- Dec 20, 2018
- 22,058
- 48,145
Before the draft, Grits was seen as having a high hockey IQ and a lot of skill and he was productive in the MHL. He was also seen as being pretty versatile. He’s a playmaker, as well as shooter, and he’s an intelligent shooter who knows how to get high quality shots. And he was seen as having a high compete level, he plays hard and works his ass off to get the puck. (Dobber even described him as a pest.)Anybody got a read on this guy other than his point totals? How is his skating, shot, passing, defense?
So why did he fall to the 5th round? He’s a Russian with a slight build (listed at 5’10” and 169 at the draft) whose was seen as not having elite skating speed to make up for that.
His skating stride and technique is very good and clean, he didn’t have any mechanical issues per se, so physical maturity and strengthened leg muscles can and already has improved his skating speed.
Grits needed to physically mature and get stronger, he had to before he was able to advance to the KHL, and needs to continue to do so.
He’s got a slight build though. It’s not just height. Kaprizov was listed at 5’9” and 185 when he was drafted in 2015 and he’s 5’10” and 202 now. He’s a mini-tank.
Elite Prospects has Grits at 5’10” (179 cm) and 174 (79 kg). I don’t know where the KHL lists this on their English site. The Euro Hockey Tour also has him listed at 179 cm/5’11” and 79 kg/174. (That’s 5’10.47 but hey, it’s nice of them to round up.)
I have no idea how his defense is or whatever but I’m not worried about that, it’s really about him holding up against the physical abuse smaller skilled players get in the NHL. That’s why I have zero problems with him not coming over until he’s 22 years old.