OHL Announces 2016-17 Coaches Poll Winners

[b3.]

Kyle Petit was voted the #1 face off man, #1 shot blocker, and #2 penalty killer in his conference. (21 years old - we had drafted him back in 2014)

 

Brett McKenzie was voted the #3 face off man in his conference.

 

Jalen Chatfield was voted the #2 penalty killer (tied with Petit)in his conference.

 

No mentions of Olli Juolevi on this list. Just to stir the pot Sergachev was voted the 2nd best offensive defenseman, and hardest shot in his conference.

 

 

Quote

 

OHL Announces 2016-17 Coaches Poll Winners

Awards

 

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced the results of the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches Polls for the 2016-17 OHL regular season.

The OHL Coaches Poll provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference.

In the Eastern Conference, the Central Division champion Mississauga Steelheads and the East Division’s first place Peterborough Petes lead the way with representation across 13 of the 20 different categories.  The Steelheads finished first in six different votes with Spencer Watson and Owen Tippett both receiving top honours in two categories with Watson claiming the title of Smartest Player and Best Playmaker, while Tippett was recognized as being Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and having the conference’s Best Shot.  The Petes finished first across seven different categories led by Zach Gallant and Josh Coyle who each topped the list in two separate votes.  Gallant received Best Defensive Forward honours and was also named Best on Face-offs, while Coyle was voted Best Shot Blocker and Best Penalty Killer.

Niagara IceDogs captain Ryan Mantha was the top individual winner by appearing in the Top-3 in four different categories including first place votes as Most Improved and Best Defensive Defenceman.  Oshawa Generals netminder Jeremy Brodeur also finished first in multiple categories named Best Puck-Handling Goalie and Best Shootout Goalie.

In the Western Conference, the first place Erie Otters lead the way with representation in 15 of the 20 categories including a league-high 10 first place votes.  Top scorer Alex DeBrincat received first place votes twice including Best Shot and was recognized as Most Dangerous in the Goal Area for a third straight season.  Dylan Strome and Kyle Pettit also topped two different categories apiece with Strome voted Best Playmaker along with Smartest Player for a second straight season, with Pettit honoured as Best Shot Blocker and Best on Face-offs for the second time in three seasons.  The Owen Sound Attack finished second in the Western Conference by appearing in 10 different categories highlighted by five different first place finishers including Kevin Hancock (Most Underrated), Jonah Gadjovich (Most Improved), Petrus Palmu (Best Stickhandler), Jacob Friend (Best Body Checker), and Michael McNiven (Best Shootout Goalie).

Other notable Western Conference vote getters include Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds forward Zach Senyshyn who was named Best Skater for a second straight season, and Windsor Spitfires defenceman Mikhail Sergachev who claimed the Hardest Shot vote for the second season in a row.

The Coaches Poll is tabulated when each team submits one nominee per category, and coaches then vote for the top three players for each category within their conference.  Players receive five points for a first place vote, three points for a second place vote, and one point for a third place vote.  Clubs are not permitted to vote for players from their own team allowing for a maximum of 45 possible points for each winner.

All 20 categories are listed below with Eastern Conference and Western Conference winners including their final point totals in brackets.

Most Underrated Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Logan DeNoble, Peterborough Petes (35)
2. Eemeli Rasanen, Kingston Frontenacs (12)
2. Austen Keating, Ottawa 67’s (12)

Western Conference:
1. Kevin Hancock, Owen Sound Attack (30)
2. Kyle Maksimovich, Erie Otters (20)
3. Bobby MacIntyre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (15)

Most Improved Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (21)
1. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (21)
3. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (16)

Western Conference:
1. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (39)
2. Isaac Ratcliffe, Guelph Storm (11)
2. Sam Miletic, London Knights (11)
2. Conor Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (11)

Smartest Player:

Eastern Conference:
1. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (27)
2. Matthew Strome, Hamilton Bulldogs (24)
3. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (22)

Western Conference:
1. Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (32) – finished first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
2. Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound Attack (26)
3. Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (12)

Hardest Worker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ted Nichol, Kingston Frontenacs (22)
2. Michael McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (17) – finished tied for first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
3. Logan DeNoble, Peterborough Petes (12)

Western Conference:
1. Warren Foegele, Erie Otters (31)
2. Hayden Verbeek, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (24) – finished first in 2015-16
3. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (13) – finished tied for second in 2015-16

Best Playmaker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (29)
2. Artur Tyanulin, Ottawa 67’s (28)
3. Matthew Timms, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (43) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Jeremy Bracco, Windsor Spitfires (20) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (9)

Most Dangerous in Goal Area:

Eastern Conference:
1. Owen Tippett, Mississauga Steelheads (35)
2. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (24)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (16)

Western Conference:
1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters (45) – finished first in 2015-16 and 2014-15
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (24)
3. Jonah Gadjovich, Owen Sound Attack (10)

Best Skater:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jonathan Ang, Peterborough Petes (35) – finished tied for second in 2015-16
2. Niki Petti, Hamilton Bulldogs (18)
3. Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (16)

Western Conference:
1. Zach Senyshyn, Soo Greyhounds (32) – finished first in 2015-16 and third in 2014-15
2. Cliff Pu, London Knights (15)
2. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (15) – finished tied for third in 2015-16

Best Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Owen Tippett, Mississauga Steelheads (41)
2. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (17)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (15)

Western Conference:
1. Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters (43) – finished third in 2015-16
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (23) – finished first in 2015-16
3. Kole Sherwood, Flint Firebirds (16)

Hardest Shot:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nicolas Hague, Mississauga Steelheads (32)
2. Medric Mercier, Oshawa Generals (20)
3. Dmitry Sokolov, Sudbury Wolves (11)

Western Conference:
1. Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor Spitfires (35) – finished first in 2015-16
2. Adam Mascherin, Kitchener Rangers (26) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Darren Raddysh, Erie Otters (11)

Best Stickhandler:

Eastern Conference:
1. Artur Tyanulin, Ottawa 67’s (40)
2. Ryan McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (10)
3. William Bitten, Hamilton Bulldogs (7) – finished second in Western Conference in 2015-16
3. Domenic Commisso, Oshawa Generals (7)
3. Ryan Valentini, Sudbury Wolves (7)

Western Conference:
1. Petrus Palmu, Owen Sound Attack (28)
2. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (18)
3. Ryan Merkley, Guelph Storm (13)

Best on Face-Offs:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (33)
2. Michael McLeod, Mississauga Steelheads (28)
3. Brett McKenzie, North Bay Battalion (12)

Western Conference:
1. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (33) – finished first in 2014-15
2. Cliff Pu, London Knights (15)
2. Drake Rymsha, Sarnia Sting (15)

Best Body Checker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Shankar, North Bay Battalion (24)
2. Travis Barron, Ottawa 67’s (15)
3. Shaw Boomhower, Mississauga Steelheads (12)

Western Conference:
1. Jacob Friend, Owen Sound Attack (29) – finished tied for second in 2015-16
2. Hayden Hodgson, Saginaw Spirit (14)
3. Kevin Spinozzi, Sarnia Sting (13)

Best Shot Blocker:

Eastern Conference:
1. Josh Coyle, Peterborough Petes (18)
2. Aaron Haydon, Niagara IceDogs (17)
3. Connor Walters, Hamilton Bulldogs (12)
3. Patrick Sanvido, Sudbury Wolves (12) – finished tied for third in Western Conference in 2015-16

Western Conference:
1. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (30)
2. Mitchell Stephens, London Knights (18)
3. Jalen Smereck, Flint Firebirds (14)

Best Defensive Forward:

Eastern Conference:
1. Zach Gallant, Peterborough Petes (24)
2. Ted Nichol, Kingston Frontenacs (21)
3. Mason Kohn, Oshawa Generals (15)

Western Conference:
1. Anthony Cirelli, Erie Otters (31) – finished tied for third in Eastern Conference in 2015-16
2. Kevin Hancock, Owen Sound Attack (15)
3. Owen MacDonald, London Knights (14)

Best Penalty Killer:

Eastern Conference:
1. Josh Coyle, Peterborough Petes (21)
2. MacKenzie Entwistle, Hamilton Bulldogs (14)
3. Patrick Sanvido, Sudbury Wolves (12)

Western Conference:
1. Boris Katchouk, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (28)
2. Kyle Pettit, Erie Otters (19) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Jalen Chatfield, Windsor Spitfires (19)

Best Offensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Vili Saarijarvi, Mississauga Steelheads (40) – finished second in Western Conference in 2015-16
2. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (15)
3. Matthew Timms, Peterborough Petes (14)

Western Conference:
1. Darren Raddysh, Erie Otters (33)
2. Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor Spitfires (20) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Filip Hronek, Saginaw Spirit (16)

Best Defensive Defenceman:

Eastern Conference:
1. Ryan Mantha, Niagara IceDogs (24)
2. Stephen Desrocher, Kingston Frontenacs (19)
3. Jacob Moverare, Mississauga Steelheads (15)

Western Conference:
1. Erik Cernak, Erie Otters (21)
2. Alex Peters, Flint Firebirds (18)
3. Brandon Crawley, London Knights (16)

Best Puck-Handling Goalie:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jeremy Brodeur, Oshawa Generals (28)
2. Jeremy Helvig, Kingston Frontenacs (22)
3. Dawson Carty, Hamilton Bulldogs (13)
3. Dylan Wells, Peterborough Petes (13)

Western Conference:
1. Tyler Parsons, London Knights (32)
2. Michael McNiven, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished third in 2015-16
3. Troy Timpano, Erie Otters (11)

Best Shootout Shooter:

Eastern Conference:
1. Nikita Korostelev, Peterborough Petes (22)
2. Spencer Watson, Mississauga Steelheads (20)
3. Jason Robertson, Kingston Frontenacs (16)

Western Conference:
1. Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting (24)
2. Gabriel Vilardi, Windsor Spitfires (18)
3. Ivan Lodnia, Erie Otters (15)

Best Shootout Goalie:

Eastern Conference:
1. Jeremy Brodeur, Oshawa Generals (29)
2. Leo Lazarev, Ottawa 67’s (13)
3. Dylan Wells, Peterborough Petes (11)

Western Conference:
1. Michael McNiven, Owen Sound Attack (27) – finished second in 2015-16
2. Michael DiPietro, Windsor Spitfires (26)
3. Tyler Parsons, London Knights (14)

 

 

[stonecoldstevebernier]

I wonder what the logic for McKenzie getting votes as a faceoff guy is... he's honestly really bad at them, 42.5% on the year. Maybe its just a perception thing since he takes a ton of them.

[Alflives]

Where is Juiolevi's name?

[zimmy]

OJ  not mentioned in the 2015-2016 poll either (just sayin')

[-Stammer-]

16 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Where is Juiolevi's name?

Juolevi isn't exactly "great" at anything, but he is pretty good at almost everything (if that makes sense)

[Alflives]

4 minutes ago, -Stammer- said:

Juolevi isn't exactly "great" at anything, but he is pretty good at almost everything (if that makes sense)

So he's a jack of all trades.  To me he sounds like Dan Hamhuis.

[DeNiro]

You would hope he at least gets mentioned in smartest player since his hockey IQ is supposedly "off the charts".

 

Still not crazy about that pick. Seems like you can find good all around D-men in the second and third round. 

 

Hopefully he can find another level to his game next season. 

[Camel Toe Drag]

How many of those guys won a World Junior and Memorial Cup last year?

[JamesB]

40 minutes ago, -Stammer- said:

Juolevi isn't exactly "great" at anything, but he is pretty good at almost everything (if that makes sense)

It does make sense, but i don't liking picking a guy who is "pretty good" at #5 overall.

 

35 minutes ago, Alflives said:

So he's a jack of all trades.  To me he sounds like Dan Hamhuis.

If Juolevi turns out as good as Hammer we would be lucky. Hammer was only #12 overall when he was drafted, so you might hope Juolevi would be better. But Hammer looks better to me. He certainly contributes more to the physical game than Juolevi does. And I think he was better offensively and defensively,

25 minutes ago, DeNiro said:

You would hope he at least gets mentioned in smartest player since his hockey IQ is supposedly "off the charts".

 

Still not crazy about that pick. Seems like you can find good all around D-men in the second and third round. 

 

Hopefully he can find another level to his game next season. 

The Benning loyalists insist that Juolevi is strong in things that are hard to measure as in -- yeah, his point totals aren't great but he is excellent defensively, gets a lot of "third assists", has a really high hockey IQ,etc. To me that seems mostly like ex post rationalization. From what I have seen as well as what the numbers indicate, he is not at all physical, is a smooth and stable skater but not a fast skater by NHL standards, does not have a particularly good shot, and does not drive play. He makes his share of defensive mistakes and, as Benning acknowledged today when he said the team is looking for a PP QB as a high priority in this year's draft, is not a genuine PP QB.

 

He is still a good player and is someone you would be happy to get in the middle third of the first round. But, at #9 I think he was just a poor pick. Not as bad as the Virtanen pick, but still a mistake. A GM makes lots of decisions. Some turn out well and some don't and that is true for every GM. But every Cup contender is built around two or three outstanding players -- franchise players -- and acquiring those players is the hardest thing for a GM to do. The draft is by far the best place to acquire such players and most GMs do not get many top 6 picks. Dropping the ball on those picks is very costly.

 

It was nice to add to the prospect pool by picking up Dahlen and Goldobin this year (although obviously it was hard to see Burrows and Hansen go). But there is a reason why San Jose and Ottawa was willing to let those guys go. They might be good but they are not blue chip prospects. And it is nice to see lower round picks like Tryamkin and Gaudette doing well. For a guy picked in the third round or fifth round, just making the NHL is a win, and those guys are not likely to become the kind of franchise players you can build a Cup contender around.

 

So where are those future franchise players going to come from? The closest player to that level right now is Horvat but, while he is very good, if he is the best player on a team (as he is right now on the Canucks in my view) then that team in not likely to threaten for a Cup.

 

Most people have Boeser as the top prospect on the team right now. He does look very good but I think he will have a hard time living up to the hype. I am almost worried that if he does play for the Canucks this year it might be too early. I think it might be better for him to start out in the summer at the young stars tournament and go from there where he can build confidence as he goes. But I admit that it would be nice just to get him signed. My preferred outcome is that he does not play on the Canucks but does sign soon enough to play for Utica in the playoffs - assuming Utica makes the playoffs.

[guntrix]

47 minutes ago, Camel Toe Drag said:

How many of those guys won a World Junior and Memorial Cup last year?

How many of those guys played with Tkachuk, Dvorak, Marner, Aho, Puljujarvi and Laine?

[DeNiro]

35 minutes ago, Camel Toe Drag said:

How many of those guys won a World Junior and Memorial Cup last year?

Didn't hurt that he was playing with Laine, Puljujarvi, Marner, Tkachuk, and Dvorak.

 

He's been on some great teams, which hopefully elevated his level of play. But he's still got a long ways to go before we'll be saying he was an awesome pick at number 5.

[-Stammer-]

the Canucks drafted him 4th for a reason, they must have seen something while watching that they liked, it's far too early to judge how good he'll be right now

[theilluminati]

Wow this Ryan Mantha (nephew of former NHLer Moe) kid looks good. 6'5 225 turns 21 in June. Now the question is his success this year because he was a 20-year old playing against younger opponents on a nightly basis or did he put in the work over the summer knowing it was his last shot and is ready to turn pro. Chiarelli might have scooped a good one here.

[Camel Toe Drag]

45 minutes ago, DeNiro said:

Didn't hurt that he was playing with Laine, Puljujarvi, Marner, Tkachuk, and Dvorak.

 

He's been on some great teams, which hopefully elevated his level of play. But he's still got a long ways to go before we'll be saying he was an awesome pick at number 5.

 

46 minutes ago, guntrix said:

How many of those guys played with Tkachuk, Dvorak, Marner, Aho, Puljujarvi and Laine?

Hockey is a team sport, fellas. We can attribute a lot of awards to a players teammates. 

 

Individual awards are nice but I'll take the championships any day. If I have a player who knows how to win and elevate his game to any occasion (cough cough Toews) I'll take him over the guy who looks pretty on the stat sheet. 

[Gaudette Celly]

2 hours ago, -Stammer- said:

Juolevi isn't exactly "great" at anything, but he is pretty good at almost everything (if that makes sense)

His face isn't near as punchable as Tkachuk's.  So there's that...

[guntrix]

6 hours ago, Camel Toe Drag said:

 

Hockey is a team sport, fellas. We can attribute a lot of awards to a players teammates. 

 

Individual awards are nice but I'll take the championships any day. If I have a player who knows how to win and elevate his game to any occasion (cough cough Toews) I'll take him over the guy who looks pretty on the stat sheet. 

Championships are team awards though. The Knights of last year were so dominant, I doubt Juolevi really "elevated" his game much. The Fins were no slouches either. 

 

Toews is a good player but I find that he often undeservedly shares the limelight with one of the better players in recent history. Without Patrick Kane, the Hawks don't win those cups. 

[jmahyoung]

Ok, Ok, I get it.

 

If we had taken Ehlers instead of Virtanen, and Tkachuk instead of Juolevi, we would have 2 very good 20-30 point forwards playing in the NHL right now.

 

Sometimes trying to be too clever during the draft backfires, and who the consensus bpa is is really the bpa.

 

That being said give it 3 years. Then we'll know way better what we have.

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

17 hours ago, theilluminati said:

Wow this Ryan Mantha (nephew of former NHLer Moe) kid looks good. 6'5 225 turns 21 in June. Now the question is his success this year because he was a 20-year old playing against younger opponents on a nightly basis or did he put in the work over the summer knowing it was his last shot and is ready to turn pro. Chiarelli might have scooped a good one here.

Definitely a nice pickup for Edmonton. Mantha has had an impressive season, even for an overager. And while his points jump is significant this year, he did manage to produce respectable totals when younger. But his size, and the fact he's rounded out his game to the point he's earning praise for his play at both ends, suggests he has a decent chance of developing into an NHL player.

 

He's been the top guy on many OHL overager free agent lists.

 

That said, Darren Raddysh has been a close second, and sometimes a coin flip with Mantha, as the best OHL overage D. And Raddysh was getting top defensive D notice in last year's OHL coaches poll. All while putting up superior numbers to Mantha. Doesn't have Mantha's hulking size, but still an NHL suitable frame at 6'1" and 200+ lbs.

 

Foot speed has been a concern for both Raddysh and Mantha, although both have shown improvement, and sometimes an early scouting knock on a player's skating is a tough rep to shake. I think with the right training and focus, both should be able to develop into adequate pro level skaters (and maybe even have a chance at a Horvat improvement if they show enough dedication).

 

Raddysh was still unsigned the last time I checked and would be a fine "consolation prize" for missing out on Mantha.

 

Brock Otten has written detailed profiles on both of them here: http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2017/01/sunday-top-10-overagers-worth-signing.html?m=1

 

And, in light of this thread topic, here's Otten's personal ballot on how he'd have voted in the OHL coaches poll: http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2017/03/ohl-coaches-poll-my-ballot-2017.html?m=1