One of the better USA prospects not playing in their national development team is speedster with a high pace motor, good feel instinct and vision for the flow out there. For day one was Des Moines best offensive player as his willingness to use jam to keep is linemates on the attack. He makes the players around him better. He is far from a finished product and although he is his team’s best weapon, it is clear that he can be neutralized at both ends when facing stronger opposing players who engage him physically. More of a pace pusher than a driver, he tends to shy away from contact, and you like him fighting and winning battles to gain and hold middle ice. Without much support cast, he may feel his chances to make plays are better if he is not in areas where rubs in contact might blow up his attacking possession. His stick is legit and uses the change of gear to outfox defenders more than get in closer to them where he so many times loses the puck. Has a rifle of shot that can he let go, will jump into open lanes and if there is an opening to shoot, he is able to change the angle, as the movement by the goalie situation changes his position. There are skills and it will still be a ways down the developmental road before he displays solid attributes that he CAN fill a bottom six role. Can his game continue to take off as an attacker? Without a huge jump in development of his physical skills, bulking up and adding muscle mass, he is destined to smaller area he impacts a team’s line-up. Committed to Arizona State University.
–Bill Płaczek
