In a Vancouver Canucks prospect pool that is light on defenceman, Matt Brassard is giving fans reason to hope.

The 19 year old has turned in a solid season with the Ontario Hockey League香蕉视频直播檚 Oshawa Generals and has probably earned himself a pro contract. Through 63 regular season games (as of this writing), the six-foot-three and 198 pound right-handed blueliner has collected 15 goals and 46 points.

His goal total is fifth highest among OHL defenceman, and he ranks eighth in points.

Most importantly for a prospect, Brassard香蕉视频直播檚 production is up substantially from his draft year when he produced 12 goals and 32 points in 62 games split between Oshawa and the Barrie Colts.

Twenty four games into the 2017-18 season things didn香蕉视频直播檛 look so rosy for the native of Barrie, Ontario. Brassard had no goals and eight points, and it looked like his development had flat-lined. The idea that the seventh round pick (188th overall in 2017) would be offered any kind of deal with the Canucks seemed far-fetched.

But his production from Nov. 25 on has been eye-popping.

Brassard scored his first goal that night in a 7-3 win over Barrie and in 39 games he香蕉视频直播檚 posted 38 points.

Getting him signed and into the Utica Comets lineup now seems like a no-brainer.

So what changed?

香蕉视频直播淲hen you香蕉视频直播檙e in a slump you香蕉视频直播檝e got to work your way out of it, and that香蕉视频直播檚 what I did, staying after practice to work on shooting pucks and doing drills,香蕉视频直播� Brassard said. 香蕉视频直播淥ne of the biggest things I was told by my head coach (Bob Jones), right around that 25 game mark, was to keep focusing on defence and all the other stuff will come.香蕉视频直播�

Oshawa assistant coach Greg Nemisz said it was a weird start to the season for Brassard.

香蕉视频直播淲e couldn香蕉视频直播檛 put a finger on it because he was still playing well, he was still creating plays and getting his volume in terms of shots on net, but it just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 happening for him,香蕉视频直播� Nemisz said. 香蕉视频直播淎t times he was pressing too much for it, and once he got that first goal he settled in.香蕉视频直播�

Many prospect prognosticators will tell you that if a player doesn香蕉视频直播檛 produce X amount of points per game in junior, he香蕉视频直播檚 unlikely to become a contributor at higher levels. Like all players, Brassard claims to not worry about goals and assists, but he香蕉视频直播檚 glad that he香蕉视频直播檚 been able to click at a point-per-game rate for the last two thirds of the season.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if I feel any pressure to meet those expectations,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut if it香蕉视频直播檚 something that the scouts are looking at to determine whether you香蕉视频直播檒l produce at the next level, then I香蕉视频直播檓 really happy with the way my year has gone.香蕉视频直播�

The stat Brassard cares most about is one that the hockey analytics crowd would like to stuff into a rocket bound for the moon. Brassard said the Generals don香蕉视频直播檛 keep advanced stats like Corsi and Fenwick. They don香蕉视频直播檛 track controlled zone exits, so plus-minus is the number he checks out after a game to gauge his effectiveness.

香蕉视频直播淚 know plus-minus, a lot of people say it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 show the type of player you are because you can be on a team that plays against the best teams or the worst teams and it can vary a lot,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 really have a go-to stat, but if I had to pick one it would be plus-minus. Also things liked blocked shots and hits are huge.香蕉视频直播�

Brassard is a healthy plus-16 this season.

In the lead-up to the 2017 National Hockey League entry draft, Brassard said he was questioned most often about his skating.

香蕉视频直播淚n my pre-draft meetings with teams I told them that I was aware of it and I would be working on it,香蕉视频直播� the teenager noted. 香蕉视频直播淚 spent last summer training for this season with a focus on skating and I think I香蕉视频直播檝e improved it.

香蕉视频直播淥bviously it香蕉视频直播檚 not perfect, but it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot better than it was in the past.香蕉视频直播�

Nemisz said Brassard香蕉视频直播檚 skating can still use a little work, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not a liability.

香蕉视频直播淏y no means is he a poor skater,香蕉视频直播� Nemisz said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut like anyone trying to go to the professional level where it香蕉视频直播檚 a really fast game, he香蕉视频直播檚 got to work on his agility.香蕉视频直播�

On the flipside, talent evaluators were impressed with Brassard香蕉视频直播檚 two-way game and his ability to create offence.

香蕉视频直播淚 really take pride in the amount of shots on goal I have. I think I香蕉视频直播檓 third in the league among defencemen (he香蕉视频直播檚 fourth),香蕉视频直播� Brassard said. 香蕉视频直播淥ne thing I can contribute back there is getting the puck on net from the point. They香蕉视频直播檙e not always going to be high-quality shots from a defenceman, but getting the puck down there for the forwards to do their work, that香蕉视频直播檚 something that teams noticed about me.

香蕉视频直播淎nd I think my commitment to defence and my ability to play against the other team香蕉视频直播檚 top players is something else that stood out.香蕉视频直播�

Nemisz concured.

香蕉视频直播淗e has been an excellent puck mover, making plays from the back end,香蕉视频直播� Nemisz noted. 香蕉视频直播淗e has a really, really good shot from the blueline too. There香蕉视频直播檚 a dangerous wrister that always seems to get through. He香蕉视频直播檚 got a real good hockey IQ. He香蕉视频直播檚 got a really good pulse for the game and he香蕉视频直播檚 a guy we lean on to provide offence.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 done a good job balancing that because when we really need him to push for offence, he can create, but he can also lock it down and play a real structured game.香蕉视频直播�

Skating is a must-have skill for a modern defenceman as the game gets faster and faster.

If Brassard香蕉视频直播檚 not going to be the quickest guy on the ice, he feels he can compensate in other ways.

香蕉视频直播淧ositioning, gap control, always being up with the play, always being hard on forwards and hard in the D zone with physical play, I think those are the biggest things a defenceman nowadays needs to succeed,香蕉视频直播� Brassard explained. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been told to continue to work on those things and I think I香蕉视频直播檝e been doing that pretty well this year.香蕉视频直播�

Brassard has collected 60 penalty minutes in 64 games, two minutes at a time with no fighting majors. In 2014-15, playing for the midget AAA Barrie Colts, he rolled up 172 minutes in 50 games, but Brassard said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 often drop the mitts.

香蕉视频直播淚 definitely wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 classify myself as a fighter, but I would classify myself as a hard guy to play against,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 play against top lines night in and night out and I try to get under their skin. Sometimes the ref will take both guys, or just me if I香蕉视频直播檝e crossed the line a little bit.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 always involved physically and he香蕉视频直播檚 right on that edge,香蕉视频直播� Nemisz added. 香蕉视频直播淵ou notice him every single game. He香蕉视频直播檚 never sleep-walking out there. He香蕉视频直播檚 an impact player for us every night.香蕉视频直播�

When I talked to him, Brassard said he had recently been playing on the Oshawa D with William Ennis, a draft-eligible 2000-born defenceman.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a left-handed guy who香蕉视频直播檚 kind of more of a defensive shutdown guy,香蕉视频直播� Brassard said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we really pair well together where I can join the rush and know that he香蕉视频直播檒l be back. I香蕉视频直播檓 really hoping he香蕉视频直播檒l hear his name called on draft day because I really think he香蕉视频直播檚 one of the most underrated guys in this draft.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 flying under the radar, but he香蕉视频直播檚 a really good guy to play with.香蕉视频直播�

I mentioned off the top that Brassard now looks like a good candidate to play in Utica next year.

The transition to pro is a tough one for juniors, a leap that separates prospects from suspects.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 all learning at this point. I香蕉视频直播檓 taking everything my coaches and the Canucks tell me and trying to work on it, trying to make them happy so maybe I香蕉视频直播檒l be lucky enough to earn a contract in the next year or two,香蕉视频直播� Brassard said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 be happy coming back to Oshawa because I think we香蕉视频直播檙e heading in the right direction and I think we香蕉视频直播檒l be really good next year, but if I am lucky enough to earn a contract, I香蕉视频直播檇 love to start my pro career in Utica and hopefully take off from there.香蕉视频直播�

Nemisz, who played 15 big-league games with the Calgary Flames and logged 241 AHL games with the Abbotsford Heat and Charlotte Checkers, said Brassard香蕉视频直播檚 offensive game provides a good foundation, and if he can build up his defensive game he can become a solid pro.

香蕉视频直播淟ike any young player it香蕉视频直播檚 just defending,香蕉视频直播� Nemisz said. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 done a really good job of it and he香蕉视频直播檚 playing against the other teams香蕉视频直播� best lines at our level, but the next level is a whole different animal.

香蕉视频直播淔or him to be successful at the next level he香蕉视频直播檚 got to be more of a two-way guy, and his defending香蕉视频直播檚 got to come along a little bit.香蕉视频直播�

Email: eric.welsh@theprogress.com

Twitter: @ProgressSports