Alex Lepkowski
Image: OHL

Alex Lepkowski

Hometown:

West Seneca New York

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1993-04-08
Position:

D

Eligible for draft:

2011
Shoots:

Left
Drafted:

2011
Height:

6-3
Acquired:

5th round (137th overall), 2011
Weight:

215 lbs.
<<<<<<< Updated upstream
History

2008-09: Alex Lepkowski played for St. Francis High School (NY) in the MPHL. In 40 games he scored 6 goals with 20 assists. Lepkowski was selected by the Saginaw Spirit in the 3rd Round (66th overall) in the OHL Priority Draft.

2009-10: Lepkowski saw limited ice time in his first year with the Saginaw Spirit. In 53 games, he had 39 PMs and was +7 with 1 assist. Lepkowski played in three of the Spirit’s six playoff games but was scoreless with no PMs and an even plus-minus.

2010-11: Lepkowski began the season with Saginaw before being traded to the Barrie Colts at the January deadline. In 24 games with West Division-leading Saginaw, he was +5 with 3 assists and accumulated 33 PMs but saw limited ice time. In Barrie, Lepkowski replaced over-age captain and Blue Jackets draftee Dalton Prout’s physical presence while getting the chance to receive a lot more ice time for the last-place Colts. While nagging injuries limited him to 15 games with Barrie, he saw significantly more ice time and was -8 with 3 assists and 42 PMs. Lepkowski was selected by the Sabres in the 5th round (137th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Lepkowski appeared in 51 games for the Barrie Colts in his third OHL season; overcoming early season back issues that sidelined him for most of October and again in late November. He scored 8 goals for the Colts (he did not have a goal in his first two seasons) and was plus-three with 3 assists and 46 penalty minutes. Barrie finished second in the Central Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Lepkowski was plus-10 with 2 goals and 1 assist and had 20 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games.

 

Talent Analysis

Lepkowski is a no-nonsense physical defenseman whose biggest assets are his size, long reach, and ability to use his body to prevent opposing scoring opportunities. While his size and defensive approach draw comparisons to a player like veteran Hal Gill, Lepkowski is a bit more mobile than Gill but rarely contributes to the offfensive game, the way GIll sometimes can. Lepkowski is a willing combatant but understands when game conditions call for dropping the gloves and when to show constraint.

 

 

Future

Lepkowski is no an unrestricted free agent after going unsigned by the Sabres.

 

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