Beck Malenstyn had to wait a little bit longer than he wanted to hear his name called at the 2016 National Hockey League Draft in Buffalo last June.
When the Washington Capitals finally selected him in the fifth round, 145th overall, it was a bit of a weight off of the 18-year-old Calgary Hitmen forward’s shoulders.
“I think that draft year, you’re trying to impress a lot of people and there’s always little voices in your head,” said Malenstyn, who had eight goals and added 17 assists in 70 games for the Hitmen in 2015-16. “It’s definitely a different mindset coming into this season.