Charlie Leddy

July 2022 – The Devils stocked up on right-handed defensemen in the 2022 NHL Draft. After adding Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey as puck-movers with tremendous upside, they opted for defensive defenseman Charlie Leddy with their 126th-overall pick. A big hitter with an outstanding defensive stick and smart positioning, Leddy’s offensive ceiling is relatively limited but he could turn his smarts and play-reading into something potent at the next level. His skating mechanics are a bit spotty, as his hips don’t engage as much in his turns, but the turns themselves are well-timed, he opens up his hands and keep his head up to read defenders and find good breakout options, and does a great job using his body to shield the puck and get it to where he wants it. A more potent shot and some better hands would go a long way in solidifying Leddy’s second-pairing upside. Hadi Kalakeche

July 2022 – Leddy has been selected by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard

June 2022 – Leddy was an important if unspectacular piece of an NTDP team laden with elite-level prospects for the 2022 draft. He played mostly third pairing minutes but was a regular feature on the penalty kill, finishing the season with 17 assists in 55 games.

Leddy plays a quiet but solid game on the back end, prioritizing his defensive responsibilities above all else. He rarely gets caught out of position, maintains a solid gap in defensive transition, uses his stick efficiently to disrupt opposing possessions, and doesn’t shy away from using his body to shut down plays along the wall. There isn’t much offensive upside in Leddy’s game and he can occasionally over-extend himself with a low-percentage pass attempt but for the most part, he displays good poise with the puck. He does well to maintain his composure in battle situations, protecting the puck or ensuring he stays between his man and his net while looking for an outlet to relieve pressure. A big thing for Leddy will be continuing to stay within himself and make the safe play rather than forcing something that isn’t there. His ultimate upside is likely that of a shutdown, bottom of the lineup defender at the NHL level, and there is still a long way for him to go before he reaches that point, but his refined defensive game and projectable frame should draw interest in the later rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard