LD Alex Bales - Kent School, USHS-Prep (2024 Draft)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Offensive defenseman. Skates well, very aggressive with how deep he'll come down into the offensive zone. He'll play goal-line to goal-line. His puck skills and passing are good. I'm not sure it's high-end enough for a 5'9 offensive defenseman to make the NHL, but he has time to improve in a lot of areas. Defensively, he plays physical and I don't think he's bad when he's back in the play, but his positioning isn't good due to how many offensive risks he takes, and he's also 5'9, although already 179, so he has a strong build. I think he's drafted in 2024, but he's not so good that I'm sure of it.

His father is a former NHL goalie and now the Sabres goalie coach. His father is 5'11 for reference.

Alexander Bales - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Alexander Bales, 2006-07-06 East Amherst, NY, USA USA. Most recently in the NCAA with Providence College. Complete player biography and stats.

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's pretty good. I'd expect him to make the USA's Hlinka team.

Obviously if he's only 5'9, or even 5'10/5'11 at the draft, it's a lottery getting drafted at that height, so growing a few inches would help him a lot. Working in his favor a little compared to similar style 2024 draft-eligibles will be that his father works in the NHL.

He'll probably be full-time with Tri-City next season. They are very deep on defense almost every season, so a 2024 draft-eligible getting a full season worth of games probably wasn't on the cards this season.

My scouting report from his USHL season.

My thoughts on his game are similar to what I saw during the summer hockey for USA. He’s a small defenseman. His offense isn’t dynamic, but it’s good, he skates well, plays with a lot of pace, and for 5’9 he’s pretty physical. Defense for 5’9 isn’t bad, but being 5’9 is an obstacle to being good defensively in the NHL. Let’s see if he grows between now and the 2024 draft. I’d think he’s a pick, and maybe as high as round 3 or 4, but I don’t think it’s a given.