[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Re-entry Edition, Vol. 5):

19 year-old RHD Nate Misskey is one of the more talked-about Draft re-entries this year, along with high-profile scorer Anthony Romani, and is currently ranked 89th among North American Skaters by Central Scouting. Misskey missed 24 games due to injury between January and March, and at the time he went on the IR, he was 7th in scoring by defense in the entire WHL. He finished the regular season with 7 goals and 34 points in 44 games (54 PIM), which was 18th in league scoring by defense in ppg, and he also contributed 3 points in 4 playoff games as the Royals were swept by the mighty Portland Winterhawks. The 6'3",198lb rearguard wore the "A" this season for Victoria, who were 15th out of 22 teams in the standings, and he was left out of the 2023 NHL Draft after putting up a meager 14 points in 65 games in 2022-23, despite earning more and more minutes as the season wore on with his ever-improving play.

After a summer of hard work and training, Misskey looks like a different kid this season, and is often the Royals' best player on a nightly basis. He is able to contribute in all three zones, both sides of special teams, and in all situations. One highlight of his game is his physicality; to call this part of his repertoire "robust" is like saying a Lamborghini is a satisfactory way of getting around. He hits often, and he hits hard, but not only to separate his man from the puck or to simply finish his check, but to punish his adversaries and make them pay for daring to come near his zone. Violence is a big part of his game, and he's known as one of the WHL's most physical players, using his size to win battles, dominate along the boards, and establish body position. He also makes his presence felt with hacks, whacks, crosschecks, and extra shots- often after the whistle. If you've read a scouting report on Misskey, you were probably told that his mobility is below-average, but I believe that he's highly underrated in this regard; his skating doesn't look pretty, with a bit of a stiff, choppy stride, but he wins plenty of races and can match speed against smaller attackers. He will need work on his mechanics going forward, but he does require work on his backwards mobility, as he can be prone to losing his man off the rush.

Misskey is no Victor Hedman, but he often flashes true playmaking and creativity, with spatial awareness and the ability to manufacture openings. He's a skilled passer with a reasonable amount of IQ and vision, and can connect through layers of traffic or across the crease in a variety of ways- including backhands, and saucers. He's able to dish in full flight, and made a high number of passes to the slot this year. To facilitate his passing game, he uses smart, skilled delays to lure defenders in his direction, but also to scan for the best play- his deception skills are there, and getting better. He activates into the zone when the coast is clear, or join the rush as an extra forward, and makes well-timed pinches to keep the puck alive and out of enemy hands, or to get the puck deep. Misskey quarterbacks the play from the point quite well, and has a hard, heavy shot as an extra offensive tool. His handling is average but like the rest of his game, it's always improving and looks better than it was last year. His size and wingspan help him to protect the puck, and keep it out of the reach of his opponents' sticks. In transition, he can make high-end breakout passes at long-range when the opportunity is there, but mostly keeps his outlets simple, and risk-free- his transitional metrics are quite good. His retrievals are a little inconsistent though, as he doesn't adequately scan before going for the puck.

Misskey's defensive metrics on a team that's less than mediocre are excellent and show projectability- which is good, as this area of the game may be his ticket to the big leagues. He brings his savage physical game with him to the defensive zone, angling his enemies towards the boards where they are finished off in his own version of the "Tunnel of Death". He forces turnovers and dump-ins, and uses his extra-long reach to break up plays with his stick. He exudes smarts and proactive defense in being able to intercept passes, and be constantly be in the way- overwhelming attackers physically, pinning them to the boards, and suffocating them of time and space. He keeps tight gaps, and closes on forecheckers early. Misskey has plenty of NHL-projectable attributes, but is still a long-term project with bottom-pairing potential, and the possibility of more. Some mock drafts have him as early as the third-round, but I'm guessing fourth or fifth round.