OHL draft

[EricG. 0]

Let me know where Matt Smyth ends up.

From what I know, according to OHL central scouting, he is ranked at number 5. Even though those rankings mean nothing, it's a solid indicator.

[biff44 0]

As far as the NCAA is concerned, it you get paid $5, you are no longer an amateur. There are all sorts of other trip points, like staying more than 48 hours at a training camp, playing a single game, signing a contract with an agent. Certainly earning a couple hundred dollars a week would be way over the line--you are no longer an amateur.

As far as the age limit of the draft, it is obviously that they want to lock in a kid before the NCAA colleges have a chance to work him over. I feel sorry for the scouts at these events, as they have to project how a 14 or 15 year old player will look 3 years later! Will he grow, will he get more aggressive, will he fill out...?

I don't know how they do it!

It is also a lot of pressure on the kids! I was at the CSR challenge, and boy were those Canadian kids nervous! I think some of them actually thought that if they do not get drafted early, then their life would be over! How can you play well at a showcase if you are putting that much personal pressure on yourself?

All I can say is that I wish everybody luck in the draft.

[sherwood21 0]

It is also a lot of pressure on the kids! I was at the CSR challenge, and boy were those Canadian kids nervous! I think some of them actually thought that if they do not get drafted early, then their life would be over! How can you play well at a showcase if you are putting that much personal pressure on yourself?

All I can say is that I wish everybody luck in the draft.

While you make a good point, I was pressured by scouts at the end of my 2nd year of PeeWee. There are scouts at every AAA game in Alberta, every combine, every tournament. Summer hockey makes up for a good chunk of your draft year as well. Bottom line is that kids deal with the pressure from an early age, and I for one am used to it. Scouts do a good job, but from what I understand from scouts that my family knows, if you have a good mindset, + skills, you are gold. Most kids with talent and work ethic, as a scout, you know will be good. Anyway, in the OHL draft the age is older than the WHL, so you are able to cope with pressure more appropriately.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Couple hundreds bucks a weeks. Mainly meant for gas money and some food expenses.

I was under the impression they had a $50 a week "pay" cap, but the "expenses" could go up about double.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Got one of my boys in the draft, Matt Smyth. He plays for Markham. He grew up here and he played for our youth team, then he moved up to Ontario this season. Heard he's going top 5.

Hey JR, Matt got picked 14th overall by Brampton

[JR Boucicaut 3803]

Thanks. Not bad for a Florida boy...

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Thanks. Not bad for a Florida boy...

:lol: Yup, I thought he was going atleast top 10, there was a point in the season when he was top 3 minus Tavares.

[slaw 1]

A buddy of mine played net against Tavares and is also getting drafted and doesent think all the hype is worht anything. Personally i don't think hes all hes cracked up to be sure he's 14 but if they let hims sit back one year think of how good he'd get if he played in the GTHL finally with his right year. He'd be the next Gretzky for sure. His numbers are astounding but he also had a hell of a supporting cast and played for one of the best teams in the Province maybe even the country.

[sherwood21 0]

A buddy of mine played net against Tavares and is also getting drafted and doesent think all the hype is worht anything. Personally i don't think hes all hes cracked up to be sure he's 14 but if they let hims sit back one year think of how good he'd get if he played in the GTHL finally with his right year. He'd be the next Gretzky for sure. His numbers are astounding but he also had a hell of a supporting cast and played for one of the best teams in the Province maybe even the country.

He isn't cracked up to be anything, just a very special hockey player. I've played against him for years now, and I will tell you that he is an extraordinary player. Best 1990 in the world, without a doubt. There are no other players in the 1990 age grouping who would go #1 in the 89' draft. So I will tell you that he is everything that you have heard, plus more.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Looks like their whole first line went top 10.

[mik3 1]

A buddy of mine played net against Tavares and is also getting drafted and doesent think all the hype is worht anything. Personally i don't think hes all hes cracked up to be sure he's 14 but if they let hims sit back one year think of how good he'd get if he played in the GTHL finally with his right year. He'd be the next Gretzky for sure. His numbers are astounding but he also had a hell of a supporting cast and played for one of the best teams in the Province maybe even the country.

I don't think there's any positives in holding yourself back against lower competition at all. Yeah, he would probably put up disgusting stats, but there's no sense in tearing up a league you're too good for.

[sherwood21 0]

A buddy of mine played net against Tavares and is also getting drafted and doesent think all the hype is worht anything.  Personally i don't think hes all hes cracked up to be sure he's 14 but if they let hims sit back one year think of how good he'd get if he played in the GTHL finally with his right year. He'd be the next Gretzky for sure. His numbers are astounding but he also had a hell of a supporting cast and played for one of the best teams in the Province maybe even the country.

I don't think there's any positives in holding yourself back against lower competition at all. Yeah, he would probably put up disgusting stats, but there's no sense in tearing up a league you're too good for.

He tore up Minor Midget AAA, a league he was too young for, and too good for. I see no reason why the OHL shouldn't give him a chance. I think their ruling was great, and if it doesn't work out, he can always go to Jr. A for a year and then go back, and he would still be an underager :o

[Eazy_b97 1]

If he goes down to Tier 2 he has screwed up the draft and cost Oshawa an immediate impact player. I don't understand why he was playing AAA if his Tier II stats were so good.

[sherwood21 0]

If he goes down to Tier 2 he has screwed up the draft and cost Oshawa an immediate impact player. I don't understand why he was playing AAA if his Tier II stats were so good.

Yes, but Eazy, he can play 6 whole years in the O!! Oshawa was obviously in need of the BPA, and they got him. I was by no means saying that he was going to go to Tier II, but he could if all hell breaks loose. I believe that as a call-up, in Jr. A you can only play a certain number of games before the respective team must cut a player. That is the CJAHL rule, as far as I know. And I disagree with all the people saying that OHL players are going to be too big for him, Jr. A players are just as big and while there is a difference in talent levels, the size won't be a problem, it will be the speed.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I also agree that Tier II is alot closer to the OHL size-wise than people give credit and he showed he could stick there, but I think a full year would've done him better. He should've played there last year if he had the talent to go #1 overall in the OHL draft as an underager. I still think if he puts up anything short of a ppg he's a disappointment, just because he obviously cannot step into a "star" role if his numbers aren't there and this exception should only be for "stars" in my opinion.

[McCabe24 0]

On this whole issue of Tavares I have to agree with Eazy. This isn't the NHL where you can build a franchise around a player and have them as your superstar for 20 years. He may be eligible for 6 years but he surely won't play his overage year and might even be gone the season after he was drafted. From what I have seen from him he isn't as impressive as I have heard and I think he needs quite a bit of improvement if he wants to be held in the regard of Crosby and others. Keep in mind I have only seen highlight packages of him but I just don't see how he is a good as a Michael Richards or someone like that who is an above average offensive player and at the level where this kid is expected to produce at next season. With Crosby I believe he only played two years, could have been 3, with Rimouski as he is sure to be gone next season seeing as he is above the league which should be the case with Tavares considering he was allowed entry a year before Crosby was. The book is definately still open on this situation and whether the kid can live up to the hype remains to be seen.

[sherwood21 0]

I don't think this is a matter of "hype" so far. I think that he needs to step into the league, show what he is made of, and prove the naysayers wrong. He is the same age as me for god sakes, he shouldn't be compared to accomplished NHL'ers and CHL'ers. He is going to be 14 at the start of next year, and Crosby was 16. To expect him to put up more than a PPG (which is still amazing) is ridiculous. While it is also impossible to build a franchise around him for 6 years (his eligibility) at the start of next year I am sure he will be a franchise type player, as far as ticket sales go. By the time he is 16 (barring injury and whatnot), he will be the Crosby equivalent of the OHL as far as ticket sales and economy goes. I guarantee you that. Also, keep in mind that for those who still think he should be in Midget, at the AAA level I played against him, he was by far the best player and it's not like he was playing against house leaguers.

[A_Steeves12 0]

ok so he will be 14 at the start of next year he will be playing agaist players up 6 years hhis senior. if he puts up alright numbers next year then in his second year in the league he will be drawing a crowd. thats just my opinion.

[Adam91 0]

does anyone know Travares offical weight and height

[sherwood21 0]

6', around 170-180. His size isn't inflated at all, I have friends who play on his team who tell me that as well.

[Adam91 0]

Do your friends know how strong he is ?

[sherwood21 0]

I will tell you that he absolutely hammered me one game..:P. I would ask but that's sorta creepy, I know from people that he works out every day almost and he is getting a lot bigger, he's a tank though.

[A_Steeves12 0]

yeah taht would be kinda weird asking your frineds how strong he is lol

[Eazy_b97 1]

going to be 14 at the start of next year, and Crosby was 16. To expect him to put up more than a PPG (which is still amazing) is ridiculous.

Look at the best of the best in the CHL as rookies. Crosby, O'Sullivan, Lindros, Sepzza, Schremp, these guys all put up ppg averages in their rookie years. I use these examples because they are the #1 overall pick in their age groups and were expected to produce. If they allow this kid to come in as an underage player, he is expected to produce. If he cannot step in as an immediate impact player, then he should be in Tier II junior A tearing it up as best he can. Make'em put up huge numbers there, send him to a great feeder system, I believe Welland has always produced top tier teams with kids under 17. I hope this kid does well, just like I hope Crosby, Kessel and Ovechkin turn out to be the stars everyone thinks because it means exciting hockey. However, if this kid comes in as an underage player and cannot produce, it means the league made a mistake. Being average, or even good, doesn't justify this move. He needs to be a superstar. They haven't allowed some of the biggest names in the game do it, why allow this kid? His numbers are good, great even, but its not like others haven't had similar succes and they weren't given this kind of exception.

--> Off topic, did his Midget team make it do the Telus cup? If so, how did they do?

[sherwood21 0]

going to be 14 at the start of next year, and Crosby was 16. To expect him to put up more than a PPG (which is still amazing) is ridiculous.

Look at the best of the best in the CHL as rookies. Crosby, O'Sullivan, Lindros, Sepzza, Schremp, these guys all put up ppg averages in their rookie years. I use these examples because they are the #1 overall pick in their age groups and were expected to produce. If they allow this kid to come in as an underage player, he is expected to produce. If he cannot step in as an immediate impact player, then he should be in Tier II junior A tearing it up as best he can. Make'em put up huge numbers there, send him to a great feeder system, I believe Welland has always produced top tier teams with kids under 17. I hope this kid does well, just like I hope Crosby, Kessel and Ovechkin turn out to be the stars everyone thinks because it means exciting hockey. However, if this kid comes in as an underage player and cannot produce, it means the league made a mistake. Being average, or even good, doesn't justify this move. He needs to be a superstar. They haven't allowed some of the biggest names in the game do it, why allow this kid? His numbers are good, great even, but its not like others haven't had similar succes and they weren't given this kind of exception.

--> Off topic, did his Midget team make it do the Telus cup? If so, how did they do?

Eazy, you just reiterated what I said. Those were my points to a T. While you gave examples of top junior aged players, I think it would be more applicable to gauge what Rico Fata (underager) and Jason Spezza (underager) did while in Junior.

Fata - http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=24144

Spezza - http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=42311

Those are the two ways this thing can go. I don't know if saw my point, but I was saying more than a PPG expectations are ridiculous. I hope he does it, but I think that anyone going "Oh, if he isn't tearing up the O, he's a bust" I know you aren't saying that, but I am giving my view of some of the people I have watched on TV and their opinions.

I am thinking that he will produce, I am thinking if he struggles then he should go to Jr and rip those guys a new hole. I think allowing him to play is all about marketability, and he has it. Why the other exceptional players haven't, I don't have a clue. There is obviously something that places John above the other players. We have pretty the same views, wouldn't you say?

His Midget team was knocked out, I believe in the finals by Don Mills (hahhaa) who went to the Telus Cup and were knocked out in the Semi's.