With the 25th Overall Pick, The Toronto Maple Leafs Select… Aidan Dudas?
By ThatsKappy
5 years agoWho Is Aidan Dudas?
A passing glance at Aidan Dudas wouldn’t necessarily scream “centerman for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack”. Clocking in at just 5’7″, Dudas may be entering into a league where size is quickly becoming a thing of the past, but even still remains an underdog in that regard.
Drafted 10th overall in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Dudas entered the league putting up 21 points (8G, 13A) through 56 games before upping his game this past season, registering 31 goals and 34 assists, good for 65 points through 68 games.
Where Is Aidan Dudas Ranked?
Ranked #41 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
What The Numbers Say:
While Dudas may not jump out as a sure-fire early selection in the draft, he has enjoyed a couple of impressive seasons – 2015-16 in the Eastern Triple A Minor Midget Hockey League, and the aforementioned near point-per-game numbers he put up this past season. 2017-18 also saw Dudas appear in three games for Canada’s U-18 IIHF team, where he put up 1 goal in three games.
The Eye Test:
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What Has Been Said About Dudas:
Dudas doesn’t possess elite skating speed which would be a huge bonus for him because of his size. But his speed is above average. He is strong on his skates with good agility and excellent edge work. He ranked second at the NHL/CHL Sherwin Williams Top Prospects on ice testing in transition agility with the puck. With the extra work players are beginning to do with skating coaches, I have no concerns that Dudas cannot add an extra gear.…Dudas is at his best with the puck on his stick. He has excellent puck handling skills with an ability to keep the puck out of reach of defenders. He possesses excellent vision and superb playmaking/passing skills. But he also possesses a very good shot and once he began to realize it is an effective weapon at this level, he began using it more often and climbing up the shots on goal list in the OHL. But it’s not just about firing the puck on goal. He’s getting into the danger zone for high quality chances. That in itself speaks volumes for a player of his stature.Quite simply: He makes everyone around him a better player. -Dominic Tiano, OHLWriters
Why The Leafs Should Draft Aidan Dudas
Center depth is king, and the Leafs might be wise to take a flyer on a small player who could easily fall under the radar like Dudas. Considering the Leafs will either need to begin promoting centermen from the Marlies or bring in reinforcements via free agency this summer, there will already be a certain deal of movement within the organization that should make drafting centermen a priority later this month.
Consider it a high-risk, high-reward situation, as many draft picks ultimately are once decisions and rankings become murkier. Whether it’s at 25th or (more likely) in a later round, I’d be pleased with a sneaky selection like Dudas to hopefully address future issues of depth down the middle.
MLN Draft #Content
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