Timothy Kazda

Scouting Notes

A shoot-first offensive player with an impressive one-touch shot and an accurate, heavy snap shot. He gets pucks off his stick quickly and consistently puts them on net, making him a threat around the scoring areas. He also shows good short-area playmaking ability, with some creative ideas and an ability to make plays in tight. He isn’t the most elite playmaker, but he generally finds ways to make things work in the offensive zone.

Skating and strength are notable areas of concern. He lacks explosiveness in his first few steps and can look upright and unbalanced on his skates, particularly when turning. His stride isn’t particularly long, but the bigger issue is a lack of power and quickness. He struggles to hold onto pucks through contact and is too easily bumped off possession. He competes, but needs to become stronger on his skates and more effective at protecting the puck in traffic.

His offensive instincts can lead to questionable decisions, particularly on the power play when he’s the last man back. He can find decent positions and contribute offensively, but he sometimes forces plays in an attempt to create offence. His defensive detail is inconsistent, and he loses too many battles in his current form. Improving his decision-making, puck protection and overall attention to detail will be important to becoming a more reliable player.

Overall, he offers legitimate finishing ability and some short-area creativity, with his one-touch shooting standing out as his biggest offensive strength. However, limited explosiveness, a lack of strength on the puck and inconsistent decision-making create concerns. He has offensive tools to work with, but improving his skating power, balance and ability to win battles will be key to taking the next step.