Greetings Jobbers! Happy days are here again! It’s your ole pal Shlurpo here taking time out of my busy summer schedule of doing absolutely nothing to do a write on some potential new brahs I’d like to see Old Dooby Dooby Dubas select. So, as they say in Canada… “enough effing aboot! On with the fuckory.”
First let’s take a look (preferable within a book) that’s at some Defenseman I have my eye on for guys targeted around our pick* (This was written 6/19/25, before the 48 hour deadline before the draft of the Rangers having to decide to send either there ’25 1st rounder or ’26 unprotected 1st, so I’m under the assumption we only have the 11th overall pick)
RADIM MRTKA
History: Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL – 6’6 218 RH – June 9, 2007, Havlíčkův Brod, Czech – 43 GP: 3G-32A-35 Pts. 46 PIMS, +10
The Take: A mastodon on skates, Mrtka is an intriguing prospect. Big, mobile, good puck skills, good playmaking, will join the rush, defends the rush well, gets his good share of point shots through traffic and block attempts.
The Good: Skates well for a 6’6 condor on blade, defends well and using his massive frame and wing span to shield the front of his net, Solid in both ends of the ice. While not a natural point producer, will put up a fair share, just not his game by nature.
The Bad: While he owns an imposing frame, his physical play is largely inconsistent, His defensive reads need a bit more polishing on a consistent game-to-game basis, Point shot while good lacks overwhelming power.
Projected Future: Top 4 Steady Mobile 2-Way Defenseman.
Ceiling: Jacob Slavin to Victor Hedman.
Mid Ground: Olli Maatta to Jamie Oleksiak.
Floor: Marcus Pettersson to Matthis Ekholm.
KASHAWN AITCHESON
History: Barrie Colts, OHL – 6’1 198 LH – 9/21/2006, Toronto, Ontario – 64 GP: 26G-33A-59 Pts. 88 PIMS +6
The Take: Playing a game against Aitcheson might be rougher than a night in the county lockup, the consensus most physical player in the draft he absolutely loves and relishes in the rough stuff. But at the same time can also join or lead the rush.
The Good: Like Izzy, Slash, Duff, Steve and Axel Rose, Kashawn has an appetite for destruction, keep your head up when he’s on the ice or he might punt it into the scoreboard at center ice. While much like Megadeth Killing is his Business …. And Business is Good, he can also play the game quite a bit, lead all Barrie Colts in goals as a defenseman, 3rd in assists and tied in over all points with 59, owns a very hard shot from the point, ran the Barrie power play. Excels and relishes at not only smashing anything he sees into powered toast, will also agitate and get under the oppositions skin with various on ice shenanigans, antics and overall malarky, defends and protects the front of his net with brutal and lethal force.
The Bad: Like all players of his role and ilk, it comes with a cost, his over enthusiasm and commit to pounding the living snot of everything he see can lead to stupid, boneheaded penalties at bad time, has been known to over chase players looking for the huge ice thus gets caught out of position leading to either odd man breaks, scoring chances and goals against. His hockey IQ along with his on-ice decision making can be highly questionable at times.
NHL Potential: Top Pairing 2 Way Kamikaze Wrecking Ball.
Ceiling: PK Subban to Jacob Trouba.
Mid Ground: Radko Gudas to Rasmus Ristolainen.
Floor: Average Physical Defenseman.
JACKSON SMITH
History: Formally of Tri-City Americans, WHL, Committed to Penn State – 6’3 190 LH – 5/13/2007 Calgary, Alberta – 68 GP: 11G-43A-54 Pts. 48 PIMS +2
The Take: One of the best skaters on the back end in the draft Smith combines elite skating with defensive reliability.
The Good: Elite skating, size, poise and solid play in all zones. Great with his stick in his own zone, strong skating helps him when caught flat footed or in odd man rush situations. Excels at winning battles in front of his net, while he can be physical, he much prefers to use his body and strength to box players out. Tends to win more board battles than he loses. Smart with the puck, makes good hard crisp breakout passes, knows when to jump up and when to hang back.
The Bad: Shot lacks power, like all defensemen his age needs to improve his decision making while pressured, needs to cut back on giveaways, could improve on blocking a few more shots per game. As with all young tall defensemen, needs to bulk up more and add muscle to improve overall game.
NHL Potential: Elite Skating Top Pairing 2-Way Defenseman.
Ceiling: Noah Hannifin- Aaron Ekblad.
Mid Ground: Brent Pesche to Nate Schimdt.
Floor: Dmitri Kulikov to Mike Mathesson.
Now on to some Forwards…
VICTOR EKLUND
History: Djurgardens IF, SEL. – Stockholm, Sweden – RW/LW RH – 5’11 170
Djurgardens IF-HockeyAllsvenskan (SEL’s AHL) 42 GP: 19G-12A-31Pts. 37 PIMS +16
The Take: A buzzsaw on skates, San Jose draftee William’s little brother is the opposite of the smooth and skilled older brother, Victor is your classic water bug energizer bunny type of player. He has one speed- go.
The Good: Like a bad rash or that horrible winter case of the flu, Eklund doesn’t go away easily, a whirling dervish, he’s the Tasmanian Devil from Loony Tunes on skates. Unlike his brother who generates his offense with skill and finesse, Victor prefers to generate with pure frantic chaos and mayhem. Scores a boat load of garage goals largely due to his love of causing maniacal lunacy in front of the net and around the paint. Along with being a complete pain in the ass in front of the net, pestering the goalie and other team, he also has solid playmaking skills.
The Bad: At 5’10 170 and his manic demolition man style of play durability and injury concerns spring to mind, offensive consistency has been an issue in the past, with his playing style and net front game he’ll need to seriously bulk up to absorb the constant thrashing and abuse he’ll surly take on nightly basis.
NHL Potential: Top 6 Agitating, Pesky Garbage Goal Scoring Winger.
Ceiling: Tomas Holmstrom to Patrik Hornqvist.
Mid Ground: Tomas Sandstrom to Seth Jarvis.
Floor: Jordan Martinook to William Carrier.
BRADY MARTIN
History: C/RW Soo Greyhounds, OHL – 6’0 187 RH – Elmira, Onterio 3/16/2007 – 57GP: 33G-39A-72 Pts, 68 PIMS +15
The Take: Wanna come speaking about intensity, leadership, character and attitude? Brady Martin personified, the crown jewel of this year crop of agitators, Martin is as skilled as he is utterly abrasive. First guy in on the forecheck, excels at the cycle and down low game.
The Good: Annoying, Physical, Tough to play against the human equivalent of an F-5 hurricane. He’s just as likely to score the big of the game as he is to have the hit of the game. He’s also sound in the defensive zone and reliable. Can be utilized in all situations. The guy coaches love, fans and teammates love, the guy the other team says “Ahhhh fuck! Here comes this this guy”.
The Bad: Is only what you’d call mid in faceoffs, while he’s a good skater he isn’t gonna win very many fastest skater competitions at the super skills showcase on All Star weekend, could work on his management of the puck a bit more, Could work on his offensive consistency more.
NHL Potential: 1st Line Well Rounded Jack of All Trades Tough, Physical Center.
Ceiling: Sam Bennett to Mike Richards.
Mid Ground: Mike Fisher to Adam Lowry.
Floor: …. Ryan Stone maybe I guess?
And last but not least…
ROGER McQUEEN
History: C/RW – Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL – 10/2/2006 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – 6’5 192
17GP: 10G-10A-20Pts. 40 PIMS +8
The Take: Wow, where to begin with this one. ……No seriously, he barely played this year with a serious back injury which according to whichever source you want to trust is either fully healed and ready to go or a potential choric concern. When he’s been healthy and actually playing, he’s shown to be a big, highly skilled center, with great playmaking, able to move the puck crisply and quickly to his teammates.
The Good: 6’5 playmaking skilled centers don’t exactly grow on trees, has a nose for the net, very strong and dangerous down low. Nose for the net. Great in all zones, capable of playing in any situation.
The Bad: Limited playing time and a stunted development in his draft year, is not overly physical for a player of his size. Stress fracture to his L4/L5 vertebrae in his draft season that limited him to only 17 games is a cautionary tale. Lack of playing time in his draft year makes gauging his draft stock tough to figure out.
NHL Potential: Big Skilled 2-Way 1st or 2nd line Center.
Ceiling: Jordan Staal to Anton Lundell.
Mid Ground: Tuomo Ruutu to Eric Fehr.
Floor: Average Big Man Center.
Whelp, that about does it. Thanks for stopping by.
Hasta la Pinga!
Until next time, it’s your pal Shlurpo here reminding you one and all: Agarramos Panocha!
LGP