WHL: Razzle-Dazzle Ladd

We have notes from a recent regular season game featuring Andrew Ladd and a triad of Hitmen defensive prospects including Brett Carson, Andy Rogers and Jeff Schultz available for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Brett Carson (2004), D

Played on a pairing with Mike Egener .. got caught up the ice in the offensive zone and worked hard to get back in to the play .. played on the powerplay .. surprising quickness .. has the confidence to rush with the puck .. solid defensively and is hard to beat one on one .. kills penalties .. top end speed is above average .. picks up the trailing forward .. handles the puck well and has a high panic threshold .. positionally sound .. strong on his skates and combined with good speed allows him to fend off checkers .. was looking for his jock on a “World Class” move by Gilbert Brule who took it from his own blueline and went around a few Hitmen including a flatfooted Carson .. versatile enough to play either point .. pinched up and joined an odd man rush for a scoring chance .. has the speed to really turn the corner and leave checkers in the dust.

Andy Rogers (2004), D

Impressive initial burst for a player of his size .. paired with Jeff Schultz .. got in a fight that turned in to a wrestling match .. on the penalty-kill .. quickly closes the gap on the puck carrier .. uses his body effectively to shield the puck .. makes a seamless transition from skating forwards to backwards .. uses the wall to clear the zone .. went down to block a shot .. uses his agility to keep the opposition in front of him .. needs to add some more physicality to his game .. displayed tremendous speed to get back to break up a scoring chance .. alertly picks up the open man in the defensive zone .. turned it over at the blueline when he failed to get a point shot through .. moves the puck with authority.

Andrew Ladd (2004), LW

Crisp passer, puts the puck right on the tape .. explosive wrist shot and can pick the corner .. started on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Shaun Landolt .. dished out a stiff check along the boards which led to a bit of a fisticuffs between a number of players .. exceptional speed and mobility to go along with elite acceleration .. a mainstay on the powerplay .. willing to go in front of the net and along the wall to make a play .. tremendous passer and playmaker due to NHL-like vision .. received a slashing PIM .. terrific at the transition game .. got in so quickly on the forecheck that he forced the defender in to a turnover and Ladd was able to move the puck out to Getzlaf in the slot who banged it home .. although not overly physical, he doesn’t shy away from giving or taking a hit .. work ethic second to none .. solid on his skates .. finds the holes and has the speed and strength to get there .. supports the puck carrier by getting open and giving him someone to pass to .. drives to the net with passion .. took a real hard hit along the boards and bounced right back up .. simply can’t say enough about his skating as he skates so effortlessly.

Jeff Schultz (2004), D

Awkward skater with a slow first step and not very mobile .. paired with Andy Rogers .. played on the powerplay and penalty-kill .. handles the puck with poise and displays good judgement on when to move it to an open teammate .. was caught flatfooted in the slot and was helpless as the forward went around him for a scoring chance .. not opposed to making forwards pay a heavy price in traffic .. must work on all aspects of his skating, but most importantly his lateral movement as he gets beat wide by players with some speed .. very good passer, with above average vision .. uses his size effectively to hold off checkers .. strong along the boards and in front of the net .. his skating is the only area of his game that keeps him from getting the “can’t miss” label attached to his name, however any NHL team willing to show some patience as he works on improving his major deficiency might be rewarded with a terrific top four defender.