D Carlos Handel - Malmö Redhawks, J18 Region (2025 Draft)

[Hinterland]

If you watched 80+ minutes of his shifts then you probably should have extracted more than he tried to do too much. And I’m talking about on the defensive side. Raw stats should mean nothing for a physical defensive defenseman, which is what he likely projects to become. Handel was a tough matchup in each of the four games. Even the TSN broadcasts picked up on it.

I value your opinion but are you sure about that? I haven't watched all of his shifts but I found him to be pretty underwhelming by his own standards. Yes, the matchups are tough but that's nothing new. It's always the case. They were always tough at the Hlinka Gretzky and they were always tough in the QMJHL. He's always on bad teams playing against mostly much better ones.

Händel was mighty impressive for two consecutive Hlinka Gretzky tournaments. His start for QMJHL Halifax was fantastic. However, he seems to have lost a step or two since.

"Physical defensive" defenseman is also a very interesting description for Händel. Yes, he's very mature for his age...doesn't make too many mistakes but I'm not sure that means he's "defensive". I'd also be shocked if he turned into a physical defenseman. I like the player a lot and he can clearly hold his own physically but I've seen nothing that would lead me to believe that he's about to turn into a big- or volume hitter. Carlos Händel is a kid that excels because of his very good skillset. He's a dynamic skater with good hands and pretty good vision. At junior level he's definitely more of an offensive defenseman. At least when he's on top of his game he is. Playing in all situations. Running PP's, driving play at even strength. At pro or certainly at NHL level he'll probably be more of a two way defenseman but I don't think he's gonna be a defensive or physical defenseman.

Right now it's just a lot of nothing though. He's still playing solid minutes but by his own standards he's not playing very well. NHL teams tend to be big on consistency and trends. You can't just tank weeks or even months of your draft season. Unless Händel is playing injured or banged up I think he's starting to reach the territory where the first scouts are gonna doubt him.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

I value your opinion but are you sure about that? I haven't watched all of his shifts but I found him to be pretty underwhelming by his own standards. Yes, the matchups are tough but that's nothing new. It's always the case. They were always tough at the Hlinka Gretzky and they were always tough in the QMJHL. He's always on bad teams playing against mostly much better ones.

Händel was mighty impressive for two consecutive Hlinka Gretzky tournaments. His start for QMJHL Halifax was fantastic. However, he seems to have lost a step or two since.

"Physical defensive" defenseman is also a very interesting description for Händel. Yes, he's very mature for his age...doesn't make too many mistakes but I'm not sure that means he's "defensive". I'd also be shocked if he turned into a physical defenseman. I like the player a lot and he can clearly hold his own physically but I've seen nothing that would lead me to believe that he's about to turn into a big- or volume hitter. Carlos Händel is a kid that excels because of his very good skillset. He's a dynamic skater with good hands and pretty good vision. At junior level he's definitely more of an offensive defenseman. At least when he's on top of his game he is. Playing in all situations. Running PP's, driving play at even strength. At pro or certainly at NHL level he'll probably be more of a two way defenseman but I don't think he's gonna be a defensive or physical defenseman.

Right now it's just a lot of nothing though. He's still playing solid minutes but by his own standards he's not playing very well. NHL teams tend to be big on consistency and trends. You can't just tank weeks or even months of your draft season. Unless Händel is playing injured or banged up I think he's starting to reach the territory where the first scouts are gonna doubt him.

I think he projects to be a defensive defenseman. He doesn't have the creativity or the passing ability in the offensive zone to put up points. Defensive defenseman doesn't mean stay-at-home in my book. It just means the guy is more effective in his own end than the other.

Disagree that he isn't playing well. I watched every shift from all four games and he was one of Germany's best defensemen in each of the four games. I’m a stickler for slot defense and board play and Handel has been a tough matchup in both.

 

[Hinterland]

I think he projects to be a defensive defenseman. He doesn't have the creativity or the passing ability in the offensive zone to put up points. Defensive defenseman doesn't mean stay-at-home in my book. It just means the guy is more effective in his own end than the other.

Disagree that he isn't playing well. I watched every shift from all four games and he was one of Germany's best defensemen in each of the four games. I’m a stickler for slot defense and board play and Handel has been a tough matchup in both.

I feel like you're selling him short a bit. This kid produced a ton of offense pretty much on his own. On weak teams vs much better ones. You can't do that without excellent skating, soft hands and good vision.

His play is still okay/good compared to his teammates but for a kid who was on track to get drafted very early, used to dominate playing vs other kids it's not enough. That German team would have needed him to drive play the way he used to do in the past.

I agree he won't have the same offensive impact vs men but I see him as more of a mobile puck moving two way guy who can maybe even run a 2nd PP if needed.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

I feel like you're selling him short a bit. This kid produced a ton of offense pretty much on his own. On weak teams vs much better ones. You can't do that without excellent skating, soft hands and good vision.

His play is still okay/good compared to his teammates but for a kid who was on track to get drafted very early, used to dominate playing vs other kids it's not enough. That German team would have needed him to drive play the way he used to do in the past.

I agree he won't have the same offensive impact vs men but I see him as more of a mobile puck moving two way guy who can maybe even run a 2nd PP if needed.

I don’t see a ton of offense being created beyond basic shot generation in the Q or in this tournament TBH, but then again, “a ton of offense” is subjective. His Hlinka was a different story, but that was against U18 only. My definition of a ton of offense is the defenseman makes playmaking and rushing the puck priorities, like Galvas or Hutson or Jackson Smith, et al. Handel picks his spots instead. Long-term, I think most coaches will want him focusing on defending before anything else.

Anyway, whatever. Point stands. He was one of the best defensive defensemen i.e., on his side of the red line, in group play.