NHL draft tracker: Brendan Guhle, Prince Albert Raiders

Brendan Guhle doesn't slide right into the born-with-skates-on-his-feet image, unlike most NHL draft hopefuls.

The Prince Albert Raiders defenceman joined his first organized league relatively late, which ties in with the carefully considered way he has about him on the ice in the Western Hockey League. The 17-year-old is considered one of the best skaters in his peer group in the WHL. Guhle also credits the example set by his father, Dr. Mark Guhle, a physician in Sherwood Park, Alta., for helping him develop some mental toughness.

"My dad, he works a lot and it's kind of difficult at times," says Brendan Guhle, who is NHL Central Scouting's 76th-ranked North American skater. "Sometimes I don't get to see him much. He's really patient with me and I think that's a key virtue that he's taught me. Whether's it in hockey or any other aspect of life, that's key. His profession can somewhat relate to what I'm going through with the draft and everything.

"I didn't start playing hockey until I was eight — no one in my family had really played hockey," Guhle adds. "I did lots of power skating. It came naturally to me at first, but it takes a lot of work to reach this level."

Guhle, whose defence coach in PA is former NHL defenceman Dave Manson, got into last week's CHL Top Prospects Game in St. Catharines, Ont., as an injury replacement. The 6-foot-1½, 184-pounder has counted three goals and 16 points over 47 games for the Raiders, who are retooling for next season after moving Winnipeg Jets prospect Josh Morrissey to Kelowna in December. Guhle will likely have ample opportunity to show off his emerging offensive game over the final third of the regular season, as the Raiders look to build momentum for next season.

"Our team's been shaken up, but we're doing lots of team stuff right now, just gelling," says Guhle, whose cousin Dawson Guhle was a WHL goalie with Red Deer and Regina from 2009 through '11. "All the new guys are good. We're still headed in the right direction.

"I'm hoping to get drafted," Guhle adds. "Playing in the Top Prospects game was one of my goals and it happened, maybe by the hair of a chin, but it happened. Playing in the under-18, if we don't make playoffs, is also a goal."

1. How do assess your game, overall?

"I think I've come a long way this year with my defensive game. I've really been working on it. I'm working on being more consistent game in and game out. I'm working on shooting and my skills, my passing. After practice, maybe work on evasive moves with my coaches."

2. Which NHL defenceman do you watch in order to get a sense of what it takes to succeed at that level?

"I like to watch Ryan Suter. Simple, plays a good game, plays a ton of minutes, makes easy plays. Dependable out there. Shuts down other team's top lines and plays PK and chips in on offence."

3. Apart from your parents, who is one person?

"In the past couple of years, I really credit our assistant coach Dave Manson. He's taught me a ton and continues to teach me a ton. It's great to be around him every day. He's calm, he works things through with you, he talks through things with you. He will, he has, set me in my place at times, I guess you could say. He's a really good teacher."

4. Do you remember a 'welcome to the WHL' moment?

"My first exhibition games when I was 16, I made a couple of nice rushes and maybe got a little too confident and got hit pretty hard in the open ice. That was a wake-up call for me."

5. What is your favourite movie or TV show?

"I just finished this TV show called White Collar. It was really good."

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.