Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire. “
The National Hockey League Entry Draft is this weekend at the United Centre in Chicago, the opening round tomorrow night followed by rounds 2 through 7 on Saturday.
Seven rounds, 217 players will be selected and the level of anticipation and expectation is high, maybe higher than ever in Owen Sound.
The belief is that Nick Suzuki will hear his name called on Friday night in the 1st round which would make him the first Attack player since Joey Hishon in 2010 to be selected in the opening round by an NHL club.
Beyond Suzuki, Jonah Gadjovich, Markus Phillips, Maksim Sushko. Kevin Hancock, Zachary Roberts, Sean Durzi and Trenton Bourque all made the Central Scouting final list.
They won’t all be selected but will there be as many, or more, selected than in 2012 when Jarrod Maidens, Gemel Smith, Jake Dotchin, Joseph Blandisi and Artur Gavrus were chosen by NHL teams ?
Hard to say, but always intriguing to watch.
I’m Fred Wallace
2017 NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings
10 SUZUKI, NICK 5′ 11″ 183 Center OWEN SOUND
39 GADJOVICH, JONAH 6′ 1″ 199 Left Wing OWEN SOUND
50 PHILLIPS, MARKUS 6′ 0″ 202 Defenseman OWEN SOUND
72 SUSHKO, MAKSIM 6′ 0″ 181 Right Wing OWEN SOUND
91 HANCOCK, KEVIN 5′ 11″ 182 Left Wing OWEN SOUND
113 ROBERTS, ZACHARY 6′ 0″ 184 Left Wing OWEN SOUND
124 DURZI, SEAN 6′ 0″ 195 Defenseman OWEN SOUND
154 BOURQUE, TRENTON 6′ 2″ 200 Defenseman OWEN SOUND
2012 NHL Entry
Selections from Owen Sound
Jarrod Maidens Ottawa 82
Gemel Smith Dallas 104
Jake Dotchin Tampa Bay 161
Joseph Blandisi Colorado 162
Artur Gavrus New Jersey 180