By Warren Kozireski —
Tyler Madden said he expected to be selected in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft late in the second round, but the son of Stanley Cup champ John Madden (NJ Devils) had to wait until early in the third round before being taken in the third round 68th overall by Vancouver.
“Amazing—obviously I’ve waited my whole life for this moment so it is special,” Madden said in the media room in Dallas. “Actually my aunt and uncle live in Vancouver so I’m sure I will see them a lot, but it is an amazing feeling that is hard to describe right now.”
The 5’10”, 150 lb. center split this past season with Central Illinois and Tri-City in the USHL this past season where he combined for 15 goals and 19 assists over 50 games and will head to Northeastern this fall for his freshman year. He previously spent two years playing for Avon Old Farms prep school in Connecticut.
“This year was a bit of a jump for me (going from Avon to the USHL), so the size of guys, the longer season ha d a little tear on me but I think I’ve gotten used to it and I think I have better hockey ahead of me.”
Born in Albany when his father played for the Devil affiliate River Rats, he spent most of his childhood in New Jersey when dad earned his way to the NHL.
“He’s been through it all—he didn’t get drafted, but he had an idea of what happens here now that he coaches, so it was nice to have him by my side kind of calm me down a little bit as we got to the later rounds,” Madden said about his dad.
“He let me play a lot of sports (growing up)…he actually wanted me to be a golfer, but it was never forced on me. I think about my eight-grade year that I decided that this is what I love to do and I couldn’t see myself not playing hockey for the rest of my life, so it was my decision but he definitely supported me along the way.
As for what he needs to work on, Madden said: “I need to get bigger, stronger and faster and over time I think that will happen the next three or four years. My hockey IQ, speed and the way I handle the puck—a big part of my game is controlling the pace of the game.”
Since his father was not drafted and signed as a free agent, Tyler may now have one leg up on his father, aside from that huge ring. “He’s a little jealous, but so far I think now I have bragging rights in the house.”
