Blake Fiddler’s draft order wasn’t as expected, but it never is.
It was supposed to be a homecoming to the Nashville Predators, where his Dad, Vern Fiddler, started and ended his NHL career in the first round with pick number 26.
It was not supposed to be a fall to the second round, ten picks later to the Seattle Kraken.
“In my heart, I thought I’d be getting picked (on Friday), but for me it didn’t matter,” began the Edmonton Oil Kings defenseman. “The draft means nothing. It doesn’t matter when you go.
“It’s the work you put in after. I still have a lot to prove and a long way to go, but I’m always looking to put in the work.”
“Perfect,” replied Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, who relayed words of wisdom to Blake prior to the draft. “So, he is listening a little bit. That’s good.”
Benn’s message was something along the lines of, don’t focus on when you go, just where you’re going.
Fair enough. Put the draft in the review mirror because now is when the real work begins.
“He’s grown up in a hockey culture, and I never got anything for free, and he’s seen that,” Added Vern. “Obviously, his path is going to be different than mine, but I’ve reminded him time after time that this draft doesn’t mean anything, it’s what you do after it when you know a team is interested in you and committing to you.
“I love it that he has that chip on his shoulder because that’s what we do, we prove people wrong. You have to continue to do that if you want to be a hockey player.”
Blake put up 33 points in 64 games during his sophomore year with the Oil Kings, over double his production in his first year, where he played 63 games. He spends his summers working with the Stars’ trainer, no doubt thanks to Benn, as well as Seth Jones, Caleb Jones, Tyler Seguin, and Blake Coleman during the offseason
Benn played with Vern in Dallas from 2011-16 and has been following Blake’s career since.
“He’s such a good skating hockey player for his size,” began Benn Being a right-shot, big (defenseman), I think he’s going to turn into a great hockey player and one the Kraken can rely on to just be a steady, good puck-moving defenseman that can log a lot of minutes.
“Last summer we were skating a couple times a week, and I was just so impressed with his skill, with his mobility for such a young kid and a big kid. For his size (6’4, 209 lbs), comparing him to myself, how good he is now, he’s years beyond what I was at that age.”
Blake is likely to play at least one more year with the Oil Kings before heading to Seattle’s farm team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds and, ultimately, the Kraken.
The Kraken are statistically ranked as one of the worst in the NHL for expected goals against and expected shot quality at five-on-five, per StatMuse. They have some star defenders in Brandon Montour, Vince Dunn, and Adam Larsson, but the team’s inconsistent performance has led to multiple high-danger quality scoring chances this past season.
Unfortunate for the big club, positive for the prospect pool, which includes fellow deenders Lukas Dragicevic, Kaden Hammell, and Tyson Jugnauth.
