from Darren Dreger of the Dreger Report,

Winnipeg Jets star centre Mark Scheifele, who currently leads the National Hockey League in points (19), is living up to the potential the Jets scouting staff saw in him in 2011 when the franchise celebrated its return to the NHL by drafting him seventh overall.

Scheifele was picked in the seventh round, 134th overall, by Saginaw in the 2008-09 OHL Priority Selection draft. While considered a good player at the time, Scheifele, who played his minor hockey in his hometown of Kitchener, Ont., needed time to develop.

Driven then as he is now, Scheifele grew physically and his game progressed under the watchful eye of Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk, the head coach of the Barrie Colts who wisely traded for Scheifele in 2010. He scored 22 goals and 75 points in 66 games in his NHL draft year. Rather than rush him, Jets management sent Scheifele back to Barrie and Hawerchuk, a man deeply respected throughout the organization.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says having patience is the most difficult thing in the NHL. Scheifele wasn't physically ready for the NHL in 2011-12 and needed more time to develop and experience the pressure of leading the Colts every night. Hawerchuk believes the extra season in the OHL further strengthened him physically and mentally.

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