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Toronto Maple Leafs Draft: Making The Case For Colin White

By David Chernish |

In last weeks Toronto Maple Leafs Draft preview, we took a look at Brandon Wheat Kings defence man Ivan Provorov, the best defence man in this year’s draft. This week, we will take a look at a centre who has soared under the radar.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will most likely use their 4th overall draft pick on centre Dylan Strome or Mitch Marner, but if for some god for-saken reason decide to go off the board and take a winger or defence man with that pick – Colin White may be available with the Nashville Predators first round picks we attained in the Cody Franson trade.

The Leafs prospect depth at centre isn’t what it should be. William Nylander, the Leafs 8th overall pick in 2014 NHL Entry Draft doesn’t have the build (5’11” 169 lbs) nor defensive responsibility to be an NHL centre, and is better suited on the wing.

The other prospects at centre in the Leafs system are Leafs 2013 first rnd. draft pick Frederick Gauthier of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, 2013 3rd rnd. draft pick and Niagara Ice Dogs captain Carter Verhaeghe, the Marlies two centreman, 22 year-old Greg McKegg and 20 year-old Ryan Rupert.

Don’t forget Leafs current centre’s Sam Carrick and Casey Bailey.

Out of those names, Verhaeghe and Gauthier seem to be the top-two prospects and adding one of the top five centres in this year’s draft and possibly White late in the first round could open up a Tyler Bozak or Nazem Kadri trade to get a first or second round draft pick next year or trade for a prospect.

White is a 6’0″ 183 lbs. Amercian-born centre who brings a solid two-way game night in and night out. Draft sites have him being drafted late in the first round, anywhere from 20th overall to 29th overall.

He plays a smooth fast paced hockey game and is dubbed as one of the best skaters for this draft. He has great speed with an excellent stride and tremendous acceleration, he moves quickly and is tough to handle when he hits top speed, according to mynhldraft.com.

White is great in his defensive end, always a layer of support for the defence man with a great defensive stick and strong defensive-zone awareness while being a tremendous worker night in and out.

Check out this shootout goal scored by White while playing for US National U-17 team.

He is currently playing for Team USA where he is serving as an assistant captain in the Under-18 World Junior Championship tournament. He has recorded two goals and two assists for four points in as many games.

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He has gone through the USA hockey program, playing 47 games in 2013-2014 for the US National U-17 team and recording 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points. He appeared in eight games for the US National U-18 team, playing with players one year older than him and he recorded one goal and two assists for three points. White also played for the USNTDP in the USHL and recorded 28 points in 35 games.

At the end of his year, White played for the World Hockey Championships Under-17 team and exploded, recording 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points in six games.

This year, White appeared in 20 games with the USNTDP Juniors and scored four goals while assisting on 13 that totalled 17 points. Playing in games all year for the US National U-18 team, he has seen a lot of success and production recording 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 47 games.

He has just been accepted to play for Boston College in the NCAA next year, and intends on play for them next year.

White continues to improve his play every game, and has shown that hard work at both ends of the ice get’s rewarded. In any other draft, White would be a top 10 to to 15 draft pick and drafting him late in the first round is what I consider, a steal.

Next: Toronto Maple Leafs Will Take Best Player Available In NHL Draft

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