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Get to know a draft pick — Brendan Perlini

NHL Combine

TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 31: Prospect Brendan Perlini performs a test during the NHL Combine May 31, 2014 at the International Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

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Leading up to the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia, we’ll be profiling top prospects who may hear their names called Friday in the first round. Nothing too in-depth. Just enough so you know who they are and what they’re about.

Brendan Perlini (LW)

Height: 6’2 Weight: 205 Shoots: Left

Team: Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

Country: England

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 8 among North American skaters

What kind of player is he?

Perlini wears jersey No. 11, which is a tribute to his father Fred Perlini, who put up all sorts of ridiculous scoring numbers in British/overseas hockey leagues. (Just take a gander at this page ... the stats are zany.) Family is a big theme with this prospect in general, as his brother Brett (the 192nd pick of the 2010 NHL Draft by Anaheim) also wears No. 11.

It’s not too surprising that Perlini has the potential to be a prolific scorer like his father ... yet hopefully on the NHL level.

He’s a sizable forward with a big shot who draws some praise for his skating ability to boot. Perlini enjoyed a big jump in production from 2012-13 (10 points in 27 games) to 2013-14 (71 points in 58 games). Comparisons range from Ryan Strome to James Van Riemsdyk.

Quotable:

While Perlini’s potential as a sniper is most likely to entice teams, Niagara IceDogs assistant coach David Bell raved to Buzzing the Net about his interest in improving his all-around game.

“He has a pro approach,” Bell said. “He comes and asks about his improvements on the penalty kill and on his D zone. He knows he needs to work on his total package. A lot of guys, all they want to talk about is points. He’s not yet once come and asked, ‘let me see the goal I just scored.’ Rather, it’s ‘where should I have been on that goal against?’ or ‘where should I have been on that penalty kill?’ That’s what pros do.”

For more 2014 NHL Draft previews, click here.