My take on the draft:
1) Del Mastro and Sharpe are great since the team needed defense. Both can make an impact as soon as next year, which is important for Mississauga's defense, because it needs more talent beyond Harley.
2) Del Bel Belluz was one of the top guys remaining at his pick. Reid wasn't my first choice at his pick, but if they are confident he has room to blossom once he gets out of McTavish's shadow, he may become something special. O'Marra was a solid pickup in the 6th. With Mississauga's forward depth next year, I'm not sure I would bring any of them on the team right now though. I'd give the 03' roster spots to defensemen, but I'll go into more detail later.
3) I liked the DiLauro pick. I'm not sure he'll become anything spectacular, but I think minimum he's a capable OHL goalie who would be a serviceable starter/strong backup. For a 7th rounder, I'd take that.
4) Chisholm was a solid pick in the 10th round. 18 goal scorer on a weaker team, and a big body. Plus did pretty well in his brief stints against older competition. He's going to need development, but you could have at least a quality bottom 6er if he takes even a decent step forward next year.
5) I initially did not like Kogawa, but I warmed up to him. He's small, but he plays the right way. If he can grow, he's an OHLer IMO.
6) Mateer is another one I thought was a head scratcher, but I can also see the intrigue. He was the best player (besides their goalie, Cameron Smith, who was the second goalie taken in the draft) on a really atrocious team and he has good work ethic. He's not highly skilled, but he's the type of guy who could develop into a solid middle 6 center as he grows and develops. I am sure they are hoping he blossoms and finds more consistency as he hopefully plays on better teams, because he has shown flashes of being a guy who would be close to O'Marra quality than a 13th round choice.
7) Driscoll, Scott and Bolton were not picks I would have made. Scott was someone I originally liked, but I took him off my board. Way too much to work on, not enough upside. Mississauga did lack defensive prospects, but they did a good job in the earlier rounds and there were much better options at all positions than him. Driscoll is another smaller winger with some decent upside, but once again, there were other guys available who I think were much better options (including goalies). Mississauga has done well with smaller wingers in the past, but you can only fit so many, and he's going to be at the bottom of that list. Bolton seemed to me like a throwaway pick. He has a bit of size I guess, but no production, needs to fill out a lot, and there were definitely better players out there. I doubt he was really on anyone's radar, so who knows what Mississauga saw in him.
8) My favourite picks by far were the Americans. Drew Jeffers and Riley Rosenthal. Both are huge RD. Best part, both of them look like they could be willing to come to Mississauga:
- Riley Rosenthal retweeted his selection, which is not something you usually do if you don't have interest in playing for the team. Rosenthal was invited to USDP training camp though.
- Neither have NCAA Commitments right now.
Without a doubt, both of them could step into the lineup next year. I wouldn't put Jeffers in the top 6, but I'd give him 25-30 games. Rosenthal, on some rankings I saw, was even ranked higher than Del Mastro. If it helps bringing him in, I would promise him a legit opportunity at a top 4 job as a rookie. He has the size and skill to handle big minutes right out of the gate, especially if next year will be for preparation for a 20-21 run. You also need top 4 quality RD on the team right now. It may be a young defense, but if you could get all of Sharpe, Del Mastro, Jeffers and Rosenthal as your four 03' commits for next year, and have them join Ham, Penman, Harley and Callaghan on top of your forward depth
Hardie-Washkurak-Isaacson
Canade-Schwindt-McHugh
Portokalis-Prueter-Varga
Dodig-Stubbs-Whitson
Christner
+ Lamanna, McKnight, Bowers, Perry and 2 Import spots to use if you want to move someone like Varga. I'm not considering DBB, Reid, O'Marra, etc. because I think you can only have 4 03's on the roster for next year, and I would use all of the spots on defensemen. Still, you could give DBB and Reid their contracts and just not have them play for you right away. Clarke and Whittaker are dealt.
Harley-Penman
Ham-Rosenthal
Del Mastro-Sharpe
Callaghan-Jeffers
Craig Spence is the only other option, and he's not amazing. If they'd rather have an 02' RD and an 03' forward like DBB rather than have Jeffers (or if Rosenthal doesn't commit), that's his only shot. Even then, I'd expect Mississauga to rather spend a pick on getting another vet into their lineup if that were the case. Walker and Cella are dealt or released.
Ingham-Ranger
Trade Dunsmoor. Pretty straight forward decision in net. Use the U18 draft to find a 3rd goalie and to bring some heat on Ranger.