Well folks, I’m back for another season of weekly reports on the Jackets’ prospects. It feels like I’m getting off to a late start but the cancellation of the Traverse City Rookie Tournament leads to that feeling. Lockout or not, the team’s prospects have been playing since mid-September – it’s only the CHL and European based prospects that have been playing but that will change with the Falcons having preseason games this week and the NCAA prospects playing preseason games against Canadian colleges. So without further ado, let’s get this season started.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters (OHL)
Season Stats 4GP 1-3 5.47GAA .873SV%
Looking at Oscar’s numbers probably led most you to make some snarky comment about him; well, let me say a few things. Oscar is playing on a young Erie team that only won 10 games last year and Oscar’s three losses were against three of the OHL’s Conference Semi-Finalists from last season. Oscar’s OHL Debut came against Niagara IceDogs who lost in the conference final last season and are one of the many teams quietly thanking the NHL for the lockout. They now have the services of Islander’s top prospect Ryan Strome and Bruins top prospect Dougie Hamilton, both who would more than likely be in the NHL. In the 4-2 IceDogs victory, Oscar made 26 saves on 30 shots. Of the four goals, Dansk had a chance on three of them but was screened (by his own teammate) on the fourth one. The next night, it was off to London to face the OHL Champs and well…yeah it was ugly. Oscar was pulled after the second period and allowing seven goals on 39 shots. Moving on, in their five game season opening road trip (due to Arena Renovations) it was off to Peterborough to play the Petes. This game ended up being Oscar’s first OHL win with him making 47 saves in the 5-1 victory with the only goal coming on a cross rink pass that Oscar couldn’t get across to in time. After a night off against Kingston, a 6-5 OT loss for the Otters, it was off to Ottawa to play the 67’s. It was another ugly one with the Otters losing 8-1 including a natural first period hat trick. In the 8-1 loss, Oscar faced 41 shots making 33 saves. As for next week, the Otters will finally play a home game in which yours truly will be reporting live as Oscar faces off against fellow Jackets prospect Josh Anderson and the rest of the Knights the next night.
Josh Anderson-London Knights (OHL)
Season Stats 4GP 0-2-2 E 2PIM
Josh and the Knights got off to a hot start scoring 16 goals in the teams first two wins – one over the Erie Otters and one over the Guelph Storm. In the win over Erie, Josh had no points; in the win over Guelph, Josh had two assists making it his first multi-point game since opening night last season when he had three assists. Josh then went scoreless in the Knights’ next two games – both losses. Josh is playing on a line with two A-rated skaters in Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings in Bo Horvat and Tie Domi’s son Max.
Boone Jenner-Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Season Stats 5GP 7-5-12 +11 4PIM
Ladies and Genltemen, your OHL leading scorer (as of this writing) is Jacket’s prospect Boone Jenner! Starting off against Peterborough Boone scored two goals (43 seconds in) and a assist. The first goal was a tap in on a rebound that the goalie just couldn’t stretch enough to cover. The second one Boone had to work for – first out muscling a Pete, then getting the puck out to the point, taking a pass and scoring on a wrap around. Boone would add an assist on a later goal. In a 4-2 loss to Sudbury, Boone scored his third goal of the season. Oshawa’s next game was its home opener against Peterborough in which Boone had two assists. The first assist was off a turnover as he found Cincinnati native Tyler Biggs in front for his first career OHL goal. The second came after tearing through the Petes – Boone found Michael Dal Colle for his first OHL Goal. Moving on to Belleville, another day another three point night for Jenner with two goals and a assist. The first one was a rocket after taking a drop pass from Dal Colle then the second was a flat out bomb from just outside the circle bouncing off a Bull in front to make it 3-1 Gens. Boone’s assist would be on a empty netter by Tyler Biggs. Finishing off the week against Brampton, Boone scored another two goals and an assist – the first being a tip on of a point shot and the second one was a “knuckleball,” as the announcer called it. The assist was off another turnover, with Jenner finding Biggs before he let loose a laser.
Gianluca Curcuruto-Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Season Stats 3GP 0-4-4 +2 4PIM
In his first game with his new team, Curcuruto picked up his first point on a outlet pass on the Whaler’s first goal of the season, but the team ended up losing 6-5 in overtime to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, his former team. In their next game, a shootout loss to Brampton, Gianluca was held scoreless. The Whaler’s following game was against the Sudbury Wolves and Gianluca had his best night ever collecting a career high three points – all assists. Curcuruto already has a quarter of his point total of last season in 60 less games.
Lukas Sedlak-Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Season Stats 5GP 3-1-4 +3 2PIM
Lukas got off to a hot start scoring three goals in three games and adding a assist in a win over Gatineau. All three of Lukas’ goals were on the power play. In the Sags win over Gatineau, Lukas had a goal and assist. He scored a goal and was named the second star in the team’s next game – a win over Victoriaville. Lukas is having decent season at the faceoff dot losing only nine or less in four of his five games including back to back games winning 70% of his draws combining to win 44 of 61.
Ryan Murray-Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Season Stats 4GP 1-3-4 -2 4PIM
Everett is another one of those teams quietly thanking the NHL for the lockout as it gives them the services of team captain and Jackets second overall pick Ryan Murray. Starting off with a back to back against Prince George, the Tips lost on opening night 6-0 with Murray being a -3; but the next night, Ryan put on a power play clinic putting up three points (sorry about the crappy music) with a goal and two assists all on the power play. In the 7-6 shootout loss, Ryan shot third and scored. After another scoreless night against Tri-City, Ryan would pick up an assist in the Silvertips first win of the season over Vancouver and was a +3.
Daniel Zaar-Rogle BK J20 (J20 SuperElit Södra-Sweden)
Season Stats 6GP 4-3-7 +3 0PIM
After wowing fans at prospect camp, Daniel Zaar is back in Sweden playing with the Rogle J20 team. Daniel picked up a assist in a season opening loss to Farjestads BK. He then went scoreless against Frolunda before going on a three game point streak – collecting six points in the span. Daniel would score his first of the season in a loss to Linkopings. He continued on his streak – scoring two, including the game tying goal, in a shootout loss to HV71, although he missed in the shootout. Zaar would score a goal and two assists in Rogle’s 7-4 win over Sodertalje in front of a crowd of 98 people. Zaar’s seven points are currently tied for fourth in league scoring and tied for third in goals.
Anton Forsberg-Sodertalje SK (HockeyAllsvenskan-Sweden)
Season Stats 4GP 1-3 2.80GAA .921SV%
Anton is playing with Sodertalje in Sweden’s tier 2 league after being loaned from MODO. From everything I’ve read, Anton is playing great, it’s that whole “rest of the team” thing that’s biting him. A little help is on the way though as Sodertalje has signed two lockout NHLers. Forsberg’s first action came against IK Oskarshamn with Anton making 34 saves in a 4-2 loss. After a night off, Forsberg would pick up his first win of the season in a win over Vasteras making 37 saves in a 4-1 victory. In back to back starts, both losses, Forsberg would allow three goals in each game making 23 saves in a loss to BIK Karlskoga and making 35 saves in a loss to Leksands. Forsberg is currently seventh in save percentage but sits in 13th in GAA.
Joonas Korpisalo-Jokerit Organization (has dressed for three teams so far-Finland)
Season Stats Kiekko-Vantaa 3GP 2-1 2.68GAA .908SV% Jokerit J20 1GP 0-0-1 1.90GAA .943SV%
Joonas Korpisalo is following in Allen York’s footsteps of playing on multiple teams in a short period of time. Joonas started the season with Kiekko-Vantaa which is a Finnish minor league team. Joonas made his Mestis debut against Peliitat making 24 saves on 28 shots with a empty netter being scored. In his next game against HCK, Korpisalo made 29 saves in a 2-1 victory missing out on the shootout in the third period. After that, Joonas was off to serve as Eero Kilpelainen’s backup for three games also making it into a J20 league game making 33 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss. When Korpisalo returned to the Fish(KV) he made 26 saves in a 4-3 win over LeKi. Korpisalo is currently in the top 10 among Mestis goalies in both GAA and save percentage.
There you have it folks – the first prospect review. I’ll be back again soon with the first full prospect review of the season including all the AHL, NCAA and CHL prospects.
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