Philip Tresca (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C+) Forward
There are some players that you remember the first time that you saw play. Philip Tresca is one of those kids. He was a Pee-Wee for the Boston Jr. Eagles playing a Saturday morning game at a prep school called Belmont Hill. I was there to watch a few Belmont Hill defenseman who were playing in the next game. I walked in the rink to see Philip carrying the puck on a line rush. As he approached the offensive blue line he recognized that he was getting pinched off by a back-checker and the defenseman. Rather than try to do a toe drag or pull a tricky dribble through the defenders legs, he made an escape to his right sucking both players to the wall with him and threw back hand sauce to a streaking line mate who went in on a breakaway. I can’t tell you if he got a helper, but I can tell you that it was a ridiculous play for a Pee-Wee to make. I’ve obviously been tracking Philip since then, but lets find out what makes him a ‘C+’ NHL Prospect as he enters the New England prep season?
(1) Brain – We feel Philip has an incredibly high hockey IQ. He reads offensive gaps very well and has the ability to put the opposition in vulnerable positions. He sucks big defenders to him and makes them play with the puck in their feet. He attacks smaller defenders and uses his body to protect the puck while making skill touch passes into the open ice. He reads the entire ice both with and without the puck and instinctively knows where everyone on the ice is. He has high level anticipation and is always a threat to pick off passes that will create quick transition. In the defensive zone he provides consistent low support and has the strength to contain larger players while pinning them to the wall. Philip can feel pressure and will use a soft touch center to weak-side D to create an easy breakout rather than foolishly slam pucks up the walls. He understands when to use slash support or when to delay to the wide side during transition. Although he has high end skills, Philip is the type of Center that professional coaches will love to have on their bench because he does not sacrifice his defensive responsibilities, ever. He is a dependable two-way forward who has always played big boy hockey.
(2) Vision & Poise – He has high end skill and plays the game with his head up. Offensively – he can create both individually and has the poise to generate odd man rushes. He excels on give and go situations and can find the seems to the weak-side. Defensively – He is as responsible a center as you will find in this draft class. He is patient in containment and will not chase the puck or puck carrier.
(3) Feet – While Philip might not have the most explosive first step, his body control and edge work are exceptional. He can stop and change direction very quickly and can lose defenders in incredibly tight quarters. His out side edge is powerful and he can generate top speed with one powerful cross under. We feel his explosiveness will not be in question after he is done maturing.
(4) Compete & Effort – We feel Philip has an unearned reputation for being easy to play against. We honestly think anyone who feels this way is not paying attention. When he started playing New England Prep hockey Philip was the smallest player on the ice every game (5’5″ 125lbs). He survived on his brain and did very well. Now he wins battles in the corners and in front of the net. He is willing to take a hit (or hits) to make a play. He competes his ass off and wants to win. He also as developed an “exploding shoulder” that he has begun to use on unsuspecting attackers.
(5) Contact or Physicality – He is not a bruiser and he will never be considered a power forward, but he protects the puck very well and has the skating skills to contain much larger players while defending.
(6) Release – He has an NHL caliber shot right now. He gets it away smoothly, uses screens well and can fire the puck while in any type of body position. His accuracy will never be questioned.
(7) One Timer Ability – Is a threat to score off of any type of pass. He can fire poor passes and put the puck where he wants it.
(8) Body Language – Appears very even keeled and does not get flustered.
(9) Special Teams Potential – He will play on a first unit power play and can be positioned in any spot. His vision allows for the mid-wall or goal line, his skating and shot will allow him to play the point, his strength and quick hands make him a net front presence and his one timer can put him on the weak side. We also feel his brains, anticipation and attention to detail will make him a high end penalty killer.
We have 9 Amateur Evaluation Reports on Philip. So before we get to our 10th NHL Evaluation Point, Intangibles, lets take a look at some of the past comments;
March 2017 – Tresca is one of the best kept secrets in prep hockey. An ’02 playing a regular shift in the Elite 8 championship at 5’5” and 125 lbs is impressive. He’s a cerebral playmaker, see’s the ice very well for his age, reads the play and moves to the soft spots on the defense. He has nimble hands, quick feet and poise under duress. He had an assist on River’s second goal and made several plays in the offensive zone. His size limits him at this point, but given his age, his hockey sense and skill set, his future looks very bright
August 2017 – Diminutive forward that plays a solid all-around game. Not overly flashy but consistently made solid plays. Anticipates well and thinks the game plays ahead. Positionally sound and once he gets stronger/bigger could become even more interesting. Very good head for the game.
December 2017 – Phillip is very effective on the PK and takes smart angles to cut down passing lanes. He played a detailed game that helped him succeed in all three zones. Will be interesting to watch as he continues to mature physically as he has improved a lot since last year and still has some growing to do. Lots of upside.
December 2018 – Showed a lot of pace to his game as he was able to play in transition. Has tremendous offensive instincts.
(10) Intangibles – Philip’s older brother went into his senior year of high school at 6’0 170 pounds and is now playing for Tufts University at 6’2 190 pounds. As Philip enters his senior season he is 5’11 175 pounds and does not look like he is done growing. Now we’re not saying that Philip will grow 2″ and put on 20 pounds, but we do feel that whatever organization drafts him is going to be looking at a dramatically different player when he turns pro after his time at Yale University. He also plays for a former US Olympian and retired NHL captain Shawn McEachern at Rivers School. Coach McEachern is teaching Philip how to approach the game like an NHLer and how to be a 200′ player which is only going to help his transition to college and professional hockey.