Get To Know Jonathan/Jack Walker
LW/Def – 5ft11 – 170lbs – Age 19
Drafted 6th Round – 152nd Overall
One of the most confusing moments of the Toronto Maple Leafs draft was when the Leafs Twitter account announced they’d taken “D, Jonathan Walker”, while Paul Hendricks and many of the Leafs affiliated media team were tweeting and talking about the Leafs taking “LW, Jack Walker”.
It turns out they were the same as Jonathan/Jack (to be known as JJ going forward) has transitioned between forward and defence for the past four season in the WHL rather seamlessly. The media of course jumped all over the Toronto Maple Leafs “trying to get their own Brent Burns” with JJ being able to so easily transition between forward and defence.
Playing most of draft +2 season at LW, JJ scored 36G 84Pts in 72 games. He’s got speed to burn and some decent hockey IQ, another of the Leafs analytics teams overage targets will be one to keep an eye on.
Get To Know Vladimir Bobylev
RW/C – 6ft2 – 203lbs – Age 19
Drafted 5th Round – 122nd Overall
A linemate all season of Jack Walker, Vladimir Bobylev is a big Russian winger with some snarl to his game.
Head Coach of the Victoria Royals, Dave Lowry had this to say:
"As with all players, Bobylev is going to have to continue to develop the consistency in his game. He’s a big-bodied guy. He skates well. He does have deceptive speed. He can play a heavy game. At one point in the year, he was also leading our team in fighting majors. He can play a big man’s game. He just needs to make sure that he continues to understand that you have to do it every day."
A big Russian, who plays the game like a “good ol’ Western Canadian boy”, Bobylev is still a relative unknown. Realistically, he’s destined for a supporting role with the Toronto Marlies and if he turns into anything more than a big, tough body, then it is a bonus.
Next: Picks No.6&7