NHL Entry Draft: Lewandowski stays back in Germany, watches draft remotely
The talented import forward had the option of attending in person but chose not to make the trip from Germany to the United States.
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'This year, it's kind of different, the draft.,' he explained via telephone from Germany. 'All the (NHL) teams are not there and all that. My agent (Allan Walsh, Octagon Hockey) said 'you can stay at home; it doesn't really matter.' I just thought I was away (from home) for so long that I was just going to stay at home.'
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Even so, it hasn't dampened his enthusiasm and anticipation of what may unfold today. The draft is all he can think about when he wakes up each day leading into this weekend.
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'I'm very excited,' he said. 'In the mornings, I'm just thinking about the draft and just waiting and waiting. I can't wait.'
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Lewandowski entered the draft after being slotted in at No. 51 for the final NHL Central Scouting rankings.
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'There's no pressure,' he said, adding that he had talked to a few NHL teams prior to the draft but had no preference or a favourite team. 'I'm just excited. I can't really do something about it. If someone wants me, they'll pick me.
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'I don't really have a favourite team. I just like players. I like every team.'
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Favorite player?
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That would be Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.
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Saskatoon Blades general manager Colin Priestner believes Lewandowski, from Dusseldorf, Germany, has a great chance to be selected within the next two rounds.
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'I don't know — we will see,' said Lewandowski, who had 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 52 games during the regular season.
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He added a goal and assist in four playoff games.
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Lewandowski left the Dusselforfer EG men's pro team, which plays in Germany's Del2 league, early last season in October for an opportunity to get more ice-time in the junior ranks by joining the Western Hockey League's Blades.
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'I think it was the right decision because I didn't play much in the Del,' he explained. 'I wanted to play again and I had the opportunity in the WHL so I went over and got more ice-time and all that. It was good.'
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He is excited about what's next with the Blades and he's already got his plane ticket to return to Saskatoon for training camp.
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'Of course,' he said. 'I'm always excited about a new season. I don't really have expectations for myself. I just want to play good (hockey) and play with the guys on the team. We have a good team and we will see how it goes.'
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