The Sunshine Skate is incredibly excited to announce our interview with Jeff Marek. For those of you who don’t know Jeff, he is the Host of Hockey Central on Sportsnet, the Co-Host of the ‘Marek vs Wyshynski’ podcast, and an encyclopedia of hockey knowledge. During our interview with Jeff, we discuss his new podcast (‘Junior’ on Sportsnet), Panthers prospects, and a young player out of Boca Raton, FL to keep an eye on.
Kris M.: Recently, you announced that you will be having a weekly CHL podcast with Sam Cosentino called ‘Junior’. What can you tell us about ‘Junior’ and who are some of the sleeper players that Panthers fans should keep an eye on for this upcoming draft?
Jeff Marek: Yeah, pretty excited about it. Been trying to pull this podcast together for a year now and finally it’s here. It’s a weekly one hour show that covers all three leagues in the CHL (QMJHL, OHL and WHL). We’ll be all over news of the week, what’s happening behind the scenes, interview key personalities (players, coaches, GM’s, scouts etc) and bring on CHL alumni who’ve also played in the NHL to share their stories of playing junior hockey.
As for players past the big two (McDavid and Eichel), Noah Hanifin should go third and is in many scouts eyes the equal to or even better than Aaron Ekblad. I’m also a big fan of Lawson Crouse of the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. Kid has great size, moves his feet, has a scoring touch and plays like a classic power forward and unlike a lot of big players, tries to leave an impression on every single shift. Lots of big players float from time to time, not this guy. Another kid to keep your eye on as the season continues is Travis Dermott, defenceman for the Erie Otters. Now that he’s over his injuries (which kept him from getting a call from Hockey Canada in the summer) I expect him to climb in the draft rankings steadily not unlike what Travis Sanheim and Haydn Fleury did last season.
KM: The Panthers have some very high-level prospects throughout their system. This season, defenseman Aaron Ekblad made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old and has made an immediate impact on the team. What are your thoughts on Aaron Ekblad and does he have the potential to be a #1 Defenseman for this team?
JM: What’s not to love about Ekblad. It seems as if he’s well on his way to ‘getting’ the NHL game and he hasn’t even suited up 20 times in the league yet. He’s smart, mature and skilled beyond his years. I remember when he came in to the OHL under the ‘exceptional player’ banner and physically looked like he was 25, not 15. Strong and steady in his own zone and only last January in Barrie with the Colts did he start joining the rush and adding that element to his game. The sky is the limit and definite number one potential.
KM: Defensive prospects are definitely a strong point throughout Florida’s system. Joining the San Antonio Rampage this season is Mackenzie Weegar, a 7th-round draft pick in 2013 who just finished his QMJHL career at a near point-per-game pace. For Panthers fans unaware of Weegar, what are some highlights to his play and where could he eventually fit if he were to make the Panthers lineup in the future?
JM: I love Weegar and although some scouts aren’t in love with his game, I’m the opposite. Love kids who fight through adversity to get where they are and here’s a guy who went through the OHL draft twice before getting scooped up by the QMJHL. Late bloomer? Maybe. He anchored a Halifax Mooseheads blueline last year and that was a team that should have come out of the Q into the Memorial Cup. I don’t see him as a top pairing guy in the NHL but I do see him making it to the show.
KM: The CHL “Subway Super Series” recently came to a close and Jayce Hawryluk was a player who stood out for Team WHL. What are your thoughts on Hawryluk and if possible, what NHL player does he resemble?
JM: When I see him play, all I keep thinking about is one player – Brendan Gallagher of the Habs. Skilled, determined and an ability to get you off your game.
KM: Hockey is a game that is won with strength down the middle and Florida seems to be on the right track with sophomore centers Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad. Do you think this 1-2 punch down the middle has the potential to eventually carry the Panthers back into the playoffs?
JM: Totally. Keep those two healthy and the Panthers are set down the middle for years. Just love the skill set of both these two and with that size, Bjugstad has the potential to be dominant at his position.
KM: I’ve noticed a lot of conversation around the NHL about how we’ve started to see elite-level talent developing in non-traditional markets (ex: Auston Matthews – born in Scottsdale, AZ). Curious, what are your thoughts on Jakob Chychrun? He is a native of Boca Raton, FL and played for the Florida Jr Panthers before being selected 1st Overall in the 2014 OHL Draft.
JM: Chychrun’s a stud. Should be really interesting to see the 2016 draft and who ends up on top because the two names you mentioned here are right in that conversation. Chychrun’s got great size + strength and is a top end skater. Came into the OHL seeming like he was already a mature player (not unlike Ekblad in that regard). He has a bullet shot and is a real smart hockey player. Plus, I love 2nd generation guys (father Jeff played 8 seasons in the NHL) who come into the game having been around it at an elite level their whole lives.
Interview was conducted via e-mail on 11/13/14.
Kris M. can be reached for contact on Twitter or via email at [email protected].
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