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Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Preview: No. 22 Ryan Poehling

By Austin Owens

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; A general view as hockey fans arrive outside a security checkpoint before the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; A general view as hockey fans arrive outside a security checkpoint before the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for the draft, we look at Ryan Poehling, the top NCAA prospect who had a solid year with St. Cloud State University and will aim to be the latest college product to make a mark in the NHL.

The 2016 draft had several headlining players that controlled the main portion of the coverage in North America. This was particularly true north of the border, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and every other Canadian team failed to reach the playoffs.

This summer will be a different story. Further, there has been a lot of movement in the draft rankings over the course of the season.

On Tuesday, we looked at Erik Brannstrom. Today, we profile Ryan Poehling, who is the 22nd-ranked prospect on our board.

Poehling committed to St. Cloud University in 2014. He was taken by the Lincoln Stars with the first overall pick in the 2015 USHL Futures Draft.

He played nine games for Lincoln last season, netting four points. He also played for his high school, Lakeville North High and Team Southeast with fellow top prospect Casey Mittelstadt.

His freshman year with the Huskies went well. He finished with 13 points in 32 games.

Poehling had two overtime winners this year. One of them came against Denver — the eventual Division I Champions — where he scored the overtime winner on a deflection:

The skill that stands out is Poehling’s hand-eye coordination. A majority of his goals in the NCAA this season came as a result of tip-ins in the slot area:

Here’s what Mike Morreale of NHL.com had to say about Poehling:

"The 6-2, 183-pound forward brings speed and smarts and seems to make things happen at the right time. He generates offense in clutch situations, and is close to being the complete package despite being the youngest player in the NCAA; he turned 18 on Jan. 3"

Poehling played for the United States at the U-18 World Championships, where he had five points in seven games. His best performance of the tournament came against Russia, where he scored two goals:

The American is projected to be a reliable two-way centre at the pro level. He has the ideal frame already and should fill out and possibly get a little taller before he gets to the NHL.

Next: Leafs 2016-17 Season Review: Connor Carrick

What’s your take on Poehling? Do you agree with the current projection that he will be drafted 22nd overall, or is this too high or low? Further, what kind of career are you predicting for him in the NHL? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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