I think he’s overrated offensively and underrated defensively.
He has generational point totals, but that whole Denver team always outperforms statistically. Many of them don’t sustain that after they leave Denver. Denver is the best NCAA team in the West, and play an easier schedule than a lot of the good teams. I don’t see an elite puck game. I see a very good puck game. Like 35-50 points at his best, but he doesn’t have Makar, Hughes, Fox offense. It’s not there.
I don’t think his defense is that bad. Definitely not only a bottom pair PP1 QB. He’s not the biggest or strongest and he’s not an elite skater, so that works against him defensively, but I think he’ll be a capable top 4 defenseman that can play in all situations, including a PK shift. He won’t be one of the best defensively in the NHL, but can be like the 3rd or 4th best defensive defender on his team.
Pretty spot-on assessment of Zeev’s game, going into the draft.
I’ll add, he has a lot of room to grow his game as well, which will keep him higher on draft boards than most 6’ dmen who aren’t these super skilled types. He’s not in one of these situations where his physical frame is a major question mark, like a Hutson, Cormier, etc. He’s built much more to the liking of NHL teams, where his strength should come much more naturally. Definitely not small boned, have to eat 6 steak and potato meals a day type. Just not the tallest….
So, he’s gonna have a couple of years, to really round out his game, and get stronger as well. It’s something he can almost exclusively work on, and if he’s as committed as his brother, we’ll likely end up seeing a much better 2-way dman at the next level, than he is today.
I do think it’s fair mentioning, although teams won’t be worrying about him physically like they did a Hutson, it could still effect his draft position somewhat, because he isn’t 6’3”. As we approach the draft, teams do start falling in love, and convince themselves 6’4” with upside, outweighs 6’ with upside, even if the smaller player may be further along today. It does happen every year. Just look at ASP last year.
It won’t make him drop much though. Like ASP, he should still be a Top 20 pick, even if a couple of teams pass, and take a bigger prospect. My guess is, he still ends up closer to 10th overall than 20th.
It’s also worth mentioning, he’s already improved a lot in that regard this year, and his coach knows exactly what his weaknesses are. He’s in a perfect situation to keep improving.
Good bet he ends up much closer to a Justin Faulk type, than a Shayne Gostisbehere type.
Time will tell.
