US-led Forces

A quick roundup on a few of the key US-based players available for this year’s draft.

Paul Baier - D (Deerfield Academy)

- An intriguing blueline package of size, skill and grit. Baier moves exceptionally well for a 6-foot-3, 210-pound teenager - he has a smooth, polished stride, very graceful with above-average straight-away speed. Committed to play at Brown University this fall, the native of North Kingston, Rhode Island can carry the puck and makes solid, accurate passes out of the zone. Defensively, he’s steadfast; has strong legs, great presence and likes to deliver sturdy, powerful bodychecks. Says our scout: “he reacts well to the flow of the game. I like his first step and overall skating range - he’ll jump in and get involved. Though still not fully refined offensively, he has good hands, strong arms and protects the puck well. Best of all, he’s a stalwart one-on-one - smart, focused and tough to play against due to his physical intensity and lateral agility. And he competes without taking stupid penalties.”

Joe Grimaldi - D (USNDTP U-18)

- Although just an average skater, Grimaldi has made strides in improving his agility throughout the year. According to our scout: “in high speed, fast-break situations he really struggles with his mobility, but when the game goes along at an even pace, he’s on an even keel in that respect. He compensates effectively with a good pivot step and he impresses with a quick, accurate first pass out of the zone. I like his smarts and, although many teams will hesitate about drafting him too high due to his lack of traditional defensive size, his anticipation skills make his living as a crafty, slick rearguard. In his own end, he uses his body effectively and can deliver a hard, accurate check. He is strong in playing his man one-on-one and is shrewd at intercepting opposing passes. Joe is not quite a Rolls Royce, but he’s cost effective with a surprising extra gear.”

Mike Howe - LW (River City)

- After filling out his frame over the off-season, Howe exploded to lead the USHL in scoring this season with 78 points in 56 games, including 36 goals. Committed to the University of Minnesota, Howe weaved some serious magic this year with linemate Paul Stastny; the duo finishing 1-2 in the scoring race and especially lethal on special teams, where Howe amassed a league-leading 20 power-play goals. Although listed at only 6-foot, 190-pounds, Howe is stronger than he looks. According to our scout: “He and Stastny have been quite a couple - I don’t know which deserves more credit as they just feed off each other. Howe is a burner, very fast. He moves his feet and penetrates the lanes well. He has nice hands too and a quick, fluid release; when it comes to scoring he’s got a lot of natural attributes. I like his vision and timing - he anticipates the location of his teammates well. I was surprised as to how strong he was on the puck - his legs needs to get stronger, but he can protect the puck at top speed. Needs to fill out for next year; but should be a college star in short order.”

Chad Kolarik - C (USNTDP U-18)

- Outstanding athlete is committed to Michigan for next season. He can really dance out there due to his great foot speed and smooth stride. A deft playmaker and a capable goalscorer, Kolarik makes things happen with his vision and aggressiveness. With his soft hands and knowledge of the offensive end, Kolarik excels at penetrating traffic areas and creating plays at full speed. One area of concern for him has been his lack of patience and penchant to rush plays, which makes him turnover-prone. Our scout says: “this guy works his butt off and when I see him, he always shows excellent finish. He has an outstanding array of shots. I see mostly equal effort from him in his own end, but not the same results. One complaint is that he gets too excited at times and needs to reason better. I wouldn’t be too worried about the smaller frame - he’s strong for his size and a better pro prospect than his brother (Tyler, a Columbus draft pick, just finished his senior year at Harvard).”

Rob Page - D (Blake)

- The Yale recruit from Eden Prairie, Minnesota was a Mr. Hockey finalist this year following a highly successful, though slightly erratic, final campaign with Blake, where he contributed 11 goals and 39 points in just 21 games. Our scout describes Page as “a pure talent who is still raw in areas. I love his skating - he glides on the ice with a smooth, fluid stride, and is quick and elusive to all sides. His puck skills are attractive too. He excels at rushing the puck and can really control the flow of the game when in possession. His size is good (6-2, 190) and he isn’t shy about mixing it up physically, though he needs to improve his strength and consistency. I would also like to see him play a more patient, selective game, as he has a tendency to rush the play and make ill-advised decisions. Defensively, he needs work. But, if some NHL club takes their time, they could very well wind up with a solid, two-way defender.”

Jonathan Sigalet - D (Bowling Green)

- Younger sibling of goaltender Jordan Sigalet, Jonathan is coming off an impressive freshman season with Bowling Green, earning him a roster spot with the Canadian under-18 team this April. When describing Sigalet, our scouts always begin with ‘smart’ and ‘smooth’. “He’s a terrific puckmover and can really pull the strings on the power play. He works his tail off in all areas and can control the play with his hands and brains. His instincts at both ends are superb. He dishes out deadly accurate feeds out of his own zone and I am particularly impressed with the way he times his passes as well as his sense for when to jump into the play without leaving gaping holes defensively. A very fluid stride, good feet and his top-end speed has gotten better, and should continue to improve as he adds extra muscle to a lanky frame. Few guys his age play with the same aura and composure. Project him down the road 3-4 years and some NHL club could have themselves a real steal of a second-rounder.”

Shawn Weller - LW (Capital District)

- This mean and brazen New York native (South Glens Falls) is another in the pro-style power forward mold. Committed to Clarkson, where he received a full scholarship for next year, Weller sports an impressive frame - 6-2, 190 - good physical traits and above-average mobility. Our scout says: “he’s not a flashy scorer, but he’ll bang home his share of goals and accumulate a consistent total of penalty minutes due to his aggressiveness and determination alone. He’s a ferocious competitor - loves to do the dirty work, playing in traffic and driving to the net. He also moves well for his size and his puck pursuit abilities are a real plus. I was pleasantly surprised by his puck skills too; he is tough to knock off the puck and pretty creative. He gets things done. Spells solid pro - he’d make a good third round pick or in that neighbourhood.”