USHS: Will Weber Draft Profile

Mckeen's correspondent Max Giese reviews 2007 NHL Draft Prospect Will Weber, who recently finished his season with Gaylord High School in Michigan. The big defenseman finished second in team goal scoring with 18 goals and was named to the Michigan Record-Eagle Dream Team after shattering numerous records for defensemen at Gaylord.

Will Weber (2007), D, Gaylord High School

NOTES: (18 goals, 38 points, plus-22) .. represented Michigan at the Chicago Showcase .. committed to Miami-Ohio after getting offers from Cornell and the National Champions Michigan State .. expected to play in the USHL next season where he should be a first-round selection in the USHL draft in May .. several NHL teams have already interviewed him.

BRIEF: Big strapping defenseman with superb offensive upside but is still raw defensively.

SCOUTING: Blessed with a tall, well-built strapping 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame .. an offensive defenseman who needs to work on his play in his own zone .. very good skater that generates impressive power behind his long yet compact stride .. displays nimble feet for a big man .. strong on his edges and pivots crisply with a good first step .. owns a commanding top gear, as he can reach a blistering pace once he gains momentum moving forwards .. accelerates rapidly out of crossovers and gains prevailing momentum from skating behind the net .. displays soft hands and dazzles with impressive end-to-end rushes where he uses his superior top gear and soft hands to fly past the opposition .. catches passes smoothly and shows good hand/eye coordination as he holds the zone well .. shields the puck well with his big frame and long reach .. comfortable on the point .. shoots left .. prefers to use his wristshot, which he keeps low and gets it to the net with impressive velocity .. displays astute shot selection, as he gets shots through to the net and won't panic if the opposition has the shooting lane clogged and will get the puck deep .. not an instinctive outlet passer, as he will struggle to find the open man in the face of pressure but he is smart enough not to turn the puck over up the middle and will eat it instead .. given time, he can make a crisp first pass and displays mild creativity in the offensive zone .. prefers to skate the puck up the ice and drive wide before finding his man screaming down the middle with a nice touch pass .. loves to lead the rush, join the rush, and pinch in aggressively .. vocal quarterback who communicates and directs the play well .. owns a team-first attitude .. still very raw defensively and his decision-making without the puck is the biggest drawback to his game .. sometimes he will angle his man to the boards well before neutralizing him with a stiff body check where he displays his impressive closing speed and superior upper-body strength .. other times he will be caught watching the play and will allow his man to walk him to the outside .. is caught up the ice too often .. leaves the defensive zone too early .. does not own a mean streak and should use his size to be a physical presence .. uses his stick adequately .. raw in a positional sense and his defensive awareness needs to be refined.