Thompson Notebook: September

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. Ontario-based Zack Thompson is no different.

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

Ryan Merkley D, Guelph Storm, 5-11, 164, 08-14-2000
Kitchener Rangers 2 @ Guelph Storm 5 (OHL) October 7th, 2017

Offensive defenseman who has really quick feet and good quick footwork on backward crossover, loves to pinch up and get involved in the play. Needs to keep his decisions simpler, tried a couple times to get cute with the puck and these lead to turnovers; when he keeps it simple and uses good judgement he sets up goals like he did on the storms second goal of the game. The kid has a ton of natural talent to be a very very good hockey player. Can make nice quick little moves to find space and fire pucks from, at times could have looked to pass or shoot from better places but he likes to shoot the puck.

Declan Chisholm D, Peterborough Petes, 6-0, 172, 01-12-2000
Peterborough Petes 1 @Niagara Icedogs 5 (OHL) September 30th, 2017

Two-way defenseman who looked solid in his own end early on getting in the passing lanes and breaking up passes. When there were no passing options, would carry the puck out of his own end, didn’t seem to lose speed with the puck on his stick, but his foot speed could use improvement both with and without the puck. Has a bit of a hoppy crossover, can make a little head fake, tried that move twice. Did show good vision looking up ice and made some big passes up ice to make things happen. At times did over handle the puck and didn’t make decision fast enough which led to turnovers that got him in trouble. Was pleasantly surprised by this player wanna see him again later in the year to see how he progresses.

Akil Thomas F, Niagara Icedogs, 5-11, 163, 01-02-2000
Peterborough Petes 1 @Niagara Icedogs 5 (OHL) September 30th, 2017

A gritty playmaking forward who scored one goal on the night and added a helper, on the goal he showed great patience on when to shoot putting in a rebound from Maksimov. Early on he did look to force a couple passes that led to turnovers, showed the same snarl to his game that I loved about him last year. He could use to add size and strength to continue that type of game at the next level, does use his body and lowers his shoulder going for loose pucks or driving to the net. Has a nice sweeping wrister that has velocity to beat goalies. Plays a 200-foot game watching his own net and was decent in the dot but wonder if he would project as a winger at the next level due to size. Played the point on the PP & seemed to like to sneak down and shoot from the circle often looking for that far side of the net. Then made a highlight reel play in the third as he circled the zone keeping the puck to the outside showing patience and good puck control and then fired it on net for the redirect goal. Looked real solid.