Originally Posted by Sandman
Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 35):
RHC Mason West (6'6",208lbs)
Edina High (USHS-MN): 18gp/ 18g/ 14a/ 32pts, 8 PIM
When I read Mason West's name at #59 on Bob McKenzie's Mid-season list, and #50 for North American players on Central Scouting's midterm rankings, I had to find whatever I could on this kid- and I was able to watch two of his games from this season with Edina High, who were the 2024 Minnesota State High School Class AA Champions. West is also being scouted by some Div.1 Football teams, and has received some scholarship offers; he is a QB who led Edina to the Class AAAAAA Final, with close to a 66% completion rate for 2,625 yards and 28 touchdowns. Mason West, the hockey player, is the highest-rated High School hockey player so far for this summer's draft, and while it's difficult to get a read on prospects at that level, it's quite obvious that he's an amazing athlete- and a winner.
West is quite hard to miss, as he looks like a moving skyscraper compared to most of his peers, but he's also a remarkable skater for his size with a powerful stride on long legs and a deep knee bend; he is fast enough to catch up to streaking opponents and pick their pockets with a stick-lift. His edges and agility are smooth as well, with the ability to pivot rather quickly and change direction seamlessly. Though he can make plays at the High School level, it's a good bet that his calling-card will always be his shot and his finishing ability. He can fire off a pretty hard and heavy shot while skating full-tilt, and is a very inside-driven player- he constantly drives the net, and is often spotted patrolling the slot waiting for chances. As he displayed in a game against Wyzata, he has excellent hand-eye coordination to tip in shots from the point, and on his second goal, he gained entry, hit the trailer with a short pass, got the puck pack, and then showed off his hands by scoring far-side, high-glove from the high-slot. Edina uses him on the point while on the PP, and he is often out there for almost the full two minutes. He's a good QB in football, and he brings that mindset to man-advantage scenarios on the ice, showing good passing skill and vision, with crisp and hard feeds that he get through small spaces in traffic. He likes running the play from the half-wall, as he can be pressured into mistakes and giveaways on the point. In all situations, he shows sound positional awareness and always skates with his head up to scan his surroundings to find open space to get to high-danger areas. West's stickhandling isn't anything too special, but his puck-protection makes it difficult to strip the puck from him, as he handles well outside the reach of defenders. In the games I watched, he made a high number of seamless entries.
West supports teammates in puck-battles, and employs some proactive tactics in defensive situations, such as tying up an attackers' stick before the puck arrives. He takes away the middle of the ice effectively with his enormous range, blocking lanes, picking off passes, and removing time and space with his reach. He does much of the same in the neutral zone, and he can kill rushes by covering huge swaths of ice with his wingspan and his skating. I noticed plenty of times where he was staying too high in the defensive zone though, and even leaving early, in anticipation of the breakout. West displays good leadership with the way he is often seen directing traffic, but he needs to stop tapping his stick on the ice so much to call for a pass- he needs plenty of work on his faceoffs as well, as he didn't seem to be having a lot of success against High School players on the dot. I was a bit disappointed by his physical involvement in the first game I watched, although he threw a hit or two to dislodge the puck, pinned multiple opponents to the boards, and used his size as leverage to win positioning and make room for himself. I was happier with the second game I took in, as he was much more physical and made his presence felt. Still, he conducts a lot of his business with sound positioning, enormous range, and a smart stick. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round of the draft.
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