I have to say I'm impressed with Rangers first round pick Jeff Skinner. This is a kid who definitely had options - whether to go to the OHL or purse the US college route. Skinner has shown he can score as he has 11 goals in his last 7 games (he had a five-game goal streak snapped Saturday in Sarnia).
That was from Terry Doyle from Loosepucks. Over at Coming Down the Pipe, they were impressed with his performance against London last night.
Having said all that, the guy I might have been the most impressed with was Kitchener's Jeff Skinner. A guy who will be a high end pick in the 2010 draft is 4th on team scoring with 41 points in 51 games, including 22 goals. He's also plus 5 on a team 5 games below 500. Skinner is 10th in rookie scoring as a 16 year old and showed a never quit attitude during the game, especially on the game tying goal in which he fired 2 shots on net before wrapping it around to send it to overtime. Skinner also added an assist, a penalty minute and was plus 1 in the loss.
They will most likely have Jeremy Morin to their line up next season. Morin has been described as one of the best finishers in this draft. They could also land Jerry D'Amgio also of the National Team Development Program. He's committed to RPI but will the team that drafts him persuade him to go to Kitchener?
In net, Brandon Maxwell will also be heading across the boarder. He has made it clear he will go the major junior route as he tried to leave the National Program earlier this season.
Add some other off season moves along a first round pick, the Rangers should be back on the top of the OHL standings.
That's My Take
(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)
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If I were to make a list of the top 16 year olds that I've seen this year, Skinner would be right up near the top.
In the two games the IceDogs have taken on the Rangers this season, Skinner was great. Looks to have really good hands in close to the net and a lot of offensive hockey sense.
The only thing that could really hold him back is size. At 5'10, he's going to be labeled undersized, but hopefully he's grown a bit this season and can come in closer to 6'0 on his draft day.
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