Continuing with preparation for the 2023 NHL Draft, undoubtedly certain aspects of the pipeline have been evaluated by both Kings management and fans. We recently took a look at a player who may be a better fit due to familial connections, yet there may be other reasons a player would have the attention of Los Angeles.
Prospect-wise, Rob Blake and Mark Yannetti have some notable gaps on left defense. Jacob Moverare hasn’t established himself as an NHLer, and Tobias Bjornfot has seen limited time as well. Kirill Kirsanov has signed a multi-year extension to continue playing in Russia. Behind them are Kim Nousiainen, Ben Meehan, Cole Krygier, Angus Booth, and Braden Doyle as the next wave of hopefuls at this position. While they all could eventually carve out an NHL career, there’s another element the organization itself would benefit to add: snarl.
Brady Cleveland
Vitals
Date of Birth: April 1, 2005
Height: 6’4
Weight: 201 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defense
2022-23 Season
Cleveland spent all of 2022-23 on the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He scored 6 points (all assists) in 55 games.
Homeward Bound
The native of Wasau, Wisconsin has decided to commit his collegiate career to a university close to home. He’s slated to play the 2023-24 season with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Might Need a Seismometer at Development Camp
The USNTDP splits their schedule predominantly against USHL competition, although they sometimes play against college teams as well. Cleveland only played against one Kings prospect at the NCAA level – Erik Portillo at Michigan. Most notable, however, is him lining up against fellow Kings 6’8 prospect, Jack Sparkes. Should these two towering defenseman line up together at camp, there may be a lot of internal competition built in between these two, given their history of playing against each other.
The Bleeder Leader
The rugged defenseman led the entire USNTDP with 106 penalty minutes. Of those, 30 were incurred in one game, where he was penalized for fighting, removing his helmet, and head contact.
Rankings by Independent Scouting Services
Ranked No. 66 by Bob McKenzie. There was no additional context added, but it’s important to note that McKenzie’s rankings are from polling other scouts. The consensus seems to put him as a late pick in the second round or possibly early in the third.
Currently unranked by Future Considerations. We need to add this lack of ranking doesn’t mean they’re not on his draft list. Future Considerations just has a top 32 until they release their draft guide. A scouting report from a game noted: “Cleveland shows as a bit of a solid but unspectacular defenseman who didn’t stand out in a positive or negative manner in this one. He saw very limited ice time as the team’s seventh defenseman, but still remained effective when hopping over the boards.”
Currently unranked by Elite Prospects. Like Future Considerations, they only have their top-32 listed at this time of year. However, in an article (paywall for all of it), a scout remarked: “He’s a huge, long, mean, tough, and physical defenseman. He’s going to play in the NHL as a match, shut down that kills penalties and impacts games with his physicality and defending. He won’t be a guy that scores or points but he’s going to be a really valuable player in the NHL and will make highlights with his hitting.”
See For Yourself
Here is a shift by shift video of Cleveland playing against the Muskegon Lumberjacks, which also includes a peek at fellow Kings prospect Jack Sparkes:
Final Comments
To use the famed language of former General Manager Dean Lombardi, Cleveland “checks a lot of boxes.” He plays left defense, has size, plays with grit, and provides a steadying presence on the blueline. While comparisons always need to be careful, it’s safe to consider roles a person is projected to play. In Cleveland’s case, there’s the potential he could grow into a left-handed version of Matt Greene.
A team won’t draft the bruising blueliner with intentions to rack up points. He will keep opposition at bay, forcing them to take an extra second to look over their shoulders; cause some hesitation for a forechecker to get the puck.
That said, there are valid questions about drafting for need. Cleveland most likely won’t be NHL ready next year or even the year after. In fact, anything earlier than four years before stepping on NHL ice would be a surprise. So why should a team draft a player to fill a current hole, when they have four years to do so?
Teams value grit and toughness. As post-season play continues, the war of attrition becomes much more apparent. Teams wear down, and having people to punish others physically serves as an x-factor in the playoffs. It’s why Tampa Bay spent 5 picks (a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth) as well as former first-round pick Cal Foote to acquire Tanner Jeannot. Even if Cleveland didn’t fill a hole in the organization right now, the market suggests trying to trade for team toughness would be very costly for the future; teams better start getting tough internally.
Because of the fit, Blake should consider taking him at 54, or even consider moving up in the draft to make sure he gets his guy. There aren’t many prospects who fit the mold, so another team with extra picks may take a chance on him much earlier than his projection.
Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.
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