Flames Second Round Targets 2016: Jordan Kyrou
By Ari Yanover
7 years agoStanding at 6’0 and 175 lbs., Jordan Kyrou is a right-shooting centre who also spent time on the wing this past season for the Sarnia Sting.
While he doesn’t have particularly impressive numbers – just 51 points in 65 games – he impressed over the course of his season, rising up from the 45th ranked player to 34 out of all North American skaters via NHL Central Scouting. And with a May 5 birthday, he’s only just turned 18, so he has a lot of room to grow – and enough potential to be considered relatively early in the draft.
Scouting reports
A highly mobile transitional two-way playmaker who always looks poised and reads the game well. A strong skater who moves with a natural ease and accelerates with purpose and drive. Defensively looks to block passing lanes and battle for puck possession. Transitions to offence tremendously well and is very dangerous with the puck. Displays excellent puck control and has a quick release on his shot. His forte is his ability to make plays, as his creativity and hockey sense seem to take over on the attack. All-in-all, a hard-working two-way player who can be relied upon in all situations to make a positive difference.
Jordan Kyrou has already started to develop a strong defensive game. His quickness is extremely valuable for breaking up plays, and transitioning to offense. Kyrou has been a valuable penalty killer on the Sting, cutting down shooting and passing lanes, blocking shots, and working for loose pucks along the boards. He competes hard, but this is another area where some added upper body strength would be very useful in helping to round out Kyrou’s game. He has also been inconsistent in the face-off circle, some nights doing very well, but struggling in other viewings.
Kyrou is one of the best skaters in the OHL, demonstrating not only elite speed, but agility too. He cuts/changes directions as quick as any player in the league. It’s that, that allows him to be a true puck hound defensively, and an offensive dynamo off the rush. Kyrou’s skill with the puck is also among the best in this draft class, as he possesses the ability to make defenders miss and create a ton of time and space for himself to operate. At times he can be prone to overhandling the puck and needs to make safer plays, but his creativity is refreshing.
The numbers
Kyrou was second in team scoring for Team Canada at the U18s (tied with four other draft-eligibles: Brett Howden [played one fewer game] and William Bitten, as well as David Quenneville and Dante Fabbro [defencemen]).
And while his numbers for the Sting don’t look too impressive, it’s important to note he was third in scoring for that team: below last year’s sixth overall Pavel Zacha and 24th overall Travis Konecny (following the latter’s trade from the Ottawa 67’s), and just ahead of draft-eligible Jakob Chychrun with two more points over three more games played (although Chychrun is, as we know, a defenceman). Kyrou accounted for roughly 21% of the Sting’s offence.
Scouting reports above mention him as a pass-first player, and the fact that he had twice as many assists as goals would point to that. Twenty of those assists were first assists, marking for roughly 73% of his offence being primary points.
Forty-five of his total 51 points came at even strength, so he either wasn’t a big powerplay producer, or simply didn’t get much time on the man advantage (both of which puts his status as one of the team’s top scorers in a more impressive light). In terms of even strength primary points, Kyrou’s 33 was the greatest out of all players who spent the entire season on the Sting.
While Kyrou may be a pass-first player, he was still fourth on the team in shots for (and second among fulltime Sting players, ahead of Zacha but behind Chychrun). Via Prospect-Stats:
Fit with the Flames
An excellent-skating play-making right winger(/sometimes centre) with a strong two-way game? He may not translate into a top line player, but if Kyrou is someone who’s versatile at forward positions with a right-hand shot, that in itself fills a need. The fact he likes to create offence and was a leader on his team in multiple scoring statistics is encouraging as well: any team would like a player who can create goals at the NHL level.
Kyrou only just recently turned 18, but standing at 6′, he has a bit of size. As he adds strength and fills out his body he could really end up being a good middle-six player – which would please just about any team, especially with a second round pick.
Conclusion
Kyrou may be a consideration at 35th overall, but better options – those who display higher-end talent – should take precedence if they’re still around. The beauty of more picks later in the round means the Flames could still pick him up in the 50s, if he’s still available.
At that level, there are definitely worse players the Flames could take a shot on.
Previous draft targets: Alexander Nylander | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Matthew Tkachuk | Jakob Chychrun | Olli Juolevi | Clayton Keller | Alex DeBrincat | Sam Steel | Vitalii Abramov | Jake Bean | Tyson Jost | Mikhail Sergachev | Tyler Benson | Griffin Luce | Logan Brown | Samuel Girard | Will Bitten | Cliff Pu | Taylor Raddysh | Adam Mascherin | Carter Hart
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