USHL Report: USA Under-18 Part 1

In Part 1 of a three-part series on the USNTDP's Under-18 team, McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey enters notes on Rocco Grimaldi, Tyler Biggs, J.T. Miller, and a few more of team's top forwards eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Rocco Grimaldi (2011), C, USA U-18

Continuing to prove that his size (5-foot-6, 165 pounds) is no issue and may actually be an advantage .. skating is virtually perfect and expands what is thought to be possible .. smooth, powerful stride that produces exceptional speed .. incredible first-step explosiveness .. stays low and maintains a very low center of gravity .. able to get down extremely low in his turns and make exceptionally tight turns at speed, although he's a fairly North-South player .. explosive laterally .. produces significant power and speed in his crossovers .. fastest-skater-caliber top speed, but can execute subtle and deadly speed bursts without appearing to alter his stride .. can be shifty with the puck and slow the game down, but is always a threat to explode .. amazing separation .. wins the vast majority of his races to the puck because of his speed, quickness, and intelligence, almost regardless of how far back he starts .. makes up ground on the backcheck almost immediately and strips opponents of the puck with regularity .. able to make swivels at top speed to open up to the play to make passes or shield the puck .. significant threat to drive wide or split the defense .. puck seems to be on a string on his stick .. able to sweep the puck across his body incredibly quickly and far away from his body in all directions .. able to execute video-game-like moves in tight .. can make jukes phenomenally quickly .. a heads-up stickhandler who can assess the play and lay down his moves at top speed .. very adept at dragging pucks out of crowds along the boards .. elite offensive and defensive anticipation .. is always a few steps ahead of the play .. good offensive vision to find open teammates, including in his periphery .. makes hard, crisp, accurate passes .. adept at receiving hard passes on both the forehand and the backhand .. able to thread passes through traffic .. quite possibly has the hardest wristshot in the USHL .. has a quick release on all shots .. snapshot and slapshot are also exceptionally hard .. almost no angle is an impossible angle for Grimaldi .. even his backhand is hard .. shots oftentimes appear effortless, despite considerable velocity .. a dangerous sniper .. a staple in shootouts .. intelligent and extremely effective forechecker and backchecker .. has added more of an overt physical component to his game .. able to explode into his hit .. will take the team on his back late in games when needed and wants the puck on his stick .. streaky in the faceoff circle .. doesn't wear a letter, but is universally respected by his teammates for his skill, intelligence, work ethic, and preparation .. centers the first line and the first powerplay unit and sees some time on the PK .. the lone 1993 invited to the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp in December prior to the World Junior Championships .. heading into final USHL game led team in scoring with 34 goals and 28 assists in 49 totals games .. led the team in international scoring with 9 goals and 8 assists in 8 games heading into World Under-18 Championships .. led the team in collegiate scoring with 7 goals and 7 assists in 15 games .. committed to North Dakota (2011-12) .. projects to be a player similar to and quite possibly the caliber of Martin St. Louis .. worthy of first-round selection and will be a huge pick-up for whatever team selects him.

Tyler Biggs (2011), RW, USA U-18

Power forward with impressive tools, although his offensive production is a bit underwhelming .. has a powerful stride and decent extension .. doing better about staying low under acceleration and utilizing his power at all times .. does still get upright under acceleration from time to time, but then gets low fairly quickly .. able to cover a lot of ground with each stride forward and also laterally .. has good cruising speed with the puck .. adept at shielding the puck down low with his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame utilizing switchbacks .. shot is pro caliber .. has a hard, crisp wristshot .. off-foot wrister is also quite hard .. able to finish his chances around the net and when he gets open for breakaways .. makes hard, crisp passes .. an intimidating physical presence .. hounds the opponent on the forecheck and finishes his checks .. often guilty of finishing his checks a bit late by modern standards .. also backchecks hard .. likes to step up and make big open-ice hits .. forces a lot of turnovers .. powers his way through traffic and drives the net .. adept at using his size to establish position for the puck .. plays on the second line with Henrik Samuelsson and Travis Boyd .. plays on the second powerplay unit and is often seen in front of the net, setting screens .. willing to drop the gloves and is a strong combatant who can throw bombs .. captain of the team .. heading into final USHL game, Biggs had 17 goals and 11 assists in 47 total games .. third in team goal scoring .. second in team scoring against collegiate competition with 5 goals and 4 assists in 16 games .. committed to Miami University (2011-12) .. currently the superior power forward over Omaha's Seth Ambroz, due in large part to his powerful skating and what that enables him to do .. projects as a power forward who plays a top-six role .. despite modest offensive totals overall so far, still projects as a first-round pick.

J.T. Miller (2011), RW, USA U-18

Wrecking ball that chips in offensively .. able to build good speed with the puck, but isn't explosive with the puck .. has a fairly powerful stride, particularly once he gets going .. gets a bit upright under acceleration, but displays pretty good quickness without the puck .. doesn't play a finesse game offensively .. bulls his way through opponents and drives the net hard .. does a good job of protecting the puck down low using his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame .. success trying to toe-drag opponents is limited .. makes hard, crisp, and generally accurate passes .. mindful of utilizing his pointmen .. has a crisp wristshot .. sports a hard slapshot .. has some offensive vision, but does his best work around the net disrupting the opponent .. plays a physical game .. able to thrust and explode into his hits .. thrusts into opponents engaging physically for the puck, which helps him win a lot of 50/50 battles .. a threat to level the man trying to check him and to keep trucking with the puck .. finishes his checks in all areas of the ice .. able to make some big open-ice hits .. great compete level .. willing to stand up for his teammates and drop the gloves if necessary .. often the man on his line staying back for pinching defensemen .. heading into final USHL game, he had 11 goals and 26 assists in 47 total games .. third in international scoring heading into World Under-18 Championships with 3 goals and 8 assists in 8 games .. committed to North Dakota (2011-12) .. projects as a checking-line or energy-line player who can chip in offensively .. some project him as a late first-rounder, but, for comparison, his offensive upside and speed do not match Connor Brickley's from the 2010 Draft .. compete level and body of work with the USNTDP should prevent him from falling too far, though.

Travis Boyd (2011), C, USA U-18

An important cog in the Under-18 team's offense .. has a smooth, powerful stride that gives him nice cruising speed with the puck .. maintains good knee bend in his stride, contributing to his power and speed and his ability to make tight turns at speed .. has a decent, crisp wristshot .. sports a hard slapshot .. a heads-up stickhandler who can assess his options and who has good offensive vision .. able to make impressive toe-drags at speed .. able to drag the puck from well behind him, around the opponent, and then in front of him or to his side .. confident with the puck and won't rush the play on the breakout or in the offensive zone .. adept at opening up along the half boards and connecting with trailers on centering passes .. makes crisp, accurate passes .. conscientious defensively and is a threat to strip opponents of the puck .. not an aggressive, physical player, but will engage hard going for the puck .. powerful skating allows him to put some force into his hits .. not prohibitively small at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds .. probably second on the USNTDP in offensive vision and playmaking ability amongst forwards, behind Grimaldi .. centers the second line with Henrik Samuelsson and Tyler Biggs .. centers the second powerplay unit .. does see a little time on the PK .. heading into the final USHL game, had 11 goals and 21 assists in 51 total games and was fourth in team scoring .. committed to Minnesota (2011-12) .. if he were born two days later, he wouldn't be eligible for the 2012 Draft .. projects as a second-line center type, but it's questionable whether he has NHL second-line potential .. worthy of at least late-round selection and could bump up to mid-round selection with a strong World Under-18's.

Blake Pietila (2011), LW, USA U-18

Has stepped up his game significantly over last season and also over the course of 2010-11 .. now plays at a pace equal to linemate Cole Bardreau .. skating is no longer as upright and now shows some power in his strides .. has good speed with the puck .. now has decent acceleration with the puck and a little separation .. able to use his upgraded speed bursts to get to more loose pucks .. consistently hustles to loose pucks both in open ice and into the corners and the boards .. willing to drive and fight through checks .. will engage physically and battle for pucks .. has adequate size at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds .. displays a good compete level and now has the skating to allow him to succeed .. puts in a good effort on the forecheck and the backcheck .. has good shot power .. has a hard wristshot and a hard snapshot .. also possesses a hard slapshot .. has some force on his off-foot shots as well .. displaying increased confidence with the puck and is able to drag the puck around opponents successfully much more often .. doing a better job of stickhandling with his head up, but does revert to his old habit of putting his head down from time to time .. displays decent offensive vision and awareness .. does a good job of opening up to the play on the breakout and presenting a target .. plays on the third line with Cole Bardreau and Zac Larraza .. sees semi-regular time on the powerplay, often replacing J.T. Miller .. a regular on the penalty kill .. probably the most improved player on the USNTDP from last season .. heading into final USHL game, he had 13 goals and 8 assists in 51 total games .. exploded for 5 goals and 2 assists in 4 games at the Five Nations Cup in February .. committed to Michigan Tech (2011-12) .. projects as a potential third - or fourth -liner at the NHL level .. certainly worthy of late-round selection, and late mid-round selection is a legitimate possibility, particularly with a strong World Under-18's.

Cole Bardreau (2011), C, USA U-18

Has a well-rounded, two-way game .. plays at a good pace in all zones .. a smooth skater with a fairly powerful stride and good speed .. maintains good knee bend in his stride and can make smooth, tight turns .. gets out over his edges well .. good explosiveness for short races for the puck .. good cruising speed with the puck .. impressive speed bursts with the puck and can separate well from opponents .. smooth with the puck and can handle the puck well at a high pace .. patient with the puck and doesn't rush plays .. displays decent offensive vision .. makes smooth, hard, crisp, accurate passes .. a good one-touch passer .. has decent shot power on all of his shots .. puts in a good defensive effort .. conscientious in helping his defensemen down low .. uses his speed and agility effectively on the forecheck .. finishes his checks .. able to thrust into opponents, knock them off the puck, and gain possession .. a threat to play the body from the side thanks to his speed .. not big at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, but not prohibitively small .. sees a little time on the powerplay but is a regular on the penalty kill .. one of the team's alternate captains .. heading into final USHL game, had 10 goals and 15 assists in 51 total games .. committed to Cornell (2011-12) .. projects as a reliable, two-way third - or fourth -liner who plays on the PK .. certainly worthy of late-round selection, and late mid-round selection is a legitimate possibility.

Reid Boucher (2011), LW, USA U-18

Didn't stand out in any viewings, but his production alongside Grimaldi cannot be denied .. a bit of an upright skater and who has okay speed with the puck .. gets upright under acceleration .. displays some speed bursts with the puck, but doesn't have the speed to generate a lot of time and space for himself .. builds some power and speed out of his crossovers .. makes smooth, crisp passes .. able to corral off-target passes well and quickly .. biggest asset is his release .. gets his shots off very quickly .. possesses a hard, crisp wristshot .. also has a hard, crisp snapshot .. adept at off-foot wristshots and snapshots .. backhander is also fairly hard .. not afraid to take shots from seemingly impossible angles .. goal-scoring prowess recognized by the fact he's always called upon in shootouts .. a heads-up stickhandler with decent offensive vision .. just under 5-foot-10 and weighs 190 pounds and plays with some physicality .. finishes his checks on the forecheck .. will engage physically going for loose pucks .. puts in a good effort down low and times his drives to the net well for feeds .. plays on the first line with Grimaldi and Miller and on the first powerplay unit .. has a quick release, strong shot power, and good offensive awareness, but wouldn't be nearly as successful without Grimaldi to open up time and space and to feed him .. heading into final USHL game, he had 24 goals and 19 assists in 48 total games and was second in team scoring .. second in international scoring with 8 goals and 6 assists in 8 games heading into the World Under-18 Championships.. committed to Michigan State (2012-13) .. possible he only projects as a scorer at the minor pro ranks, but if he upgrades his speed, the AHL and higher become possible .. hard to envision Boucher going undrafted, given his offensive production both years with the USNTDP.