I do not honk Matt Highmore will play in Rockford next season..I predict he makes the Hawks right out of the gate..He is too good can overall hockey player ...can play any role on any line from top line to 4th..Cam play either Wing or Center and excel .Terrific on faceoffs..Kills penalties and dagerous (has 5 shorty goals this season) ..fast and agile..goes to net..tracks pucks and gets take-aways. .great passer ..200 foot player ..does not get lazy ..You want to give hom A +marks for almost every aspect of the game exceot maybe his shot which is perhaps only a B * ...but honestly I cannot see how he cannot help the Hawks ...as ready a player as I have seen .It is hard to find flaws in his game .It Kruger gone(which ought to be the case ) I expect Highmore to be our 3C or 4C amd tale a lot of faceoffs and pk work at least ..but he also is pretty good on the pp (but with alk the current guys we have featured on the pp (good or bad as it is depending on your viewpoint),he will not be used there ..Still given he can generate offense from defense and transition unlike Kruger who has zero offensive ability ,Highmore in my opinion is going to be a very good addition to the show squad next season. A brilliant signing by Stan,because Highmore checks so many boxes ..
I am not saying his shot is poor ...but do not expect Panarin-like one timers...or Kane accuracy through tiny holes the goalie leaves. .Rather he will score because he gets to tge correct open spots ..in the best scoring areas..he will get wrap around and taping at the crease.he will beat goalies by getting clear bid checks for open clear shots ..but compared to the rest of his game...hockey sense..skating ..passing ..puck pursuit, checking ,work ethic,vision,face-offs ,and pk abd pp effectiveness,you have to say his shot d is not his best quality..all those other things gs are his best qualities.
Shot B..Sitck'handling B or B+..of course at 5'11 he is not going to be a physical/strength guy
.but he is not a perimeter softy
.he goes to the net and plays at the crease in traffic ..So overall a Very very good hockey player in my eyes (I have seen him I think 5 or 6 times so far this season so far ..so I think I have a pretty good read on his game).Admittedkybpkaysvon a stacked team..but he bus a key cog for them and their leading points guy.A prayer answered for an excellent faceoff guy who can do so many aspects of the game well.He will help us ...a lot.