Landon Nycz (D, L, 6’3″, 201, UMass Amherst, 10/04/2007, UMass Amherst) Landon Nycz is a 6’3′, 205-pound left-shot defenseman with an NHL frame and pro-level skating, and that combination alone makes him a legitimate draft / NHL prospect. He moves extremely well for his size, with fluid four-directional mobility and clean heel-to-heel pivots that allow him to close space and transport pucks through the neutral zone with control. His transitional vision and ability to execute stretch passes are consistent, and the offensive instincts that once made him a high-scoring USHL defenseman still flash, even if they have been muted in his first NCAA season with UMass. Defensively, he uses an active stick to disrupt plays and can create turnovers that quickly turn into transition opportunities. At his best, I feel he is a middle-pair puck-moving defenseman who can play meaningful minutes and contribute on a secondary special teams. The concern is that he remains more tools than impact at this stage. His offensive production has dipped, he has not seized power-play control, and he does not yet consistently dictate play from the blue line. Defensively, his game can lack urgency and detail; he establishes good initial gap but will straighten up losing his athletic posture and get caught flat-footed, and in scramble situations he can get caught a half-second behind his coverage. For a 205-pound defender, he does not consistently impose himself physically, and on both sides of transition his decisions can lead to unnecessary risk through the middle of the ice. Nycz could become a top-four NHL defender because you cannot teach his size and skating combination, and if his defensive competitiveness and puck management continue to mature, he has legitimate 20 minute upside. With that said, I feel he may struggle to find a role if his game remains inconsistent and he never develops a defining trait beyond his tools while adding some nastiness. In the long run the success of his professional career will depend on whether his defensive reliability and assertiveness catch up to his physical and skating ability.
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