Leafs’ Prospects – OHL Playoff Update
Last night, the London Knights – and Leafs prospect Nazem Kadri – were eliminated from the OHL playoffs in a Game 7 blowout at the hands of the Kitchener Rangers.
For his part, Kadri makes his playoff exit as the OHL’s post-season scoring leader with a remarkable 9 goals and 18 assists in 12 games.
The Kitchener Rangers will now move on to face the defending-champ Windsor Spitfires, whose own lineup features a couple of Leafs’ prospects: forwards Dale Mitchell and Kenny Ryan (pictured).
Mitchell provided the Spitfires with another solid campaign, recording 16 goals and 27 assists in 32 games played during the regular season while providing energy and spark. His clutch play has carried forward into the post-season, where he has posted 6 goals and 4 assists in a mere 8 games — with 3 of those goals being game-winners. Look for Mitchell to suit up for the Toronto Marlies next season.
Ryan was able to turn in a solid OHL rookie season (14 goals, 21 assists in 52 games), despite receiving somewhat limited ice time on a team whose forward depth features the likes of Taylor Hall, Greg Nemisz, Adam Henrique, Zack Kassian, Eric Wellwood and Mitchell, to name a few. Two rounds into the playoffs, Ryan has yet to impact the scoreboard (1 goal, 1 assist in 8 games); he has, however, held an even +/- in predominantly a checking role. He is still a couple years away from prime-time, but early returns have been positive.
If you’re looking for some exciting playoff action at the Junior level, be sure to check out the Kitchener-Windsor series as two offensive dynamos square off against one another — in what is sure to be a fast-paced, high-scoring series –with a berth in the OHL Championship game on the line.
And if you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage you to check Gus Katsaros and Bloge Salming’s prospect vlog featuring Kenny Ryan from earlier today.
Looking forward to your thoughts as always,
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