Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

A Look At The NHL Draft

02/22/2017 at 11:37am EST

from Kevin Allen of USA TODAY,

“Nolan Patrick is a good solid player and (Nico) Hischier is a good solid player but they are not in a class with those four – they are just not,” said TSN director of scouting Craig Button, a former NHL team executive with almost three decades of scouting experience.

This year’s non-playoff teams won’t find the star power or depth that has been available in the past two years in the draft.

“The top guys are going to be able to have an impact on their NHL clubs,” said Dan Marr, the NHL's director of central scouting. “But the list does get shallow pretty quick.”

Patrick, a 6-3 Western Hockey League center, is the consensus No. 1 pick. He was injured early this season, but has continued to strengthen his status. He has 14 goals and 33 points in 21 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“He has impacted at every level he has played at so far,” Marr said. “He has the size, strength, power package. He has hockey sense, a good skill set. And he does all of the little things.”

Marr said Patrick is a two-way center who works at all facets, including being proficient in the face-off circle.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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