Loik Leveille – The Next Ones: NHL 2015 Draft Prospect Profile

Loik Leveille THW Close-Up:

Date of birth: 9/25/1996

Place of birth: St-Jerome, QC, Canada

Ht: 6’0″     Wt: 220 lbs

Shoots: Right

Position: D

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2015

Twitter:@Lleveille_26

THW The Next Ones Rankings (February): not ranked

(Credit: Mike Sullivan)
(Credit: Mike Sullivan)

Other Rankings:

THW War Room Rankings (March): 90

Future Considerations: not ranked

HockeyProspect.com (February): not ranked

Last Word On Sports (February): not ranked

Craig Button (March): not ranked

CS Final Rankings for North American skaters (March): 121

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He’s as wide as he is tall. Loik Leveille is a 220-lb wrecking ball that will log big minutes, throw heavy bodychecks, be your shutdown defenseman, but also contribute on the scoresheet. Yet, he still is being ranked somewhere in the middle rounds of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

After watching Leveille play this season, I’ve come away with a new appreciation for how he plays the game which involves a great deal of determination and grit. He’s improved on both sides of the puck from last season and loves to carry the puck into the zone, sometimes heading straight to the net if he can get past the defenders. Leveille plays a physical brand of hockey and challenges the opposition the second they cross the blueline. It’s a double-edged sword for him since he forces them into making quick, less thought out decisions, but also puts himself out of position from time to time.

He has an NHL-level shot that he used to score 13 goals this season from the blueline. His end-to-end speed is great because of his strong lower body, but he could use some extra work on his lateral movement. Leveille will lay his body on the line to win the game, as evidenced by his shot blocking. Among other QMJHL defenseman, I don’t think Leveille gets a fair look, but this season has made scouts take notice and it’s almost a certainty he’ll get picked – it’s just a matter of when.

Where Will He End Up In June:

Loik Leveille is capable of being a 3rd round selection, but it’s more likely he gets picked in the 4th or 5th round.

Scout’s Honor:

“A stocky six footer who has some physical edge, and already handles duties on the PP. Has an accurate shot and plays strong on his skates but really lacks that quick push in his stride that he will need in the NHL. Good puck handler who might eventually crack an NHL roster on the bottom pair. Needs better gap control, positioning and burst.

Bill Placzek – DraftSite.com

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):

Interview with John Moore

Interview with the QMJHL

Feature with the Chronicle Herald

International Tournaments:

Leveille played for Team Canada once picking up three assists in five games.

ETA:

2-3 years

Risk/Reward Analysis:

Risk: 1.5/5   Reward: 3/5

NHL Potential:

Bottom-four pairing defensive defenseman with some offensive upside.

Strengths:

Quarterback PP

NHL-level point shot

North-South speed

Heavy bodychecks

Physical

Shot blocking

Logs big minutes

Strength

Challenges opponents in the defensive zone

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

Positioning

Lateral movement

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive: 4/10    Defensive: 8/10

NHL Player Comparison:

– NHL comparison: Niklas Kronwall

Video(s):

Goal is at 3:15 in the video below

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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph