Photo from Aaron Bell/OHL Images

This is far from a strong year for defensemen. It wouldn’t be shocking if just 3-4 defenders in the first round, compared to a potential five in the top 10 next year. With so much focus on big-game, skillful forwards, it’s easy to forget just how good Jamie Drysdale is – and the top defensive prospect, no doubt.

In his two years of major junior, Drysdale has been named to both the first all-rookie and all-star teams, won medals with Canada at the U-18 and U-20 level and post two 40-plus point campaigns as an undersized, but pure skill-based defenseman with the Erie Otters. Digging deeper with the stats, only William Villeneuve (0.45) had a better even strength primary-points-per-game average than Drysdale (0.41) among draft-elgible defense prospects with at least 25 games played, regardless of league. In the past decade, only Evan Bouchard (0.51) and Tony DeAngelo (0.45) had a better primary EV P1/GP than Drysdale, albeit Drysdale played fewer games due to the World Junior Championship and an upper-body injury in February. Ottawa’s Alec Belanger was the only OHL defensemen this year in spitting distance (0.36), but even then, that’s quite the difference.

With the boring numbers out of the way, here’s a look at what makes Drysdale so valued as a prospect from a style perspective:

Player Profile

D.O.B – April 08, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –5’11
Weight –170 lbs
Position – Defense
Handedness – Right

Drysdale’s Style Of Play

Unquestionably, in a year dominated by skilled, two-way centermen, Drysdale stands out as the top defenseman in the draft –and perhaps the only one selected in the top 10. Drysdale’s status as a modern-day defenseman – someone who can be effective at all ends of the ice and builds much of his game around speed – is unmatched among the draft class. One of the best skaters in the draft based on acceleration, top speed and start-stop fluidity, Drysdale possesses a smooth, powerful stride that often looks effortless in technique, but eloquent in execution. He’s on the small side of 5-foot-11, so Drysdale’s skating is a big plus – think Cale Makar’s foot speed.

Another big positive of his game is Drysdale’s confidence. Drysdale proved at the World Junior Championship that he can handle pressure and stop the game’s top young stars and despite the only 17-year-old defenseman on the team, he stepped up when the team needed him and rarely looked outmatched on any given shift. His confidence translates well when trying to dish the puck out – he’s willing to take risks because he has the ability to effectively get back into position without putting himself in a dangerous situation. When Drysdale rushes the puck, he’s capable of holding on to it as long as he needs to prepare a play without getting pressured into a mistake. That ability to remain calm in tough situations allows him to make the best play possible, especially on a rush – and Drysdale is no slouch when it comes to contributing offensively.

Jamie Drysdale makes a nice move around a diving defender and gets it to Cole Perfetti, because obviously. 1-0 Canada. #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/qewflYGNq0

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) August 7, 2019

The best way to describe his decision-making with the puck is that he thinks like a forward. The best passers don’t look for the easy passes, they go for the smart ones that create the best scoring opportunity. Drysdale has the hands to make a move on a rush and like any good setup man, he keeps his options open while seeking the best partner around the net. Drysdale’s skating allows him to rush back to the blueline if he loses control, so he’s not afraid to pinch in and act as a fourth forward if the opportunity is right. That was evident at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup when he often found himself actively creating scoring opportunities and continued when the OHL season took full force – he just didn’t have high-end teammates to capitalize on the chances anymore.

That’s one of the main reasons why Dysdale became an instant power-play star in Erie. Drysdale’s high-end skating and smart decision-making make him an ideal candidate to quarterback the back end, highlighted by 22 of his 45 points coming on the power play. Ryan O’Rourke (four) was the only draft-eligible OHL defenseman with more power-play goals than Drysdale (three), with Drysdale leading the pack with 18 extra-man assists.

Shot data via InStat

Drysdale will never be a physical defenseman and won’t have the strength to his advantage, but he’ll win puck possession by using his active stick or by utilizing his speed to cut off angles. When looking at the wave of young talented defensemen in the NHL – Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Quinn Hughes – they sacrifice physicality for speed and skill, allowing them to thrive in the new NHL where small defensemen can reign supreme. Brandt Clarke, a top prospect for the 2021 NHL draft, has a similar build/skillset combination.

Jamie Drysdale's FIFTH point of the night is a goal!

What a game from him. #OHL #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/jDwufqSmwr

— Caitlin Berry (@caitlinsports) September 22, 2019

What sets Drysdale apart from the rest of the defensive pack is his ability to bring every positive quality of his game together every night. Drysdale has very few off-games and has the energy to keep going at a high pace throughout a contest. Drysdale’s complete package combines every noticeable quality a team is looking for in a modern-day defenseman – I’d argue that he’d be a threat for first overall in 2021.

Comparison

Dan Boyle, Right-Handed Defenseman, Florida Panthers/Tampa Bay Lightning/San Jose Sharks/New York Rangers

If we’re basing it solely off of Hockey Prospecting’s NHLe model, Drysdale and Boyle’s numbers are quite similar – style-wise, even more. Boyle was a power-play mastermind who was often one of the NHL’s top-scoring defenders, twice leading the NHL post-season in points by a defender. Boyle would often pinch in on a rush and had the creative skills to handle himself nicely under pressure. Boyle played in over 1,000 games and recorded 605 points – and that doesn’t include his Olympic performances, either – so that’s a solid career trajectory if Drysdale can hit anywhere close.

Stats from InStat Hockey and Elite Prospects.

This prospect report was written by Steven Ellis. If you would like to follow Steven on Twitter, his handle is @StevenEllisNHL.

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Photo Credit: Voltigeurs de Drummondville

Jacob Dion is coming off of his rookie season with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs. The former fourth round selection in the 2018 QMJHL Draft displayed strong offensive qualities throughout the season. In 63 games played, the Stoke, Quebec native tallied 17 goals and 34 assists. With his 17 goal campaign, he broke records such as the Voltigeurs record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, earned a spot on the QMJHL’s All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for the Raymond-Legacé Trophy (went to Samuel Hlavaj of the Sherbrooke Phoenix).

Prior to his time with the Voltigeurs, he spent multiple seasons with the Magog Cantonniers of the QMAAA and played with a strong group of prospects including William Villeneuve (2020, Saint John Sea Dogs), Patrick Guay (2020, Sherbrooke Phoenix), Justin Robidas (2021, Val-d’Or Foreurs) and Isaac Belliveau (2021, Rimouski Océanic).

Player Profile

D.O.B – November 1, 2001
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –5’9
Weight –181 lbs
Position – Defense
Handedness – Left

Dion’s Style Of Play

Jacob Dion likes to control the pace of the game in the offensive zone. The 5’9 defenseman is eager to pinch and complete tape-to-tape passes to his forwards once he has jumped up into the cycle.

In the defensive zone, Dion has a crisp and accurate first pass. Even with pressure bearing down on him, Dion still finds ways to evade a potential take-away and sends the puck over to an open teammate. In addition, he will occasionally use the boards to help complete his first pass if his attacker has not provided a gap. The Stoke native also does an efficient job of tracking the puck along the boards and he started to work on his physical play along the boards towards the end of the season (which was needed).

While Dion is still working on his physical game, there are some other areas in the defensive zone in which the young defenseman needs to improve upon. When it comes to be defending the rush, Dion has challenges handling speedy wingers like James Malatesta (2021, Quebec Remparts) and Zachary L’Heureux (2021, Halifax Mooseheads, formerly of the Moncton Wildcats). Speedy wingers seem to stun Dion and the defenseman has to switch from defending the rush to rushing after the puck. Aside from dealing with a speedy rush, Dion should be looking to tighten up his gap control, but I do expect that once he develops a more physically robust playing style that he will be able to use that to his advantage to tighten up gaps. Ultimately, the goal for Dion should be to acquire some of the physical attributes that fellow 2020 NHL Draft eligible prospect Eemil Viro of TPS has (Viro is similar in height/weight, just slightly taller). If Dion can resemble the physical play that Viro brings to the ice, he will be tough to beat at both ends of the ice.

In terms of transitional play and skating, Dion has proven to be quite reliable at moving the puck from zone-to-zone. As others have mentioned, Dion has “silky smooth skating” and it is hard to disagree with their assessment. He possesses strong mobility and cross-overs that power his acceleration.

While it is evident that Dion has found plenty of success at scoring goals, in the below chart from InStat Hockey, you can see that his success solely comes from the slot. This makes sense as Dion is at his best from a playmaking perspective when he pinches and is part of the cycle. But, if you were expecting Dion to fire hard slap shot from the point like a Mike Green or John Carlson, those type of goals will not likely occur that often.

All-in-all, Dion has plenty of upside and if he can develop a stronger physical game, he will be a handful for his opponents.

Comparison

Matt Grzelcyk, Left Handed Defenseman, Boston Bruins

While Grzelcyk is easily more physical and is stronger at gap control than Dion, both defensemen are undersized and are strong pinching defensemen. Grzelcyk and Dion have the ability to create perfectly timed tape-to-tape passes that lead the way to scoring chances.

stats from InStat Hockey and EliteProspects

Prospect report written by Josh Tessler. If you would like to follow Josh on Twitter, his handle is @JoshTessler_.

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Photo Credit: Eldon Holmes / Tri-City Storm

The Welland, Ontario native has been playing competitively in the United States since 2017 when he spent the season played with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 16U. When he was playing midget hockey up in Buffalo, he had played alongside fellow 2020 NHL Draft eligible prospect, Luke Tuch (now part of the USNTDP program).

After the 2017-2018 season, Ambrosio joined the Tri-City Storm of the USHL and has completed two seasons with the Kearney, Nebraska based club. This past season, he recorded 26 goals and 24 assists in 48 games played. Ambrosio lead the Storm in totals points and was second in the USHL in power play goals with 13 (behind Christian Sarlo of the Lincoln Stars).

Next season, Ambrosio will be joining the Boston College Eagles. He will get the opportunity to play of one of the most notable college hockey coaches in Jerry York. In addition, he will be playing in a strong offensive unit which features Alex Newhook (Colorado Avalanche), Nikita Nesterenko (Minnesota Wild), Jack McBain (Minnesota Wild), Logan Hutsko (Florida Panthers) and Matthew Boldy (Minnesota Wild).

Given the relationship that the Minnesota Wild have with Boston College, I would not be shocked to see the Wild scoop up Ambrosio at the draft. But, do not rule out the Avalanche and Panthers, who have multiple prospects on the Eagles.

Player Profile

D.O.B –August 7, 2002
Nationality – Canada
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –5’9
Weight –170 lbs
Position – Center
Handedness – Right

Ambrosio’s Style Of Play

Colby Ambrosio has a lethal shot and if you could not tell from the above content, he is dynamite on the power play. While you could argue that having a dynamic power play quarterback like Mitchell Miller would make Ambrosio stronger, you can not ignore how accurate Ambrosio is with his shot on the left side of the ice. He has his Alexander Ovechkin-style preferred power play shooting spot and frustrates goaltenders whenever he is being fed one-timer passes.

In addition, Ambrosio does embody solid speed and his crossovers help drive him. He can get up and down the ice at a relatively quick pace. He will dart after loose pucks and apply some pressure in the offensive zone to try to regain the puck.

While Ambrosio does have a fast stride, I have noticed some issues with his acceleration. Ambrosio tends to plant his left skate on the ice and then use his right skate to help propel him. This means that Ambrosio is exerting quite a bit of power from his right leg to push him forward.

While this might not seem like a big issue, it is a habit that needs to be addressed. This style of skating with damper his speed and creates challenges when the puck is quickly turned over and Ambrosio has to quickly react.

From a passing perspective, Ambrosio is a good tape-to-tape passer. But, occasionally will struggle in the slot with a decent amount of pressure and will find difficulty in completing cross ice passes. There are instances in which Ambrosio is aiming to complete a cross ice pass, but instead of connecting with his teammate, the puck misses the mark and he ends up giving the puck away.

When you look at Ambrosio’s aggression, he has fight in his game and is determined to keep the puck in the cycle when his opponent is looking to clear the puck. Also, Ambrosio seems to fare well at open ice when poke-checking. But, when Ambrosio has the puck along the boards, he has challenges fending off his attacker and that has a lot to do with his size. In the defensive zone, Ambrosio does not have the same aggression in his game and tends to move around the left side of the ice and wait for a loose puck. In fact, InStat Hockey has provided several challenge metrics from Ambrosio’s 2019-2020 campaign. He will average anywhere between 2-4 challenges in the defensive zone per game. Ambrosio should be looking to improve his defensive game next season in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

If Ambrosio does not seem to be improving upon his defensive game, I suspect that Jerry York will experiment with Ambrosio on the wing instead of at center.

Comparison

Victor Olofsson, Left Wing, Buffalo Sabres

Just like Olofsson, Ambrosio has plenty of speed and a dangerous shot that allows for quite a bit of success on the power play. Also, both forwards are looking to improve their productivity at 5v5 as their 5v4/5v3 production truly out-weights their 5v5 production.

stats from InStat Hockey and EliteProspects

Prospect report written by Josh Tessler. If you would like to follow Josh on Twitter, his handle is @JoshTessler_.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Need a scouting report on a particular prospect, contact us today!

Photo Credit: Chicago Steel

Sam Colangelo is coming off of his first full season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. Steel general manager Ryan Hardy built a great Steel roster last season. Colangelo, Brendan Brisson, Sean Farrell, Owen Power, Luke Reid, Mathieu De St. Phalle, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Matthew Coronato and Matthew Samoskevich provided Hardy with a lot of explosive talent. Colangelo was third in points for the Steel as he managed to tally 58 points in 44 games played.

Next season, the North Shore native (Stoneham, Massachusetts) will be returning back to the Commonwealth to play for Northeastern University. For Northeastern fans, they can expect a strong power forward, who will carry the cycle well. His play-style is quite similar to Aidan McDonough (Vancouver Canucks prospect).

Given that Colangelo will be attending Northeastern, there is a strong possibility that the Montréal Canadiens will have him on their radar. Over the years, the Canadiens have scooped up quite a bit of Northeastern talent including Cayden Primeau (’17 Draft), Jordan Harris (’18 Draft) and Jayden Struble (’19 Draft).

Player Profile

D.O.B – December 26, 2001
Nationality – United States of America
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –6’2
Weight –205 lbs
Position – Right Wing
Handedness – Right

Colangelo’s Style Of Play

When you watch Colangelo, you will notice his affinity for running the cycle. He loves doing the dirty work and has no problem doing so. While he is not the flashiest player on the ice, he loves to skate with the puck throughout the offensive zone to either find the right moment to strike or deliver a pass to an open teammate. If you are looking for a workhorse, Colangelo is your man.

In the clip below from Tony Ferrari of DobberProspects, you will see just how dangerous Colangelo can be in the offensive zone. Colangelo circles the zone and exhibits crisp crosses and edge work to glide his way to the crease.

Outside of his superb effort running the cycle, Colangelo has a good shot especially when being handed one-timer passes. He seems to drain one-timers at ease. Colangelo has also demonstrated that he can score from across the offensive zone. In the shot chart below from InStat Hockey, you can see how successful Colangelo was from across the offensive zone this season at getting the puck in the back of the net.

While he has been an effective goal scorer for the Chicago Steel, there are elements in his shooting that need to be pointed out. One, a decent amount of his goals came in low-danger situations like odd man rushes. But, that does not mean that Colangelo is not capable to evading a tight gap and pushing his way to the crease to score. While he did not score in the below clip from Joey Padmanabhan of EP Rinkside, here is a good example of his capability to battle in a tight gap and make a smart shot.

The other thing to note about his shot is that occasionally Colangelo has to implement a wider wind-up to get his shot on net from range. With Colangelo’s positioning, there are moments in which he is outside of the perimeter and looks to get the puck on net, but his release is not light and he needs a much longer wind-up to get the puck moving.

In the defensive zone, he hovers around the boards and the blue-line. He attempts to poke-check at open ice when the opposition is looking to carry the puck from the blue-line up to the slot. But, Colangelo’s poke-checking will miss the mark and will not be aligned with the puck. That is an area of his game that could use improvement.

When you look at this skating, you will notice that Colangelo is not the fastest skater on the ice. Yet, his edges and crossovers are both strong. His edges and crosses are displayed often and perhaps he can work on using his crossovers to help propel his speed.

Lastly, his passing and stick-handling are in fine form. When Colangelo has the puck on his stick, he does a great job of securing the puck and not coughing it up. In addition, his tape-to-tape feeds are crisp and accurate. Plus, he is capable of delivering cross ice passes from one half-wall to the other.

Comparison

Anders Lee, Left Wing, New York Islanders

Colangelo’s ability to carry the cycle and offensive framework remind me of Anders Lee of the Islanders. Both wingers are strong power forwards who enjoy running the play in the offensive zone and looking for opportunities to strike.

stats from InStat Hockey and EliteProspects

Prospect report written by Josh Tessler. If you would like to follow Josh on Twitter, his handle is @JoshTessler_.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Need a scouting report on a particular prospect, contact us today!

Photo from Terry Wilson/OHL Images, Aaron Bell (CHL)

Marco Rossi had a season for the ages in 2019-20.

Born a week after the cutoff for the 2019 NHL draft, Rossi had something to prove. His rookie season with the Ottawa 67s was fantastic, racking up 65 points in 53 games that was shortened due to injury. Rossi got a good taste of what Canadian major junior had to offer, but most believed there was so much more to a player shaping up to be the best in Austrian hockey history.

As expected, he lived up to the billing. he took his game to an incredible level this past season, leading all OHLers with 120 points to earn the league MVP title to the surprise of nobody. It was easy to see why. Rossi’s primary points-per-game average of 1.57 bested Quinton Byfield’s 1.51 rating, with the two swapping places when at even strength (Byfield had 1.04, Rossi finished with 1.03). Only Cole Perfetti (62) had more primary even-strength points than Rossi (58), with Rossi (28) nudging out Barrie’s Tyson Foerster’s 26 points despite playing six fewer games. Production-wise, Rossi had the OHL covered, but he’s a top-three player in the entire CHL, even when you include Alexis Lafrenière into the equation.

Rossi isn’t expected to return to the OHL next season, and rightfully so. Only Dylan Strome and Mitch Marner had more points as a first-year draft-eligible prospect in the OHL over the past decade, and Rossi’s output tied Connor McDavid’s run from back in 2014-15 (McDavid played nine fewer games, but we’re talking about a superstar in McDavid in his third OHL season compared to Rossi’s second). Where Rossi goes next is still unknown heading into July, but many believe he’ll head back to the Swiss’ NLA (could you imagine Rossi paired up with fellow Austrian Benjamin Baumgartner in Davos?). Rossi already has pro experience, skating in 18 games in the Swiss B-league as a 16-year-old – and performed well with seven points in 18 games. This time, it won’t be a second-tier outfit – he’d be playing against Europe’s best.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes Rossi a special prospect:

Player Profile

D.O.B – September 23, 2001
Nationality – Austria
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –5’9
Weight –179 lbs
Position – Center
Handedness – Left

Rossi’s Style Of Play

There’s no shortage of talented, two-way centermen in the draft this year, so what sets Rossi above the rest? Other than the numbers, which proves he’s too good for the junior level at this point, Rossi is good at just about everything asked of him. Special teams? Check. Offensive awareness? Check. Defensive reliability? Check. Creativity? Definitely check. If he had Quinton Byfield’s 6-foot-4 frame, we’d be talking about a serious threat for the No. 2 pick in Rossi.

Rossi is a smart kid, constantly talking to his teammates and drawing up strategies before a faceoff. He plays each shift like he has something to prove, but while still bringing a teammate-first mentality thanks to an always active head seeking prime passing partners. As a playmaker, very few can reach his full abilities. His 81 assists were tops in the OHL, and while primary assists typically earn more attention, Rossi’s 22 secondary even-strength assists were the most among draft-eligible CHL prospects, which suggests he’s a strong breakout passer. And that’s exactly it: he does a great job of getting the puck out of his own zone and setting up his wingers on the rush thanks to his ability to see the ice so well.

Marco Rossi with a highlight-reel goal to make it 6-2 Ottawa.

His third point of the game (1G, 2A). Now has 56 pts in 24 games so far.#OHL #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/AF66yTzeiH

— Caitlin Berry (@caitlinsports) December 14, 2019

Rossi’s real strength was his ability to move the puck, but Rossi’s quick wrister is one of the more likable qualities of his game. It’s snappy, electric and accurate, and he can unleash in close under pressure without much space needed as well as he can while all alone. On top of reading plays well, he’s got the skillset to get creative and dance around defenders without losing the puck and can stop and start on a rush with little difficulty. Using his high-end speed to blast past opponents, Rossi is fully capable of using his speed to create scoring chances, but he also does a good job of conserving his energy for late-game situations.

As typical with smaller, skilled forwards, Rossi is a tremendous skater, using his combination of high top speed and dangerous acceleration to create his own scoring chances. He can be deceptive, and if you saw him in 1-on-1 situations this past year, you know what I’m talking about – he’ll catch the defenders guessing, yet make a move going a different way to capitalize on the chance. Rossi’s skating has always been a highlight of his game, but it continues to show big improvement each season, and having NHL coaches surrounding him will have an extraordinary effect in helping him contain and use the asset to its full extent.

Defensively, there aren’t many downsides. He’ll take an off-shift every once in a while and let an easy play pass, but rarely. Rossi is an active center that does a fantastic job of acting as a third defenseman and while he isn’t the bigger player by any means, he’s no slouch along the boards. Rossi is undersized at 5-foot-9, but he’s got an edge to his game that truly intrigues me.

Rossi has done everything possible to prove he’s a top prospect, and his skillset should have no issue transitioning over to the NHL. He has nothing left to prove in the OHL – now it’s time for him to start his path to becoming a future 90-point centerman in the NHL.

Comparison

Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins

Three names that are often attributed to Rossi as a comparable are Patrice Bergeron, Brayden Point and Pavel Datsyuk. Think about that for a second: one’s one of the best two-way centers of his time, another is a lethal scoring machine with a 94-point season under his belt and the other is considered to be the gold standard of puckhandling. My favorite, personally, is the Bergeron comparison – Rossi is going to make you pay through his hard work ethic, smarts with and without the puck and simply makes everyone around him a better player.

Stats from InStat Hockey and Elite Prospects.

This prospect report was written by Steven Ellis. If you would like to follow Steven on Twitter, his handle is @StevenEllisNHL.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Need a scouting report on a particular prospect, contact us today!

Photo Credit: Igor Ljevak/Swedish Ice Hockey Association

This past season, Alexander Holtz spent the bulk of his season in the SHL with Djurgårdens IF. In 35 games played at the SHL level, Holtz tallied nine goals and seven assists. He also played in three games in the SuperElit with Djurgårdens IF J20, in which he tallied an impressive seven goals and two assists. He also played in 24 games for Sweden U20 at the World Junior Championships and various international tournaments including the Hlinka-Gretzky cup.

Like fellow Swedish draft eligibles who played in the SHL this season, he was not getting consistent ice time. Sure there were some games in which Holtz logged more than 16 minutes a night, but those were not the norm. As we have stated in a few other reports, such as the Lucas Raymond and Noel Gunler posts, this is a common theme for 17-18 year olds playing in the SHL.

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 23, 2002
Nationality – Sweden
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height –6’0
Weight –183 lbs
Position – Right Wing
Handedness – Right

Holtz’s Style Of Play

If you have been following and reading about 2020 NHL Draft eligible prospects, you probably have heard a decent amount of analysts and scouts rave about Holtz’s shot. But, just saying that Holtz has a fantastic shot does not do enough justice.

The Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden native has soft hands, a light quick release and excellent range. In the shot map below (from InStat Hockey), you can check out Holtz’s shooting range.

As you can see from the screenshot, Holtz find success from all over the offensive zone. While a plethora of his goals come from the slot, he has managed to score plenty of goals from just outside the faceoff dots.

Not only does Holtz embody strong shooting range, but he can pick corners with precision. Holtz can find the smallest gaps and still succeed.

Let’s move to Holtz’s passing ability. He is strong tape-to-tape passer, but he does have moments where he can pull off some flashier passes. For example, when Holtz has a man on him in the offensive zone and his opponent is applying tight pressure, Holtz will opt to complete a behind the back pass along the boards to get the puck into a teammate’s hands. In addition, when completing a zone entry and the goal is to get the puck to the blue-line and give his defender plenty of space, Holtz will look to complete a behind the back swing pass.

The only area in the offensive zone, in which Holtz should look to improve is his forechecking. While Holtz does forecheck, he does not often follow through and the pressure is not as strong as other draft eligible prospects like Gunler or Tyson Foerster. In fact, in the games that InStat Hockey has tracked challenges, Holtz does not win his challenges too often. In most games, the amount of challenges won is roughly 30 to 35 percent.

The other area in Holtz’s play that needs to be addressed is his puck control. While there are moments where he displays quality puck-handling and swings the puck around his opponent in the neutral zone, there are decent amount of rushes in which Holtz will lose control of the puck.

In the defensive zone, Holtz plays more of a conservative game. He will alternate between the slot and the blue-line. Holtz will use his strong backwards skating and crosses to constantly move along the slot when the cycle is running on the left or right of the ice surface. He is not the strongest defensive forward and he seems to be well aware of that. Instead of attempting to back-check along the boards, he patrols center ice to eliminate centered passes and will quickly move to the blue-line when a defenseman has the puck at the point.

Last but not least, let’s touch on his skating. Holtz is not the fastest skater on the ice, but he does have a wide stride and will more than likely improve his speed over time. But, Holtz’s calling card is his crosses. When Holtz is deploying crossovers, you can expect them to be quick and well-balanced.

Comparison

Alex Ovechkin, Left Wing, Washington Capitals

Anytime that you compare a prospect to a nine time Rocket Richard award winner, you will get a lot of questions. To avoid those questions, I just want to point out that Holtz’s playing style reminds me of Ovechkin. I do not believe that his ceiling will be near Ovechkin’s, but it could happen. In terms of his playing style, Holtz’ shot in the slot and across the offensive zone just reminds me of Ovechkin. Also, Ovechkin is not the strongest defensive forward, but like Holtz, he is well-aware of that and plays more of an insurance/conservative role.

stats from InStat Hockey and EliteProspects

Prospect report written by Josh Tessler. If you would like to follow Josh on Twitter, his handle is @JoshTessler_.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Need a scouting report on a particular prospect, contact us today!

Photo Credit: Mike Sullivan

Player Profile

D.O.B – June 7, 2000
Nationality – Russia
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’4
Weight – 240 lbs
Position – Right Wing/Left Wing
Handedness – Right

Sokolov’s Style Of Play

This Russian winger is hard to miss when on ice, first and foremost due to him being a man mountain. His measurements read like an outside linebacker on skates as opposed to a potential future NHL winger… and he has only just turned 20 this June. People have talked about him potentially losing some weight going forward, but Sokolov naturally has a big frame, a frame that he really knows how to use. He should have been drafted in the later rounds in 2018. That year he produced 21g, 42p in 64gp on a poor QMJHL team, and was a Russian u-18 regular. Last year he had a mediocre year on a mediocre team… but this year has just found a different gear. Not only did he dominate in the QMJHL, but he also played at WJC for Russia where was good, scoring three goals and four points in seven games to help his team to the silver medal.

Sokolov has always had a great shot, and uses his mammoth frame to get to the slot really well. He loves to get involved around the net. Once he is established there most NHL defensemen would struggle to move him, and a crosscheck is just as likely to break the oppositions stick as it is to move the giant Russian even an inch. Naturally, he is also a monster on the boards who is favorite to come out of a 1v2 battle every time. But he is not “just” a fridge on skates. He has soft hands that he uses very well. As a result he can dangle round players or go through them. The Yekaterinburg native also has a plus shot and a good passing touch. His forte though is getting to the net, and alongside his size he has real grit and tenacity. Defensively he works hard, and for a winger is adequate there, even if not a defensive stalwart.

In terms of flaws, as might be expected from a player with his size, his skating needs work. It has improved a lot from two years ago, and now he can actually get from point A-B okay. But it will have to keep improving for him to make the NHL. He has, however, already shown he can throw his hat into the ring with NHLers and hold his own. Last year he managed to get to the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp after being one of their best players – as an invite – in rookie camp and prospects tournament, though he was then cut before the end of camp and was not offered a contract.

Sokolov could step into the AHL right away. With simply some improvement in his short area skating he could probably play in a bottom six NHL role in the next 18 months. There is the risk that his skating means he can’t handle the NHL pace full-time. However, with the skill-set to potentially be a unique middle six forward down the line, there seems a likelihood he could go in the first three rounds of the draft. He would be a steal in the middle rounds.

Comparison

Patrick Maroon, Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning

Like the Cup-winning winger, Sokolov is a big body with some real skill and a plus shot, who loves getting to the danger areas and being engaged physically. Sokolov is also committed in the defensive zone, even if nothing more than average there. Like Maroon at the same age his skating needs work.

Prospect report written by Alexander Appleyard. If you would like to follow Alexander on Twitter, his handle is @Avappleyard.

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Photo Credit: Frölunda HC

Player Profile

D.O.B – January 26, 2002
Nationality – Sweden
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’3
Weight – 205 lbs
Position – Left Wing/Right Wing
Handedness – Left

Torgersson’s Style Of Play

Torgersson is a big boy who can really wire a puck. He is a good skater, and not just for his size. The man from the island of Hönö also forechecks super hard, harassing defensemen and working all day long up and down the ice. With his size, strength and tenacity it would be no shock for young Swedish defensemen everywhere to be having night-mares hearing his “footsteps” behind them as they struggle to corral a lose puck behind their net.

The big winger seems to have a good hockey IQ and generally goes to the right areas on the ice at all times. As wingers go he can be relied on defensively, and has no issue sliding across to center in the neutral and defensive zone if his line-mates are caught up ice. However, despite his size and tenacity he is not an overly physical player. While he may get the label of a “power” forward by some don’t expect him to be roughing things up around the crease or delivering big hits. He is also not the most “skilled” player, though he has a solid shot and can pass a puck. In terms of special teams he is very good as a net-front player on the power-play.

As a well-rounded player with size, strength, speed and IQ the only questions really surround his upside. While he has a strong foundation in every area he does not excel in many. He also, naturally, needs to grow as a player across the board going forward to reach the NHL. His floor seems high, but does not seem too likely that will be more than a very good third line forward at the highest level who could fill in on the second line. Late in the second round he could be a good option, if he falls into the third would be a steal.

Comparison

Joel Armia, Right Wing, Montréal Canadiens

One might be a Swede, one might be a Finn, and one is a righty, while one is a lefty. But in terms of their skill-sets and style of play there are a lot of similarities. Now, Armia is maybe more “conventionally” skilled, with better hands. However, both have big bodies, plus skating and high hockey IQ. Like Armia, Torgersson has a good shot, and while not overly physical is a great fore-checker who plays a mature 200-ft game. Both wingers also excel at getting to the net, and can play a net-front role when man-up.

Prospect report written by Alexander Appleyard. If you would like to follow Alexander on Twitter, his handle is @Avappleyard.

Looking for other scouting reports? Check out the Prospects tab for our other scouting reports.

Need a scouting report on a particular prospect, contact us today!

Photo Credit: Malmö Redhawks

Player Profile

D.O.B – May 10, 2002
Nationality – Sweden
Draft Eligibility – 2020
Height – 6’3
Weight – 192 lbs
Position – Defense
Handedness – Right

Grans’ Style Of Play

Grans has a great physical package and is also a righty. That is a combination of attributes that NHL GM’s lust after. He skates well, with good power and impressive edge work, and while he is already a big boy he does not look close to being finished filling out. He also possesses nice puck skills, and he uses that ability alongside his skating to regularly skate out of trouble and send play the other way. The Ljungby native has a good, hard wrist-shot that he manages to get space to utilize often, rarely struggling to find a seam to get a shot off. He fits the archetype of a modern-day defenseman, and loves getting involved in the rush. Once on the rush he does not lack creativity, and creates space for team-mates with soft hands and accurate passing.

Already a veteran of half a season worth of SHL games, his passing and vision in the neutral and offensive zone also stands out. In full stride he can feather the puck to rushing team-mates, and also spring forwards into dangerous situations regularly. But it is not just on the rush that his passing ability shines. When set up in the offensive zone Grans can dictate play from the blue-line.

However, he is somewhat of a project. He will certainly be a darn good SHLer at very worst down the line, and very likely a bottom pairing NHLer just due to his tools. But he can make poor decisions with the puck, which leads to questions over his hockey IQ at times. His gap-work can be lacking, which means that he can get walked even with his plus skating ability. Additionally, he has seemingly not quite figured out how to best use his frame yet. Despite his size he is rarely physical right now, and can even appear timid to engage at times. Nevertheless, he could develop into a very good second pairing defenseman with a unique skill set that is the perfect for modern NHL.

Comparison

Andrej Meszároš, Defense, HC Slovan Bratislava, Formerly of the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators

Like the Slovakian ex-NHLer, Grans has physical talent in abundance. They both have high end skating ability, good hands, a high level of confidence with the puck on their stick, and a natural ability to be able to carve their way through the neutral zone. Both also excel at getting the puck through with a high-end wrist-shot. Their weaknesses are also not dissimilar. Like Meszároš, Grans can get lost defensively, and for a man with a big frame is not very physical.

Prospect report written by Alexander Appleyard. If you would like to follow Alexander on Twitter, his handle is @Avappleyard.

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