Windsor Spitfires nab rights to Luke Kirwan, top 2016 NHL draft prospect

Recruiting sanctions denied the Windsor Spitfires a first pick last year, but it appears close to recouping that value and then some if it can get Luke Kirwan into its hue of red, white, and blue.

First the powerful finisher, who's an early, early contender to be a Top 10 NHL draft pick in two years' time, parted ways with the U.S. national team development program. Then the Spitfires landed Kirwan's Ontario Hockey League rights from the Guelph Storm for two second-round choices in the OHL priority selection. While nothing's etched in stone, it would appear better than likely that the 6-foot-1, 232-pound Kirwan, who had a very prolific season for the U.S. under-17 team, will showcase his talent in Windsor during his two-season lead-up to the draft.

It is a bold move if it comes to pass. It is relatively rare for players to jump to major junior halfway through the normal two-season commitment to the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based NTDP. Kitchener Rangers centre Ryan MacInnis did so this past season and certainly did not hurt his stock, playing his way into being a possible late first- or second-round pick. Kirwan, who only misses the birthday cutoff for the 2015 draft by eight days, could essentially give himself a full season to adapt to the OHL before entering his draft season in '15-16, where the bar will be set high for him as an 18-year-old with a late birthday.

The merit of jumping to the OHL is that Kirwan could get the settling-in phase often particular to a NTDP grad who comes to the CHL out of the way before his draft year. Even the nearly peerless Seth Jones went through that phase, albeit it very briefly, during his one-and-done '12-13 season with the Portland Winterhawks.

Kirwan produced vs. his peers and older competition alike. The Dewitt, N.Y., native's 28 goals and 56 points across 54 games for the U17 team needs to be put into context due to the team's unique hodgepodge schedule, which is designed to help 16-year-olds develop. As one of the squad's younger forwards, Kirwan counted six goals and 13 points across six games for Team USA during the world under-17 challenge in Sydney, N.S., at midseason. That also included multi-point efforts vs. teams Ontario, Quebec and Pacific. (Gee, maybe that's why Canada is cutting down to sending three teams to the world under-17.)

During the final month of the U.S. U17s season, Kirwan also had the same six-goal, 13-point line over a 10-game stretch against USHL teams composed of older players. It's a small sample, but 16-year-olds who light it up toward the end of a long season are often special.

Windsor might have a recruiting coup, to put it mildly.

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