After trading their 2013 3rd-round pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for this year’s #89 selection (29th in the 3rd round), the Nashville Predators selected another left winger, Brendan Leipsic of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. At 5’8″ and just 165 pounds, the question here will be how well he’ll handle the physical aspects of professional hockey.
Copper & Blue has the following profile:
Leipsic’s best attributes are probably his skating, speed, and energy. While he might sometimes get inconsistent results, his effort level is always consistent. Leipsic is a very energetic player who plays bigger than he is and plays a very physical game for a player of his size. He plays a very aggressive style. He has the talent to be a top 6 forward (probably on the second line, mind you, unless he really exceeds expectations) combined with the work ethic of a grinder.
And here’s a little video of him in action, driving the net for an overtime winner: