[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Mr. Kennedy Edition):

It took some time this season for LHC Quinn Kennedy of the Rimouski Oceanic to gain the confidence to start showing off his offensive skills, starting the year with only 3 points in his first 12 games. He finished the regular season with 45 points in 52 games, but only managed 1 assist in the playoffs as Rimouski was eliminated by the Cape Breton Eagles in 5 games.

Kennedy has a long, powerful stride with rapid acceleration and excellent agility for lateral mobility, and escapability. He can push pace, and plays with high energy, always moving and keeping his legs pumping. He has soft hands to finish in-close and moves to beat goalies, but he also has a laser of a snapshot with some whip, and a deceptive release. He always seems to be open and ready to shoot with his stick on the ice, and he also has the hand-eye coordination to score off of tips. He became more confident as the year wore on in making plays of the more difficult and complex variety, but high-end vision and IQ only came in flashes most of the time. He can distribute with poise and confidence, but isn't really a playmaker. On the forecheck, he grinds with tenacity to force turnovers and wreak havok, despite measuring only 5'10",172lbs. He's highly disruptive and aggravating to play against, and gives opponents fits. In battles, he's gritty and hard-working with constant second-and third efforts. He's hard-nosed and competitive, and works down low and around the net like he was a big power-forward. There's no fear in him to storm the crease, or attack the middle of the ice. In possession, he's shifty and elusive with smooth puckhandling and he protects the puck well. These skills, when combined with his speed, make him effective in transition, as he stickhandle through layers of traffic to make clean entries with control.

Going forward, it's likely that Kennedy will not be known for his defensive abilities, as he's not currently a stalwart in his own zone- although he works hard, and exhibits good positioning. He's undersized, and his frame doesn't quite match the rambunctious style that he plays, so he may have to temper his physical approach a bit for the next level. Even if he does, he still needs to add a ton more strength, as he can be manhandled by bigger players. He needs to round out his skillset, and upgrade his shot as well. Look for him in round 5 or 6.