Canucks: Centres that are potential third round draft targets
By Rick Warman
Evan Vierling
2019-2020 club: Barrie Colts (OHL)
Position: Centre
Height: 6’0″ 168 lbs.
One player that I’ve had the opportunity to watch on several occasions, via OHL Live, is centre Evan Vierling. He started the season with the Flint Firebirds, where he had Canucks prospect, Ethan Keppen, as a teammate.
An early January trade sent Vierling to the Barrie Colts, where another Canucks prospect, Arturs Silovs, plays. After joining the Colts, Vierling registered 12 goals and 22 assists in 28 games to finish the season at just over a point per game, with 44 points in 43 total games between the two clubs.
Vierling is a smart two-way player that excels in the defensive zone. He is a terrific skater with exceptional agility and edge work and uses his incredible top-end speed to pull away from his check to create scoring opportunities. Vierling has excellent vision and has a pass-first mentality, although his shot is deceptively hard when he uses it.
His hockey awareness is commendable in all three zones. He may not have the same offensive upside as some of the prospects that may be available when the Canucks make their selection. However, when you have a high hockey IQ, an elite skating ability, and a responsible defensive game, the value is undoubtedly there to support such a selection.
Dmitri Ovchinnikov
2019-2020 club: Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)
Position: Centre/Wing
Height: 5’10” 161 lbs.
Undersized forward, Dmitri Ovchinnikov is considered a boom or bust prospect, and someone I’d like to see the Canucks take a chance on. His skill set is similar to that of Vierling in that both are exceptional skaters with high-end playmaking skills and a responsible defensive game.
Similarly, both averaged just over a point per game, with Ovchinnikov managing 55 points in 54 games. Furthermore, the pair both require additional strength to have continued success. The points total for Ovchinnikov showed a remarkable improvement over the seven points that he recorded the previous season. Additionally, Ovchinnikov played two games in the Kontinental Hockey League. He has an August birthday, making him one of the younger draft-eligible prospects.
Even though Ovchinnikov is small, he doesn’t shy away from traffic. His elite skating with dynamic edge work makes him extremely elusive and capable of avoiding open-ice checks. Ovchinnikov can shift gears and he is an extremely dangerous threat off the rush. He has terrific vision and awareness and the instincts to anticipate plays before they happen. His shot is extremely accurate — and a deadly weapon that he uses when the opportunity presents itself.
Whether these skills translate to success at higher levels is a concern, and he will undoubtedly need to become stronger to have any chance of playing in the NHL. However, the rapid advancement of his offensive statistics over the past season is worthy of consideration.