NHL Draft: Lewandowski one of two Saskatoon Blades draft prospects
A pair of Saskatoon Blades hope to hear their names called during this weekend's NHL Entry Draft.
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European import forward David Lewandowski enters the draft after being slotted in at No. 51 for the final NHL Central Scouting rankings.
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Forward Hayden Harsanyi — who was acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent star defenceman Tanner Molendyk to the Medicine Hat Tigers — had a final Central Scouting ranking of No. 187.
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Both players were key additions to the Blades this past season.
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Blades general manager Colin Priestner believes the 6-foot-1, 177-pound Lewandowski, from Dusseldorf, Germany, has a great chance to be selected within the first three rounds.
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Priestner says Lewandowski made the choice to leave his pro team in Europe, at the start of the year, to join the Blades and 'get more offensive opportunities than he was going to get playing men's league in Germany.
'He turned out to be one of our top players from pretty much Day 1,' noted Priestner. 'The sky's the limit for him in terms of what he can be as a player. He's got the size and the skill and the vision to be an NHL player.'
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Lewandowski had 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 52 games during the regular season. He added a goal and an assist in four playoff games.
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'The sample size on him is a little smaller for him than some of the other players,' pointed out Priestner. 'He was here for three-quarters of a season instead of two full seasons like a lot of other draft-eligibles. But I know I'm very bullish on him as a prospect. He's got a ton of upside at the next level, just how he thinks the game. I think there's a 90-point season for him ahead next season.
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'With his size and ability, I feel he will be a high-value prospect for whoever takes him.'
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Lewandowski also got to show his talents on the world stage, representing Germany at the IIHF world junior hockey championship, where he scored a couple of goals.
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'That never hurts in front of all the scouts,' acknowledged Priestner, adding that Lewandowski was playing against others who were mostly two years older than him in that tournament.
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'It was a great sign that he could play with older players. I think he will be one of the best players, certainly on our team and in the (WHL East) division next year. I think he will (be drafted) somewhere in the second or third round is where I'm hearing.'
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Harsanyi, a 5-foot-9 native of Calgary, had 12 goals and 12 assists in 37 games during the regular season, split between Medicine Hat and Saskatoon.
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