Classic Devil
Spirit of 1988
http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567301
I'm a big fan of Scarlett. You guys got another solid defender. Here's my scouting report on him from earlier this month. He came in at #14 on my top 30 WHL players eligible.
#14 Reece Scarlett – D – Swift Current Broncos
- Reece Scarlett had the definition of an up and down season for the Swift Current Broncos. The long and smooth skating blueliner was pencilled in as one of the pillars of a very young blueline and showed stretches of brilliance, but his play truly did go down the tubes as the season went along. Scarlett provides very good two way play overall with good puck skills and the ability to lead the rush or start it with a crisp pass. He's a very strong quarterback of the powerplay and does an excellent job getting his shots through. On the defensive side of the puck he is a smart and safe defender who relies on body positioning and excellent stick work to prevent chances against. Toward the end of the year you could see that he was not the same player. He was either mentally or physically fatigued or a combination of the two. He also was jekyll and hyde on the national stage. He had a very strong showing during the CHL top prospects game, but at the end of the year he was exposed while playing for Team Canada at the World Under 18's. I still like his long term potential, even if he is still considered more of a project pick. I would like him to be a bit more aggressive at both ends of the ice, because I think he has the skill level to do that. He's very skinny with room to grow and add weight and muscle to his frame and his foot work and mobility tell me he will have the ability to contribute as a strong two way defender.
NHL comparable: Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Top end potential: Top 4 defender
Pick prediction: Late 3rd round
http://whl-from-above.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-top-whl-draft-eligibles-part-two.html