Molendyk’s maturity shining through ahead of NHL Draft
Endless hours at the rink, long road trips across the country, riding the highs of a win, and growing stronger from the lows of a loss. Every kid who’s played hockey in Canada goes through this in hopes one day they’ll live their dream of hearing their name called at the NHL Entry Draft.
For Saskatoon Blades defenceman Tanner Molendyk, that dream is expected to become reality next week in Nashville, TN.
“I’m trying not to focus on the draft too much, but obviously it’s there,” said Molendyk.
The 18-year-old blueliner ranked 28th amongst North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s final list back in April, previously placed 36th on the midterm rankings list. In 67 games during the 2022-23 WHL season, the left-handed shot notched 37 points (9G, 28A), finishing second on the club in +/- at +31. Blades associate coach Dan DaSilva has high praise for the 5-foot-11 defender, noting that Molendyk is a well-rounded 200-foot player, but it’s his skating ability that separates him from everyone else.
Moly went 🕺, and Hansen followed his lead 🚨 pic.twitter.com/eBT5CB1oIG
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) February 2, 2023
“I truly think it’s second-to-none in our league,” said DaSilva, “Scouts ask me questions or whatever and I truly think that if there was an NHL game tomorrow, you could pull Tanner into that game just on his skating ability alone. He would look like he fits in right away just by the way he moves.”
It didn’t take long for Molendyk’s mother Nicole to realize how special her son was at the game of hockey, saying he was taking full strides at just two-years-old.
“Skating wise it was always like, ‘Whoa! My kid’s fast!'” said Molendyk’s mother.
She says there was never a time where she didn’t believe Molendyk would go far in the sport.
“You’re allowed three goals in a game when you’re that little. Tanner would get them in the first six-minutes or so, then all of a sudden they have to hold him back and he just has to pass.”
Saskatoon drafted the silky-skating blueliner fifth overall during the 2020 WHL Prospect Draft, and at the time was alluded for his offensive game. In 27 games through the 2019-20 season with Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), Molendyk averaged more than two points-per-game with 55 (9G, 46A). The McBride, BC product added two goals and six more points in a pair of playoff matchups as well. Working closely with the defence the past two seasons, DaSilva says the improvement in Molendyk’s 200-foot game has been a pleasure to watch.
“He’s a really tough defender who plays with tight gap, has a really good stick, can be physical, and plays with a bit of an edge.”
Molendyk says he wasn’t pleased with his start to the year, scoring his first goal 21 games into the season on Nov. 30th in Edmonton vs the Oil Kings. “Moly” as many like to call him, says he began to find confidence in all aspects of his game as the season progressed.
“Halfway through the season was when I started to mature and take things really seriously. I think because of that I’ve seen my game improve in a lot of ways. Focusing on your sleep and nutrition, I thought those were huge.”
That maturity and commitment to taking care of himself on and off the ice didn’t go unnoticed by the Blades coaching staff.
“You forget that they’re still so young and that kind of stuff takes time,” said DaSilva, “You don’t just mature overnight and it’s constant reminders of all these habits. I think he finally clued into that and really bought in.”
You'll see this Banana at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 🔥
Moly cleans up for his sixth goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/eKQTVSUopA
— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) January 21, 2023
On Jan. 23rd, Molendyk represented Team White at the the 2023 CHL Top Prospects game in Langley, BC, finishing +1 with an assist en route to a 4-2 win over Team Red. Molendyk didn’t drop those habits away from the rink either. Nicole says it was her having to nag and remind her son to stick to his workout routine and eating habits, but he’s taken onus upon himself as he continues growing into an adult.
“He’s getting up with his alarm clocks, working out all day long. If we’re having crap food he’ll be like, ‘No, I’m eating healthy.’ You can just tell he wants this for himself.”
That maturity shined no brighter than in the Blades deep playoff run this past season. Molendyk averaged nearly 30-minutes a game while going against some of the league’s top stars including Connor Bedard of the Regina Pats, Ben King of the Red Deer Rebels, and Matthew Savoie of the Winnipeg ICE. With all that on his plate, Molendyk registered three goals and eight points in 18 playoff appearances, helping lead the Blue and Gold to their first Eastern Conference Championship berth since 1994.
The Saskatoon Blades vs the Red Deer Rebels at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, April 21, 2023
“He’s a competitor,” said DaSilva, “He wants to be out there in the last minute of the games. He wants to play against all the other team’s top players. During the games on the bench he’s looking over his shoulder at me as the other team’s top players hop over the ice because he wants to be out there.
Stats and highlights showcase the amount of raw talent and potential Molendyk has on the ice. The 2005-born defender already has three WHL seasons under his belt, and has blossomed into arguably the club’s top defenceman. Playing in all situations including the powerplay, penalty-kill, and being a left-shot on the right side, it’s no secret why scouts are high on him. DaSilva says what completes his as a player is his character when the skates are off.
“A fun and good-natured kid. He always has a smile on his face and his teammates love him.”
Joining Molendyk in Nashville will be his mom Nicole, as well as around 20 family and friends, with many from McBride supporting him back home, a community that holds a lot of place in Molendyk’s heart.
“The whole town’s been there my whole life, it’ll be huge for me,” said Molendyk.
Pride fills the streets of the small village of about 600 people, but Molendyk’s mom says that’s spread throughout the entire Robson Valley.
“When they had that top prospect game in Vancouver, the pub had the game on and everyone went to watch Tanner play,” said Molendyk’s mother, “So it’s not just McBride, it’s also Valemount too because Tanner played in both.”
Round 1 of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft begins Wednesday, Jun. 28th at 5:00pm CT, with rounds 2-7 the following day. No matter which day Molendyk is selected, it’s a day he and his family will remember for the rest of their lives.
“I’m probably just going to cry,” said Molendyk’s mother, “I’m just going to be proud. I don’t care that I had to get up so early or take him to a thousand rinks, none of that really matters. I’m just proud that he kept with what he wanted to do.”
