Mid-Week Prospects 10/27/21

Matt Rempe (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Just three New York Ranger prospects saw action on Wednesday evening. The results weren't that great as only Matt Rempe and his Seattle Thunderbirds saw their team win. Rempe's Thunderbirds held off the Portland Winterhawks 6-4. 

Yes, Matt Rempe scored a goal on two shots with a -1 but he was also 2-8 on his face-offs. Still, those were the easy things to notice. What wasn't seen on the stat sheets was that the 6'8 center was used on just two defensive zone draws during the entire game (and one was because of an icing). 

He is the biggest player on the ice and he was never used on the penalty kill and part of that can be attributed to what appeared to be a slow reaction speed to the plays around him. 

Yes, it was bothersome to watch as this is a team veteran and he was barely used when compared to his fellow centers. Perhaps it had to do with that size as he towered over others on the ice and few challenged him physically. 

Those who did typically lost like the poor Winterhawk play who found himself climbing out of the Seattle bench after Rempe just blasted him with a very clean check that sent him flying. 

Those who did try playing physical with Rempe found themselves bouncing off him. I am not going to bury him as a prospect but I really want to see him against those who are closer to his own size.

I think Rempe has potential but it very much needs to be nurtured. I doubt we will see the full Rempe until he is playing against those closer to his own size.

Ryder Korczak (Moose Jaw Warriors)

Ryder Korczak saw his eight-game scoring streak end as his Moose Jaw Warriors dropped a 6-2 decision to the host Saskatoon Blades. The Blades kept someone near Korczak all game long and it worked. 

Korczak besides going scoreless took two shots with a -1 and was 16-5 on his face-offs. The young centerman started the season with a 4-6-10 mark in eight games.

It wasn't a good night for 2021 first-round pick Brennan Othman and his Flint Firebirds. The Firebirds were in Saginaw for a game with the Saginaw Spirit and they came away 4-1 losers. 

The Firebirds really only have themselves to blame here as they went 0 for 9 on their power play opportunities. They also played themselves into a 4-0 hole before getting on the scoreboard in the third period. 

By then it was way too late for their hopes of winning. Othmann just had little to show for his performance as he was held scoreless with no shots and a -3 to go along with winning the only face-off he took.