Like Plante a lot.
Some info for McKeen's subscribers:
From our draft guide:
McKeen's 2022 NHL Draft Guide - The son of former NHL’er Derek Plante, Zam split the season between Chicago and Hermantown, originally starting the year with the Steel before heading back to Minnesota. With Chicago, he mostly filled a depth role on a deep Steel team, providing energy on the wing of a checking line (although did play up later in the year and looked great). In Hermantown, he was a dynamic, pace pushing center who has become one of the elite players in high school hockey.
Regardless of the role, one thing remains consistent about his game and that is his effort and tenacity away from the puck. Don’t let the low penalty minutes fool you. He’s not the type to make big hits or bully his way to the net, but physicality and competitiveness can be measured in other ways…ways that Plante has in spades. He is a relentless forechecker and a very competent boards player, who has a terrific stick that compensates for his lack of size/strength at the current time. His ability to use stick lifts or his feet to gain inside leverage allows him to keep plays alive and his awareness and determination allows him to force turnovers that can be capitalized on.
Plante also has the quickness that you like to see from a smaller player, even if there might be room for further development in his stability and edgework. Additionally, he possesses the kind of creativity that is rare from a competitive, high-energy attacker like Plante. This makes him a dangerous playmaker who can strike quickly following turnovers and elevate the play of those around him. His defensive game is also sound. Ultimately the question remains, what is Plante’s upside? As he adds further quickness and builds up the strength to play through contact more consistently through the middle, Plante does possess the attributes of a middle six forward. He will be heading to the University of Minnesota-Duluth at some point. He may play another year with Chicago first, and if that is the case, look for him to become one of the top players in the USHL next season. - BO