Rocco and Darren are within a point of each other on 8 of 10 categories. No category splits by 1.5 or more. Strongest tool: Skating - Speed/Power at 9.1.
Each dot is that scout's average for the category across their reports. The white tick is the consensus: the average of every report, each counted once. A red dashed gap means the scouts are 1.5 points or more apart. Tap a row to see every report's score.
The speed translates to the KHL level, which is substantially above where he should be playing. Despite the jump in competition, it is pretty evident that his B-game can translate at this level. He is all over the ice, with excellent acceleration out of pivots and the ability to create separation from defenders. His speed allows him to find soft ice, get open in scoring areas, and make himself difficult for KHL defenders to contain. He has a decent one-timer around the net and can get it off quickly, while also showing an ability to find open ice on the rush and make one-touch passes. He demonstrates a good understanding of pro breakout concepts and how to use his speed to create opportunities in transition.
He is more effective playing a north-south game than as a primary playmaker, and his puckhandling will need to tighten up to improve his consistency with possession. Defensively, he has a good stick and uses his speed to apply pressure and disrupt opponents. His stop-start ability, combined with backwards skating and a long reach, makes him difficult to escape in tight areas. He can close quickly on puck carriers and create problems through his relentless pursuit and ability to change direction.
He also competes well physically and does not look out of place against pro competition. He fights through contact, battles around the net, and does a good job utilizing his size. He is not afraid to engage physically and will throw his weight around when opportunities present themselves. The combination of speed, size, and willingness to compete gives him a foundation to impact games without needing to be a high-end offensive player. At worst, the speed-size combination projects as a lower-lineup energy winger who can forecheck, pressure defenders, and bring pace and physicality. Given the level of competition, the fact that these elements of his game are already translating is encouraging.
Shows high-end speed for his size and has created a lot of offense at the MHL level. A constant threat on zone entries, he combines his skating ability with speed handling to attack defenders with pace and create opportunities off the rush. He can use his speed to create separation, force defenders to react, and open up space for himself and his teammates.
His playmaking is most effective when he is in motion and playing at a high tempo. This carries over to both the power play and in-zone play, where he has shown the ability to make plays and generate offense without slowing the game down. He is at his best when attacking with speed and using his skating to create options, but can become less effective when stationary.
There are times when he settles into the play rather than continuing to attack, particularly in more structured offensive situations. He would benefit from becoming more comfortable creating offense when the game slows down and making quicker decisions with less space. Needs to show more consistency in his ability to create from the point and contribute when the play is set up in front of him.
Defensively, his engagement can be inconsistent, particularly on the backcheck, where he does not always show the urgency needed to finish his routes and get back into the play. He has the skating ability to recover and impact plays defensively, but needs to make that effort more consistently. Improving his defensive habits and commitment away from the puck would allow him to use his physical tools more effectively.
Physically, he needs to play with more bite and become harder to play against. He has the size and shows flashes of good body positioning, using his frame to establish position and protect space when he chooses to engage. However, he does not always use those tools consistently and needs to bring a more assertive approach to battles and puck retrievals. Becoming more willing to initiate contact and use his size to his advantage would add another dimension to his game.
Overall, he is an intriguing offensive player with a high-end combination of speed, size, and puck-handling ability.
KHL game in this viewing, he was deployed in more of a Grinder type of role. The skating checks out at this level, as does the size/strength/physicality combo. He looked really good in puck battles and along the boards. Wasn't his most dangerous offensive game, but it was a good example of what he could bring in terms of a very solid "B game". IE) there appears to be a high floor here because he can play in that more physical role even if the offense isn't popping one night. Even as a teenager, he's a handful for D to handle at this level.
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First thing that stands out is that his skating has taken a step since last season. Not that it required drastic improvement, but he was noticeably fast in this viewing. Used his speed to his advantage quite well, both on the forecheck and to create opportunities as a puck carrier. His motor was top notch, as was his ability to play with some physical edge and in the dirty areas. The puck skills looked quite good at times, but there were instances where he bobbled it. Playmaking looked very good on occasion here, but there were a couple of "hope plays" that didn't pan out as well. Like his ability to get to the net. Has a good shot that can beat goalies from distance at the MHL level. Made some good plays in the DZ getting sticks in lanes or catching guys from behind. Very good showing for his first game of the season.
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