Graham Takes the Next Step

Jesse Graham was an impressive young blueliner for the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs last season, and it was exactly that play that led him to be drafted by the New York Islanders in this year’s 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Don’t let his 5’11”, 160 pound stature fool you: Graham is exciting, youthful and speedy, and has a great edge to his game. In 68 games last year with Niagara, he scored four goals and 37 assists, as well as 36 penalty minutes. He was one of just two players on the team to play in all 68 games.

He also ended the season with a plus-25 – not bad for just his second OHL season, and comparable to the +27 he achieved in his first year.

The Oshawa native also had 10 points and 20 penalty minutes in 20 playoff games with the Dogs. In his first OHL season, he had 18 points (1-17) in 63 regular season games, and nine points in 14 playoff games.

The Ice Dogs drafted him in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, sixth overall, and Niagara’s general manager at the time compared him to Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Coming into this year’s NHL Entry Draft, Graham was ranked 125th overall in North American skaters. When the time actually came, the New York Islanders selected him 155th overall in the sixth round. He joins fellow IceDogs prospects Ryan Strome and Mitchell Theoret in Long Island.

Follow Jesse on Twitter here.