Larry Keenan’s Raw Ability Will Get Him Drafted

Larry Keenan is a 6’3” defenseman with a lot of upside. His grandfather, Larry, played in the NHL, most notably with the Buffalo Sabres and the Philadelphia Flyers to name a few. At this stage of the game, he’s looking like a fourth or fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft. That’s fine for a high school player, who is just starting to make a name for himself.

“My dad coached me growing up from a young age. We built an outdoor rink every summer. I’d be on the ice, under the lights, with my dad playing keep away or whatever, having fun,” said Keenan. “Fun times on the ice.”

Larry Keenan had a standout season in Culver City Military Academy Prep. In 49 games, he scored 11 goals and had 37 points. The big rearguard plays in all situations and, according to InStat, won 66% of his puck battles.

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Keenan can score on the rush, and nobody he plays against can hold him back if he goes to the net at the high school level. That’s not to say he can’t score on his wrist shot, because he can.

“I think I’m a solid two-way defenseman. I have a good hockey I.Q., and I make good decisions both offensively and defensively,” Keenan stated. “I have good mobility for my size and skating. You can always get faster, and I intend to fill out my frame a bit more this off-season. Lots of things to work on.”

When he goes to the BCHL and eventually college hockey, that’s when the rubber might meet the road for him, but so far, he’s on track to be a good player.

“I’m going to Penticton this year and then UMass,” he revealed. “I see myself as a strong student, and I see hockey as a way to get schooling at the college ranks. I went that route. I was a strong student who got exponentially better over the past couple of years. College hockey isn’t my end goal. The NHL is. It’s my next step.”

Being self-aware makes you a better athlete. You don’t want to think you have it all figured out at a young age, and he certainly has a good head on his shoulders.

A lot of teams want him in their system, so a team that has multiple picks in a certain round will probably grab him knowing he has a long route to get to them, but they are prepared for it as well.

College hockey will mold him, and there have been a ton of NHL defensemen with NCAA roots, so let’s see if Keenan will be another to follow that path.