Player Profile: Travis Konecny

Travis Konecny was born in London, Ontario, Canada, on March 11^th, 1997. Ron and Tim Horvat are uncles of Konecny. Konecny played his youth hockey for the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks of the Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario. During the 2012-13 season, Konecny scored 114 points (53 goals, 61 assists) in 54 games at the minor-midget level. The question was where Konecny would begin his professional path to the NHL.

Travis Konecny was drafted by the Ottawa 67’s with the 1^st overall pick in the 2013 OHL Draft

Travis Konecny was drafted by the Ottawa 67’s with the first pick in the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft. Konecny was stellar during his first season with the 67’s, scoring 26 goals and adding 44 assists in 63 games during the 2013-14 season.

During his second season with the 67’s, Konecny scored 29 goals and added 39 assists in 60 games played. This was two fewer points than he totaled the season before in three fewer games played. In three seasons played for the 67’s, Konecny proved that he could play at the professional level despite his lack of size.

Before playing 31 games for the Sting during the 2015-16 OHL season, Konecny played three seasons for the Ottawa 67’s. In that time, Konecny scored more than 20 goals in each season with the 67’s, the most of which was when he scored 29 goals in 60 games during the 2014-15 season, when he amassed 68 points. The 67’s made the OHL playoffs after that season, and Konecny scored three goals and added seven assists in five games during the 2015 OHL playoffs. In the 31 games that Konecny played for the Sting, he scored 23 goals and added 33 assists.

At 5’10” and 192 pounds, Konecny is a talented scoring forward who can play at either the center or the wing. Konecny also plays with speed and toughness despite his lack of size. His speed and acceleration allow him to play on the rush. This is the type of player that can be used by any NHL team. But where would Konecny be drafted? Center Connor McDavid was always going to be drafted number one overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Travis Konecny was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 24^th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft

Travis Konecny was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft out of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League. At the time of his draft, Konecny was seen as a scoring forward who could play either center or wing.

Konecny made his debut for the Flyers on opening night for the Flyers against the Los Angeles Kings. In this game, Konecny had two assists. The Flyers went on to win this game by a score of 4-2. Konecny took to the NHL level well early when he had four points in his first five games played. He finally got on the score sheet on October 25th against the Buffalo Sabres. Konecny finished the season with 28 points in 70 games played. This was the most points by a Flyers rookie forward since Matt Read had 47 points in 79 games played for the Flyers during the 2011-12 season.