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Five names to remember on defense at this weekend's NHL Draft

Jonathan Bombulie
| Monday, June 17, 2019 5:21 p.m.
AP
Czech Republic’s Dominik Kubalik, left, is challenged by Germany’s goaltender Philipp Grubauer and Moritz Seider during the Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match at the Steel Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia, Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Here are five names to remember on defense at the NHL draft this weekend in Vancouver.

— Bowen Byram: A dynamic all-around talent with great skating ability, Byram is the top defenseman in the draft by a large margin. A 17-year-old defenseman leading the WHL in playoff scoring is practically unheard of. Might be the only defenseman to go in the top 10.

— Moritz Seider: Practically plug and play at the NHL level. He’s already won a championship in Germany’s top pro league and performed well at the World Championships. He’s 6-foot-3 and specializes in defending off the rush.

— Ryan Johnson: Teams wanting to improve their mobility on defense could look to Johnson, who is considered one of the most agile skaters in the draft. He’s a 6-foot California native coming off a USHL championship with Sioux Falls.

— Alex Vlasic: Teams wanting to add size on the blue line could choose Vlasic, a 6-6, 193-pounder from the U.S. National Team Development Program. He’s a good skater for his size and isn’t afraid to be physical. Defensive awareness is a question mark.

— Domenick Fensore: Size is becoming less of a draft concern in NHL circles, but Fensore will be the test. The USNTDP player is a shade under 5-7, 153 pounds. He can skate and take a hit, but will a NHL team take a chance on a defenseman that small?


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