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.  

January 18th - Mississauga Majors vs. Belleville Bulls Game Review

by Phil Phillips

On Wednesday night the Belleville Bulls needed to pull out of a slump, and the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were in town with different plans. Coming in the Bulls were 0-4 on home ice in the New Year and were yet to score a goal in the 3rd period at home. The Bulls had lost 7 of their last 8, and had just 3 wins in their last 14. They needed a win real bad, only one point separated the two teams in the tight Eastern Conference, were before last night only 15 points separated 1st place Ottawa and 9th place Oshawa.

The 2158 at the Yardman, and ex Majors Joesph Cramarossa and Jordan Mayer wanted to show former Bulls player, assistant coach and Head Coach James Boyd, now the GM/Coach in Mississauga what he has been missing. It wouldn't be easy with Both goalies Malcolm Subban and John Chartrand on the self. For the first time I can remember the Bulls went with two 16 year old goalies. Charlie Graham would get the start and be backed up by the Bulls 15th Rd pick, the 6'6" 185lbs Braydon Banitsiotis. The Majors would start Brandon Maxwell.

The 1st started like a lot of games for the Bulls as of late, with them getting no shots till almost the midway point. And letting the other team walk right in and test Graham. After a wasted PP by the Bulls, at 9:32 shortly after the Bulls registered their first shot, Jamie Wise walked right past the Bulls D and netted his 16th from Partanen and DeMelo to give the Majors the lead 1-0. Not to be beat about 3 minutes later at 12:05 , Cramaroosa beat Maxwell for his 9th from Dylan Corson and Luke Judson. But before the 1st ended Riley Brace got a bounce and netted his 22nd from Kuptsov, DeMelo. To give the Majors the lead 2-1 to end the period. After 20 minutes where the Bulls looked tired ? dead ? out of it ? I don't know but not to good. Charlie Graham was easily the Best Bull even after giving up two goals. The Bulls got out shot 17-7 and really just stood around sometimes.

The 2nd would start really good, when Mike Curtis lit the lamp for his 10th from Adam Payrel and Garrett Hooey at 2:26, to tie the game 2-2. They had 7 shots before the 10 minute mark, the same amount they had for the whole first period. But then the wheels fall off and Belleville started looking like the Bulls from the 1st. With Daniil Zharkov off for slashing. Alex Cord scored the Game Winner and his 1st of the year on the PP. Soon after Cord scored Zharkov tangled with Spenser Cobbold, in a clear miss match, but good for him for showing some life and trying to spark a club that needed one. The 2nd ended with The Bulls out shooting St,Mike 15-12 in the period., But trailing 3-2.

The Bulls came out hard in the 3rd and they dominated, by skating, and going to the net, but could not beat Maxwell(1st Star), he was really good in the 3rd. As the Bulls out shot the Majors 14-4 in the period and 36-33 in the game. The PP was 0/1 and so was the PK. When it was all said in done the Bulls lost to the Majors 3-2. With the lose The Bulls drop to 8th and the Majors jump to 7th. So the Bulls are 0-5 at home in 2012 , yet to score a 3rd period goal in that time. The Bulls have lost 8 of their last 9 and have won just 3 of the last 15. Belleville is a better team then this , as we all seen early in the year, and they better be because the always tough Kitchener Rangers lead by former Bull Tyler Randell are in Belleville Saturday Night.

Wednesday January 18th - Game Previews

by Dwayne Williams

Plymouth at Owen Sound
The Whalers bring their high powered offence into the wintery confines of the Bayshore arena in Owen Sound.  Plymouth is battling for top spot in the West – back and forth with the London Knights.  They have played in some high scoring matches recently – averaging 4.9 goals per game over the past 9 games. They have a very balanced scoring attack with a handful of players in the top 50 scorers in the OHL.  Owen Sound comes off a 2 victory homestand vs. the Erie Otters – where they weren’t pushed too hard in securing wins of 3-1 and 5-0.  Owen Sound is on a current 3 game home win streak as they battle in the middle of the standings – sitting only 2 points behind Sarnia sting for 4^th spot.
My prediction Plymouth 5 – Owen Sound 2

Mississauga at Belleville
The St. Mikes Majors find themselves sandwiched near the bottom of the standings but not far from the middle of the log-jammed Eastern Conference. They are 2 points from the #9 spot and 5 points from the #4 spot.  They had mixed results on their latest road trip–losing to Sarnia 7-1 beating Plymouth 2-0 and then losing to Saginaw 4-2.  The last time they scored more than 3 goals was in a 6-5 loss vs. Niagara 8 games ago.   Belleville is 1 point ahead of Mississauga in seventh place – as they continue to search for an elusive winning streak.  Their last home win was on Dec 17 - 10 games ago.  Subban is getting close to playing but don’t expect him to dress for game action quite yet.
My prediction Mississauga 3 – Belleville 1


The Streak is Over

The streak is over, at least temporarily for the Brampton Battalion. After going 12 straight games without a regulation loss, and an impressive fifth straight home win, the Troops fell to the visiting Belleville Bulls with a final score of 3-2.

Sixteen year old rookie goaltender Charlie Graham made 35 saves en route to his first victory in the Ontario Hockey League. He came up big for the Bulls when they needed him most, stymieing Battalion shooters time-and-again. Graham showed terrific composure bouncing back from an early deficit and weathering the Storms of a Battalion attack that seemed to do all but put one past the Toronto native.

Barclay Goodrow opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period with his 19th of the season.  Ian Watters and Zach Bell picked up assists on the goal. With the helper, Zach Bell matched his career high of 12 points.

Adam Payerl would even things up just prior to the midway mark of the first period. It was his 13th goal of the season, and an unassisted effort. The goal was also on the first shot that Battalion goaltender Matej Machovsky faced.  Just over a minute later, Luke Judson would bury his 12th of the season from Jordan Mayer and Jason Shaw. The assist marked Mayer’s first point as a Bull in his first game. The first would wrap up with the Bulls holding a 2-1 lead.

Payerl and Phil Lane would start the second period off with a bang, well sort of anyways. The two would fight with a decision going to Lane for landing more punches. Joseph Cramarossa made it 3-1 Bulls just before the 7-minute mark. Playing on the top line with Brendan Gaunce and Austin Brassard, it would be Cramarossa’s first goal as a Bull. Gaunce and Brassard would pick up the assists on the goal. Machovsky would get the hook in favour of Keegan Wilson to try to shake things up for the Battalion.

Patrik Machac would pull the Troops to within one, with just under five minutes to go in the second period as he put home a rebound. Lane and Brett Mackie would pick up assists, but it was Lane’s between the legs effort that set the play up for Machac. In the ensuing faceoff, Derek Froats sought the approval of the Brampton fans and his teammates when dropping the mitts with Jason Shaw. The Battalion outshot the Bulls in the second period by a 22-8 margin.

The third period proved uneventful on the score sheet, but really tested the muster of Graham as the Battalion pressed him to try to tie the game. He made several key saves to preserve the lead for the Bulls. Belleville did press the Battalion, but Wilson stood tall for Brampton when he had to in an effort to keep the Troops in the game.

"I thought we played a great game, obviously Chucky played great throughout the whole game” said injured goaltender Malcolm Subban on the play of rookie goaltender Charlie Graham. A groin problem has Subban sidelined for the upcoming weeks thus opening the door for Graham to get his feet wet.

“We had a pretty good first period even though they outshot us 7-5” said Gaunce. “In the second we let down a bit, we came back and regrouped in the third. We needed to win the third period and we did. That’s how good teams win games”

Prospect Files: Malcolm Subban

After the recent Hiatus from work and this blog, while I was away at the world Juniors for the past 2 weeks, my first week back to work was nuts. Add to that, that this week's prospect file was slated to be a goaltender and I felt unable to do this piece justice. As the saying goes, 'behind every good man is a better woman,' I decided to let my beautiful girlfriend, who is also a goaltender, to take the ropes of the article for this week. I asked her to write it in the style that I have for the past few months that you have come to love and even though she felt a little reigned in, she still went to work and wrote a great piece! Please enjoy.

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Prospect Files for Friday January 13, 2012

By: Ashley Romano

This week we take a look at another top prospect for the 2012 NHL entry draft. He now wears the same colours as his older brother PK did, who played 4 OHL seasons with the Belleville Bulls. We will be going past the Bulls’ defensive line to look at the very last line. The puck stops with Malcolm Subban...

The Line:

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 188 lbs

Shoots/Catches: Left

Position: Goaltender

Draft Eligible: 2012

Coming out of Etobicoke, Ontario Malcolm Subban learned to skate at Nathan Phillips Square with his father and gained the love for hockey while he played on a homemade backyard ice rink with his brothers, who have all turned out to be tremendous hockey players in their own respective careers. Of the Subban siblings, he is the only one to take on the goaltending position; both PK and Jordan have taken to being successful defensemen. Younger brother Jordan also plays for the Belleville Bulls.

 Already twice named CHL Player of the Week this season, Belleville Bulls goaltender, Malcolm Subban is lighting it up and putting last year to shame. He has faced 561 shots and has a GAA of 1.93. In November, he recorded 2 shutouts with a 9-1-0-0 record which gave him the title of Vaughn OHL Goaltender of the Month. On Wednesday, he was named the #1 top ranked North American Goaltender in this year’s NHL Central Scouting Services mid-season draft rankings.

Subban’s goaltending style shows that he tracks players with the puck well, with smooth movements in the crease. Malcolm is not a goalie who sinks back to play on top of the goal line. A mostly stand up to butterfly quick goalie, he uses his size to the advantage to block the angle and comes out past the edge of the crease to further intimidate the shooter. With extremely quick hand eye coordination he makes calculated moves to make glove saves - saves that only he can make look easy. That, among other reasons, proves why he is ranked #1 in North America.

Things have not always been golden for the #1 top ranked, Malcolm Subban. He had a less than stellar rookie season playing 32 games with a 10-17-0-2-5 record; he still managed to record a .900 save percentage which is currently a career best. Half way through this season he’s already won more games that he did all of last season, with the current powerful Bulls team in front of him. They are ranked 3^rd in the East Division, 1 point out of 2^nd (Peterborough Petes) and 12 points out of 1^st (Ottawa 67’s).

Malcolm Subban oozes natural athletic ability. In the goalie crease he screams talent by showing off incredible flexibility with his long padded legs being able to stretch enough to block the puck trying to get past him while the rest of his body is seemly on the other side of the crease. With all these positive results coming from his end of the ice, we aren’t surprised that he has gained the #1 spot. We expect him to be picked in the 1^st round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

NHL Player Comparison: Marc Andre Fleury

Subban Putting His Name On The Map

Special Thanks to John Langdon for the Article

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BELLEVILLE - The Subban name has gained a prominent amount of recognition throughout the hockey world in recent years.  Most notably, PK Subban – a defenceman with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League has grabbed the attention of many with his on-ice theatrics and highlight-reel plays.  But the Habs blueliner isn’t the only player putting the Subban name on the map. PK’s younger brother, Malcolm, a goaltender with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League, is not only following in his older brother’s footsteps, but is starting to make a name for himself.

Growing up, Malcolm learned to play the game, like so many Canadian kids do, on the backyard rink of their Rexdale, Ontario home, while playing with PK, along with younger brother, and current Bulls teammate, Jordan.  Their father, Karl, who immigrated to Canada from the Caribbean as a kid, was introduced to the game through street hockey with neighbourhood friends in Sudbury, Ontario.  For Karl, it was a new found culture which evolved into a passion that he would later pass on to his sons as both a father and a coach.

“For sure, he’s had a big influence on us,” Subban said about his father.  “Using his knowledge and passing it down to us gave us a good start.”

“He knows a lot about the game, so it was good for us to have a father like that.”

It wasn’t until the age of 12 when Subban began his career as a goaltender.  As a child, Malcolm grew up playing on the blueline like his brothers, until his father finally allowed him to play between the pipes.

“My dad was my coach and when I was 12 he finally let me become a goaltender and it took off from there.”

After being selected 218^th overall in the 2009 OHL Entry Draft, it’s fair to say that Subban has exceeded expectations from the Bulls organization and fans alike.  As an 11^th round draft pick, Subban took over the number one spot in the Bulls’ crease as a rookie by playing 32 games, while backstopping his team into the playoffs, where the 6’1”, 188 lbs. goaltender posted some striking numbers.

“When Malcolm came to us two years ago through the draft, as a late ’93 birthdate, our expectation wasn’t for him to play as much as he did last year,” Bulls assistant coach Jason Supryka said.  “It was going to be a real developmental year for him, and he took advantage of an opportunity that really turned in his favour.”

The sophomore netminder has also caught the attention of NHL scouts, and is currently listed among the top ranked OHL prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.  While Subban admits that his draft eligibility sits in the back of his mind, he isn’t allowing the pressure to influence his game.

“It sits in the back of my mind,” Subban said. “But you try not to think about it. The scouts are going to be there every game, so you can’t worry about it too much. You just got to go out and play your game.”

Playing under the microscope of NHL scouts can be overwhelming at times for junior hockey players, whose youth is often overlooked in the public’s eye, due to their stardom on the rink.  Fortunately, for Malcolm, he can turn to older brother PK for guidance.

“We try to talk as much as we can,” Subban said.  “He always tells me to stay focused, and stay grounded.”

“When I tell him what’s going on, (PK) will tell me ‘don’t get too excited about it or don’t get too down about it, you just got to stay leveled.  Keep focused and play your game.’”

Being a middle brother, Malcolm finds himself in a unique position.  As much as Malcolm plays the role of student while seeking advice from older brother PK, he also finds himself teaching younger brother Jordan, both on and off the ice.

“I’m living with him right now,” Jordan said.  “Just being able to have him there to help give me some tips on my rookie season, and just how things work, it’s been great.”

Although he may not be as vocal as PK, Jordan says that through leading by example, Malcolm leaves a lasting impression.

“He never gives up,” Jordan added.  “He never quits.  He’s just really tenacious, and always is willing to work harder, and get better every game.”

In April 2011, Subban took his game to the international level when he was selected to the Team Canada roster for the IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championships in Germany, where the 17-year-old netminder recorded a shutout in his first appearance before backstopping Canada to the Bronze medal game against Russia.  The Russians would go on to defeat the Canadians, but facing their arch-rivals on a grand stage turned out to be an indescribable experience.

“You know the Canada versus Russia series…If you were to go up against Russia, you would be pretty pumped,” Subban said with laughter in his voice.

Despite failing to bring home a medal, representing his country was an honour in itself for Subban.

“(Playing for Canada) was surreal,” Malcolm said.  “It was the best experience of my hockey career, so far.”

This past summer, Subban found himself, once again, on the ice with some of the best junior hockey players in the world at the 2011 NHL Research, Development, and Orientation Camp in Toronto, where some of the future’s brightest stars meet for a chance to showcase their talents in front of NHL brass.

“Playing against guys that you’re going to be up against in the draft was pretty fun,” the 6’1, 188 lbs. netminder said.  “It got me ready for the season.”

“This is the beginning, and it’s going to be a long way to go, but you just have to stay focused and be consistent throughout the whole season.”

Maintaining focus hasn’t been a problem for Subban this season.  After being sidelined with an ankle injury for nearly a month, the Bulls goaltender has bounced back in a big way since his return on November 4, by posting a 12-4 record, along with an OHL best 1.93 GAA and .938 SV%, while earning CHL Goaltender of the Week honours twice in November.

ITO Hot-Stove: Who is the best team in the Ontario Hockey League?

This is the third edition of ITO Hot-Stove. Joining me today in this piece is Shawn O'Reilly, Susan Tromanhauser, Brandon Sudeyko, and Thayne Hallyburton.

Without further ado I'd like to introduce you all to today's debate question: Who is the best team in the Ontario Hockey League?

Todd Cordell

Sarnia Sting

For me this is a toss up between the Plymouth Whalers and Sarnia Sting, but I'll go with the Sting. Though the Sting have been absolutely belted with injuries, they remain a top team in the Western Conference and are just four points behind the Plymouth Whalers.

Coyotes prospect Connor Murphy has missed all but two games this season. He just recently came back and will make a huge impact on the team, no doubt. Nail Yakupov has missed a handful of games with back injuries, and Alex Galchenyuk, who was projected to go top five in the 2012 NHL entry draft, has missed the whole season to this point and is not expected back until late in the season or in the playoffs.

Though Yakupov has missed eight games and Murphy and Galchenyuk have played a combined two games, the Sting are fourth in the Western Conference. Now that they're starting to get healthy they'll show what kind of team they can be, and that team is one that should represent the Ontario Hockey League in the Memorial Cup come May.

Shawn O'Reilly

London Knights

Hate to state the obvious here but looking at points it is hard to argue otherwise. With 49 points they are leading the Western Conference by four over Plymouth, and have a game in hand. London has gone 8-2-0-0 in the past ten games, a record only matched by Plymouth. The Knights have scored the most goals in the OHL with 136, and have allowed the fewest, 81 (tied with Kitchener). Their special teams are average, 9^th in PP% and 11^th in PK%, but it has been good enough for them to keep winning. They have a top 3 goal scorer in Seth Griffin, one of the top rookies in Max Domi and a solid goalie in Michael Houser. Add all of this together and you have the top ranked team in the country as of last week and the best team in the OHL right now.

Susan Tromanhauser

Plymouth Whalers

While my Niagara bias still shows in I believe the Ice Dogs should have the best team in the OHL, they just can’t seem to get the consistency needed. The London Knights have such a jump in the standings, as well as tenacity of a young team, they will still come out top at the end of the regular season. But it is the Plymouth Whalers who are the best team in the league and will be heading to Shawinigan in May.

The team of veterans is well coached by Mike Vellucci. The team is made up of primarily returning players who know exactly what Vellucci wants and needs to win games. They have two top goal tenders in Matt Mahalak and Scott Wedgewood and as Neate Sager from Yahoo’s “Buzzing the Net” points out, they have 8 players with 25 points or more. While Niagara is missing four key players to Team Canada at the up-coming World Juniors, the Whalers will be missing five of their top players to a variety of world junior teams.

 I can sum up the Whalers in one word – experience.

Brandon Sudeyko

Belleville Bulls

Now you can call me crazy (studio audience yells 'you're crazy') but I have the team completely out of left field here. The Belleville Bulls. Player relationships aside, this team just outworks everyone on the ice. And it isn't like they don't have any pieces on their team. They have credible forwards, defenceman and 2 legit goaltenders. Malcolm Subban, yes still young, is going to tear the OHL apart. His hype will be reached unlike Jack Campbell's hype. Their backup Hollywood Chartrand is not as talented a Subban, but when in net. Definitely giving it 150% all the time. And that goes for the D and forwards as well. Offensive talent does not get any better than Zharkov and Gaunce. throw in the OA's of Judson and Payerl. The forwards are not the flashiest or will put up league leading numbers but their hard work and skill set mesh so well that they are able to do what many thought they could not. Their D this year is under appreciated (like the entire team). I mean who would have thought Simon Gronvaldt would be leading the team with a +17. Not to mention Steve (Minus) Silas, needs a new nickname. Most talented team, No. Best defensive team, no. Greatest goaltending in the league... maybe. But it all boils down to those 22 skaters being 1 team who out work every other team on the ice. That is why they are my selection for 'best team in the OHL'... I can not wait for the Twitter Hate @intheoradio.

Thayne Hallyburton

Plymouth Whalers

 

Hockey, as in life, all starts with Money...and $cott 'money' Wedgewood is the captain of this ship. He is the best goaltender in the OHL and has been underrated for years at the position. Add to him, Matt Mahalak who is easily the best backup in the league...Plymouth's last line of defense looks impenetrable. 

 

From there, you move up front, and the likes of Jamie Devane, Garret Meurs, J.T. Miller, Mitchell Heard, Stefan Noesen....this is a team with a ton of scoring depth, which you need come playoff time. If they add one big scorer at the deadline, they will be very tough to beat come playoff time by any team. Mitchell Dempsey is a good enough bargaining chip to get anyone they please. Rumours say they are after Jared Knight from the London Knights.

 

Overall, this is the best team in the O and will be the best team in the O come playoff time. London is too young to make a run this year....Plymouth is ready. They are the best and most complete team. If Sarnia weren't so injured, maybe they would give them a run for the money.

Whalers (2), Bulls (1), Sting (1), Knights (1).

'I Get No Respect' - The Belleville Bulls

Rodney Dangerfield made a living off the phrase, ‘I get no respect…’ and maybe the Belleville Bulls could start using the late comedians famous starting line. The Bulls who went on a remarkable tear in the month of November have rattled off two 6 game winning streaks in the last 14 games (12-2 in the stretch) and have found themselves on top of the Eastern Conference looking down. A far cry from needing to play catch up with last years squad. There have been many changes to the roster from the 10/11 team to the current leader of the Eastern Conference (lead Ottawa with W tie breaker).


The team is still lead by their Captain Luke Judson (@judder14) who has taken the off season seriously and really improved his game to the point many are saying he should be getting some type of pro contract instead of just heading off to CIS. The overall forward and defence have upped their game either to match their Captains commitment, or because they didn’t want to have back to back embarrassing seasons. The addition of Daniil Zharkov has given the Bulls a spark plug on the ice, the way he can skate, to the quick release on his shot, to him digging into the corners to get the puck. Not to mention the goaltending of Malcolm Subban who has been the hottest goaltender since Michael Houser started the season. You can look at the individual players who have improved but Colorado Avalanche prospect Steven Silas (@SteveSilas) thinks the team has improved because of something else,

‘Confidence. The game revolves around it. and this year our team hastons of confidence from our goaltending, to our d-men and forward. Sounds cliché but everyone is playing the way they are capable of playing and it makes it easier for everyone around them. It’s a long season though, only a third of the way through. As long as we play together and put the team first everything will fall into place.’

I use to have a nickname for each conference. There was the ‘Wild Wild West’ where anything can happen because you had 8 power teams and then a team just on the outside and one grossly missing the playoffs. Then you had the ‘Easy Easy East’ where you can just float around because no one gave you any chance against the Western Conference. This year however the East is just a ‘guns a blazing’ as their Conference Counterpart. In fact the gap between first and 8th in the East is only 8 points while in the West it is 15 points.

Despite the turnaround year that Belleville is having, no one seems to be giving them respect (outside ITO of course), to the point that they can be serious contenders. There is something to be said for going out every night and grinding out a W and doing all the small things right that can win you a 1-0 or a 3-2 game. But yet no one believes that they can stick around on top of the Eastern Conference.

With 20 OHL teams to think about every day, you can easily bypass a play, a goal, or even a whole game not thinking about what it means in the standings. Thankfully for me there are the diehard Belleville fans who follow ITO on twitter (@intheoradio) and let it be known not only how they feel about players/coaches/organization but also keeping me in the loop. When the question is, ‘How come Belleville gets no respect?’ who else should you turn to then the die hard fans? Melissa Foley (@hockeyFan14) took time to answer the question for me.

‘We are getting no respect because we are a small market team, who quietly goes about our business. We might not have the swagger as other larger market teams, but we have something more – quality character players who love playing in Belleville for their team and fans. That’s all that matters to us. With a few more wins the respect should come, but we don’t need it! we respect ourselves, other be damned!’

I think it is safe to say that the fans are passionate about the team and they know the difference from a contender and a pretender. But what about the players? What do they have to say on the topic of Belleville being the hottest team right now and the lack of respect the team gets. Michael “Muzzy” Curtis (@mcurt9107) had this to say (Muzzy is an ITO nickname) …

‘We are for sure one of the hottest teams. We just need to keep playing Bulls hockey, that will keep us on top.’

So ‘Muzzy’ didn’t want to touch the respect part of the question but the longer on top, the faster the respect should come right? Last season the longer Mississauga held on to the division and conference lead the more people began to respect their depth and talent and given enough time Curtis is right. But what about the leader, The captain, Luke Judson. He was the captain of a brutal 8th place team last year and has revamped not only his game, but maybe the team too. Here is the Captains comments about the team being perceived as pretenders,

‘We don’t mind being overlooked, it keeps us humble. We come to the rink every game respecting what are opponents can do. The only people we need to believe in our team are the guys sitting in the dressing room.’

If you have never seen a television interview with Judson, or listened to the ITO interviews with him, he is that ‘deep’ as far as talking about the team. Easy to see why he was chosen to be the captain for 2 years running. But the captain is right. If you are being overlooked use it as fuel for the fire. And just like Silas and Curtis said, it is all about the guys in the dressing room.

Now I am not going to proclaim I am a genius but I did see this team being more of a contender than last season, with that said I still didn’t give them credit to lead the division/conference. But I will admit I am a Bull-iever. Sorry that is an inner journalist I was channeling... it shouldn't happen again

ITO Three Stars & Power Rankings: Week 10

Welcome back for another edition of the ITO Power Rankings, as well as our Three Stars for the week of November 21^st-27^th. As the end of November nears, we are starting to get a good idea of which teams are real contenders this season, which teams are pretenders, and which teams never were. The next six weeks is absolutely critical to teams around the league, as decisions need to be made between now and the January 10^th Trade deadline.

ITO 3 Stars

1. Malcolm Subban (Belleville Bulls) – Often overlooked by his big brother’s success in the N.H.L., Malcolm is quickly becoming known on his own merits. Already the leading Goaltender in the Ontario Hockey League on GAA, Subban has been a large part in the success of the Belleville Bulls this season. Malcolm played in all three of his team’s games over the last week, allowing just two goals while posting a shutout over Guelph. Malcolm would stop 87 of 89 shots he faced, for save percentage of .978. Clearly the best player in the league this week, ‘The Subban Wall’ is this week’s ITO First Star.

2. Brendan Gaunce (Belleville Bulls) – While Subban was stopping nearly everything he saw, someone was still needed in Belleville to put pucks in the other net, and that’s where Brendan came in this week. Riding a super-hot stick, Gaunce would strike for five goals in his three games, as well as adding an assist. Starting with a two goal performance on Thursday night in Erie, Brendan would follow up the next night, scoring another pair of goals in a whitewashing of Guelph. To round out the weekend, Gaunce would score a goal and an assist in a win over Oshawa. By scoring five times, and registering six points, along with a +5 rating, Brendan Gaunce is the ITO Second Star for Week 10.

3. Tobias Rieder (Kitchener Rangers) – Not to be outdone, Tobias Rieder was equally as important to the Kitchener Rangers this week, scoring five times and adding an assist of his own. Tuesday night, Tobias would start the week right, scoring a hat trick in a big win over Guelph. Friday night, Rieder would add another marker, as the Rangers would send Erie to defeat. Tobias would wrap up his weekend by adding another goal, as well as an assist, in yet another big victory, this time over Sarnia. For this, as well as his +3 rating this week, Tobias earns his spot as the ITO Third Star for November 21^st-27^th.

ITO Power Rankings

1. London Knights – (Last Week: 1) By winning two of their three games this past week, the London Knights retain the top spot in the ITO Power Rankings, which they have held since the beginning of the season. The lead is beginning to diminish, however, as many teams have set their sights on the league leaders. After a loss on home ice to Barrie, the Knights would rebound with victories in Erie and Brampton. London hosts Saginaw on Friday night, then travel to Owen Sound for a contest the following evening.

2. Kitchener Rangers – (Last Week: 4) With wins in all three contests this week, the Rangers vault into the number 2 spot in the OHL Power Rankings. 9-1 in their last ten, and points in 13 of their last 14 games, Kitchener has become one of the most feared teams in the league. The Rangers would outscore their opposition 17-5 in three victories this week, knocking off Guelph, Erie, and Sarnia along the way. Kitchener plays three games in three nights this week, starting Thursday night in Brampton. After returning home to face Mississauga, the Rangers will finish their week in Erie on Saturday night.

3. Plymouth Whalers – (Last Week: 2) The Whalers find themselves down one spot this week, after losing two of three. A win over Saginaw on Wednesday kept the Whalers’ streak intact, but losses to Peterborough and Guelph over the weekend caused the team to slide. Plymouth has a pair of home games this week to try and steady things, hosting Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and Guelph on Saturday.

4. Belleville Bulls – (Last Week: 8) A big jump into the top five for the Belleville Bulls this week, as they win three straight games, improving to 9-2 in their last 11 games. The Bulls started the week with a strong 3-1 victory in Erie, then blanked Guelph the next night. Belleville would return home for a Sunday afternoon matinee, defeating Oshawa handily. Looking ahead, the Bulls host Kingston on Wednesday night, beginning a home and home series that wraps up on Friday night. Belleville returns home the next night to take on Windsor to end the week.

5. Sarnia Sting – (Last Week: 3) Playing without star forward Nail Yakupov for much of the week, the Sting suffered, losing all three contests. After losing in a shootout to Barrie on Thursday, Sarnia would be dropped in back to back contests over the weekend, first to Niagara, and then in Kitchener. The Sting hit the road for a pair of games, starting in Peterborough on Thursday, and playing the following night in Oshawa. Sarnia comes home for a Sunday afternoon contest against Sault Ste. Marie to finish the weekend.

6. Ottawa 67’s – (Last Week: 7) Ottawa continues to impress, sitting atop the East Division, and climb one spot this week, despite earning a split from their two games. The 67’s opened the weekend on Friday, losing on home ice to Oshawa, but would come back in the third period on Sunday to defeat Kingston in a shootout. Ottawa has a three game weekend in front of them, starting at home to Windsor on Friday night, and playing games in Peterborough on Saturday, and in Mississauga Sunday.

7. Niagara IceDogs – (Last Week: 13) With three straight wins this week, the IceDogs leap back into the top ten in the OHL Power Rankings. Once considered a contender, Niagara is fighting to erase a slow start. Big wins over Brampton, Windsor, and Sarnia this week vault the IceDogs up the ranks, and Niagara will look to continue the rise with three games this weekend. The IceDogs host Erie on Thursday and Barrie on Saturday, before playing Sunday afternoon in Brampton.

8. Brampton Battalion – (Last Week: 6) Right in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference, the Battalion continue to keep pace with the top teams in the OHL. Brampton could only muster one win in three games this past week, causing a small drop in the Power Rankings. After a win Wednesday in Mississauga, the Battalion would lose back to back games to Niagara and London. If Brampton is to get back on pace, they start Thursday, when they host Kitchener. A game in Sudbury on Friday is followed by a Sunday afternoon contest at home to Niagara, finishing three games in four days.

9. Peterborough Petes – (Last Week: 5) After a good start to the week, Peterborough would struggle, and find themselves down four spots this week in the OHL Power Rankings. The Petes would earn two points in Plymouth on Friday night, but would be on the wrong end of scores in Saginaw and Windsor, stalling the teams’ momentum. A big week lies ahead for Peterborough, as they play host to Sarnia on Thursday and Ottawa on Saturday, before traveling to Oshawa to wrap up the weekend Sunday evening.

10. Barrie Colts – (Last Week: 10) No change for Barrie, though the Colts did win two out of three games this week, both against top opposition. After winning in Sarnia on Thursday, the Colts went into London on Friday and earned two points again. A tough loss on home ice to Sudbury on Saturday prevents Barrie from gaining ground this week. The Colts hit the road for three games this week, starting in Owen Sound Wednesday. Barrie also takes on Erie on Friday, and plays in Niagara Saturday.

11. Sudbury Wolves – (Last Week: 15) After falling four spots last week, the Wolves make that ground back this week, after winning both games they played. The victories over Owen Sound and Barrie help Sudbury move up the Rankings, but for the Wolves to continue upwards, they will need a good week coming up. Sudbury hosts Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday evening, and will have Brampton in town for a contest on Friday.

12. Owen Sound Attack – (Last Week: 12) Still at number 12 this week, the Owen Sound Attack were able to earn three points from a pair of games over the last seven days. After the Attack lost a shootout contest in Sudbury Friday night, Owen Sound retaliated by winning a night later, knocking off Sault Ste. Marie. This week, the Attack hosts Barrie on Wednesday night, then plays in Guelph on Friday. Owen Sound finishes the weekend back at home on Saturday night, when London comes to visit.

13. Guelph Storm – (Last Week: 9) The Guelph Storm are one of many teams that have seemed to settle into the middle of the pack in their conference. They would win two and lose two over a four game week, but slide four spots landing at number 13. Guelph would start the week with a lopsided loss in Kitchener on Tuesday, and would be whitewashed by Belleville on Friday night. The Storm replied over the weekend, picking up victories over Plymouth and Mississauga to salvage an even record for the week. No rest for Guelph this week, as they play three games in three days over the weekend, starting with a visit from Owen Sound on Friday. The Storm then take to the road for weekend stops in Plymouth and Saginaw.

14. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – (Last Week: 11) After an impressive start, the Greyhounds have begun to falter as of late, and dropped both decisions this past week in the process. While the Hounds would pick up a point from a shootout loss to Saginaw on Friday, a loss the next night to Owen Sound would continue the Soo’s downward trend. The Greyhounds hit the road for four games in the next seven days, starting Tuesday when they play in Sudbury. With three more games over the weekend, starting Friday in Plymouth, and making stops in Saginaw and Sarnia, this could be a make-it or break-it week for Sault Ste. Marie.

15. Windsor Spitfires – (Last Week: 16) The Spits continue their slow trend upwards, climbing another spot this week, after earning a split in a pair of contests. A loss to Niagara on Friday night would start Windsor’s week on the wrong foot, but the Spitfires rebounded to take down Peterborough on Sunday afternoon. Windsor is another team that plays three times from Friday to Sunday this week ahead, playing contests on the road in Ottawa, Belleville, and Kingston.

16. Mississauga St. Michaels Majors – (Last Week: 14) It has been a long steady fall for a team that was one game away from winning the Memorial Cup on home ice this past May. The Majors got off to a terrific start to the season, but have since won just five times in their last twenty contests. Mississauga would fail to earn a point over the last week, dropping all three of their games. A midweek loss to Brampton was followed with defeats at the hands of Kingston and Guelph, and the Majors are in full free-fall. If that weren’t enough, the Majors will have their hands full this week, with two contests, both against top teams in the OHL. Mississauga plays in Kitchener on Friday night, before returning home to tangle with Ottawa on Sunday.

17. Oshawa Generals – (Last Week: 17) Contenders no more, the Generals are now vying in hopes of simply making the playoffs this season. A sluggish start would cost Chris DiPiero his job behind the bench, and Gary Agnew has fared little better, as Oshawa continues to sputter. They would split their games this week, starting Friday with a big road win in Ottawa. The Generals would fail to string together consecutive wins, dropping a game in Belleville Sunday afternoon. Oshawa has a pair of home games this week to try and right the ship, starting Friday night when Sarnia comes to town. The Generals also host Peterborough on Sunday evening.

18. Saginaw Spirit – (Last Week: 18) Saginaw remains planted at number 18 this week, as they continue to play inconsistent hockey. The Spirit would win two of three games this week, improving on a record that needs work. After a loss in Plymouth, Saginaw would get a shootout win over Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, and picked up another win a night later against Peterborough. The Spirit will look to keep winning this week, starting with a game in London on Friday night. After that, Saginaw returns home for the weekend, with games against Sault Ste. Marie and Guelph.

19. Kingston Frontenacs – (Last Week: 19) While playing better as of late, the Frontenacs have dug themselves quite a hole, a hole that may be too much to get out of in Kingston. The Fronts would earn three out of four possible points last week, defeating Mississauga on Friday, but losing in a shootout to Ottawa on Sunday. Three games await Kingston this week, starting Wednesday in Belleville. Belleville returns the visit to Kingston on Friday night, and the Frontenacs wrap up the week hosting Windsor on Sunday afternoon.

20. Erie Otters – (Last Week: 20) There is an OHL team that plays in Pennsylvania, but they haven’t given us much to talk about this season, and have become a league afterthought by November. Now with just three wins in their first 25 games, the Otters are already relegated to playing for pride, and maybe some of them who might be dealt off to contenders before the January trade deadline. The losing streak would hit ten games after three more losses this past week, as Belleville, Kitchener, and London would all take turns earning victories over Erie. The Otters play three games in three nights from Thursday through Saturday of the week ahead. After playing in Niagara, Erie comes back home for games with Barrie and Kitchener.

The ITO Three Stars and Power Rankings can be found every Tuesday here at In The O… The Radio Show. Be sure to check back next week to see where your favourite team ranks, but if you can’t wait for your OHL fix, find me on Twitter, @N24Nicholson.

Thoughts from the Editor - Week ending November 27th

After a slow September and October(4 Goals and 10 Assists) Sudbury’s Michael Sgarbossa has exploded for 12 Goals and 6 assists in the month of November. Sgarbossa now sits 7^th and 16^th in League leader for goals and overall points respectively.

After putting up 12 goals and 29 points by the end of October, the amount of forward depth has dropped Zach Hall down the depth chart and he has only put up 4 pts in November (2 goals 2 assists)

Belleville has won 9 of their 12 games this month (12^th game is on November 30^th) and Malcolm Subban is 8-1 this month with a 1.42GAA and a 9.52SV%

In 12 games this month the Plymouth Whalers went 9-3 and have taken over the top spot in the West division. Rickard Rakell lead the way offensively, (9 Goals and 10 Assists) while the Duo of Mahalak and Wedgewood had a combined GAA of under 2.15 and a SV% of .932

After starting out 7-0 the Majors have come back down to earth with 2 wins in the month of November. 2-6-1-1 in their last 10 games.

The London knights are still leading the league in scoring with 114 goals for  and are tied for second in the league with total goals against (69). Belleville leads the league with 66 goals against

The Oshawa Generals now lead the Eastern Conference in goals against with 111 allowed in 29 games (3.82 goals per game) while the Erie Otters have scored the least amount of goals (59) and allowed the most (129) in the league. The Otters are also a perfect 0-10 in their past 10 games.

Kitchener Rangers forward Tobias Reider hit the 20 goal plateau for the second straight season, to put his sophomore season in comparison to a former Kitchener Ranger. Jeff Skinner had 20 goals in his sophomore season at the end of November too, Skinner finished with 51

There are 3 teams with less than 400 Penalty minutes as a team as of November 27, 2011. Erie Otters (352), Kitchener Rangers (364) and Sarnia Sting (375). That averages out to just over 14.08, 14.56 and 14.42 PIM per game respectively.

If the playoffs started today, Belleville, Brampton and Peterborough would be seeded 2, 3 and 4 in the Eastern Conference. How many people would have ranked those teams that high as passed a third of the season? In the West, Saginaw and Erie would be out of the playoffs.

The Guelph Storm, Soo Greyhounds and Windsor Spitfires have more road wins then they do at home.

Thoughts from the Editor... week ending Nov 20

^{Here I am, another Sunday and more crazy thoughts and stats to fill up some space, but also to add a different perspective on how you may be viewing the OHL right now. Leave a comment below... positive or negative.}

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The Niagara IceDogs continue to struggle and be seen as a giant anomaly. Niagara currently sitting at a record of 11-10-0-2 have let up the third most goals in the Eastern Conference while scoring 4^th highest in the Conference. 6 players boast better than a 0 +/- while Steven Shipley still leads the team with a -10.

Mark Visentin is enjoying a roller coaster season. With a 6-7-0-1 record, Visentin still has a plus 3 GAA and a SV% under .890 but he does have 4 shutouts this season. 7 of the 15 games he has appeared in his GAA has been 1 or less. In the other 8 games, 4 or higher.

The Oshawa Generals should not be forgotten although they are trying hard to be an afterthought. Despite having 9 players with at least double digits for points, 2^nd in the Eastern Conference in Goals for, the Generals are sitting in 8^th place in the conference. In true Generals fashion this team leads the Conference in PIM with 536, 64 more PIM than the next team. Oshawa has also let in the most goals in the Eastern Conference, 9 more than Kingston, and are third worst in the league. Goaltending and Defence is an issue and they should either blow up the lineup or definitely get help because  something is wrong in Oshawa.

After marching up the East Division, putting up 6 straight victories, the Belleville Bulls dropped Two 4 point games this week. Bulls are currently sitting in 3^rd in the division with Peterborough and Ottawa just sitting ahead of them. The Bulls, despite their 6 game winning streak, never played a complete 60 minute game during the stretch, relying on the unbelievable goaltending from Subban and Chartrand.

For those experts who said the Plymouth Whalers would be unstoppable, well it looks like you can begin to brag once again as the Whalers have rattled off a 9-0-01 record in their last 10. Whalers have scored the second most goals in the league while taking over top spot in the West Division leading Sarnia by 1 point. JT Miller has been unbelieveable since I handed him a single American Dollar with 9 goals and 23 points in his last 16 games. Scott Wedgewood is also on fire in the month of November with a 5-0-0-1 record in 6 games this month sporting a 1.64GAA 946V% and 2 shutouts in November.

After a RED HOT start, London’s Michael Houser is being overshadowed yet again. With a 5-2 record in November he is being outshined by the like of the aforementioned Wedgewood and Subban but still sporting a respectable 2.86GAA and 9.14SV%. I point this out because the lack of ‘statistical evidence’ suggesting he is a top goaltender does not mean that he is not pulling out all the stops to steal games and help his team when they don’t play in front of him.

Ottawa’s Tyler Toffoli is looking to not only take over the top spot in the OHL Scoring race but run away with the Goal Scoring title as well. My preseason prediction of Sean Monahan outscoring Toffoli was a bit of a joke but if anyone could do it, it would be a player on his line. Tyler currently has 24 goals in 22 games while sitting 8 pts behind Barrie’s Tanner Pearson in the overall scoring title with 43pts to date. At current pace Toffoli could have 70 goals if he stays healthy… although he is expected to make a big splash and more than likely make Team Canada for the World Junior Hockey Championship. Back to Back 50 Goal seasons is not out of the realm of possibility with Tyler.

Kitchener fans need not worry that John Gibson has an American passport anymore. Gibson is in the T-5 with a .927SV%, in the T-10 with a 2.70GAA and 4^th in the league with 11 wins.

4 of the 5 Goalies in the league with the most wins are American born, Michael Houser, Brandon Maxwell, John Gibson and Jack Campbell.

There are 3 European Goaltenders in the top 10 in OHL Wins category, Petr Mrazek, Mathias Niederberger and Johan Mattsson.

The Top 3 Canadian Born goaltenders in the Wins Category is JP Anderson, Matt Murray and Scott Wedgewood. Team Canada WJHC Incumbent Mark Visentin, is tied for 17^th in the league with 6 Wins.

The 2011/12 Belleville Bulls

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 Belleville Bulls

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Over Age Players - Andy Bathgate, Luke Judson, Adam Payerl
OA's Cut - Bjorn Krupp, Brett Mackie
2011 Priority Draft Selections - Jordan Subban (D), Michael McCarron (F)

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Goaltenders - Malcolm Subban & Tyson Teichmann - A really strong feeling that Tyson will not be with this club come September, but as per the rules must go with who is listed on the 2010/11 roster

Defence - Darryl Snelling, Alex Basso, Adam Bignell, Steven Strong, Stephen Silas, Branden Morris, Jordan Subban - simply replace Krupp with Subban and this D is already improved.

Forwards - Luke Judson, Michael McCarron, Adam Payerl, Michael Curtis, Andy Bathgate, Austen Brassard, Brendan Gaunce, Scott Simmonds, Dylan Corson, Carter Sandlak, Braeden Corbeth, Jan Kaminsky - The Bulls still need one forward to make 13 but have utilized all their OA spots. This would likely lead to a 2010 draft pick making the roster.

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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.