| STORIES |
- Saturday, June 25, 2011: First glance: 2011 draft
- Sunday, June 26, 2011: ‘Sky’s the limit’ for hard-shooting Sproul
- Tuesday, November 15, 2011: Hudon’s career at crossroads
- Tuesday, December 13, 2011: Sproul’s gains a D-light
- Tuesday, January 17, 2012: Backman’s two-way play leaves big impression
- Tuesday, April 3, 2012: Blueline depth gets shot in the arm
- Wednesday, October 10, 2012: Backman’s minutes on the rise in Sweden
- Wednesday, January 23, 2013: Productive Sproul shines brightly in CHL
- Wednesday, March 13, 2013: Almquist making his mark as AHL rookie
- Wednesday, March 20, 2013: Callahan ‘the type of player you win with’
- Tuesday, April 23, 2013: Griffins poised for playoff push
|
| AWARDS |
- 2010-11 OHL Second All-Rookie Team
- 2011-12 CHL Canada-Russia Subway Super Series (Team OHL)
- 2011-12 OHL Third All-Star Team
- 2012-13 OHL First All-Star Team
- 2012-13 OHL Max Kaminsky Trophy Defenseman of the Year
|
| HISTORY |
2010-11
- Started season at Ontario junior A level to reserve NCAA eligibility.
- Abandoned NCAA plan and reported to the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in late September.
- Sluggish start to season, taking 17 games to record his first point.
- From 17th game on, produced impressive numbers (45-14-19-33).
- Enjoyed one scorching-hot stretch from Jan. 14 to March 6 (23-11-13-24).
- Struggled in the plus-minus department, posting a minus-15, second worst on team.
- Finished fifth in scoring among all blueliners in scoring and No. 1 among rookie blueliners.
- Taken by Red Wings in second round (55th overall) of 2011 NHL draft.
|
2011-12
- Returned to OHL and finished third in Sault Ste. Marie scoring (61-23-31-54).
- Saved best for stretch run, scoring 13 goals in final 20 games (20-13-11-24), a 44-goal clip pro-rated.
- Led all OHL defensemen in goals scored (23) and was third in points (54).
- Improved defensive play, swinging plus-minus from a rookie minus-15 to a team-best plus-16.
- Suffered a fractured jaw in late December but missed much less time than expected.
- Played one game for Team OHL in CHL Subway Super Series and recorded an assist.
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Red Wings in March.
|
2012-13
- Returned to Sault Ste. Marie for third OHL season and had nine points in first seven games.
- Broke his arm after being slashed in early October and missed six weeks.
- Attended Canadian world junior selection camp but was among final cuts from lockout-heavy roster.
- Enjoyed phenomenal run after returning from injury (34-18-34-52).
- Led OHL in points (66) and assists (46), tied for lead in goals (20) and had even plus-minus.
- Voted hardest shooter and best offensive defenseman in OHL Western Conference coaches poll.
- Also finished as runner-up for best skater and best shot in OHL Western Conference coaches poll.
- Produced five points in six games (6-2-3-5, minus-4) in first-round playoff exit.
- Joined AHL’s Grand Rapids and appeared in two games (2-0-0-0, minus-1, seven shots).
|
| SCOUT COMMENTS |
| “He’s got the big booming shot from the point — he’s still weak as a noodle — but we see some good signs. There’s more there than just (the booming shot) — that’s obviously a big plus, when you can shoot it like that, but he sees the ice well, too. The sky’s the limit, once he fills out.” — Red Wings director of scouting Joe McDonnell (June 2011) … “He’s played so well and yet he has so much more room to grow. He’s put in a lot of work and since the middle of October on, he’s been outstanding for us.” — Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds GM Kyle Dubas (December 2011, Sault Star) … “He’s a dominant go-to offensive power-play guy who I think is offensively as good as anyone in major junior hockey. He still has a lot of work to do in the D-zone and all-around game and how to be a little harder to play against.” — Red Wings director of player development Jiri Fischer (October 2012). |
| STRENGTHS |
| Boasts a cannon of a point shot … Can lead the breakout and is at his best offensively … Shows excellent vision and smarts … A dangerous weapon on the power play … Has shown dramatic improvement in an extremely short period of time, a trend that bodes well if it continues … Although his mobility was criticized in his draft year, it has improved dramatically and has become a strength … Works hard to improve, identifying defensive play as a weakness and making effort to improve it. |
| WEAKNESSES |
| Defensive play has improved, but still needs to show it won’t hold him back in the pros … Even though he’s tall, he’s skinny and doesn’t make a physical impact … Needs to add significant strength … Needs to prove he’s not just a one-dimensional offensive defenseman. |
| PROJECTION |
| Combine his 6-foot-4 frame with his booming slap shot and you have a prospect worth getting excited about. Sproul has developed at a phenomenal pace since being drafted in the second round in 2011 and earned the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s defenseman of the year in 2012-13. A prolific scorer who could quarterback the Red Wings’ power play one day, Sproul is already signed and will break into the pros as an AHL rookie with Grand Rapids in 2013-14. |
Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2008-2009 |
Vaughan Kings Minor Midget AAA |
Midget |
31 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Bramalea Blues |
OJAHL |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Vaughan Vipers |
OJAHL |
8 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| |
Playoffs |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2010-2011 |
Vaughan Vipers |
OJHL |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
OHL |
61 |
14 |
19 |
33 |
36 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
OHL |
61 |
23 |
31 |
54 |
53 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2012-2013 |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
OHL |
50 |
20 |
46 |
66 |
45 |
| |
Playoffs |
6 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
