounds simple doesn't it... here is what In The O... projects as the roster for... The Kitchener Rangers

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Over Age Players - Jonathon Jasper, Cody Sol, Michael Catenacci
OA's Cut - Tyler Randell, Jerry D'Amigo, Michael Hasson, Chad Lowry, Julian Melchiori, Ryan Lopes, Brandon Maxwell
2011 Priority Draft Selections - Brent Pederson (F), Justin Bailey (D)

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Goaltenders - Mike Morisson & ? - It is unknown if this was primarily triggered by the Playoff run, or the actual consideration that he will likely be in the AHL next season, but most believed Brandon Maxwell would not be returning and it would be Morisson's crease.

Defence - Evan McEneny, Ryan Murphy, Cody Sol, Jonathon Jasper & Justin Bailey - a depleted blueline based on who the Rangers will lose this upcoming season. As ITO shows there will be 5 blueliners ready to go from the current roster so Steve Spott will have to pull some draftee's in or a trade or two to sure up the back end.

Forwards - Tobias Reider, Michael Catenacci, Eric Ming, Zach Lorentz, Ben Thompson, Ryan MacLean, Andrew Crescenzi, Matia Marcantuoni, Gabriel Landeskog & Brent Pederson - A lot of familiar names but new roles for most. It is also a concern as to the return of Gabriel Landeskog. With 10 players ready to suit up Steve Spott again, will have some work to do in terms of gearing up. or just putting bodies in play.

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That is it... Just that simple. This is just a quick look at who could be on the team, with the importance placed on who will be playing as an OA or who will be cut from the Team.