The drama is over and a few things caught my eye throughout.

Alex Galchenyuk went first overall to the Sting.  I saw him speak today, certainly not used to the attention but knew the language already.  He grew up in Moscow but has travelled all over the world, ‘American’ being his third language.  He had 44 goals and 47 assists in 38 games this season and is a healthy 6’1, 180 (I happen to be 6’1, 183, but am 11 years older).

The Toronto Young Nats surprised the favoured Toronto Marlboros in the battle for top minor Midget team of the draft.  The Nats with three top ten graduates to the Marlies one.  But the Marlboros regrouped, and had seven players in the first 32 picks.  One of the causes of the early Marlies trouble was Matia Marcantuoni slipping in to the Kitchener Rangers hands at the 18 slot.  The amazingly fast forward had been pegged as a top five pick.

The centre position, followed closely by big, mobile defensemen, dominated the first two rounds of the draft.  The first five picks were all centres.  Then the defensemen went on a run, taking the first round, with the final round tally being ten D-men, nine centres and two wingers.  There were no goalies taken until the Marlboros Jake Paterson went to Saginaw with the 1th pick in the 2nd round.

Also of note, Alex Gudbranson will join his brother Erik in Kingston while Kerby Rychel, son of Spitfires GM Warren, went to the Barrie Colts with the last pick of the first round. Warren Rychel’s Spitfires had the previous pick.  They are currently taking on Kerby’s Colts in the OHL final.

I’m going to make the final prediction that the Kitcheners Rangers and Niagara Ice Dogs were the winners of the 2010 OHL draft.  The Rangers have been impressive in this draft before (re. Kadri, Fowler, Skinner, Azevedo, Richards) and they look bang on this year too.  They snagged highly skilled Marcantuoni with their 18th pick, and I also like their selection of big, composed defenseman Evan McEneny in the 2nd round.

The Ice Dogs selected two Toronto Young Nats defensemen, Jesse Graham and Luke Mercer, with the 6th and 8th overall picks, then took highly skilled forward Billy Jenkins in the 2nd round.  Honourable mention to the Sudbury Wolves for the selection of Brody Silk in the 2nd round.  He was unbelieveable before injury this season.  Look out for the Wolves.

 But as I’ve said before, and I’ll surely say again, the proof is in the pudding.

The Ottawa Valley Titans have sent three players to the OHL via the 2nd Round.  The crafty Billy Jenkins to the Niagara Ice Dogs, Ryan Duhaime to the Mississauga Majors, and Samuel Schutt to the Sudbury Wolves.   Ryan Duhaime is the 6’0, 170 d-man, he has the points (37 in 59 games) and the gritt (78 PIMs) to make a dent in Mississauga’s future.  Duhaime is the 2nd defenseman taken by the Majors in the draft (Nick Ebert, 17th overall).

 Sam Schutt is one of the few wingers taken thus far in the draft (7th in 40 picks).  Like Jenkins, he has tremendous numbers with 48 goals and 97 points in 66 games.

Kitchener

I have faith in these Rangers picks (re. my intro – Kadri, Fowler, Skinner, Richards, Azevedo).  Evan McEneny is one of the biggest defenseman taken in the draft at 6’2, 210.  He is also very mobile with the puck and known as a great passer with 50 points in 59 games on the blueline for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs.  Along with Matia Marcantuoni with the 18th pick in the 1st round, the Rangers’ picks look stellar thus far.

 Saginaw

Jake Paterson of the Toronto Marlboros was the first goalie selected in the draft, 2nd round, 32nd overall.  Part of the reason Saginaw could take a stab at the position was their back-to-back picks in the round.  Paterson was the 7th Toronto Marlboros player taken in the draft, six of his teammates before the first goalie.  Paterson played 70 games, posting a 1.41 gaa, and 15 shutouts!  But the impressive team in front of him seems to have dropped his status.   

Sudbury

Brody Silk goes to the Wolves in the 2nd Round, 26th Overall.  This kid could be the biggest steal of the draft.  He was tremendous in the fall, but injury cut his season short.  He had 39 goals and 83 points in 34 games! He is 6’0, 165, with plenty of room for improvement.  I’m always sceptical about the injury factor, but talent is talent.

Niagara

 The Ice Dogs select Billy Jenkins from Ottawa Valley.  I like this move.  This guy is supposed to be extremely talented with the ability to put the puck in the net.  He also seems to know what needs to be done – get stronger, get faster.  Look out for Jennings.  Ice Dog future – Jenkins darts around, showing his scoring ability, while Niagara’s two 1st-round Young Nats’ defesemen, Jesse Graham (6) and Luke Mercer (8), hold down the fort. 

Erie

Adam Pelech was the fifth Toronto Marlboros selected in the 2010 draft.  With the first pick in the 2nd round, the Erie Otters grabbed this rather large defenseman.  Pelech is 6’2, 210 and uses his size well in his own end.  He is very physical but does not shy away from jumping in to the rush.

21) Barrie

This was an interesting selection by the Colts.  Kirby Rychel is the son of Spitfires GM Warren Rychel who selected defenseman Grant Webermin with the 20th pick.  The word on the street prior to the draft was that young Rychel probably didn’t have the talent to be taken by his dad in the first round.  But apparently he did, when the Colts selected the centre with their next pick.  Rychel scored 30 goals and 49 points in 50 games for Detroit Belle Tire this season, and will be torn as this year’s OHL final continues between his dad’s Spits and his new teammates in Barrie. 

19) London

Chris Tierney is known as a player well beyond his years, one of the smartest players in the draft  He had 35 goals and 90 points in 57 games this season for the York Simcoe Express.  Tierney prides himself on his quick feet.

18) Kitchener

I said in my intro that the Rangers are known for their great first round selections, and I think they may have done it again.  It is very surprising that Matia Marcantuoni made it this far in the draft (18).  He has been compared to many young studs such as Taylor Hall – explosive with his first strides, he flies around the ice, taking fans out of their seats.