Brandon Saad

Brandon Saad is quite possibly the biggest enigma of the entire draft.

He came into the season as a possible top 10 pick in many circles. In my preseason survey of OHL general Managers, he was ranked second behind Matt Puempel as the top forward eligible from the OHL (North American).

Here are our preseason comments on Saad :

Big, agility, 3 zone player, physically dominating, goal scorer, play maker. These are all words used to describe Saad. One would think of a player with his natural ability to be a centerman, but the left shooting Saad plays either wing. He's as productive on his off wing as he is on his strong side.

Saad had a good start to the OHL season. By the end of December he had 20 goals and 17 assists in 32 games. Saad then missed the cut for Team USA at the World Junior Championships and things started heading south. He finished his remaining 27 games with just 7 goals and 11 assists.

Saad came back to life in the playoffs however. In a 4 game sweep of the Guelph Storm he notched 4 goals and 4 assists. In a seven game heartbreaking loss to the Windsor Spitfires he added another 3 goals and 5 assists to finish third on his squad in scoring.

Maybe it was the length of the OHL season that had an effect on Saad. Maybe it was that he missed 9 games. But you can't help but be intrigued by the potential that he has. Even with the bad second half that he had, he was almost a point per game player in the regular season, and accomplished just that in the playoffs.

We had Saad ranked high on our list, but he began to drop with us just like he had with everyone. He could go in the 21 to 30 range in the NHL Entry Draft, but it won't come as a surprise if someone takes a chance just based on his potential in the middle range of the first round.

Saad was again invited to Team USA's evaluation camp for the 2012 World Junior Championships.

Brandon Saad

Fellow blogger and all around good guy Jerome Berube has a video compilation up on his blog on Brandon Saad.

Although Saad's stock has dropped just a bit, you have to concede that his potential is intriguing.

You can check out the video here .

While you are at it, check out some of his other videos. Jerome does a fantastic job posting videos on all the draft eligibles on  his blog and youtube channel.

NHL Draft Blog Ranks the Top 10 Left Wingers in the Draft

Over at the NHL Draft Blog, they ranked the top 10 left wingers available for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and 5 of the 10 were from the OHL.

Gabriel Landeskog led the way as the top Left Winger.

"Landeskog's game is developed for up and down the wing, disciplined and doing the little things right," MacDonald said. "He'll fit in nicely because he does his job, and I think that's the difference between Gabriel and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Hopkins will be more prolific down the road while Landeskog will be more steady, tough, the grind-it-out type, at the next level."

The other four OHL'ers joining Landeskog are: Brandon Saad, Matt Puempel, Alexander Khokhlachev and Lucas Lessio.

For the full story click here

OHL Playoffs - Day 23

Windsor 5 Saginaw 3 - Windsor leads series 3-2

It would be in Windsor's best interest to end this in game 6 tonight in Windsor as game 7 is scheduled back in Saginaw for Monday night, meaning 3 games in 3 nights and an awaiting Owen Sound Attack for the Western Conference Finals which begin Wednesday. If it goes 7 games, the winner of this series will play 4 games in 5 nights. Not a recipe for success.

As for last nights game, things started out rosy for the Spirit. Brandon Saad was set up by Mathew Sisca just 44 seconds into the game to give Saginaw a 1-0 lead. It was Saad's third goal of the post season.

At 9:25 of the Period and on the powerplay, Vincent Trocheck would notch his 6th to put Saginaw up 2-0. Ben Chiarot and Peter Hermenegildo would get the assists. The first period would end with Saginaw up 2-0 although they were out shot 11-7 by Windsor. Windsor would be 0/1 on the powerplay while Saginaw was 1/1.

Jake Carrick would cut the lead in half at 10:29 of the second with an unassisted marker, his 8th of the post season. Saginaw would strike again on the powerplay when Dalton Prout scored his 3rd from Saad and Trocheck to restore the two goal lead. Carrick would score his second of the game just 27 seconds later to cut the lead back to just one. Tom Kuhnhackl would draw the lone assist. Taylor Carnevale would even the score at 3 with just 45 seconds remaining when he scored his 5th from Ryan Ellis and Jeff Brown.

Saginaw would go 1/2 on the powerplay while Windsor didn't have a powerplay in the period. Windsor outshot Saginaw once again, 13-10.

The teams were scoreless for much of the third period until Ryan Ellis scored his 6th goal at 16:06 from Zack Kassian and Stephen Johnston.

Kenny Ryan would seal it with an unassisted marker into the empty net with 18 seconds remaining. It was Ryan's 4th of the playoffs.

Saginaw outshot Windsor in the third period 12 -8. The three period total was 32-29 in favor of Windsor. The Spirit would finish the game 2/3 on the powerplay while the Spitfires were 0/1.

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OHL Playoffs - Day 19

Mississauga 6 Sudbury 3 - Mississauga leads series 3-0

The Mississauga St Mikes Majors took a commanding 3-0 series lead when they defeated Sudbury 6-3 on home ice on Tuesday evening. Game 4 goes tonight in Sudbury.

The Majors come out flying again in this one doubling up on the Wolves in shots at the end of the period 18-9 and built a 2-0 lead. Jordan Mayer got it started when he scored his second of the playoffs at 5:31 of the period. Maxim Kitsyn and Mika Partanen would draw the assists on the goal. Then at 12:27 of the period, Mayer would score his second of the period and third of the post season when he connected from Corey Bureau.

The second period brought more of the same in shots with the Majors once again doubling up the Wolves, this time 16-8 but they would trade goals notching 2 a piece.

Rob Flick would get it started with his second of the playoffs at the 3:51 mark of the second period with the assists going to Chris DeSousa and Riley Brace to make it 3-0. Frank Schumacher would then score his first goal of the playoffs at 5:21 to make it 3-1. Josh Leivo would get credit with the only assist. At 12:05, Eric O'dell would get his 6th on the power play on a set up from Mike Lomas and Andrey Kuchin to pull the Wolves within 1. But just 1:16 later Justin Shugg would restore the Majors lead to 2 goals when he tallied his 4th from Casey Cizikas. The second frame would come to an end with the Wolves trailing 4-2.

But just 1:28 into the third the Wolves would pull back to within one when Leivo scored his 6th of the play offs with the lone assist going to Lomas. Almost 10 minutes later, at 11:25, Kitsyn scored his 5th from Mayer to put Mississauga back up by 2 once again.

With Alain Valiquette on the bench for an extra attacker, Bureau would score his second of the playoffs into an empty net to seal the victory.

Valiquette 9 of 10 in the third and 39 of 44 overall for Sudbury while JP Anderson stopped 18 of 21 in the game. Sudbury managed just 4 shots in the third and will have to drastically improve that if they want to force a game 5 back in Mississauga after tonight.

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Saginaw 5 Windsor 2 - Saginaw leads series 2-1

The Spirit won for the second straight game, and at home, to take a 2-1 series lead before the series switches back to Windsor for game 4 on Thursday.

Saginaw would score first 3:34 into the contest when Jordan Szwarz and Ryan O'Connor set up Garret Ross for his second of the playoffs. Josh Shalla would notch his 7th to make it 2-0 at 9:04 of the period with Ivan Telegin and Mathew Sisca. Then at 19:16 of the first, Szwarz and O'Connor would once again set up Ross for his second of the game to make it 3-0. Saginaw would outshoot Windsor 12-10 in the period.

The second period would see Saginaw extend their lead to 4-0 when Vincent Trocheck scored his 5th at 9:50 from Telegin and Brandon Saad. Windsor would cut into the lead when Zack Kassian scored his 2nd of the playoffs, unassisted at 14:09. That's the way the period would end with the shots tied at 8 in the second.

Another unassisted goal for Windsor, this time by Alex Khokhlachev at 12:52 of the third, would draw the Spitfires within 2. It was Khokhlachev's 5th of the playoffs.

But the comeback would fall short with Saginaw on the power play. Szwarz and O'Connor would each earn their 3rd assists of the evening, this time setting up Telegin for his 2nd of the playoffs at the 13:39 mark of the third.

Windsor would outshoot Saginaw 13-9 in the third and 31-29 overall. Jack Campbell was in goal for Windsor while Mavric Parks guarded the crease for Saginaw.

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OHL Playoffs - Day 17

Mississauga 3 Sudbury 2 - Mississauga leads series 2-0

Although the scoreboard doesn't show it, this game was the definition of offensive domination by the Majors.

The first period was scoreless with Mississauga holding an 18 -10 shot advantage. As usual, JP Anderson was defending the goal for Mississauga while Alain Valiquette was on guard for Sudbury. The only penalty of the period went to Maxim Kitsyn of the Majors with just 37 seconds remaining in the period, so it would carry over into the second.

It took all of 23 seconds for the power play to connect when Eric O'Dell and Michael Sgarbossa set up Marcus Foligno for his first of the playoffs. Mike Lomas and Josh McFadden then set up O'Dell for a goal of his own, his 5th of the post season and a short handed marker at 15:42. Mississauga would get that back just 1:17 later as Justin Shugg scored unassisted to cut the Wolves lead to 2-1. It was Shugg's 3rd of the playoffs.

The Majors controlled the teritorial advantage outshooting the Wolves 21-8 in the 2nd frame.

In the third period, the Majors would fire 24 shots at Valiquette while the Wolves managed just on Anderson.

Stuart Percy would score his first of the playoffs on the powerplay at 9:44 to tie the game at 2. Michael D'Orazio and Rob Flick would draw the assists.

Then with 5:02 remaining in regulation, Mika Partanen would give the Majors a 3-2 lead knotching his second of the post season. Kitsyn and Jordan Mayer would draw the assists.

Game 3 is set to go Tuesday back in Mississauga

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Saginaw 5 Windosr 4 OT - Series tied 1-1

It didn't take long for Windsor to get on the board as Ryan Ellis and Kenny Ryan set up Stephan Johston for his 6th goal of the playoffs only 1:13 into the contest. The quick flying Spitfires would make it 2-0 before the game was 5 minutes old. Tom Khunhackl would notch his 6th at 4:32 with assists going to Craig Duininck and goaltender Jack Campbell.

Saginaw would get that one back just 1:16 later as John McFarland scored his 4th of the playoffs set up by Mathew Sisca. Ben Chariot would tie it with his first when he was set up by McFarland and Vincent Trocheck. The period would end tied at 2 with Saginaw outshooting Windsor 13-11.

Windsor would restore their 2 goal lead before the second period was 8 minutes old. Khunhackl would score his second of the game, 7th of the playoffs at 4:57. Alex Khokhlachev and Ellis would get the assists. At 7:25 Jake Carrick would score his 5th goal with the assists going to Khokhlachev and Saverio Posa to make it 4-2.

Garret Ross would cut the lead to 4-3 when he scored his first at 12:51 of the second. The assists went to Jordan Szwarz and Josh Shalla.

The period ended with Windsor outshooting Saginaw 15-5.

Brandon Saad would tie it 9:28 into the third when he scored his second of the playoffs. Chiarot and Ivan Telegin would get the assists.

And that's how regulation would end with Saginaw outshooting Windsor 12-6 in the frame and 34-33 overall.

Overtime would last just 2:13 as Shalla would notch his 6 of the post season with assists going to Szwarzand Ross. Saginaw outshot Windsor 4-1 in the extra session.

Game 3 is back in Saginaw on Tuesday

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Playoff Preview - Round 2 - Western Conference

Seeing that I was only 5-8 in the first round, I should avoid making predictions. But why stop now? But first, a look at the two series.

Owen Sound (1) Plymouth (6) - Plymouth won series 1-0-1

Plymouth is coming off of a hard fought 7 game series against the favored Rangers While Owen Sound had a 6 game series win against London. The Whalers will once again be the underdogs in this one, but dont take them lightly.

Here's what their draft eligibles did against each other in the season series.

Stefan Noesen - pointless
Alex Aleardi - 0G 2A
Garrett Meurs - pointless
Rickard Rakell - 0G 1A

Andrew Fritsch - 1G 0A
Cameron Brace - 0G 0A

Prediction: Plymouth in 6 games

Saginaw (2) Windsor (4) - Saginaw won season series 4-1-1

Windsor is coming off of a 7 game seasaw battle with Erie while Saginaw is coming off of a 6 game set with Guelph.

Here's a look at what the draft eligible players did against each other.

Alex Khokhlachev - 2G 4A

Vincent Trocheck - 2 G 7A
Brandon Saad - 0G 2A

Prediction: Saginaw in 6 games

OHL Playoffs - Day 11

Saginaw 6 Guelph 5 - Saginaw wins series 4-2 - (Prediction: Saginaw in 7)

 Josh Shalla led the way offensively notching 4 assists for the Spirit while Vincent Trocheck led the way in goal scoring with two goals and an assist. Jordan Szwarz, Ivan Telegin, Brandon Saad and Dalton Prout had single tallies in leading the Spirit to the second round for only the second time in the history of the team.

  Guelph’s Michael Latta scored a power play goal at the 4:35 mark from winger Daniel Erlich to make it 1-0.  Vincent Trocheck evened up the score at the 14:37 on a set up from Brandon Saad.  Latta would tally his second of the night at 17:26 in the first with an unassisted goal making it 2-1, but Saad would tie it 2:28 later with assists going to Josh Shalla and Trocheck.

The Spirit took the lead in the second period with three unanswered goals.  Jordan Szwarz tallied of the post  a power play goal assisted by Shalla and  Ryan O’Connor, to make it 3-2 at the 7:20 mark.  Dalton Prout would make it 4-2 with a goal at the 11:28 mark from Shalla and Saad, and Ivan Telegin gave the Spirit a three goal lead with on a set up from Mathew Sisca at 15:11. 

Saginaw built on their lead early in the third when Trocheck scored his second of the night at 3:46 from Shalla and O’Connor.  The Storm cut the lead to 6-3 with a goal from  Sam Lofquist with the lone assist going to Andrey Pedan (who seems to have found his offense at the right time) at the 7:57 mark.  Guelph then cut it to 6-4 with Peter Holland scoring a power play goal at 13:25 from Latta and  Taylor Beck.

So would a come back happen tonight?   Latta scored the hat-trick with 1:56 left on the clock to make it a one goal game, his fifth goal of the series coming on the power play from Beck and Holland.

But that's all the offense Guelph had in them and Saginaw held on to win the game and the series.

As the second seed coming into the playoffs, the Spirit will have home ice advantage at least through the next round. Their next opponent will depend on the outcome of tonights game 7 between Kitchener and Guelph. If Plymouth whould win the series then Saginaw would face the winner of the Windsor/Erie series. If Kitchener should win then Saginaw would face those same Rangers.

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Erie 6 Windsor 5 OT - Series tied 3-3

You have to wonder what's going through the minds of the Windsor Spitfire players and their coaching staff. The Spits had a 3-1 series lead and led 3-0 in the first period only to see both leads disappear.

The Spitfires know all to well what it's like to be in Erie's position. Last season they trailed the Kitchener Rangers 3-0 and came back to force a game 7 and win that series and eventually, the OHL Championship and the Memorial Cup. That's not to say Erie will accomplish that this year, but yours truly did predict Erie in 7 games for this series.

So what's happening to Windsor? They are getting offense. but they are also getting goaltending. Erie fired 30, yes that's thirty, shots in the first period alone on Jack Campbell. That's what most goalies face in a game. And they had a 3-0 lead after the first.

Windsor gave Erie just too many opportunities, giving up 67 shots including 8 in overtime. They also managed 53 of their own including just 4 in OT.

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Owen Sound 1 - London 0 - Owen Sound wins series 4-2 (Prediction: Owen Sound in 6)

Two words: Michael Houser.

There's no way i could leave it at just that. But i made a fair judgement in saying that the Knights would go as far as Houser would carry them. And not only did he carry them on his back, he hoisted them.

A brilliant performance was wasted yesterday when he stopped 38 of 39 shots and a play that left Robby Mignardi all alone in front with 1:41 left to play was the only blemish on his game. Not that any goalie could have made that stop.

After a shaky performance in game 5, Houser did more than his share in game 6. People soon forget that outing with his last performance. And if in scouts minds the last game is the performance they remember most, then they soon won't forget his name.

Six games, 332 minutes played. 250 shots, 235 saves, a 2.71 GAA and a .940 SV%

The other thing the Knights would have needed was Jared Knight to score some goals, and he did just that leading all players in the series with 4 goals. He also added 2 assists for 6 points while getting duty on a checking line at times.

Seth Griffith led the team with 7 points - 3 goals and 4 assists, and Vladislav Namestnikov had 1 goal and 4 assists.

For the Attack, Joey Hishon was limited to just 1 goal in the series to go along with 4 assists.

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** Note: I'll have a preview of the second round matchups by Wednesday morning after the other two series are completed.

OHL Playoffs - Day 8

Niagara 4 Brampton 1 - Niagara wins series 4-0 (Prediction - Niagara in 5)

Well, this is the second sweep in the OHL playoffs thus far and Niagara did dominate this one.

Andrew Agozzino scored twice while Freddie Hamilton added 2 assists for the Ice Dogs. Brampton goaltender Cody St Jacques just didn't have his best in this game, allowing 4 goals on 11 shots in 23 minutes of action. Matej Machovsky came on in relief and shut the door the rest of the way but it was too late.

Dougie Hamilton finished this series with 1 goal and 5 assists while Ryan Strome added 1 goal and 2 assists. For Brampton, Barclay Goodrow went pointless in 4 games.

Niagara now awaits the winner of the Oshawa and Kingston series as their next opponent.

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Sudbury 5 Ottawa 3 - Sudbury wins series 4-0 (Prediction: Ottawa in 5 games)

If you asked most people outside of Sudbury, you would have found few people that would have had Sudbury winning a single game let alone sweeping the 67's. But shockingly, it happened.

So what went wrong for Ottawa? That's the million dollar question. And I am sure that will be dissected over, and over, and over in Ottawa for days to come.

Sudbury has 3 draft eligible defensemen in Justin Sefton, Charlie Dodero and Frank Corrado who went pointless last night but were all on the plus side. Not only were they solid in game 4, but throughout the series.

They got timely saves when they needed them from Alain Valiquette. And they also got timely goals when needed, and last night it was Michael Sgarbossa who provided a pair of goals to give him 4 goals and 8 assists in the 4 game series.

Things don't get any easier for the Wolves though. They now have to face the league's regular season champs and the Memorial Cup Host Mississauga St Mikes Majors in the next round. A preview of that series will follow the completion of round one.

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Saginaw 4 Guelph 3 - Series tied 2-2

Saginaw went into Guelph trailing 2-1 in the series and after falling behind 2-0 they went to work. They scored a short handed goal, a 5 on 5 goal and 2 power play goals to take the lead and make it hold up for the victory.

Ryan O'Connor lead the way offensively with 2 assists while Mavric Parks stopped 30 of 33 shots for the Spirit. Brandon Saad added a single assist while Vincent Trocheck went pointless for Saginaw.

It was also a game of specialty teams with Saginaw going 2 for 3 on the power play while Guelph went 1 for 6.

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London 5 Owen Sound 2 - Series tied 2-2

This series is going exactly as i suspected it would and that Michael Houser and Jared Knight would have to play key roles for the Knights to win this series. And they are getting just that.

Houser stopped 36 of 38 shots and once again made big saves when he was counted upon. As for Knight, he played primarily a shut down role last night yet was still able to add 2 goals.

Joey Hishon remains virtually invisible in this series scoring only 1 goal, and that coming after his shadow Stephen Sanza left game 3 with an injury. Owen Sound needs Hishon scoring if they are going to take this series.

Seth Griffith added a goal for London while Vladislav Namestnikov added an assist. For Griffith, that was his third goal to go along with 4 assists. Knight now has 4 goals and 2 assists in the series.

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OHL Draft Eligible Power Play Goals Leaders

OHL draft eligible power play goals leaders

Matt Puempel - 15
Ryan Murphy - 14
Mark Scheifele - 13
Alan Quine - 13
Brandon Saad - 12

Brandon Saad Misses the cut for Team USA

I'm sad to see Saad didn't make the final cut for Team USA for the World Junior Championships. But you have to give Team USA officials credit. They've assembled a strong group of talented players and look poised to defend their gold medal on home soil.

Of course, as expected, Jack Campbell of the Windsor Spitfires will be the starting goalie when the puck drops in Buffalo. Kitchener Rangers grad Jeremy Morin also made the squad as expected.

So between Canada and the USA we have one draft eligible player in Sean Couturier playing in the tournament. No worries as other teams, like Sweden with 6, will have plenty of players to watch for draft junkies.

Let the tournament begin !!!

To view the complete team USA roster, click here

Brandon Saad is OHL Academic Players of the Month for November

West Division - The OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the West Division is left winger Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit.  Saad, 18, a native of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, currently is a Grade 12 student at Heritage High School.  “Brandon is an excellent student who has made a seamless transition balancing school and hockey.  He is a model student-athlete,” commented Spirit Assistant Coach Adam Mattson.  Saad is a projected 1st round selection for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and was ranked second among OHL skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings. 

For the winners from the other divisions, visit here

Brandon Saad Featured in USA Today

Pennsylvania native Brandon Saad's impressive play in the Ontario Hockey League gives rise to the strong possibility an American will crack the top five in the NHL draft next summer for the first time in three years.

Although a record 11 Americans were taken in the first round in June, none went in the top 10. Starting in 2004, an American was selected in the top five in five consecutive drafts. The last U.S.-born top-five draft pick was Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Zach Bogosian, who was chosen third overall in 2008.

"Brandon is a classic power forward with size, strength and finishing abilities," USA Hockey assistant executive director Jim Johannson said. "He projects to be a steady, producing scorer at the NHL level."

Saad (6-2, 200) has 13 points in his first 12 games for Saginaw in the OHL.

Other top American prospects:

2. Right wing Seth Ambroz (Omaha, United States Hockey League): He could end up being a Dustin Brown-type player, physical with the ability to score goals. He has the potential to crack the top 10 in the draft.

3. Center Rocco Grimaldi (U.S. National Team Development Program under-18 team): Brian Gionta. Tyler Ennis. Corey Millen. Take your pick for an apt comparison for a dynamic, 5-7 scorer. He'll play at North Dakota.

4. Center J.T. Miller (U.S. NTDP U-18 team): He is considered an enticing project because he has size (6-1, 198) and skill and can skate.

5. Right wing Tyler Biggs (U.S. NTDP U-18 team): He is 6-2, 205, a physical force and a solid net-front presence. "He's an in-the-trench player," Johannson said.

6. Defenseman Adam Clendening (Boston University): He's 5-11, 190, and he can move the puck effectively.

7. Right wing Shane McColgan (Kelowna, Western Hockey League): The flashy 5-10 Californian is close to being a point-per-game player in the WHL. He had 25 goals and 44 assists in 71 games last season and is off to a great start this season.

8. Left wing Matt Nieto (Boston University): He's an excellent skater with exceptional offensive instincts.

9. Defenseman Mike Paliotta (U.S. NTDP U-18 team): He's a steady, versatile, 6-4 puck-mover with solid fundamentals. He'll play at Vermont.

10. Defenseman Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL): The St. Louis native is a 6-3 offensive defenseman who had 10 goals and 145 penalty minutes last season.

Thanks to Kevin Allen of USA Today

My survey of OHL General Managers

As in the past, I conducted a survey of OHL GM's in 4 categories of their top 3 picks to go in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Again, this is just OHL players. New this preseason is the category of top import player. It probably would have been better to include that in the mid season rankings, as some of the GM's didn't feel knowledgeable enough to select more than 1 or 2.

The survey covered 60% of the GM's so it should be a pretty accurate picture of the league. In 2 instances, the survey was done with an assistant GM or head scout, one because he is a new GM and felt he didn't know the players as well yet. 

Each GM was asked to select a first, second and third pick in 4 categories. Those categories are, Top Goaltender, Top Import Player, Top Forward and Top Defenseman. The players are then scored based on those votes with the best possible score being 60 (12 first place votes).

Only 4 players received at least one vote from each GM. They are Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Puempel and goaltenders Tyson Teichmann and Matt Mahalak. Every player that received at least 1 vote is listed. So, without further delay, here are the results:

Top Goaltender

Tyson Teichmann (48)

Matt Mahalak (40)

Jordan Billington (11)

Tadeas Galansky (7)

Mike Morrison (1)

Jacob Riley (1)

It's pretty similar to my rankings which i did at the end of last season. Mahalak was an exception because he didn't play in the OHL last season, therefore wasn't eligible for my rankings. Tadeas Galansky was also picked in the top imports (below) therefore his numbers maybe a little skewed by that.

Top Import

Gabriel Landeskog (41)

Niklas Jensen (27)

Alex Khokhlachev (11)

Tadeas Galansky (7)

Vladislav Namestnikov (6)

Mika Partanen (2)

No surprise here as Landeskog has a year under his belt in the OHL. The fact that the rest are rookies, and some GM's stayed away from selecting 3 imports because they didn't know them well enough hurt some player. But i expect Landeskog to stay near the top of this category all season. It also indicates that Niklas Jensen is the real deal and comes as advertised. And with Khokhlachev and Namestnikov in the picture, this could become a tight year long battle.

Top Forward

Matt Puempel (42)

Brandon Saad (31)

Lucas Lessio (13)

Boone Jenner (8)

Daniel Catenacci (7)

Garrett Meurs (5)

Again no surprise here, but i thought the race would be a little tighter with rookie of the year Matt Puempel still holding down top spot. Similar to my rankings, but again, Saad and Lessio were not on my list having not played in the OHL last season. I must admit though, it would have been an interesting race between Puempel and Landeskog had i not included a top import category.

Top Defenseman

Scott Harrington (38)

Dougie Hamilton (30)

Ryan Murphy (28)

Stuart Percy (6)

I must admit the result here is very surprising to me with super d-man Ryan Murphy coming in third. I like Scott Harrington a lot, but was shocked that he came in first. It's also the tightest race of any of the categories, with only 4 defensemen league wide receiving any votes. Also surprising was the fact that neither Murphy or Hamilton received at least 1 vote from every GM. Also, in my opinion, there was a homer vote here (no comment on who) which, otherwise, would have made this a virtual 3 way tie. This will be the race to watch all season, and may not be decided until the draft floor in Minnesota in June 2011.

Brandon Sadd

Brandon Saad - Saginaw Spirit
6'2" - 195 LBS

Big, agility, 3 zone player, physically dominating, goal scorer, play maker. These are all words used to describe Saad. One would think of a player with his natural ability to be a centerman, but the left shooting Saad plays either wing. He's as productive on his off wing as he is on his strong side.

The 10th overall pick in the OHL Priority Draft for the Spirit was a bit of a gamble considering there were strong indications Saad would opt for the US National Development program or the United States Hockey League. Fans of the Ontario Hockey League eventual won the opportunity to watch Saad for the 2010-11 season.

In 2009-10 Saad put up 12 goals and 26 points for the US Development team. In 2008-09 he had 29 goals and 47 points playing for Mahoning Valley Phantoms, a team that didn't have a single player in the top 20 in scoring but boasted 9 30 point players.

Saad is of Syrian descent and one would figure that that could lead to some nasty trash talk on the ice. Saad told The Hockey News in an interview recently that he hasn't seen that yet. He added “Most people don’t know.”  

Saad will be counted upon as one of the offensive leaders for the Spirit. He will have to withstand the physical demands of the OHL season. He's capable in both departments. He's another name to add to the ever growing list of tremendous US hockey players, and there is no doubt in my mind that he will be successful, leaving NHL scouts and GM's to take notice of in the top half of the first round of the entry draft.