[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Woolley Mammoth Edition):

Playing on a deep and talented London Knights squad, who were the OHL Champions this season, one can imagine that ice-time for a young defenseman like LHD Jared Woolley would be hard to come by. Woolley didn't even earn a spot on the team out of training camp, playing 19 games in the GOJHL for the St.Thomas Stars, a Junior B team, earning 21 points before making the huge leap up to Major Junior with the Knights. Having to adjust to such a big step up in competition had to affect his play, at least for the first while, and it means that Woolley is a bit more raw than most draft-eligible prospects, as there's usually a full season's worth and more of apprenticing in Major Junior to earn a spot on draft boards. Through 37 regular-season games with the Knights, Woolley only managed 5 points and 21 PIM, with 3 points in 16 playoff games. In 4 games at the Memorial Cup, with very limited ice-time and responsibility, the 6'4",214lb rearguard couldn't muster any points but is still ranked #73 for North American skaters by Central Scouting.

Even though he has been cast as a bottom-pairing defensive D in London, scouts see a lot more in him with his flashes of high-end puck skills and creativity. He doesn't get enough touches to show it, but he has an offensive mindset, and will join the rush or activate into the play. He teases instances of creativity and high-end passing skill, and can find teammates in high-danger around the net. When in possession, he exhibits poise and confidence with the puck on his blade, and makes good decisions- he doesn't often force plays, and is usually patient under duress, with a dose of deception to open seams. He has a strong distribution game, with the ability to thread the needle through traffic on occasion, and wants to make plays every shift. These qualities help him to be proficient in moving the puck in transition, and he can even connect on some impressive stretch-passes on occasion- though he needs to be better in scanning on retrievals. Woolley is a fluid skater with excellent speed for a kid his size, but needs to upgrade his edgework, as well as his explosiveness and top-speed- he has a propensity to overskate a fair bit when in pursuit of a puck-carrier as well. He plays a very physical game, and uses his size in battle, but he's disciplined with only 21 PIMs this season in 37 OHL games. He's aggressive in all three zones, and can dole out some bone-crushing hits when he wants to.

Woolley shows prowess defensively, and is hard to play against with his blend of overwhelming size and strength, along with his aggression and mobility. He throws big hits to dislodge pucks, and likes to step up on attackers at the blueline. He effectively takes away the middle from opponents, and is a little mean in front of the net in boxing out his adversaries. Woolley is calm and well-positioned in defending against the rush, practicing tight gap-control, and using his extra-long reach to frustrate forecheckers. He can angle opponents to the outside with the potential for a hit, or he will corral opponents and pin them to the boards, rendering them ineffective. Woolley has some exciting elements to his game, but he's quite raw, and he's going to be a long-term project for whatever team that drafts him, but scouts are excited to see what he can do in the next few years in the CHL when some of the talent in London moves on and he's given more responsibility, and top-4 minutes. The bet is that he has the chops to take off numbers-wise, and become a top defenseman in the CHL in the future. Woolley can force plays under pressure at times, miss passes, and pinch at inopportune moments- he needs further work on his details, and needs to keep working on his strength and speed as well. There are games where he looks very unpolished and sloppy, but he may one day make it as a physical, bottom-pairing defender in the NHL, with the potential for more. Look for him in the 5th, to the 7th-round.