[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hump Day Edition):

RHC Christian Humphreys has been given the grade of "B" by Central Scouting, meaning that they see him as potential 2nd, or 3rd round pick; I was seeing him in the first round in some mocks though, around the start of the season. His game has been trending upwards since last year, and he's gained an inch and twenty pounds, now measuring in at 5'11", 170lbs. He's much less tentative now, and is playing more in the hard areas- which was the major knock on him in year's past. As of right now, Humphreys sits at 44 points in 36 NTDP games with the U18 team, including 20 points in 17 USHL games, which are solid numbers.

It might be fair to call Humphreys a jack of all trades, but a master of none- still, he's a well-rounded offensive threat. He's a good skater- well above average, but definitely not elite, and he can turn on a dime with his slick edgework, with rapid changes in speed and direction to help his evasiveness. If there's a talent of his that stands out, it may be his puckhandling, which gets rave reviews- he carries the puck on a string, dangling around defenders feet and sticks. It's hard to strip him of the puck, as he executes tight puck-control by handling close to his feet. He's got quick hands, and plays a good small area game- unlike last season, he's playing well in traffic, and creating chances between the dots. His shot is fairly good in terms of velocity, but it's his accuracy and release that factor in the most to his scoring touch, as well as the inate ability goal-scorers have to find open space to sneak into. Humphreys has a good feel for the game, with excellent instincts on-and-off the puck, and high-end vision as a playmaker. He is able to make players around him better, and sets up chances aplenty for his teammates. He's smart and effective off the rush, and contributes to transition.

Humphreys has an excellent motor, and regularly outworks opponents- which comes in handy on the backcheck. He's a conscientious 200-ft player, and carries a ton of value in his defensive game. A details-oriented checker, he's an expert at intercepting passes, breaking up plays, and he pounces on loose pucks, winning footraces in the process. He can kill penalties, and win faceoffs as well. One area of his game he could improve is his physicality, another is his consistency- his numbers seem to come in bunches. Like most kids his age, he needs to keep bulking up and getting stronger. Humphreys has committed to Michigan, after de-committing to Michigan St, so he has some runway to work with on the path to becoming a middle-6 NHL center. If he can keep up his scoring pace, he might get selected in the 2nd round.