Daniel Baker (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C+) Defense
(1) Brain – Daniel has good ice awareness. He plays with his head up and surveys the entire surface before he receives a pass. On puck retrievals he looks over both shoulders early, locates the nearest forechecker as well as his support options. He does not get caught along the wall while defending the cycle and it looks like he naturally maintains defensive side positioning on point shots.
(2) Vision & Poise – By surveying the ice early Daniel is able to make quick outlets in transition. While under duress he has the poise to protect the puck with his head up and find outlets quickly.
(3) Feet – He has a good stride and knee bend, but he will need to continue developing his first step for success in the National League. While skating backwards and defending a line rush, he is quick laterally and is able to pinch opponents off early and therefore create dump-ins or turnovers.
(4) Compete & Effort – He is an honest hard working defenseman who will take hits to make plays and is willing to sacrifice his body by taking a knee to block shots.
(5) Contact or Physicality – Very strong along the walls, in front of his net and at 6’4″ 183lbs will only get more powerful and stronger.
(6) Release – Daniel has a nice hard shot from the blueline and we’ve seen him make highly skilled curl and drag snap shots from the high slot. He shots seem to generate rebounds and hit the net. We have seen too many shots get blocked when he is involved in a high scissor play and ends up carrying the puck down the wall.
(7) One Timer Ability – We have not seen Daniel one time enough pucks to make a comment.
(8) Body Language – He goes down to block shots, eats them and does not make a big deal about it. That’s a leader and the type of teammate that we would like to play with.
(9) Special Teams Potential – We feel he has the make up to be a regular penalty killer in professional hockey. Even though Daniel is putting points up during his second full season in Medicine Hat, we do not see him as an NHL Power play option.
(10) Intangibles – Daniel is playing for Willie Desjardins in Medicine Hat. Coach Desjardins has been a Head Coach in the NHL and he was Head of the Coaching Staff for Canada’s 2018 Winter Olympic Team. There is no doubt the Daniel is learning what it takes to be an NHL caliber defenseman.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images