[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 4):

LHG Ryerson Leenders, 6'2",179lbs

Mississauga (OHL): 46gp, 24-17-4, 3.12 GAA, .909 SV%
Mississauga (Playoffs): 2gp, 0-1-0, 2.07 GAA, .933 SV%
U-18 (Canada): 1gp, 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .963 SV%

Ryerson Leenders' stellar play is a big reason why the Mississauga Steelheads finished the regular season as the 8th-best team in the OHL, but he couldn't help the team much in the playoffs, going down to injury in game #2. Leenders' save percentage of .909 % was tops in the league- not bad for a kid who doesn't turn 18 until June 1st. In the CHL Top Prospects Game, he made 19 saves, one of being a huge save on a chance from Berkly Catton, which was the best save in the early part of the contest. While Carter George relies heavily on his technique, Leenders falls back mostly on his supreme athleticism, making acrobatic saves that often earn him "Save of the Night" honors. He may not be as technically skilled as George, but he's much more dynamic. Leenders has keen reflexes to make instantaneous reactions, and moves laterally with smoothness, and superb quickness, rarely overextending. He keeps his torso upright to cover more net, and his up-and-down mobility is excellent- he can slam his five-hole shut rapidly. He is never down-and-out of a play, always finding a way to fly back to make a clutch save. He can flat out fly from post-to-post, and wields efficient mobility in his crease.

Leenders demonstrates good anticipation, and even better determination. He tracks the puck well, maintains focus, and reacts well to the play, keeping his head on a swivel to stay aware of his surroundings. He is positionally sound, stays square to shooters, and finds loose pucks in his crease. He battles for space in-tight, and is big enough to push attackers out of the crease. At times, he seems to have trouble reading the play, but more often than not, his athleticism saves him. He can be caught playing too deep in his crease, and as a goalie who is average-sized as netminders go these days, he should be out further out to make the net smaller. His rebound control is good, but far from infallible, and he will need to improve this aspect of his game for the next level. He sometimes displays a diminished capacity to navigate through traffic, with some difficulty in finding sightlines through screens. There is a chance that Leenders could be the first goalie taken, and I could see him getting picked in the second round, but I will guess 3rd, or 4th round.