Draft Thoughts:
Jan.15th: A player I really like for the upcoming draft is "C"-rated RW Cole Zurawski of the Owen Sound Attack, who just participated in the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game for Team West- picking up no points, but earning 5 minutes in the penalty box for dropping the gloves against C Adam Levac of Team East. Zurawski started the year strong, with 28 points in his first 26 games, but has since hit a cold spell, with only 3 points in his last 10- for 17 goals and 31 points in 36 games. Those numbers prorate to 55 points (30 goals) in 63 games, on a team that sits in 12th-place (out of 20), but sports the 4th-best goals-for (158 in 41 games). Everyone is struggling on the Attack right now though, and they have gone 1-7-1-1 in their last 10, while selling off two key players at the deadline, in D David Bedkowski, and G Carter George. In their latest rankings, Central Scouting puts him in the 47th-spot for North American Skaters.
Cole Zurawski is a big (6'1",190lbs) power-forward with a lofty offensive IQ, but most of what he creates from his tunnel-vision to the net- he's a natural goal-scorer with an NHL-caliber shot, an ability to get to the middle, funnel pucks to the slot, and shows fearlessness in driving the net. There is good deception in his release, and he can fire a bullet off the catch. His efforts manufacture second-chance opportunities for teammates, and he stirs up plenty of chaos in front with his nose for the net. While he's a capable passer, and flashes high-level vision at times, building a more pronounced layer of playmaking to his repertoire would benefit his game going forward, and perhaps add more unpredictability to his attack. Z is an excellent skater who pushes pace, and possesses solid puck-handling skills, which makes him useful to his team's transition, and capable of completing clean exits and entries. He swoops in on the forecheck with speed to apply physical pressure on opposing defensemen, grinds it out along the boards to win battles, and throws his weight around with aplomb to separate man from puck. Hard-working and competitive, he applies his high-motor and energetic approach to his efforts on the backcheck, where he disrupts plays, strips pucks, and picks pockets, although he has been criticized for sometimes losing focus, and for inconsistencies in effort and engagement. There are ebbs and flows at times in his physicality in all three zones, as well. Definitely a player for the top-96, though.
|