Glennie's scoring making teams take notice

For an offensive-minded forward, the goal is to score at a point-per-game pace. Scott Glennie did just that last season, and did even better this season.

Glennie, a right wing with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, followed a 26-goal, 58-point rookie season in 2007-08 with 28 goals and 70 points in 55 games this season. He kept up his high production in the WHL playoffs, finishing with 15 assists and 18 points in 12 games as the Wheat Kings advanced to the WHL's Eastern Conference finals.

His strong play all season earned him the No. 7 ranking among North American skaters for the 2009 Entry Draft by NHL Central Scouting in its final rankings.

He isn't doing it all by himself, however. Helping Glennie are his linemates, Brayden Schenn, who is ranked No. 4 by Central Scouting, and Matt Calvert, who has had back-to-back 60-point seasons and was a 2008 fifth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"The success our line has been having lately has worked out really well," Glennie told NHL.com during the WHL playoffs. "Brayden is obviously a great player, but so is my other linemate, Matt Calvert, and they are great to play with. Calvert is always aware on the ice and he can always find you wherever you are; he's going to put the puck on your tape."

"Schenn is a good partner for Glennie, and Glennie is a good partner for Schenn," NHL Director of Central Scouting E.J. McGuire told NHL.com. "(Glennie) scares defensemen into backing off and that allows he and Brayden to do their magic. When they put them both out on the power play and the opposition has one less player, they're even that much more effective."

Glennie knows speed and skill are his strengths and uses them to his advantage.

"I'd say some of the strengths of my game are my skating and my shooting," Glennie said. "We were talking about who I compare to in the NHL earlier and they were saying (Philadelphia's) Jeff Carter because he has a good shot and skates well."

"He's a speedy forward," Schenn said of Glennie. "He can put the puck in the net. He's really skilled. He's more of a skilled forward. He's definitely a treat to play with."

While the Entry Draft is a huge event for all eligible prospects, Glennie said he was able to maintain his focus on helping Brandon this season.

While his offensive abilities have earned him his lofty prospect status, Glennie knows NHL teams want well-rounded players, so he's been working hard to improve his defensive play.
"My defensive game has come a long way," he said, "but I think there's still areas I need to improve upon. I want to make it so it's just as good as my offensive game."

Contact Adam Schwartz at [email protected].