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London Knights’ Max Jones pick highlights intrigue in OHL Priority Selection first round
With the first pick out of the way, which Ontario Hockey League team jumped up to add high-motor forward Max Jones was probably the big question in Saturday's opening round of the priority selection.
The multi-talented attacker that many in the cottage industry of watching midget players saw as the third or fourth-best player available is committed to the U.S. national team development program for next season. That put the Detroit Honeybaked standout out of reach for all but a few select teams, so it seems rather predictable that the London Knights took the home-run cut by selecting Jones No. 18 overall, hoping he might commit for 2015-16 after the Memorial Cup hosts' current nucleus will have aged out of junior.
Jones was one of three American-born players to go in the first 20 picks, joining Sarnia Sting No. 1 overall choice Jakob Chychrun and Logan Brown, the forward from the Indiana Ice under-16 program who was nabbed at No. 5 by the Niagara IceDogs. Here's some notes from the first round of the priority selection, which isn't expected to be as bountiful as in years past.
— Kitchener Rangers No. 2 overall pick Adam Mascherin was the most prolific scorer available. The pivot's listed 5-foot-9, 197-pound measurements are going to make the evocations of Jeff Skinner inevitable.
The last time Kitchener picked early, in 2009, it landed a four-year defenceman in Ryan Murphy. So that furnishes an idea of where the bar is set for Mascherin.
— The Erie Otters have a same-name dynamic duo with Connor Brown and Connor McDavid, so now the Ottawa 67's could have one with rookie of the year Travis Konecny and No. 3 overall pick Travis Barron from the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. A 6-foot-1, 181-pound left wing, Barron could be envisioned opening space for both the compactly built Konecny and 18-year-old centre Dante Salituro.
"He's a really good fit for our team," 67's coach-GM Chris Byrne said. "We have some skilled centremen for the next couple years and felt like adding a big strong winger who has some skill. He's a character kid and has done a good job playing Tier II hockey for Aurora and helping them get to the [Ontario Junior Hockey League] finals.
"I think his game transitions very cleanly into our league," Byrne added. "there's no fear in his game, he's a hard-working kid, he skates well, has skill and hockey sense. I think the night we went and watched [Barron play for Aurora in the OJHL semifinal vs. Kingston] there were 16 20-year-olds and he fit in well.
— The IceDogs' Brown choice is notable on two counts. One, Niagara struck gold in the Hoosier state with young defenceman Blake Siebenaler; two, one wonders how the suspension of operations by the USHL's Ice played into the 6-foot-4½, 210-pound centre's plans.
American Logan Brown is drafted 6th by Niagara. He's expected to play in the OHL next year.
— Chris Dilks (@ChrisDilks) April 5, 2014
— London, of course, went more for the future with its choice of Jones and two-way defenceman Ben Gleason.
It's not hard to see why the London Knights continue to be competitive year in and year out. Adding Max Jones and Ben Gleason is huge
— Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) April 5, 2014
Both of London’s selections are 1998-born teammates who played up with Honeybaked’s 18′s this season: F Max Jones, D Ben Gleason.
— Over The Boards (@OTBPuckWatch) April 5, 2014
— Why should one take an avid interest in the direction of Ottawa's Barron, the Plymouth Whalers' selection William Bitten, Saginaw Spirit-selection Tye Felhaber and the Kingston Frontenacs' top pick, defenceman Reagan O'Grady? They were the only first-rounders who will not turn 16 until the second half of the calendar year.
Want son drafted high? Make sure he's born 1st half of year. Of 20 1st rd OHL pix, only 4 born after July 1, just 1 after Sept 1. #OHLDraft
— John Rodenburg (@TSNJR) April 5, 2014
@RyanatLFPress @LeeVersage Exceptions 2 every rule. And of 25 Canadian 2014 Olympians, only 12 born 1st half of year. But still advantage.
— John Rodenburg (@TSNJR) April 5, 2014
Some notable recent OHL grads who have gone on to bigger and better things include Drew Doughty, Taylor Hall, John Tavares, Gabriel Landeskog, Sean Monahan and Cody Ceci.
O'Grady is the only one of the quartet who will not be eligible for the NHL draft until 2017.
— The most intriguing combo of player and new organization? Definitely Victor Mete, whom Hockey Prospect called an "effortless skater and slick puck-moving defenceman" going No. 8 to Owen Sound. Mete, first off, has college hockey interest. Secondly, the Attack have trended toward a grinding style over the past three seasons under Greg Ireland. How a 5-10, 160-pound defenceman fits into that scheme will be something to watch, but it's notable that a similar small, skilled D-man, Mitchell Vande Sompel, has fit in well this season with the often rugged Oshawa Generals.
Will be interesting to see if Owen Sound can get their first two draft picks to report. Mete was talking NCAA and Knierim a Chicago kid.
— Mark Edwards (@MarkEdwardsHP) April 5, 2014
— The first OHL family off the board? Barrie took rugged forward Givani Smith at No. 13 overall; his brother Gemel Smith is a Dallas Stars fourth-rounder. Erie used its No. 19 pick on right wing Taylor Raddysh, whose brother Devon Raddysh is a rookie defenceman.
Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.
