San Diego – Casey Jackson (LF)
Casey Jackson scored 2.89 goals per 20 minutes of floor time. This led the league. The gap between Jackson and 2nd place (Rob Hellyer – 2.59) equaled the distance between 2nd and 8th. He scored at an unsustainably high rate, so there will be regression – but I believe his production warrants a selection. Jackson immediately slots in as a pick-and-roll threat and a crease finisher on the power-play
Saskatchewan – Matt Hossack (RD)
Leveraging the unprotected Chris Corbeil to acquire draft capital from Saskatchewan is probably the “best” route. However, barring a secure commitment from Corbeil, Matt Hossack is the safest selection. He has played somewhat sheltered minutes because of Saskatchewan’s Big Four, but does not make glaring mistakes.
Toronto – Reid Reinholdt (LF)
The Rock’s congested defensive unit remains intact as Panther City snags a player from their thinnest position: left-handed forward. There are a few Toronto defenders that could be in play. However, positional scarcity and the opportunity to see what Reinholdt can achieve with an increased role make this an attractive selection.
Vancouver – Sam Clare (LD)
Vancouver’s roster is littered with locals, which means that Panther City’s choice is likely to be a British Columbian. Logistically, this is difficult due to travel requirements. That being said, I liked what I saw from Clare in the shortened season. As an older first-year player, he collected 5.67 loose balls per 20 minutes which was good for 7th among rookie defenders. He also displayed the ability to create transition opportunities.
