Top Defensive Players

Brock · 03-11-2012, 03:05 PM

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.com/201...e-players.html

A really hard list to generate because it's so subjective.

Would love to generate some discussion on this.

Ottomatic · 03-11-2012, 03:09 PM

Can't believe Brady Vail didn't get a mention.

Brock · 03-11-2012, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottomatic

Can't believe Brady Vail didn't get a mention.

Really, I could have listed a forward from every team. It was that tough for the forwards.

I like Vail and think he's the second best defensive forward available for this year's draft (behind Faksa) from the OHL, but I don't think he's quite at the level of this list just yet. In a year or two, absolutely.

Ottomatic · 03-11-2012, 03:31 PM

Could be homer bias, but he's our best defensive forward, and I figure he could go late second round and isn't an offensive dynamo so figured he must be getting more respect form coaches and such for his defensive work.

chewerjones · 03-11-2012, 11:04 PM

Ironic that there are no players, either forwards or dmen from Second tier OHL teams (Soo, Sudbury, Saginaw, Kingston, Peterborough, Erie, Guelph, etc...). Only players from high exposure teams.

JMO

OHLFan8771 · 03-12-2012, 12:14 AM

That is a good observation but one player that really stands out to me is Adam Pelech for the Erie Otters. He is an excellent shut down d-man with very few weaknesses in his game. I have watched him at every home game this year and when he makes a play on the puck he almost every single time ends up with it. His offensive ability is nothing that jumps off the page but he can move the puck, lead the rush and has a shot at about 92 MPH. Had he not been injured for more than a 3rd of the year and been on a struggling team I would say he could have been a first round NHL selection. The team that takes him in the 2nd/ 3rd round is getting a huge steal in the draft.

chewerjones · 03-12-2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottersfan

That is a good observation but one player that really stands out to me is Adam Pelech for the Erie Otters. He is an excellent shut down d-man with very few weaknesses in his game. I have watched him at every home game this year and when he makes a play on the puck he almost every single time ends up with it. His offensive ability is nothing that jumps off the page but he can move the puck, lead the rush and has a shot at about 92 MPH. Had he not been injured for more than a 3rd of the year and been on a struggling team I would say he could have been a first round NHL selection. The team that takes him in the 2nd/ 3rd round is getting a huge steal in the draft.

Exactly the kid I was thinking about. He is a big, intimidating player, and solid dman. He was on the Canada U 18 team and not FInn, and they have Finn ranked in the top 15 on most boards.

OHLFan8771 · 03-12-2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewerjones

Exactly the kid I was thinking about. He is a big, intimidating player, and solid dman. He was on the Canada U 18 team and not FInn, and they have Finn ranked in the top 15 on most boards.

Ya I noticed that as well, I saw Finn play a few times this year and all though he is a very skilled player Pelech was far more impressive in my opinion. Pelech played top line minutes on the team last year as a 16 year old in the league and played as good if not better than a lot of the veterans on the team. I think Dave Shields as a big 19 year old may have been the only one to be better.

bidzey · 03-15-2012, 08:25 AM

I noticed you got Jay Gilbert in the honorable mentions. I watch him all year. I was not overly impressed with his "defensive-defensive" game at all. I thought to myself "now I know why no NHL team is interested in him". However, if I had anything to say about it, I would give that guy the MIP for his play since the beginning of Febuary. This guy completely turned is "defensive-defensive" game around. Very impresive, and his numbers are showing it.

I like also how the coach never gave up on him when he was playing not so good, Gilbert always got a rediculous amount of ice time no matter what, sometimes I was scratching my head as of why. Maybe the coach was saying... "if your not drafted to the NHL, it wont be my fault". So I hope he gets at least a chance at the pro level, I think he showed what he can do when he elevated his work ethics a little.