[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Violent Knight Edition):

If LHC William Nicholl were playing for a different team than the OHL Champion London Knights, we would probably be talking about him more, but I'm sure that if you were to ask him, he wouldn't trade being a Knight for anything. Nicholl was selected in the third round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, but this season was technically his rookie year, as he only played 5 games with London in 2022-23, spending most of the season in the GOJHL with the St.Thomas Stars, in Junior B. This year, he put up 6 goals and 20 points in 65 games (with 58 PIM), while stuck playing a background role on the fourth line with hardly any ice-time, on a team loaded with older star players, but in rare times when he was moved up the lineup with more minutes, he played like a guy worthy of being selected in the top half of the draft. Such was the case in the OHL Playoffs, as there were games that Nicholl was one of London's best forwards, and although his 8 points in 18 games weren't exactly eye-popping numbers, he made a bit of a name for himself. Coach Dale Hunter largely rolled three lines in their 4 Memorial Cup games, so Nicholl barely got to play, and put up zeroes across the board.

With this season being his rookie year, and playing low minutes in a lesser role, I would think it would be fair to say that Nicholl is a bit more raw than most prospects. Despite this, he possesses underrated skill, smarts, and IQ, and Coach Hunter praises his elite puck-possession skills. He's definitely not a finesse player though, as he makes his presence felt persistently by initiating contact and engaging opponents physically with his 6'0",170lb frame, and by winning body position along the boards and in front of the net. He's hard-nosed, combative, and even a little mean, and agitates his adversaries by making himself a constant nuisance. The majority of his offensive game is predicated on his fearlesness in attacking the middle, as well as crashing the crease for chances, and he hounds puck-carriers on the forecheck, applying supreme pressure. Nicholl has an exceptional motor that few other players possess, and wins battles on pure effort- he moves through checks, plays with unrelenting pace, and stays in perpetual motion. There aren't many opportunites for Nicholl to show it, but he flashes high-end creativity at times, especially off the rush, and funnels pucks to the slot. He also displays some manipulation skills to get around in traffic and create space, with a bevy of fakes and changes in speed and direction- he can draw defenders towards him in order to open lanes to pass into. He knows how to manufacture openings for himself, and he gets chances because of it. Nicholl's skating is average, with a need for more power and explosiveness, but his high-end workrate helps to mask his deficiencies.

Nicholl goes to the front of the net, and establishes body positioning to collect garbage and cash-in on second-chance opportunities, using his soft hands and keen hand-eye coordination. He gets inside, but his shot isn't anything special, and it could use work on power and accuracy. Off the puck, he shows his intelligence by supporting the play in all three zones- he can carry through transition, but skates good routes with or without possession to be in position to hook up on give-and goes to make clean entries. He's aggressive in the D-zone, forcing attackers wide and supporting his defensemen down low, where he can apply his physicality. As one would expect of a London Knight, he's always on the right side of the puck with an acute attention to detail. He's always in the way, and in his opponents' faces- closing out attackers, intercepting bodies and passes, and racking up shot-blocks and steals. I've seen the Knights play a few times this year, and I always notice Nicholl- I have to confess that I like the kid, and I would bet that he earns a top-6 spot on the team next year, and turns into a star player. He performs extremely well with limited minutes, and in rare times when he's given an expanded role- he's usually one of London's best forwards. In my opinion, he has the profile of someone who could earn a middle-six NHL role someday, but has the floor of a bottom-6 center with defensive duty, who provides energy. Look for him in later rounds, if he's picked at all.