EJ Emery would be a nice pick
Oddly I also have a strong feeling this might be Leafs pick.
Treliving likes big mean and mobile and this guy fits that description,
“He’s a natural-born athlete,” a scout said. “You won’t find many guys as competitive as him out there. Practices, games, in the weight room. He just wants to win.”
Emery is one of the best shutdown options this year. He doesn’t offer much offensively, but Emery makes it his mission to get in front of as many players as possible. He was easily the top defensive defender on the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, with his skating being well above average for a player of his makeup.
“Think Brandon Carlo,” a scout said. “He’s got the snarl, but he’s smart enough not to get himself in trouble. He doesn’t want to get beat under any circumstances and has the awareness and defensive know-how to make sure he’s always in the right position at the right time.”
Many scouts see Emery as a first-round pick, Given how good his skating is, adding that extra step with the puck would be huge – and that’s something he said he’s hoping to further develop at the University of North Dakota next year. Emery already looks like a pro-style player with his frame and defensive play, but he’ll need at least two years in college. By then, maybe he’s challenging for top-four ice time in a team that should still be a serious contender. Right-handed defenders are a popular commodity in the NHL.