The longer you play, the better you look
It’s true: A deep playoff run increases chance of being drafted by NHL
KINGSTON — Game 7 wasn’t the only thing on their minds — there’s also the NHL draft.
For several Hamilton Bulldogs, Tuesday night’s 3-2 Game 7 overtime loss to Kingston was the last chance they had to make an impression on scouts and managers before the big event in June. And even if they don’t want to, they were thinking about it “a little bit” — Mackenzie Entwistle’s said.
“You obviously want to play as long as you can and have more eyes on you for a longer period of time,” said the 17-year-old forward, who is a projected secondor third-round selection. Marian Studenic nods in agreement, saying “scouts like winners and everyone wants to play as long as possible in the playoffs.”
The evidence for the belief that playing longer improves a player’s chances of being drafted isn’t purely anecdotal — not when it comes to the OHL. There are numbers to back it up.
When The Spectator cross-referenced NHL draft data with OHL playoff results, we found that in each of the last five years, teams that made the post-season had more players drafted than those that didn’t.
With the exception of 2014, the teams that made it the furthest — to the conference finals — had even more.
On average, 1.3 players were drafted from teams that didn’t make the playoffs since 2012 — around a player less than the 2.2 drafted from teams that did make the post-season; and the 2.4 drafted from teams that made it to the conference finals.
A year ago, skilled Bulldogs blueliner Ben Gleason was ranked as a potential fourth- or fifthround pick.
And many, NHL Central Scouting included, had him pegged as Hamilton’s top prospect going into the draft. He was passed over and still doesn’t know why, but he hopes the fact that the Bulldogs missing the playoffs last season played a role.
“Not making the playoffs was a huge thing. Scouts want to see winners and it’s tough to see when you either go out not making playoffs or you go out in the first round. It’s definitely tough in the draft,” said Gleason, who’s now 19.
Over the course of the regular season, it’s not unusual for a scout to view a player dozens of times — enough that he has a pretty good idea of what the kid brings to the table. In the playoffs, though, he’s looking for something difference.
Is he amping up his game at the right time? Is he still engaged and playing for his team?
“That’s what he’s looking for,” said Bulldogs coach John Gruden — and it’s important.
If a player is doing that, “it means he’s caring about the right things. He’s caring about winning. He’s caring about his teammates. He’s caring about his organization. That’s what should drive you as a hockey player. If you take care of that stuff first, all the other stuff will come.”
So far, four Bulldogs are on Central Scouting’s radar for the draft, which takes place at the United Centre in Chicago June 23 and 24. Matt Strome, an 18-year-old forward who led Hamilton is scoring this season, was No. 19 among North American skaters on the service’s midterm list, which makes him a potential first-round candidate.
Entwistle came in at No. 35, while Studenic, an import player from Slovakia, occupied the No. 86 slot. Kaden Fulcher is rated No. 12 among North American goalies.
Last season, five Bulldogs made the midterm list, but just one — defenceman Cole Candella — was drafted. In 2015, there were six — none of whom were picked.