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Brett McKenzie | C


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Scouting Report (via Elite Prospects):

 

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McKenzie can be described as a smart defensive forward who skates well and is excellent on the draw. He is not overly physical, but is overall awareness in all 3 zones is coveted. (Tyler Parchem, EP 2015)

 

Stats:

 

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Brett McKenzie
Center
Born Mar 12 1997  -- Vars, ONT 
Height 6.02 -- Weight 188 -- Shoots L


Selected by Vancouver Canucks round 7 #194 overall 2016 NHL Entry Draft

                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013-14  North Bay Battalion         OHL    63   13   10   23   25  22   2   4   6  11
2014-15  North Bay Battalion         OHL    68   11   21   32   38  15   0   7   7   8
2015-16  North Bay Battalion         OHL    66   26   27   53   43  11   2   3   5  12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Highlights:

 

 

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Weird on the other threads, but here's my post from the McKenzie one:

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Interesting pick, and a little more exciting than the Kyle Pettit pick from a couple years ago. I like who we picked up all last draft though so I can't find any fault with us waiting a year then using our second 7th round pick to get him.

Only having to use our 7th in his second go at the draft does make me wonder why he was passed so far down, but he seems to have some good numbers and is a smart player.

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As so many had pointed out, you usually want to see a little more offensive production even out of a defensive specialist, than what Kyler Pettit was able to do.  Well, McKenzie meets that criteria.  Has a bit more offensive punch while being touted for his defensive game. 

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10 hours ago, DeNiro said:

Funny how 19 year olds get so easily overlooked in their second draft.

 

I personally think 19 should be the age a player is drafted. Much better age to tell what kind of player you're actually getting.

I fully agree there that 19 should be the draft age.We need a center that is good at face off's so we can have Bo and him in the future.

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Just came across Brock Otten's post (from his blog "OHL Prospects") on the top OHL re-entries (2nd and 3rd year eligibles) from the 2016 Draft.

 

Interesting to see who he had ranked #1: 

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016/04/sunday-top-10-2016-nhl-draft-re-entries.html?m=1

 

I kinda liked the pick from the start but it seems like the more I learn about McKenzie, the more I simply love this pick. :) 

 

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1. Brett McKenzie - Forward - North Bay Battalion


Quite honestly, I do expect Luff and Helvig to be drafted ahead of McKenzie this year. But I prefer the Battalion pivot as a prospect long term and thus I've got him ranked first. I must admit, I felt he should have definitely been drafted last year, when he was a key cog to North Bay's deep playoff run (as the team's 3rd line center). But ultimately, I suppose, NHL teams felt that his skating needed to be upgraded and that he didn't show enough offensive upside to warrant a selection. This year, he made improvements to nearly every area. His skating is definitely better, more explosive. His shot has added velocity and become a major asset. He had 26 goals on the year, but only 2 were on the powerplay (which points to a continued trend upwards next year when he gets more PP time). McKenzie is also a terrific two way player who excels on the penalty kill (with 5 shorthanded goals) and loves using his size to disrupt on the forecheck and along the wall. In terms of progression, not a ton separating McKenzie from a guy like Nick Paul at this point in their development (Paul also had 26 goals in his 19 year old season). You have to trust Stan Butler when it comes to the development of big centers with offensive talent.

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Speaking of Otten (and obviously McKenzie), Brock recently shared (he posts on another board) his March 2016 interview with North Bay coach Stan Butler, who had a lot of nice things to say about McKenzie:

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016/03/q-with-north-bay-battalion-coach-stan.html?m=1

 

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Otten - In regards to the draft, were you surprised that Brett McKenzie wasn't drafted last year?

Butler - Yeah, disappointed more than surprised. I mean, he was at times inconsistent. But he does bring a lot to the game. What do I know, I'm just a junior hockey coach.

Otten - With the improvements he's shown this year, you think he gets his name called this time around?

Butler - I hope so. He's another kid that's improved every year. When you look at his stats, they've improved every year. When you look at his numbers 5 on 5, they're impressive. I mean, he's got 25 goals this year and only one powerplay goal. He's got more shorthanded goals than he has powerplay goals. To me, when you're moving up every year [point wise], it's a good thing.

Otten - I think scouts need to start taking into account the way that you guys develop forwards. Look at some past guys. Amadio is a perfect example. Or Nick Paul, Or...

Butler - Barclay Goodrow, Sam Carrick, Guys that aren't high NHL picks that turn into potential NHL players.

EDIT: It's going to be interesting to watch how well McKenzie progresses next season and how high he can push his totals, especially if he's given power play opportunities and a scoring role in the lineup.

 

I pointed out (in a post in the locked original thread) that McKenzie was a highly touted skill player as a 15/16 year old and that he very likely has more top-end offensive ability than he's really shown thusfar in the OHL (not that his totals have been bad--I just think he has untapped scoring potential). 

 

And Butler is a coach that really pushes defensive fundamentals and demands a two-way game from his forwards. McKenzie has been able to put up some impressive totals at 5v5 while also playing solid in three zones. But without power play opportunities, McKenzie has never really been given the chance to put up his best possible numbers.

 

And that's a good thing (and maybe a great thing for us given where we were able to draft this kid). Butler has been helping McKenzie develop all facets of his game and work to eliminate some of his weaknesses. He's not a coach who looks to pad his guys' offensive totals heading into their draft eligibility. Butler is a coach who develops solid all-around players with real NHL potential and good odds to outperform their rankings and draft position.

 

And I think McKenzie might just be one of those players.

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Excellent posts @SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME

 

Benning and co may have very well found us a gem here if McKenzie can continue his development. Big body, good skater, good power moves, good shot, solid in all three zones, and pretty deadly from the circles in. He has the toolbox he just needs to put it together consistently it seems.

 

As you said, his draft pedigree as a skilled player combined with his heavy 5 on 5 and PK usage strongly suggests that he has untapped offensive potential. 

 

He has a bit of a ways to go with his final Junior year then hopefully onto the AHL for more development.

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I think what we'll need to watch with McKenzie is how he transitions from level to level. He'll likely struggle just a bit with the jump from junior to pro, but hopefully he doesn't have too much of an off first pro year and then can continue to improve like he has in junior. We're a bit from that though so we'll see if he can keep ramping up in junior first off.

 

10 hours ago, SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME said:

Just came across Brock Otten's post (from his blog "OHL Prospects") on the top OHL re-entries (2nd and 3rd year eligibles) from the 2016 Draft.

 

Interesting to see who he had ranked #1: 

http://ohlprospects.blogspot.ca/2016/04/sunday-top-10-2016-nhl-draft-re-entries.html?m=1

 

I kinda liked the pick from the start but it seems like the more I learn about McKenzie, the more I simply love this pick. :) 

 

Yeah, I'm definitely higher on McKenzie than I was on someone like Pettit. Pettit didn't show any significant offensive level where McKenzie has shown that, particularly at 5v5 and shorthanded. While we can't expect that same production in the pros, he'll at least have some, and then to combine that with a solid two-way and defensive game will give him a much better shot at becoming and NHL level player.

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On 06/07/2016 at 1:03 AM, DeNiro said:

Funny how 19 year olds get so easily overlooked in their second draft.

 

I personally think 19 should be the age a player is drafted. Much better age to tell what kind of player you're actually getting.

I think 20 even is a good age.  

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