Blazers' GM Matt Bardsley got a sense that 7th overall pick Mats Lindgren (left) and 20th overall pick Connor Levis will play in Kamloops some day (Image Credit: Contributed)

By Chad Klassen

WHL BANTAM DRAFT

Blazers GM not concerned about choosing two first rounders already committed to Michigan

May 3, 2019 | 1:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — A day after the WHL Bantam Draft in Red Deer, the Kamloops Blazers general manager is confident with his two first-round picks, despite both having committed to play at the University of Michigan.

Matt Bardsley says he’s had conversations with seventh overall pick, 5-foot-8 defenseman Mats Lindgren, and 20th overall selection Connor Levis, and he would not have taken them if there was a firm committment to play NCAA.

“I know my discussions with both families in this situation, just based on our dialogue, I felt comfortable we’re going to select these players,” noted Bardsley, who was conducting his first draft as the Blazers’ GM. “There was no committment given to us, but based on what we talked about, I feel at the end of the day that I think they’re going to be Kamloops Blazers.”

Fans will point to the situation with Massimo Rizzo, the Blazers’ 15th overall pick in 2016, who played two seasons with the Penticton Vees and will play at the University of North Dakota next year. The 17 year old will likely never play for the team.

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“That’s fair for people to ask that question,” said Bardsley. “I wasn’t here when that selection was made or what their dialogue was, so that really doesn’t affect me in where I’m going with it. I know my discussions with both families in this situation, I just felt comfortable that we’re going to select these players.”

If they put on a Blazers jersey one day, Kamloops is getting a couple really good players. Bardsley says the 140-pound Lindgren is undersized but skilled, scoring four goals and adding 22 assists with the Burnaby Winter Club Midget Prep team last season.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Levis, who played at St. George’s in Vancouver, is a skilled forward that had 24 goals and 38 assists in 26 games last year.

“He’s a player that has some size, really good skater, good puck skills. He’s a blend, he can be a power forward and add skill as well,” said Bardsley of his second first-round pick from Thursday’s draft. “We thought at that spot, he’s too good of a player to pass up. We think his upside is huge.”

The hope is Levis and Lindgren will come to Kamloops for the prospects camp this summer. They would join a growing number of talented young players on the Blazers, including local kid Logan Stankoven, who will be full-time next season as a 16 year old, and Connor Zary who enters his 18-year-old season.

“I actually feel this year we can be competitive,” said Bardsley. “I feel we can be one of the top teams in our division. I really believe that. I think with the experience that our team, our players were able to get from last year, especially the playoff run, winning six of those last seven games, that’s like a playoff series in itself. Having a big game in the tiebreaker game, which is like a Game 7, so that was great experience. Then going through the playoffs against Victoria, that was more experience. That has set the table for our team for this coming season.”