Winnipeg Jets Number Four Prospect: Nic Petan
Nic Petan had a gaudy stat line in the season before being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets. He finished tied for the Western Hockey League’s scoring title with 120 points (46 goals and 74 assists in 71 games) and helped lead the Portland Winterhawks to a game from the Memorial Cup title.
Yet, Petan slipped to the 43rd pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, where the Jets prevented him from going any further down the draft order. But it wasn’t a fall for Petan, who was picked right around where he was projected by several places. There were two questions surrounding his production that led to him being left out of the first round: one which has been answered and one which still pursists in a regard as he turns pro this season.
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Let’s start with one that Petan has answered. In Petan’s draft year, he not only played on one of the best teams in junior hockey, he also played on one of the best lines. Petan centred a line of Ty Rattie, the 32nd overall pick in 2011, and Brendan Leipsic, a third rounder in 2012 who also tied Petan for the WHL’s scoring lead.
It’s difficult evaluating individuals on explosive lines such as those in junior hockey. One or two great players can piggyback inferior players to impressive stat lines based on their dominance. Clearly, there were some questions about Petan, the youngest of that trio, being a passenger alongside two regarded prospects in Rattie and Leipsic.
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But after two more impressive seasons with Portland, Petan has pretty much answered any of those questions. While Portland continued to surround Petan with impressive talent, the focal point on their offence shifted more and more on him. He put up 202 points in 122 junior games over his last two seasons and played on Canada’s national junior team both of those years, earning a gold medal last year while putting up four goals and 11 points in seven games.
As far as his size goes, that will be something to look at while Petan begins his pro career this year. He stands in at 5’9″ but he did show up at development camp 10 pounds heavier than his junior playing weight at 175. One thing to think about with Petan’s size is the organization emphasis that’s been in place under general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff: size up front. Drafting and acquiring big forwards has been something Cheveldayoff has been doing since day one, so one would think he would have taken Petan’s size in account before deciding to draft him.
Petan will likely spend a majority of his first pro season with the Manitoba Moose, although he did get an extended look with the Winnipeg Jets at camp last year and could potentially force his way onto the Jets at any point in the year.