NHL draft tracker: Jaedon Descheneau, Kootenay Ice

After being passed over in last year's NHL draft despite posting 30 goals and 78 points, Kootenay Ice winger Jaedon Descheneau came into his 18-year-old season with ample motivation to prove his doubters wrong.

“It was very disappointing to not get picked in the draft,” says Descheneau, who turned 19-years-old in February. “It wasn’t for sure that I’d get drafted, but I knew there was a chance and I was hoping I would. It was tough to take at the time, but I knew I’d get more chances in the future to get drafted or sign a contract. It gave me some extra motivation this year to take what I did last year and just improve on it and show that I deserve a shot from a (NHL) team.”

Suffice to say, if Descheneau’s 44 goals and 98 points in the regular-season didn’t garner the attention of some NHL scouts, his outstanding first-round playoff showing should have done the trick. He almost averaged three-points per game with seven goals and 17 points throughout the six-game series against the Calgary Hitmen.

“I’m just trying to do what I’ve done all year,” says Descheneau. “I’ve been working hard and with that some bounces have gone my way. And I have to credit my linemates Sam (Reinhart) and (Zach) Franko. We’ve played well together and have some good chemistry out there.”

Descheneau’s most memorable goal against the Hitmen was also the series’ most controversial. He appeared to put the puck in the back of the net .3 seconds too late at the end of the second period in Game 5. But the goal counted because the puck crossed the line with .1 seconds left on the Video Goal Judge’s clock.

“I wasn’t sure if it went in or not in time when I shot it,” says Descheneau. “I later saw it on the jumbotron and it said .3 seconds too late. So we all went to the dressing room thinking it was no goal, but then we heard this loud boo and found out it made it by .1 seconds. And it turned out to be a pretty big goal (game-winner) in that game.”

Even though the Edmonton, Alta., native noticeably elevated his game and solidified himself as one of the top snipers in the league this year, he didn’t receive much praise from NHL Central Scouting Service’s mid-term ranking as they listed him 122^nd overall among North American skaters.

“I try not to pay attention to that stuff, but it would have been nice to get a higher ranking,” says the right winger, who stands out for his speed and play-making abilities. “But they don’t draft the players anyways, so it doesn’t really matter. It’s just one of those things where it’s nice to get noticed, but whatever happens happens.”

Descheneau’s smaller 5-foot-9, 186-pound frame has ultimately hindered his popularity among scouts. He, however, believes the precedents set by New York Rangers star Martin St. Louis and Montreal Canadiens sniper Brendan Gallagher show his shorter stature won’t hold him back from making it in The Show.

“I don’t see my height holding me back,” he says. “I play with confidence and have the speed and skill to make up for it. And there are a lot of shorter guys that have become stars in the NHL - like Gallagher in Montreal plays like he’s 6-foot-5 even though he’s not even 5-foot-10 and St. Louis has scored a point per game for a long time. Guys like that show it can be done if you believe in yourself.”

1. How would you describe yourself as a player?

“I’d say I’m hard on pucks and generate a lot of scoring chances. If the shot is there I’ll take it, but I’m more of a play-maker. I try to find my teammates when they’re open and move the puck around.”

2. Who’s your favourite player in the NHL?

“I like (Chicago Blackhawks forward) Patrick Kane. I think him and (Detroit Red Wings centre) Pavel Datsyuk are the two most skilled players in the game. Kane is just fun to watch with his speed.”

3. Who’s your favourite NHL team?

“I like the (Edmonton) Oilers just because I grew up watching them. My grandpa had season-tickets, so before coming to the WHL I went to most of the games.”

4. Do you have a favourite band or genre of music you like to listen to before a game?

“I’m not that picky when it comes to music, but I guess I’d go with rap. And If I had to pick one song I’d probably go with Till I Collapse by Eminem.

5. What’s your favourite movie or TV show?

“For a movie, I like Step Brothers because it’s good for a laugh. I’ll have to go with Prison Break for a TV show just because it’s a great story.”

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen