Scouts didin’t ignore the Ruck twins, just downplayed them. Liam scored 45 goals and 104 points. He plays with a low center of gravity and quick hockey instincts that have him delivering pucks with clinical precision. His offensive creatation doesn’t stem from high end dangles but intelligent quick plays to linemates. He attracts pressure and relieves it using his on ice vision to dish to teammates and their one timers. Let’s not diminish the fact he has an accurate underrated wrist shot that he deceptively gets off in a hurry. He excels in a quick possession game and a high paced tempo. Absolutely his emerging physical will add to his, game even though he lacks high end puck handling abilities. He lacks that explosive play driving ability and in junior so many of his delay plays are commonplace in the game, but you don’t see but a glimpse of time in the bigs to create space, drop feeds, and curl-and-drag angle changes to get inside and shoot through layers, so his feet needs more developing. When you see how strong he is, out-muscling opponents in contact, you see the upside that eventually gets players in the lockerroom.
–Bill Placzek–
