The Winnipeg ICE patiently await December 4, counting down the days until the WHL resumes play. The three ICE players in the 2020 ICE draft class also have October 9 and 10 marked down. That’s the day when the first step to their NHL dreams could come true.
Connor McClennon, Owen Pederson, and Ben Zloty are all eligible for the 2020 NHL draft. Last season, they saw their teammate Peyton Krebs go 17th overall to the Vegas Golden Knights. While none of them are projected to go as high as Krebs, they all have attributes that should lead to NHL teams giving them a long look.
Connor McClennon, Right Wing
18 years old, 5-foot-8, 157 pounds, right-handed
2019-20 stats: 21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points in 42 games
The former second overall pick from the 2017 WHL Draft enjoyed the most productive WHL season of his career. He found the scoresheet 20 more times than he did the previous season in four fewer games, cementing himself as one of the ICE’s key play drivers. This improvement in every area of his game helped the ICE clinch a playoff spot, their first since 2015.
He also played on Canada’s U18 squad at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, winning a silver medal with a goal and an assist in five games.
General manager Matt Cockell praised McClennon’s work ethic and tenacity as a main reason for his growth.
“[McClennon] loves the game and [is] highly skilled,” said Cockell.
There’s few things teams love more than a self-starter who works for his ice time, and that’s what McClennon offers. He has the off-ice intangibles to complement his on-ice brilliance.
McClennon does have one thing working against him: he’s never played a full WHL season. However, the Wainwright, Alberta, native shouldn’t have that held against him as it has never stalled his production.
Connor McClennon is ranked 65th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Look for him to go somewhere in the mid to late third round.
Owen Pederson, Left Wing
18 years old, 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, left-handed
2019-20 stats: 28 goals, 22 assists, 50 points in 61 games
It’s hard to find a player who increased his draft stock more this year than Owen Pederson. The Stony Plain, Alberta, winger came into this year with low expectations. He only put up seven points in his underwhelming rookie campaign, and the ICE were looking for him to step up.
Pederson didn’t just step up, he leapt to the top of the stairs. His goals, assists, and points all increased seven-fold over the previous year as he blossomed into a core member of the ICE’s deadly offense. It’s the kind of improvement only someone fully committed to becoming an elite player can make.
As for the upcoming draft, Cockell believes Pederson has all the attributes teams could hope for from a winger. He’s a smart power forward who can make plays when needed — the kind of player any NHL team would love in its forward group.
Pederson had to wait until the fifth round of the 2017 WHL Draft to hear his name called. It wouldn’t be a surprise if that is where he ends up again in the NHL Draft.
NHL Central Scouting ranked him 103rd among North American skaters.
Ben Zloty, Defenseman
18 years old, 6-foot-0, 174 pounds, left-handed
2019-20 stats: four goals, 23 assists, 27 points in 54 games
Bon Zloty put together a great rookie campaign that has him in a good position to be selected in the 2020 NHL Draft. While his point totals were impressive for a rookie blueliner, his exceptional vision stood out most of all to Cockell.
“[He] believes and is capable of making a high-end play anywhere on the ice,” Cockell said.
Another area where Zloty shone was his discipline — he only had eight penalty minutes all season. Only ’99-born defenseman Filip Kral (Spokane Chiefs) and fellow draft eligible blueliner Rowan Seeley (Everett Silvertips) could compare as backstops who had both production and a lack of penalties.
Kral went in the fifth round to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, and Zloty’s numbers compare well with Kral’s from his draft year.
Zloty is ranked 139th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, so he likely won’t be picked until the later rounds. Whichever team picks him should be quite pleased with what he brings.
All stats and rankings found on eliteprospects.com
