CHL Prospect Update
The Jackets have nine prospects currently developing in the Canadian Hockey League. There are six forwards, a pair of defensemen and a goaltender.
Second round pick Boone Jenner continues to contribute to the Oshawa offense and remains one of their top scorers even after missing time to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors. Jenner missed the bronze medal game after receiving a match penalty for a spearing incident against the Russians. Jenner is the captain of the Generals, and is a gritty, two-way forward.
Another second rounder- Dalton Smith-has been a bit of a disappointment statistically since being drafted. He's an agitator who was supposed to break out offensively last season, but failed to do so. He continued to struggle with scoring in the first half of this season, but as this article from Behind the Net states, he may have finally had his breakout since moving to Ottawa's top line.
Winger Oliver Gabriel started the season with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. When he wasn't getting the ice time he needed to develop, the decision was made to return him to junior, where he is rejoining a powerhouse Portland team. He's scored some timely goals for Portland since his return and will provide leadership and gritty play down the stretch.
Czech winger Lukas Sedlak has taken a similar path to the NHL as fellow countryman and current Blue Jacket Tomas Kubalik. Sedlak's offensive totals don't project to be as high as Kubalik's were in his one season of junior, but Sedlak's Chicoutimi Sagueneens loaded up at the trade deadline and Sedlak looks to be a big part of their push for a championship. A strong second half that would see his statistics increase exponentially is a possibility. Sedlak was a member of the Czech team at the World Juniors.
Another member of that Czech team was former second rounder Petr Straka. I'm floored by his lack of production. He's an offensive forward playing on a bad team, and he dealt with an early-season injury, but I expected a lot more from him, especially given the fact he plays in the high-scoring QMJHL.
Michael Chaput is an exciting prospect. He's scoring at more than a point-per-game, and is a go-to forward for the Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes. The Shawi bulked up on defense at the trade deadline and appear to be a lethal team going forward. Winning a Q title and perhaps even the Memorial Cup would be huge for Chaput's development. It's always important to have players with winning attitudes in the organization.
Brandon Archibald seems like a guy who isn't in the best situation. Last year, he was a member of the woeful Soo Greyhounds until the OHL trade deadline, where he was sent to the Saginaw Spirit. The Spirit were loading up for a playoff push, and Archibald was pushed to the bottom pairing in Saginaw, limiting his minutes. This season, the Spirit are one of the league's worst teams, which makes it difficult to truly see what he is capable of. For a defenseman that was touted as a two-way blueliner in his draft year, his single goal on the season is disappointing.
Austin Madaisky on the other hand is a guy to keep your eye on. He's the highest scoring blueliner on the Kamloops Blazers, and is ninth in the WHL in defenseman scoring. The Blazers are one of the top teams in the WHL and Madaisky is a big part of their success.
The Jackets' lone goaltending prospect in the CHL is Mathieu Corbeil. Corbeil won a Memorial Cup with Saint John last season, and the Sea Dogs have a very good chance of repeating this season. Corbeil has had the benefit of playing on a very good squad, but his numbers are just awesome: first in the league in wins and shutouts, second in goals-against average and fifth in save percentage. He'll likely make the jump to the ECHL next season.
Read on for each player's statistics:
Dalton Smith- Ottawa 67’s
32GP-12G-7A-19PTS -1 55PIM
Michael Chaput- Shawinigan Cataractes
37GP-12G-30A-42PTS +26 26PIM
Boone Jenner- Oshawa Generals
30GP-15G-19A-34PTS +1 47PIM
Lukas Sedlak- Chicoutimi Sagueneens
31GP-14G-19A-33PTS +12 38PIM
Petr Straka- Rimouski Oceanic
33GP-10G-13A-23PTS -7 21PIM
Oliver Gabriel- Portland Winterhawks
13GP-6G-4A-10PTS -+5 22PIM
Brandon Archibald- Saginaw Spirit
43GP-1G-10A-11PTS -4 52PIM
Austin Madaisky- Kamloops Blazers
44GP-9G-24A-33PTS +14 50PIM
Mathieu Corbeil- Saint John Sea Dogs
34GP 25-9-0-0 Record 2.51GAA 0.905SV% 4SO