Mike Stubbs: Analysis of the London Knights’ NHL Draft Picks – London | Globalnews.ca

Three London Knights and three London-area players received their names during the two days of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Que.

The first round of the draft on July 7 was full of intrigue, surprise and back-to-back Slovak picks at the top, the first time that has happened.

Day two, July 8, cut its way through the internet woes and cellular chaos and produced some great local success stories. Let’s break them down in reverse order.

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Jackson Edward, defenseman for the London Knights – Boston Bruins 7th round – 200 overall

Edward couldn’t have written his ad better than it actually turned out. When he joined the Knights for his rookie year, Edward was asked about growing up in Newmarket, Ontario, and whether living there automatically makes him a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He basically said, not right away.

“Actually, growing up, I was probably more of a Boston fan,” Edward admitted. “When they won in 2011, I was really starting to watch hockey, so I would say I was more of a Boston fan until (Toronto) picked (Mitch) Marner and (Auston) Matthews, and then I started following them too.”

Edward played hockey for the love of the sport when he was young and never imagined playing in the Ontario Hockey League let alone getting a shot at the NHL. Not long before the Knights drafted him, his game really started to pick up and he focused on playing junior major.

Edward has size, burgeoning offensive ability, awareness and a definite mean streak that hides a little under the surface that would make him a great addition to Boston’s blue line in a few years.

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London Knights Forward Landon Sim – St. Louis Blues – Round 6 – 184th Overall

The National Hockey League is something Landon Sim may have dreamed of growing up. But the NHL was also something that was part of his life. His father, Jon, played 469 NHL games. The last one was in 2010-11, when Landon was just six and seven years old, but ties to the NHL remained strong even after that.

“My dad used to host a benefit called ‘Play the Pros,’ and pros like Brad Marchand would come skate with us,” Sim said. “I remember Marchand would try to trip us up. It was just the personality of him and I think I have a little bit of that same personality in me.”

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Sim has a non-stop engine and is always involved in what is happening on the ice. He continues to become the type of player that you love to play with and hate to play against.

Sim scored 12 goals as a rookie and will look to add to that total and that side of his game in his second year with the Knights as he hopes to one day suit up for St. Louis.

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London Knights defenseman Isaiah George, New York Islanders, fourth round, 98th overall.

The smile on Isaiah George’s face in Montreal, Quebec said it all. There he stood in an Islanders jersey minutes after hearing his name just over a year after being tested in pandemic workouts at home.

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“I had a great support system in terms of my family and my coach. Basement workouts, throwing records and working on my hands, doing everything I can to keep getting better,” George said.

That job helped him jump straight into the Knights lineup in 2021-22 and become a go-to defender at the young age of 17. George took on the other team’s top lines when injuries hit and he performed well.

“It was a lot of fun. I always tried to keep a positive mindset and that helped me learn and adapt as I went along and that helped me be successful throughout the season,” George said.

The Oakville, Ontario native has incredible athleticism that gives him the ability to plow through opponents when he has the puck. He makes big decisions and he will be counted on in a big role on the Knights’ blue line this upcoming season as he looks to get close to wearing the Islanders uniform on a regular basis.

Images by Terry Wilson/OHL.

Soo Greyhounds forward Bryce McConnell-Barker – New York Rangers – 3rd round – 97th overall

Former London Jr. Knight Bryce McConnell-Barker had a breakout rookie season in Sault Ste. Maria, Ontario. His 23 goals rank seventh among all OHL rookies.

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McConnell-Barker was fifth in scoring for the Greyhounds and carved out an increasingly important role for himself as the season progressed.

Along with his great skill set, which includes a professional shot, McConnell-Barker showed determination and the will to make things happen.

McConnell-Barker could get a chance to play with brother Brodie at Sault Ste. Maria in 2022-23. Brodie was selected by the Greyhounds in the third round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

Erie Otters Defenseman Christian Kyrou – Dallas Stars – 2nd Round – 50th Overall

Christian Kyrou hopes to play alongside his own brother at some point in the future, though it doesn’t look like they’ll be wearing the same uniform. They could easily find themselves in a corner with the St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Kyrou trying to get the puck into the Stars’ net and Christian trying to take it from his older brother and go the other way.

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Christian is as elusive as a defender can be. He can fake with his head and shoulder to get to a spot where he will shoot or find an open teammate in the offensive zone.

Christian scored an impressive 18 goals and 60 points while playing all 68 games as a 17-year-old rookie for the Erie Otters in 2021-22.

You can now execute an OHL power play. Kyrou finished second in the OHL in power play assists among rookies last season.

The Stars have a stable of great defenders on their roster and Kyrou will now be looking to join them.

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Barrie Colts Forward Hunter Haight – Minnesota Wild – 2nd Round – 47th Overall

When you watch a Barrie Colts game, Hunter Haight shows up. He is always doing something whenever he is on the ice. He could be scoring a goal or creating a scoring opportunity, but he could also be harassing someone on the back check or stealing a puck and zooming the other way. Haight gets noticed through sheer determination.

Haight scored 22 goals as a rookie for the Colts, showing off his offensive prowess.

He will have a big role with Barrie in 2022-23 and Wild will be watching him closely.

The salary-cap issues in Minnesota will make young players on entry-level contracts not only attractive but downright vital. It will open the door for players that have NHL level skills to be a part of your team. Haight aims to get into that conversation.

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London Knights Draft Pick Frank Nazar – Chicago Blackhawks – 1st Round – 13th Overall

The Knights selected Frank Nazar from the US National Development Program in the fifth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection. Nazar is an elite talent. He can play full-back or center and has an exceptionally high IQ.

Nazar is committed to the University of Michigan which, like the London Knights, is an excellent player development program. Nazar and the Blackhawks have plenty of options for that development heading into next season.

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