Steve Ott, Sean Avery, these are the two names that will keep coming up if you ask NHL scouts to compare Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brad Ross to a pro. Ross much like Ott and Avery plays a gritty two way game, he’s also just as annoying for other players in the WHL to play against as Ott and Avery are for NHL players.
However Ross has a distinct offensive awareness to his game that has allowed him to put up very respectable number thus far in his WHL tenure for his Portland Winterhawks. Notching 137 points threw his past two seasons. However outside of his offensive game, he has a fearless and sometimes reckless demeanor. As with those gaudy offensive numbers he’s also acquired 374 penalty minutes threw the past two seasons as well. Ross is simply not afraid to run his mouth, make a big hit, or drop the gloves with anyone. In fact when asked just last season what his “wow” moment was in the WHL thus far, Ross never uttered any of the goals he’d scored or assists he’d piled up. Ross instantly said getting two fighting majors in one game. Spoken like a true Brian Burke draft pick.
Enough backstory, Ross is off to a rip roaring start in the WHL this year. Having his line mates Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter advance to the pro game this season leaves Ross as the go to guy offensively for the Winterhawks, and safe to say he hasn’t disappointed. Ross has notched 8 goals, 12 assists for 20 points in 14 games thus far. If he can keep a similar pace for the whole season he will be amongst the top of the WHL in scoring. However after this season Ross has to be looking ahead to starting his pro career. With a strong off season and a good training camp we could see Ross in the blue and white as early as next year with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Marlies. He could be well on his way to becoming the next great agitator in the NHL.
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