Game played on 11/03/2024.
Max Psenicka (D, R, 6’5″, 178, HC Plzen, 01/18/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Max is a big heavy defence man who plays like it. He does a very good job at first getting stick on puck and then using his body, at the 13 min mark in the first period you can see him doing this. He gets stick on puck then uses his body to close off the forwards hands allowing him to poke the puck to a supporting teammate. Another element of his game that max does well is not admiring the play he makes and getting his feet up ice. This can be seen multiple times throughout the game and within the clip above. He pokes the puck free then he moves his feet to get up ice. This is a great habit for a young defence man, it allows him to join the play and ensures if the puck turns over he has good gap. For max to take his game to the next level he needs to improve his skating, specifically his ability to stay with small quick forwards and not be beaten out of turns. The 12 min mark in the second showcases this and his youth. The shift starts well, he makes a good play to stand the opposing forward up at the blue line. He then goes back to his net, I dislike the line he takes behind the net it makes him late to close the gap to his forward with the puck. Because of this he comes in over aggressive and gets spun off which leads to a quality scoring chance. Max then shows off one of the things I like about his game, which is his compete. He battles with the guy in front, loses his stick but relies on his body. Without a stick he needs to either get a stick from a winger or switch with the winger as this leads to a few chances in front as he cant make a play on the puck. But despite this Max continues to compete and ends up saving a goal by laying out to block a shot. Lastly I was very impressed with max’s gap control, he stands guys up at the blue line and utilizes his long reach to put forwards under pressure early. At the 10 min mark in the first Max and his partner take a 2 on 2 rush, max closes the gap quickly to the forward without the puck taking away any opportunity for that player to make a play. He then ties him up and makes it difficult to get to the net. A lackluster back check allows a scoring chance but the way max steps up, makes life hard for that forward. He shows he is hard to play against for the opposing forwards.
Scout: Grayden Gottschalk