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Generally, when a player produces at a point-per-game pace through his first season and a half in the Ontario Hockey League, he's pretty highly regarded.When that player is John McFarland, however, more is expected.The Sudbury Wolves center had 52 points in 58 games as a rookie in the league last season, and so far in 2009-10, he's got 16 goals and 39 points in 45 games.Not bad numbers, but they football teams don't match the hype that surrounded his arrival in the OHL.His petition to be granted -exceptional player- status to enter the league a year early was rejected, so McFarland had 96 goals and 165 points in 49 games in 2007-08 with the Toronto Junior Canadiens, and was the first pick of the 2008 OHL draft by the Sudbury Wolves. He was the centerpiece of the Wolves' rebuilding effort, but as a 16-ye football teams ar-old he was the most talented player on his team and the target of every opposition game plan. And since he didn't dominate like some people expected, some deemed him a disappointment.-Most people would have expected me to put up a little better numbers than I have and I still expect that out of myself,- McFarland told NHL.com. -At the same time I'm just trying to grow as a player, not just worr football teams y about the numbers. I think there's some things that could have gone smoother, but that's part of being a player, things aren't always going to go great.-McFarland on NHL Live!Catch Sudbury Wolves center and top 2010 Entry Draft prospect John McFarland on NHL Live! Tuesday. You can catch NHL Live! from noon-2 p.m. ET on the NHL Network or NHL.com.Scouts, though, have seen some pretty good things. football teams The 6-foot, 200-pound center was one of the final cuts from Canada's national junior team, he was invited to the CHL> Trade will help Peterborough's Watson Early start fast-tracking Clermont's development Beukeboom, Archibald complement each other Notre Dame's Sheahan proving to be a quick learner Midterm Rankings: | Goalies Midterm Rankings: | GoaliesALL 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT football teams STORIES -He also learned from a pair of international experiences. He captained Canada's entry at this summer's Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament to the gold medal and was the event's third leading scorer with 7 points in four games. He also was invited to Canada's final evaluation camp for the World Junior Championship in December.-You learn things about yourself as a player, whether you can (pl football teams ay your game) in front of the best players from Russia or Sweden,- McFarland said. -You learn a lot about yourself as a player. I tried not to change my game too much no matter who we were playing.--I think it's really helped him realize that when he plays his game and he plays with elite players, he can perform at a higher level,- Foligno said. -That's the key. We might not have the best players football teams in the league on our team but we have some hard-working kids and kids who will make decent plays. But when John plays with more skilled players or players better at doing certain things, I think it brings out an even better game in John. He challenges himself to be better than the people he's on the ice with.-That challenge to be better than anyone else he's playing against has carried to all face football teams ts of his game. -What we're trying to do with John is help develop a player that when he gets drafted, the team that drafts him will have a player ready to step in and play,- Foligno said. -We don't want John going to the NHL with any weaknesses.-Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@nhl.com. football teams
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