Montreal Canadiens 2016 NHL Draft: Sean Day, Draft Day Steal or Exceptional Status Bust?
by Matt Smith, Staff Writer/Social Media Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine
Sean Day was granted Exceptional Player Status by Hockey Canada joining John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid and most recently Joe Veleno as the only players ever granted this exemption, permitting them to start their major junior hockey career as a 15-year-old.
Even though he was given this exemption, Day became the first exceptional status player to not be selected first overall, instead falling to fourth overall (1st Travis Konecny, 2nd Dylan Strome, 3rd Matt Spencer) in the 2013 OHL priority selection draft.
Sean Day, D, Mississauga (OHL)
Jan. 9, 1998 | Leuven, Belgium
6-3, 230 lbs. | Shoots L | @SeanDay66
2015-’16: 57 GP, 6 G, 16 A, 22 PTS (Mississauga Steelheads)CSB: No. 59 | ISS: No. | THN: No. 67 | HP: No. | FC: No.
Day was once thought of as a definite top-5 selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. Day now will most likely become the first ever exceptional status player not taken in the first round. Expectations may have been set too high, but this is very much a high-risk/high-reward selection that could pay off immensely for any team willing to take the gamble.
Some believe that Day merely needs to be driven harder, believing that once selected by an NHL team he’ll take the next step in his development. Others blame his lack of production on matters stemming from his role model, his older brother being sent to prison after his choice to drink and drive took the life of a 62-year-old woman.
Day is a mobile two-way defenceman that has all the skills to be an elite prospect, he just hasn’t been able to put those skills together and demonstrate that he was worthy of exceptional player status from Hockey Canada. Owner of a hard shot, good skating, tape-to-tape passing ability, while using his 6-foot-3-inch, 230 pound frame effectively on the forecheck, he’s arguably everything NHL amateur scouts desire. He just needs to remain dedicated, focused, simplify his game, and prove the critics wrong.
How is Sean Day preparing for the #NHLCombine? Find out in our exclusive interview here: https://t.co/GglCb5TQps pic.twitter.com/2f5GMbLsCV
— Mississauga Steelheads (@OHLSteelheads) May 12, 2016
I, for one, would strongly contemplate selecting Sean Day if available in the third round where the Habs own the 69th overall selection. He may not be joining Steelheads teammates Michael McLeod and Alexander Nylander as a first round selection, but Hockey Canada obviously saw potential in him, and if the Habs scouting staff do the same and the organization develops him appropriately, he could be the steal of the 2016 NHL Draft.
Need to catch up on potential draftees? You will find the All Habs draft archive here or use the quick links below to check out our most recent articles on the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
| 2016 NHL Entry Draft on All Habs Hockey Magazine | |
| In case you missed them! Here are the most recent articles on the draft. | |
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