Sudbury Wolves
Division: Central
Coach: Cory Stillman
2016-17 Record: (27-34-7)
Key Additions:
Blake Murray (OHL Priority Selection, seventh overall), Kyle Rhodes (trade with Guelph Storm), Zack Malik (CHL Import Draft, 19th overall), Emmett Serensits (OHL U18 Priority Selection, seventh overall), Nolan Hutcheson (2016 OHL Priority Selection, 80th overall), Blake McConville (2016 OHL Priority Selection, 83rd overall)
Key Departures:
Kyle Capobianco (pro), Aiden Jamieson, Patrick Sanvido, Chandler Yakimowicz (overage)
Despite losing 14 more games than they won, Sudbury finished second in their division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. But the weakness of their division showed when they lost in six games to the Oshawa Generals in the first round.
In his last season with the team, Arizona Coyotes draft pick Kyle Capobianco proved how valuable he was when he put up 47 points in 65 games as a defenseman. But last year’s leading scorer, Dmitry Sokolov, is coming back despite getting some run with the Minnesota Wild’s AHL team.
Top Players:
Dmitry Sokolov (RW) – 64 GP / 48 G / 24 A / 72 Pts / 8 PIM / -32
Sokolov has already done so much with the Wolves in just two seasons. After getting drafted in the seventh round, he came back to Sudbury and put up 20 more points in four fewer games. He led his team in scoring in the regular season and playoffs, where he scored six goals and nine points in six games.
Sokolov played two games with the Iowa Wild last year but was reassigned to the Wolves after training camp. Already one of the best pure goal-scorers in the OHL, look for him to break the 50-goal plateau this year.
David Levin (LW) – 66 GP / 18 G / 35 A / 53 Pts / 49 PIM / -38
Levin may have disappointed in the 2015-16 season after being selected first overall in the OHL Draft. He finished with nine goals and 30 points in 47 games. But last season, when he was much healthier, he increased his point total by 23.
Heading into his draft-eligible year, Levin will look to find a new gear and to develop his chemistry with Sokolov even further.
Macauley Carson (LW) – 68 GP / 30 G / 20 A / 50 Pts / 37 PIM / +4
After putting up a mediocre five goals and 11 points in his rookie campaign, Carson broke out in a big way last season. He became the team’s second leading goal-scorer when he finished with 30 goals and improving his plus/minus by 14.
Perhaps his breakout season was what earned him a spot on the San Jose Sharks’ training camp roster. But as expected, he’ll ply his trade in Sudbury this year and build on his excellent 2016-17 season.
Reagan O’Grady (D) – 66 GP / 5 G / 13 A / 18 Pts / 46 PIM / +9
After getting selected by the Kingston Frontenacs, O’Grady was traded to the Wolves in his rookie season. He’s been with them ever since and has steadily improved on his point total every year. O’Grady was the third leading scorer among defensemen last season, but with Capobianco and Jamieson gone, he will be tasked with leading the Wolves’ blue line this year.
Shane Bulitka (LW) – 60 GP / 5 G / 16 A / 21 Pts / 16 PIM / +4
Last season was Bulitka’s first taste of the OHL. Even though he was drafted in 2015, he played in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League before coming over to the Wolves. Five goals and 21 points is nothing to write home about, but he displayed flashes of potential and should improve greatly if given a bigger role on the team.
Even though they finished second, a poll on the OHL’s website has Sudbury pegged as the least likely team to win the Central Division. Perhaps that’s because they’re losing their top two defenders and have a first-year coach at the helm. Plus, it’d be foolish to bet against the Mississauga Steelheads winning the division again.
But Sokolov is the best-returning goal scorer in the league and will look to take another step in his development. As long as he’s around, Sudbury will win more games than people think.