2017-18 Team: Ottawa 67’s (#88)
Date of Birth: June 27, 2000
Place of Birth: New Westminster, BC
Ht: 6’6” Wt: 230 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: D
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Untapped potential...story of my life
Mike, thanks for all your valuable inputsOh, didn't realize you had two OHL d-men...so I am back for unprovoked thoughts...on the floor, this guy was highly coveted. A couple scouts told me they wouldn't be surprised if he snuck to the top of the 2nd...
I am not quite as high on him as many other came to be but I do see what they see and I understand why he is worth a look...there is a foundation of skating and skill that could be nourished...he isn't just a big guy that happens to play hockey, he offers more than that...
Kevin Bahl (Ottawa [OHL], #88, LHS LD) - Massive defenseman with surprisingly good lateral mobility and forward skating speed. Very strong on his edges and has a small turning radius for his size. Backskating still needs a lot of work. Needs to really work on small-area footwork and adjustments. Often gets caught rotating in his skate blades while flat instead of churning his feet and it costs him leverage. Shows the potential for some puck skills down the line, but it will take him some time to get coordinated with that. Has trouble disconnecting the top half of his body from the lower half, as such some puck movement is a little stiff. Competitor, physical, but controlled. Shows good awareness, communicates on the ice well. Still needs to improve box-out fundamentals in front of his own net. He sometimes looks a little timid to close guys off or use his frame to give himself more time with the puck. He hasn't take the step to the physically dominate the field in every way yet, but that could be a coordination issue. Doesn't seem to pack much of a shot yet.
Hockey Sense: B
Skating speed/power/acc: C-
Skating lateral/edges/agility: B
Vision: C
Puck skills: D+
Shot: C-
Defense technique: C-
Defense urgency: B
Frame/size: A+
Ceiling/Risk: 4-5/Med-High (mid round)
That’s a bit hyperbolic, I think. I watched him at the U18s and was impressed with his straight line speed but dismissed him pretty quickly as lacking quickness, lateral mobility and the ability to change directions quickly.This kid can skate. Honestly you would think he's 5'10" out there. It's actually quite surprising.