Draft R5 #159: Rangers select Nathan Aspinall (LW, Flint Firebirds/OHL)

[nyr2k2]

Elite Prospects: Nathan Aspinall - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Scouting Report: Nathan Aspinall’s notable feature is his size. With his current physical build, he could enhance his performance in board battles and in front of the opposition net by adding some bulk. Nevertheless, his consistency at this level needs improvement.

Aspinall is a skilled skater despite his large size. He excels at moving in a straight line and has the ability to reach his intended destinations on the ice. He demonstrates strong awareness on the ice, exhibits proficient close-handling skills, possesses a powerful shot, showcases excellent vision, and has a high hockey IQ to complement his abilities.

Aspinall lacks a standout skill that guarantees his future as an NHL player, but scouts will appreciate his size. He is a player without clear concerns, and with more experience and added muscle, his physicality and work ethic could make him a hidden gem in the draft.

Ranked #240 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #251 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #102 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #176 by RECRUIT SCOUTING

Another f***ing giant.

Click to read more...

 

[Draft Guru]

There's your giant. Only thing left to draft this year is a goalie or the son of a former player.

 

[Roo Returns]

Is he the Crush to Rempe and Edstrom's Ax and Smash?

 

[Hunter Gathers]

There's our mid-round giant. 6'7".

He also moonlights as a British professional darts player.

Nathan Aspinall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[17futurecap]

Pronman had him at 101 on his board.

 

[will1066]

Is he the Crush to Rempe and Edstrom's Ax and Smash?

POTD

6'7" playmaker with hands, holy crap. Sign me up.

 

[Leetch3]

fun fact aspinall and emery were born the same day (3/30/06)

 

[Hunter Gathers]

There's our mid-round giant. 6'7".

He also moonlights as a British professional darts player.

Nathan Aspinall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Wait a second. This is hilarious. Read the dart guy's Wiki:

"Aspinall played semi-professional football as a goalkeeper, having once been scouted by Manchester United's academy. He was offered a deal by Rangers but turned it down as his family did not want to move to Scotland. He played in Stockport County's academy until he was 15, joining Cheadle Town. He worked as a trainee accountant before quitting to become a professional darts player."

Different Rangers, obviously, but you can't make this shit up. That's actually legitimately funny.

 

[tlk]

This is huge.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Meh

 

[Daves a mess]

I googled him and got a darts player from England

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Meh

Same shit we all said about Rempe, Edstrom, and Roobroeck.

 

[will1066]

fun fact aspinall and emery were born the same day (3/30/06)

Drury is a surgeon.

 

[Machinehead]

Another winger?

Fire Sather.

 

[gravey9]

Rangers likely saw a bunch of Aspinall is from the same Flint team as Othmann.

Zero highlights. But there are highlights of the darts guy.

 

[will1066]

More like Aspirinall, a NY Post back page headline, amirite?

 

[nyr2k2]

OHL site says he's 6'7" but just 189. Needs to bulk up, for sure.

 

[Machinehead]

The Rangers are trying to get their own Aaron Judge.

Not in the sense that he's a generational talent, but in the sense that there's differing reports on how tall he actually is.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

 

[Roo Returns]

Seems like there's a very tiny chance he can become a Tim Kerr, but most likely a Dwight King if he develops.

 

[GAGLine]

Rangers likely saw a bunch of Aspinall is from the same Flint team as Othmann.

Zero highlights. But there are highlights of the darts guy.

Othmann wasn't there for long in Aspinall's rookie year. Only 16 games before he was traded. And Aspinall only played 29 games that year, so it's possible they didn't even play together.

 

[UnSandvich]

Unranked (not even a prospect writeup) by HP
Unranked by EP

Per EP:

Nathan Aspinall isn’t the usual towering forward prospect. He’s not a powerful checker or clumsy player. Instead, he’s a fluid, skilled playmaker who might become the rare offensively-inclined 6-foot-7 forward.
For the most part, Aspinall stations himself around the net. He moves across the slot, pushes high, and blocks the goalie views – and while deflecting every puck that comes within his wingspan. And there are flashes of more. He’s a skilled, adaptable passer who feathers pucks through tight seams off the backhand, and even draws defensive pressure to pass through it

.

 

[Luger]

Say what you will about hockey, but the Rangers basketball team will be awesome! Rempe, Edstrom, Roobroeck, Boyko, and Hugo Ollas are all at least 6-foot-7, and Chmelar can come off the bench as a guard because he's kinda short at 6'5.

 

[gravey9]

This will forever be known as the Matt Rempe draft. It's absurd how many huge players have been drafted.

 

[will1066]

OHL site says he's 6'7" but just 189. Needs to bulk up, for sure.

At 6"7" he needs like 30 pounds at least or he'll be knocked off balance a lot.