Thompson Notebook – January 2018

Every season, scouts from Future Considerations spend countless hours in rinks across the world in an effort to gather information on the next wave of NHL talent coming down the pipe. Future Considerations’ Ontario Hockey League-based scout Zach Thompson is no different.

Here is Thompson’s notebook from the month of January.

Ty Dellandrea, F, Flint (OHL), 6-0, 190, DOB 7.21.2000
Flint Firebirds 3 @ Oshawa Generals 5 (OHL) – January 12th, 2018

Dellandrea is a physical, two-way forward who played with compete and physicality throughout the contest, laying a big hit in the corner that Oshawa defenseman William Ennis took exception to. He and Dellandrea dropped the mitts and Dellandrea actually got the better of the exchange, while giving up some size to the bigger Ennis. Dellandrea does a good job cutting off center ice and challenging a puck carrier defensively. He also showed really explosive get up and go and nice top end speed for a kid of his size to get up and join the rush, has quick hand and like the way he pulls the puck back to protect while carrying it into the zone. Throughout the night he worked hard, got pucks in deep, didn’t mind taking a hit to make a play on a puck, has strength to win one on one battles or hold his own when outnumbered in corners. He has a quick, hard wrist shot that he can really fire off his stick. He couldn’t find twine tonight, but he did everything else and that’s why I think he’s a bit underrated as I see him projecting as a nice middle-six two-way centerman at the next level.

Kody Clark, F, Ottawa (OHL), 6-1, 180, DOB 10.13.1999
Ottawa 67’s 2 @ Peterborough Petes 6 (OHL) – January 13th, 2018

Clark is the kind of bread-and-butter type power forward that has character, played with a little more physicality tonight and think that maybe that’s something that will come with time. Clark worked hard and was in on the forecheck consistently. Has a hard, heavy wrister that he will shoot from the circles, seemed to be hard on the puck. His skating is capable when rushing the puck, and with time and space he can and will drive with the puck on his stick. Also made some nice little give and go with forwards coming back circling through the neutral zone to gain speed before entering the offensive zone. Overall, I wasn’t wowed by Clark tonight but he did enough to maintain what I think of the kid and that is a player that projects as a middle-six forward at the next level, and the kind of kid you win with if I were putting a team together.

Kevin Bahl, D, Ottawa (OHL), 6-6, 231, DOB 6.27.00
Ottawa 67’s 2 @ Peterborough Petes 6 (OHL) – January 13th, 2018

The mountainous defender looked to play a real staunch defensive game tonight and looked to use his long reach to frustrate players trying to come down the boards, either just running them out of room or by using his long reach to poke check pucks off opposing forwards sticks. Bahl did make a bad turnover in his own zone that led to a good chance for the Petes — that’s one aspect of his game he does need to tighten up — but did look like he had his feet moving early and once he’s moving he’s a pretty smooth skater for a big guy. Still feel he can be a little soft at times but then other times can also lay the big time hit by lining players up along the boards and make big hip checks. He has good vision and sees lanes to get pucks in deep and will walk the blue line to see that lane to either shoot or get it in deep. As has been the case for me with Bahl, is him getting caught flat-footed or letting a forward get the jump on him. He could work on his quick starts. Overall, I do think Bahl has all the tools after all you can’t teach size and he has that and a lot of nice tools to be a solid pick and to be that big time staunch defender. I would like to see more offense and for him to just kind of tighten up his overall game, but that may come with another year of junior play.