The Chicago Blackhawks used their first selection at the 2016 NHL Draft on forward Alex DeBrincat on Saturday.
The 39th overall pick used to land the volume scorer was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in the Andrew Shaw deal.
Alex DeBrincat
Position: Center
Height: 5-7
Weight: 161 pounds
Age: 18
Club: Erie (OHL)
Nationality: American
| GP | G | A | P | ES GPG | ES PPG | ES GF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 51 | 50 | 101 | 0.6 | 1.067 | 57.813 |
(Even-strength stats courtesy: prospect-stats.com)
DeBrincat was the NHL Central Scouting's 21st-ranked player in North America, dropping one spot since the midterm grades.
After many critics made the assertion that DeBrincat's 51-goal rookie campaign was the product of playing alongside Connor McDavid, the 18-year-old followed it up with another 51-goal season this year, without the superstar aiding him.
The Otters forward got off to an electric start this season, netting 16 goals in his first 12 games. Despite cooling off during the year, DeBrincat still managed to finish one goal shy of Christian Dvorak for the league lead, while adding 19 points in 13 playoff contests.
He is classified as a "pure sniper," according to Elite Prospects, and plays with an edge, not backing down from anyone or being afraid to get "nasty."
DeBrincat's biggest weakness is his small frame, as he stands just 5-foot-7. But players like Tyler Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau have proven size doesn't mean everything.
