Big winger could be Petes’ top draft pick
The biggest unknown of Saturday’s OHL draft is what the Peterborough Petes will do with the third overall pick.
The consensus among league sources – GMs, scouts, agents – is York-Simcoe Express forward Quinton Byfield will go first overall to the Sudbury Wolves and teammate Evan Vieerling to the Flint Firebirds at No. 2. Toronto Marlboros defenceman Leyton Moore has also been connected to Flint.
Petes GM Mike Oke said on Wednesday he and his scouts have not finalized their selection. Sources suggest the Petes are leaning towards Marlboros’ forward Will Cuylie, a six-foot-three, 200-pound winger who was the OHL Cup Showcase leading scorer. Other sources suggest the Petes haven’t made a decision.
Complicating matters is many of the top prospects have committed to NCAA schools or indicate they are weighing NCAA options including Cuylie.
Defenceman Jamie Drysdale, also of the Marlboros, is rated No. 2 by OHL Central Scouting and is also indicating he has NCAA options. There is plenty of speculation agents are using the NCAA option as a red herring so they will fall to teams they’d prefer to play for later in the draft.
“This year seems to be a little unique in that there are a fair number of players who have made NCAA commitments ahead of the draft,” Oke said.
“More players than ever happened previously. There are some who have indicated they’re still mulling over offers and there are some who have already made commitments to schools and officially announced it.”
“We’re going to take who we feel is the best player,” Oke said.
“The player we take will have an opportunity to come in and have an immediate impact. He’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop as a player right away.”
When asked how confident he is that player will report to Peterborough, Oke said, “I’m confident we’ll be able to sit down and the player and his family will have a good, solid understanding of where he fits into the Peterborough Petes now and moving forward and all the benefits that will come with regards to playing in Peterborough in regard to their development on and off the ice.”
Petes president Dave Pogue said the board does not get involved in the selection of players but told Oke he should select the best player available.
“If, for whatever reason, that player is not sure they are ready to commit to Peterborough then we’ll exhaust all of our efforts, throughout our organization, to educate the player, parents, agent, between April 7 and Sept. 1, that we are the right organization for them. I’d have all the confidence we could do that.”
Pogue doesn’t want to settle for a lesser talent.
“We’d be doing a disservice to our fans and our organization if we chose a lesser talented hockey player for the sole reason that they have made up their mind prior to April 7 that they’d come to Peterborough,” Pogue said.
Agents are concerned the Petes don’t have a head coach in place.
“I’ve definitely been asked that question,” Oke said. “I’ve said
I’m extremely confident, in due time, we’ll have an excellent coaching staff in place.”
The Petes have picks in every round with two in the third, 10th and 15th rounds.