NHL Draft War Room: Aaron Ekblad

Aaron Ekblad

THW’s NHL Draft War Room Rankings: #1 (Feb 2014)

THW’s NHL Draft Rankings – The Next Ones Edition (aka Chris’s List): #20 (March 2014)

Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad (Terry Wilson/OHL Images)
    • Hashtag/Nickname: #Shrek
    • Team: #5, Barrie, OHL
    • Position: Defense
    • Shoots: Right
    • Height: 6’4
    • Weight: 216 lb.
    • Born: Belle River, ON, 7-Feb-96

Visit our 2018 Draft Guide

Other Rankings

1 – Bob MacKenzie, Jan-14

1 – Future Considerations, Feb-14

1 – ISS, Feb-14

2 – Craig Button, Jan-14

3 – NHL Combined – Mid-term, Jan-14

Worth Retweeting

[For all the prospects profiled in the THW NHL Draft War Room series check out

the 2014 NHL Draft War Room: Prospect Profile Index]

Profiles

Interview

Quotable

  • TSN Director of Scouting, Craig Button, TSN:“When you build a team, you need a solid foundation. Aaron is a pillar defenceman who can play 25 minutes or more and do so in all important situations. His on-ice maturity is exceptional.”
  • “Since his time as a top defenseman with Canada at the World Juniors, Ekblad’s game has just grown exponentially,” Future Considerations scouting director Dan Stewart said. “He has really taken charge like an army general on the ice in every game he has played in, both for Barrie and the Top Prospects Game, and done so with also staying within himself.”

From the War Room

  • Eldon MacDonald, THW: “I have Aaron number one because I believe he will have the biggest positive impact on a team of any player in this draft. I love how he obliterates forwards at the blue-line on a pinch; I love how he finds the lane for his hard, heavy shot just when the team needs it the most; I love how he is the player counted on in the big moments and the hard situations. They don’t call him an ogre for nothing; he can show you a real mean streak. He reminds me of a young Shea Weber.”

Video

Video 1: Top Prospects game interview from video.oilers.com

Video 2: Four goal game from Hockey Prospect Videos

About NHL Draft War Room Series

This series is compiled by Eldon MacDonald and edited by @ChrisRalphTHW)