A Look At Some Of The Injuries In The OHL

Selecting players for any draft for any sport is a crap shoot at the best of times. But when most of the top players that are available have missed significant time, what do you do?

This isn't just an OHL problem, but has been almost a plague of sorts throughout the CHL this season. With players like Alex Galchenyuk, Ryan Murray, and Martin Frk, we at least have last year to look at, the latter two already making their return. Galchenyuk is rumored to be coming back as early as March. but does he really need to to solidify himself as a top 10 or top 5 pick? I suppose one would like to see how his knee responds.

Nail Yakupov has missed time at different points in the season but that hasn't stopped him from topping just about every ranking from NHL Central Scouting to the blogger in his mother's basement. This guy is just pure gold and if he didn't play another game this season, would probably still be tops on most lists.

Malcolm Subban seems to be another that hasn't had his rankings hurt with the time he's missed. In fact, I would say its been even more solidified with the fact the Belleville Bulls just can't seem to buy a win when he's not playing, proving even more so, how valuable he truly is.

Where it does get tricky is further down the list. What do you do with a Matia Marcantuoni who's been plagued with injuries this season and is now out for the year? Ditto with Slater Koekkoek. What about Jarrod Maidens who's missed the last two months with a concussion? How much does that influence your decision not to select him?

I really liked Adam Pelech's chances this year of showing what he can do, but he to missed the first two months of the season, and although he's played extremely well for Erie since his return, how many people are going to notice when he's playing in Erie? Granted, with Dane Fox and others there, scouts will get a look at him but did his stock drop before the puck did on the season?

This has to be one of the worst draft classes for injuries to the top players in recent memory. One things for certain: NHL teams will get their money's worth from their scouts in June. Question is: will they make the right choices? It's almost a guessing game right now.

Here's a look at some of the injuries to players that were projected in the first round or just looking in. I've shown my rankings of the players back in October and January for comparison. It should be noted that in the case of Nail Yakupov and Olli Maatta and their injuries in December, that part of that time was at the World Junior Championships and where the injuries occurred.

Marcantuoni's Season Comes to an End

Yet another high profile draft eligible player's season has come to an end. Kitchener Rangers forward Matia Marcantuoni, who has been plagued with injuries this season,  was originally seen as a first round prospect for the NHL Entry Draft.

Marcantuoni will have surgery on hos shoulder at the end of this week. It is the second time this season he has injured the same shoulder with the latest setback on January 7, 2012 in Erie.

The team said in a statement that having the surgery now will allow Marcantuoni the chance to rehabilitate and condition for the 2012 - 2013 season.

MARCANTUONI PUTTING MANY MILES ON DRAFT JOURNEY

By Aaron Vickers of Future Considerations


The Kitchener Rangers forward was successful in his bid to join Hockey Canada’s entry into the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial in the Czech Republic. Days after returning home with a gold medal, the Toronto, ON. native headed to the NHL’s Research and Development Camp as one of 36 draft eligible invitees.


Before that, it was a summer spent preparing for the most important season of his hockey career.


Full story here

International Scouting Services: Players to watch at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial

Alexander Galchenyuk, USA

He had the option to play for Russia, but decided to represent the U.S. in this event. A potential top five - and even top three - pick in the 2012 NHL draft, Galchenyuk is an intense player with great hands and excellent instincts around the puck. He is an exciting offensive player who is always a threat to score and can also pummel opponents with his passionate and feisty physicality. Also, keep a close eye on Americans Cristoval Nieves and Jaccob Slavin

Read the full article here

MATIA MARCANTUONI: BIG THINGS EXPECTED IN KITCHENER

"To be honest, I really thought a lot about going to school," he explained. "But I thought just playing Junior A for two years wasn't going to help my development. When I got drafted 18th overall to Kitchener, after talking to the coaching staff, I thought that Steve and the rest of the coaching staff was really going to help me achieve my dream."


Good friend Brian Huddle of The Fourth Period and Future Considerations, among others, had the chance to speak with the Kitchener Rangers Matia Marcantuoni.


Read the full article here

Matia Marcantuoni

Matia Marcantuoni - Kitchener Rangers

6'0" - 190 LBS
D.O.B. February 22, 1994

Matia Marcantuoni in four words? Speed, and more speed.

The first rounder (18th overall) was Captain of Team Ontario at the World U17 hockey challenge and potted 2 goals and added 4 assists in 6 games in helping his squad capture the gold medal.

During  2010-11, his rookie season with the Rangers, he played in 42 games scoring 11 goals and adding 16 assists. Pretty good numbers considering he was playing behind the likes of Gabriel Landeskog, Jason Akeson, Jerry D'Amigo and more. And with most of those guys moving up the ladder, it will become Marcantuoni's time to shine in 2011-12.

Make no mistake, he is capable of racking up numbers. In 2009-10 playing for Toronto Marlies Midget AAA he posted 39 goals and 33 assists in 79 games. All this has earned Marcantuoni an invite to Team Canada's Under 18 Selection Camp in Calgary this summer for the Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

Marcantuoni's tremendous skating and speed enables him to get in on the forecheck where he is not afraid to mix it up along the boards and more often than not, beats bigger opponents in battles. He possesses keen vision and is able to get pucks through seams to teammates. He's also not afraid to take it straight to the net if he has no other options.

Today's NHL requires it's forwards to play defence as well. And Marcantuoni is ahead of most players in the 2012 draft class. His speed enables him to get back on the backcheck, a key in today's game. And he accomplishes it whether he is playing center or on the wing.

Marcantuoni also made the NHL's Central Scouting list of 2012 players to watch list.

We spoke with Kitchener Rangers broadcast analyst for 570 News Mike Farewell for his thoughts on Marcantuoni's game:

"The first thing you notice about this kid is his speed (obviously). He stood out as a very bright light from last year's rookie camp and when it came to the regular season he gave you the sense that once his hands/head caught up to his feet, he'd be dynamite. He reminded a lot of people of former Ranger Alex Aleardi in that way....only MM is much taller. But the same was always said about Aleardi...his feet seemed to be ahead of his brain and he'd lose the puck before being able to do something magical with it. For MM, it's only a matter of time before that develops."


Mike added "Matia is a true gentleman off the ice. He carries himself with incredible poise for someone his age and he works hard away from the rink....as evidenced by his relatively quick return from his ankle injury. His time at the U17's did wonders for his confidence and he came back a different player. His future appears quite bright."


He continued "The off-ice story that stands out the most for me comes from the time he spent out of the line-up with his injury. As you probably remember, Matia injured the ankle by making what quickly became his trademark rush -- bursting down the right wing and cutting hard to the net. That's exactly what he did when he collided with Guelph's goalie and the net...and he spent the next six weeks healing. But he also kept himself around the team, sharing meals, etc. And it was at one of those meals Matia and I got to talking about his injury and his recovery and I asked if he'd think twice before going that hard to the net again. Without hesitation, he said "no way. I'll go even harder next time." I think that speaks to his dedication to the game and his commitment to winning. As his recovery progressed, I watched Matia stay on the ice after practice to do skating drills under the watchful eye of the training staff. He was dedicated to coming back quickly."


Mike couldn't resist throwing a little tease in there, "Don Cameron and I like to tease him about being one of the best dressed players on road trips. Between MM and Julian Melchiori, it's hard to tell who has the better fashion sense sometimes. Matia takes it all in stride and seems to enjoy the banter."


If you can get to the Aud and watch Marcantuoni play, I say you won't regret it.


You can follow Mike on Twitter  @farwell_ohl or Matia @mm_91

Players confirmed for 2011 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp

Press Release 

NEW YORK/TORONTO – Thirty-six of the top-rated players eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft have accepted invitations to participate in the 2011 NHL Research, Development and Orientation Camp, August 17 and 18, the National Hockey League announced today.

Participating players were selected by NHL Central Scouting and rank high on the 2012 Futures Lists. The talented group of skaters and goaltenders from the Canadian Hockey League, USHL, United States colleges and Canadian Provincial League will show off their playing skills to general managers and talent evaluators from around the League in a unique best-on-best setting that commences their Draft-eligible seasons.

Dan Byslma, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Dave Tippett head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, along with NHL Hockey Operations staff will lead the players over the course of two days as they test a number of proposed rules changes, rink markings and strategies.

The following players have confirmed their participation:

Name Pos. Club (League) Height, Weight
ALTSHULLER, DANIEL G NEPEAN (CCHL) 6' 2', 194 lbs
ATHANASIOU, ANDREAS C LONDON (OHL) 5' 11', 157 lbs
BEAUVILLIER, FRANCIS LW RIMOUSKI (QMJHL) 6' 1', 170 lbs
BUSSIERES, RAPHAEL LW BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL) 6' 1', 183 lbs
CAMPAGNA, MATTHEW C SUDBURY (OHL) 5' 10', 170 lbs
CECI, CODY D OTTAWA (OHL) 6' 2', 203 lbs
CURCURUTO, GIANLUCA D SAULT STE. MARIE (OHL) 6' 1', 191 lbs
DARCY, CAMERON C U.S. UNDER-18 (USHL) 6' 0', 185 lbs
DI GIUSEPPE, PHILLIP LW U OF MICHIGAN (CCHA) 6' 0', 185 lbs
DRIEDGER, CHRIS G CALGARY (WHL) 6' 2', 172 lbs
DUMBA, MATHEW D RED DEER (WHL) 5' 11', 171 lbs
EBERT, NICK D WINDSOR (OHL) 6' 0', 195 lbs
FRASER, JEREMIE D ACADIE-BATHURST (QMJHL) 6' 1', 200 lbs
FRK, MARTIN RW HALIFAX (QMJHL) 6' 0', 192 lbs
GALCHENYUK, ALEX C/LW SARNIA (OHL) 6' 0', 185 lbs
GAUNCE, BRENDAN C BELLEVILLE (OHL) 6' 2', 205 lbs
GIRGENSONS, ZEMGUS C DUBUQUE (USHL) 6' 1', 182 lbs
GUDBRANSON, ALEX D KINGSTON (OHL) 6' 1', 200 lbs
KERDILES, NICOLAS LW U.S. UNDER-18 (USHL) 6' 1', 183 lbs
KOSMACHUK, SCOTT RW GUELPH (OHL) 6' 0', 182 lbs
LAUGHTON, SCOTT C OSHAWA (OHL) 6' 0', 174 lbs
MAIDENS, JARROD C OWEN SOUND (OHL) 6' 1', 169 lbs
MATHESON, MICHAEL D DUBUQUE (USHL) 6' 0', 170 lbs
MARCANTUONI, MATIA C KITCHENER (OHL) 5' 11', 185 lbs
MURRAY, RYAN D EVERETT (WHL) 6' 0', 182 lbs
OLSON, COLLIN G U.S. UNDER-18 (USHL) 6' 3', 189 lbs
POULIOT, DERRICK D PORTLAND (WHL) 5' 11', 185 lbs
RIELLY, MORGAN D MOOSE JAW (WHL) 5' 11', 189 lbs
RYAN, ANDREW LW HALIFAX (QMJHL) 6' 3', 193 lbs
SCHMALTZ, JORDAN D SIOUX CITY (USHL) 6' 2', 175 lbs
SISSONS, COLTON RW KELOWNA (WHL) 6' 1', 182 lbs
SIWAK, DAULTON C RED DEER (WHL) 5' 11', 190 lbs
SUBBAN, MALCOLM G BELLEVILLE (OHL) 6' 1', 178 lbs
TIERNEY, CHRIS LW LONDON (OHL) 6' 0', 170 lbs
TROUBA, JACOB D U.S. UNDER-18 (USHL) 6' 1', 175 lbs
YAKUPOV, NAIL RW SARNIA (OHL) 5' 11', 180 lbs

WHL defensemen among draft prospects to watch

Among the top players from the OHL are two players with the Sarnia Sting -- center Alex Galchenyuk (6-0, 185) and right wing Nail Yakupov (6-0, 190).

Yakupov, born in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, led the team with 101 points, including 49 goals (16 power-play goals) and 52 assists in 2010-11. Galchenyuk meanwhile had 31 goals, including 10 with the man advantage, and 83 points in 68 games.
 
Central Scouting's Chris Edwards also likes what he sees in Windsor Spitfires defenseman Nick Ebert (5-11, 195), a native of Livingston, N.J. In 64 games, Ebert had 11 goals and 41 points. Ottawa 67's defenseman Cody Ceci (6-1, 203), also an 'A List' player, was the only other 2012 draft-eligible player besides Murray to receive an invite to Team Canada's summer WJC evaluation camp.
 
Kitchener Rangers center Matia Marcantuoni (5-11, 185) also will command plenty of attention next season.


For the full story click here

For list of North American players click here

For list of European players click here