[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 36):

LD Will Reynolds (6'3",192lbs)
Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL): 64gp/ 4g/ 10a/ 14pts, +5, 69 PIM

D Will Reynolds (ranked # 78 NA Skaters) is the second-highest ranked defenseman from the Q according to Central Scouting's midterm list, behind Carlos Handel of Halifax at # 66 (NA Skaters), while toiling for the 11th-place (out of 18 teams) Acadie-Bathurst Titan. This year's edition of the Titan are known be a defense-first club and were 13th in goals-for, with Reynolds being their 4th-highest scoring D. A pro-style shutdown defender, he can move pucks and support the play in all areas without flashiness or dynamism. One of his best traits is that he's an excellent skater, especially for his size, with quickness in all four directions and smooth edgework to surf across the ice laterally, pivot effortlessly, transition seamlessly, sidestep checks, and spin off of hits. He can win races to loose pucks with a long, powerful stride, and his mobility moving backwards and sideways helps him to be a staunch rush-defender- giving him the ability to mirror footwork in applying air-tight gaps, and angling attackers to the boards with adroit stickwork where they are finished with well-timed bodychecks, after being relieved of possession.

Though he's not totally immune to mistakes or miscues, another hallmark of his game is his ability to stay calm, cool, and collected in high-pressure situations. He exhibits a high panic-threshold when retrieving pucks while fending off forechecking bombardments, and locating quick and efficient escape-routes. He shoulder-checks thoroughly, and skates with his head up to make quick reads and connect on crisp, accurate breakout feeds to teammates streaking through the neutral zone, displaying composure and poise. Of course, when there are no safe options, he defers to clearing the puck or sending it off the glass and out. Reynolds is an intimidating physical presence who can crush opponents along the boards, and dole out thunderous hits in open-ice that can swing the momentum of a game in his team's favor; he's also quite mean in front of his net. He launches himself into puck-battles stick-first, and uses his size and strength well to come away with possession more often than not. In the defensive-third, he keeps attacks to the outside and applies well-timed stickwork and physicality to dislodge possession, and clear pucks out of danger. He stays quite active in the zone, and exhibits heightened awareness, with intensity in hounding puck-carriers, and taking away time and space from aggressors.

In the other end of the rink, he shows flashes of good instincts offensively, and though he prefers to run the play from the point, he times his pinches in on the weak-side well and displays good judgement of when to jump into the play so as not to compromise his team if the play shifts to defending. Most of the time, the purpose of his activations is to keep the play alive, get pucks deep, or to step up to kill the breakout. A lot of his playmaking revolves around simple shots on net to create chances for teammates, and to wreak havoc on opposing goalies. He doesn't join the rush very often, unless he has a clear-cut safe opportunity to do so, and he's often the last player in the offensive zone, and the first player back. Though he gets pucks through to the net with reasonable frequency, his shot isn't all that threatening, and could use more power with greater deception in his release. Reynolds is somewhat limited in terms of puck-skill, and often defers to teammates to do the bulk of the carrying; he clears pucks off the glass, makes smart bank-passes, and will chip-and-chase with speed, rather than try to beat opponents with his stickhandling. There are instances where he can take himself out of the play in search of the big hit, but mobile, physical, shutdown defensemen are always popular on draft day. Look for him in the 3rd, or 4th-round.