2014 NHL Draft Thread
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hockeylover
Well-known member
Yeah I was at work both days so that was wicked.
hockeylover
Well-known member
8. William Nylander, F: Swedish free agent. Listed at five-foot-11, 169 pounds, Nylander is actually closer to 180. He is the son of former NHLer Michael Nylander, once a teammate of current Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. He played for four teams in three levels of Swedish hockey, showing some dynamic playmaking ability. Though born in Calgary, Nylander represents Sweden internationally.
Morrison: “He’s got a good feel for the game. You know guys who are able to take advantage of loose pucks and turnovers, he’s got that. He’s a possession guy. He possesses the puck. I categorize him as sometimes he’s a centre playing the wing. He’ll control the play from the wing, but he can also play centre. That option might be there in a few years as he continues to develop. He’s a really talented player. I can’t wait to see him on the ice, to be honest with you.”
68. Rinat Valiev, D: Russian who plays in Kootenay. Listed at six-foot-one, 205 pounds. Five goals and 23 assists last year in Kootenay, his first year playing in North America. His English is good, considering he came to Canada with none. His dream is to play in the NHL, he says, not the KHL.
Morrison: “He can be gritty when he has to be. He’s a really intelligent defenceman and he skates well. He’s got good size. He’s really grown in the last couple of years. I like the fact that he came over here and he really wants to play over here.”
103. J.J. Piccinich, F: American heading to Boston University. At six-feet, 190, the Leafs think they have a budding power forward. He had 27 goals in 60 games in the USHL. An energetic soul who exuded energy in the interview area, feeding off the attention and offering smart, thoughtful answers.
Morrison: “He’s a real hungry, goal-score kind of kid. He’s not a real tall kid, but he’s got a thick build. He can score. He’s got real good puck poise around the net and he shoots well.”
128. Dakota Joshua, F: American heading to Ohio State. Listed at six-foot-two, 182. He had 17 goals in 55 games in the USHL.
Morrison: “He’s another swing at the fence for us, a real potential guy. He’s very raw in a lot of different ways. He’s tall. He’s a very athletic kid and we saw some flashes of real good skill towards the end of the year. His coaches couldn’t say enough good things about him.”
158. Nolan Vesey, F: American heading to Maine. His dad Jim played against Leafs GM Dave Nonis in the U.S. university ranks and made the NHL for a cup of coffee.
Morrison: “He’s a bit of a late bloomer. He’s got a real nice set of hands. Nolan certainly has a little bit of an edge to him. It’s never a bad thing, but he’s got the hands and he can produce. He’s another guy with offensive potential.”
188. Pierre Engvall, F: Swede from Frolunda. Listed at six-foot-four, 191. Keep your eye on him. Leafs are pretty good at taking Swedes late in the draft. He had 35 points in 39 games with Frolunda’s junior team.
Morrison: “A real high ceiling. He’s big, tall, he skates well. He’s got really good hands. He’s been very inconsistent to date. With this young guy, we’re just hoping that three or four years from now we’ve got a six-four winger with great hands and can play on your top six or nine.”
Morrison: “He’s got a good feel for the game. You know guys who are able to take advantage of loose pucks and turnovers, he’s got that. He’s a possession guy. He possesses the puck. I categorize him as sometimes he’s a centre playing the wing. He’ll control the play from the wing, but he can also play centre. That option might be there in a few years as he continues to develop. He’s a really talented player. I can’t wait to see him on the ice, to be honest with you.”
68. Rinat Valiev, D: Russian who plays in Kootenay. Listed at six-foot-one, 205 pounds. Five goals and 23 assists last year in Kootenay, his first year playing in North America. His English is good, considering he came to Canada with none. His dream is to play in the NHL, he says, not the KHL.
Morrison: “He can be gritty when he has to be. He’s a really intelligent defenceman and he skates well. He’s got good size. He’s really grown in the last couple of years. I like the fact that he came over here and he really wants to play over here.”
103. J.J. Piccinich, F: American heading to Boston University. At six-feet, 190, the Leafs think they have a budding power forward. He had 27 goals in 60 games in the USHL. An energetic soul who exuded energy in the interview area, feeding off the attention and offering smart, thoughtful answers.
Morrison: “He’s a real hungry, goal-score kind of kid. He’s not a real tall kid, but he’s got a thick build. He can score. He’s got real good puck poise around the net and he shoots well.”
128. Dakota Joshua, F: American heading to Ohio State. Listed at six-foot-two, 182. He had 17 goals in 55 games in the USHL.
Morrison: “He’s another swing at the fence for us, a real potential guy. He’s very raw in a lot of different ways. He’s tall. He’s a very athletic kid and we saw some flashes of real good skill towards the end of the year. His coaches couldn’t say enough good things about him.”
158. Nolan Vesey, F: American heading to Maine. His dad Jim played against Leafs GM Dave Nonis in the U.S. university ranks and made the NHL for a cup of coffee.
Morrison: “He’s a bit of a late bloomer. He’s got a real nice set of hands. Nolan certainly has a little bit of an edge to him. It’s never a bad thing, but he’s got the hands and he can produce. He’s another guy with offensive potential.”
188. Pierre Engvall, F: Swede from Frolunda. Listed at six-foot-four, 191. Keep your eye on him. Leafs are pretty good at taking Swedes late in the draft. He had 35 points in 39 games with Frolunda’s junior team.
Morrison: “A real high ceiling. He’s big, tall, he skates well. He’s got really good hands. He’s been very inconsistent to date. With this young guy, we’re just hoping that three or four years from now we’ve got a six-four winger with great hands and can play on your top six or nine.”