Prospect Info: Herman Traff (LW/RW - #91 Overall - Round 3 - 2024 Draft)

[Omar Little]

Next Fabian Zetterlund?

 

[Sticktape]

Looks like another assist for Traff today.

 

[evnted]

Looks like another assist for Traff today.

missed todays game unfortunately (traff's first one back from suspension, reason its been so quiet in here). heavy shot on the pp to set up a rebound for reber. tertiary assist on the 2nd goal of the game, but did make a legitimate play in high ice. good possession under pressure to get the passing play started

hv71 off for a week and a half so we'll have to wait for more. 2-4-6 through 9 shl games. scoring rate only beaten by edstrom (2023 32OA) and asp (2023 17OA) in terms of nhl prospects in sweden. sample size, pp reliance, etc. etc., i know he probably wont hold that high, but still, this is an impressive start, particularly for being on a team that we didnt really expect hed be able to hold a role on this season

Next Fabian Zetterlund?

think that would be the hope. probably some trade off on natural offensive inclination/pure shot for a better off puck/more physical game, but another one of those players who could be in that same mold in terms of usage

 

[evnted]

back in business

• maybe a half tick up with his backchecking today. obviously hes great at pressuring puck carriers, but its generally off/neutral zone weighted. thought he was making more plays closer to/in his own zone
• good pressure around the net/down low per usual, had a couple decent scoring chances. forechecking engagement was excellent, but i do hope to see some progress with digging pucks out himself, seems to be relying on linemates to come in for him (and it doesnt help when he basically has his back to play as hes pinning a guy along the boards lol)
• dangled the crap out of a defender early into the game. nice rush chance he sent in front that almost went in off a rebound. this was fun until he continued to overplay things/get cute. probably just a byproduct of returning from that u20 tournament, but he did fumble some chances
• puck play was also a bit sloppier than it had been. maybe just the same thing again, its not like he was losing it in open ice or anything, but saw some issues with his handling and botching a couple pass attempts. something to feel out in the coming games
• also thought he was taking too many low percentage shots from range, for really no reason at all. would retrieve pucks along the boards, help set up a good cycle, show off some pretty good small area movement with possession...i liked a lot of what i was seeing, but too many times he ended up throwing away the zone time

good compete but a little rough around the edges today, hopefully just getting back to form after playing at the junior level

 

[evnted]

hv71 goalie looked like vv

• better puck management today. smarter, smaller range passes. not as overzealous off the rush, willing to circle back and reevaluate/send it to the D. tried higher risk stuff on the pp, execution still largely good and ideas made sense
• randomly really good with one touch passes today. connected on multiple attempts in transition, including one between the legs on the pp. no idea where this came from. looked good and made his play off the rush that much faster
• better, simpler off zone possession game. relied more on staying in motion, puck protection, strength, and small area handling rather than flash and high risk attempts. way better on the cycle. wasnt cutting to the interior as much, although thats what got him most in trouble last viewing. still shoot-friendly (fewer questionable shot attempts)
• def zone positioning has never really been his strong suit but today in particular leaned toward the side of...what is he trying to accomplish. too high, too tentative. should be more actively pressuring defenders if hes not gonna be taking away lanes
• hv71 kept taking penalties in the 3rd so not a lot to talk about toward the end of the game. still, as always, appreciate that the forechecking game looked no different in a 6-2 loss

seems back to form

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Oh wow I didn't realize HV71 also had Mattias Tedenby on it. I hope they connect for a goal at some point this year.