USA Hockey: Not Leddy-ing Down

Minnesota Gophers' recruit Nick Leddy is a highly regarded prospect eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese provides an update on his early season performance. Also featured are Leddy's sophomore teammates Kyle Rau, Jack McCartan, and Dan Molenaar.

Nick Leddy (2009), D, Eden Prairie

Arguably the best draft-eligible player available this year from Minnesota High School, Leddy is a freewheeling offensive defenseman that hardly leaves the ice .. strong and smooth skater that blows by defenders at this level being a talented puckcarrier who executes at full stride .. needs to be harnessed though, as he is a freelancer with a bug for overhandling the puck and trying to do it alone .. skilled with quick hands and can make opponents miss in the open ice .. effortlessly sees the ice in front of him, as he excels at transitioning the puck up ice through his skilled passing game .. works the point well and quarterbacks the powerplay where he displays his lateral agility to open up lanes and his strongly released shot .. not shy about playing physical, but he lacks size and needs to get stronger .. must tighten his gaps and upgrade his defensive awareness, as well as improve on his coverage around his own net .. committed to the Minnesota Gophers, Leddy is a promising prospect because of his offensive gifts.

Kyle Rau (2011), C, Eden Prairie

Younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Chad Rau .. playmaking pivot that sees the ice well .. decent skater that can appear sloppy on his edges and lacks a top-gear explosion .. has a great mind for the game and consistently makes things happen by just being at the right place at the right time .. elusive in the offensive zone and slips off checks well thanks to his quick and skilled hands .. lack of size is his glaring deficiency, as he's short and slight .. plays bigger than his size would indicate because he's competitive and physically plays the body .. matured defensively, he's aware of his assignments and comes deep to support in coverage .. drafted in the third round in the 2008 USHL Futures draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Jack McCartan (2010), LW, Eden Prairie

Son of former Olympian and NHL goaltender Jack William McCartan .. big forward with good strength that goes to the net, although he needs to become more physical and improve on his balance .. an ugly skater that needs to work on his feet, as he's lumbering out of the gates and his short strides inhibit him from building up a head of steam .. his hockey sense is a strong suit of his game and he arrives onto the puck at opportune times .. supportive defensively and positions himself well away from the puck.

Dan Molenaar (2011), D, Eden Prairie

Young sophomore defenseman that has impressed with his maturity .. his intelligence and knack for reading the developing play around him is his most notable attribute, as he does the little things like knowing exactly when to pinch or how to activate himself and support his defensive partner .. not the fastest skater but one with purposeful strides as well as fluid pivots .. displays good on-ice vision and doesn't panic when under fire, which allows him to make a nice first pass coming out of his own end .. shields the puck well and consistently gets his right-handed shot through traffic and on net .. entrusted with icetime in key situations by his coach's, as he's receiving plenty of minutes on the powerplay and is on the ice late in the game to preserve leads over team captain Nick Leddy.