The wait was certainly worth it for Declan McDonnell.
McDonnell, a Lake View resident who played last season in the Ontario Hockey League, learned in the final minutes of the 2020 NHL Draft on Wednesday that he’ll have a shot to become a professional hockey player.
The Tampa Bay Lightning selected McDonnell, a left wing, in the seventh round with the final pick of the two-day draft at No. 217 overall – the equivalent of the NFL Draft’s Mr. Irrelevant.
The final pick of the NHL Draft doesn’t come with the same pomp that the NFL Draft brings to its final pick, but McDonnell is likely to become the answer to a trivia question.
McDonnell, 18, acknowledged that it was a long day of waiting to hear his name announced. After a morning workout, he spent the day at home with his family, occasionally checking his phone, his Twitter account and draft results that had been posted online.
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“It worked on my nerves, yeah,” McDonnell told The News.
But, he said, earning an opportunity to play in the NHL came as a relief.
“Word can’t even describe it,” McDonnell said. “I’m just celebrating with my family, and all their sacrifices have paid off. It’s a whirlwind of emotions.”
Little, however, is irrelevant about McDonnell, who also played for the Buffalo Junior Sabres. McDonnell scored 21 goals and 21 assists in 63 games with Kitchener of the OHL last season, and finished second among all OHL rookies in scoring.
McDonnell said he plans to return to Kitchener, which is scheduled to begin its training camp Nov. 15. McDonnell, however, will have to arrive in Ontario on Nov. 1, so he can begin a mandated quarantine after he spent the summer in Western New York. He plans to continue training in Western New York, skating and putting on weight in preparation for his second season of junior hockey.
Once the OHL season begins, McDonnell said he plans to work on his all-around game, as a means to become a better two-way player in the offensive and defensive zones.
During the pre-draft process, McDonnell said the Lightning were one of four teams he spent the most time speaking with, as well as Philadelphia, San Jose and Vancouver.
Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup last month, but McDonnell plans to spend at least another year in the OHL before he considers turning pro.
“When I get to the Lightning, I’ll bring my competitiveness, and being relentless,” McDonnell said. “I want to play a better all-around game.”
