NORTH BAY, Ontario — Ty Nelson is a 17-year-old right-handed defenseman of the North Bay Battalion. The Toronto-native is known for his playmaking abilities and responsible defense. As such, he is recognized for his skill rather than size. Nelson stands at 5-foot-10 and holds a stocky 196 pounds. Nelson’s size doesn’t make him scary, but he is reliable.

An ideal offensive defenseman, Nelson is a fast and agile skater with a notable hockey awareness and effective pass that allows him to set up his forwards. His shot is fast off his stick and his puck-handling is exceptional for a defenseman of his age.

Nelson played for the Toronto Jr Canadiens U16 AAA team as a 14-year-old in the 2018-19 season, scoring five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 35 games. In the following season of 2019-20, Nelson scored 18 goals and 47 assists for a total of 65 points in 61 games. That season, he was the seventh highest scoring player in the league and the highest scoring defenseman by a margin of 19 points.

Nelson was drafted first overall in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection by the North Bay Battalions, becoming the first defenseman selected first overall since 2016. He received the Jack Ferguson Award, presented to the player selected first overall in the OHL priority selection. He is only the second Battalion player to receive the award. Nelson was a consummate professional in in his humble acceptance speech, thanking his family, coaches, teachers and teammates.

Unfortunately, his first year with the Battalion, the 2020-21 OHL season, was canceled. This year would have been an important year for development for young stars such as Nelson.

In the 2020-21 season so far, Nelson has scored two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 11 games. This is a monumental season for Nelson to make himself noticed as he is eligible for the 2022 NHL draft.

Nelson is projected to be a first round pick. Hockey analyst Craig Button has him placed at 11th overall. Other scouting sites place him anywhere between 18th and 29th overall. If Nelson can continue at this scoring pace, he would merit a first round pick, though he would need to excel through the season to be valued in the top 15.

Nelson will likely require another year or two of development before he will make an NHL roster. In two to three years, Nelson could be a depth defense or bottom six pair resident on an NHL roster, with his ceiling over the next five years being a top-4 defenseman role.

Nelson’s junior career stat line is comparable to the junior careers of huge NHL superstars. Both Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar, offensive defensemen of the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche, respectively, had higher, yet similar scoring paces to Nelson at his age. Hughes was drafted seventh overall by the Canucks in the 2018 NHL entry draft, and Makar was drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in 2017.

Another comparable is Travis Dermott, drafted 34th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2015 NHL entry draft. Dermott was projected to be a first overall pick, but a slightly disappointing season dropped him down the list.

Hughes recently signed a six-year contract extension with the Canucks at $7.85 million a year. Makar recently signed a six-year contract extension with the Avalanche at $9 million a year. Dermott recently signed a two-year contract extension at $1.5 million a year.

This season is Nelson’s opportunity to make himself a top-value prospect for NHL scouts. A strong season could set him up for a lucrative NHL career.

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