Greg Harder - Leader-Post
REGINA — Garrett Mitchell is dealing with the uncertainty of this weekend's NHL entry draft the same way that he handles a big, ill-tempered defenceman who's meandering up the ice with his head down.
Charge in with a full head of steam and hope for the best.
"I'm kinda excited (about the draft) but at the same time I'm kinda nervous," offered the 17-year-old Regina product. "It's a big step but it's not the end of the world (if he's not selected). There are lots of guys that play in the NHL who never get drafted. All it is is a foot in the door and an opportunity. I'm going in with an open mind and if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, but if it does I'll be really excited."
When Central Scouting released its final rankings for the Class of 2009, Mitchell was the lone member of the WHL's Regina Pats to be rated among the top 210 draft-eligible skaters from North America. Mitchell was rated 148th, down from No. 106 in the mid-term rankings.
Like several of the Pats' draft-eligible players — including centre Matt Strueby and goalie Damien Ketlo — Mitchell's stock dropped in conjunction with Regina's nose dive in the second half of the season.
"If the team has success (individuals) have success," noted the 5-foot-11, 180-pound spark plug. "It's kind of a bummer that we didn't make the playoffs. But there are scouts at every game watching so by the time the season is over they've seen what you can do."
Although rankings "don't really mean that much" come draft day, Mitchell wishes he would have done more to impress the scouts last season, when he recorded 10 goals, five assists and a team-high 140 penalty minutes in 71 games.
"When you're not producing offensively as much as (the scouts) thought I could, that hurts me a little bit," said Mitchell, who was mainly used as a third-line checker and didn't see much action with the man advantage. "Playing the power play helps (the numbers). I got a chance but I wasn't a regular. It's tough but I just wanted to work as hard as I could. I've said it before, my game is a grit game. I feel if I work hard every day things are going to happen. It didn't happen exactly the way I wanted last year but it's just a bump in the road. You have to keep going."
Regardless of his own fate, Mitchell will be watching with great interest when this year's draft is conducted in Montreal (the first round takes place Friday night, followed by the other six rounds on Saturday). It would be a dream scenario for Mitchell to be selected by his favourite team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. That said, he'd love to be drafted anywhere in Canada — or anywhere in the NHL, for that matter.
"Honestly, it doesn't really matter," he added. "To play in the NHL is most kids' dream growing up as a young hockey player. If you can get drafted, it's pretty special.
"There are lots of kids I've played with on Team Canada (at the under-18 level) that are going to go in the first round of the draft that I'm pretty good friends with. It's something I'm going to keep a close eye on and hopefully my name is called."
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