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Roman Horak (Chilliwack Bruins)

The middle of the week with just two games involving prospects of either the New York Rangers or New York Islander on the schedule. The Chilliwack Bruins featuring Roman Horak (2009 5th) and Brandon Manning (Traverse City) were on the road against the Edmonton Oil Kings while Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) and his Moose Jaw Warriors headed to Prince Albert to face the Raiders.

In what was one very exciting game, the Bruins hung on for dear life edging the Oil Kings 2-1. This game the Bruins need to get on the bus and get out of town as soon as possible because they know that if not for their goalie Lucas Gore they should have lost this one.

We know people care about the Ranger prospects but when you see a performance like Gore’s it is hard not to give him the rightful credit he deserves. Gore stopped 37 out of 38 shots (19 of 30 in the 3rd) including 1 right at the buzzer to steal this one for the Bruins.

Roman Horak scored his 7th goal of the season to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the first but as rock solid as he has been playing so far this season; he could have made life easier for his Bruins if he had just finished on any of the (what we counted were) 5 good scoring chances he had after his goal.

Horak did not play badly but tonight his finishing touch was just not there as Horak should have had a hat trick tonight as he kept missing on his chances. Horak also was a central figure on the only goal that the Oil Kings scored as he took a hooking penalty at 12:39 of the 3rd period.

Just after the penalty had expired as Horak was rejoining the play, the Oil Kings scored to make it a 2-1 game and if not for the goalie Gore, the Oil Kings tie and go on to win.

Brandon Manning saw his 8 game scoring streak come to an end but the one time only offensive defender was just outstanding on the defensive side that he was named the game’s second star. That sound you keep hearing is the cash register as Manning’s signing price goes up with each passing game.

Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw Warriors)

We really liked the selection of Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) and the reasoning that the Rangers gave for passing on Cam Fowler and others to select McIlrath. When we see efforts like McIlrath put on tonight against the Prince Albert Raiders then it makes the pick look really good.

McIlrath scored his 2nd goal in as many games, picked up a secondary assist while going a season high +4 as the Warriors took one from the Raiders 5-4 in the shootout

McIlrath has a thing about scoring the game’s 1st goal as he did tonight jumping on the board with a shot at 3:37 in the first to give Moose Jaw an early 1-0 lead.  McIlrath added a secondary assist on Moose Jaw’s 3rd goal of the game as they  had to rally from down 3-1.

It was a strong game for McIlrath who also showed some poise as he is starting to get the message that he helps Moose Jaw more when he is not in the penalty box.  It is part of his development as the young 18 year old defender is starting to pick his spots in both fights as well as going for that monster hit.

Is He Staying or Is He Going?

The clock is not ticking as the New York Islanders have to now make the decision as to whether or not to keep 2010 first round pick Nino Niederreiter or send him back to the Portland Winterhawks.

The decision has most likely already been made and either Nino knows or he will first thing on Thursday. Nobody asked us but we believe the Islanders are going to return him to Portland but for the wrong reasons.

If they send him back then they can claim that they have NHL ready prospects in the AHL and can afford to let Nino develop at a slower pace. We think they are wanting to send him back to save a year towards his free agency, arbitration rights and anything but helping his develop.

In our book, Nino does not gain anything by playing in the WHL this season as learning how to play in the NHL under the guidance of Doug Weight .  The danger of sending Nino back to a Winterhawk team than he has not spent a second with is that Nino will go back with the “Post Draft Blues” and pick up some bad habits.

The Islanders kept Nino out of the Winterhawk training camp and none of this is a reflection on the Winterhawks, heck for selfish reasons Nino back in Portland means we have an excuse to live out of Portland.

If Nino had looked in over his head against the NHL players then yes sending him back would be the right call but he has shown he can play.  We think the decision will be made more about his contract status than his development.

Ethan Werek (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Tuesday night was just one prospect from both the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in action. For us it was an easy night as it was Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) and when he plays it is just another easy writeup.

Ethan Werek is a writer’s dream because you can count on his consistent efforts at both ends of the ice.Werek is what you like in a prospect because when there is a key moment in a game, then Werek is going to be involved with it.

Tuesday night Werek set up Conor Stokes first goal of the season just 21 seconds of the 3rd period which started a 5 goal outburst to defeat the Sudbury Wolves 6-2. It was the first win for the Frontenacs in Sudbury since 2003 as the Frontenacs improved to 7-4-1-0 good for 2nd in the OHL’s East division.

Werek is 8-8-16 on the season which among the New York Ranger prospects is 2nd in goals and tied for 2nd in points. But again as we have pointed out in the past, Werek if you have tracked his career has always been consistent.

The one difference that some might miss is if you look at Werek’s numbers and compare them to other prospects ask how many have as close to a 50-50 goals to assists ratio as Werek has had not just now but in his OHL career.

2008-09 32-32 -64

2009-10 30-34-64

2010-11 8-8-16

Go look at the other prospects and see how many are both goal scorer and playmaker as Werek is. Now you see why we are so high on Werek as more than just a 3rd liner.

Ethan Werek (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

What a strange but nice Sunday as 3 different prospects put up 3 point games as they had direct impacts on how their team played. We start with a prospect who for reasons that escape us never gets his proper respect.

We love how some people want to say they know how to judge the potential of the prospects. Take New York Ranger prospect Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) for example; when we look around Werek is viewed with very little respect.

“Werek is a 3rd line player”, “Werek is going to be a checking forward” and other (in our eyes) badly judged views. Not sure how people want to measure a prospect but we will always include talking to the prospect as part of potential projections.

We said it last year and we will not waver as Werek is a Top 2 line forward who is going to bring scoring as well as play making to those lines.  When people ask who will be the New York Ranger’s future first line center; we want to know why Werek is not considered?

On Sunday, Werek gave us a great example why our prediction of his potential is more realistic than other folks. Werek was the offense for the Kingston Frontenacs as he led a 3 goal comeback as the Frontenacs rallied from 2-0 down to earn a 3-2 overtime win over the Saulte Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Trailing 2-0, Werek got the Frontenacs going when he found linemate Michael Fine who scored at 8:05 of the second period. In the last minute of regulation after the Frontenacs had pulled their goalie; Werek fired a blast that found it’s way to the top right shelf for a tie game at 19:23.

It was Werek’s 7th goal of the season and Werek was not done as he saved his best for overtime. In the overtime Werek needed just one shot to earn his 3rd game winner (we include his SO winner too) of the season just 59 seconds into the overtime period.

Werek is now 8-7-15 good for 3rd among prospects.

Ryan Bourque (Katherine Ep)

Remember yesterday’s report when we said Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) that his offense was perfectly fine? Guess who put up a 3 point effort for the Quebec Remparts on Sunday?

Ryan Bourque in 3 days has put up 7 points including a 1-2-3 effort against the Moncton Wildcats as his Quebec Remparts defeated the Wildcats 4-2.

Bourque got his Remparts going by scoring his 4th goal of the season at 5:06 of the first period on the power play. Bourque added 2 secondary assists on key goals like the game winner and the 4th goal which put the game out of reach.

When play started on Friday Bourque was a 2-2-4 and had people were wondering about him. Now Bourque is 4-7-11 so does anyone have any more doubts about him?

Calvin De Haan (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

The Oshawa Generals are the only team that has both Ranger and Islander prospects on their roster. From the Islander side are defensemen Calvin De Haan (2009 1st) and Tony DeHart (2010 5th) and Christian Thomas (2010 2nd) is the Rangers prospect.

Against the Ottawa 67′s, it was the combination of De Haan and Thomas that rallied the Generals from down 3-0 in the 3rd period to force a tie before the Generals lost in the shootout 4-3.

De Haan and Thomas combined to set up 2 goals as the Generals started their comeback. First they set up Alain Berger at 4:55 on the power play; then Scott Laughton at 8:16 at even strength.

At 18:53 of the 3rd period De Haan scored his first goal of the season on the power play for a 3-3 tie and force overtime. Nobody scored in overtime so the game went to the shootout where both De Haan and Thomas missed on their attempts as Ottawa managed to score in the shootout to salvage the win.

Tony DeHart the 3rd prospect in the game did not score and was a -2 for the game. De Haan wound up 1-2-3 for the game to bring his numbers on the season to 1-7-8 +6 in 7 games.

Thomas regained the Ranger prospect scoring lead with his 2 assist to improve to 10-7-17 +10.

Aaron Ness (2008 2nd) and his Minnesota Golden Gophers managed to earn a series split from the St. Cloud State Huskies with a 2-1 win in WCHA play. Ness was scoreless, taking 3 shots and earning a +1 for his efforts.

Jason Wilson (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

Jason Wilson (2010 5th) was the only prospect from either the New York Rangers or New York Islanders to see action on Thursday.

Wilson and his Niagara IceDogs played host to the Guelph Storm missing Daniel Maggio (NYR 2009 6th) who is out at least for a month with an upper body injury.

Wilson is a gamble pick as he has been injured most of the last 2 seasons but when healthy has been productive. Traded to the IceDogs prior to the season; Wilson is trying to make the most of his overage (20 year old) season as Wilson has been doing a little of everything from fighting to scoring.

Against the Storm, it was scoring as Wilson got the IceDogs going when he scored his 4th goal of the season at 11:04 of the first period. It gave the Storm a early 1-0 lead but the Storm tied the game in the first and 3 goals in the 3rd gave the IceDogs the win.

Wilson is now 4-1-5 on the season.

Canada/Russia Subway Super Series

Islander and Ranger prospects earned spots on the Team OHL roster but none made the QMJHL or WHL rosters. The series in all honesty is more a one sided contest as Russia rarely ever sends their best junior players.

Still it is a chance for those prospects who did not attend the Team Canada Evaluation Camp a chance to make an impression.

Islander Prospects

Calvin De Haan (who is a lock for Team Canada)

Casey Cizika

Ranger Prospects

Scott Stajcer

Ethan Werek

Christian Thomas

Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw Warriors)

I felt that I had gotten away from drafting the physical type of players – Gordie Clark explaining why the Rangers had selected Dylan McIlrath.

Only New York Ranger prospects were in action on Wednesday night with just 3 of them in action. The words of Gordie Clark rang ever so true on Wednesday night as McIlrath’s Moose Jaw Warriors looked to win their 3rd game in a row against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The score for those who really are wondering a 3-2 shootout win for the Tigers but what stood out to us is something that does not show up in the scoresheet. Ever since Jeff Beukeboom was forced to retire, the Rangers have lacked the physical presence of an intimidating hitter on the blueline.

Michael Del Zotto is an offense only player, Ryan McDonagh is a steady 2 way prospect and we could go down the list but there is not one defender player or prospect who with his mere presence on the ice will intimidate the other team with his checking.

It did not dawn on us until the 2nd period that the smaller Medicine Hat forwards were giving up the puck rather than have to take a hit from McIlrath. Someone else mentioned how the “Tigers were hearing footsteps”; the hockey term used to describe the fear of taking a heavy check.

Funny thing was McIlrath really had not had that great of a first period, none of his checks could be described as hard hitting but his 6’5 size just towered over the smaller Medicine Hat forwards and that was enough to make them cough up the puck whenever McIlrath was coming towards them.

From that point on we counted how many times the Tigers turned the puck over rather than take a hit from McIlrath and we count 5. 5 unforced turnovers just because of his size, his reputation and his presence.

The saying is “You can not teach size” but what you can teach is how to use that size and that is something they are doing with McIlrath. For the game, McIlrath was scoreless on 3 shots, a -1 with a roughing minor in the first period (which may have been the message sender) and 4 hits to go along with the already mentioned unforced turnovers.

Scott Stajcer (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

In Owen Sound, Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) was back in net for his Attack as they hosted the Plymouth Whalers. Stajcer who earlier in the day was named to Team OHL for the Canada/Russia Subway Super Series wound up giving up the most goals had all season.

Stajcer allowed 4 goals on 38 shots as his Attack had to go to overtime before defeating the Whalers.  Stajcer gave up the goals over the first 2 periods but shut down the Whalers in the 3rd period to let help his team get back into the game and eventually win it in overtime.

Stajcer improved to 8-0 on the season but saw his goals against rise to 2.12 and save percentage up to 0.937. Stajcer still leads the OHL in wins and save percentage but dropped to second in goals against by 0.002.

Ethan Werek (Kingston Frontenacs)

It is almost like he is an afterthought but Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) is off to a pretty good start to his season. Werek is 6-5-11 in 7 games which is 3rd among prospects but his Kingston Frontenacs dropped a 5-2 decision to the Ottawa 67′s.

Werek got the Frontenacs going when he set up Nathan Moon for Kingston’s first goal and only lead of the game on the power play at 9:53 of the first period.

After that it was all Ottawa as they scored 4 unanswered goals but Kingston scored a late goal to cut the lead to 4-2. Werek has looked very strong this season but has been kind of forgotten because of the efforts of Christian Thomas and Roman Horak.

At the pace Werek is going that will not last very long as we see Werek scoring 40 goals this season. Nobody ignores that.

Dylan McIlrath (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Only one prospect from the New York Rangers and New York Islanders saw action on Tuesday night. Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) and his Moose Jaw Warriors snapped the Saskatoon Blade’s 6 game winning streak with a convincing 5-1 win.

Dylan McIlrath played what we have to say was his best game of the season with a 2 assist, +2 effort as Moose Jaw won back to back games for the first time this season.  McIlrath’s first assist of the game was on Quinton Howden’s goal at 12:03 of the 2nd period breaking a 1-1 tie on what proved to be the game winner.

McIlrath’s second assist was a secondary assist on Moose Jaw’s 4th goal just 4:48 later at 16:51 of the second. It was McIlrath’s 3rd point of the season and the good news for Ranger fans is McIlrath’s turning things around.

The last 2 games for “The Truck” have been 3 points and a +3, no penalties but 2 important wins for the Warriors as they improve to 4-7 on the season.  McIlrath and his teammates turn right around to host Medicine Hat on Wednesday night.

New USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

New poll so here is where the prospects stack out

1-Boston College (Chris Kreider NYR)

2-North Dakota (Jason Gregoire, Brock Nelson NYI)

3- Michigan (Carl Hagelin NYR)

7- New Hampshire (Blake Kessel NYI)

9- Boston University (Corey Trivino NYI)

13- Denver (Matt Donovan NYI)

14- Wisconsin (Jason Clark NYI)

Last week we talked about how important players from winning programs help change the atmosphere of a franchise. 6 New York Islander prospects playing for the top college programs is just as important as the prospects the Rangers have in the CHL.

Tony DeHart (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

It was a very slow Sunday for New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects as only 4 saw any action with 3 of them playing in the same game.

Tony DeHart (Islanders 2010 5th) scored his first goal of the season but his Oshawa Generals lost their 2nd straight game this time 5-2 to the Saginaw Spirit. The Generals looked very tired in this game and while that is not excusing their play; it looked more like a hangover from last night’s loss to the Niagara IceDogs.

DeHart scored just 2:19 into the game on the power play to tie up the game after being on the ice for Saginaw’s first goal which came just 16 seconds into the contest. DeHart wound up with the goal and a -2 on the day.

Teammate Calvin DeHaan (Islanders 2009 1st) kept his scoring streak alive with a secondary assist on the General’s other goal which came just 17 seconds into the 2nd period. De Haan now has 5 points on all assists but he was a -1 on the game.

The only New York Ranger prospect to see action Christian Thomas (2010 2nd) saw his scoring streak come to an end at 7 games. Thomas has been just flat out impressive scoring 15 points in the span as he leads all Ranger prospects in scoring, goals (10) and plus/minus at +10.

Freshman Jason Clark (Islanders 2010 3rd) got to play on Sunday as his Wisconsin Badgers hosted the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in the 2nd game of their weekend series. Clark too 1 shot and got to served a bench minor but other than that just did not stand out.

Injury Update

The injury bug that has hit both the Rangers and Islanders has also hit the prospects as well so here his the latest for both teams:

Rangers

Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) out 3-4 weeks with an “upper body injury”

Randy McNaught (2010 7th) out 4-6 weeks with a sprained ankle

Andrew Yogan (2010 4th) out until at least January after shoulder surgery

Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) day to day with “upper body injury”

Islanders

David Toews (2008 3rd) out 3-5 weeks with “sprained ankle”

Casey Cizikas (2009 4th) Lower body and his status is day to day.

Kirill Kabanov (2010 3rd) is on personal leave and is expected to return back this week

Brandon Manning (Chilliwack Bruins)

It was a strange night for the New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects as in several cases prospects of both teams went head to head against each other.

If you want to keep score then it was Ranger prospects somewhat winning 1-0 with 2 ties and a wash because the Oshawa Generals have 2 Islander prospects and 1 Ranger prospect but they lost to a team with a Ranger prospect on it

For the Rangers, the message is clear offer that NHL contract to Brandon Manning now while you still have his interest. Manning since returning from the Ranger’s training camp is now 3-9-12 in 7 games after a 2 assist evening to help Chilliwack defeat arch-rival Vancouver 6-3.

The Ranger side of the story is right here

For the Islander prospects, it was a night where nobody really stood and some would really like to forget but their report is right here

Nino Niederreiter (Portland Winterhawks)

A extremely busy night for both the New York Rangers and New York Islander prospects. Yet their efforts were overshadowed by a report out of the Pacific Northwest.

The rumor mill heated up on Friday taking the attention away from the prospects themselves. Gregg Drinnan of Taking Note thinks the NewYork Islanders just might be doing that in his report found here.

The silence from both the Islander and Winterhawk sides adds a lot of credibility to the rumor but when we look at it then it really does not make a lot of sense for the Islanders to do such a thing.

The Islanders need all the weapons they can get with Tavares, Streit and Okposo out of the lineup for extended periods of time.  For us the bigger thing is why would the Islanders not take advantage of using Doug Weight as a mentor for Nino?

Jason Gregoire (FightingSioux.com)

It is not a matter of money as the Islanders have plenty to spend; for us it does not make any sense for the Islanders to make such as move since Nino in the WHL really does little to help his development not to mention how it hurts the goodwill the Islanders have been slowing building up with their fans.

In the prospect world the Islanders did have a much better night than the parent team highlighted by Jason Gregoire’s 2 goal efforts against Bemidji State and Anders Lee’s efforts for Notre Dame.

The full Islander report can be found right here.

Scott Stajcer (Owen Sound Attack)

For the New York Rangers there are 2 stories to this prospect season; the first is the comeback by Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) and the offensive explosion from the CHL prospects.

Last season Stajcer was a disappointing 15-15-3-2 3.67 0.909 and after tonight’s 6-3 win over the Kitchener Rangers, the Owen Sound Attack goalie improved to 7-0 1.86, 0.943 with 1 shut out as Owen Sound has the best record in the OHL as well as a 7 game winning streak.

Elsewhere Christian Thomas led the offensive attack with his 9th goal of the season with the rest of the Ranger prospect report right here.