This article is part of our The Kids' Table series.
Last week, we went over the Jimmy Vesey situation and looked in on the OHL playoffs. The Vesey front has cooled significantly, while the first round of the OHL playoffs has come to a conclusion – with one big surprise.
I mentioned that the spotlight was on the Sarnia Sting, whose various moves were supposed to line them up for a run at the Memorial Cup, but a 4-3 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Tuesday night sent them home early yet again. When you lose three of four games at home in a series, chances are you aren't going to make it out alive. Of course, it's tough when the guy you brought in to help you win doesn't play five of the seven games – Travis Konecny was sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in Game 2. All this does is release a few players early, as Konecny, Pavel Zacha and 2016-eligible defenseman Jakob Chychrun will all get a chance to forget this ugly series and get a jump on the next step.
For Chychrun, that's likely competing for Canada at the U18 Championship, which will help prepare him for the rigors of the World Junior Championship next winter. Mike Morreale over at NHL.com put together an interesting piece that gives some perspective on what Chychrun thinks of his own game. It's quite telling that Chychrun likens his style to that of Drew Doughty, saying that his "hockey IQ and ability to play in many
Last week, we went over the Jimmy Vesey situation and looked in on the OHL playoffs. The Vesey front has cooled significantly, while the first round of the OHL playoffs has come to a conclusion – with one big surprise.
I mentioned that the spotlight was on the Sarnia Sting, whose various moves were supposed to line them up for a run at the Memorial Cup, but a 4-3 loss to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Tuesday night sent them home early yet again. When you lose three of four games at home in a series, chances are you aren't going to make it out alive. Of course, it's tough when the guy you brought in to help you win doesn't play five of the seven games – Travis Konecny was sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in Game 2. All this does is release a few players early, as Konecny, Pavel Zacha and 2016-eligible defenseman Jakob Chychrun will all get a chance to forget this ugly series and get a jump on the next step.
For Chychrun, that's likely competing for Canada at the U18 Championship, which will help prepare him for the rigors of the World Junior Championship next winter. Mike Morreale over at NHL.com put together an interesting piece that gives some perspective on what Chychrun thinks of his own game. It's quite telling that Chychrun likens his style to that of Drew Doughty, saying that his "hockey IQ and ability to play in many situations" make him comparable to one of the top defensemen in the NHL. Another Doughty would be a coup for any team drafting Chychrun, but it's also aiming a bit high, in my opinion. This isn't taking anything away from him, considering I think he's a future captain in the league, but more in the mold of Wild stalwart Ryan Suter.
For Zacha, it could mean even more meaningful playoff hockey. The Czech product could join the Albany Devils for their AHL playoff run. For his entry-level deal to kick in, Zacha would have to play more than nine games in the NHL, which isn't even possible anymore this season. It would be great experience for Zacha to get any playing time during the playoffs for Albany, though the minutes may be tough to come by. The 19-year-old could elevate Albany's top six with his size and skill if he does indeed get the chance.
Speaking of the AHL playoffs, let's take a look at a number of prospects worth watching as they contend for the Calder Cup.
Riley Barber, Travis Boyd and Madison Bowey, Hershey Bears
The AHL season wraps up this weekend, and the Bears have already clinched a playoff berth, sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division. One of the main reasons they'll be in the hunt for the Cup are rookies Barber and Boyd, who have been there pretty much all season. Both come straight out of college, Barber from Miami (OH) and Boyd from the University of Minnesota. Boyd is a bit undersized, but has a plus shot and did an excellent job playing alongside veteran Chris Bourque on Hershey's top unit. Earlier this season, I called Barber a player to watch for a potential NHL breakout, and my opinion hasn't changed one bit. He was a leader at the college and WJC levels, and I believe he'll keep that persona throughout his career with the Capitals.
Bowey is probably the least surprising of this bunch. He was a high-round pick (2nd in 2013) and was also a captain at the junior level with WHL Kelowna. Bowey is used to gaudy offensive numbers from his time with the Rockets, but 27 points in 64 games for a rookie in the AHL isn't too shabby. Without Connor Carrick, who was traded to the Maple Leafs earlier in the year, Bowey has been thrust into an even larger role for a young blueliner as the engine that drives the Bears' play.
The Capitals have been able to sustain success by not having to go through big overhauls on their roster. With guys like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom in place, they have the luxury of cycling through prospects until they stick. But forwards like Jason Chimera, Jay Beagle and Justin Williams won't be around much longer, giving Barber and Boyd the inside track to bottom-six roles. The same can be said about Brooks Orpik being replaced by Bowey, who would look pretty nice alongside John Carlson on the Capitals' top pairing.
Almost everyone on the Toronto Marlies
Where do I begin with the Marlies? First, let me clarify that obviously not everyone is worth keeping an eye on. Not all prospects who find success at the AHL level are guaranteed to make an impact in the NHL, but Toronto's case is under a microscope with the whole rebuild in effect. Most of the Marlies' players have gotten a taste of the NHL. They have a lot to play for and should motivate each other through friendly competition. It's almost like the Marlies are competing for the Calder Cup while holding their own internal tournament to see who will advance to next season's Maple Leafs squad.
Among the obvious names are William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov and Zach Hyman, who have all played at least seven games for the Maple Leafs this season. Other notables include Connor Carrick, Sam Carrick, Connor Brown and Stuart Percy – all of whom had brief NHL stints this season. When it comes to Maple Leafs prospects, it's almost like a grab bag when you get past Nylander and the top guys. You pretty much have to reach your hand in there and pray that whoever you pull out impresses Mike Babcock enough to land a roster spot. It won't be much longer before the Maple Leafs are competitive, and a lot of these guys stand to benefit.
Kevin Fiala, Taylor Aronson, Trevor Murphy, Juuse Saros, Milwaukee Admirals
It's no surprise that several of the Admirals' players to watch are defensemen and goaltenders, two positions the Predators have done an excellent job developing over the years. Fiala is a household name when it comes to top prospects in hockey and currently leads Milwaukee with 46 points in 60 games. We know what to expect from Fiala – he's got top-six potential and could be playing on a line with Filip Forsberg soon. Let's get to the guys who are less recognizable.
Aronson's career has been a roller coaster. He's bounced around the AHL and ECHL for the past four seasons, which might scare owners away from investing in him. Sure, he's not going to wow you on offense, but offers a solid all-around game that has progressed nicely. It isn't like no one has ever made it out of the ECHL before, and blueliners normally take longer to develop. Aronson was a third-round pick back in 2010, so his pedigree is at least decent, and he's done a better job staying disciplined and out of the penalty box this year.
Murphy is almost the exact opposite of Aronson, an offensive-minded, but undersized defenseman. He's also four years younger and has a larger chip on his shoulder, having gone undrafted from the Windsor Spitfires last season. The most telling statistic is this: After committing 104 minutes worth of penalties last season in the OHL, Murphy only got pinched for 37 over 53 games this season at the professional level. This sort of discipline will help him land on the Preds' blue line one day, and Nashville really lacks that offensive-minded speedster in its defense corps.
What more can be said about Saros this season? He's been the top rookie goalie by far and perhaps the top rookie overall in the AHL. The Finn's posted a 26-7-0 record with a 2.18 GAA and .922 save percentage in 34 games, and it's safe to say that the Admirals wouldn't be in playoff position without him. We've started to witness the decline of Pekka Rinne for Nashville, though he's still only 33 years old and is possibly just going through a down year. Saros is lined up to take over for Rinne at some point, but that could take a few more seasons before it comes to fruition.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Lorito, Albany Devils; Adrian Kempe, Ontario Reign; Vinnie Hinostroza, Rockford IceHogs; Dominik Simon, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins; Austin Czarnik, Providence Bruins
