| Liam Watkins | Spruce Grove Saints | AJHL | L | C | 6’1″ | 190 | Nebraska Omaha | 2023 | Okotoks, AB | 2004 | 2022-2023: C+ 2021-2022: C |
AJHL: Spruce Grove vs Fort McMurray, February 25, 2023: Watkins was the overtime hero for the Saints and added another marker in the second period as well. Liam had the hot stick and showed off his quick release that he can get off accurately from any position. He is not just a perimeter threat and loved to get to the net and put the opposing defenders in uncomfortable situations. He has a strong big frame and is equipped with soft hands in open space. His first goal came off a net front scrum where he stuck with it and kept poking until the puck was jarred loose and jammed it home with force. Watkins was feeling it tonight and played with a little extra swagger as he was getting the bounces. He was able to use his size to his advantage shielding pucks and not letting possession go until he decided. For the game winner Liam jumped over the boards late while McKinley had possession in the offensive zone received the pass near the blue line slowly moved down to around the dot then danced to the middle and beat the goaltender with a backhand shot from underneath the hash marks. Grade: A
AJHL: Whitecourt vs Spruce Grove, February 3, 2023: Watkins led the way for the Saints with a goal and an assist. He assisted on the game winning goal by Sundar but was largely set up by Watkins. Liam pulled a cycled puck off the boards from behind the net and quickly jumped to the net in one stride and made a nice touch pass across the crease for Sundar to finish giving his mark no time to get a stick on him. Watkins plays fast in every aspect and uses his speed in open ice and quickness in tight spaces to create his own time and space. Liam found pockets of space in the offensive zone for quick shots that he accurately gets on net in a hurry. He constantly competes every shift and does not back down from anyone. Watkins used his smaller frame to shield off defenders and put his body in a position to get a quality shot on net. Liam sealed the game with an empty net breakaway goal. Grade: A
AJHL: Drumheller vs Spruce Grove, November 1, 2022: Liam scored the opening goal of the game off a point shot that rebounded off the left pad of the goaltender. He received the puck on his backhand to the right of the crease. He quickly stepped towards the top of the crease to his left and deftly pulled the puck around the sprawling goaltender to his forehand potting the goal in the process. Liam carried the puck with his head up throughout the game and was able to make accurate passes off both his forehand and backhand. He is an average to above-average skater at this level of play and displayed a strong first-step. Liam played responsibly defensively supporting the defensemen by being a breakout pass option and supporting them in down low puck battles. Grade: B+
AJHL Finals: Spruce Grove vs Brooks, May 8, 2022: Watkins is a good size two-way forward who is excellent in all situations (even strength, PP, and PK). He is excellent defensively and on the PK where he maintains good positioning and uses a strong stick to break up plays. He can be a threat offensively on the PK and will take advantage if you’re not careful. He picked up 1 goal, and 2 assists in game 1. He scored by getting a pass from his teammate in the low slot and quickly elevating it over the goalie’s L shoulder. Just prior to his goal, he showed excellent work down low with good puck protection, change of direction, and ability to find his teammates for two chances. He picked up an assist by getting a shot off from the top of the R circle which was deflected by his teammate in front. He scored the opening goal of game 2 simply by throwing the puck on the net from the L wall and surprising the goalie. He scored in game 3 from behind the R post and banking the puck off the goalie and in. Grade: B+
AJHL: Top Player Evaluations, February 14, 2022: Watkins is a forward who is an excellent combination of size, strength, skating and puck handling ability, and good awareness. He does it all and can play in all situations. He gets low and uses his leg strength to shield off defenders and protect the puck. He skates with quick feet, good acceleration, as well as some shiftiness and change of direction with the puck. He has quick, soft hands which combined with his skating makes him difficult to line up and a constant threat in 1-on-1 situations. He shows good patience, vision, and awareness with the puck. He plays with speed and energy and gets on the defense quickly thus creating turnovers. He was aggressive on the PK helping kill off time in the offensive zone with good pressure. He scored the 2nd period SHG following up the rush and burying a rebound with a quick turn-around shot. Watkins and Rochford were constantly pressuring and threatening on the PK. He scored his 2nd goal of the game on a 3rd period PP tapping home a backdoor pass into an open net. Grade: A-
AJHL: 8 Game Report, January 12, 2022: Watkins is a good size forward who picked up 2 assists in this game. He assisted on the 1st goal of the game when he carried the puck over the blue line down the left side and made a nice little drop pass to the trailer who buried it. His 2nd assist was a beautiful, hard, accurate backdoor pass from the right corner across to his teammate waiting at the left post. He has all-around offensive skills including above-average skating, stick handling, and passing. He showed flashes of offensive ability in this game. Grade: B
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, November 2021: Watkins is a hard working no nonsense center. I love his approach in the face-off circle where he might not win every draw, but he certainly does not lose it. He makes sure his linemates know their responsibilities and no matter what the outcome or where the puck ends up his linemates are on the puck in hurry. Watkins has a wide base and low center of gravity and it seems like opponents bounce off him. In the defensive zone he’s maintains net side positioning during scrums and shows leadership by communicating with the defensemen. I also like his awareness when coming back into the defensive zone. He clearly recognizes when a linemate has become the low forward and Watkins quickly sorts where he needs to be to keep the defensive zone coverage clean. In the neutral zone he provides reassuring low and slow support for his defensemen and his stick is always prepared to handle a pass. In all situations he plays with his head on a swivel and he is constantly scanning the ice looking for numbers. Watkins is a big body who protects the puck well while cycling. He has the strength to hold off a defender with one hand while looking for a five foot pass. He is a willing net front presence and will take a beating to stand at the top of the crease. I love his decision to extend his development and play college hockey at Nebraska Omaha. To have a serious shot at a professional career Watkins will need to continue developing his first step and overall explosiveness, so the college route is definitely the right decision. He’s heading into school during the 2022-23 season so he has this season to continue gaining valuable experience because once he’s on campus he will be looked to early as a solid two-way contributor. I think he’s probably a long shot to be drafted, but I do think he is a player who will be watched closely once he’s on campus. Watkins has an National League frame as a 17 year old and he already consistently plays a reliable game so in my opinion he will most likely be an invite to an NHL development camp and be watched as a potential college free agent signing, but a smart team might be willing to draft Watkins late because he will have three years of college training and playing experience as a 20 year old.
AJHL Showcase North Division, November 6, 2021: Watkins is only 17 years old but was able to outwork, outhustle and outmuscle defenders all over the ice. He has great reach and puck protection ability, he is balanced and strong on his edges and utilizes his linemates as well as anyone on his team. He supports the puck on the breakout presents a target, he changes speed and lures defenders to him to open up space for his linemates and get them the puck and he drives hard to the net away from the puck to take defenders with him and give time and space to the puck carrier. He moves the puck crisp and on the tape and he immediately moves to get open to get it back. He didn’t get on the stat sheet here but he still created offense in a variety of situations from the net front, from the corners, off the cycle and on the rush. A balanced, two-way, hard working forward who plays the game the right way and will only get better as he gains more experience at this level. Grade: A-
AJHL: Spruce Grove Saints vs Fort McMurray Oil Barons, April 5, 2021: Liam was working hard again as he centered the second line this game. He consistently gets in hard on the forecheck and we like how he drives the net with the puck or crashes the net without it. The ‘04 is a competitor in the dirty areas and he is quite strong and balanced given his age. He has deceptive zone entries and he does well to adjust his speed to fool defenders. He has the dangle ability to get around defenders who step up on him and he has the muscle and strength to power wide and drive the net. He ended up having a big game tonight with three points. He scored the game tying goal late in the third period and got the assist on the overtime winner. Grade: A
AJHL: Spruce Grove vs Fort McMurray, March 15, 2021: Liam had a great first period of his first AJHL game scoring a goal and being noticeable on a lot of his shifts. His goal was the result of finding a soft spot right in the slot and getting off a quick one-timer to beat the goalie. He played tough and physical along the wall and did well to retrieve pucks back into his possession. He looks like he fits right into this team and league and played with some nice confidence. The ‘04 started the second with a nice rush and showed some dangle ability and continued confidence. He went a bit quiet late in the second and into the third but continued to battle hard in all areas. Overall, it was an impressive first game for Liam in the AJHL. Grade: B
U14: Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds Tournament, December 21, 2017: Watkins is a hard working forward who brings a consistent shift to shift effort and will go up against anybody to get the puck back and look for chances. Watkins is a quick skater who likes to make a pain for opposing defenders on the forecheck, closing his gaps quickly and finishing his hits trying to force turnovers. Watkins has vision inside the offensive end and can find players in tight by spotting lanes to get pucks through to teammates in the slot/circle to get quality looks at the net. Watkins likes to crash the net and find second chance rebounds to get off on net. Watkins has a good stride and can beat defenders wide through the neutral zone. Would like to see him add more strength for down low play and make it a bit less of a war for himself to get the puck back. Watkins has some defensive deficiencies to work on as well. Grade: B+
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
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