2/18/24
Tarin Smith (D, L, 6’1″, 175, Everett Silvertips, 03/24/2006)
Game Grade: B
Smith is an average sized left shot defender who played both sides. He showed a powerful knee over to skating base with a shoulder width recovery leg that lands on its flat edge. We would have liked to see him set his gap a little more aggressively but he defended line rushes with a hidden poke check and met his opponents near his defensive blueline. On puck retrievals he looked over both shoulders to locate the forecheckers and we liked how he worked with his goalie to be a pass receiving outlet rather than jamming him. He earned 21:05 in ice time (4th among D) including 0:56 on the PP (2nd among D) and 0:49 on the PK (4th among D). He finished +1 with 2 PIMs, 1 hit, received 3 hits, 7 giveaways, 11 takeaways and for the season he is winning 60% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Rylan Pearce (D, R, 5’9″, 178, Everett Silvertips, 10/09/2005)
Game Grade: C
Pearce is a thickly built undersized right shot defender with a shoulder width base. He is still developing his explosiveness but he has a strong stride that finishes with a toe snap. In the defensive zone he used his legs to drive opponents from the shooting lanes and had the strength to pin opponents to the wall. Offensively we would like to see more deception in his passing as we feel there were too many times when he stared his target down before passing it. He earned 13:30 in ice time (6th among D) including 0:41 on the PK (5th among D). He did not play on the power play. He finished even with 2 PIMs, received 1 hit, 4 giveaways, 6 takeaways and for the season he is winning 62% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Cameron Sytsma (D, L, 5’11”, 179, Everett Silvertips, 01/09/2006)
Game Grade: Did not dress.
Carter Bear (RW, L, 6’0″, 171, Everett Silvertips, 11/04/2006)
Game Grade: B-
Bear is a detail oriented left shot left wing November 2006 who is not NHL draft eligible until 2025. He showed a quick first step but there were other times it looked like he was still growing into himself, especially when coming out of power turns and hard hockey stops. His straight line speed was above average but it still looks like he is still developing his skating base. On both his forehand and backhand his puck touches were soft and he was able to settle rolling bouncing pucks with ease. He earned 15:26 in ice time (6th among fwds) including 0:51 on the PP (7th among fwds) and 0:32 on the PK (6th among fwds). He finished +1 with 1 grade “A” scoring opportunities, 2 PIMs, received 1 hit, 5 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season is winning 51% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Jesse Heslop (LW, L, 5’11”, 171, Everett Silvertips, 04/18/2006)
Game Grade: B-
Heslop is a below average sized left shot left wing with above average acceleration, straight line speed and an excellent work ethic. Offensively he pushes the pace looking looking to force the opposing defenders off the defensive blueline whether he has the puck on his stick or not. As his game matures we would like to see him use a change of pace as defenders at higher levels will know that he likes to overwhelm with speed in transition and on line rushes. His pace was a positive factor on the forecheck as he he forced his opponents into hurried decisions and poor passes. As the F2 he showed nice puck anticipation by being able to get his stick on passes before the puck reached the target. Defensively it was more of the same. His speed, quickness and never quit mentality made him a constant presence so his defensemen could force the play in the neutral zone or at the defensive blueline. He earned 15:32 in total ice time (7th among fwds) including 0:49 on the power play (8th among fwds) and 0:20 on the penalty kill (7th among fwds). He finished even with 1 grade “A” scoring opportunity, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 5 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Will Jamieson (LW, R, 5’11”, 172, Everett Silvertips, 10/26/2006)
Game Grade: Did not dress.
Lukas Kaplan (C, L, 5’8″, 151, Everett Silvertips, 06/30/2007)
Game Grade: C
Kaplan is a speedy undersized left shot forward who took shifts at right wing. Although he did not play much, it looked like the game had slowed down for him so he was able to use his speed and agility to impact the game on both sides of the puck. He earned 5:14 in total ice time (12th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished even with 1 grade “A” opportunity, 10 PIMs (post game scrum), 2/2 on face-offs, 4 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 43% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Julien Maze (F, L, 5’8″, 148, Everett Silvertips, 12/07/2007)
Maze is a highly skilled December 2007 who did not play in this game.
Julius Miettinen (LW, L, 6’3″, 203, Everett Silvertips, 01/20/2006)
Game Grade: B+
Standing at 6’3″, 205lbs Miettinen is a long left shot center with the frame that will instantly draw NHL organization’s attention and a skating posture that will keep it. While at top speed on his first shift he handled a pass that jammed his backhand cleanly and drove wide down the right dot-lane. We loved the speed and first touch he showed but he settled for a backhand from below the dot rather than using his strength and frame to lower his shoulder and carry the puck across the crease to the far post. This play is a glimpse into both the positives and the what if’s that at this point are still part of his game. Offensively he understands how to utilize everyone on the ice with him, he changes pace to manipulate the gap into his or his team’s favor and his passes are accurate. He scored the first goal of the game by winning a defensive zone face-off, then using his speed to be the F1 on the forecheck he forced a turnover and won a race to the slot for a cross body one-timer that went high blocker. This is exactly what he will need to do on every shift in the NHL to have a career. Defensively he uses his frame to box out, pin and then uses his feet to jump into the open ice. He carries himself like a leader and it’s easy to see him encouraging his teammates or settling things down prior to a face-off. We feel with consistent offensive grit and grime he has the game to play in the NHL for a long time. He earned 15:08 in ice time (8th among fwds) including 1:04 on the power play (4th among fwds). He did not kill penalties. He finished +2 with a goal, 3 shots, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 13/18 on face-offs, had 1 shot blocked, 8 giveaways, 8 takeaways and for the season he is winning 52% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Alex Thompson (D, R, 5’8″, 157, Portland Winterhawks, 01/16/2006)
Thompson is an undersized right shot defender who did not play in this game.
Luke Brunen (G, L, 6’3″, 191, Portland Winterhawks, 05/16/2006)
Brunen is a long left catching goalie who did not play.
Diego Buttazzoni (C, L, 5’9″, 183, Portland Winterhawks, 01/13/2006)
Game Grade: B-
Buttazzoni is an undersized left shot left wing with an athletic deep knee over toe skating posture and long powerful strides. We like how he stopped on pucks and scanned the ice before receiving a pass or while playing off the puck in general. Offensively he showed nice puck poise and would his low center of gravity to roll through contact while looking to make a play. Defensively he was conscientious and played with his stick on the ice looking to take away passing lanes or intercept passes. He earned 18:16 in total ice time (4th among fwds) including 1:30 on the power play (7th among fwds). He did not kill penalties. He finished even with 1 shot, 1 grade “A” opportunity, 2 PIMs, received 1 hit, had 1 shot blocked, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Hudson Darby (RW, R, 6’0″, 177, Portland Winterhawks, 12/01/2006)
Darby did not play due to an injury suffered the night before.
Kyle McDonough (C, L, 5’8″, 157, Portland Winterhawks, 02/16/2007)
Game Grade: C
McDonough is an undersized left shot center who played fourth line minutes. He showed a shoulder width skating base with full length hip-knee-ankle stride and good straight line speed. He went offsides on his first shift of the game and at this point the game looks to be moving very fast for him. He has shown the skill set to have success in the future but right now we feel he needs to scan the ice more frequently for improved game awareness. He earned 5:40 in total ice time (12th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished even with 1 shot, 2 PIMs, 2/7 on face-offs, 0 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 47% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Ryan Miller (LW, L, 5’9″, 154, Portland Winterhawks, 05/03/2007)
Game Grade: C
Miller is an undersized left shot forward who played right wing. He showed an athletic fluid stride, soft first touch on his backhand and the puck did not slow him down. In the offensive zone he looked comfortable battling for his ice and understood how to stay below the defender’s source of power to spin off contact to gain net side positioning. Miller is still gaining strength and power. He earned 7:40 in total ice time (10th among fwds). He did not play special teams. He finished even with 2 shots, 2 grade “A” opportunities, 1/1 on face-offs, had 1 shot blocked, 2 giveaways, 0 takeaways and for the season he is winning 46% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Joshua Zakreski (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Portland Winterhawks, 12/17/2005)
Game Grade: C+
Zakreski is a below average sized left shot forward who played both wings. He showed a low center of gravity with a deep knee’d shoulder width skating base. Although he did not win any quick stick rebounds, while standing at the top of the crease he was able to dig his edges into the ice and not be moved. He played an honest hard working 200′ game and showed the understanding of what his team’s structure or off puck details were in all three zones. He earned 15:18 in total ice time (8th among fwds) including 0:37 on the power play (8th among fwds). He did not kill penalties. He finished even with 0 shots, had 2 shots blocked, 4 giveaways, 3 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images