[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Ralph Malph Edition):

LHD Colin Ralph is a top-pairing, minute-munching rearguard who plays in all situations. The tricky part is that he's plying his trade with Shattuck St. Mary's Prep, a lower level of competition than most draft-eligible prospects are at, making his projection more difficult. Though his future is unclear, he has some attributes that come in handy in any league. Ralph is a 6'4",227lb behemoth who racked up 56 points in just 50 games this season, good enough for 2nd overall in scoring by defensemen, 9th in ppg. He was the 59th-overall pick in the 2023 USHL Draft by the Dubuque Fighting Saints, and will play there in 2024-25.

As stated, Ralph is a big fish in a smaller pond, but he could get around well in any league, as he covers a ton of ice in a short time with his mobility and aggression. For a player his size, he skates quite well, and has good agility. His brain is quite large too, as he possesses an above-average IQ, with finely-tuned puck skills- he can handle gracefully in small areas. He has quick hands, with a long reach that helps him protect the puck, or strip the puck from opponents all over the ice. At the current level he's at, he can quarterback the offense from the blueline with smarts, and does so using his solid distribution game. Though his shot could use more zip, he will rip low shots on net in order to facilitate rebound and tip opportunities for his teammates near the crease. His passes are usually crisp and accurate, and that includes his breakouts, which he can calmly complete under pressure from attackers. With his mobility and a well-timed stick, he exerts tight gap control, angling oncoming attackers to the boards where he then finishes them with a hit. With his enormous wingspan and quickness, he takes up a massive amount of real estate, cutting off huge swaths of ice.

As one would hope for a player of his size, he plays a physical brand of hockey- he's hard-nosed, but disciplined, with only 24 penalty-minutes to his name this season. He uses his size well to impose his will and bully his way around the ice, getting under the skin of opponents with how difficult he is to play against, and there's a distinct intimidation factor. He wins confrontations along the wall, boxes players out of the crease, and usually comes out of corner battles with the puck. Ralph has defensive acumen, and has learned good habits when defending. He closes on puck-carriers quickly, shuts down the cycle, and anticipates the play well enough to kill rushes before they ever reach the blueline. He aids in kicking off the transition with a good first-pass, after completing a clean retrieval. He gets big minutes at Shattuck, in all situations, and can play both sides of special teams with effectiveness. Ralph was ranked 61st in the latest rankings from Elite Prospects, so he's being noticed- although I would put him in the 4th, or 5th round. His ceiling is up to him and the hockey gods, but I can see a player like him being a good bottom-3 defender in the NHL. He is committed to St.Cloud State in 2025-26.