It’s hard to tell in the OHL to be honest. I can say, however, that he hustles back and seems to control his lanes. High IQ type.
He reminds me a bit of Barzal but with above average skating rather than elite skating. Tons of creativity and high end hands.
I see some similarities with Barzal but ultimately think Tomasino will be a bit different kind of player. I think he’s a better goal scorer than Barzal was coming out of the draft. Although Barzal has improved a good deal in that regard. I don’t think he’s quite as fast as Barzal either, butfew are. Also think To amino might end up putting on more weight than Barzal and use physicality more. Same height I think, but Tomasino looks to have more room to put on muscle.
I definitely think he will turn out to be a better NHL player than Akil Thomas and I don’t really think it will be close.
The thing I’m most unsure about is what his ultimate position will be. At times I think he’d be a better winger than Center ultimately. A secondary faceoff type winger with great goal scoring and playmaking. If that’s the case and he ends up at wing, I think he will be in the NHL sooner than if they want him to stick at Center. Which could really work out for Nashville as I think they need top 6 winger right now more than top 6 Center. Johanson and Duchene really do a good job centering the top two lines.
But I think Forsberg could use another high end player opposite him on the wing. Speaking of which, what the heck has happened to Tolvanen? Totally thought he’d be up permanently by now. He’s really dropped off the top prospect radar. Which is where I think Tomasino could take over. Kind of the route Necas is taking on Carolina. He could really be somthing special on a top line like that without pressure of being the main C. And then he and a Duchene could alternate center duties to their strengths. Taking pressure of Tomasino to be the main C, which I think would get him to the NHL faster.
Otherwise, if they want him to be the main Center, and not just filling in on some center duties like face offs, I think he will need at least one season in the AHL. Just my opinion.
Then Arvidson could move to the 2nd line with Johanson, where I honestly believe he’d be more suited. I think Arvy is a good player, a 60 point player which is great, but I think Tomasino could be better. Really I think that might be what Nashville lacks most now, line depth. Well that and an elite talent. As good as Duchene, Johanson, Arvy and even Forsberg are, I don’t think any of them are near elite. Forsberg probably closest but I still think he’s a tier or two below. I’d actually say Josi is probably their best player. He’s pretty elite when it comes to D men and he can drive the play also when needed. And I think Fabbro will eventually be a high production D. Then if Tolvanen ever finds his game again, he could round out that 2nd line and I think they’d be serious serious contenders.