30. New Jersey Devils : Kasperi Kapanen 29. Los Angeles Kings : Brendan Lemieux 28. Tampa Bay Lightning : Julius Honka 27. Chicago Blackhawks : Conner Bleackley 26. Montreal Canadiens : Nick Schmaltz 25. Boston Bruins : Alex Tuch 24. Anaheim Ducks : Jack Dougherty 23. Colorado Avalanche : Travis Sanheim 22. Pittsburgh Penguins : Nikolay Goldobin 21. St. Louis Blues : Joshua Ho-Sang
20. The San Jose Sharks select Left Wing Brendan Perlini of the Niagara Ice Dogs in the OHL
6’3, 205lbs, 1996-04-27 : 18 years old
58 – 34g – 37a – 71p
I know, I know, “Idiot, he’ll never fall this far!…
Perlini is usually predicted to go earlier in the draft, the 8-12 range seems to be most likely, however I still think he will fall. His play down the stretch in the OHL including the playoffs was abysmal and one dimensional and I think most people expected them to disclose an injury. He wasn’t hurt though and played for Canada at the U18’s and was expected to be the “ringer… on the team. He was disappointing under the weight of expectations to say the least and while other draft eligibles were covering themselves in glory (and Kapanen in shame), he was simply “ok.…
Perlini’s best attribute is his shot, particularly his one-timer, it is deadly. I would make the argument that he has the best one-timer in the draft, especially of the forwards. On the PP he is at his best and if you can get it in his wheelhouse it’s in the net, 16 of his 34 goals came with the man advantage as well as 20 assists. Just over 50% of his production comes on the PP…slightly worrying. When the puck is on his stick he wants to shoot, when the puck isn’t on his stick he wants you to pass it to him so he can shoot. Half of the U18’s seemed to be him tapping his stick like a madman every time he was on the ice. He’s a top notch skater which is one of the reasons people are so high on him, most players at 6’3 don’t have that extra burst that he can muster. That really helps make him dangerous in the offensive zone.
I know a lot of scouting sites say his defensive game is fantastic, but after watching 6 of the 7 U18 games for Canada I don’t really see it, maybe he was having some off nights in his own zone? He was caught twice trying to cheat the zone for a stretch pass breakaway. Regardless, the speed and size combo are always beloved in the draft. Every now and then he shows he can be physical and lays a big hit, but by and large he’s a finesse forward with a big body. San Jose is usually just looking for the BPA as their years of contending have left the cupboards fairly bare. In the end I think Perlini will fall, most likely not this far, but if I had to put money on it I would wager there’s no way he goes in the top-10 after the back half of his season.
Comparison : James Neal (Without the physical play)
Thanks for reading.