"Per Elite Prospects, he's now listed at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, a considerable gain from the 225 pounds he weighed in at nearly eight months ago. That kind of size would easily make him the biggest player on the Leafs roster right now, and while he's a ways away from making a run at the NHL, it's worth noting when considering future plans."
"Touted for his size and physicality, he told media after his selection that he plays a straightforward game, and offered an intriguing comparison for the type of player he could become. "My game, it's simple. It's north-south, fast, 200-foot hockey. Forechecking, backchecking, playing physical," Belle said. "A player right now that I play a lot like would be Miles Wood, but somebody I think I could turn into would be a Tom Wilson type of player.""
"If penalty minutes are anything to go by, Belle is certainly already lined up with Wilson. Belle had 67 PIM in the USNTDP last season and already has 27 PIM in 27 college games. Steven Ellis noted at the time of his draft that he plays with a mean streak that opponents find hard to play against. That should be music to the ears of Leafs fans, who want to see their team get tougher and more frustrating for opponents."
William Belle, a 19-year-old fifth-round pick, has struggled offensively in his NCAA debut with Notre Dame, recording zero goals and three assists in 27 games. He developed with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and previously posted four goals and 12 assists in 55 USNTDP games. Belle's game centers on size and physicality; he is listed at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds and plays north-south, forechecking, backchecking, and 200-foot hockey. High penalty minutes indicate his aggressive style. Scouts project him as a depth power forward who could develop into a Tom Wilson–type presence, providing toughness.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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