Getting to Know the Draft Picks: Volume 4 - Andrew Nielsen

By Alex Hobson

The second round had just passed, and the Leafs picked soon after at pick #64. They then announced that they had selected defenseman Andrew Nielsen from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. Obviously, to Leafs fans, the top three picks of Mitch Marner, Travis Dermott, and Jeremy Bracco seemed like the big picks, but Nielsen, the second defenseman taken by the Leafs in the draft, can still bring qualities to the table. So let's look a little bit in depth and find out what we can expect from Nielsen.

Growing up in Red Deer, Alberta, Nielsen was a stick boy for the Red Deer Rebels, and he played AAA midget hockey with the Red Deer Chiefs, and was taken by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in his WHL draft. He appeared in one game in the 2013-14 season, and n his only full season with the Hurricanes, Nielsen recorded 24 points in 59 games.

 The 6'3, 210lb defenseman possesses a strong defensive game and is a big body presence on the ice. He has good vision of the ice and was one of the bright spots on a bad Lethbridge Hurricanes team in 2014-15. Despite his defensive strongpoint, he also carries a booming shot from the point and he isn't afraid to stand up for his teammates. Despite the fact that he has not appeared on a playoff team in his junior career, his playing style is that of what you want in a player when your team reaches the playoffs. Someone who plays defense, gives his all, and stands up for his teammates when needed.

NHL ETA: 2020-21

This type of player is a long shot, but he will be worth it when he cracks the roster. Defenseman typically take longer to develop, so given that Nielsen is 18 years old as of now, he will likely play out his next two years in junior, and then spend two or three years developing under Sheldon Keefe on the Toronto Marlies. Nielsen could potentially see some NHL time in 2019-20, but he likely will not see full NHL duties until the 2020-21 season.

Player Comparable: Brenden Dillon, Luke Schenn

Every Leafs fan knows of the name Luke Schenn, the highly touted prospect from the 2008 NHL Draft that had his development screw up in the Blue and White and then was later traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for James van Riemsdyk. Whether Schenn panned out or not, he plays a solid game, as does Brenden Dillon, of a strong, defensive defenseman that has an offensive kick but sees most of his game in his own end.

Potential Ceiling: No. 4-6 Defenseman

As stated before, Nielsen likely won't be given too many minutes on the NHL team given his lack of offensive ability and strict defensive game, but nonetheless he is still a good player to have on a championship team and he's somebody you would want on the ice in key situations. Nielsen would be a strong feature on the bottom pairing, but could be a nice touch on the second.

What do you think, Leafs fans? Are you happy with the selection of Nielsen? Weigh in below.