| 29 June 2010
First time we've had a pick out of the bottom five since Herm was in diapers...if he isn't still (he may put them back on for the FIFA World Cup...he's Brazilian, you know).
Round 1, 21st overall selection:
RILEY SHEAHAN
6'2 202 LBS CENTER
NOTRE DAME, CCHA
This 18 year old, left handed center calls St. Catherine, Ontario home when not playing for Fighting Irish. He just finished up his freshman year at Brett Lebda's alma mater and managed to post 6G 11A in 37 games in an established defense-first system.
In 2008-2009 Sheahan played for the St. Catherine Falcons (Canadian Junior 'B') and scored 27G 46A in 40 games, which earned him the 2009 Junior ‘B’ Top Prospect Award. He has been described as a very smart, pass first center but can finish when he needs to. Other descriptors include "good teammate" and "character guy". According to my research assistant's digging, his favorite book is Yzerman: The Making of a Champion and his favorite goal celebration - “As little as possible is the best celebration.” Which lead my buddy to quip, "Makes me look past the whole Notre Dame thing already."
Wings director of scouts Joe McDonnell was shocked that we were able to draft him at 21st overall, according to RedWingsCentral.com:
"We always thought we'd never see him in the draft, picking anywhere below 10."
The ever popular "plays-like..." analogy once again comes into play...this time, though it's not a Lidstrom or a Zetterberg...but Marty LaPointe...the last draft pick forward chosen so high by Detroit. Scout Mark Leach thinks that Sheahan will provide a great combination of size and skill, much like LaPointe did during his time spent with Detroit (but not anywhere else):
"We think he could be a point-producer for us, for sure. He's got a great feel of when to go into holes in the offensive zone below the tops of the circles. He finds places to go and get the puck. He has the ability to really beat guys down low with his size and he's a really strong kid. He can score and set up plays and he's pretty solid all-around offensively."
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Don't let the low point totals last year fool you. Not only was he playing in a defense first system as we touched on earlier, but he was only 17 years old when started at ND and he even spent time at the blue line when the Fighting Irish's defensive corps was banged up. Young? Versatile? Check and check.
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But, as we've already gotten acquainted with with Brendan Smith this summer, 'young' and 'dumb' sometimes go hand-in-hand when you add 'college' to the mix. Sheahan may have dropped further down the Central Scouting ranks because of an April arrest and charge of public intoxication and minor alcohol consumption. But apparently the organ-i-zation has spoken to Sheahan about it, and if they're satisfied that it isn't going to be a problem, then I'm satisfied...at least he didn't beat up and cab drivers.
