Stephen Halliday (4.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — B) Forward
(1) Brain – Offensively Stephen thinks the game at a high level and surveys the entire ice making note of who’s on the ice and where they are going. He intelligently goes to the quiet areas to scoring goals. We love how he is able to slow down on line rushes and let the backcheckers over pursue the play allowing him to cut to the middle of the ice for more dangerous opportunities or find the late wave a of attackers.
(2) Vision & Poise – Vision is not an issue and if you can believe it we feel that there are times Stephen almost has too much poise and he ends up getting himself in trouble. We feel that as he matures his decision making will get quicker.
(3) Feet – Stephen is strong on his feet and has a solid inside edge base. He is agile for a big kid, but he will have to gain speed as well we get quicker to be a consistent offensive threat in the NHL.
(4) Compete & Effort – We would like to see more consistent effort because when he turns it on Stephen has the ability and skill to dominate. In the second game versus Madison he turned it on and was an absolute force down the stretch.
(5) Contact or Physicality – He protects the puck well and can attack the net from anywhere below the circles. He does not shy away from contact and will often times initiate it on the cycle.
(6) Release – Stephen has a quick release and can put it where he wants it. He uses screens to his advantage and can quickly release a snapper from his off wing.
(7) One Timer Ability – Stephen smoothly plays the off wing and can one time passes from any direction while he’s moving or standing in the quiet areas.
(8) Body Language – (Only Note Extremes)
(9) Special Teams Potential – Stephen has power play written all over him. His skill set makes him an option for today’s NHL styled power play where there are a limited set roles or positions and the forwards can freelance into different, but consistent positions.
(10) Intangibles – Some bigger kids take longer to find their consistency and sometimes they just never find it. We feel that Stephen will hear his name called during the first few rounds in Montreal, but for him to hear it on opening night he will have to play with passion, desperation and commitment every shift. Is that a lot to ask or look for? We shall see, but Stephen has the ability to lead the USHL in scoring and be a legitimate MVP candidate and hopefully he knows that.
Ryan Beck (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — B-) Forward
(1) Brain – Ryan is a smart two way center ice man. He is dependable in his end and does not cheat to the offensive side of the play. He consistently recognizes when his defensemen need close support for an easy quick outlet. Ryan thinks both sides of the game well.
(2) Vision & Poise – He has good vision and has the ability to make plays on the rush or off of the cycle. We saw him consistently roll out of the corner taking the puck to the net with his head up while looking for the best scoring option.
(3) Feet – He has high end top speed, great agility and quickness. His feet allow him to make plays on the offensive side of the game and contain larger players in the defensive zone. Ryan’s feet will always be viewed as an asset.
(4) Compete & Effort – Ryan is a dog on a bone
(5) Contact or Physicality – Initiates contact and his time at University of Denver will only enhance his NHL potential.
(6) Release – He has a quick release that he is able to snap it off while skating at top speed or moving laterally.
(7) One Timer Ability – We’ve seen Ryan one time pucks for a few years now. He can fire it while on the rush or while finding the quiet area in the offensive zone.
(8) Body Language – (Only Note Extremes)
(9) Special Teams Potential – In college Ryan will trusted to play in every situation. In the NHL we feel that Ryan projects as a energy guy who excels at penalty killing. His quickness, determination and high hockey IQ will make him valuable in professional hockey.
(10 Intangibles – Not everyone who plays hockey is a hockey player.. Ryan is.
Wyatt Kaiser (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C+) Defense
(1) Brain – Wyatt is a smart two way defenseman who stays out of trouble. He maintains net side positioning and has a high level of ice awareness in the defensive zone. Offensively he makes the easy play and works to be an option for his partner.
(2) Vision & Poise – His ice awareness allows him to make the smart easy play in transition and in the offensive zone his head is up as he looks for shooting lanes or potential tips.
(3) Feet – Good acceleration, confident edge work and a strong base allow Wyatt to contain the cycle, maintain tight gaps or be an offensive option when he’s needed. He has good feet and they only will get better as he matures.
(4) Compete & Effort – (Only Note Extremes)
(5) Contact or Physicality – Wyatt plays bigger than he is. His high level skating ability allows him to contain and win battles with larger forwards.
(6) Release – He does not have a cannon, but he walk the blue line with confidence and with his head up. His shots get through.
(7) One Timer Ability – Although his one timer is not a cannon Wyatt can hit the net from awkward body angles and when receiving poor passes.
(8) Body Language – (Only Note Extremes)
(9) Special Teams Potential – Wyatt moves the puck well enough to play on a second power play unit while his feet and brain make him a potential penalty killer.
(10) Intangibles – Minnesota kid who’s going to Duluth to play in high leverage games and try to win a National Championship. We like that.
Riley Stuart (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
The Arizona State commit is still adjusting to the USHL, but at 6’3 180lbs we feel it is only a matter of time until he playing regular minutes. He is a player that has had high level coaching while growing up (Shane Doan) and we feel that once he adjusts to the pace of Junior hockey that he will be one to keep an eye on.