Greetings loyal Yotes fans, if I may barge in, I have a write up for Busby if it's of interest. Not a player I thought would go this time around. There was interest on the floor for him...there were several teams that had no interest. I had breakfast with one OHL GM the other day and we talked about Busby, and we both agreed with a hesitant sigh...it's just so tough, because you only get two years doing it like this. If you wait, you get a little more flexibility but with that inherent risk...tough spot.
Shameless self promotion.
Dennis Busby (Flint [OHL], #11, RHS RD) - Very mobile, offensive-minded defenseman. Terrific multi-directional skating prowess with an effortless stride. Works well moving laterally and has very good edgework. Needs to add to his leg strength and overall strength, as his frame is still below average even for the junior level. He's knocked off his skates too often as a result. Can just about carry it across one line and has the upside to be a multi-line carrier at the junior level. Shows the ability to make quick decisions with the puck on his stick. His outlet passing is a plus, as is his support of rushes in the NZ. Is more aggressive offensively than a player of his experience might lead on. Still raw in a lot respects, he can get caught too far up ice on the breakout or make a wild pinch to compound his problems. His defensive game is still very green. He takes fairly lazy loops when switching off men and in general doesn't have very much urgency in the DZ. He's easy to play against both in terms of strength and in terms of style. Though he does gap up pretty well against rush chances and he has above average hockey sense at the least. His defensive woes appear to be based more on a lack of experience than a lack of smarts - so it looks salvageable. Losing his draft season is always a crucial loss and takes a big bite out of an otherwise steep development arc, moreover, his lack of physical maturity is also further jeopardy as shoulder injuries are always rough to return from even in a 12-month window. For a team with an extra 6 or extra 7, it might be worth rolling the dice on a right-handed d-man with this level of mobility and potential offensive acumen before he improves his draft stock tremendously in his D+1 year like Joey Keane.
Hockey Sense: B-
Skating speed/power/acc: B+
Skating lateral/edges/agility: A
Vision: B+
Puck skills: B
Shot: C-
Defense technique: C-
Defense urgency: D
Frame/size: D
Ceiling/Risk: Mid-high/High (late round/ND)