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F Alex Graham - Sheffield Steelers, EIHL (2021 draft)

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his D1B U18 stats as a U16 were pretty nasty, especially when you consider he was a late addition when one of GBs NA players pulled out due to his Jr. A playoff run.
Elite Prospects - WJC-18 D1B Stats All-time season

His similar is weirdly similar to Liam Kirk. His skating isn't great but it's also fairly raw. He's has a bit more size than Kirk but he also might be half a step slower. Skilled guy that is playing among men but probably requires a bit more of a challenge.

The biggest obstacle he has to overcome is Sheffields roster. When Kirk was signed to his apprenticeship deal, it was just him and Cole Shudra. Kirk was clearly the better player and got that 4th line ice time over Shudra even though he was 2 years young. But now Shudra is 5 years older than Graham and seems to have established himself on that 4th line (even though they don't run 4 lines like they did under Paul Thompson) and he also has Kieran Brown in the depth chart which only hurts his chances at that valuable EIHL ice time.

In order to get any NHL or even CHL attention, he's going to have to get that EIHL ice time and do something with it, at the very least. If he's stuck in the up & down bench riding position that Kieran Brown seems stuck in, teams won't be sniffing around him this time next year.

I don't think he has a coach in his corner the way Kirk did with Thompson. Thompson was very intent on developing Brits, Fox is brand new to the EIHL and I'm not so sure he understands how to bridge that gap between NIHL & EIHL for a young kid like Graham.
 
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The key for Graham if he wants a chance at the 2021 Draft is that he must have a full season in the EIHL. Next year he will be the same age as Kirk was when he became a regular at that level. Whether he does this at Sheffield or moves to a smaller budget team remains to be seen. If he remains playing in the second league like he won't have a chance. I hope that he gets some good advice and his coaches think about his future career as well as their next season.
 
blair3 said:
The key for Graham if he wants a chance at the 2021 Draft is that he must have a full season in the EIHL. Next year he will be the same age as Kirk was when he became a regular at that level. Whether he does this at Sheffield or moves to a smaller budget team remains to be seen. If he remains playing in the second league like he won't have a chance. I hope that he gets some good advice and his coaches think about his future career as well as their next season.
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He should honestly explore finding a team to take him with their import pick in the CHL draft, and if that's not an option look into playing USHL or BCHL. I get moving countries at the age of 17 isn't ideal, but it isn't uncommon at all in sports for kids chasing to make their way to top-caliber leagues. He could also look at playing in a high caliber Euro junior league like J-20's.
 
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Graham has now played five NIHL (British second level) Cup games with 3 PPG (6 goals and 9 assists). For comparision Liam Kirk has also 3 PPG in six games (12 goals and 6 assists). They are leading the cup in scoring and will play EIHL Elite Series after the NIHL Cup.

I read that also Graham will most likely be seen in men's world championship in Riga.
 
If the EIHL starts, I think he could rise up the draft lists. He has too much talent to not be drafted.
 
There's talk of him being selected for the Worlds squad, and I think it's on merit. He's outplayed a lot of GB regulars in the NIHL Spring Cup (on a stacked team, granted) and will get a regular shift in the EIHL Series.
 
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Drafted by Niagara IceDogs in the CHL Import draft

Still seems like it will be tough for him to make the team as they have an '02 returning import drafted & signed by San jose + they drafted a D-man from Switzerland 18th overall.

Hopefully something works out
 
Graham signed with Niagara today

It's pretty cool to see another Brit drafted & set to play in the OHL but there's a big IF hanging over Graham that wasn't there for Kirk.

If Gushchin is sent to the OHL from San Jose, Graham will most likely be the odd man out. Gushchin wasn't drafted out of the OHL so he is eligible to play in the AHL which could save Graham but there's a very real possibility Graham could be out before he even plays a game. Hopefully Gushchin sticks with the Barracuda
 
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Back to the Sheffield Steelers from Niagara .Too bad he didn't stay in the OHL. Has played two games in the EIHL and has scored 1 goal.
 
wings5 said:
Back to the Sheffield Steelers from Niagara .Too bad he didn't stay in the OHL. Has played two games in the EIHL and has scored 1 goal.
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Yep but much like Niagara, looks like the odd man out in Sheffield too

They can't run 4 full lines with the roster rules and they already have 4 Brits who won't get cut for him (Dowd, J. Phillips, D. Phillips, and Jones) and it's very unlikely they cut an import for him. He's pretty much stuck going back to the league he dominated 2 years ago and getting injury cover games in the EIHL when a spot opens up.
 
3 Minute Minor said:
Yep but much like Niagara, looks like the odd man out in Sheffield too

They can't run 4 full lines with the roster rules and they already have 4 Brits who won't get cut for him (Dowd, J. Phillips, D. Phillips, and Jones) and it's very unlikely they cut an import for him. He's pretty much stuck going back to the league he dominated 2 years ago and getting injury cover games in the EIHL when a spot opens up.
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That sucks, he needs ice time in a more challenging league
 
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