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NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Will Bitten

June 21, 2016

Get to Know Will Bitten

Date of Birth: 7/10/1998
Place of Birth: Ottawa, ON, CAN
Ht: 5’10” Wt: 168 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Team (League): Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Statistics

What Scouts See

Elite Prospects:

A smart offensive catalyst that consistently displays outstanding work ethic, elite hockey sense, and an ability to stay ahead of the play in all three zones. Very naturally gifted skater that moves around the ice with ease. Excels in pressure situations and uses his vision to predict where the puck is going to be, and proactively gets his body into a position where he can either take it away or take off up the ice. Offensively, he has a very creative streak, and knows what kinds of plays he can make in all situations; he also has an exceptional release on his shot, which he can get off quickly.

Defensively, he is a buzzsaw that will not let up on the opposition, creating problems for them by causing turnovers and playing strong positionally. Will Bitten has all of the tools to become a very dangerous two-way forward that can produce strong numbers at the next level.

The Draft Analyst:

Feisty sparkplug with superior vision who’s dealt with a ton of adversity while serving as Flint’s captain and leader during its chaotic inaugural OHL season. To say Bitten carries his team is an understatement; he’s scored 30 goals on the team who averages under three goals a game. But there’s more to his game than offense, as he’s used in all situations and serves as Flint’s top option for both the power play and the penalty kill.

What BSN Avalanche sees

Normally, I use this space to talk about all the things about the player that I like. With Bitten, just read what’s written above. I agree with all of it. He’s a fantastic two-way player who never stops attacking you and I love his potential. What I really love, though, is how he responded to the adversity this year with Flint. Given the insane situation faced this season, it really said something to me that a kid like Bitten, who had everything to lose in his draft year, stood next to his teammates and refused to play for an owner whose own self-interests had begun conflicting with the team’s best interests. On a terrible team going nowhere, Bitten still put his neck out there and I personally love it. He’s exactly the kind of kid that should be representing sports on the largest stages.

Back to hockey now, and Bitten is facing an uphill battle as he is both short and slight, which is not a great combination when talking about playing in one of the most physical leagues in the world. His maximum effort and reckless abandon approach to every shift might be a detriment as he moves up the hockey ladder as the physical toll could be too much for him to overcome.

Highlights

NHL Potential

If he gets past the size and strength issues, there’s nothing stopping Bitten from being an excellent two-way forward who can contribute in every meaningful way. He’s easily one of my favorite prospects in this year’s draft and he should be on everyone’s radar come draft weekend.

Expected Draft Position

Rankings have Bitten pretty solidly as a second round selection. There’s always the chance someone sneaks him into the bottom portion of the first round but expect him to come off the board sometime in rounds two or three.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

He wouldn’t be the safest prospect but he’d instantly become a must-see prospect for the Avalanche. His versatility at forward and attitude would be a welcome addition to the organization. He’s the kind of guy that is easy to root for and should the Avalanche draft him, they would be getting a hell of a kid and player all in one. Given the size deficiencies, though, one should not get too attached to the idea of Bitten entering one of the more size-conscious clubs of the past few years.