Hello all with the CHL season getting under way it’s time (even if im a little late) for my preview of the Jackets Canadian Hockey League and European prospects. Like last year, I’ve asked for help from my sources who have seen these players play.
ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters
2012-13 Stats 43GP 11-23-3-3 .888Sv% 4.11GAA
Oscar had a rough go in his first year in the OHL playing behind a young Otters team that included 15 year old phenom Connor McDavid. I turn things over to Victor Fernandes from the Erie Times-News
Oscar Dansk faces a critical season in his hockey career after enduring the most difficult season in his career. The Erie Otters’ second-year goaltender looks to sign a contract with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets before next June’s deadline for a deal arrives. That means rebounding from the injuries and inconsistency that overshadowed his rookie season in the OHL.
The struggles began shortly before joining the Otters, when Dansk injured his knee at USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., in August 2012. That injury kept him from fully participating in his first Otters training camp and the start of post-camp workouts.
He posted respectable numbers in the opening half of the season – a 3.63 goals-against average and .904 save percentage – but was lost for a month while serving as the third goaltender for his native Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Russia last winter. Then a concussion ended his return to the Otters in January after only three games. He finished the season with an 11-23-3-3 record, 4.11 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in 43 games.
“That was my first season where things went up and down all the time,” Dansk said earlier this summer. Now Dansk, 19, the 31st overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft who recently experienced his first NHL preseason game (two goals on 11 shots in the Blue Jackets’ 5-4 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins) is focused on regaining the rhythm in his game by streamlining his approach.
“My overall game plan is getting better and more efficient. I’m getting everything a little better, more crisp, (and I’m getting) all the details down,” Dansk said recently.
He has enjoyed a strong start to the regular season – 62 saves on 67 shots in a 1-0-1 start to the season, for a 2.50 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Having a deeper, more experienced defense should help maintain those solid numbers throughout the season.
As Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager said earlier this summer, Dansk is ready to show that he’s “a premier goaltender,” Bassin said, “and for his age one of the very best in the world.”
Josh Anderson-London Knights
2012-13 Stats 68GP 23-26-49 +10 77PIM
Josh was the Jackets’ fourth round pick 2012 and people really seemed to disagree with it based on who else was available at that point in the draft. But, last year, Josh erupted for almost 50 points on the loaded Knights helping them to a second straight Memorial Cup appearance. Here’s John Matisz’s thoughts on Josh. John covered the Knights last year for Metro London Newspaper but now works as a sports editor at Sun Media.
“Josh Anderson enters his third OHL season as a legitimate threat to crack London’s top-six for the first time. Overshadowed in previous seasons, Anderson should see increased ice time and point totals (he had 23 goals and 49 points in all 68 Knights games last year). His tall, strong frame is vital on an otherwise pretty small forward group (Mike McCarron is really the only other big man up front). Pencil him in as one of the team’s top fighting candidates, as he can toss with the best the OHL has to offer. Overall, Anderson projects to be one of London’s most-trusted players in their Memorial Cup-hosting season.”
Gianluca Curcuruto-Plymouth Whalers
2012-13 Stats 67GP 9-38-47 +36 32PIM
Gianluca was traded from the bottom feeding Soo Greyhounds to the Plymouth Whalers before last season helping him become one of the top offensive Dmen in the OHL. I’ll turn things over to Keith Dotson who writes for The Whalers On The Moon Blog
“Gianluca Curcuruto had something to prove when he was traded to the Whalers from the Soo Greyhounds last offseason. A poor performance in his draft year saw him only account for three goals, thirteen assists and a negative fourteen in his +/- rating. This caused Gianluca go from a potential second to third round pick down to being selected by the Blue Jackets in the seventh round.
Curcuruto flourished in the second half tallying eight goals and eighteen assists in January and February combined, finishing off the season with nine goals and thirty eight assists allowing him to finish 6th in the entire OHL in +/- and 10th among defensemen in scoring. He also stepped up in the Western Conference Final against the London Knights scoring a goal and notching six assists in the five game series.
Curcuruto proved that he has the skill as a two way defenseman capable of beating the opposition’s best players last season. What can we look forward to this season?
After injuring himself in the offseason, he started skating at the beginning of this month missing the first two preseason games for the Whalers, but was back on the ice for the final two games against the London Knights.
The Whalers have thirteen fresh faces on their roster this year and Curcuruto will be in the position to help take this newly reloaded team for another deep playoff run. What needs to be seen is that last season was not a fluke. Barring any other injuries or setbacks he will be on pace to score more points this season and prove that this seventh round pick was a steal for the Columbus Blue Jackets.”
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit
2012-13 Stats 65GP 16-27-43 +2 44PIM
Nick was the Blue Jackets 4th round pick in the 2013 draft after scoring 43 points in 65 games after having only nine points the previous season in 66 games. Nick is a power forward who is not afraid to go to the dirty areas. The previous season, when he posted only nine points, was Nick’s 16 year old season and he saw mostly fourth line minutes. Here’s Spirit coach Greg Gilbert’s thoughts on Nick before the draft:
“Nick’s a big, strong kid, He’s going to be a power forward type of a guy. He’s got good skills, a good shot, and his compete level is getting better. He’s learning how to play and how he’s expected to play.”
At least before the draft, as with most prospects, what needed work was his skating – specifically his first few steps. Nick models his game after Coyotes captain Shane Doan playing the same style. Cory Butzin who covers the Spirit told me he expects Nick to be a top line player for the Spirit this season.
Kerby Rychel-Windsor Spitfires
2012-13 Stats 68GP 40-47-87 -21 94PIM
The Jackets 2013 first round pick will more than likely be playing his final OHL season as this will be his fourth season in the league and his third full season in Windsor. Kerby is the offensive leader for the Spitfires putting up back to back 40 goal seasons. He is also a leader on the team serving as an alternate captain last season and he was named captain this year becoming the first forward since Mickey Renaud (who passed away in 08 of a rare heart condition) to get the honor. As an aside, the OHL now gives out the Mickey Renaud Captain’s trophy out every year.
Kerby along with the goal scoring brings his toolbox every night -having his father ex-NHLer Warren’s work ethic. Kerby wants to be a Dustin Brown type player. Kerby is a top line player who developed chemistry with 2014 NHL draft prospect Josh Ho-Sang last season. Kerby will more than likely play for Canada in the World Juniors this year. Now to be semi negative, if the Spits struggle this season Kerby could be moved for probably a good haul (we’ve already seen one GM’s son moved this season).
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks
2012-13 Stats 65GP 31-32-63 +38 10PIM
Oliver left his native Denmark to join the mighty Winterhawks and helped the team win the WHL Championship – making it all the way to the Memorial Cup final before losing to the Halifax Mooseheads. Oliver will play for Denmark in the World Juniors Division 1 this year being one of, if not the, team’s top offensive threat. I’ll turn things over to Scott Sepich who is a freelance WHL writer:
“As a 17-year-old, Oliver Bjorkstrand led WHL rookies with 31 goals and 63 points in the regular season, then added 19 points in 21 playoff games. With Blues prospect Ty Rattie moving on from the Winterhawks, Bjorkstrand could take the open slot on Portland’s top line with WHL co-scoring leaders Brendan Leipsic and Nicolas Petan, which could send his numbers through the roof.
He could also stay with last season’s linemates, Chase De Leo and Taylor Leier, on one of the most potent second lines in the WHL.
While his scoring ability isn’t in question, Bjorkstrand is working to improve his strength and skating. He improved greatly defensively over the course of last season, and has become a responsible two-way forward who’s willing to engage in puck battles along the boards. Still, he’s at his best in the high slot, where he can unleash his hard, accurate shot.”
Dillon Heatherington-Swift Current Broncos
2012-13 Stats 71Gp 4-23-27 +25 80PIM
Dillon could become the new “big plus” for the Blue Jackets as he’s plays a sound defensive defenseman game. Dillon could join Kerby Rychel in the World Juniors as he was the biggest defenseman at the team’s summer evaluation camp. For more thoughts on Dillon I’ll turn things over to “The radio voice of the Broncos” Shawn Mullin
To understand how Dillon Heatherington’s role has evolved you need to look back to his rookie season. As a 16-year-old Heatherington didn’t get the immediate ice time that a lot of first round draft picks get. The Broncos had pretty good depth on the blue line to start the season and worked a raw Heatherington in and out of the lineup. At that time I can imagine he was frustrated. Heatherington didn’t make his region’s U17 team and seemed like a guy at the time that was maybe lagging behind his peers.
The Broncos stood behind their handline of Heatherington as Coach Mark Lamb believed it was better for him to work slowly into the lineup and take some games in the stands to really see what was happening at the junior level. The Calgary product just kept working hard on and off the ice. His attitude stayed positive and his play made big leaps in the second half.
Later in the season when injuries struck the Broncos decided to give Heatherington a shot on the top pairing with veteran Reece Scarlett. He never relinquished the role. All it took was an opportunity and he grabbed it. Some have argued that he could have been ready for that bigger role right away, but even Heatherington himself has told me that he learned a lot from the process and was a better player for it.
In his sophomore season Heatherington started and finished on that top pairing with Scarlett. Lamb has told me more than once that Dillon gets better and better as the season goes on and when the games get bigger. He is one of the better 5 on 3 penalty killers I’ve seen in junior and doesn’t seem to ever tire. At times he would sometimes even play back to back shifts when their depth was being tested. As the season went on the under the radar Heatherington was getting more and more attention while moving up the draft rankings.
He was primarily a defensive force and a shut down player, but his offence also made big steps forward in his sophomore season. Heatherington doesn’t blast slap shots to the top corner very often, but he has an underrated ability to get pucks to the net and quickly. He can also take the puck and rush the puck deep into enemy territory when the lanes open up.
Even as a young man he became a leader on the team, he will step up for teammates, plays physical and is a rock game in game out. There’s a reason when he made the U18 team that Don Hay went from playing him limited minutes at the start of the even to making him a top pairing guy in the gold medal game. He earns trust from his coaching staff quickly.
This season he’ll be looked to as the leader of a young and exciting blue line for the Broncos. Swift Current doesn’t have anyone older than 18 on the back end and Heatherington is the anchor. He’ll be asked to lead both on and off the ice. I anticipate him wearing a letter and he could actually end up being captain when they hold that vote.
What will he work on? He still wants to get bigger and stronger. He can also play a bigger role offensively. Any young defenceman has a lot of work to do in all aspects of their game, but there are far fewer holes with Dillon than most 18 year olds. He’s a rock at this level and now it’ll be interesting to see how he does without having a veteran as experienced and as good as Scarlett by his side.”
EUROPE
FINLAND
Joonas Korpisalo-Jokerit Organization
Kiekko-Vantaa 8-9 2.71GAA .900 J20 13GP 6-7 2.67GAA .914Sv% 1 Shutout
Joonas bounced around the Jokerit organization playing for all three teams including making his SM-Liiga debut (a whopping 15 minutes). I was told Joonas entered this season expected to be the starter in Kiekko-Vantaa the Jester’s affiliate, but due to a injury to Jokerit’s starter Eero Kilpelainen Joonas entered the European Trophy as the team’s number one with Kevin Lankinen before the team signed Flames first rounder Leland Irving to a tryout that was expected to last until Kilpelainen returned. But sometime during the trophy tournament, Joonas suffered an injury that required surgery according to this person on HFBoards.(I don’t like it either but its the only info I can find).
RUSSIA
Marko Dano-HC Slovan Bratislava
2012-13 Stats 37GP 3-4-7 +4 26PIM
The most unknown of the Jackets three first round picks is Marko Dano, Dano is skilled forward that’s not afraid to throw his weight around. Playing as a 17 year old in the KHL seems rare last year and it appears this year Marko will play third and fourth line minutes. He is onw with the Slovakian National Teams that Marko played both with the Junior and Men’s teams. Marko had a coming out party at the World Juniors leading the Slovaks in scoring and finishing tied for fourth in the tournament.
Alexander Wennberg-Frolunda(SHL)
2012-13 Stats 46GP 14-18-32 +10 14PIM(with Djurgarden-Allsvenkan)
Alexander spent last year with Djurgarden in Allsvenkan (Sweden’s lower league) scoring 32 points which was third among junior players(I’m guessing this means rookies) second in goals. During the summer, Wennberg signed with Frolunda. So far this season Alexander has been on the team’s third line play playing mostly with last year’s Allsvenkan leading scorer Evan McGrath and one time “best player not in the NHL” Fabian Brunnstrom. Alexander will be expected to be one of the top players on the Swedish World Junior Team with added pressure since they are hosting.
Anton Forsberg-MODO(SHL)
2012-13 Stats 33GP 24-9 2.04GAA .933Sv% 4SOs(with Sodertalje SK-Allsvenkan)
Last season Anton was loaned to SSK from MODO and had great success being on of the top goalies in the league, finishing in the top 5 in most statistical categories including second in both GAA and save percentage. This year Anton is back in the SHL with MODO and is expected to be the team’s number one goalie. Ill let Swedish hockey blogger Johan Myberg who writes for sskoveralltaltid.se talk about Anton last season.
“Anton Forsberg spend last season on loan to Södertälje SK in Hockeyallsvenskan. Hockeyallsvenskan is the second highest men’s league in Sweden. The season started in a tough way for both Forsberg and the team. After losing the first 7 out of 9 games (Forsberg did not start in all those games), both Forsberg and the team was under a lot of pressure. Forsberg’s game was ok, but far from the level he was to deliver later that season. The story of Hockeyallsvenskan season 2012/2013 was the NHL-lockout. The lockout affected Forsberg and the team in a positive way. NHL-players like Carl Hagelin, Matt Read, Cam Fowler, Nicklas Grossmann and Jonathan Ericsson joined the team during different parts of the lockout of course adding a new dimension both to the defense and the offense. After losing 7 out of the first 9 games, the team only lost 9 out of the last 43 games finishing in 2nd place in Hockeyallsvenskan. Forsberg’s game during this period of last season was very solid and he was definitely the top goalie of Hockeyallsvenskan playing 33 games during the regular season with a GAA of 2,04 and SVS of 93,3%.
This is impressive numbers for a goalie who’d only played 14 professional hockey games before the 2012/2013 season. Especially strong if you consider that during parts of the season Forsberg faced opponents like Anze Kopitar, Patric Berglund, Alexander Steen, Bobby Ryan and Gabriel Landeskog, due to the NHL-lockout. The season ended with the team trying to qualify for Sweden’s highest league as one of the top 4 teams of Hockeyallsvenskan. The team had a bad run during the qualifying games and Forsbergs game dropped during these conditions. During his 8 games in the qualifying league he had a 3.01 GAA and .901 save percentage not playing as solid during these important games which contained elements of high pressure and have a clear playoff nature. As a whole Forsberg had a great development during the 2012/2013 season proving that he during a longer period of time against high quality opposition could perform a solid game.
The strength of his game is the positioning, hockey sense and the size giving his game a sense of calm and confidence.”
Daniel Zaar-Rogle(Allsvenkan)
2012-13 Stats J20 17GP 11-8-19 +7 6PIM Allsvenkan(with BIK Karlskoga) 15GP 0-7-7 +3 4PIM
Daniel is one of the Jackets more offensively gifted prospects with a laser of a shot. Daniel will be playing this season with one of the expected top draft prospects, ex-NHLer Michael Nylander’s son William. For help with Daniel, I’ll turn things over to Andreas Holm that you can follow at @AndyHolm (mostly tweets in Swedish though)
“Zaar started last season in Rögle’s J20 team but after a couple of good matches and injuries on players in the seniorteam, Zaar did get his chance. The now 19 year old forward did impress with the big guys in SHL and scored 2 goales and made 1 assist in 25 appearances in the SHL. In January he was loaned to BIK Karlskoga in the second division and had seven assist in 15 games. Zaar did come back to Rögle for the relegation games at the end of the season but neither him or his team mates could save Rögle in the highest division. Born in Helsingborg just south of Ängelholm, which is Rögle’s home, Zaar has became a favourite at the stands(editor note <-think he means fan favorite?) and this season he is playing with Kelsey Tessier, who last season played for Connecticut Whale in the AHL. Even if Rögle has had a bad start to the season (4 straight losses), Zaar have two of the five goals the team has made. Zaar is probably Rögle’s most promising talent right now and the coaches have and will give him a lot of ice time. The expectations of Zaar are high and hopefully he can learn a lot of former NHL players Michael Nylander and Andreas Lilja as are a part of Rögle this season.”
Markus Soberg-Frolunda J20
2012-13 Stats 36GP 10-16-26 +29 20PIM
Markus was the Jackets 6th round pick at the 2013 draft and, like Alexander Wennberg, is playing for the Frolunda Indians. But while Alexander will be playing with the SHL team, Markus will playing with the J20 team. The Baby Indians were a dominant team last year going a combined 32-9-4 in the two parts that make up the J20 season. Markus was second on the team in plus/minus being a +29. Markus is a speedy winger that has been playing mostly on the Indians second line.
Markus also plays for Norway in international play leading the Polar Bears in scoring with 13 points in five games while also serving as an assistant captain with the U18 team. Markus helped the J20 team move up from the Division 1 World Championships to the World Junior Championships where they’ll play Sweden, Russia, Switzerland and Finland(oof! good luck boys you’ll need it).
There you have it folks! A look at the Blue Jackets prospects playing in Europe and the Canadian Hockey League. I’ll be back soon with a look at the Jackets’ five prospects playing NCAA hockey and the CBJ prospect week in review will also return on the 30th.
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