So given that he has won the past 2 OHL D of the month awards and he will contend for it again this month, I decided to look up which other CHLers have won D of the year before their first eligible draft. I only went back to 1992-93.
OHL
2016 Sergachev, drafted 9th overall
2014 Ekblad, drafted 1st overall
2009 Ellis, drafted 11th overall
2008 Doughty, drafted 2nd overall
1995 Berard, drafted 1st overall
1993 Pronger, drafted 2nd overall
QMJHL
2016 Samuel Girard, drafted 47th overall
2009 Kulikov, drafted 9th overall
2008 Marc-Andre Bourdon, drafted 63rd overall
WHL
None.
CHL D of the Year
1993 Pronger, 2nd overall
An excellent group of players and the only bust was spotted by scouts ahead of time and went in the third round.