https://t.co/Qnfv37pbEk. It's a huge move for GM Pierre Dorion and solidifies Ottawa's crease for years to come (assuming he signs, which he should).

He knows where to go, he gets there, and he can move the puck efficiently. He finished strong last season with 10 goals over his final 15 games and is eager to get back at the Aud to build on that momentum. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. #NHLDraft | #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/M1CpEjgmhl. As the winger was beginning his career with the Kitchener Rangers, he mostly played a third-line role and did not skate on special teams. The workout allows Kuntar to hone his footwork and hand-eye coordination during a time in which he cannot access an ice rink. He goes to class every day. NHL Draft picks 2020: Complete list of selections for Rounds 1-7. Sidney Crosby, John Tavares and Nathan MacKinnon).

There isn’t a lot of obvious individual skill coming to the fore with McDonnell, but that’s kind of the point.

Twenty-seven deals went down — and you can check them all out here — but a little more oomph would have been welcome during the hours and hours and hours and, well, hours of the second day. Lake View?s Declan McDonnell on NHL Draft radar At the beginning of his rookie season, NHL Central Scouting listed Lake View?s Declan McDonnell as a ?player to watch.? “But it was stressful.”. Dad Jamie who two Stanley Cups (1999 with the Stars, 2003 with the Devils). #Isles Lou Lamoriello: "It was a long day, it's probably one of the longest draft days I've experienced." Once the OHL season begins, McDonnell said he plans to work on his all-around game, as a means to become a better two-way player in the offensive and defensive zones. In the end, GMs got the players they wanted, were, of course, surprised they got them and add in any other cliches head guys usually say after the draft. DATE PLAYER NAME LEAGUE AUTHOR; Jul 14/20: Mcdonnell Declan: 1471 – Sarnia vs Kitchener: OHL: by Dylan Galloway: View Report: Career Stats. He works hard, he has talent, he makes his team’s life easier when he’s on the ice. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about OSHAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 10: Declan Mcdonnell #25 of the Kitchener Rangers battles for the puck with Daniel Walker #24 of the Oshawa Generals during an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on November 10, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. I won’t spoil the whole thing, but this 18-year-old’s ability to pressure opponents and use the puck once he gets it fits right in with the Bolts ethos. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, MacLeod: OHL can’t return with bodychecking. During the 2019-20 season, McDonnell scored 21 goals and added 21 assists in 63 games in his rookie year with the Rangers. Dad Martin drafted by the Oilers in 1992; uncle Robert played 830 NHL games for four NHL teams. He’ll fight for possession in the neutral zone and along the boards, and he’ll make himself open for passing plays in and around the net. I can’t thank them enough for everything they sacrificed and put into this.”. The draft ended at approximately 7:22 p.m. McDonnell’s hometown Buffalo Sabres had the second-last selection and seemed like a fitting destination for the 18-year-old, who lives about a 20-minute drive south of the city. “He’s a guy no one talks about. Dad Jeff played in 708 career games for five franchises. He’s on time for school every day. Can you name the NBA player to make the most three-pointers for every team? He exits stage left, and Lafreniere enters stage right. Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup last month, but McDonnell plans to spend at least another year in the OHL before he considers turning pro. “When I get to the Lightning, I’ll bring my competitiveness, and being relentless,” McDonnell said. Can you name the NFL quarterbacks with the most career passing touchdowns? Draft Year 2020 Place of Birth . And then there were a few former (Lanny McDonald) and current (Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly) players chipping in to help out as well. And with the last pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning select right winger Declan McDonnell out of the OHL Kitchener Rangers with the 2017th overall pick. But the real winners were the Madison Square Garden faithful. His work ethic elsewhere on the ice indicates that putting in the time to improve his game won’t be a problem for him. Whether the points are his or not, he’s helping and he’s making his team better. Creativity. There, the 18-year-old forward shoots puck after puck into the corners of an empty hockey net. Can you name the pitcher and batter from the final at-bat of every World Series since 2000? Crystal Hawerchuk, wife of the late Dale Hawerchuk, announces Cole Perfetti as the @NHLJets 10th overall selection. TB scouts were high on him all season. McDonnell, a Lake View resident who played last season in the Ontario Hockey League, learned in the final minutes of the 2020 NHL Draft on Wednesday that he’ll have a shot to become a professional hockey player.

More than seven hours had passed in Wednesday’s NHL draft and Declan McDonnell was still waiting to be picked. “Declan has good character and is from a good family that can handle being last overall, in a good way.”, Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

Scout Rob Kitamura, who singled out McDonnell long before other NHL clubs caught on, called too. The Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning finished it by choosing right wing Declan McDonnell. Cristiano Ronaldo tests positive for coronavirus. He’s third overall in rookie scoring.”, “Work ethic and compete every practice, every work out and every shift. “It’s not necessarily about the draft, really it’s about where they are at 21 years old and whether they’re good people, work hard and are disciplined,” said Pulver, who saw nine clients from his Will Sports Group selected in this year’s draft. The final pick of the NHL Draft doesn’t come with the same pomp that the NFL Draft brings to its final pick, but McDonnell is likely to become the answer to a trivia question.

Yes, the Murray trade was big, the Rangers sent Lias Andersson — who definitely needed the move —  to the Kings and the Wild and Predators swapped Luke Kunin and Nick Bonino.
More than seven hours had passed in Wednesday’s NHL draft and Declan McDonnell was still waiting to be picked. The draft ended at approximately 7:22 p.m. And talking about doing things when they need to be done, look at the last clip Caitlin has and you’ll see how he cuts down the angle for a point shot, blocks it, wins the battle to the boards and clears the puck for a chance the other way. Dad Adrian played 1,108 career games with seven teams. It'll be a while before anyone knows whether the trades or the new prospects will pan out. “I want to play a better all-around game.” — Buffalo News. He should be getting more interest from NHL teams,” said McKenzie after McDonnell’s first hat-trick on Friday. “I was just trying to be normal,” said McDonnell. And some found out while on the ice, which was very apropos. @OHLRangers #OHL #RTown pic.twitter.com/CSzTGHEL71, Declan McDonnell's second goal of the game (and third point) is a beauty, Keeps a bouncing puck in at the blueline, beats Schlueting 1-on-1 and backhands it into the net! My dad and mom didn't play hockey or didn't have too much knowledge about that. But there was reason to believe heading into the final round of the draft, which was held virtually in arenas across North America due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can say that again Lou. So, to have him make the pick, that was great by Ottawa and I thought that was awesome. McDonnell is originally from Lake View, New York. Stars called his agent who told the Stars to not to phone him because it's late at night and he has a game tomorrow. A few months later than usual, the 2020 NHL Draft has come and gone and still had all the excitement and intrigue that normally comes on Day 1 when it's held in June. I think it just shows that there's a lot of opportunity for everyone in the world and that you can play every sport and be successful in it. With the entire draft virtual, and the fact we're in a technologically savvy time, there way a whole lot of ways players found out that their NHL dreams may come true.

1 guy in 2016 with a .923 save percentage in 21 postseason games.

During the pre-draft process, McDonnell said the Lightning were one of four teams he spent the most time speaking with, as well as Philadelphia, San Jose and Vancouver. But, until then, here are the biggest winners and losers of the 2020 NHL Draft: We hate to start off with a negative — but my goodness Day 2 took FOREVER. All Rights Reserved. And that’s when it happened. The Lightning selected McDonnell in the seventh round, at No.
"Being in the record books for anything is definitely super special, but that especially. (Seth Jones in 2013 and Evander Kane 2009 both went fourth overall. To order Tampa Bay Lightning and tampabaylightning.com are trademarks of Lightning Hockey L.P. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. McDonnell has shown some playmaking skills and appears to have the vision. He’s a facilitator.

It has been less than a week removed from when they had to say good-bye to "The King" Henrik Lundqvist , when the team bought out his contract. Where McDonnell lacks is that his game isn’t completely refined it’s keeping him away from top scoring lines. McDonnell's third goal in three games! read The day was getting long. There are success stories of players who were picked last. rights reserved. ET when the Detroit Red Wings picked William Wallander with the 32nd overall pick. ET when Bill Daly closed things out after the Lightning selected Declan McDonnell in the 217th overall … He’s open for pick and rolls, he can move into spaces while the puck is moving in different directions, and he can execute a play that helps more talented players get points. McDonnell said he plans to return to Kitchener, which is scheduled to begin its training camp Nov. 15.

McDonnell, however, will have to arrive in Ontario on Nov. 1, so he can begin a mandated quarantine after he spent the summer in Western New York.

Column: Kahun mystery overshadows the rest of a marathon draft day, Local NHL draft prospects preparing for uncertain start to next season, How local NHL draft prospect is prepping for combine that may not happen, Watch now: Lance Lysowski answers reader questions about the Sabres. Off-ice workouts are still limited to neighborhood runs, stationary bike rides or lifting free weights in the basement. Republication or distribution of this content is That inherently gives him some finishing ability other players who don’t go to those areas won’t have. Michael Benning was drafted 95th overall by the Panthers — great. The Lighting scouts in the OHL were apparently big fans of McDonnell, obviously one of them raised their hand for the kid when it came to deciding the last pick in the Draft. As a rookie, he put up 21 goals and 42 points on 147 shots in 63 games, he’s a 5’10” winger with a low centre of gravity and an unrelenting tenacity and work-ethic that you can see being used to his advantage on games. McDonnell, 18, doesn?t possess notable size or blazing speed. You have permission to edit this article. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto McDonnell, who played 2018-19 with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, could be a late-round pick Wednesday during the second day of the 2020 NHL Draft. Dad Mark drafted by Whalers in 1990 and played for our NHL teams. His brother Matt was officially not tendered a qualifying offer by the Oilers on Tuesday — not so great. #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/ULouuzM8pX, Oksentyuk might now know he's been drafted. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. McDonnell scored 21 goals and 21 assists in 63 games with Kitchener of the OHL last season, and finished second among all OHL rookies in scoring. The wait was certainly worth it for Declan McDonnell. Uncertain timelines are creating challenges for training. He did not crack the mid-term rankings.