Moving from 20 through 16 to 15 through 11, the 1st Ohio Battery prospect rankings are becoming much more clear.
Little known players or forgotten players were the notables on our first prospect post. Moving to the next tier, many of the players here are of the "boom or bust" variety. They have potential to go with to the NHL their skill but are still relatively unknown.
These are players 15 through 11 as selected by the 1st Ohio Battery staff.
15. Kole Sherwood - Forward
As a central Ohio product, Sherwood may have felt like a feel good story rather than a legitimate prospect. But after a great season in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds, he may have more to his game than meets the eye.
Scoring well over a point per game in his second OHL season isn't uncommon for players his age, but displaying touch around the net is important if he wants to take the next step. Sherwood will likely play for the Cleveland Monsters in 2017-18 and should give a better indication where his skill set lies.
14. Blake Siebenaler - Defenseman
Drafted as a mobile defenseman with an offensive streak to boot, Siebenaler is headed into his second full season of pro hockey in 2017-18. He has remained in neutral since becoming a professional. Playing in 40+ for the Monsters last season, Siebenaler only put up six points.
Offense is supposed to be part of his game, but it hasn't yet translated to the American Hockey League (AHL) level. Given the lack of depth defensively for the Monsters this year, he will be given more ice time to hopefully improve and get his offensive production up near where it was during his time in junior hockey.
13. Justin Scott - Forward
After an impressive OHL playoffs with the Barrie Colts in 2015-16, Scott was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jackets a few weeks later. It wasn't clear whether or not his 17 goals in 15 games performance was just a flash in the pan. Luckily for Monsters and Blue Jackets fans, he used it as a stepping stone.
Scott was fourth on the Monsters in goals and even found himself called up to the Blue Jackets at one point during the 2016-17 season. His ceiling isn't much higher than what has been shown, but a big body with scoring touch can find his way into the NHL as a regular call-up.
12. Emil Bemstrom - Forward
Fast, shifty and great with the puck on his stick: it's easy to see why the Blue Jackets selected Bemstrom in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Swedish forward scores in bunches and has an opportunity to be a dynamic player if he continues to develop properly.
He is a one-man breakout and possesses a strong shot, as well. His size may be concerning but his offensive ability (and upside) should drown out any worries. Bemstrom is an intriguing player to watch develop going forward.
11. Danil Tarasov - Goaltender
One of the top players at the 2015-16 U18 World Junior Championship, Tarasov came in with sky-high expectations for the 2016-17 season. An injury ended up derailing his season, which may have played a role in him falling from many experts' pre-draft forecasts.
The Blue Jackets were able to nab Tarasov in the third round and, given where he was projected before the draft, many considered it a steal. He has a goaltender's body at 6-foot-4, has good athleticism, and has watched current Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky play from afar. While his development will be a long process, there are a lot of encouraging signs around this Russian netminder.
