For Otters defenseman Darren Raddysh, his draft year passed without a selection, but he impressed the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings enough for an invite to their prospect camp held in July.
“It means so much to me to be invited,” Raddysh said. “Many players that weren’t drafted are playing in the NHL now and have all attended these camps. It’s a chance to show teams what they missed drafting.”
Darren spent the week in El Segundo, California working at the Toyota Sports Center with other prospects, including former Otters teammate Stephen Harper, and the LA Kings coaching and player development staff.
“The drills were just at a higher pace and with more detail,” he said of the camp. “It helped me develop the skills that I already have, as well as develop new skills that benefit my game.”
Raddysh can still be drafted in the 2015 NHL Draft, the one that already has two Otters as possible first round picks. He is looking to continue to impress NHL scouts and earn himself a selection.
“It motivates me to show NHL teams what I can do and to show them what they passed up on,” said Raddysh. “There is always another year to get drafted. Yeah, it’s a bummer, but this gives me more motivation to improve my game.”
As for the 2014-15 OHL season with the Otters, Raddysh will be looked at to fill some holes that the Erie defensive corps may have. With the loss of Spencer Abraham after his over-age year and possible graduation of Adam Pelech and Kurtis MacDermid to the professional ranks, the younger defensemen will be counted on to play significant time next season.
“We will just have to work together and mesh really well like we did last year,” Raddysh said of next season’s team. “ We all have to play our roles and work as a good defensive corps.”
