panoo

Written by Jason Menard
on 06/17/2007

It was a refrain heard often in the House of Green when certain teams would visit the John Labatt Centre. The words, in one form or another, were "You could have three of the top-10 draft picks this year playing on the ice."

Scout after scout agreed that the OHL was blessed with elite talent this year. Getting them to agree on an order, however, that was the challenge. For every person who loved Sam Gagner's hockey sense, there was another who loved Pat Kane's offensive brilliance, Logan Couture's all-around game, or Stefan Legein's speed.

And while the WHL may be the deepest of all the junior leagues in terms of overall talent, it's safe to say that when it comes to mercurial, high-end, team-defining players, the OHL is the place to look.

Another point of interest this year was the consolidation of talent. Expect to hear the cities of Erie, London, and Kitchener mentioned early and often, as the clubs amassed - and continue to add - high-end talent in pursuit of the Memorial Cup.

1. Pat Kane, F, London Knights
Nov. 19, 1988

The one thing about being a late '88 birthday, as Kane is, is that some people question the comparison against players who may be almost a full year younger than him. However, when you display superlative gifts like Kane has in his rookie OHL season, those doubts are quickly washed away.

En route to earning CHL rookie of the year honors, Kane posted outstanding numbers scoring 62 goals and adding 83 assists in 58 games. In addition, the Buffalo native was a key performer on the U.S. World Junior Championship squad. Kane may not be the largest player in the game at 5'10, but he's got good leg strength, other-worldly puck-handling skills, and a nose for the net that have many pundits expecting he'll go first overall to the Chicago Blackhawks.

2. Sam Gagner, C, London Knights
Aug. 10, 1989

Kane's frequent running mate, the two words affiliated with Gagner are hockey and sense. He has an uncanny ability to not just see what's happening on the ice, but to also project what's going to happen. Gagner, who has grown up in a hockey environment under the tutelage of father (and current coach) Dave Gagner, understands the game like few other prospects.

This season, Gagner scored 35 goals and added 83 assists in 53 games. He was a 17-year-old member of the Canadian World Junior club, but didn't see much ice time during the tournament. Upon his return, Gagner also suffered an injury that kept him out of some games and slowed his progress upon his return. Although young, Gagner showed a great deal of leadership on and off the ice and projects to be a solid offensive-minded center, with a capable understanding of defensive play.

3. Logan Couture, C, Ottawa 67's
Mar. 28, 1989

Couture's desire and passion for playing may have ended up hurting him more than any opposition player could have. Last year at this time, the London, ON native was talked in reverential tones along with Quebec's Angelo Esposito as potential first-overall selections. However, his desire to fight through a bout of mononucleosis diminished his overall effectiveness and set him back all season long.

Regardless, in 54 games Couture scored 26 goals en route to 78 points and displayed the solid, two-way commitment to the game that originally set scouts' hearts on fire. Compared favorably to two-way stalwarts like Steve Yzerman, Couture is a wild card in this year's draft. He could fall out of the top 10 if teams fear his illness-depleted season is a sign of things to come, or he could be snapped up early by a team willing to look past the mono to the potential he displayed in years previous.

4. Stefan Legein, F, Mississauga Ice Dogs
Nov. 24, 1988

Legein is another late '88 birthday who has been somewhat polarizing amongst teams. Blessed with blazing speed, the Oakville, ON native plays a game tailor-made for the new, less-restrictive NHL. However, others see his draft-eligible season explosion as the potential for being a flash in the pan.

Beyond solid offensive play (43 goals in 64 game) and speed, Legein brings a certain feistiness to his game. This year marked his second consecutive year with over 100 penalty minutes to his name. His work ethic and dedication to improving his game have been lauded by coaches, teammates, and scouts alike.

5. Brett MacLean, F, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 14, 1988

The Port Elgin native hit the logistical jackpot this season being paired up with wunderkind John Tavares with the Generals this season. And while some may suggest that any player would be able to post impressive numbers riding shotgun with the consensus 2008 No. 1 pick, MacLean has dodged this criticism through his willingness to play in the tough parts of the rink and usually come out with the puck.

Solid hands and an ability to finish (47 goals in 68 games) are the Port Elgin, ON's strong points, while a less-refined skating technique is something that needs to be worked on for the 6' forward to get to the next level.

6. Nick Spaling, C, Kitchener Rangers
Sept. 19, 1988

The Drayton, ON native is one of those glue guys who are integral for any winning team. While he doesn't excel at any one thing, Spaling has shown an impressive ability to be solid in all aspects of the game: offensive, defensive, and special teams.

This season, Spaling took on more of an offensive role, with 59 points in 61 games. He also showed an ability to perform in his end of the rink, anchoring the defensive zone for his Rangers teammates. While few expect Spaling to tear up the professional ranks offensively, he has all the tools needed to be an effective - and valued - member of any franchise in a two-way or defensive checking role.

7. Akim Aliu, C, London Knights
Apr. 24, 1989

Aliu has all the characteristics of your prototypical power forward. He's big - at 6'3, 209 pounds - and he's got enough of a puck sense to score 42 points in 53 games, buoyed by 20 goals. Unfortunately, there seems to be a dark cloud hanging over the player.

Obviously, most conversations begin with the challenges he faced due to a hazing incident back in Windsor. As well, Aliu now finds himself on his third OHL team due to an off-season trade to the London Knights. Finally, he's starting to develop a reputation for his play falling off when the pressure's on - one point in six playoff games in 2006, six points, and one goal, in 21 games this year during the playoffs. Yet, if the storm clouds ever disperse - and perhaps an early-round selection is just the event to do that - Aliu has all the tools to be a force in the professional ranks. He just needs to find that proverbial tool box.

8. Mark Katic, D, Sarnia Sting
May 9, 1989

Conversely, Katic had the tools, had the toolbox - and seemingly lost them this season. After a breakthrough rookie campaign with the Sting in which he heralded his arrival as an offensive force from the blueline with 34 points in 51 games, Katic seemed to stumble this season, matching his goal totals with five, but only getting six more total points despite playing more games (17) and logging more minutes.

The problem appears to be that Katic got away from being who he was and tried to hard to be what people told him to be. Whether that was coaches, friends, or others trying to get him to the next level, Katic got away from the smooth-skating, sensible play that highlighted his rookie year. If he gets back to the basics, focuses on making that smart first pass, and concentrates on his skating and positioning, some team could find themselves with a steal in this year's draft.

9. Trevor Cann, G, Peterborough Petes
Mar. 30, 1989

One day Cann and the netminder who immediately follows him on this list may separate themselves - just not today. There's not much to choose from between the two netminders in terms of play, potential, and performance. However, Cann gets the nod here based in large part on his experience and his proven performance.

The 5'11, Oakville, ON native posted respectable numbers this season with a 3.69 GAA and .909 save percentage over 62 games for a struggling Petes franchise, which was reflected in his 23-32-5 record. A last-minute addition to the Canadian World Junior camp, Cann performed admirably under duress all season and has the makings of a solid netminder.

10. Jeremy Smith, G, Plymouth Whalers
Apr. 13, 1989

FULL STORY