[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts (WHL Edition):

Whatever team is lucky enough to draft 6'0" 181lb C/LW Ollie Josephson will be getting an instant fan favorite. He's a speedy, energetic firecracker who plays the game the right way, and doesn't cheat. Josephson was picked in the first round of the WHL Draft, 5th overall, by Red Deer- and this season to date he has put up 6 goals and 32 points in 46 games for a club that sits 6th overall in the standings, but 3rd-worst in goals-for. Josephson was born in BC, not Sweden as one would deduce by his name, and is one of the younger players in this draft, with a July 22 Birthday. He has been given a "B" rating by Central Scouting, meaning that they expect him to be selected in rounds 2 or 3.
Supreme hustle is the name of the game for OJ- he's all-out, all the time, always going 110% with never-ending motor, putting opponents on their heels with relentless puck pursuit. He's a super-pest, always buzzing in the face of puck-carriers, and can really push pace. Excellent skater who could use a little more explosiveness, but if there's any flaws in his speed he compensates with sheer hard work and determination, keeping his feet pumping, while never tiring. When he gets going though, he can flat-out fly. He's strong on his skates, and hard to knock off stride, or off the puck, and shows good balance and agility. Bigger players can't take the puck from him along the walls, or in the corners- he's like a Running Back, and won't be slowed down, pushing through bodies and sticks, and absorbing hits. He plays hard and gritty like a Tasmanian Devil, finishing his checks, and being miserable to play against. He causes turnovers aplenty with his tenaciousness, then pounces on the loose pucks. Josephson sees the ice well, and has an excellent off-puck game, knowing where to be proactively in all 3 zones. He's a crisp, accurate passer with high-end vision, and can thread the needle through many layers of traffic to teammates in high danger. He's a great defensive presence, with instincts and anticipation, who gives attackers fits. It should be said that he's good in the faceoff circle as well.
IMO, the fact that he only has 6 goals is a major concern. True, he's a pass-first player on a highly conservative team, but one would expect a potential second-round forward to have more. On the flipside, if you look at the Rebels' roster, no player has more than 12 goals, other than veteran Kai Uchacz- who has 29. 2023 Predators 2nd-round pick Kalan Lind only has 9 goals. At any rate, Josephson will need to improve his shot and perhaps the rate at which he uses it. OJ has some wonky mechanics in his stride they say- it seems his stance is off a bit, perhaps too wide, so he will get even more power and speed if he works to correct this. It's also been said that he could be more patient, and perhaps slow down a bit at times and wait for plays to develop, and take the time to properly scan for options, so as not to miss out on plays, and open teammates. Josephson has a high floor, as he's already a good defensive player with grit and energy, with an underrated offensive side. Late 2nd round, early third, IMO.

LW Andrew Basha may have more to prove in this draft than most other players, as he's an older player (Nov.8th Birthday), and in his third season in the WHL- which some say should give him a leg up. Another advantage he has is that he plays on Cayden Lindstrom's wing in Medicine Hat- where he has amassed 61 points in 42 games to date.
Basha is an all-around player who stays away from playing an overly flashy game. He's an exceptional skater, and highly elusive due to his edgework and agility. His decision making keeps pace with his speed, and he plays an energetic game, dominating transition, and pushing pace. He has become much more comfortable carrying, but still relies too much on quick touches. Basha makes good reads in the defensive zone, working to create steals and turnovers, eager to get the play going back the other way, and kickstarting the rush. He has exemplary anticipation and positioning in all 3 zones. There's no problem making clean entries with control for Basha, and he applies solid pressure on the forecheck. While he's not very physically intimidating, at 6'0",185lbs, he has become more willing to support his teammates down low, battle in front of the net for rebounds, and to wade into the greasy areas to compete for pucks. Playmaking is much more his forte than shooting, and he has the top-tier vision and IQ to make decisions without the benefit of much time or space. He can execute tape-to-tape passes through opponents, or layers of traffic, as well as over or under sticks- and consistently finds teammates in high danger. There are some who view him as one of the top playmakers in this draft, which is high praise. He handles the puck well, and does so at high speeds, and can make plays in full flight. Despite not being very physically inclined, he is a good competitor, with high motor and energy.
Basha's defensive game has grown by leaps and bounds, but there's still plenty of room to improve his effort and consistency in this area. Some say he needs to refine his puck skills, namely his puck reception, and keeping his hands going at the same speed as his feet and brain. He's far from getting the most out of his shot, which has a fairly quick release and good accuracy, but could improve in power with adjustments to his shooting mechanics. There will be questions answered soon about how much he feeds off of Lindstrom, as he's out with an injury for the next six weeks (I believe?), but some still think Basha might not be a top-6 player in the NHL. Second round methinks.

RW Terik Parascak has come a long way on a very steep incline from playing Prep School Hockey last season to currently 9th in WHL scoring with the 3rd best team in the league, the Prince George Cougars. The 5'11",179lb winger has piled up 29 goals and 69 points in 48 games to date, which would equal 98 points in 68 games. The Cougs are 4th-best in goals-for in the league, but own one of the best powerplays, so he's been accused of being a big benefactor of the man-advantage, but I would dispute that- the stats say he only has 15 points coming via the PP. Parascak is not big or fast, but he has an elite brain with high-level IQ and awareness, with or without the puck. He has an uncanny feel for the game, and knows where to be to find open space in high-danger to finish plays. He's often around the net in the low slot, where he scores most of his goals, from tap-ins, rebounds, and one-touch plays. Highly opportunistic. While he has great hands in tight, and a quick wrister, he's more finisher than pure sniper, playing off his teammates and driving to the middle to cash in. He's perhaps equal playmaker as scorer, and displays an excellent distribution game, getting tape-to-tape passes off under pressure. The pillars of his game are his high-end skill and good timing, combined with vision and creativity. Parascak is a responsible player, and a hard worker, and gets time on both special teams. As much as his off-puck awareness helps him know where to be to get open, it also aids him defensively in knowing the best places to be to intercept passes, and close lanes. Even with sub-par skating and handling, he contributes effectively to the transition- by carrying, or through the give-and-go, and is often part of a clean entry with control.
As stated, Parascak needs plenty of work on his speed, and the mechanics of his skating. Right now, his stride looks short and choppy, as well as upright and stiff- it looks ok at times in junior hockey, but he won't get away with it once he graduates. One could choose to look at it like this: If he's this good with no junior experience, and a deficient stride, how good will he be in a year or two with better skating? Some have wondered if his numbers would be sustainable, and indeed, they have gradually slowed down. In his first 8 games, he had 12 goals and 6 assists, for 2.25 ppg. In contrast, he has 26 points in his last 20 games, which is nothing to sneeze at either, but nowhere near the pace he had in the first quarter of the season. I'm betting he's taken late first/early second.