[Sandman]

More Thoughts on Central Scouting's Preliminary Rankings:

-We may be seriously underrating "A"-rated RHC Brooks Rogowski, a gigantic 6'7",232lb American kid, playing this season for the Oshawa Generals, who are the worst team in the OHL, as well as the lowest-scoring by a wide margin- their 85 goals in 36 contests is 18 less than the next lowest-scoring club. Rogowski missed about a month between mid-November and mid-December, but is still 4th in scoring on the team, with 5 goals and 19 points in 23 games- and it's my bet that his numbers would be higher on just about any other squad. Born on June 28th, 2008, he may actually still have room to grow, but he's still a bit raw, and still learning how to use his size to his advantage. With long legs and a wide skating base, he moves shockingly well for a player his size- though there is a need to perfect his edgework, and improve his first-step quickness; he also handles well enough to contribute in transition, and can sometimes beat defenders with 1-on-1 dekes and dangles. His protection skills are well-developed, and he's strong on the puck, making it very hard to take possession from him. Though he keeps things quite simple, he exhibits good skill and elevated hockey sense, with a touch of creativity and vision in his passing off the rush, but he makes his living around the net, where he's impossible to move, and makes an indomitable screen in front of the goalie. He's proficient at finishing on second-chance opportunities, and his high shot-volume creates similar chances for teammates. Rogowski also boasts a hard and heavy shot with precision and a slick release to round out his offensive game. Going forward, it would be ideal if he could further develop his playmaking game, in order to diversify his attack. With his awareness and range, he contributes well to team defense by filling lanes and poking pucks away from sticks- his reach is nearly impossible to get around. I wouldn't call Rogowski a punishing hitter by any means, but he uses his considerable frame to create room for himself, win battles, push opponents off of the puck, and bulldoze his way to the net. Scouts would like to see more intensity, as well as better consistency in his game. With players like Mason West, Dean Letourneau, and Jack Nesbitt being drafted in the first-round in recent years, it's highly probable that Rogowski gets picked early as well- especially because Rogowski is just as skilled (maybe more) as those players.

-I'm pleased to be able to report that C Colin Fitzgerald (6'2.25",211lbs) has found his game again, after a November trade that sent him to the Soo Greyhounds, from the Peterborough Petes. He's been held scoreless in his last 3 matches, but posted 9 points in the 9 games before that, despite the fact that the move was a lateral one, with both teams sporting identical records in the standings. No surprise really, as Fitzgerald was able to post 28 points in 48 games in 2024-25 with an exceptionally weak Petes squad that finished dead-last in the OHL, with the worst goals-for by a wide margin. He started the current campaign with a mere 13 points in 24 games with Peterborough, but his numbers with the Soo bring him up to a total of 23 points in 36 games on the season. A favorite of mine, Fitzy is as hard-nosed, tough, and relentlessly physical as they come, and his motor, compete, and intensity get high grades. He fights hard in the trenches, rarely loses a puck-battle, and is hard to stop from getting to the net, especially when he has a full head of steam behind him. While he could use a better first-step, and would benefit from added acceleration speed, he moves very well when he gets going, and plays a north-south pro-style with the ability to lead the rush through the neutral zone. Fitzgerald is not without skill, and was Peterborough's first-round draft-choice (3rd-overall) in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, perhaps due to his above-average puck-skill, his hard and heavy shot, and his finishing touch. He's a shoot-first player, with a nose for the net, and most of his contributions to his team's offense come from his high-volume shooting, and his persistence in funneling pucks to the slot- but he is no slouch in the playmaking department, and has shown developing passing skill. Fitzgerald is a lot like Cole Beaudoin (24th-overall in 2024 by Utah) in that he's got superb defensive awareness, and hunts down pucks like a dog on a bone- bringing energy and compete, while dragging his teammates into battle. This is the type of player you win with, and while he appears to be ideally suited to checking-line duties in the NHL, he could be more.