There will be a lot to watch for as the Sudbury Wolves push to get back into the playoffs. We took a look at five players who fans should keep an extra close eye on as the season progresses.
Owen Robinson
Owen Robinson impressed during training camp and exhibition and had fans checking their program to see just who this kid is. Robinson showed speed, skill and a did not look out of place having never played an OHL game.
Last season in the NOJHL he had 22 goals and 56 points in just 51 games. He’s a good two-way forward and may log a fair bit of ice time. A guy that will get time on the power play and the penalty kill, he will be a player you will want to keep and eye on this season.
Macauley Carson
Carson had a rough year three. A wrist injury knocked him down before he even had a chance to get going last year. When he came back he was tentative with the wrist and wasn’t the same player that put up 30 goals and 50 points two years ago.
This season a reason to watch Carson is to see where he is playing on the ice. If Carson can get back to the style of play from 2016-2017, there is no reason why he can’t be a 30-30 type of player for this team.
If Carson is on a line with Quinton Byfield and David Levin his job should be to win the puck, win battles if it’s dumped in to the opponents zone and get to the front of the net.
He’s probably the best in tight finisher on the team and the front of the net, especially on the power play, is where he needs to be and where Wolves fans should be watching him this season.
Peter Stratis
It took a little while to adjust, but did Peter Stratis ever look good in exhibition. Stratis came over in a mid season trade with the Ottawa 67’s to shore up the Wolves blueline.
The former first round pick struggled at times with confidence as he attempted to find his place on the team. But a late season surge where he put up seven points in his final eight games of the season and what he looks like so far this year is why Stratis is a player to watch.
This season he has come in looking bigger, stronger and is really moving the puck with a purpose. He’s shooting at the right time and his added strength really has made a difference on that point shot.
He put up 25 points in his second OHL season and its not out of the question to look for a 10 to 15 point jump in year three putting him around 40 points.
Zack Malik
There is some big time question marks with D-man Zack Malik. Fans could see at times why he was taken with a high import pick, but he was also injured … a lot.
Playing in just 32 games last season, the son of former NHLer Marek Malik was given the benefit of a bad season to be able to heal up. But held out of training camp and exhibition is a bit worrisome for the Wolves.
When playing he put up 12 points and that’s why he makes out players to watch list. With a pretty young blueline he is going to be counted on to log heavy minutes and put up points, also show that he can stay healthy.
Shane Bulitka
Last year we featured Shane Bulitka as one of our players you need to watch, and well, it wasn’t a very good season for the Wolves, but Bulitka managed to take a step forward as he has done every season in his career.
Coming into his fourth season with the Wolves, Bulitka is a true plug and play player. A coach can feel comfortable putting him in any situation and he stepped it up last season with a career high 10 goals and 23 assists.
He should take a next step forward and push close to 50 points for the season and slide into a leadership role for this Wolves team.
The Sudbury Wolves season home opener is this Friday.
