By Aaron Bell
Christmas came early for a few teams in the OHL this week.
The London Knights, Kitchener Rangers, Oshawa Generals, and Brampton Battalion were all happy to have star players return from NHL camps to continue their development in the OHL.
Nazem Kadri returned to the London Knights this week from an impressive showing at the Toronto Maple Leafs' training camp and pre-season schedule while OHL and CHL player of the year Cody Hodgson is back from the Vancouver Canucks and John Moore will make his OHL debut with the Rangers after being reassigned by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Kadri was the seventh overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft last June and returns as one of the top scoring threats in the OHL this season. He is anxious to get back in the lineup with the Knights and scored a goal in his first game Thursday night in a 4-3 win over the Sarnia Sting.
"I know we have a good team here and I'm looking forward to it," Kadri told The London Free Press this week. "I'm going to share the puck. I'll shoot it when I have the chance but I want to move it around, too. I was given a chance to be creative (with Toronto), and obviously here, there's a little more opportunity to freelance out there."
Battalion GM and coach Stan Butler was surprised to hear that Hodgson would be returning to the Battalion for his fourth OHL season. Hodgson had a standout junior year last year but suffered a back injury while training in the summer and that was a set-back in making his debut in the NHL.
"I'm shocked to be honest with you," Butler told The Toronto Star on Tuesday. "We didn't expect to get Cody back this year. He had a very good season last year."
Hodgson was the top scorer and one of the tournament's top players at the World Junior Championships last Christmas in Ottawa. He will be counted on in a big way to help Canada in its quest for a sixth straight gold medal this year in Saskatchewan.
Moore, an 18-year-old from Winnetka, Il was the 21st overall pick in the NHL Draft in June. He said that this first pro camp was an exceptional experience.
"I remember coming into camp and looking at the roster Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Antoine Vermette, all those names," Moore said. "I just kept thinking, 'Man, I hope I can keep up with these guys.' I feel like I put my best foot forward. I have no regrets. And now I have a great opportunity to go develop in Kitchener."
Calvin de Haan of the Oshawa Generals also returned this week and tallied an assist Thursday night in a 5-4 loss to the Peterborough Petes. His Islanders teammate, John Tavares, the first overall pick in June remains in the NHL.
There are still several OHL stars trying to work their way into NHL lineups to open the season, including Knights' defenceman Michael Del Zotto, who was a first round pick of the New York Rangers in June.
Matt Duchene of the Battalion was the third overall pick in June and looks like he will get the chance to stick with the Colorado Avalanche. Ryan O'Reilly of the Erie Otters was also a first round pick for the Avalanche in June and has enjoyed a good showing there so far.
