[Sandman]

-C/RW Anthony Romani is a middle-six player for the OHL's second-best team, the North Bay Battalion with 23 goals, and 43 points in 66 games. The 6'0",176lb Romani is already a fairly polished player in two zones, but he needs work in the offensive end of the ice. The good news is that he's one of the OHL's best even-strength finishers per 60- the only players equal to, or better than him were Shane Wright, Brendan Othmann, and Sasha Pastujov. Surely, his goal-scoring total would be much better-looking if he was playing further up the lineup in North Bay. Still, scouts say he doesn't attack the middle like he should, and he doesn't create the kind of space for himself or his teammates that he should. He simply doesn't faciltate, or take charge in the offensive zone right now like he does in the other two zones, he's more reactive than creative, and doesn't have the greatest passing game at this time. Surprising, considering how positive his game is in other areas. In transition, he's able to make long-range passes up to breaking teammates, or he weave through the neutral zone with full control- and there's deception in his game in this area. Defensively, he's active, with smart positioning and an aggressive, competitive, mentality. Most of his physical tools, including his skating, are hovering around average. He's been projected to be a bottom-6 defensive player in the pros if he can clean up some of his deficiencies, but I wonder if there's more here. If he can apply the same skills to his offense that he shows in other parts of his game, and gets more ice-time as veterans depart, he might look like a different player in the next few junior seasons.

-D Carter Sotheran had the enviable task of riding shotgun this season with high-profile offensive defenseman Luca Cagnoni in Portland, with 23 points in 68 games. Despite the difference in size and ability, Sotheran has made a name for himself as well, as a smart, skilled workhorse. He's 6'3", but only 185lbs, so he's quite far from filling out, and he's a good skater, though his acceleration, edgework, and transition from forward to backward movement need work. Sotheran has great vision and anticipation in all zones, and he's a fully capable puck-mover. In the defensive zone, he's good against the rush, plays a physical brand of hockey to separate man from puck, and is tough in front of the net. He's already a top shutdown defenseman, and competes hard. Once he wrangles the puck, he turns it the other way with his top-notch transition abilities. Sotheran doesn't need to throw it away, or rim it off the glass- he can make high-quality breakout passes, often using deception to escape pressure in order to find the right option. He also flashes the ability to carry the puck through layers of traffic at times, with tight puck-protection, and by manipulating attackers into giving him room- though he has Cagnoni to defer to. Offensively, it seems to be a unanimous perception that Sotheran's offense has yet to be unlocked, but he's still a good distributor in the zone, and moves around with that same flair for deception, and he has a good shot. He's got far more than his point totals would indicate, and he will be in demand on Draft day 2, as big, physical, mobile defensemen are always popular. I'm betting on round 3, but he could go as early as round 2.