• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Thursday was a quiet night for 2018 draft prospects, but a big weekend will see just about everyone in action.
The only prospects who won't be playing are those on teams that didn't make their respective league playoffs. Most postseasons, however, won't begin for several days, and the major-junior season has more than two weeks left before its playoffs get under way.
Even prospects who miss the playoffs could still called on to play in the World Under-18's in late April, so there is still plenty of time for NHL teams to evaluate this draft pool.
We're going to learn a lot about these players over the next two months, as the playoffs and World Under-18's will no doubt define the cream of the crop. So much to look forward to, but first check out this brief list of Thursday's top performances:
NATHAN DUNKLEY -- Dunkley had a goal and an assist in London's 4-3 win at Peterborough on Thursday, earning No. 2 star honors. The 5-foot-11 center notched the primary assist on a goal at 1:55 of the second period to pull the Knights into a 1-1 tie, and his late third-period heroics put his team in position to win. At 13:10 of the third, it was Dunkley scoring to make it 3-3 and turn momentum in London's favor. Surging of late with a seven-game scoring streak, Dunkley s now a point-per-game player with 19 goals and 33 assists in 52 OHL games. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
NATE McDONALD -- The Markham Royals goaltender nearly stole a game for his team in the first round of the OJHL playoffs on Thursday, making 46 saves in a 4-3 double-OT loss at Newmarket. McDonald, who had been serving mostly as a backup of late, stopped all seven shots in the first period, 13 of 14 in the second, 15 of 17 in the third, all 10 in the first overtime, and two more in the second overtime. Ultimately, he gave up the winner at 11:31, but not before having played 90:28 and posting a .939 save percentage. The next stop for McDonald will be Cornell University, so the Big Red has reason to be excited about this recruit.
AKIL THOMAS -- Early in the season, Thomas was picking up points like they grew on trees. His scoring cooled off for awhile, but he is back in top form now, and will almost certainly end up being drafted in the first round. On Thursday, he was the No. 2 star of Niagara's 5-4 overtime loss to Hamilton, scoring a goal and adding two assists. The goal came at 7:08 of the second period to give the IceDogs a 2-1 lead. He then picked up a power-play assist at 14:19 of the second to go up 3-2, and had the primary helper on another man-advantage goal at 10:22 of the third to make it 4-3. With points in five of his last seven outings, Thomas is now up to 20 goals and 71 points in 60 OHL games and ranks seventh in the league with his 51 assists. Among 2018 OHL prospects, only Evan Bouchard has helped set up more goals. (Note: 10th appearance on this list in 2017-18)