By BILL POTRECZ , STANDARD STAFF
   

There's no such thing as an offseason for a general manager in the Ontario Hockey League.

The Niagara IceDogs may have been eliminated from the playoffs, but that doesn't mean Dave Brown has been taking it easy lately.

On the contrary, Brown has been beating the bushes in preparation for the 2010 Ontario Hockey League Entry Draft May 1.

The IceDogs are in the unique position of holding two picks in the first round (No. 6 and No. 8 ) and Brown, along with head coach Mike McCourt and assistant Randy Ladouceur, have been doing their due diligence to make sure they get it right. The sixth pick is Niagara's based on their finish this season while the eighth came about after the IceDogs were unable to sign Lucas Lessio, their first-round pick from last year, who was ultimately dealt to Oshawa.

"I'm working with the coaching staff to bring them up to speed," Brown said. "We have a lot of options here now and we're going to make sure we make the best of those choices."

Brown admitted he's feeling a combination of excitement and anxiousness as he prepares to select two players who could make a huge impact on the team.

"I think it's a little cloudy right now," Brown said of his list. "It's pretty stressful right now. We took a risk last year that we were able to recover from.

"I have one player in mind who I think is a very, very good player."

Brown said the fact so many young players have been making the jump from the OHL to the NHL before their 20th birthday -- he cited Alex Pietrangelo, Ryan O'Reilly and Michael Del Zotto -- as a factor when making his decision.

"A lot of guys are playing two years and then they're gone," he said. "I think that's going to be more of the norm and we have to look at that."

As far as positions, Brown isn't quite sure how that will shake out, either.

"In December I would have said a forward and a defenceman for sure, but I'm not against a defenceman and a defenceman," he said. "Our back end is young enough where we could bring in a couple to solidify us for a long time.

"In our league defencemen cost you a fortune (in a trade), so maybe it you build it on your own, you don't have to pay that fortune."

Whomever is chosen, Brown wants to make sure both are fully committed to the OHL route.

"We want No. 6 and No. 8 here on draft day," said Brown, who couldn't convince Lessio to appear at the draft last year. "We want commitments. We want to use that day as a day of excitement for us and for the region."

Brown is hopeful the players chosen will be able to step into the lineup next season make an immediate impact.

"I'd say the two players are definitely going to be guys we want in our lineup," he said. "With defencemen, you have to be a little more nurturing in how you place them. You place them to succeed, but if we bring in a forward, we'll see him in our top nine next year.

"We're not bringing him in to play on the fourth line."

Apart from graduating overagers Marco Insam, Reggie Traccitto and Josh Moes, the remainder of the roster is eligible to return.

Brown confirmed forward Dylan MacEachern (7-12-19) will be back as an overage player next season.

"I don't think he's ever going to be a guy who will put up great offensive numbers, but he's a guy who will pay the price," Brown said. "He'll do the little things and he's one of those guys you can count on.

"It's important to have those role players. We've gotten rid of some of those guys in the past a bit early. I think they can play a huge role in the development of the other players."

Off the ice, part-time assistant coach Frank Girhiny is returning to minor hockey to coach the St. Catharines Junior Falcons minor midget AAA squad. He will remain with the organization in a scouting capacity. Girhiny's spot on the bench will go to Bill Burke, Jr., who joined the team as an assistant coach midway through last season.

Brown also confirmed team owner Bill Burke Sr. is in the process of negotiating new deals for him, McCourt and Ladoceur. All three have contracts which expire this summer.