Ah September. Where the kids all go back to school, the temperatures (theoretically) start to go down, and most importantly the developmental leagues start play.
Not right now, right now we’re in training camps and pre-season games, but soon we’ll hit the ice!
With the teams returning to the ice it’s time to return to our weekly prospect update! [pause for cheering] This week we’ll take a quick look at where some of our prospects could play this year and how you can watch them. Not everything is set in stone and pre-season trades are happening but right now this is what we can expect.
Ontario Hockey League
You can watch all of these prospects on OHL Live which is ridiculously overpriced and run by the people the AHL just dumped.
Rasmus Sandin (D) & Mac Hollowell (D)
Sault Ste. Marie Bulldogs
The Maple Leafs 2018 first and fourth round picks could be Greyhounds this season. Hollowell more likely than Sandin as he doesn’t have many options. Sandin, however, could play in the OHL or AHL or ECHL or SHL or (technically, not that he will) the NHL this season. We probably won’t know where he’s going until mid-October after Marlies camp is over but all signs are pointing away from the OHL. The Greyhounds would love him back as they try to get back to the OHL final after losing the championship in six games last May.
Sean Durzi (D)
Owen Sound Attack
Durzi was a 2018 second round pick and is eligible for an overage season with the Attack. The Marlies are stuffed with defenders the over crowding could push him back to the junior league, and the Attack would welcome back the veteran defender with open arms.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C)
Peterborough Petes
‘SDA’ is one of the more popular 2018 picks and will be back in the Electric City this season after his time with the Leafs is over. He’ll be looking to hit a point per game pace after finishing last year with 51 points in 68 games.
Fedor Gordeev (D)
Flint Firebirds
Gordeev is heading into his third OHL season with the Firebirds, and the team wants to make the playoffs for the second time since moving to Flint.
Ryan McGregor (F)
Sarnia Sting
Sarnia’s alternate captain sat out 18 games last year, but will be after an impact role this year. After making it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in a decade last spring, the team is looking to go back to back second round of the playoff for the first time since 1996 / 1997.
Western Hockey League
You can watch all of these prospects on WHL Live which is ridiculously overpriced and run by the people the AHL just dumped.
Riley Stotts (C)
Calgary Flames
Stotts is joining the Hitmen for his first full season in Calgary after being traded there midway through last season, where he exploded for 41 points in 47 games after only scoring 3 in 22 games with the Swift Current Broncos.
Filip Kral (D)
Spokane Chiefs
Kral moved to Spokane from the Czech Republic last season to boost his draft profile, and it worked, getting him onto the Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the draft. He had no qualms about helping out offensively, adding 35 points in 50 games last season.
Ian Scott (G)
Prince Albert Raiders
Scott will be in his fourth season with the Raiders, playing 50 games each of the past two seasons and one with the Marlies last season.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
You can watch all of these prospects on QMJHL Live which is ridiculously overpriced and run by the people the AHL just dumped.
Zachary Bouthillier (G)
Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Being one year older than his goal partner Alexis Shank should give him the edge for starts, as he’s looking for more than the 38 he had last season. Ian Scott also had 38 starts in his draft year and moved up to 50, so that’s the number we should be looking for this year.
USHL
#14 - JD Greenway (D)
Dubuque Fighting Saints
You can watch Fighting Saints games on HockeyTV.com
Greenway left the University of Wisconsin after missing most of the 17/18 season for personal reasons. Greenway seems to be heading into this change with a positive attitude, saying:
“It’s a relief to be a Saint. It’s a lot of excitement, and a lot of motivation to work hard this summer and come to Dubuque the best way I can be.”
NCAA
#31 - Joseph Woll (G)
Boston College Eagles
On game days you can watch Eagles games online here.
Joseph Woll was spurned by Top 25 voters this year, and is heading into his junior year with the Boston College Eagles. Hopefully he won’t be suspended this year.
#8 - Dakota Joshua (F) / Ryan O’Connell (D)
Ohio State Buckeyes
You can stream games on Big Ten Network to Go.
This is Joshua’s final season at Ohio State and he has until August 15th to make a mark on Maple Leafs new management team to get a contract before he becomes a UFA. His production dropped by nine points last season so he’ll need to step up his game to make a crowded depth chart for the Leafs.
O’Connell is starting his first year with the Buckeyes after spending last season with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. He fractured his arm at the World Junior A Challenge and missed the rest of last season. A nice and slow freshman year should help him get back into the game.
What happened to....?
#52 - Nicolas Mattinen (D)
Hamilton Bulldogs
Mattinen’s rights expired with the Leafs and he played for the Ottawa Senators at the rookie tournament last weekend.
#55 - Keaton Middleton (D)
Saginaw Spirit
Middleton’s rights expired and he went undrafted in his second go around in June. The San Jose Sharks invited him to their rookie camp.
#13 - Nolan Vesey (F)
Maine Black Bears
Just before losing his rights the Maple Leafs traded Vesey to the Edmonton Oilers for a conditional 2020 7th round pick.
