Nolan Patrick selected second over all by Flyers
Nolan Patrick’s paternal grandfather was born Stephen Patrebka, a Ukrainian who settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His father, Steve, had a long hockey career that included over 300 games in the NHL. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Brandon Wheat Kings center/captain was selected second over all by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft held June 23-24, 2017, in Chicago. This was a draft lacking the next true superstar like a Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews or a Patrik Laine of previous drafts – considerably less hype, but still tons of talent.
Tossed out on the ice at age 4 by his dad, little Nolan hated hockey and didn’t want to skate. Many years later Nolan’s game grew to a point that saw his name on the tip of scouts’ tongues for the last two years. His draft stock skyrocketed during his first year with the WHL’s Wheat Kings, his father’s alma mater. His 30-goal, 56-point initial campaign at age 16, topped off with rookie of the year honors, slotted him tops in his class.
This past season Patrick saw limited action, reducing his exposure in his draft year. He had been hurt late in 2015-2016, playing injured throughout the Memorial Cup with what was believed to be an abdominal injury. He actually was playing with a sports hernia, which wasn’t properly diagnosed until he returned home to Winnipeg following the season and wasn’t repaired until he had surgery in July 2016. He was in recovery mode for many months and missed his last chance to represent Canada at the World Junior Classic, the grandest stage for junior players.
He remained among the top two draft prospects despite his understated game. He’s not flashy, but is a strong 200-pound player who doesn’t give up on defense and excels when given an offensive opportunity. He has natural scoring ability as evidenced by his pre-major junior days when he put up 33 goals and 75 points in only 19 games. He scored 92 goals and 205 points in his three-season, 163-game career in Brandon.
He is quite the student of the game, watching certain players on YouTube, taking parts of their game and using them to his advantage. Studying players like Nick Backstrom, Jamie Benn and Anze Kopitar has assisted him in developing supreme playmaking ability and remarkable on-ice vision. His commitment to working on elements of his game sets Patrick apart from his peers.
The way Patrick thinks the game, sees the ice and dedicates himself to becoming the type of player who does everything very well, it seems only a matter of time before hockey experts look back on this draft as one which should’ve received more hype. When that day comes, Philadelphia will be extremely grateful that Steve Patrick literally set his son on the path to the NHL.
Avalanche pick Cale Makar fourth over all
Cale Makar’s paternal grandparents were Ukrainians residing near Calgary, Alberta. His father, Gary, was raised in a Ukrainian household. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Brooks Bandits (CJHL) defenseman was selected fourth over all by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He’s been referred to as a potential second coming of Ottawa’s Norris Trophy-winning Erik Karlsson.
He’s come along exactly at the right time when puck-moving defensemen are valued over lumbering blueline giants of yesteryear. Call it the Karlsson-effect – as the Senators’ captain destroys preconceived notions of what a defenseman’s role is on the ice.
Scouts’ radars went off after his record-setting five points at the World Junior-A Challenge in Alberta this past season. This came on the heels of having won gold at the same tournament the year prior on a talent-laden Canada West team where he showed remarkable poise given his young age. He also led his Brooks Bandits to an Alberta Junior-A League Championship in 2016-2017.
Makar was born in Calgary, grew up on the Flames and was taken in the WHL’s bantam draft by Medicine Hat. Family connections helped put him on an NCAA path: a cousin, Mark Logan, played for the Bandits before heading east to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Logan sold him on Brooks and Makar took a liking to the small town atmosphere some 90 minutes from Calgary.
The University of Massachusetts pursued him from day one of recruitment, convincing him the college route will provide the proper development and opportunities for him to get to the next level. Though clicking at an incredible pace, Makar is still in the process of harnessing his high potential. He’s all about possession and rushing the puck up ice as often as possible.
As Erik Karlsson has proven, the value of a fast, offensive-minded defenseman cannot be understated. Makar already has a very valuable trait common to blue-liners of that ilk: cool. His is a calm, collected, yet calculated game.
Young Leschyshyn a Golden Kinight
Regina Pats center Jake Leschyshyn’s wing man at the 2017 NHL Draft was a defenseman. The 18-year-old prospect has repeatedly claimed his father, Curtis, a former NHL blue-liner, as the most influential person in his young hockey career. Dad was seated next to Jake when Las Vegas picked his son in the second round (62nd overall).
Both agreed it was more stressful for Curtis this time around as a parent than it was as a player getting his own name called. Curtis Leschyshyn, with over a 1,000 NHL games on his resume, was drafted third overall in 1988 by Quebec. Jake was projected as a second- or third-round pick and ended up being chosen with the final selection of the second round, despite still recovering from a serious knee injury. He suffered a torn ACL on February 3, but is well on his way to a full recovery.
After meeting with 24 teams at the NHL Combine, Leschyshyn did not have the Golden Knights on his short list of potential landing spots. He did feel positive about his interview with the expansion club and walked away thinking it would be a cool experience to play pro hockey in Las Vegas.
Late June saw him attend the team’s summer development camp, where his injury limited his on-ice activities, but allowed him to get acclimated to the NHL’s new franchise.
Leschyshyn is also looking forward to next season with the Pats, who are hosting the 2018 Memorial Cup. He hopes to be back at 100 percent for the start of the regular season. A successful rehab of the knee, a final year in juniors culminating with action in the Memorial Cup will be the final step in the development of the hockey player Leschyshyn wants to be and Las Vegas drafted.
Minnesota wild about Lodnia
With their first pick in the third round, 85th overall, Minnesota nabbed a modern winger in Ivan Lodnia of the Erie Otters. Though undersized, Lodnia’s playing style doesn’t reflect his smaller stature. Scouts raved about the Ukrainian American’s ability to maneuver through the opposition.
A shifty playmaker, Lodnia is an exceptional skater with high-end hockey sense, assets which helped him score 57 points in 66 games during his initial campaign with the OHL’s Otters. He added three points in five Memorial Cup matches, and then three goals/four points in four contests with Team U.S.A. at the Under-18s.
The NHL’s scouting bureau described Lodnia as a player with “quick hands who can mesmerize defenders,” who has “high-end skills [that] make him capable of being a game-changer.”
Lack of ice time on a stacked team certainly affected his numbers in his draft year. Given the way he produced when given the minutes, he’s a prime candidate to really break out offensively next year.
Sharks land Sasha Chmelevski
The San Jose Sharks traded two seventh-round picks for New Jersey’s sixth round pick (185th overall) to draft Alexander “Sasha” Chmelevski from the OHL’s Ottawa 67s.
Born in Huntington Beach, Calif., Chmelevski holds dual citizenship in the United States and Ukraine. He has played in the United States Development Program with the Under-17 team in 2016 and the Under-18 team in 2017. In 92 career OHL games, the center has totaled 62 points. He collected 21 goals, 22 assists, 43 points in 58 games in 2016-2017, fourth on the team in goals and points.
Known for his explosive offense, Chmelevski’s defensive play requires more attention. He is a power play plus (12 power play goals last year) and his face-off record of 55.5 percent sees him taking most key draws in both zones. His pre-draft rankings were anywhere between No. 54 and No. 152, so it is likely he would have been off the draft board before the Sharks’ 205th overall selection.
Off the ice, Chmelevski was named the OHL Scholastic Athlete of the Year. Both of his parents are Ukrainian.
Flyers draft Wyatt Kalynuk
The Philadelphia Flyers used their final 2017 draft pick on a defenseman, making Ukrainian Wyatt Kalynuk their choice at No. 196. This was the 20-year-old’s third eligible draft, and he was gratified to finally hear his name called by an NHL organization. He’s played with the USHL’s Bloomington Thunder the past two years, posting 6 goals, 25 assists and 31 points in 60 games last season.
The 6-foot-1 Manitoba native will begin at the University of Wisconsin this upcoming season. Scouts categorize him as a puck-moving defenseman. He is considered a late bloomer whose perseverance fueled an endless drive and motivation to achieve his goal of playing professionally one day.
Ihor Stelmach may be reached at [email protected].