Here are five takeaways from the recently played, All American Prospects game.
- Approximately 110 scouts were watching the 44 players on both rosters. All are draft-eligible, some were 2023 eligible. This was the most scouted event since the 2021 World Junior Championship, most of that was done remotely, this is the first one where every team has scouts present to scout the game live. Scouts have been challenged to identify players for the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft because of limited live viewings.
- Second-generation players are always a fun topic at the draft and at this particular event. One is Josh Doan who played on the USHL team (Chicago Steel Player), the son of former Coyotes great, Shane Doan. The younger Doan does a lot of the little things. While playing for the USHL team, who all come together to play the NTDP squad, I liked his skating. At 6-2, 176, the winger will have to get stronger but he was battling and made some high I.Q. plays. Later in the game, Doan was playing well in the crease area.
- Player of the Game honors went to Sasha Pastujov (possible first-round pick) who scored twice and had a helper but a lot of his points came off the strong play from linemate and guaranteed first-round pick, Chaz Lucius. He has come all the way back from a knee injury and he showed off his shot creation and his selfless passing to set up his teammates, many in stride. The top-line center turned offense into defense, he didn’t score a goal but he did set up Pastujov’s second. Lucius does so many smart plays on the ice. He could be a top-15 pick.
- Red Savage is possibly a late second or mid-round pick. He has a goal-scoring ability and his ability to play hard and around the net is something he said he’s been working on and it showed in this showcase. Savage had a goal and an assist and his goal, which was decisive, was a source of amusement later on.
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“My goal was pretty easy when you get it tee’d up like that from your linemates. I got a random text after the game saying they could have scored that. It’s pretty easy when you get a chance like that.”
The fact that someone messaged him is fantastic.
- Two more players who shined for the USHL squad were top-line center, Matt Coronato. He has a chance to go in the first round. A very good chance. The Long Island, New York native showed a great game speed and he had more than a few good chances with some solid rushes and nice shots on goal. He did get an assist on the only goal for his team. Second-line center, Hunter Strand, was a part of the NTDP and played against his former teammates in this spotlight game. He played well and showed off his physical game, including a mouse under his eye after the game, and his wrist shot has a lot of zip on it.
