Wolves expected to make Israeli-born winger first-overall pick

While GM Blaine Smith said he couldn't comment, the Sudbury Wolves are expected to make Israeli David Levin its first pick in the OHL Priority Selection this weekend.

The 15-year-old winger's parents are expected to make the trip to Sudbury for an announcement Friday morning when the team will make the pick official.

Levin, a 5-foot-10, 161-pound left-winger with the Don Mills Flyers, tallied 39 goals and 41 assists in 55 games this season. According to the OHL's website, he's one of the most gifted offensive talents available in this year's draft.

“He has the ability to make an opposing player look very silly and he does it with such ease and what looks like lack of effort,” says the OHL Central Scouting report. “Things come very easy for him especially considering he has only been playing hockey for three seasons. He is very hard to knock off the puck as he has a strong core and low centre of gravity.”

Levin is the son of Latvian-born immigrants to Israel. He mostly played an inline version of the sport until moving to Canada three years ago to live with an uncle and aunt so he could pursue hockey.

OHL Central Scouting describe him as a compact skater with very good agility and quickness.

“He can change gears in mid-stride and is not afraid to challenge anyone at anytime,” the report says. “He is a smart player and never seems to put himself in a bad position, the puck follows him around the ice. He has a very good shot with a quick release.

“Overall David has the potential to be a great producer at the OHL level and the sky's the limit for him as he continues to learn and develop as a player.”

The Wolves struggled through the worst year in team history and finished the season dead last in the OHL. But the long year netted them the first overall pick, improving their chances that they can get a player to rebuild around. The team will hold a press conference Friday at 11 a.m. at the Travelodge Hotel to make their pick official.