In the months leading up to the NHL draft, prospects are tasked with doing an array of tiring events. The 2018 blue chippers are off the board and as a result, the players suited for the 2019 have already been thrusted into the spotlight. Scouts have an idea about what these guys can do in a regular game, but what about with a mini stick in their hands?
We had a chance to go toe-to-toe with some of the players to see how they’d fare on a breakaway with a mini stick, trying to peg the crossbar from centre ice, and tasked them with taking BarDown’s Jesse Pollock on in a couple of one-on-ones. As it turned out, they passed the test with flying colours and made a mockery out of Jesse’s (lack of) game.
So there’s a few things to take away from this video. A) Tag Bertuzzi clearly got his father’s hands (Todd), B) Jesse can’t skate backwards, and C) There’s going to be some pretty solid players taken off the board in the coming years.
If you’re wondering who the guy Jesse dropped the mitts with is, his name is Alexander Holtz and he’s pretty sick at puck. The Swedish forward is just 16 and is already being considered a top-10 prospect for the 2020 draft. He’s just one kid to keep an eye on!
When some of these guys are thriving in The Show, hopefully they’ll look back at this one day and reflect on their time as a teen.
