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A second round pick in the 2014 OHL Draft, Jordan Kyrou took little time in making an impact for the Sarnia Sting. His 13 goal 36 point rookie season, and six points in five playoff games, led to Kyrou being invited to play for Team Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Tournament where he helped bring home a gold medal. Back with Sarnia he started the 2015-16 season centering the second line. He moved to the wing following the Sting’s trade for Travis Konecny. Overall, he picked up 17 goals and 51 points in 65 games, and seven points in seven playoff games. Along the way he played for Team OHL in the Canada/Russia Super Series and for Team Cherry in the CHL Top Prospects Game. After the Sting were eliminated in seven games by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, joined Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF Under 18 World Championships, where they finished fourth. He did pick up five goals and eight points in seven games, looking impressive during the tournament. Kyrou joins teammate Jakob Chychrun on our draft list.
Jordan Kyrou Scouting Report: 2016 NHL Draft #51
Centre/Right Wing — shoots Right
Born May 5 1998 — Toronto, ONT
Height 6’00” — Weight 175 lbs [183 cm / 79 kg]
Jordan Kyrou is a great skater, featuring excellent speed and top-notch acceleration. Once Kyrou gets a step on a defender, he can really turn on the jets and pull away, allowing him to cut wide and still get to the net. He has excellent edge work, and agility. Kyrou can change directions on a dime and makes a wide variety of moves with the puck, allowing him to elude defenders, and find his way through offensive zone traffic. Kyrou has good power in his stride, and excellent lower-body strength that makes him difficult to knock off the puck.
Kyrou is an excellent play maker. He has good vision and the ability to extend plays and wait for teammates to get open before feathering them a tape to tape pass. He reads the play well, and makes good decisions on when to make that pass to an open teammate. Kyrou’s speed makes him extremely dangerous off the rush, however he also controls the puck well in the cycle game and works hard down low. His wrist shot has decent power, but could get better. It could also stand to have a bit of a quicker release. Kyrou must add some muscle and weight though. He needs to add additional upper-body strength in order to win more battles along the boards and establish position in front of the net. While he mostly spent time at centre, he also has the versatility to be effective on the wing.
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’s responsible game will be a favorite of coaches, but there is some question as to his ultimate offensive upside. If he develops well he could become a second line centre in the NHL. However if the offensive game doesn’t take those next steps, we are looking at a potential third or fourth liner here. Kyrou’s game resembles Nick Bonino, but this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on talent or potential.
The following is a compilation of Jordan Kyrou highlights, obtained from youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the #50 prospect on our NHL Draft Board.
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