Clubs Take Last Look At LeBastard

[Andre LeBastard 112]

 

The S72 VHLM Dispersal Draft is days away, and it's a time most clubs use to take a final look at the players they feel may have draft potential. Indeed, there are several clubs with multiple picks in the first round, where management is busy, no doubt, reviewing film, analyzing statistics and perhaps, more importantly, meeting those players face to face. One such player is Andre LeBastard.

 

 

"It's kind of exciting and at the same time you are trying to remain calm and confident and it's important to be yourself too when you meet with a club that might be interested in drafting you", Andre LeBastard said in a phone interview earlier this week. The 18 years old centre has registered for the upcoming draft and is currently ranked the 5th player at his position.  Several clubs have expressed interest in the young prospect, who brings a seemingly much sought after skill set to the table. Lebastard describes himself as a Playmaking Power Centre, something of a hybrid between your basic power forward and a playmaking centre. 'I'm big and I like to pass", he says. "I don't want to be stereotyped as a player that only plays a physical type game, because I like to involve others in the game. At the same time, I like to do it through the middle of the ice, where I can use my strengths to advantage." "I was fortunate to get a lot of power-play time when I played for the Mississauga Hounds and I really liked it; I think I can bring my size and my skill to any club and contribute to the power play and help make it better."

 

"I had a meeting with one club and I have recieved communications from a couple other clubs about the draft", he said. "I'm not sure where I might end up going, I'm just happy to be here", he added. "I'm not too concerned with what round I am picked in, it's more about getting the change to play in the league and start my career." "Any club that drafts me will do it becasue they believe I can help them and I want to repay that faith they showed in me by being the best player I can be in return." "There are so many fantastic players in the draft, honestly it will be an honour to be selected at all, regardless of the number I'm selected at." 

 

It will  be interesting to see how Andre LeBastard fares at the upcoming draft, for one thing he is a little behind some of his draft cohort, due to the time of year he was born. However, managers looking to fill a spot at centre, perhaps on the second line with second unit power play duties, might just be tempted to draft LeBastard earlier rather than later, to avoid missing out. There is a good chance too, that a rival manager is thinking the same thing and decides to move first. 

 

Andre LeBastard looks to be an intriguing option, for more that a few VHLM General Managers at the S72 Dispersal Draft.