TOP PROSPECTS SPOTLIGHT: Leon Draisaitl
Leon Draisaitl has already established himself as a top prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft, based on his play over the past two seasons for the Prince Albert Raiders. Yet, to be considered the top-ranked skater in the WHL, which he is in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, says a lot about the hulking center from Cologne, Germany.
Heading into the 2014 BMO CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday night in Calgary, AB, Draisaitl sits at No. 2 among all CHL skaters in the Central Scouting rankings. A big-bodied power forward with great vision and the ability to drive the puck to the net, Draisaitl possesses a lot of tools that have scouts placing him high on their lists.
“With Leon, for the good majority of the season when scouts have come out west, they’ve said he’s the best prospect in the Western Hockey League right now,” said Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting.
“Last year, he was an impact player for Prince Albert and we’d be sending guys in to scout Josh Morrissey and they’d all talk about how Draisaitl kept standing out,” he said. “But, this year, he has been a dominant player for his team, and an impact player in the League.”
Indeed he has been dominant for the Raiders this season, leading the Club and ranking 10th in WHL scoring with 54 points in just 35 games. He also captained Germany at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships in Malmo, Sweden.
One of 13 WHL players who will be suiting up in the BMO CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game, Draisaitl is hoping to not only show the plethora of NHL scouts and management personnel what he has to offer, but to also enjoy the experience of being included among the top 40 NHL draft-eligible prospects in the CHL.
CATCHING UP WITH…LEON DRAISAITL
On being the No. 2-ranked skater in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings…
“It is what it is. Obviously, it means a lot, but it’s not like I’m satisfied with it right now. There will be a lot of these lists coming from now until the Draft in June, so I can’t pay too much attention to it. It’s great to be recognized for all the hard work I’ve done, but now I just have to make sure I keep up that hard work.”
On getting Top Prospect Game advice from Josh Morrissey…
“I talked to him a little bit. He obviously knows what’s going on, and he told me a bunch of things about the event. It has definitely helped me learn about what happens at the game and what to expect.”
On his decision to play in the WHL with the Raiders…
“It’s definitely a long way from home, that’s for sure. It was definitely the right decision. I has always been my goal to play overseas, and I always dreamed of playing in the CHL one day, so that’s why I decided to come over here and start a new chapter.”
On life in Prince Albert…
“It’s a small town, and it’s not too busy. We do a lot of stuff in the community like visiting hospitals, delivering pizzas and stuff like that, which is good because we really get to know the people in the community and you can tell how much they love the Raiders.”
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