E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Brenden Kichton #63

63. Brenden Kichton - “Mr. Dangerfield” - D - Canada

Vitals: Size - 5’11”, 187 lb.; Shoots right; Born 18-Jun-92 - Spruce Grove, AB
Team: Spokane, WHL
2010-11 Stats: 64-35-58-81-31-(+55) + WHL playoffs - 17-1-10-11-2-(+10)

Rankings:
63 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
68 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
90 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
Unranked - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings
Draft result:
127 - New York Islanders

Yes, I understand why he went unrated by NHL Central Scouting. After all he only led all defensemen in the WHL with 81 points to prove his offense and led his team in plus-minus with a +55 to prove his defense and followed it up with the team’s best plus-minus in the playoffs with a +10. NOT!!! Talk about no respect!!!

However, Brenden Kichton is not someone to worry over things he has no control over. Last year Brenden Kichton went undrafted because he was under-sized and was buried on the bottom pairing of a defensively-rich Spokane team. So, Brenden didn’t complain; he did something about it - he went to the gym to add to his strength and physique so that when the season started, Brenden was ready for top-pairing five on five with Jared Cowan, top-pairing power play as well as the penalty kill.

Brenden models his game after Brian Rafalski and is a very effective puck-moving defenceman and power play quarterback. He has the vision, the passing, the skating, the defensive positioning and awareness skills that are likely to prove just as effective as he moves up the ranks. He has second round skills but could slip to the third round because of his size.