Projection: Middle Six Upside

Tools: Passing, Scoring, Smooth Skating

Development Opportunities: Engagement, Consistency

A good blend of playmaking and scoring ability, Graham Littlejohn spent much of the year supporting his London Jr. Knights teammate, Drew Bate. Littlejohn was able to play as a dual-threat player and despite being in a support role, he showed some real play driving ability. Using his slick edges and speed to carry him around the ice, he was able to get into good positions and pick smart routes into the other end. He displays good reads and sound positioning and he was able to support the breakout and come away with the puck more often than not and help to move pucks up ice. He helped to create space in the opposing end and used his strong hockey sense to try and create offence for Bate who was able to score many goals off direct feeds from Littlejohn. His goal scoring ability is not a secondary trait however, he has a good shot, forcing goaltenders and defenders to take him as a serious threat.

Although he has good hockey sense and can battle, there were many times where Littlejohn seemed to be too passively engaged in his own end. When he was the first player in scrums, he was able to come away with possession more often than not but it is something that he will likely be expected to do more consistently at the OHL level and beyond. Still, he has the obvious intangibles, which in many cases is half the battle.

Graham Littlejohn plays the game with an edge at times, forechecking and using his abilities to impact the game in a variety of ways. One of which is his hockey IQ, as he is able to play well defensively and offensively, filling in for his defence and helping out in his own end. In the opposing end and in transition he is able to generate offence off the wing, making snappy passes to his teammates to create scoring chances, using his speed to drive up the wing and plays a key role in the Knights’ rush.

Graham Littlejohn popped up numerous times using his quick feet to carry the puck. He has shown on numerous occasions his chemistry with Bate and that was evident here. His playmaking and passing abilities are good, dishing it out and trying to generate offence for his team. He also was able to score a goal in this game, tying it up to send the game to overtime where London would triumph and move onto the semi-finals.

There were a number of instances where Graham Littlejohn was paired up with Drew Bate and whenever that happened, the chemistry was evident. He has separating speed, rushing after loose pucks and dump-ins and in a number of instances, coming away with possession. He was also able to make a number of positive plays with the puck, making passes to the slot or assisting in transition. He showed some shooting ability as well, taking a number of shots off the rush, creating offence consistently throughout the game. He was not rewarded on the score sheet as often as he could have been but is deserving of a four-star review nonetheless.

It was an active first period for Graham Littlejohn who took two penalties and notched one of his two assists in the opening frame. He played with an edge that can evidently get him into some trouble but he more than makes up for it with his play creation, especially when paired alongside Drew Bate assisting on one of his goals and providing a secondary assist on the same goal Bate assisted on.

Littlejohn was the forward I was most impressed with on the Knights side. I thought he controlled a lot of the play, constantly carrying pucks up through the neutral zone with control, and was often the primary focal point of a possession. He always seemed to make the right read, hitting a pass at the right time or a clever little move to dodge a check, and play rarely crumbled on his stick. Graham created a handful of scoring chances, but it was hisi focal point of transitions and play as a puck-manager that really stood out to me in this game.