November Notebook – Aleong

Every season, scouts from Future Considerations spend countless hours gathering information on the next wave of NHL talent coming down the pipe. Future Considerations scout Joseph Aleong is no different.

Here is Aleong’s notebook for November.

Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL), 5-9, 179, 9-23-2001
Ottawa 7 @ Hamilton 4 – November 3, 2019
Rossi has taken a big step forward this season as the offensive leader of the 67’s. He is a very strong skater with good edgework and great balance and strength. While his top-end speed isn’t the best, he has a strong lower half and can break away from defenders if given space to gain speed. His puck-handling abilities are top-tier, as he displays good patience waiting for passing lanes to open and then quarterbacking the offense with crisp puck movement. He has an above-average wrist shot, but he could stand to shoot more often, particularly off the rush. His offensive creativity and awareness make him a nightmare to defend on the power play, as well as in odd-man opportunities. While he has a short frame, he has deceptive strength and knows how to play through contact owing to his experience in professional hockey. He shows a high IQ in all three zones, often the first forward back on the back check and using an active stick to break up cross-ice passes through the neutral zone. Rossi doesn’t show a hesitation to go to the dirty areas of the ice, but he doesn’t initiate contact often or show a mean streak in his own zone.

Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor (OHL), 6-2, 201, 2-5-2002
Windsor 2 @ Niagara 3 – November 16^, 2019
Cuylle started off the season on a strong note, bullying his opponents during the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament despite a disappointing loss to Russia in the gold-medal game. Cuylle is an above-average skater, with good balance on his edges and strength in his lower half. While his foot speed needs some improvement, he is physically developed for his age and should grow into his frame. His calling card is his hard snap shot and ability to find open space in the offensive zone. Uses his size extremely well to fight for position in the dirty areas of the ice and clean up second chance opportunities. Will shoot from anywhere in the offensive end, making him an ideal fit for a playmaking linemate, and makes the most of his chances with possession. High IQ player who shows an advanced awareness on defense for a young winger, using his long reach to disrupt cross-ice passes in the neutral zone and constantly creating pressure on opposing defenders by finishing his hits when given the opportunity. Hasn’t flashed much playmaking upside or vision, but his effectiveness on the cycle and allows him to create chances for his linemates when they have time to set up in the offensive zone.

Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa (OHL), 5-11, 176, 9-19-2001
Ottawa 7 @ Hamilton 4 – November 3, 2019
Jack Quinn has emerged as one of the 67’s most valuable forwards in the wake of Graeme Clarke’s season-ending injury. He shows decent foot speed and good agility and balance on his edges. He excels at controlling the pace of play, using his hands and quick changes of direction to avoid defenders and create space for himself. He shows the ability to beat defenders one-on-one with creative stick-handling, and is good at carrying the puck into the offensive zone to establish possession. Quinn is good at finding space for himself in danger areas of the offensive end, finding rebounds and deflection opportunities in front with ease. While he has a respectable wrist shot, he doesn’t use it from further out in the zone, often deferring until he can find open space in the slot area. He can fight through contact and protect the puck well, but doesn’t seem to excel at separating his man from the puck with physical play. He complements the other skill forwards on his line well, often hustling to be the first forward on the backcheck or using his motor to get in on the forecheck and force hurried decisions from his opponents. Pretty high IQ player, who makes all the right reads and positioning decisions his teammates need to create high-quality offensive chances while remaining a non-liability on the defensive end.