Nashville, Tenn. (WGR 550) - For the first time since 2008, a Western New York native goes off the board as a first-round pick in the NHL Draft.
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With the 26th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks select Hamburg native Quentin Musty from the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Musty is the first native of Western New York since goalie Tom McCollum to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. McCollum grew up in Sanborn, N.Y., which is in Niagara County.
The native of Hamburg is the first NHL prospect from the Buffalo region to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft since South Buffalo native Patrick Kane was taken first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
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Musty was a former first overall pick of the Wolves in the 2021 OHL Draft, and has played the last two years in Sudbury, accumulating 109 points (38+71) in 103 games played.
This past season with the Wolves, the 17-year-old finished second in team scoring with 78 points (26+52) in 53 games played. If he had played all 68 games possible for the Wolves, Musty was on pace to finish the season with 100 points, which would have led his team in Sudbury.
Musty was the Sharks' second first-round selection on Wednesday after taking center Will Smith with the fourth overall pick out of the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Here's more on Musty's game from WGR's own Josh Schmit:
"Musty has a very big frame for someone in his position. While he may need to add some muscle to totally utilize his physicality, he already shows the potential to be great at winning the tough battles that come at the NHL levels. He has a good sense of the game while he's involved on the forecheck, and uses his size to win back the puck and create high danger chances for his team.
"While his defensive skill has a little room for improvement, he has a great foundation to become a good two-way forward mixed with a power forward.
"Aside from being a physical forward, Musty has a very deceptive shot. He has a lethal one-timer that, as of now, only seems to be active on the power play, but it’s evolving into 5-on-5 play as well. Along with that, he fools goalies and defenseman alike when flying down the wing and scoring quick goals from anywhere in the offensive zone."
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