
Graham Knott
Birthday: 1997-01-13 | Position: LW |
Eligible for draft: 2015 | Shoots: Left |
Drafted: 2015 | Height: 6-3 |
Acquired: 2nd Round (54th Overall), 2015 | Weight: 190 lbs. |
Probability of Success
- C
History
2012-13: Graham Knott appeared in one junior A game with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Aurora Tigers and played for the York Simcoe Express minor midget AAA team. He had no points nor penalty minutes with the Tigers. Knott scored 8 goals with 8 assists and 22 penalty minutes in 25 regular season games for the Express. In six games at the OHL Cup he scored 3 goals with 2 assists and 2 penalty minutes. Knott was selected by Niagara in the third round (40th overall) in the 2013 OHL Priority Draft.
2013-14: Knott skated for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs as a 16-year-old and played for Canada Ontario in the 2014 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He scored 8 goals with 14 assists and was -18 with 18 penalty minutes in 64 regular season games for Niagara. The IceDogs finished fourth in the Central Division, taking first-place North Bay to seven games before falling 2-1 in their first-round playoff series. Knott had 1 assist and was -2 in the series. He scored 2 goals with 5 assists and 6 penalty minutes in five games for Canada Ontario at the WHC.
2014-15: Knott was fourth for Niagara with 25 goals in the regular season despite missing nine games and played for the Canada U18 team in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial and 2015 World Juniors tournaments. He had 18 assists and was +1 with 33 penalty minutes in 59 regular season games. The IceDogs were much-improved in his second season, finishing third in the Central Division and reaching the second round in the playoffs. Knott scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was +4 with 2 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games. He had 4 assists and was +2 in five games at the Ivan Hlinka tournament as Canada captured a gold medal and he scored 1 goal with 3 assists, 4 penalty minutes and an even plus/minus in five games at the WJC. Canada defeated host Switzerland in the bronze medal game. Knott skated for Team Cherry in the 2015 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and was invited to the NHL Prospects Combine. He was ranked 57th amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting final rankings and was selected by Chicago in the second round (54th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Talent Analysis
Knott is a big, power winger who can mix size with skill. He has a long reach and decent shot that make him an offensive threat. He is willing to work in his own zone and plays a strong two-way game. His tactical game is a work in progress but he has the raw elements to suggest he can dominate if he puts it all together.
Future
Knott attended his first training camp with the Blackhawks before returning to Niagara for his third OHL season in 2015-16. With NHL first round picks Brendan Perlini (Arizona) and Josh Ho-Sang (NY Islanders) leading the way the IceDogs are expected to challenge for the league title. Knott scored 25 goals for Niagara last season and will look to be a more complete player. Long-range he is expected to be a power forward with some scoring ability.