All the attention in Canada right now is directed at the CHL playoffs, and rightfully so. That being said, there is another tournament going on, the NCAA tournament, that deserves some attention. No, I’m not talking about basketball, I’m talking about the road to the Frozen Four, which this year is in my backyard, Boston.
This year more than ever there is an Oilers spin to this tournament, with multiple prospects, college UFA’s and potential picks being in action. Honestly, this might be the biggest NCAA tournament ever when it comes to the Oilers.
Before we get into the players themselves, it’s worth noting that the team is keeping a close eye on these events. Oilers GM Craig MacTavish is spending the weekend in Providence, Rhode Island, keeping an eye on two key defensive prospects.
D Joey LaLeggia – Denver:
The Oilers top prospect in the NCAA is truly a special player at this level. LaLeggia scored a goal on Saturday afternoon, and was an all-around impact player for Denver as they knocked off powerhouse Boston College. We know what kind of player LaLeggia is, he’s fast, he’s skilled and he can move the puck with unreal skill. On top of that, he’s got a bomb of a shot, and he can run a power-play.
On Saturday, LaLeggia showed off those skills with a quick wrist shot to open the scoring from the point, which was a thing of beauty. In addition to that, I noticed multiple occasions where he moved the puck out of the zone while under pressure and I also noticed that the offense traveled through him when he was out there.
The most impressive thing? LaLeggia was VERY solid defensively against a BC team that can put the puck in the net. He made a lot of very simple plays that solid defenders make. He didn’t try to make the flashy play while in his zone, rather he made the simple, high percentage play.
While he jumps into the rush a lot, his speed allows him to get back quickly, which could be seen multiple times on Saturday afternoon.
LaLeggia certainly looks ready to make the jump to the pro level, and I’d be shocked if the Oilers didn’t sign him. As I mentioned above, MacT was personally there yesterday to see him play. I was impressed, and I’m sure MacT was too.
LaLeggia and Denver play this afternoon against Providence College, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four in Boston on April 9th.
D Noah Hanifin – Boston College:
The powerhouse from Chestnut Hill might have went one and done this year, but their stalwart blue-liner lived up to the hype on Saturday against Denver. Personally, I think Noah Hanifin is the third best player in this draft class, and I don’t think it’s close. He showed why against Denver.
Hanifin is the best defender I’ve seen at BC, heck he’s the best defender I’ve seen in Hockey East, and I’m not exaggerating at all here. Hanifin has size, speed, and skill, and he’s a calm and collected player. One thing you notice about this kid is that he makes the smart play, he doesn’t try to rush things.
Hanifin doesn’t have huge offensive potential, but he did post decent boxcars this season, scoring 23 points in 37 games. He’s more of a shut-down defender, a better version of Brooks Orpik. He doesn’t make the sexy play, but he’s extremely solid in his own end, and he can control the pace of play.
On Saturday, BC looked like a different team when he was out there. The Eagles struggled getting the puck out of their own zone when Hanifin was on the bench, but the second he got on the ice he changed that. His break-out passes are exceptional, and he isn’t afraid to use his body. He’s only 18, and has tons of room to grow. He’s going to be special.
If Edmonton picks third, Hanifin should be the pick, no doubt in my mind.
F Jack Eichel – Boston University:
Jack Eichel is a stud, the best freshman the Hockey East conference has seen since Paul Kariya played at the University of Maine. Eichel took a struggling BU program that didn’t make the tournament last season and has led them to a Frozen Four appearance in Boston on April 9th.
Eichel is a dominating offensive force, having posted an amazing 67 points in 38 games. He has size and plays a power game from the center ice position, kind of like Evgeni Malkin, who is the best current NHL comparable in my mind right now.
Eichel possesses elite skill and makes things happen that other players simply can’t. He’s an impact player, no doubting that. Not only does Eichel dominate at 5-on-5, but he’s an impact player on the man advantage as a net front presence, and is a key cog in BU’s penalty kill. This kid can do it all.
I don’t wanna put pressure on him, but Jack Eichel is a franchise player, no doubt in my mind. He’s special, and even when he doesn’t impact the boxcars, he still impacts the game, evident by his performances this past weekend against Yale and Minnesota-Duluth.
F Evan Rodrigues – Boston University:
He’s not talked about nearly as much as Eichel or Matt O’Connor, but the senior forward is making a name for himself, and is poised to get a contract following the tournament. He’s not overly big, only 5’10” and 175 pounds, but he’s extremely skilled, and an impact player at the NCAA level.
He scored 61 points in 39 games this year, slightly below Jack Eichel’s level, and has a knack for putting the puck in the net. Rodrigues was BU’s top player this past weekend in Manchester, and scored a beautiful goal late to push BU over Minnesota-Duluth.
He’s going to need some development time, but he could be a player the follows the Mark Arcobello/Andrew Miller route for a team. He’s not going to be an impact player, but he very well could be a solid complementary player down the line, he certainly has the skill.
G Matt O’Connor – Boston University:
BU’s starting netminder is a prime target for the Oilers in college UFA season. Edmonton is reportedly a finalist for his services, along with Buffalo, the Rangers and the Ottawa Senators. O’Connor has had a very strong season, posting a .928 SV% along with a stellar 24-3-4 record.
O’Connor is a bigger goalie who takes up a lot of the net, and is a guy who likes to play the puck a lot. He’s shown improvement every season at BU, and has been a big reason for their success this season. He did give up a soft goal to Yale on Friday and a Tommy Salo like goal scored on him on Saturday, but when called on late, O’Connor made multiple clutch saves to seal the victory for his team.
He’ll need AHL time, no doubt about that, but O’Connor has the tools to make it as a goalie in the NHL. Like I said, he’s a big guy and he’s someone who has a solid technique. I’d love to see Edmonton get him locked up following the season.
F Tyler Vesel – Nebraska-Omaha:
The freshman forward, a 6th round pick of the Oilers this past June, has had a solid first season in the NCAA, and kept it up on Saturday. Vesel recorded 22 points in 37 games this season, which is pretty solid for a first year forward in a very tough conference.
Admittedly, I didn’t watch nearly as much of Nebraska-Omaha as I would have liked on Saturday, but Vesel looked good when he was out there. He got in on the attack, and possesses the kind of skill you would expect from a player labelled as small and skilled. He’s pretty crafty, and does have a decent shot.
Vesel scored in this game and had two shots while playing on the power-play, which was nice to see. He still needs some work however, and should be back in the NCAA for at least two more seasons on a very good hockey club.
Nebraska-Omaha plays later tonight against RIT, with the winner heading to Boston for the Frozen Four.
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