| Zack Sharp | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 174 | Western Michigan | 2023 | Naperville, IL | 2005 | 2022-2023: C+ |
USHL: Sioux Falls vs Tri-City, February 5, 2023: Sharp totaled 21:23 in ice time including 0:12 of power play time. Sioux Falls was only shorthanded for 0:05 and he was not on the ice. During 5on5 defensive transition we like how he hustled up the ice so his gap was set early and he was able to move on passes to force poor decisions. While defending the line rush his hips were down with shoulders were back and he was in a position of power that allowed him to have an active poke check that he used to get on two shot attempts from the slot. Offensively his passes were hard and flat. He also attempted seven total shots with one leading to a primary assist after he attacked down the weakside dot lane and fired a hard snap shot off the goalie’s collar bone and the rebound popped off to the far side post. One thing to note, he did have two point shots blocked with one leading to an odd man rush for Tri-City. He finished the night +1 with 1 primary assist, 5 shots, 1 hit, 2 shots blocked, 7 giveaways, 5 takeaways and he won 33% of his 3 puck battles.
USHL: BioSteel Game, January 16, 2023: Sharp totaled 13:29 in ice time including 0:45 while on the power play and 2:51 while shorthanded. The left shot played both the right and left sides. Although he was on the ice for a goal against that originated off of an attempted corner reverse by Sharp, we feel that as the game progressed he sorted out defensive zone coverage quickly and showed the strength to play stick on puck and then pin his man to wall. He scored a goal on a sharp rebound, but the play was made earlier in the shift when he activated down the weakside dot lane during a line rush. On the rush he handled a hard royal road pass cleanly and fired an 8″ snapper low to the stick side that forced a rebound which eventually led to in zone offense and his goal. Sharp led BioSteel Blue’s defensive core in shorthanded ice time. As a killer he had one 200′ clear and got big low to block one shot. On the night he finished even with 1 goal, 2 shots, 0 hits, received 1 hard body check, 1 giveaway, 1 takeaway and he won 62% of his 8 puck battles.
USHL: USHL Showcase Evaluation, November 15, 2022: Sharp is a tall lean smooth skating defenseman out of Chicago Mission in his first year in the USHL. He’s got an understated game in that he moves pucks quickly and efficiently but doesn’t go for the home run plays or try to take pucks end to end. He wins races back to pucks on retrievals has the edge control to quick turn up ice and pull away from forecheckers but even when they were tight on his hip he could make a quick spin and move the puck instantly. He didn’t try to stretch the ice much or make risky plays; he was safe moved it up to the forwards and then filled the lane to be a support as a secondary wave on the rush. He’s subtle but skilled has excellent stride which allows him to play quick to change direction quickly to gap up and transition forward to backward with ease and force opponents wide on the rush. He’s quick to close and created turnovers and forced dump-ins against the rush and was quick to corners to defend and take away lanes to the net front. Sharp is detailed in his defensive zone game; he reads the puck carrier gets himself in position to break up centering passes and take away time and space. His passes are accurate and have some touch on it as well and he was smart in knowing where to move the puck and avoid turnovers or risking the puck much. He didn’t see power play minutes here but was able to score on a nice play where he passed the puck down to the goal line from the point – accelerated to the faceoff dot and got it back for a catch and shoot wrister goal. He doesn’t force things; he reads the play and reacts takes ice and uses his speed and agility to make plays at both ends. He’ll need to get stronger and improve his net front game and physical game in order to reach his potential but this was a solid opening weekend as a USHL rookie and projects to get better and better as the season goes on. Earned a spot on NHL Draft Central Scouting Preliminary List. Grade: B+
U18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup: Team USA vs Slovakia, August 5, 2022: Sharp totaled 16:37 in ice time including 1:02 while on the power play. He did not play on the power play. The left shot defender took shifts on both the right and left sides. During defensive transition he looked a little more comfortable setting his gap while playing the left side as early in the game he was forced to retreat while skating forwards and therefore was caught turning his back on the play/puck for an instant. He used his powerfully long stride to close on opponents quickly and we like how he looked over both shoulders to locate passing option and forecheckers during puck retrievals. Midway through the first he made a solid backhand quick-up that caught Slovakia in a bad change. He scored a goal during a delayed penalty where we liked his awareness to activate on a net front rebound knowing that the whistle would be blown as soon as Slovakia touched. It seems like an obvious thing to do, but we’ve seen defensemen be oblivious to the situation while standing on the blueline. He finished the game +1 with 1 goal, 1 shot, 0 hits, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways, 6 takeaways and he won 71% of his 7 puck battles.
U16: National Championships, April 15, 2022: Sharp is a total two-way defender that brings a lot of different dynamics to the back end for the Mission. He can play mean and nasty while making it miserable for puck carriers in his area. He pokes pucks loose and can ride guys off pucks or throw big heavy hits to jar pucks loose. Zack angles puck carriers to difficult spots and takes away time and space in an instant. He doesn’t have the in tight quickness but is mobile and strong on his edges, staying sound within himself to not give anything up. Sharp will not get beat in 1 on 1 situations and with his fast open ice pace, he can recover in transition smoothly. His passes rocket off his stick and are as accurate as they come as he is patient to make the right play. Zack can use his body to hold off forecheckers and is able to breakout on his own if needed. He does look pass first but on a few occasions, he was able to do it all on his own with a clean exit leading to an easy zone entry and chance the other way. When he gets moving, he is a freight train up ice and not someone you want to be in the middle of. He walks the blue line with quickness and can open things up. He scored a big goal on the powerplay in the third period of the semi-final game to bring the team within one. Sharp picked up a puck along the blue line wall, moved to the middle and fired a missile through traffic. Zack is incredibly difficult to play against and adds a good bit of offensive skill to the mix to have a solid overall weekend. GRADE: A
U16: Pens Elite Showcase, October 14, 2021: Sharp is a big, mobile, highly talented, multidimensional, defensemen. Zack is a versatile, cerebral player that is effective in every situation put it. Regardless of the time in the game, he is the guy you want on the ice, whether it be a PK, powerplay or late game either way, he is the one you want out there. His mobility allows him to retrieve pucks and turn them up quickly and accurately to a winger or by skating pucks out of trouble. He senses pressure and can escape to safe areas and make a simple puck play. He consistently held the offensive blue line well, keeping pucks in the offensive zone and making smart pinches down the wall. When he has the puck on the blue line, he freezes attackers, opening up lanes and shoots pucks for tips or rebounds. He is equipped with an explosive first step that he used to beat his man up ice and create odd man rushes for his team. Physically he is difficult to go against in 1 on 1 or battle situations as he makes you earn everything around him. Sharp makes body contact and eliminates players from the puck and always is looking for stick and bodies to box out of his net front. Zack is equipped with great vision and playmaking skills from the backend as he showed dominant two-way skills on both ends. GRADE: A
U16: Chicago Reapers vs Chicago Mission, October 9, 2021: Above average size defenseman, not flashy, quick feet, kept things simple. Zack played a good solid game, kept the puck out of his net, made good passes and solid decisions. Not a game where anything stood out if you haven’t seen him before. You had to watch him individually and appreciate that he is not a flashy player and is not going to be all over the scoresheet. Solid game, no glaring mistakes and competed hard. Grade A
2005s: USA Hockey Select 16s National Camp, August 12, 2021: Sharp showed a fluid skating style with good size. He picked off passes and took off as he showed very good straight-line speed. He ripped a wrister over the net on day one and also showed he could and would move pucks swiftly. His gaps were tight and he moved well to defend in his end. His reach was a real weapon as he clogged lanes effectively and got sticks on pucks. His ability to battle physically was decent as he still needs more strength. His speed and length served him just fine here in the defensive end. Zachary stayed with his man. His outlets were smart and he hit the center in stride several times. Sharp carried the puck with his head up. He went end to end and wheeled deep in the zone to create plays. He showed both speed and puck control. He was explosive at times and jumped up to join the rush often. He showed off a hard one-timer and quick release snap shot. He looked comfortable at the top of the power play. He made hard, flat passes and athletic keeps on the wall. He caught and shot quickly and also looked to create tips and rebounds. He was named to the USA White All-Star Team as well as the NZ All-Star Team. Grade: B+
2005s: NTDP Evaluation Camp. May 23, 2021: Sharp is a polished skating defenseman who plays a smothering defensive style with tight gaps, stick placement to angle opponents to the outside and block passing lanes and quick closing speed. He doesn’t give his opponents any free ice and while he’s not a real physical defender at this point he has mature defensive instincts and anticipates where his opponents want to go and closes them off and takes away their time and space. He was excellent on the retrieval getting back to pucks quickly, shaking off forecheckers with lateral quickness, spin moves or and clever escape moves and has accuracy and touch on his passes. Sharp displayed savvy passing ability, he had a nice indirect pass in the neutral zone to Shaughaby to get him the puck with speed and he showed he can hit his target at full speed when rushing the puck up ice and was excellent surveying the whole sheet and finding his teammates through the neutral zone to create easy zone entries. He’s subtle but skilled and one of the better puck movers in this age group because while he isn’t as dynamic offensively as some, he makes smarter and higher percentage decisions with the puck. Grade: B
U15: Shattuck-St. Mary’s at Chicago Mission., March 23, 2021: Good size defender, good skating, quick feet, passer, and getting more patient with the puck as the season goes on. Zack is getting solid minutes on the powerplay, showing that he is getting more confident and is making plays. He is a solid defender making smart plays. Plays with good gaps and stick. Making good strides in his development this season, if he continues to develop keep an eye on this defender. Grade A-
U15: Team Wisconsin vs Chicago Mission, March 16, 2021: Good shot, good feet, good passer, and skater. Zack was a solid defender this weekend, nothing flashy, just smart simple plays. Tight gaps, position and stick defensively. Good neutral zone regroups and first passes in his own end. Grade B+
HPHL 15U: Chicago Mission vs Bolts, Three Game Series, February 4, 2021: Zachary was trying to keep his teammates energized in Game 1, one of the few players to show excitement after Mission started to score late in the game. He likes to join the rush and makes a good outlet pass. Better in Game 2 and 3, but like all the other Mission defensemen, Game 1 needed to be forgotten. Grade B
U15 HPHL: Chicago Mission vs Detroit Compuware, January 29, 2021: Zachary has been joining the rushes more as the season go one. He is taking those chances and showing his ability to read plays. His skating is also improving, getting up and down the rink. Solid weekend defensively, good gaps and stick. Grade B
U15: Double Header. Chicago Mission vs Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, January 17, 2021: Zachary’s passing was top notch this weekend, crisp hard passes and tape to tape. He jumped into plays when he had a chance. Zachary would get his shots off quickly and on net. He made smart simple plays all weekend, didn’t force anything and kept it simple. Another Mission player maybe not all over the scoresheet but was instrumental in the plays that ended with a goal being scored. Grade A-
U15: CCM South Bend Shootout, January 15, 2021: Zack has good size with a strong skating stride who will skate the puck up ice and create scoring opportunities. He is a smart player with good vison as he will make the long outlet passes. He is active in the offensive zone as he moves his feet to get open and has a hard one timer. He is solid defensively as he closes the gap as he stick angles the opposition and takes away their time and space away. Grade B
U15: 2 Games Chicago Mission vs Detroit Little Caesars, December 22, 2020: Zachary has good feet and can get himself in shooting lanes from the point. Had nice goal in Game 2, caught pass on blueline and saw open ice and jumped into it. Zachary then used the defenseman as a screen and beat the goalie high blocker as the goalie went down. Makes a good hard snap pass. Grade B
2005s: 2020 Silver Stick, May 24, 2020: Sharp is a strong skating two-way defenseman. He looked longer and played stronger than his listed height and weight. He won pucks on the wall and we noted how well he combined his strength and stick to neutralize opponents and find pucks. He made crisp outlets. Up ice, he could carry some and create clean zone entries. Near the net, he used his length to protect the puck but also to shoot around defensemen. He played an active game in the zone and moved well laterally to get pucks through and set up his teammates. His vision is quite good and he has the hands to slip passes on the tape. He set up screens nicely as well. Zack looked to be still growing and is still raw but a player who should not be overlooked. Grade: B+
U14 HPHL Playoffs, February 13, 2020: Zack is a skilled player who has good vision and will make accurate passes. He has the patience on the power play to set up his teammates for scoring opportunities. He set up his teammate on the back door for a game tying goal in the semifinal game. He will make the long outlet passes and will join the rush to make it an odd man rush. He is active in the offensive zone as he moves his feet to be available for the pass. He will get the shots on net through traffic from the blue line. Grade: B+
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images