Through the first three rounds of the draft, the Leafs are seeking out size. Auston Matthews stands at 6'2", Yegor Korshkov is 6'4", Carl Grundstrom 6'0", Joseph Woll 6'3", and now J.D. Greenway at 6'4".
Greenway is a hulking left-handed defenceman who comes from the US National Development Program who already weighs 205 lbs., but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have some offence to his game as well. Last season, Greenway picked up 28 points in 64 games, and also had 7 points in 7 games at the U18 junior tournament.
His draft rankings, according to Eliteprospects, are mostly lower than where he went (with a few in the 100's) but then, some pundits had him going much higher. Damian Cox, for example, had Greenway at 23rd overall (which is way off the board).
SB Nation's college hockey site has a profile on him and had this to say:
What I Like
- Mean Streak
Greenway has really good size at 6'4" 205 lbs. and isn't afraid to use it. He can be a punishing physical force to opponents, especially along the boards. He's going to get under the skin of the opposition and make life difficult for them. He also has the ability to step up and make a big hit if he catches an opponent not looking in the neutral zone.
- Good Mobility
He has excellent mobility and agility for a player his size. He's got really light, quick feet for a 6'4" defender. That, combined with his big wing span allows him to cover a wide area of ice defensively in a short period of time.
- High Upside
Greenway isn't a finished product by any means, but with his raw skills, there's the potential that he could develop into a terrific player. I mean, he did this once:
