[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Baby Iggy Edition):

When talking about C/LW Tij Iginla, there are going to be instances where it will sound like you're talking about Iggy Sr. Tij is still quite young, with an Aug.1st birthday, and has amassed 70 points in 54 games to date, with an incredible 40 goals, good for 8th in the WHL. He was Player of the Game for Team White in the CHL Top Prospects Game, up against top talent- despite the fact that he didn't register a point. Tij is perhaps the most improved player in this draft over the last few years, as he wasn't even on the radar before last season. Like his father in his draft year, he is not the fastest, or most skilled, but has high-end instincts, plays in all situations, and has a distinctive "IT" factor.

Iggy is an extremely industrious player, and seems to cover every inch of ice in a shift- he's everywhere all at once, and dangerous from any point in the offensive zone, and off the rush. He thinks well ahead of the play with his high-end IQ and awareness, and though he's a high-volume shooter, he doesn't get nearly enough credit for how good he is as a playmaker- he can complete the most difficult passes, tape-to-tape through traffic with saucers over sticks, between legs, and through triangles. His passing game can match most of the top playmakers in junior. Iggy is a top sniper, and finisher (two different things), and doesn't need time or space to unleash his lethal shot. He has a potent release, perhaps the best in the draft, that can freeze goalies, and he can change the angle of his shot and his blade, to further decieve the opposition. He can shoot from anywhere with power and velocity, and he has every shot imaginable in his repertoire, all of them hard and heavy- including backhands, catch-and-release, curl-and-drags, wristers, and one-timers. He will also go the net to get rebounds, tips, and second-chance opportunities, and has soft hands around the net. He will drive the slot off the rush, with or without the puck, and when in-zone, he explodes off the wall to attack the middle.

One of Iginla's most important skills, and the trait that facilitates his offense, is his quick hands and stickhandling which, when combined with his mastery of deception, enable him to freeze checkers and move through attackers, even along the wall. He frequently beats defenders 1-on-1; he's shifty, with plenty of fakes, dekes, look-offs, and deception to create separation, as well as time and space to exploit. He's confident with the puck on his stick, and calm under pressure, and baits checkers into going one way, while he's going in another direction. Like Iggy Sr., he wins most 50/50 battles, and is dominant along the boards and down low, using his unnatural strength, tight puck-protection, high-end handling, and his deception, to play keep-away on the wall, or just power his way through coverage. He always wins inside position, engages physically, absorbs contact, and has a bit of an edge- he battles hard in the trenches, and will work to establish position in front of the net. The ability he has to be a possession player makes him valuable to his team, and when there's no play, he works to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. Off the puck, he knows where to be to make himself an option for passes, whether it's in the zone, or in transition.

Speed-wise, Iginla is not a burner, but is still above average, and gets up to full speed very quickly, with a nice first-step, and good acceleration. His stride is long and powerful, and his edges are excellent, giving him a good change of direction to evade checks, and the ability to start and stop on a dime. He is uncommonly strong on his skates, and difficult to knock off the puck. Any shortcomings he has in his straight-ahead speed are compensated by his indomitable motor- he's always going flat-out, all the time, keeping his legs pumping vigorously. Iggy is hyper-engaged, highly competitive, and always the hardest working player on the ice- seemingly in the thick of the play at all times. He has a good understanding of his responsibilities in the defensive zone, with good positioning and awareness- always sticking to his man like glue. He will assist teammates down low, throw a hit to dislodge the puck, and is trusted in penalty-killing situations.

Iginla doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses, but he can get caught holding on to the puck for too long, particularly when looking for a shot. This same thing can affect him in his decision-making, as he can run out of real estate when waiting for the right play to develop. He must avoid being too fancy, and looks indecisive at times. Being a high-volume shooter, some of his shots are of a low-percentage variety, so he could stand to use his teammates more in these situations. He must work to further his skating and strength for the pro ranks, but this is undoubtedly a future first-line goal-scoring winger, as it remains to be seen if his game suits the center position at the next level. Look for him in the top-12 in this year's draft.