Thursday, June 22, 2017

Will Shane Bowers be a first round pick?

As the 2016-17 hockey season moved along, Shane Bowers' draft ranking, for the most, either stayed relatively the same or lowered slightly.

That's not to say Bowers underperformed this season as other players may have simply moved passed him. In his second year with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks, the 17-year-old registered 22 goals and 51 points in 60 games. He added two goals and three points in six playoff games.

Bowers was also named to the USHL's third all-star team, which is apparently a thing.

A Halifax native, Bowers was a second-round pick of the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft. He is committed to Boston University for the 2017-18 season (of note, BU will host UPEI in an exhibition game on Oct. 1).

If an NHL team the Sea Dogs have had a relationship with in the past selects Bowers, it could certainly increase the odds of him reporting to Saint John at some point. But it also might have no impact at all... but it might... but it might not... but it...

Long story short: seeing where Bowers lands this weekend gives us Sea Dogs followers something intriguing to watch in what is not a terrific draft for the QMJHL.

Here's a look at where draft experts project Bowers going on Friday or Saturday:

PublicationRanking
NHL Central Scouting16th (NA skaters)
HockeyProspect.com1st RD, 26th overall
Dobber Prospects1st RD, 27th overall
ISS1st RD, 27th overall
TSN - Craig Button1st RD, 28th overall
McKeen's Hockey1st RD, 29th overall
The Hockey News1st RD, 29th overall
Future Considerations1st RD, 31st overall
TheScout.ca1st RD, 31st overall
Sportsnet - Sam Cosentino (mock)1st RD, 31st overall
TSN - Bob McKenzie2nd RD, 32nd overall
Sportsnet - Jeff Marek2nd RD, 32nd overall
The Bloggers Tribune2nd RD, 44th overall
Sports Illustrated2nd RD, 48th overall

Jake VanBesien, a scout for Future Considerations, discusses what impressed him about Bowers this season here.

Photo: NHL.com

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