Jordan Weal / Regina Pats WHLC-R / 5-9.5, 162 / 15-Apr-92
Skating: 65 / Skill: 75 / Sense: 70 / Compete: 65 / Toughness: 60
Strengths: Great instincts for the game. Excellent creativity. High compete level.
Weaknesses: Size (obviously). Not quite the speed or quickness such a small player really needs to have.
Very good inside the offensive zone. Very creative and makes things happen with the puck. Really distributes the puck smartly. Not real dynamic in an end-to-end or off the rush sense. Has good speed and quickness - but for a player this small, you tend to hold their skating a bit higher standard. His top speed and lateral quickness is a shade below what you want from a guy this size.
Really competes and isn't afraid of battling physically or taking a hit to make a play. But he's going to have to find a way to be more elusive at the next level.
Normally you'd look at Central's measurement of Weal at 5-9.5 and not be too worried about that (Zach Boychuk and Tyler Ennis weren't any bigger and both went in the first round). But Weal looks like he's done growing and has a small frame. And that's a concern.
Summary: This guy can flat out play the game. But he's just not likely to get any bigger at all. He'll struggle to become a top two line player, but my bet is he'll still contribute as a 3rd/4th line guy and maybe a power play specialist. But I wouldn't want to spend a top 45 pick on him, I'd probably not consider him until the 3rd round.
Draft Day: Kind of hard to figure, but I'd guess he's gone before the end of the 3rd round. Could even be a 2nd rounder. But you have to wonder - if Brandon Kozun lasts until the 6th round, why would this guy go so much earlier?
1 comment:
Kozun was overage when he was drafted. He had 53 points in his first season at 17, while Weal has been putting up PPG+ numbers since he was 16...while on two dreadful pats teams.
Mind you, he did play with Eberle...but I wouldnt say he was being completely carried.
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