| Ethan Szmagaj | Waterloo Black Hawks | USHL | R | D | 6’0″ | 190 | Arizona State | 2021 | Canton, MI | 2001 | 2020-2021: Free Agent |
USHL: Waterloo Blackhawks vs Omaha Lancers, February 22 2021: As always Ethan displayed excellent feet in all situations. His gaps were tight. His lateral movements along both the offensive and defensive bluelines were quick, explosive and decisive. He took away time and space with his feet, but he used his anticipation to get his stick in passing lanes and deter opportunities. While defending the slot I was impressed with his willingness to maintain shooting lanes and sacrifice his body to block shots. Offensively Ethan made quick decisions with the puck. He bought himself time and opened passing lanes by having poise with the puck and looking the Lancers off. His goal may have been an easy looking tap in, but he showed excellent game awareness by jumping into the high slot and adjusting his body to an awkward pass. Ethan is a player who continues to impress me.
NHL Scouting Report, June 23, 2020: (1) Brain – Ethan is a savvy defenseman. In the defensive end he uses anticipation to beat the opposition to the scoring areas and maintain clear shooting lanes. This allows him to control sticks and rarely do you see rebound opportunities from his man. His anticipation is also obvious in the way he communicates to his partner and low forward. He calls out switches early and on turnovers he is a vocal outlet for his partner. While defending line rushes Ethan reads the entire surface showing excellent ice awareness and again communicates very well with his partner and the backchecking forwards. We also feel he has a high understanding of when to activate from the offensive blue line. He does not just mindlessly fire down the wall for a high cycle or just head to the backdoor for something to do. Ethan reads when his forward is on his forehand or backhand, anticipating if his forward will try utilizing a 1 on 1 escape or if the best option his for him to activate and provide support. (2) Vision & Poise – He is cool calm and collected with the puck. He uses his smooth first touch for quick ups in transition, as well as having the poise to look a forechecker off while finding the stretch guy. He does not panic when receiving a poor pass along the offensive blueline. He handles it smoothly and has the poise / skills to find his forward’s sticks for a tip or hit the net with a quick snap shot. He also shows great vision while defending by not hyper-focusing on the puck carrier. Even as the strong side defender on a line rush, Ethan has his head on a swivel searching for the next wave of attackers.(3) Feet – He is a powerful skater with a low center of balance and an explosive stride. Ethan is quick and smooth while pivoting and does not cross his feet while defending. His strong edges allow him to retrieve pucks at full speed while forecheckers are on his back and his powerful cross under creates separation after gaining the net. Ethan’s skating is an asset. (4) Compete & Effort – Maximum effort player who looks smooth while doing it. (5) Contact or Physicality – He has strong hands and wins physical battles against larger players. He uses his feet and low center of gravity to create leverage. He is a hard working three zone player. (6) Release – He gets his shots away quickly and hits the net. To become more of a long term asset Ethan must continue developing his power from the point. Although he hits the net consistently, we would like to see him be more deceptive and unpredictable in the hopes of generating more rebounds. (7) One Timer Ability – He does not have a rocket, but he does have an expanded shooting zone and hits the net. We feel this is a skill that Ethan will continue developing over the next few years. He is athletic and will get stronger. (8) Body Language – Ethan plays a mature game and does not get rattled or overwhelmed. He is control of his emotions and we feel he will wear a letter while playing for Michigan. (9) Special Teams Potential – He has the anticipation and instincts to be a high level penalty killer. We feel Ethan will be second unit power play option, but if he continues to develop a more powerful point shot he has the first touch and vision to contribute on a top unit. (10) Intangibles – His brain. Ethan processes the game and makes decisions quickly rather waiting to see what happens. Defensively his decisions force turnovers and generate the transition game that is played in today’s National Hockey League. He is not a coast to coast offensive defenseman, but he moves the puck quickly and hits the tape in stride. In our experiences this what NHL coaches request from their GMs and who highly skilled NHL point producers want on the ice with them.
USHL: Waterloo Black Hawks NHL Prospects, January 1, 2020: Ethan had a very strong two-way game. He makes quick tape to tape outlets in transition and showed the foot speed to carry the puck out of trouble when the time was needed. There were times when Madison was able to establish positive in zone pressure and Ethan was able to break down the pressure by showing veteran poise to move his feet to open passing lanes rather continue to force the puck up the walls into trouble. Ethan also uses his quick lateral mobility along the offensive blue line. He shows the confidence to receive any type of pass and explode to the middle of the ice with his head up while evading the defending winger and get his point shots through. He was very effective on power play breakouts where he made a good first pass that trapped Madison’s F1 and as the top man on the umbrella he was poised while isolating Madison’s high forward. The late 2001 is a defender to watch. His skating and mobility are a perfect fit for today’s NHL and he is gaining the confidence needed to be a difference maker.
USHL: Waterloo Black Hawks NHL Prospects, October 25, 2019: Ethan is an excellent skater with strong edges who is trending in the right direction. He plays with his head up looking to make quick tape to tape outlets, yet still has the poise and confidence to look for the stretch pass in transition. We feel his vision and brain are his best assets. He can run a power play, but we would like to see him get stronger and become more of a threat to shoot as he matures. Again, Ethan is trending in the right direction and is a player who will look dramatically different after 4 years at Michigan. We feel his brain and vision make him worthy of a 6th round look in Montreal.
USA Hockey Select 17 National Development Camp, July 2018: Szmagaj, a late ‘01, returned for his third National Camp and has taken steps forward each year he’s been here. He’s a balanced skater with sturdy edges and graceful stride. He plays the game with his head up, always looking to make a play and very aware of where everyone is on the ice. He has the ability to play a poised, controlled style and slow it down but he can also make quick decisions and stretch the ice instantly if a forward breaks free from his end. His vision and puck management may be his best tools, but he’s also very clever defensively. He has natural instincts to get to the right spots to break up plays, he has an active stick and can read a rush and instantly analyze the main threats and take those options away. On the power play he showed that not only can he think the game at a high level but he has improved his shot, particularly his one-timer and he was able to lead breakouts and zone entries and quarterback the entire operation not only in the offensive zone but all over the ice. A smart, witty, balanced, puck moving, three-zone defenseman who looks poised to take his game to the next level as he tries to make the jump to the USHL. College: Michigan
USA Select Festival Michigan 2001s, May 2018: Ethan is a quick, powerful skater as he was able to catch a player on a breakaway from 15 feet away. He has great athleticism which makes an effective player in both ends of the ice. He was able to score a goal on a penalty shot as he used his quick release on the goalie. College: Michigan
U16: NHL Youth Cup U16, February 2018: Ethan is a very good skater. He is fast, quick, agile and balanced on his skates. He liked to have the puck on his blade and showed he could control pace of play. Jumped in at appropriate times from the offensive blue and caused real problems for opponents as they had to account for his almost like a fourth forward. Defended with a quick stick and smart gaps which allowed him to start transition quickly. He is very athletic and had obvious upside. Followed a line rush up ice and scored a goal on a rebound, Has speed to take chances. Can do whatever he wants at this level did what his team needed to win in any situation. College: Michigan
T1EHL U16 October Showcase, November 2017: A key player for his team and has the ability to bring some emotion to the game with his physical play. Caught a couple guys in awkward spots and made them pay by laying the body on them. He used his skating ability to get to guys and separate them from pucks. Offensively he is able to support the offense with a shoot first attitude and a heavy shot. College: Michigan
Junior Chowder Cup 2001 Division, August 2017: Ethan is balanced on his skates and used his strong stride to defend and move pucks up ice. He protected the puck with his strong core and to dispossess opponents. We liked that with the puck, it is very tough to tell what he will do. He does not telegraph his passes and moved off the wall. That left him options to skate or pass it from his end and up ice. He is a very good PP player and can shoot. However, he did not do a great job of protecting his crease when we watched. We also think he will need to add a bit to his straight line/recovery speed for the college game. This could have been a function of the nature of summer hockey but it’s something to watch as we move into Fall. He is a strong skater but does not have elite speed right now. College: Michigan
U16: HPHL Border Battle, December 2016: Played bigger than he is listed as he was strong on opponents when needed. Skating is a big asset for him as he is able to cover a lot of ice and close gaps on opponents.
U16: HPHL October Showcase, November 2016: Strong skater with good mobility. Gets around the ice well and is able to cover a good amount of ground. He can shoot the puck and make some plays. His skating allows him to get up in the play and support the attack.