New Jersey Devils & Related Hockey Links for 5/28/14

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Hockey Links

The Habs have forced Game 6 behind a Rene Borque hat trick. BORK TRICK? It was a wild game, folks. [PHT]

Out West things are looking dire for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks. They're on the brink of elimination in their series, 3-1. [PHT]

The Blue Jackets have signed head coach Todd Richards to a two-year contract extension. [Eye on Hockey]

The Capitals have hired Barry Trotz as their new head coach and have promoted Brian MacLellan to GM. [Puck Daddy]

Carey Price has skated in full gear, but he's still not playing in the conference finals. [Puck Daddy]

Alex Ovechkin was pretty pumped about winning IIHF world championship gold. [Puck Daddy]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Up next is skilled Canadian forward Josh Ho-Sang.

Josh Ho-Sang

Position: C/RW
Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Date of Birth: January 22, 1996
Place of Birth: Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Height/Weight: 5'11" / 165 lbs
Shoots: Right

Coming out of Windsor, Ho-Sang is ranked 22nd among North American skaters. He's lauded for his skill and great hands. He steps his game up under pressure and has performed well at all levels and in post-season play. His rankings remain a bit all over the board, but he's been considered–at times–as high as a top 10 pick. With his natural ability, a team picking later in the first round may get an absolute steal.

Ho-Sang's been at the center of a fierce debate after receiving a 15-game suspension (Update:reduced to six games) for a "hit" on Zach Bell of the London Knights. Quite frankly, I believe it's a ridiculous over reaction and don't intend to give it further thought. I'd have no hesitation drafting Ho-Sang if I were in the position to do so.

Scouting Report:

EliteProspects.com: "Ho-Sang is a small but skilled forward with some incredible hands. He's shown impressive skating ability and agility with the puck on his stick. He's a crafty player that has the excitement factor in his favor. He can rely too heavily on himself at times, but has great offensive instincts and pounces on chances."

Tyler Parchem, EliteProspects: "Ho-Sang often turns heads with his ability to handle the puck with ease in the offensive zone. He has speed and great offensive instincts but needs to work on his game outside of the offensive zone. He has the ability to explode offensively this season and has the potential to be a top ten pick in next years draft."

Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News: "Ho-Sang may be the most divisive player in this year's draft class. His offensive skill set is unquestioned, but some have worried about his judgement on the ice. For what it's worth, NHL scouts that I have talked to seem very excited about the youngster and didn't seem concerned about his attitude."

Good fit for the Blue Jackets?

Ho-Sang might be a bit of a reach at 16–though as noted before, with his skill he could easily end up being a late-round steal. Of interest, as evidenced in the highlights below, he had great chemistry with Blue Jackets prospect Kerby Rychel when both played for Windsor. Although you can't predict that kind of success in the NHL, I would have to think the work ethic and character of Rychel would rub off on Ho-Sang at the pro level.

Like Rychel last year, Ho-Sang would need to work on rounding out his game to be a breakout performer. Especially to make the roster on a team like Columbus. Still, there's no question that high-end skill on the wing is most certainly an area of need. He could be an ideal draft candidate if the Blue Jackets were to make a trade to slide back in the draft order and pick up extra draft choices in later rounds, though I can already imagine nervous comparisons to Marian Gaborik.

Ho-Sang Highlights

Don Lucia got some good news this week.

The University of Minnesota announced that defenseman Mike Reilly will return to Minneapolis for his senior season. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and All-American informed the team of his decision this week, according to the press release.

The Chanhassen, Minn. native was selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Reilly, whose father and two brothers also played for the Gophers, had nine goals and 24 assists last season as Don Lucia's squad fell just short of a national championship, losing 7-4 to Union in the NCAA final.

Peverley's cardiac arrest on the Stars bench was by far the scariest moment for the team since it moved to Dallas, but the way in which the organization responded to the incident both that night and afterword showed its true, classy colors.

As part of our look back at the season that was, the DBD staff has put together a Top 10 list of the most defining moments of the season, moments that have an impact beyond the scope of just one season. Since most of these happened off the ice and built upon many of the previous moments, they are listed in chronological order.

Forty-eight hours after what was the emotional high point of the regular season, the Dallas Stars found themselves in the midst of chaos.

During a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, forward Rich Peverley collapsed on the Stars bench just after finishing a shift. Before almost anyone knew what was happening, trainers and other medical personnel responded, and it took mere minutes before Peverley was conscious and responsive after suffering from a cardiac arrhythmia that required a shock from a defibrillator to fix.

We've obviously written a lot about that night since it happened nearly three months ago, from how the Stars bounced back on the ice to what may lie ahead for Peverley himself.

But I'd argue the real defining point for the Stars was not the incident itself, but the first-class manner in which the team, from the players and coaching staff to the front office and broadcast staff, responded from the moment Peverley went down.

He received immediate, top-end medical care to revive him and get his heart back into working order. Broadcasters Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh understood the gravity of the moment as it happened, keeping viewers and listeners as informed as they could while letting the images speak for themselves. Stars coach Lindy Ruff and front office personnel like president Jim Lites handled the ensuing fallout both that night and in the days after as professionally and compassionately as possible. General manager Jim Nill immediately left the NHL meetings in Florida to come home to be with his team.

When Peverley was in the hospital and then at home recovering, team members and other Stars personnel brought meals so he and wife Nathalie wouldn't have to worry about cooking for them or their young sons. When Alex Chiasson needed some extra help to deal with the emotional stress brought on by the incident, he received it without a second thought. And as Peverley recovered enough to travel, he continued to spend time with the team and filled in on the ice with the coaching staff.

Things didn't get back to normal right away. It wasn't business as usual on March 11 when the Stars had to play the St. Louis Blues, nor was it normal a few nights later, when Peverley and Stars trainers Dave Zeis and Craig Lowry received a standing ovation from the American Airlines Center crowd. But somehow it got back to just being hockey eventually.

The NHL rallied behind the Stars that night, as every team in the league (and several from other local organizations) sent their thoughts and prayers to Dallas. A special mention should go to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who were as accommodating and respectful as possible of the incredibly stressful circumstances. The logistics of the make-up game ended up being a significant problem for both teams, but everyone understood it was clearly the right call.

The incident was a nightmare of a scenario, unquestionably the scariest moment for the franchise since it moved to Dallas. But given the terrible circumstances, the Stars rose admirably to the occasion, showing that the off-season commitment to finding not just good hockey minds but also good people to lead the organization was more than just a cliche for the media.

When we look back years from now at this Stars season, this moment and how the Stars responded to it will be one of the first things, if not the first, to come to mind. That's a shame. It's a shame for a team that did such great things on and off the ice, and more importantly it's a shame for Rich Peverley, who is a Stanley Cup champion and a heck of a hockey player who deserves to be remembered for that instead of one night in March.

Still, it was unforgettably terrifying and sad and unnerving and all the terrible descriptions you can string together, a real-world intrusion of the worst kind in what to most is usually a blissful, if frustrating, form of escapism. But in the face of that, the Stars organization showed its true character and real sense of family.

And honestly, that's a bonus. As someone put it on Twitter when the make up game with the Jackets came around, the Stars may have started that game down by one, but they were really up 17.

You couldn't ask for a happier ending than that.

Senators by the Numbers continues with #71. No Senator has ever worn 69 or 70.

Nick FolignoC/W 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012

Born in Buffalo in 1987, Foligno was drafted 28^th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2006. Part of a hockey family, Nick wears #71 in honour of his father, 15-year NHL vet Mike Foligno. Nick's younger brother Marcus currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres. Nick began his junior career with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program; however, in 2004-2005 he joined the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, coached at the time by his father. After recording 38 points in his first season, his offensive production increased in his second year with the Wolves, leading the team in points with 70. He spent a third season with Sudbury, contributing 88 points. After finishing his junior career, he spent some time with the Binghamton Senators, playing 28 games in 2007-2008, but spending the bulk of the season with Ottawa. He scored his first NHL goal on October 18, 2007 against Carey Price, celebrating with his father's trademark "Foligno Leap". He spent the entirety of the next four seasons with Senators, splitting time between the second and third lines. A durable forward during his time in Ottawa, he was also a rugged and reliable offensive contributor. During the 2012 offseason, Foligno was an RFA and was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Marc Methot. He is currently a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A bit of a diamond in the rough, Alex Tuch is a big bodied power forward who has been having a breakout season with the US National Development Program Team in the USHL. Committed to Boston College for next season, he could be one of the real steals in the late first round for the team willing to call his name.

Name: Alex Tuch
Position: Forward (Centre / RW)
Team: US National Development Program (USHL) / Boston College Commit
Date of Birth: May 10^th, 1996
Place of Birth: Baldwinsville, New York
Height/Weight: 6'3" / 216 lbs.
Shoots: Right


I'm honestly a little shocked it took us this long to talk about Alex Tuch (pronounced ‘too-k'). A big, powerful, playmaking forward who's been on a point per game pace in his draft year? That's a pretty nice combination.

Add in some surprisingly good skating ability, some pretty impressive hands, and a talent for protecting the puck, and you've got a guy who is likely to make the fans at Boston College very happy for as long as his NCAA career lasts.

The only reason I can see for Tuch to have flown (relatively) under the radar is that he struggled a bit in the U-17 program last year, and may have been dismissed as a big guy who might not be able to put his game together against tougher competition. Clearly he's shown the hockey world that they may have missed the boat on that one. Interestingly, Tuch was also drafted by the Guelph Storm, though at this point he seems fixed on taking the NCAA route. Either way, if he's selected by the Blue Jackets, he'll be going to an organization with a recent history of success and ties to the club here in Columbus.

Scouting Reports:

He is one of the most mature players in the draft. He isn't looking to shine in the spotlight, but he wears his heart up on his sleeve for the team. He will get the job done anywhere and looks out for his teammates. Not to mention his personality as a leader and as someone who even coaches a youth hockey team, he is character personified. This combination of skill, maturity, hockey IQ, hands, speed, patience, and size makes the Boston College-bound prospect one of the most complete players in this year's draft class - not to mention coveted by 30 teams in a league called the NHL. - MyNHLDraft.com

Massive power forward has every physical tool in the kit: an enormous frame and strength, long reach, powerful skating stride and booming shot. Shields the puck and is dominant on the cycle. Displays surprisingly soft hands and finishing skills around the net. Lightning-quick release on a hard shot; can find the back of the net from just about anywhere around the faceoff circles. -NY Hockey Journal

Tuch shows good defensive instincts.  His hockey IQ is very apparent as he anticipates plays well leading to turnovers and starting the transition game.  He is hard on the back check and supports the defense down low.  Tuch's ability to win battles along the boards is seen in all three zones, and his hard-nosed and gritty style certainly helps in his own end of the ice.  He is a very good all-around type of player. -Last Word On Sports

Why He'd Be A Good Fit In Columbus:

Passionate, skilled, physical, mature, and a damned big bastard on top of all that. Tuch is pretty much right in line with everything the team is looking for - I'd go so far as to say that if he'd had a better year in the U-17s, we might be hearing about him as a top five candidate. If he should slip into the middle of the first round, or later, Jarmo should be picking up the phone. Columbus has frequently talked about wanting a powerful forward who could really do a bit of everything - a Joe Thornton type player, if you will. Ryan Johansen has filled that void as he develops, but Alex Tuch shows every sign of becoming another, and would make for a fearsome one-two punch once he finishes rounding out his game with the BC Eagles.

It is now official, the Rangers will face off against the LA Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The question now, Wilderness, is: did the Western Conference Finals decide the cup, and are the finals now just for show? The answer should be obvious. It doesn't matter how dominant a team is: anything can happen in the playoffs. The odds are stacked against the New York Rangers, but they could do it. Kings v Rangers.... set your clocks.

In the world of Minnesota Wild news, Yeo has an extension, and things are trending towards the draft.

Wild News:

Russo's Rants: Wild Do Not Extend Gunnarson- Well, Gunnarson is not a Wild. He could be back, though.

Star Tribune: Wild Sign Mike Yeo to Multiyear Deal- Yeolo? Not so much. Yeo returns for 3 more years.

Pioneer Press: Wild Sign Yeo to 3-Year Contract

Minnesota Hockey Mag: The Wild should NOT Sign Vanek- Schwartz's take, accurately summarizing the concerns with Vanek.

Team of 18,001: Season in Review: Stephane Veilleux- Giles' take on Veilleux's season.

Team of 18,001: Season in Review: Keith Ballard- Giles' take on Ballard's season.

In the Hunt (Playoff News)

Puck Daddy: LA Kings Win Game 7 in OT- It was a game 7 much like the Wild's in the first round.... the Kings didn't lead till their OT winner.

NHL: Kings Win Game 7, Advance to Finals in OT

Pro Hockey Talk: Now and Then: The Los Angeles Kings- Nice article comparing the Championship Kings from 2012 to the 2014 iteration.

Jewels From the Crown: Game 7 Recap: We Won't Go Quietly- Methinks the Kings and their fanbase are happy.

Pro Hockey Talk: Cam Talbot Day-To-Day- An undisclosed injury has sidelined Cam Talbot.

Second City Hockey: Hawks Can't Keep Kings Down, Lose in OT- The Hawks are gone... Eulogy to follow soon (I hope)

Pro Hockey Talk: A Decade Later, St. Louis, Richards Return to Cup Final- Feel-good piece about Richards and St. Louis

In the Hole (Gopher News):

SBN College Hockey: Scott Reedy Commits to Minnesota- We have another Gopher.

SBN College Hockey: Mike Reilly Will Return for Senior Season- Mike Reilly will be back to play defense for another year for the Minnesota Gophers.

Tending the Fields:

Hockeys Future: MN Wild Prospects Made Big Impact in NHL and Lower Level Playoffs- Good things are coming for the Minnesota Wild.

On Tap (Draft News):

The Hockey Writers: The Next Ones- This is not a single story, but it is the spot where The Hockey Writers will post all of their prospect profiles. GREAT Source of info on some folks.

SBN College Hockey: Sonny Milano Dazzles in Draft Combine- Could he be the next member of the Minnesota Wild?

Off the Trail:

Puck Daddy: Sad Youppi Tours Montreal in a Rangers Jersey- Hilarious hijinks from the Habs Mascot.

Star Tribune: Blue Jackets Extend Richards- Todd Richards will return to Columbus next year.

Puck Daddy: The Strange Story of Sather's Rangers- Interesting article about Glen Sather and the Rangers. Worth a read.

CBC: When Does a Player Peak?- An older article, but a great read from the CBC, and very relevant considering VANEK WATCH 2014

On the board next is forward Ondrej Kase of the Czech Republic.

Ondrej Kase

Position: LW
Team: Chomutov (Czech Extraliga)
Date of Birth: November 8, 1995
Place of Birth: Kadan, Czech Republic
Height/Weight: 6'0" / 165 lbs
Shoots: Right

Kase is a winger out of the Czech Republic ranked eighth among European skaters. He's a player with a lot of intelligence and can slip around the ice with a purpose. Size will remain a concern until he proves he can handle hockey in North America. He could have the ability to make a major impact in games, but ultimately he seems like he'll be a "project" to see if he can make the transition to playing on this side of the Atlantic.

Scouting Report:

EliteProspects.com: "Kase is a slick, driven, speedy winger who sees the ice well and understands how to impact the game. A natural playmaker who handles the puck well in tight spaces. Has very acute hockey sense and willingness to go to battle with much larger opponents. Size is only ongoing issue."

Good fit for the Blue Jackets?

Depending on where you look, I've seen him listed between 5'10''-6'0'' and around 160 pounds. For the game the Blue Jackets play, that just seems way too undersized. He's a playmaker rather than a finisher, which isn't exactly at the top of the Jackets wish list. That said, his hockey IQ and vision seem to be the best parts of his game, and those are two things that Jarmo Kekalainen highly covets. Kase could be a second round project and may very well grow into a solid NHL player. I just don't see it as the right fit for the Jackets, unless you're taking a flyer in hopes of selecting the next Martin St. Louis.

Even though the Ottawa Senators missed the playoffs, there is still some celebrating that can be done.

Even though it is the shimmery start of June, and us hard-luck Sens fans have to watch two other teams make their way into the Stanley Cup Finals, it's important to note that all is not lost.

When looking back on the 2013-14 season, it's easy to look at the negatives:

1. We missed the playoffs by a solid seven points.

2. Our goaltending never seemed to get established.

3. Our D looked shakier than cafeteria jello.

And so on and so forth...but what about the silver lining of this past season? Surely, in the world of pro sport, it's important to 'turn that frown upside down' and move on to the next page?

In a year where all of the expectations seem to fly out the airplane window on a season-starting (and stifling) Western Road Trip, it's important to note that there were some great players and stunning career highs on this team.

CLARKE MACARTHUR:

Clarke MacArthur is one of those players, and if there was anyone whose grit, speed and work ethic that both the team and fans stood up and noticed, it was this guy.

Clarke 'Grizz' MacArthur (yes- he got his nickname from a Chevy Chase character) showed up on this team and could be seen on every shift skating his guts out and creating scoring opportunities. Although he definitely had his slumps, Mac boasted 24 goals this season. That's three more than his previous record of 21 with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2010-11. Beyond that, he took the highest amount of shots he's ever taken in a season with 159 (beating out 154 from 2010-11) and he notched his second highest point season of all time with 55.

If there was anyone who I wished that some of the sullen Sens squad could have played like this past season, MacArthur was exactly that. His shifts always counted, and his work with Turris and Ryan gave us a look at his speed and forechecking skill. It is my hope that we lock Grizz up for a long time and that he wears an A within a season or two.

MARC METHOT:

Marc Methot is definitely one of the most polarizing Ottawa Senators in the eyes of the fans. With such a strong first year in the 2012-13 lockout season, Methot seemed to stumble at times in his second season with the Sens. Having trouble in his own zone (like every Ottawa D player) and being mysteriously sidelined for a 'flu' that seemed to last forever were all parts of a strange season for the 6'3" D man.

Despite the oddities, though, Methot notched his highest point season of all time with 23 points (beating out his previous high of 17 with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008-09). With a rocket-esque and accurate shot, Methot has proven to be effective at the point and scored 6 goals this season (two higher than his previous high of 4 in 2008-09). With a few interesting offensive flashes (like when he walked out from behind the net and schooled Mike Smith), it's obvious that there is more to meets the eye with this guy.

In my eyes, he's our second-best D man and he's fun to watch. When it comes to positioning, he's in the right place 95% of the time. He hits hard. He's a great skater and he seems to want to have a say in the leadership of this team. Watch for him to have another banner year in 2014-15.

KYLE TURRIS:

What else can be said about Kyle Turris? The guy is gold. He's dynamite. He is dynamite that is made of gold. In a season where everything seemed to go wrong, this guy was one of the pure 'rights'.

Not the biggest player in the NHL (6'1", 191 lbs), Turris has become a legitimate offensive threat. He's one of the best pickups the Sens have ever made, and he seems to keep getting better with every season.

'Turris Attraction' clocked his highest point season of all time with 58, more than doubling his previous highs of 29 (in both 2011-12 and 12-13). His ability to dig deep and come up with clutch goals and assists showed that he is on his way to being a premiere offensive player in the NHL. I'm unsure of whether he can ever be a successful first liner (because of his size), but I see Turris as being almost as untouchable as Erik Karlsson in his future with the Sens.

ERIK KARLSSON:

Speaking of Erik Karlsson (what a segue, hunh?), one of the most dangerous players in the NHL notched his highest goal season of all time this past year with 20 goals (knocking out his previous high of 19 in 2011-12). There's not much else that can be said about this guy (outside of 'he's the best offensive D-man in the game and we have him').

Karlsson's TOI was the highest of any player in every game this past year, and at the young age of 24, he is becoming a leader of this team. Although his offensive numbers may adjust slightly (especially if Jason Spezza is traded), EK65 is a powerhouse in his own right and he will continue to be a player than can singlehandedly change the course of any game.

JARED COWEN:

Scoff if you must, but Jared Cowen actually scored the most NHL goals he's ever scored in 2013-14 with a stunning 6 (edging out his previous high of 5 in 11-12). Highly scrutinized (and rightfully so), Cowen is one of the strangest 6'5" players in the NHL. He often looks unsure of himself with the puck, his ability to make fast decisions seems to be shot and he's not the fastest skater.

Beyond all of that, though, he did have some nice offensive looks and notched 68 shots on goal (10 higher than his previous record of 58 in 2011-12). He has a hard shot and if he continues to improve (and that's a big 'if'), Cowen could be on to something.

PATRICK WIERCIOCH:

Probably the strangest player of this group, Patrick Wiercioch is somewhat of an enigma. The 6'5 206 pounder is not the toughest defender, but our looks of him in the lockout season indicated that he would be playing more often this year. In the end, Wiercioch spent a lot of time in 2013-14 platooning and never really got a shot at the top 6 pairing for unknown reasons.

Outside of any speculation, though, Wiercioch had a career high season with 23 points (beating out his previous sparkling high of 19 in 42 games in the 12-13 season). He took 97 shots on goal (another high) and spent a lot of time on the PP. His hard shot and offensive positioning screams of a need to play more, and if he leaves, he is a player I will miss.

CHEERS AMONG JEERS:

In the end, it's important to note that missing the playoffs doesn't mean that this team is done. Our offensive output was higher than it has ever been, and that's nothing to shrug away. With all of these career highs in such a down and out season, surely that's an indication that something good is about to happen with this club.

I subscribe to the moneyball theory of hockey; goals = wins. You can have the best D corps and the best goalies in the world, but shutouts won't get you wins if your team can't put the puck in the net. We've proven that we can do that, and all of the above players are great examples of that truth. Let's just hope that moving forward, the offensive game isn't completely gutted in order to pay for our defensive sins.

A sixth rounder may be the only salvation for this draft.

The Flames had six picks in 2009. Among those selected were Tim Erixon (who is terrible, sucks, actually the worst, and should rot on the Blue Jackets’ farm team for eternity with his stupid face while beautiful glorious TJ Brodie continues playing amazing defence for the Flames and isn’t bad and incompetent at hockey and didn’t demand a trade to daddy’s team like a little bitch), Ryan Howse (who struggled with weightand bounced up and down between the AHL and ECHL before deciding he’d had enough and retiring at the age of 21), Henrik Bjorklund (who would have been great to play on a line with Rene Bourque and Mikael Backlund; alas, he’s playing in Sweden now), Spencer Bennett (ECHL), and Gaelan Patterson (ECHL).

Just one player from the Flames’ 2009 draft class remains with the organization. Selected in the sixth round, 171^st overall, a 6’1", 185 lbs. goalie from Turku, Finland. It sounds like a time warped Miikka Kiprusoff, and hopefully, that’s what Joni Ortio will turn out to be.

One for six (maybe): 17%

When we looked at the 2007 and 2008 drafts, we had established NHLers to look at. You could look at the Flames’ draft class and say, "Yes, this was a good draft," or, "No, everything went terrible here." Enough time has passed to get a pretty good read on those drafts, or at least the start of one.

Maybe enough time should have passed for the 2009 draft, but it hasn’t. Not yet. There are already several graduates from that class, but all we, as Flames fans, have to look at is a single former sixth rounder.

Is that enough? Remember that a 30% success rate is ideal, but 15% is okay, too. One successful draft pick out of six meets the lesser mark. So, if Ortio turns out to be the real deal, does that mean the Flames’ 2009 draft turned out okay?

That’s still a big "if". The lower you go in the draft, the less likely you are to find an NHLer. Sure, you hear about outliers, but they’re called outliers for a reason – they don’t conform to what would be the expected experience of someone in that position. If you’re relying on finding a successful outlier, your strategy probably isn’t going to yield results.

Mini-Kipper

Is it unfair to compare Ortio to Kiprusoff this early? Yep. Is it gonna happen anyway? Yep. They’re from the same town, played the same position on the same teams (TPS Turku and the Flames), have the same physical stats, play a similar style, and know each other.

(Side note: read this article from The Atlantic on Finnish goaltending if you haven’t already. In addition to being really well written, Kiprusoff gets talked about a great deal, and Ortio comes up in it as well. It’s a great read.)

After being drafted, Ortio stayed in Finland. His draft+1 season didn’t go particularly well, and he played just one game for Abbotsford in his draft+2 season (posting a .800 SV%) before going back to Finland (although he did represent the Finns at the World Juniors, and was one of the best goalies of the tournament, posting a .931 SV% before the Finns were eliminated by the eventual-champion Russians).

Ortio’s numbers improved, and he was back in North America for his draft+3 season. This time he lasted nine games and posted a .860 SV% before returning home for the season, where he suited up for 14 games for his hometown TPS with a .908 SV%.

Draft+4 season, the 2012-13 season, saw Ortio spend his entire year in Finland, putting him on the backburner as far as Flames prospects went. He continued to improve, though, starting for a middling HIFK team and posting a .917 SV% along the way. His save percentage improved to .922 over eight playoff games.

That brings us to this past season. Since being drafted, Ortio had played a handful of AHL games, mostly faring poorly, and spending four years in Finland, steadily improving. Kiprusoff’s retirement left a gaping hole in net for the Flames, and this time, Ortio stayed over.

He initially bounced up and down between the ECHL and AHL while the Flames were dealing with a logjam in net (at the start of the season, they had Ortio, along with Joey MacDonald, Karri Ramo, Reto Berra, and Laurent Brossoit). While Berra was starting for the Heat, Ortio and Brossoit alternated leagues so they could get some starting time. Ortio immediately proved himself above the ECHL, and when Berra was promoted to the Flames, he took over the starter’s role in Abbotsford.

The time in Finland clearly did him a lot of good, because Ortio thrived in his new role. He finished off with a .926 SV%, second best in the AHL. He was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team, and was one of the biggest reasons the Heat saw the success this season that they did.

Injuries also saw Ortio get called up to the NHL, where he posted a .891 SV% and 4-4 record over his first nine games (he was pulled from the ninth after giving up four goals on 13 shots). He posted save percentages above .920 in two games, his highest being a .968 SV% effort against the Senators for his first win.

He also got two assists within his first six games, which is pretty friggin’ neat.

Was 2009 a good year?

Ortio has shown some promise in regards to becoming an NHLer. His stint with the Flames showed he needed some more time, and according to Brian Burke, he’ll likely return as the AHL team’s starter so he can continue playing.

But his steady improvement over the years indicates the Flames may have found a quality NHL goaltender within the depths of the draft. If that turns out to be the case, and Calgary found an impact player, then that’s good, right?

It’s still a big if – but this draft hasn’t panned out as a total disaster yet.

Let's take a look at four men who are rumored to be the next head coach of the Florida Panthers. First up, Gerard Gallant.

According to scuttlebutt around the league, the Florida Panthers next coach will be one of the these four men: Marc Crawford, Tom Renney, Bill Peters and the subject of the today's article Gerard Gallant. Let's take a quick look into the background of the man Dale Tallon could charge with leading the Cats out of the darkness.

A former NHL player with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, Gerard Gallant is currently an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. Gallant joined the Habs for the 2012-13 campaign and has been an integral part of Michel Therrien's staff that has led the hallowed club to two-straight playoff appearances, including this year's run to the Eastern Conference final, after a postseason miss in 2011-12.

Gallant got his pro coaching start assisting Joe Paterson with the AHL's Louisville Panthers during the 1999-2000 season. In 2001-02, Gallant moved up the ladder, landing a spot as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets, working under the highly-respected Dave King. King was let go midway through the 2002-03 campaign, but Gallant stayed on to work under new head honcho, and former Florida coach, Doug MacLean. MacLean was fired 33 games into 2003-04 campaign and Gallant took over as Columbus' head coach and led the team to a 16-25-4 record the rest of the way. After a lost year due to the 2004-05 lockout, the Gallant-led Blue Jackets finished the 2005-06 season 35-43-4, failing to end the franchise's playoff drought.  A poor 5-13-2 start to the 2006-07 campaign brought an end to Gallant era in Columbus, as he was replaced by the more-experienced Ken Hitchcock.

You can't keep a good man down for long, and Gallant next found himself on Long Island, first assisting Ted Nolan during the 2007-08 season and then his replacement, Scott Gordon the next year. In April of 2009, the chance to be a head coach again presented itself and the Prince Edward Island native took over the reins of the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs. His tenure with the club was exceptional, with Saint John losing in the league final his first season before they took two-straight titles. In addition to the league wins, the Sea Dogs won the Memorial Cup in 2011. The fine work done in Saint John led the Canadiens to come calling when new coach Michel Therrien needed to fill out his staff.

With fourteen years of NHL and Major junior coaching experience under his belt, the former Red Wings and Bolts winger would be solid choice, in my opinion, to take over behind the Panthers bench. He has won it all at the junior level, has toiled in some similar tough NHL small-market stops, and recently been part of a successful turnaround by the Canadiens, a team that quickly went from missing the playoffs to being on the verge of winning the Stanley Cup. One other thing that could work in his favor is that he coached Panthers' Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau for three seasons in Saint John. In addition to his other attributes, with one of the Cats' brightest youngsters needing to bounce back, bringing in the coach who oversaw his development and got him rookie-of-the-year ready might be a pretty good idea.

Our daily look at Blackhawks news and the happening around the world of hockey.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane extensions are the highest priority. (CSN Chicago) *autoplay

Blackhawks still high on Kris Versteeg.  Of course, Stan Bowman is going to trash a guy he will try to trade this summer! (Sun Times)

Michal Handzus not ready to retire. (ESPN Chicago)

Blackhawks-Kings Game 7 sets all kinds of ratings records. (Madhouse Enforcer)

Happy 6th Birthday to our friends at Hockee Night!

The  Rangers are fighting for New York's attention. (SB Nation)

Daniel Carcillo gets his suspension reduced. (CBS Sports)

Jonathan Quick gets a scare in practice. (ESPN)

Pierre McGuire is a candidate for the Penguins GM job. (NHL)

Dan Hinote leaves the Blue Jackets. (Pro Hockey Talk)

Despite a famous name, John Quenneville brings his own impressive credentials to the ice, making him a solid first round candidate.

John Quenneville

Position: C/LW
Current Team: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Date of Birth: April 16, 1996
Place of Birth: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 187 lbs
Catches: Left

As our #30 profile, John Quenneville theoretically represents the final pick in this year's first round -- though we all know that the actual selection process will not follow so neat an arrangement.

Quenneville certainly brings a hockey heritage to the table.  Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is John's second cousin, and Boston's Johnny Boychuk became John's uncle after marrying into the Quenneville clan.  His brother Peter is a teammate in Brandon, John's prospects, however, are not contingent upon family connections, as he has more than established his own set of impressive credentials on the ice.

Quenneville ranked as the #23 North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings, jumping up from a #34 ranking at mid-season.  However, he was unable to crack the ISS Top 30 Rankings at season's end.   But, as the saying goes, the game is played on the ice, not on the blackboard, and it is on the ice where Quenneville makes his mark.  In 70 regular season and playoff games for Brandon this year, Quenneville was a point-per-game guy, with 30 goals and 41 assists.

Widely regarded as one of the more versatile forwards in the draft, Quenneville has a three-zone game that belies the fact that he just turned 18, and his balance between goals scored and assists shows that he can be both a play-maker and a finisher.  He is defensively responsible, and has enough size to make a difference in his own end.  As the second video below illustrates, he's also not shy about mixing it up when the circumstances warrant.

If there is criticism of his game, it comes in the skating area.  While he possesses the requisite speed, his quickness and acceleration are somewhat in question.  Still, things like that can be worked on.  The bottom lines is that this youngster has a well-rounded set of skills, is on an upward progression in the WHL, and might be worth a gamble for a team drawing in the bottom third of the first round.

A Good Fit in Columbus?

While Quenneville's skills and maturity would be an asset to any organization, the reality is that he is a "tweener" in terms of the draft numbers.  In all likelihood, there will be forwards available at the #16 slot with better skills and less risk.  By the same token, he is unlikely to fall deep enough into the second round where he would be available when Columbus picks at #47.   Of course, the possibility exists that the Blue Jackets trade down in the first round, but here we rapidly move from informed estimates to rank speculation.

So, while Quenneville's skills would be welcome, the numbers most likely suggest that he will not be donning the Union Blue.

Quenneville in Action

As the Stanley Cup Finals kick into full gear, and anticipation grows over prospective trades, signing, draft picks and the like, time to take another overview of the Blue Jackets and the NHL in general.

So, the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to the final six-pack of games, with Left Coast and Right Coast battling it out.  In the meantime, things are buzzing in various ways on Nationwide Boulevard and elsewhere throughout the league.  Time for another survey of the happenings-- from the sublime to the ridiculous:

Spooky Hockey Hell Dream -- With full apologies to The Book of Mormon (the musical, not the book), this Sanley Cup Playoff is my absolute nightmare match-up.  While the number of former Blue Jackets plays a role (Anton Stralman playing for the Stanley Cup?  Really?), it's much more deep-seated than that.  Growing up in the S.F. Bay Area, you learn to hate all things Los Angeles, particularly when it comes to sports.  Add Jeff Carter to the mix, and the L.A. Kings are just about at the bottom of my list of teams.  However, New York falls below even that, likely stemming from my mother pinning a New York Yankees pennant on our front door after Bobby Richardson robbed Willie McCovey of a hit in Game 7 of the 1962 World Series, depriving my Giants of the title.  So, be it Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Nets, Knicks or Rangers . . . ugh.

That Being Said . . . With that out of my system, you have to love the level of hockey being played -- not only in the Finals, but throughout the playoffs, which have been universally entertaining.  As much as I might dislike the two finalists, you have to admire the skills of both squads, but particularly the Kings.  Henrik Lundqvist has put the Rangers on his back for the entire playoffs, and while he's had periodic help from some quarters, he's the reason they are in the finals.  The Kings, on the other hand, are where I see the Jackets heading.  They have guys willing to play a physical game, yet can put the puck in the net.  They also have a few snipers who they allow to do what they do best.  A good defensive corps with one stud, a very good guy in net -- and they can play with speed.

Speaking of Speed . . .It was refreshing to hear coach Todd Richards talk about the need for the Blue Jackets to play with more speed.  With his emphasis on hitting everything in sight, sometimes the game on the ice can get awfully static, and that's when the club gets in trouble.  Speed, of course, is more than just the ability to skate fast -- its is the ability to play fast.   That comes with time and familiarity, and you need look no further than the Kings to see how that works.  

While on the subject of Richards, his two-year contract extension was simultaneously well-deserved on his part and smart on the club's part.  He was forced to deal with some significant injury spells, and kept the ship steady during the early drought.  He brought home a winner, and the team showed both character and increased skill as the season progressed.  At the same time, with only a two-year deal, the club protected itself in the event things take an ugly turn.  It's a win-win right now.   What I wish for Richards going forward are two primary things:

1.  Allow guys to do what they do best -- while still holding them accountable.  Not everyone is going to be good at beating the crap out of the opposition, and it takes them out of their games.  As L.A. shows, you can have a physical team, but allow your scorers the freedom to do what they need to do.  The "wear-'em-down" philosophy is good -- to a point.  It's something you want to have in your arsenal, but it does not work as well in the playoffs, and it takes a heavy toll on your own squad over the course of 82 games.   L.A .has found that balance, and I hope Richards finds it as well.  I'm sure Cam Atkinson would be appreciative . . .

2.  Just once in awhile . . . even for variety . . . smile, laugh, throw something, do something to show emotion.  Nobody is saying you have to be John Tortorella, and there is a lot to be said for calm stewardship, but letting the pulse get over 40 once in a while would be a good thing.

A Coaching Loss -- The news that Dan Hinote was leaving the team for family reasons was a surprise and a disappointment.  Hinote brought energy and humor to the coaching staff and the room, was a terrific ambassador for the club, and had to help keep things loose during that pressure-cooker environment down the stretch.  I think he'll be missed more than folks are admitting right now.  Best wishes to him and his family, and I hope that circumstances permit him to return to the club at some point.

A Coaching Travesty -- In the meantime, the Pittsburgh Penguins should be ashamed for the way they treated Dan Bylsma.  While I have no quarrel with making a coaching change in Pittsburgh, the way they dangled him on a string, to the point where a guy who never, ever reports something unless it's fact (TSN's Bob MacKenzie), reported that both Ray Shero and Bylsma were being fired, only to have Shero take the fall alone at the ensuing presser.  At the time, the professed reason was to allow the new general manager time to assess the situation.  Well, the hiring of former Carolina GM Jim Rutherford as the new hockey guy in Pittsburgh came today . . . and Dan Bylsma was fired today.  No, Jim, really . . . take some time to think about it.   The only conclusion you can come to is that the Penguins brass wanted Bylsma to resign, so that he would be in the running for some of the other jobs, which would save a pile of buy-out money.  Bylsma wasn't that stupid.  Badly played, Pittsburgh.

Cats Sleeping with Dogs -- With the hirings of Barry Trotz in Washington and Peter Laviolette in Nashville, you have to be scratching your head and going, "Huh?"  Trotz, known for his defensive, tight-fisted way of playing, takes over a squad that is the Air Coryell (Google it, kids) of the NHL.  Didn't the Caps try this two years ago, causing Ovechkin to have his worst season in recent memory?   Meanwhile, offensively-geared Laviolette takes over a club whose best shooter is on the blue line.  The prediction here is a long year of frustration in both venues.

On the Home Front -- focus at Nationwide Arena now turns fully to personnel matters, with lots of anticipation over potential trades, free agent acquisitions and draft picks.  Which direction will they go -- offense or defense.  A little of both?   Which kids will make the club?  Which vets will be gone?  The signing of Simon Hjalmarsson was a low risk deal that could have some significant upside on the offensive front, while the impending trade of R.J. Umberger may or may not bring value in return.   By the way, speaking of Umberger, is anybody else a little ticked that word of Umberger's request leaked out?   Whatever you may think of his value to the club, leaking his discontent does nothing to help his trade value.  Not smart.

The Dispatch has reported that talks are underway with Ryan Johansen, as they well should be.  No question the kid gets a big raise.  The major question will be whether this is THE contract, or whether there will be a two year bridge deal to provide some insurance against this year being a fluke.  Unlikely that it was, but such is the stuff of contract discussions.  I predict that the deal gets done in relatively short order.  RFA status is not a huge hammer, but by the same token, the club does not want to alienate Johansen at this point.  Davidson and Jarmo know what they are doing.  

Surprisingly little word on any of the other impending free agents -- MacKenzie, Skille, Comeau, Schultz, Nikitin and McElhinney (all UFA) and Savard, Tropp, Prout and Frattin -- the remaining RFAs.   Personally, I think Nikitin is headed to the KHL, and I doubt McElhinney is back. There are too many other options for back-up goaltending, and it was clear that there was little confidence in him down the stretch.   I'd like to see both Skille and Comeau back, but not sure the organization is as enthralled with Skille.  The others depend upon what the front office sees out there in free agency, what trade noises are being made, and who is expected to challenge for roster spots in camp.  Good problems to have, but it will make for a potentially frantic last three weeks of June.  Hold on to your hats.

We'll start looking at free agents and some other meaty issues over the next few weeks, as our draft profiles continue.  Stay tuned.

The Buffalo Sabres 2013-14 season was one of the worst in franchise history, and now it's time to take a look at who made it all possible. We're grading everybody who played at least 20(ish) games for the Sabres this year, from Conacher to Weber.

Contract: Signed through till 2018-19. 2013-14 salary $6,000,000.

Report Card Grade in 2013: D (link)

Introduction: Sabres fans were really hoping they would see more of the Calder Trophy winning d-man and less of the shortened-season lumberjack we had last year. Unfortunately, we got a bit of both this year. In the last report card for Myers we said that as the 6'8" defenseman goes, so do the Sabres - we saw that proved again this season as Myers had an abysmal start to the season and Buffalo were awful as well.

Myers also missed some time this year with injuries and a suspension - first a right knee ailment followed up by a left elbow injury, and then missing the last ten games of the season with broken ribs. He did recover to play for Canada in the World Championships, battling the flu while there. In between all that he was suspended for three games by the NHL for clobbering Dainius Zubrus in the head.

Injuries aside, Myers had a rough start to the season, but got better in 2014 before injuries derailed the rest of the regular season. He's always looked his best when leading the rush and carrying the puck, and unfortunately that's what led to his broken ribs against the Habs when he crashed into the goalpost.

Key Stat: '-26'- That was Myers' +/- for the season. What might be the only saving grace for him is the fact that the entire Sabres team was awful in this category - the more minutes you played the worse your +/- got. How's this for another stat - the only player who played over 60 games and had a plus/minus in the negative single digits was Zemgus Girgensons with -6 from 70 games.

Thumbs Up: While not condoning the hit to the head on Zubrus (an iffy call at best), we definitely saw a meaner Myers this season. His PIMs were up to 58 highest of any year in his career and his interference calls have been steadily increasing, while he also picked up two fighting majors as well. Fans have been clamoring for a more physical presence on the ice from Myers, and he looks like he's headed that way.

Thumbs Down: Here are Myers' point-per-game numbers for all his NHL seasons: 0.585, 0.463, 0.418, 0.205, 0.355 - even if we ignore the shortened 2012-13 season, the trajectory is still in the wrong direction for a player whose cap hit is $5.5mill for the next three generations. Part of this might be from Ted Nolan's reliance on him for defensive situations - Myers had the lowest zone start percentage (offensive zone starts per all zone starts) and also had the lowest offensive zone starts (24.5%) of all Sabres who played more than 30 games.

Memorable Moment: While goals didn't flow too freely for Myers this season, the bulk of his points came on the rush as he charged forward. Here's one against the Bruins -

However, his best offensive game was against the Blue Jackets in Buffalo, where he scored this beauty and followed up with another one later.

Of course, when you have a player of Myers' size, it would be remiss of us to leave without showing you at least a crushing hit.

Voting: We're grading on a curve this year, adjusting for the Sabres organizational ineptitude. So, using the good old grade school system of A, B, C, D, F, with A representing a great season (for the Sabres) C an average season, and F a very poor season (again, for the worst team in the league) grade Tyler Myers on his performance this year.

A defenseman with offensive proclivities reminiscent of James Wisniewski, Martin will attract attention on draft day.

Brycen Martin

Position: D
Current Team: Swift Current Broncos, WHL
Date of Birth: May 9, 1996
Place of Birth: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185 lbs
Catches: Left

Back to the WHL for another defenseman, Brycen Martin of the Swift Current Broncos.  Another player who brings the full package of size, skating and hockey sense to the table, Martin emerged on NHL radars a year ago, with a noticeable  showing in the Under-17 tournament.

Martin was largely viewed as a stay at home defenseman when he first came to the NHL, but has used his physical skills to become much more of an offensive presence.  His 39 points in 78  games through the playoffs this season doubled his point output of the previous season.

Martin ranked as the #26 North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings, falling from a mid-term ranking #20.  Part of that may be due to his rather gaudy minus-17 +/- ranking for Swift Current.  While I am not a big believer in plus-minus as an individual evaluator, it can be valuable on a relative basis within the same team.  Martin took the proverbial "Green Jacket"for Swift Current by a lot, suggesting that he might be prone to taking risks in the offensive end, and pay for it at the back end.  Not a huge issue over the long term, as that can be coached away, but likely a factor in his ranking drop.

Martin is uniformly viewed as talented, versatile and full of hockey sense -- all necessary foundation for an early round pick.   Here's an assessment of what Martin brings to the table:

Brycen is a very appealing player, because you don't often see him make mistakes. He's got very good hockey sense, he's a strong skater, and he moves the puck well.  He has all the ingredients of today's NHL defensemen -- Dan Marr, NHL Central Scouting

In a draft relatively lacking in high-profile blue liners, Martin just might find himself creeping up the draft board in late June.

A Good Fit in Columbus?

Anytime you get this far down the ladder in the rankings, the difficulty in factoring what might happen increases exponentially.   Assuming that the Blue Jackets keep the #16 slot, it would be difficult to see how Martin fits into the picture.  There will likely be better choices on the table at that pick, and he's unlikely to fall far enough into the second round to be attainable then.  Anything can happen, but it's not a high probability event.

Much depends upon what happens elsewhere in the front office.  David Savard, Dalton Prout, Nikita Nikitin and Nick Schultz are all free agents.  Cody Goloubef and Tim Erixon are anxiously waiting in the wings.  Fedor Tyutin is the oldest regular blue-liner, and he'll only be 31 in July.  Is there a need to stockpile blue-liners in this draft?   Likely not.

Martin should remind Blue Jackets fans of James Wisniewski --- some very high assist totals, and perhaps a proclivity toward more risk than some can easily tolerate.   Probably not Columbus-bound this year.

Martin on Video

Next up is Roland McKeown, a classic two-way blueliner.

Roland McKeown

Position: D
Current Team: Kingston Frontenacs, OHL
Date of Birth: January 20, 1996
Place of Birth: Listowel, Ontario
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 194 lbs
Shoots: Right

The 2014 draft is considered to be light on high-end blueliners after Aaron Ekblad, but Roland McKeown is right there in the next tier of rearguards, among the likes of Haydn Fleury, Julius Honka, Anthony DeAngelo and Brycen Martin. McKeown may be the most balanced of the bunch, bringing strong play in all three zones.

David Gregory of Central Scouting loves him:

"I love this kid … he can play offensively and move the puck and has a bomb of a shot," Gregory said. "When defending you he presents himself as a big, strong and mobile guy. He'll push guys to the side; he's a legitimate top prospect."

In an interview with Buzzing the Net, McKeown gave his thoughts on the player he found toughest to play against. You may recognize him:

"I would say Boone Jenner [the former Oshawa Generals captain who is now a rookie with the Columbus Blue Jackets]. He was a horse out there. Every shift, every game, he was really going. He could affect a game in many ways — offensively, playing a gritty style, being out defensively in key situations. I would say Boone was the best player I’ve faced."

...not sure if Roland answered the question incorrectly, or if it was an editing error, but I'm sure McKeown would love to be on the same NHL team as Boone, rather than the opponent.

For the record, I really like this kid.

Scouting Reports

McKeown is a strong, do-it-all defensemen whose biggest asset is his ability to think the game and know his position. He makes strong, simple plays, has a good shot and distributes the puck effectively.  - Elite Prospects

Roland McKeown enters the 2014 NHL Entry Draft as a top OHL defenseman and he owns the accolades to back it up.  With an U18 WJC Gold, Ivan Hlinka Gold and a member of the OHL First All-Rookie Team after scoring seven goals and 29 points for Kingston, Roland McKeown should be on every team’s must-get list. Blessed with outstanding skating skills that feature four-way mobility and top-end acceleration and speed, McKeown is a true puck-rushing defenseman. He executes crisp outlet passes but prefers to lead the rush with the puck on his stick. Defensively, McKeown is a smart defender who employs strong positioning and good instincts. On an up-and-coming Kingston Frontenacs team, Roland McKeown is the key piece of its defensive core and will be highly sought after in the 2014 NHL Draft. - Brendan Ross, Dobber Prospects

A Good Fit in Columbus?

There's a good chance that McKeown would be available when the Jackets pick in the first round, and if they are inclined to go with a blueliner, McKeown would be a terrific pick. We've mentioned before when doing these profiles that defense is a position of weakness (or at very least the position with the least depth) in the system. McKeown would immediately vault to the top of the list, and the thoughts of he and Ryan Murray on the same pair down the line...tantalizing.

McKeown in Action

The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is 15 days away and the Wild are looking to find that next NHL star to raise their franchise to the next level. Hockey Wilderness is counting down the days with a daily mock draft. We are at pick number 16 today.

With the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets are pleased to select Adrian Kempe of MODO.

Adrian Kempe has been called "One of the safer picks" by SB Nation's "On the Forecheck." Kempe is a left-shooting power forward. He is listed at 6'2'' and 182 pounds, meaning he has great size for someone born in September of 1996, and is similar in build and skill set to Nino Niederreiter. Elite Prospects describes him as a "bullish forward with size, speed, and a work ethic to match." Kempe is a player who drives hard on the forecheck, gets to the dirty areas, and has great puck handling skills. He also possesses a great wrist shot. The number of different tools in Kempe's arsenal means he is ready to develop into a solid 2-way forward. Furthermore, Kempe has played all across the ice; he is normally listed as a center or left winger, but is seen on the right wing as well

Kempe's precise shooting and great passing can be seen in this clip:

Why is His Jacket Blue?

A big, quick forward with great hands and the flexibility to play all the way across the ice? Nah, we're good on those.

Said no NHL franchise ever. Adrian's skill set and ability to be a 2-way forward with size is exactly what Columbus needs. They have great depth at defenseman, and a good number of skilled forwards, but they are not the biggest team around. They've been making noise, but a physical power forward could even the Jackets out.

Is He Wild?

He just may be. Draft analysts don't know what to make of Mr. Kempe. He is predicted as being drafted anywhere from 9th to 22nd, so there's a decent chance he'll fall to the Wild at 18. On the plus side, Kempe is a pretty safe choice, and is very likely to be a sound NHL forward. The downside is that he is very similar in build and play style to Charlie Coyle (though maybe less of a battler). He could also be compared with Nino Niederreiter. The plus side is that gives Minnesota some flexibility; if they need to move Coyle or Nino for a trade, they can replace him with Kempe, or they can move Kempe instead.

We are, to some extent, past the immediately game-changing players in the draft. Kempe is a solid choice, however, and we should be excited to what he brings to the league.

Our next profile is a strong defender out of the Czech Republic, Dominik Masin.

Dominik Masin

Position: D
Team: HC Slavia Praha (U18/U20)
Date of Birth: February 1, 1996
Place of Birth: Mestec Kralove, CZE
Height/Weight: 6'2" / 194 lbs
Shoots: Left

Masin, a defenseman ranked 10th among European skaters, has risen through the ranks this season. Hailing from the Czech Republic, he's not an offensive defenseman by any means, but he piled up some assists this year with the U20 Slavia Praha team. His defensive prowess and improving offensive ability could make him the kind of defenseman that eventually becomes a cornerstone of a team's blue line.

Scouting Report:

Ryan Kennedy, TheHockeyNews.com: "A defensively staunch blueliner who can also put up some numbers at the other end, Masin has two goals and 18 points through 32 games in the Czech junior league. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has been a captain internationally and plays a responsible game."

Ben Kerr, Last Word on Sports: "He still needs a bit of work on his edgework but he has improved his speed and mobility over the course of the year. While he'll never be confused for a speedster, Masin has gotten to a level where his speed is average. His excellent positioning and hockey IQ are able to mask any deficiencies..."

Good fit for the Blue Jackets?

If you're looking long-term, and especially outside of the top 10, you're almost always looking long-term, Masin's game could be a great fit with the Blue Jackets. Based on the limited information out there, he seems like he could develop into slightly more physical, slightly less offensively gifted version of Fedor Tyutin. I think Tyutin still has some great hockey left in him, but he is now over 30, and beginning to develop a player that could replace him is an important thing to consider.

Masin already has the frame, leadership, and physicality. If his skating and offensive instincts continue to improve, he could be a real force. If Masin is available when the Blue Jackets select in the second round, I'd have no problem with Jarmo Kekalainen calling his name.

Seemingly everyone from the national media to lifelong hockey fans were entranced by the deciding game last night between the LA Kings and New York Rangers. But hockey with those stakes and of that caliber is soon coming to Columbus.

Last night, the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New York Rangers in a thrilling double overtime matchup that ended on Alec Martinez's rebound goal into a wide open net and clinched LA's second Stanley Cup in three years. The game captured national media focus and exhibited just what you should show a fan to get into hockey. But here's what you should really be excited about: that caliber of hockey is coming to Columbus sooner than you think.

It's no secret that the Blue Jackets aren't exactly the most popular franchise in all of sports. In fact, they've been declared the least popular in the NHL. And it's no wonder that they are. They've been pretty much terrible since their inception, aside from once being buoyed into the playoffs by Ken Hitchcock and the legend Steve Mason. Stars like Rick Nash have asked to get out of town and most of those stars were overrated when they were in Columbus anyway. But the atrocious era of GM Doug MacLean is over, Scott Howson is helping bring Edmonton toward the goal of the first pick every year, and Scott Arniel has joined Rick Nash in New York. Ken Hitchcock may have seemed like the only positive thing that happened in Blue Jackets history, but trust me when I say this: GM Jarmo Kekalainen and President of Hockey Operations John Davidson are bringing this team to the level of talent and play you saw out of Los Angeles and New York.

Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the best goalies in the league and is also a police officer. You probably already knew that because he won the Vezina Trophy in the lockout-shortened season and nearly singlehandedly brought the Jackets to the playoffs. You know about him. Ryan Johansen is a first line center in the making, putting up a thirty goal season after there were whispers just a season ago that Howson and Arniel had ruined his development. You might know about him if you got into the team this year. You probably were familiar with Marian Gaborik and Jeff Carter, but as you probably also know, the team got rid of them for peanuts. There aren't really any other stars. There's Nathan Horton, but he's probably most famous for getting knocked into next week by Aaron Rome in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final while playing for Boston. Jack Johnson may be the most overrated player in the league (at least if you buy into #fancystats like Corsi and Fenwick, which you should). But the rest of the team, its management, and its future, are going to make the Jackets into Cup contenders quickly and bring Stanley Cup caliber hockey to Columbus after more than a decade of embarrassment.

Before Kekalainen, the Blue Jackets never even had a competent general manager or coach aside from Hitchock. Doug MacLean, who built the 1996 Florida Panthers into a Stanley Cup contender without a single star besides John Vanbiesbrouck, was given the reigns to the franchise and drove it into the ground from day one. If you're a Blue Jackets fan and want to be depressed, go read this list of his transactions while GM. Scott Howson was a laughingstock after throwing Rick Nash under the bus and (seemingly but not really) getting peanuts for him. There's the Brittanie Cecil incident. Anything mentioning Nikita Filatov and how "Filly don't do rebounds." Jeff Carter looking depressed after getting traded here. The phallic mascot. The #Lumbus hashtag created by the LA Kings Twitter account. The list goes on and on.

It's really no wonder the fans of Columbus haven't paid any attention to the team and Nationwide Arena had the lowest capacity filled percentage in the league in 2012-13.

But now, with the foundation Howson somehow laid, combined with Kekalainen's moves so far, the Blue Jackets may have the brightest future of any team in the Eastern Conference that doesn't have Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. The best goalie in the conference who isn't a King without rings is playing in Nationwide Arena. Ryan Johansen is a behemoth with skill to match. Nathan Horton is really the only onerous contract guaranteed to be on the books (former Ohio State hockey player R.J. Umberger may be looking at a compliance buyout) and when he's healthy, he's the perfect big winger and well worth the price.

Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, the main return for Nash, are borderline second line players for a contender in the East. Jack Johnson, even if he can't stop the other team from getting shots on net, can put up some offense as he led the team in points in the first round defeat to Pittsburgh. James Wisniewski put up 51 points from the backend. Cam Atkinson is a solid second line player who's already putting up 40 points. Both he and Dubinsky should have much higher goal totals next year as they had abnormally low shooting percentages this year. Boone Jenner is basically going to be the Columbus Brad Marchand with a potentially higher ceiling.

And let's not forget that Mr. Kekalainen was a key member of the St. Louis Blues front office that drafted much of its current Cup contending roster including Alex Pietrangelo, Patrik Berglund and David Backes. He was behind drafting former U.S. Olympian Erik Johnson, who was traded for Kevin Shattenkirk, another key member of the current iteration of the Blues. With Ottawa before that, he helped draft Marian Hossa, Martin Havlat, and Ray Emery, all key members at different times for the early-mid-2000s contending Senators teams.

If Nathan Horton can stay healthy and return to form, the Blue Jackets will, in my opinion, be one top-2 defenseman and one first line winger from major contention. If only LA playoff heroes Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik were still here. But just as the Blue Jackets gave up those players for pennies on the dollar, you can find those players if you're willing to take a little risk. As for the top pairing defenseman, that's up to Ryan Murray. If he develops into what he possibly could be, the Blue Jackets will be able to contend with anyone in the East in a couple of years once Boston starts fading.

That's when you'll get hockey with the caliber and stakes of last night's game. The team will be able to compete with anyone in the conference and could easily break through with the right moves from Kekalainen.

But will Columbus care? That's the question. Markets like New Jersey didn't have extremely high attendance even when winning three Stanley Cups in eight years. Markets like Dallas only seem to care if the team is excellent and fade away as soon as the team fades into mediocrity. Detroit, "Hockeytown", hasn't been tested lately, but hasn't exactly been known as the strongest market when the team isn't good.

So it comes down to building a fanbase that will last over time. The Jackets need to win first and foremost and not go to gimmicks like getting Ohio State players and shunning Michigan players. The farther and more consistently they go farther in the playoffs, the more fans will catch on casually. Younger kids will grow up with a successful team and stick through the bad times. Older fans will spend more on a winning team and be more likely to stick with them when they inevitably fade again. I saw it first hand in New Jersey. The team did not have big increases when they were winning Cups, but when the team had cultivated a more mature fan base that grew up with the team, ticket sales started going up. It's the people that grow up with the team that will make it successful. Nobody would have cared about the Devils if they didn't win, and while that winning didn't pay off immediately, it got people to grow up with them and buy tickets as soon as they could later. An 82 game season is admittedly a slog, but basketball fans show up for the same meaningless games. There is no reason they won't for the Blue Jackets too.

The same could easily happen with the Jackets. But they have to keep down this path and have even more success than they had this season or the people won't care enough to stay and grow with this team. A simple playoff appearance didn't seem to motivate the fans. But a playoff run with exciting, high caliber hockey that has the likes of even our own Luke Zimmermann tweeting about it could.

The puck's in your zone, Jarko.