Scout's Analysis: Closing thoughts from the Memorial Cup

The Saginaw Spirit are Memorial Cup champions!

Vancouver Canucks prospect Josh Bloom scored with just over 21 seconds left in the third period to lead the Spirit to a 4-3 win over the London Knights. Saginaw is the first US-based team to hoist the Cup since the Spokane Chiefs in 2008.

Before I get to some player breakdowns, I want to recognize the city of Saginaw, its neighbouring “Bavarian” town Frankenmuth, and the ownership/organizing committee of the Spirit.

I’ve been making my way to Saginaw to scout games since the North Bay Centennials relocated there in 2002. Team owner Dick Garber and team president/managing partner Craig Goslin have always gone above and beyond to provide comfort to the scouting fraternity upon arriving in Saginaw.

Scouts are generally easy to please. Most times it only takes a good cup of coffee and up to date player statuses, line combinations and statistics, to please the group. The Spirit have always gone out of their way to provide one of the best pre-game meals and working space for media, scouts, and team personnel. It’s a first-class operation in Saginaw. Congratulations to them.

Now on to some of my player observations:

Owen Beck, Saginaw Spirit, F, 6-foot, 190 pounds
NHL Rights: Montreal Canadiens

Last week I wrote about Beck’s approach to the game. He plays the right way. He produces his share of offence without sacrificing detail in all three zones. He wins key face-offs and scores timely goals. Beck can also be tasked with the responsibility of shutting down top six opponents. He has the pace, compete, and smarts to be used in all situations.

Beck was named MVP of the Memorial Cup, contributing 4G-1A on offence, posting a plus-4, and winning 70 per cent of his face-offs.

The results in high leverage situations speak for themselves. Beck will be pulling on a Montreal Canadiens jersey in NHL games sooner than later.

Kasper Halttunen, London Knights, F, 6-foot-3, 216 pounds
NHL Rights: San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are going to walk to the podium in The Sphere in Las Vegas at the end of the month and select Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Their first-round pick from last year, Will Smith (fourth overall), has decided to turn pro as well. Both play drivers will require someone on their wing to convert the scoring chances they create.

Enter Sharks prospect Halttunnen (second round, 36^th overall in 2023).

Halttunen scored four times at the Memorial Cup. In 22 games played between the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup tournament, he potted 21 goals total.

Halttunen has some Patrik Laine to his game. He’s big, strong, and hard to knock off pucks. His skating ranges from average to slightly above average depending on his approach pushing the pace. He picks his spots to play fast up and down the ice. What Halttunen does better than almost every prospect is shoot the puck. He has a lethal release, especially from the weak side flank on the power play. If he sees open ice in front of him in transition, especially when attacking from the left lane, he’s aggressive directing pucks on net -- and they usually end up inside of it.

Easton Cowan, London Knights, F, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds
NHL Rights: Toronto

Cowan was on the receiving end of some tight checking and physical play from his opponents the entire week. The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick in 2023 (28^th overall) was held off the score sheet in game one versus Drummondville. In the last three games, though, Cowan produced 3G-5A and was a plus-1. He ended up leading the tournament in scoring.

I’ve read some people being critical of Cowan’s play and London not winning the tournament. In my view that is unfair criticism. There’s no denying Cowan’s effort at the Memorial Cup, or his offensive contribution. He absorbed contact to extend plays, and got some lucky breaks finding the back of the net by simply directing the puck on goal.

Cowan didn’t have a perfect week. There were a few instances where he could have been cleaner, and more responsible, distributing the puck. He also seemed distracted at times with opponents getting in his head with their push back, and trash talking.

Cowan plays with pace and skill every shift. He doesn’t cut corners. He competes. I get upset (mostly for the kids) when adults start slinging comments towards them about their play in relation to the NHL club that owns their rights.

Cowan isn’t going to be a savior for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he will never let the team down with a lack of skill or will. He’s a combination of both.

Jackson Edward, London Knights, D, 6-foot-3, 192 pounds
NHL Rights: Boston

At every level there are players who fly under the radar statistically compared to others. These kinds of prospects can be excluded from team building conversations when only taking an analytical view. It’s a trap that, I believe, has teams excluding the value of certain types of players.

Jackson Edward from the London Knights is a Boston Bruins prospect (seventh round, 200^th overall in 2022) who falls into the category I’m describing. The two-way defenceman contributed 7G-23A in 59 regular season games and then elevated his offence in the playoffs, chipping in with 2G-11A in 19 league playoff and Memorial Cup games.

Edward moves well, is always engaged in the hard areas, and has a mean streak. He doesn’t need to produce offence for me to value his projection at the pro level. In addition to his skating and compete, Edward has the hockey sense to be thrust into key defensive match-ups versus top end players and to land on one of the primary penalty-killing units.

The Knights have several players on their roster who provided highlight reel offence and grabbed the attention of content creators. I value Edward differently than other prospects. I believe the Bruins have a potential NHL defenceman on the horizon.

Michael Misa, Saginaw Spirit, F, 6-foot, 175 pounds
NHL Draft Eligible in 2025

Misa and the Spirit couldn’t script his development as a future NHL prospect any better than they have in his first two OHL seasons.

Misa was granted “exceptional status” in the spring of 2022 and in his first 112 regular season games he has produced 51G–80A. Misa has also contributed 7G-12A in 18 playoff games spread over the two years. In the Memorial Cup he chipped in five assists.

Misa isn’t eligible for the NHL Draft until next June, but he plays the game with a maturity beyond his age. It would be simple to walk into an arena to watch Misa play and focus only on his offensive production. But Misa provides more than offence. He plays with pace, isn’t shy about engaging along the wall physically, and works the entire 200 feet.

Misa has already gained valuable experience and now knows what it takes to win a championship like the Memorial Cup. He will be even more prepared for what lies ahead next season as one of the top draft eligible prospects for 2025.

NEXT UP

Myself, Sam Cosentino, Ryan Dixon, and our draft day team will be in Buffalo at the draft combine this week interviewing prospects ahead of the draft in Las Vegas.

My final draft ranking -- a long list -- will be released early next week.