| Lukas Klemm | Jamestown Rebels | NAHL | R | D | 6’2″ | 205 | Uncomm. | Ridgefield, CT | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
If you’re into Instagram highlights and stickhandling through pucks then Lukas Klemm probably isn’t for you, but if you’re into making an impact in a game and helping a team win then we’re confident that you’ll be a fan. Simply put, Lukas Klemm is a defensive machine. He understands angles, he understands triangles and he understand that when defending odd mad rushes that defensemen need to make that triangle vanish so today’s percentage playing goalies can do their magic. Defensively Klemm has a strong stick and wins loose puck battles. He loves to maintain shooting lanes and eat pucks. Offensively he moves the puck quickly and shows a high-level understanding that a hockey player needs to work to be an outlet when his teammates have possession of the puck. It is a basic concept, but he understands that he must move to move, even if it’s as a decoy, when his teammates have the puck. Klemm has the size and compete level to play professionally. We love that he reshaped his body by showing a commitment to off-ice training to drop from 225lbs down to 205lbs for his first year of junior hockey. In the long run Klemm is going to have to continue working on his footspeed and developing his glide. Right now, he is an inside edge skater which allows him to be very powerful and clear shooting lanes in front of his net, but he will need to work on gliding on his flat edge, so he becomes more efficient. We feel he is a long shot to be drafted, but he is a 6’2″ right shot defenseman with high compete and defensive awareness so we feel NHL teams should be watching him for the long haul.
NAHL Jamestown Rebels: As of December 16, 2021 Season stats: Games played 22, Assists 2, Points 2, plus/minus +2, Penalty Minutes 28, Penalties Drawn 4, Game Averages: Time on ice per-game 17:27, Power play time 01:01, Short-handed time 01:45, Shots 3, %Shots on goal 54%, Puck battles 8, %Puck battles won 56%, Hits 0.23, Hits against 0.45.
NAHL: Maine Nordiques vs. Jamestown Rebels., December 15, 2021: Klemm is a big, mobile, physical defenseman that plays a strong game on both sides of the puck. He is a menacing presence at his net front and wins battles, pushes guys out of his goaltenders’ sightlines and is strong on sticks. Lukas makes it difficult to get to rebounds or any loose pucks around the net. He makes smart pinches down the wall in the offensive zone, shutting down rushes the other way and taking the body to prevent anything getting passed him. On multiple occasions he made smart step ups at the blue line, keeping the play in the offensive zone. Klemm doesn’t try to make fancy plays with the puck as once he gets it, he moves it. He anticipates openings and where he is going to safely move the puck to prevent turnovers. GRADE: B+
U17: USA Hockey Selects 17’s, July 14, 2021: Lukas used his 224lbs to win pucks deep in his end and dominate the net front. He played a physical game and moved well laterally to shut down the rush. His hits were hard and he made them along the wall and in space. His edges were balanced and his head was up all week. He took his ice and moved pucks quickly. He was not flashy with possession but got the job done. He carried and made one zone entry through the middle and dished off to the wing as the opposing defenseman closed in. It was a smart play. He shot to create rebounds up ice and held pucks when he didn’t have a shot. We had him down for an assist on a rebound he created. His lateral movement helped him along the blue at both ends and overall Lukas played a tough game with enough skill to help his team up the sheet. Grade: B
U16: USA Hockey Nationals , May 12, 2021: Lukas is a skilled right-shot defender that does a lot of things right in both ends of the ice. He jumps routes at the offensive blueline and keeps pucks in the zone. Uses his body well to get pucks through traffic to the net. Good skater with a long stride that gets up to speed quickly. He likes to push the pace from the back-end. He is tough to beat in his own zone and uses an active stick and good body positioning to shutdown forwards. He knows where he is going with the puck and one-touches the puck to the open man. Big shot on the Power Play. Grade: B
U16: Play Hockey Championships, March 24, 2021: Klemm is a big, physical, hard-nosed defender out of Northwood who is tough to play against. He plays a heavy game, he leans on opposing forwards and takes them off the puck and makes a crisp first pass to start the breakout. He has a powerful shot from the point and gets it off quickly when pressured at the point. He was excellent at protecting his net-front and keeping opponents to the outside on the rush and he is tough on the walls and in the corners. Klemm will need to improve his agility and transitions but he’s a mature, tough-to-play against defender whose game will translate at the junior level. Grade: B
U16: Super Series Youngstown, February 24, 2021: Klemm is a massive presence and plays bigger than his frame displays. He is a beast in puck battles and uses his strength to drive players off him and the puck. He has a long reach and active stick that he uses to steer attackers to the boards and separates them from the puck, eliminating them from the play. His reach is disruptive of attacking rushes and uses it to stall plays by the neutral zone or force ugly zone entries against. Klemm is a very patient player with the puck and sends crisp, accurate passes up ice. He is able to join the play or even lead the rush to generate some offensive chances. GRADE: B+
U16: JGG Showcase, February 20, 2021: Klemm is a big, sure handed right shot defenseman with good vision and great hands. Klemm uses his body to his advantage when shielding the puck and can curl or shake off forecheckers well in transition. Worked very well behind the net and off of hinges with his partner all game. Klemm stays composed and patient as he is always looking for the best option and doesn’t just throw the puck away. Very aware, keps tight gaps and makes it known every time he’s on the ice. Takes sticks out front, seals off guys at the blue line and just does everything hard. Klemm can keep it simple and provide an offensive spark from the back end. High ceiling for the two way defenseman from Ridgefield, CT. Grade: A-
U16: Northeast Pack Showcase, November 22, 2019: In a weekend of speed and skill, run and gun hockey Klemm stood out as one of the most physical defensemen in Showcase. Really good size that he uses well ,especially patrolling his net-front area. Going from a stand still net-front to scrums in corners not an issue. Really good defending rush with good backward skating posture. Heard him talking to his partner all weekend. Thought he had a really good feel for the game and mostly helped transition game head-manning puck. Tough to play against and 2004 will get bigger and better. Grade B
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Klemm has great size and looked huge in this age group. He used his size well to defend. He clogged lanes and won puck battles. His puck play was consistent as he was able to move it up through contact and get off checks with possession. He got pucks to the net and his shot created lots of rebounds. He showed a wide stickhandle and long reach which allowed him to create shooting and passing lanes as well as extend possession as he protected the puck. Peter threw some sauce through the neutral zone and liked to jump up ice. He is strong on his edges which helped avoid the forecheck as well as drive the net off the edge. He went end to end a few times. He is still a bit stiff and will have to improve his mobility and perhaps less weights and more stretching. Overall, solid prospect who we will know more come Midget season. This was our first good look at him. Grade: B
2004 Crimson Combine, August 7, 2018: Lukas is an interesting player, he is a right shot D man with good size and mobility. He handles the puck well and has the ability to play in all situations. Attending Northwood in the fall.
Pro-Am Mini Chowder Cup, August 6, 2018: Klemm made a great impression as the game continued to roll on. His game isn’t flashy, but it is very effective. He looks to be around 5’9 and has a good frame to add weight to and his mobility was quite sleek for a defenseman. He looked very comfortable skating in all four directions without a misstep: especially on the backpedal. He is able to stay right with any forward regardless of size or speed and close in to knock the puck away. He deployed a really nice hip check which is quickly becoming a lost art. He has soft hands as well: able to accept and cradle the puck as he changes his pace and direction. He will be worth a close watch.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
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