We watched The Gamblers take on Team USA’s USNTDP U17 Team. It was a fairly even game with Team USA’s Ryan St. Louis scoring 2 goals and being named 1st Star. Here are some quick evaluations on some of Green Bay’s NHL Prospects who were coming off a 2 week Holiday break.
Ryan Greene (4 Star Amateur Rating, 2022 NHL Grade — B) Forward
Ryan is a late 2003 who was playing in just his third USHL game, but age wise he matches up with Team USA’s players. Ryan looked strong on the puck and confident. He made plays in the offensive zone and tried to attack the net from below the goal line. We thought he made solid decisions through the neutral zone. The big change for Ryan was in the defensive zone where Team USA had a lot of in zone movement and cycling. We feel that in the long run Ryan will adjust well to his defensive zone responsibilities, but tonight there was too much puck watching and not enough communication. Ryan is a high end professional prospect who is still two and half full seasons from his draft and we have no doubt that his high hockey IQ and skill level will translate into success.
Alexander Servagno (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Alexander finished the game with a zero Plus/minus and one shot on net, but we liked what we saw. He was consistently battling around the net looking for rebounds and he has a very quick stick. He plays a high energy game and is at his best when his feet are moving. We like how he rolls off contact during the offensive zone cycle and feel it is only a matter of time until he is generating quality high scoring opportunities in the danger areas on 5 on 5 situations. Away from the puck Alexander has improved. In the defensive zone he had his head swivel and communicated well with his defenseman while on the weak side. On the strong side, he shut down his point man and tried to maintain line-ups. He back checked with a purpose while having his stick in passing lanes. We were very impressed with his improved awareness away from the puck as this is an area that will differentiate him from his peers.
Jarod Crespo (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Defense
Jarod impresses us more every time we watch him play. After a neutral zone turnover he’s poised with puck in transition and makes tape to tape passes while his forwards are at top speed. In the defensive zone he is calm, cool and collected even when there is chaos happening around him. He works to be an option for his defensive partner and shows the skating ability to join the rush. He has a a very quick snap shot from the point and his one timer is a bomb. He currently has a ‘C’ NHL Draft rating, but after seeing his poise and confidence in the USHL we feel he is a player to pay close attention to because he has the goods to move into 4th round consideration.
Jake Schmaltz (4 Star Amateur Rating, 2019 Round 7 #192 overall by Boston Bruins) Forward
Jake played in every key game situation. He finished the game with one shot on net and a zero Plus/Minus. Although it might not be sexy, he keeps it simple offensively making the correct decisions on line rushes and does not turn the puck over in dangerous areas. He is a smart F1 and a reliable F3 on the fore-check. It was very obvious watching this game that Jake plays a mature game that his coaching staff depends on. He does not cheat in 50/50 situations and shows high level awareness away from the puck.
Nicholas Zabaneh (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Nicholas can absolutely fly. He is incredibly dangerous in transition and there were a number of times that it he just blew by Team USA’s defenders like they were standing still. He scored a beautiful goal in the first period on a quick release snap shot from the high slot and two other grade ‘A’ opportunities that were a direct result of his speed. He stops on pucks and is a force killing penalties because of his quickness. He finished the game with two shots, but he was consistent threat all game. We feel that as he matures and gets more comfortable using a change of pace that Nicholas will become a regular on the score sheet.
Tyler Paquette (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Tyler finished the game with two assists. We felt he played a solid two way game and is a player to watch as the second half of the season starts. He is very long and when he uses his reach to his advantage he has the ability to protect the puck for long periods of time and make plays with his head up. Tyler is a very interesting prospect. We feel he is trending in the right direction and becoming more comfortable knowing that his future is as a power forward. He is currently listed at 6’3 203lbs, but we think he has the frame and athleticism to carry 220lbs after his time at Penn State.
Trevor Smith (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Trevor is a hard nosed forward who recently joined The Gamblers. He showed great determination by drawing a penalty through his hard work, speed and quickness through the neutral zone. He has a rocket of a shot and does not need space to get it away quickly.
Kyler Grundy (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, 2019 NHL Grade — C) Forward
Kyler is uncommitted right now, but if he keeps playing like he did last night that will not be the case for long. He finished with a goal and an assist while being effective at both ends of the rink. His goal came from a scrum below the goal line where he showed the awareness to attack the net after realizing that Team USA’s goalie could not move laterally quick enough to stop him from stuffing the puck. He was very involved physically without taking any penalties or doing anything foolish. His improved plus/minus shows how Kyler has improved his play away from the puck and we thought he looked very reliable in the defensive zone. At 6’1 190lbs Kyler is physically ready to play in college and we feel he will garner considerable interest as the second half starts.
Mason Lohrei (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C+) Defense
Mason was everywhere during this viewing and we mean that as a compliment. He broke up plays in the defensive zone by having an active stick as well as using his feet to contain and end Team USA’s cycling. He showed poise in transition by not forcing passes, but instead made plays with his head up and was very good at finding streaking forwards on the wide side. He was a catalyst on their power play and his shots were able to be tipped by his forwards. He stills seems fairly slight, but we view him as a prospect who’s style of play will be greatly enhanced after spending time training with the strength coaches at Ohio State. Although Mason is an early 2001, we would not be surprised to see a National League team take a chance on him with a late round selection.
Noah Ganske (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL FREE AGENT GRADE — C) Defense
Noah is a 6’7 right shot defenseman who plays in every situation for Green Bay. He is going to Northern Michigan in the Fall and every team in the NHL is going to ask him to come to their Development Camp this summer. He is listed at 207lbs, but if he has the desire to train and continue working on his feet Noah has a real chance to be an NHLer. We will be watching Noah’s development closely.
McKade Webster (4.25 Star Amateur Rating, 2019 round 7 #213 overall by Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL Grade — C) Forward
McKade was all over the ice and finished with five shots on net. He was dangerous in both even strength situations and on the power play. He controlled the pace of play and his ice awareness made zone entries look easy. McKade was very elusive on the cycle and did a great job of getting lost in the confusion to only end up wide open in the high slot. This was our second viewing in the past month and we reiterate that Tampa Bay looks very smart for selecting him after only playing 6 games during the 2018-19 season.
Jesse Tucker (4 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Jesse is a 2000 birth year who is heading to Lake Superior State in the Fall. He plays a very hard nosed and honest game. He finishes his checks with authority and will sacrifice his body to make plays for the good of the team. Jesse probably wont be drafted, but that will not keep NHL teams from keeping him on their potential college free agent lists. Last season he put up 43 points in 62 games, but was minus 21. This year he is averaging a point per game (26 points in 26 games) and his plus minus is currently sitting at minus 1 after last night’s minus 3 outing. We feel that plus/minus is generally a team stat (we look for team outliers), but an improvement like Jesse’s is something we will be keeping track of.
Dalton Wright (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — C) Forward
Dalton is a smart hockey player who is still learning about life in the USHL and he finished tonight with zero shots and an even Plus/Minus. He is long shot to get drafted, but he is the type of player that will continue to develop and improve over the next 4 to 6 years. He is already quick and his time at Union will make him faster and stronger. He is a worker and again he has a brain. Dalton is a player who could end up making a scout look good, but probably after signing as a college free agent.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling / Hickling Images