Nesbit is a big competitive centre who has good hands in tight good, is good in the dot, is physical and if the situation calls for withholding drop the gloves. This high motoring centre has the ability to create plays and opportunities due to his prominent physical game, as he bulls his way through defenders. He will crash the end boards, tying sticks, bodying, and will be a difference maker at the net front coming off the end boards, where he a constant physical threat. He has the size and the stickhandling skills to come out with and execute attacking plays. Strong in the dot, and good away from the puck. He can thread the puck around sticks, complete give-and-goes, and one-touch pucks to teammates in shooting position in the slot. His impressive wingspan allows him to maintain puck possession and navigate situations that many junior players struggle with.This man child still needs work on his a little quicker and doesn’t pop as a one-on-one player but if he continues to make the progress he has this season he’ll have a long career in the NHL. He consistently attempts quick, precise one-touch passes and utilizes his puck protection skills to draw in defenders and find openings to transport the puck or get loose. Very willing to crash the net. Smart hockey head; he makes his own opportunities and creates opportunities for himself and linemates with regularity. Very comfortable down low, but needs to get better at making quick reads and being better at handling the puck, and seeing open plays, as he misses playmaking opportunities. Nesbitt will send rockets through tight seams low-to-high, crash the end boards, ty up sticks, use his body to lean on guys, and win retrievals. Has worked to improve to this point, where he is in consideration as a first round selection. A diligent defensive player who is always, scanning, forcing turnovers, directing coverage, blocking shots, with continual pressure on puck carriers. Needs to get to open middle ice in the attack zone, instead of taking on multiple defenders without sufficient speed or a viable strategy. Many of the positive qualities I have sighted still need continual improvement and how they develop makes the difference between him being a middle six centre, or a top nine player. Being a good puck handler, a decent skating bull of a big man, and even his physicality doesn’t guarantee he succeeds at the higher levels until his skating and awareness and use of where his linemates and are and how he uses them more in his creative attempts more, so he isn’t losing pucks to smaller bodies opposing players becasue he is not. The stickhandle needs work, the feet need work (although his edgework is pretty darn good), and adding more pace and creativity will guarantee him a major league paycheck.
–Bill Płaczek–
