Zachary Uens (3.75 Star Amateur Rating, NHL Grade — B- ) Defense
Draft Prospects from different leagues who have Improved their Draft Ratings, March 2020: Post 2019-20 Season comments on Zach and other 2020 NHL Draft hopefuls.
February NHL Draft Rankings, February 2020: Zach was rated #119 in Neutral Zone’s February draft rankings.
Neutral Zone Scouting Report, December 2019: What if I told you there was a 6’2 185 pound true freshman defenseman playing top 4 minutes in Hockey East? This left shot D-man is earning playing time on special teams. His coaches are putting him out on the ice for critical defensive zone face-offs. He has a powerful base that allows him to box opponents out and knock them on their butts in front of his net. His quick tape to tape passes are an asset in transition and yet he has the skating ability to carry the puck out of trouble when it is called for. Half way through his freshman year he has 9 points to go along with 35 PIMS. If I asked you where he played last year you’d say he came from the US National Program or possibly the high flying BCHL, and was more than likely drafted in the top 130 of the 2019 NHL Draft. Well you are wrong. Zach played for the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and is a true freshman playing big minutes in Hockey East for Merrimack College. He instinctively maintains defensive side positioning while the puck is in his end and shows high level anticipation while containing the cycle. As we mentioned Zach is powerful and he also shows good lateral mobility while reading line rushes and adjusting his gaps. His stick is always on the ice and he has the awareness to play “stick on puck” without lunging and becoming off balance. Zach works to be an option for his partner in both the neutral zone or defensive zone and his skating allows him to be a consistent threat as a forth attacker. In the offensive zone he shoots with his head up while avoiding shin pads and looking for tips. He has the footwork to walk the blue line confidently and the stick skills to protect the puck with out taking unnecessary risks. Looking into the future we see that he has the size to play in a top 6 capacity, the skating and strength to kill penalties and possibly the skills to be a shooting option a second power play unit. Zach is an incredibly interesting 2020 draft prospect. Yes we know he went to Vegas’ Development Camp last summer, but at a time when most of his 2001 un-drafted peers are figuring out Junior hockey, Zach is playing top 4 minutes in Hockey East and making it look relatively easy. He may not be on any of the big named draft lists now, but for us he is a solid ‘C+’ with a real chance to move higher.
OJHL Single Game Evaluation, April 2019: Wellington Dukes Vs. North York Rangers Zach is smart with the puck and shows plenty of patience with it. He doesn’t panic nor rush when applied with pressure, which at times got himself into trouble during the game, but more often than not it can lead to him doing something creative. He plays with his head up with and without the puck. On several plays in the game, Zach had his head up while shooting the puck from the point, and was able to aim his shot into more of a pass for a deflection. This nearly created a number of goals, but luck wasn’t going his or his teammates way on this night. Grade: B
OJHL Single Game Evaluation, March 2019: Wellington Dukes Vs. Cobourg Cougars Zach is a smart defender and makes good decisions with the puck all over the ice. In his own zone, he plays with his head up and without panic, and is able to make a strong first pass up ice. He skates with a smooth stride and has a quick first few steps. His ability to move laterally allows him to challenge the opposition through the neutral zone with the puck, and skate it up ice himself. Throughout the game, Zach showed an ability to anticipate the play and force turnovers out of it. In the neutral zone alone, he was very strong at stepping up against the opposition and using a quick stick to harass their puck possession. On the offensive side of his game, Zach is able to show some playmaking abilities by using his smarts and heads up play to locate the open man the ice. College: Merrimack Grade: B+
OJHL Showcase, October 2017: Zach is a solid defender with great skating ability. He displays both mobility and agility in the corners and around the net when he is defending. He has a lot of potential and is only going to improve as he gets more comfortable at this level. Grade: B+ Cameron Supryka, Ty Jackson, Dylan Jackson and Cole Perfetti were all youngsters who performed very well at the Showcase.
OHL Draft Top 300 Ontario Rankings: Zach was ranked #180 heading into the OHL draft and had a Neutral Zone 3.5 Star Amateur Rating. Brandon Coe #6, Billy Constantinou #10, Ty Jackson #15, Robert Calisti #16, Hayden Fowler #25, Dylan Jackson #30, Cole MacKay #37, Igor Chibrikov #67, Cam Supryka #85 and Jack Quinn #113 are late 2001 birth years who Neutral Zone has scouted this year for the 2020 NHL Draft.