Top 25 Under 25 - David Broll

Who's this guy?

David "Brolldozer" Broll is a 6'2", 195lb. winger. He hails from Mississauga, ON, and was born on May 26, 1993 (making him 20 years old). Broll was a 6th round pick (152nd overall) in the 2011 Entry Draft.

What's he done so far?

Broll started out in the OHL with the Erie Otters, with the expectation (he was selected 10th overall in the OHL Draft) that he would blossom into a skilled power forward. That didn't happen, and after one and half disappointing offensive seasons, he was traded to the Soo Greyhounds.

In 255 career games, Broll scored 47 goals and 92 assists, the high water mark being last season's 54 points in 67 games in his Draft +2 season. After signing his ELC in 2012, Broll has also seen action with the Toronto Marlies at the end of both of the previous seasons, appearing in a total of 10 regular season games, and 5 more in the playoffs (he has not registered any points).

Where's he going to play next season

As a 20-year old, Broll has several options available this season. He seems most likely to be playing professionally, either fighting (sometimes literally) for a spot in the Marlies line-up, or possibly in the ECHL with Orlando. The Leafs also have the option to return him to Sault Ste. Marie for his overage year. I'd bet on him shuttling between the AHL and the ECHL.

What can I expect from him?

Broll is a big and mean forward, who finishes all his hits and is willing to drop the gloves with anybody. He seems straight out of the old "truculence" model Brian Burke was looking for when he first arrived, but unlike a guy like Jamie Devane, Broll has showed himself capable of scoring regularly in the OHL. He seems to fit the mould of what Randy Carlyle believes a bottom six forward should be (and I swear that is not meant to be a dig).

Where did he finish in voting?

EDITION 2 - 27/41
EDITION 1 - 38/45

As a late-round pick with a "Most Likely To Become a Future Goon" projection, Broll started his journey on the Top 25 lists understandably low. He made a big jump up last summer after a strong OHL campaign and he seems to have the Leafs faith, as depsite having two 1st round picks in 2011, Broll was the first player from that draft class to sign a contract. However, his future projection as a 4th liner has stalled him just outside of the Top 25.

Continued to improve point totals in OHL. Probably not much more than 4th line player at the NHL level, if he does make it there. ETA - 2014
birkyWhat does he have to do to move up in the next Top 25?

The people that are keeping Broll outside the Top 25 right now are "maybes"; maybe they can become an effective pro, and if they do, they will do so by being a more integral piece than what Broll likely becomes. While Broll's ceiling is low, it's entirely attainable. Broll just needs to keep progressing towards the NHL, and hopefully prove that he can conribute more than a 5-minute major penalty and 6-8 minutes a night of ineffective hockey (and that is a dig at Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren).