Scout: Brandon
Buffalo Sabres
2022 NHL Entry Draft
1st Round Pick
9th Overall Selection by the Buffalo Sabres
MAIN REPORT
Skating:
More of a North/South skater that can laterally change lanes effectively.
Lacks speed and power in his stride.
Doesn’t utilize a high degree of motor but will redline when on the rush, especially if it is an odd man rush with a higher degree of a scoring chance.
Awkward edgework at times with little subtlety to his skating for, especially for a smaller player.
Puck handling:
Heads up and not flashy.
May over handle the puck at times, slowing down the flow of the play up the ice. This may be a vision/IQ issue.
Can effectively break up plays and disrupt the puck carrier with his stickwork.
Has the potential to make incredible passes but is quite inconsistent in pass effort.
25/57 (43.8%) on face-off on games viewed.
Shot:
High volume and opportunistic shooter.
Will take shots on goal, even if it is only to create chaos and rebounds.
Explosive one-timer.
Crisp snap shot.
IQ (vision, offensive and defensive anticipation, panic meter):
Weighted to anticipate offensive breaks, even while on the defense.
Can make high level plays under pressure.
I do wonder if the “over handling” of the puck is a processing speed issue where he is not seeing the ice well or if it is more of a paralysis by analysis sort of deal.
Defense:
Often the last man back on D-zone coverage.
Can be disruptive and dangerous on the PK, especially with his opportunistic leanings.
Best Asset:
His shot is his main weapon by a wide margin.
Biggest Concern:
Skating in all areas is about average for the WHL. Could use power development and refinement of edgework that could unlock more fluidity in his upper body.
Top Tier Potential:
Complementary volume shooter, 30-40-70, with special teams deployment. Not sure if his size and skating would make him a good NHL center.
Most Likely Tier:
15-20-35, middle six forward with low peripherals besides shots. Potential for him to get caught in limbo between the AHL and NHL if his game remains raw.
Stylistic Comparable:
Similar opportunistic nose for the net but a much less gritty and greasy Zach Hyman with shades of Tyler Ennis and Patty Kane, especially in regards to the rigid upper body posture of the latter.
GAME REPORTS
Date: 2022-10-15
League: WHL
Team: Winnipeg
Opponent: Prince George
Score: 4-1 Winnipeg
Notable Stats: 1 G, 1 A, 4 SOG, 0 HIT, 0 BLK, 18:24 TOI
Passing/Stickhandling:
Effectively uses his stick in close to disrupt the puck carrier.
Poke checked a pass attempt along the blue line on the PK.
Holds the puck a bit longer than seems necessary when looking to make a pass.
Timid passing gusto.
Heads up puck handler especially when entering the zone.
Solid deke ability to control the puck in a wide range compared to his center of mass.
Went 13/23 on face offs.
Shooting:
Opportunistic snap shot off a creative feed from behind the net for a goal.
Skating:
Seems to lack speed as a result of being both low torque and motor.
Only seems to push his motor if on an offensive rush.
Edgework is average for the WHL at best.
Defense:
Worked the PK and applied decent pressure to the point.
Decision Making/Panic Meter/IQ:
Positionally very floaty for a small player.
Late to join defensive coverage on turnovers or rushes against.
Plays defense by zone and is more so looking for passes to pick off or loose pucks.
Standout skill today:
Puck handling.
What was missing today?:
Skating and team game.
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Date: 2023-01-08
League: WHL
Team: Winnipeg
Opponent: Portland
Score: 6-3 Winnipeg
Notable Stats: 2 G, 2 A, 6 SOG, 1 HIT, 0 BLK, 16:21 TOI
Passing/Stickhandling:
Made a crisp, lateral pass to gain zone entry.
Seems like he was over handling the puck which slows forward progress of the play.
Uses his low center of mass to gain leverage and perspective on faceoffs.
Went 4/15 on the draw.
Shooting:
Wrist shot generated a rebound that found the back of the net for an assist.
Capitalized on a loose puck from a broken play around the crease for a snap shot goal.
Skating:
Awkward edgework at times.
More N/S than a rangy E/W skater.
Stays in his lane up and down the ice with the odd lane change within 6 feet.
Got behind the D on a breakout pass and put on speed to charge the net, then made a slick pass through coverage to pick up an assist.
Defense:
Eventually circles back to the front of the net, not to physically cover an opponent but solely focused on puck opportunities.
Was slow to get to the net front to cover an open man on a goal against.
Decision Making/Panic Meter/IQ:
Attacks open ice when entering the zone.
Doesn’t display much frazzle due to being fueled by the excitement of having puck control.
Standout skill today:
Shot volume.
What was missing today?:
Mobility and commitment away from the puck.
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Date: 2023-03-31
League: WHL
Team: Winnipeg
Opponent: Medicine Hat
Score: 5-3 Winnipeg
Notable Stats: 3 G, 1 A, 7 SOG, 1 HIT, 0 BLK, 19:58 TOI
Passing/Stickhandling:
Quick backwards dish in front of the net off a rebound to set up a goal.
Crisp, rink wide, neutral zone long pass off a hard stop and curl under pressure.
Quick hands on the draw.
8/19 on the dot.
Shooting:
Drove to the open ice to the right of the net to take advantage of a feed for a goal.
Bullet of a one-timer from the left circle for a goal.
ENG for the hat-trick.
Skating:
Uses more of a lateral movement on dekes rather than puck control and dexterity.
Defense:
Did lean on players in close; used a wide stance and his hips to be physical as opposed to his upper body.
Often last player back when on backcheck or regrouping to defend against a zone entry.
Goal against due to looking at the puck instead of covering the open player.
Decision Making/Panic Meter/IQ:
Showed patience in looking for the best play when the net was empty. Game a number of looks for a pass that ended up being covered and resulted in him cutting inwards to get a clean shot on goal.
Takes intermediary space away from puck carriers and chooses when to encroach wisely.
Standout skill today:
Shot velocity.
What was missing today?:
Most things on defense.
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