Merritt Centennials forward Colin Grannary has made the final player ratings for the NHL Central Scouting list.
Grannary is currently ranked 178th on the ratings list, making him one of six BCHL players that could be drafted in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
A draft rating of 178 would put Grannary getting drafted in the 5th round.
On the North American skaters list, the following BCHLers rated:
16. Tyson Jost, F, Penticton Vees
18. Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton Vees
23. Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack Chiefs
147. Kyle Betts, F, Powell River Kings
151. Kohen Olischefski, F, Chilliwack Chiefs
178. Colin Grannary, F, Merritt Centennials
Head Coach Joe Martin thinks it’s likely we’ll see Colin’s name get called this year, and added that he may not fall where he’s been ranked.
“In my experience, sometimes players go a bit later than what they’re ranked. But I’ve talked to people who really really like Colin; they know he’s a bit of a project, as you say in hockey, but that’s just because of where he’s at developmentally. Physically, he’s got a couple more years of growth, and we’re just seeing who Colin really is. He came onto the scene in front of some of these NHL scouts for the first time, and for fans of hockey this year.
Also to consider is that Grannary will be going to play at the University of Nebraska-Omaha after playing out his last year for the Cents, and Martin says that could prove to be in his favor.
“It’s not the worst thing not to be drafted, and sometimes it’s a blessing. When you get drafted late, people say the odds are against you. It doesn’t matter. There are some players who don’t get drafted, go to college and play for 3 or 4 years, and every NHL team is lining up to sign them to a contract.
If you’re a left winger and you get drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, and they have 3 or 4 good left wingers, you’re not going to play there for a few years unless they get rid of somebody… So sometimes it’s a blessing not to get drafted, then you go to your 4 years of college, and you have your pick of, say there’s 15 teams interested in you.
Well, that’s a lot better than the one you belong to.”
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will be held June 24 and 25 at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
