Originally Posted by Sandman
Draft Thoughts (Speedy Creek Edition):
Swift Current Broncos RW Luke Mistelbacher has an interesting profile, and looks to be difficult to project for a number of reasons. He's older, with a Nov.2nd, 2005 birthday, and was never drafted into the WHL, making the team out of training camp as a try-out and signing with the Broncos in 2021. This season, he started off slowly with 15 points in his first 33 games, but took off offensively in the New Year with the arrival of Connor Geekie to the team via trade, which isn't coincidental. Mistelbacher really caught fire in mid-February when he was put on a line full-time with Geekie, and another quality draft-eligible in Clarke Caswell, blazing his way into the playoffs with 24 points in his last 15 games, to finish the season with 20 goals and 53 points in 64 games. Swift Current lost in the second round of the post-season in 5 games to the eventual WHL-Champions, the Moose Jaw Warriors, with Mistelbacher racking up 9 points in 9 games- tying Geekie and Caswell for 2nd in team scoring. Mistelbacher is a complimentary winger, and while his production was largely due to playing with top-shelf offensive linemates, it takes a skilled player to keep up with those types. He doesn't drive play though, and he's not very dynamic in any way.
Mistelbacher's best asset is his top-tier shooting and finishing skills, with the ability to pick corners from distance, or beat goalies in-close. He's active around the net to make goalies move in order to open holes through them, and can shoot through the legs of opposing defensemen with very little room to unleash, using them as screens. To fool goalies, he will change the angle of his blade, or change the point of release, and his curl-and-drag wrister has been called one of the best in the draft. To faciltate his scoring abilities, he attacks the middle, sneaks into high-danger at just the right time, and will go to the front of the net to bat in second-chance opportunities- all with impeccable timing. He has some smarts and skill when it comes to playmaking as well, using deception to manipulate opponents into giving up space with look-offs, stutter-steps, and dekes. Most of his creativity comes off the rush, as he seems to struggle making plays in-zone when his team is already installed. He can dish in flight, and makes cross-ice passes through traffic to teammates on the weak side. Mistelbacher plays a physical game, and forechecks hard to disrupt plays and cause havok, but manages to stay out of the box, with only 8 PIM over the course of the regular-season. He fights hard along the boards to win pucks and establishes body position.
Mistelbacher will need plenty of time with a skating coach to improve his mobility in all areas- his speed is average at best, but his acceleration is deficient, and he can't adequately separate from attackers. His stride is unrefined, his mechanics look wonky, and he doesn't get enough power out of his stride. Some of this will fix itself as he gets stronger, but right now, his feet can't keep up with his brain. His hands have trouble keeping up as well, as his puck-skills are in need of a tune-up, with average stickhandling and deficient puck-protection. Off the puck, he skates smart routes and finds space to be playable, relocating well for a return-pass after dishing off. His metrics in regards to transition are excellent- he works give-and goes for clean entries, and uses delays to always see the best option, but he mostly defers to teammates to carry. He uses the middle well through the neutral zone, as he does on the forecheck, and can make some cross-ice passes at a longer range through traffic from time-to-time. His metrics are good when it come to defense as well, as he's hard-working on the backcheck with good awareness, and can disrupt the rush in the neutral zone before it even gets to the blueline. Many believe that he'll be a top WHL player as early as next season, with his hot-streak at the end of the regular-season following him into 2024-25. It's a possibility that Mistelbacher won't be drafted this year, but if he is- look for him in later rounds.
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