[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (BS Edition):

The Barrie Colts have some quality draft-eligibles in their lineup, including Riley Patterson, Cole Beaudoin, Jack Brauti, and 6'1",168lb LW Bode Stewart, who posted 13 goals and 26 points in 57 games, to go with 23 PIM. He was selected in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, 24th-overall by the Saginaw Spirit, but was traded to Barrie last summer for two picks. Stewart only managed 2 points in 6 playoff games for Barrie, who squeaked into the playoffs with a losing record, and were eliminated in six games by the Oshawa Generals. Barrie was 16th in the standings this season out of 20 teams, and 15th in goals-for.

Stewart is a hard-nosed, two-way power-forward who can grind, and plays with an edge. He has a nose for the net, and will battle for position in front, and cut to the slot without fear- he's inside-driven with good hands in-close, and can make plays around the net. He forechecks hard, competes in the greasy areas, and relentlessly pursues puck-carriers in all 3 zones. Stewart is an excellent skater, with smooth edges that give him shiftiness, escapability, and superior lateral mobility- but he could use a bit more quickness on the top-end. Other than his mobility, most of his individual skills are hovering around the average mark, but he flashes high-end abilities from time-to-time, along with glimpses of play-driving capabilities. He can make plays, but most of the time he keeps things relatively safe and simple. He does have an ability at times to open space for himself and teammates, which not all players possess, but he can't yet take proper advantage because of his decision-making- he has difficulty in choosing the best play, and doesn't wait for it to develop. The same can be said about his vision and spatial awareness- he has the ability to sniff out open lanes to attack, but runs into a wall.

Those glimpses point to exciting potential in the future, but Stewart's specialty right now is also a strange anomaly in his game- his potent transitional play, strangely enough. Despite not possessing great handling, he's an exciting puck-carrier with poise and confidence, who uses exceptional deception with shifts of weight, changes of pace, quick lateral movements, and fakes. He's a potent attacker through the neutral zone with some nice-looking metrics in this area, including a high number of controlled exits and entries. He's not afraid to use the middle of the ice, and pushes pace with his speed, manipulation, puck-protection, and ability to find and create holes in coverage. There's glimpses of a smart delay game in transition as well, and he will even cut back to try again if he runs into insurmountable traffic- if only he could apply these skills to his offense! Stewie is a hard competitor, who plays with intensity, high-motor, and brings energy to his team- he's also a steady, reliable checker with a hard-hitting, intelligent defensive game. He sees the ice well enough to position himself proactively to make stops, and applies pressure to puck-carriers- even making steals at the top of the zone for breakaways. Going forward, Stewie needs plenty of work on his decision-making and consistency, but already has the potential to make a fine bottom-6 checker and energy player, with the hope of more to come. I think he'll be a big breakout story next season. Look for him in later rounds.