Originally Posted by Sandman
Draft Thoughts (Teddy Bear Edition):
If you were to confuse C/LW Teddy Stiga with his NTDP teammate, Christian Humphreys, I wouldn't blame you. Like Humphreys, Stiga has improved by leaps and bounds as a player in the last year or so, but his upwards trajectory has been much sharper than Humphreys'- particularly in the last few months, where he has gone from passenger to driver, and scarcely resembles the player he was last season. Stiga, who stands 5'10", and weighs in at 176lbs, currently sits at 59 points in 49 games, to go with 32 penalty minutes, which are pretty impressive numbers, and put him third in NTDP scoring behind Hagens and Eiserman. Stiga killed it in the 5 Nations in February, leading all scorers with 9 points in 4 games.
Stiga is an all-situations player, and is starting to show the ability to drive play. His feet are always moving, and he makes plays at high speed. He makes quicks reads, and reacts to what is coming at him, solving problems along the way. On the forecheck, he shows great hustle, and is highly disruptive- he's constantly in motion in the offensive zone, and covers a ton of real estate. With high IQ and anticipation, he finds, opens, and exploits space; he knows where teammates are going to be a few steps ahead of the play, and is a crisp, accurate passer. As a dual threat performer, he also packs an accurate wrister, with a snappy release- but he could stand to add more power to his arsenal of shots. His hands are soft, and he can beat goalies in tight after working the puck to the inside. Stiga has excellent speed, with smooth edges that provide him with his fantastic small-area game, spinning away from pressure, and outmanouvering opponents. He's a deceptive puckhandler, using all kinds of feints to manipulate opponents into going in the wrong direction. He's an asset in transition, and aids his teammates in completing clean exits and entries with control.
Stiga's off-puck game is a huge asset- he's always an option for a pass at the right time and place, and positions himself well to capitalize on opportunities. He plays with high energy, and oodles of pace, and his relentless motor might be his best quality- he never takes a shift off, and keeps his feet moving with, or without the puck. He seems to pride himself on winning battles, and overcoming his size deficit with work-ethic and will- he's unafraid to wade into battle in the greasy areas, and finishes his checks. Defensively, he's an effective player who brings his work-ethic and anticipation to the zone, never cheating for offense, and remaining on the right side of the puck. He's proficient at forcing mistakes and turnovers, and gets in his opponents' faces, to limit time and space with his body and efficient stickwork. His off-puck positioning is exemplary, and he's useful in this regard on the breakout, as he skates out at the right time to be an option for a pass. Stiga has rounded out his repertoire nicely, but any holes in his game are centered around his size- he must get stronger to help him win battles at the next level, and strengthening his shot is a must. Stiga is committed to Boston College, but it may be awhile until he can earn a top-6 role on that squad, as they are quite deep in talent. Look for Stiga in the 2nd/3rd round.
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