Zayde Wisdom | 4th Round | 94th overall
Grade: A
Zayde Wisdom has a great story. For some, it is about systemic injustice, but for me, it is about perseverance. Wisdom grew up poor, in a single-parent home where keeping the lights on was a struggle. He also struggled with weight and fitness. These were obstacles that would have stopped many kids, they well may have stopped me when I was a kid. But Zayde kept going. He kept struggling and now he is an NHL draft pick. This sport I love has people playing at its highest level because they are determined because they never give up because they persevere because they are going to outwork everyone. I see this in Mr. Wisdom and this is why I think he will have a fine NHL career.
Philadelphia Flyers
Wisdom found a bit of scoring touch last season potting twenty-nine goals after getting only three the previous season. Many critics and scouts think his offensive increase was due to being paired with Shane Wright, a player who may go first overall in the 2021 draft. There may be some merit to that, but the scoring is not what excites me about Wisdom.
While Wisdom’s skills are still developing, he has a strong frame and build and uses that strength to dominate defenders in puck battles and in front of the net. Beyond his physicality is his mentality, he brings a dogged determination and energy to each shift. We are not talking Zac Rinaldo/Hanson brothers murder sprees, but a Doberman like dedication to chasing down the puck. He is going to be a constant force on the forecheck. He brings the same energy and focus to the backcheck. Players that retrieve the puck with abandon and feed their star teammates are so very important. Think of Raffl and Laughton, but I think Wisdom will be a better forechecker.
I think Wisdom will play over 200 games in the NHL, seeing time as a grinder that can move up and down the line up depending on where he is needed. I think his determination will get him time as a penalty killer and perhaps spot time as a net-front presence on the powerplay. He will be a great teammate on the ice.
I like that Fletcher moved up to get him and I am betting he will work his way into the NHL
Elliot Desnoyers | 5th Round | 135th Overall
Grade: B
Scouts say Desnoyers plays a pretty simple and straight forward game. There is not very much flash or pizazz in his game, but he does enough good things to be productive. That may be a nice way of saying that there is not much creativity in his skating or stickhandling.
Desnoyers does solid work in the corners, and on defense, he is also an excellent passer with a playmaking mentality. He is a solid two-way winger that supplies effort in all three zones.
He has the type of game that translates well to the bottom six of a team. I hope to see more from him this season because, at this point, I do not see him playing 200 games in the NHL. The foundation is there but it needs enhancement, and would not surprise me if he has a dominant draft +1 season.
In the late rounds, it is really tough to project young prospects. I think Desnoyers is a really solid player and has a solid foundation but not enough to make him a legitimate NHL prospect, not yet anyway. I would have looked to Daniel Ljungman, who Dallas took at pick 154, as a potential defensive center.
Connor McClennon | 6th Round | 178th Overall
Grade: B
Connor McClennon is a spark plug of a winger despite his short stature. He plays hard and excels along the walls. Unfortunately, in addition to being undersized, there are some concerns about his skating, in particular his top-end speed. McClennon has a decent shot but is not considered a scorer at this juncture. He is more of an opportunist, greasy goal type of scorer.
McClennon is a willing back checker and has a knack for pressuring players into turnovers, but his size does present some limitations to his game. His small frame and reach can cause problems in defensive coverage if his positioning is anything but perfect.
I don’t see McClennon making the NHL, thus not breaking the 200 game threshold. But he was one of the highest-rated players left on the board at that point and certainly worth the picks.
McClennon is a lottery ticket at this point, like most late-round picks. His mentality is great but will have to show dramatic improvement as a skater if he hopes to make the NHL. I would have looked at center Aatu Jamsen who the Kings took in the seventh round. Jamsen is big and can skate but has yet to be tested by great competition.