The best shots of the 2023 Draft

[2014nyr]

The dominant hand being on top allows for better stickhandling, below for better strength and control on the shot, especially with the modern sticks with the nuanced shafts.

Which dmen in this draft can really crank it from the point?

never hard to find the guys who have their dominant hand low....usually sprawled out on the ice looking up at the roof with their gloves and helmet still sliding into the other zone

 

[Juxtaposer]

The only reason I knew about this is because my girlfriend’s brother once went on a (half serious) rant about how he would have made it big if his parents didn’t buy him a lefty stick when he was 4.

Low-key hilarious, I’m right-handed but I shoot left because when I asked for a hockey stick at age 9 my parents had no idea what they were even looking for and bought me a lefty stick. Anecdotally, I’m a great stick handler but a piss-poor shooter. I’ve long-theorized that this is why.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Nothing about Etienne Morin, Lukas Dragecevic or Tristan Bertucci yet?

 

[Rebels57]

Colby Barlow might have the best shot in the draft after Bedard.

 

[Buresflyingelbow]

And to be clear, it is just a theory but it makes sense to me, there are a lot more right handed pure snipers than left in the NHL despite right handed players being the minority. I'm sure there are a lot of factors but that one seems logical. I'm also naturally right and shoot left so maybe I just like having the excuse for my shitty shot

I’m left handed and shoot right and I have a bomb. I think it comes down to practice and technique if anything. Where you place your hands is probably the most important in order to get your stick to engage properly.

 

[Atoyot]

I’m left handed and shoot right and I have a bomb. I think it comes down to practice and technique if anything. Where you place your hands is probably the most important in order to get your stick to engage properly.

Oh yeah it's not impossible to shoot well if you're shooting off hand, the evidence just seems to be that despite right handed players being the minority they seem more likely to be snipers.

 

[BluesyShoes]

I’m left handed and shoot right and I have a bomb. I think it comes down to practice and technique if anything. Where you place your hands is probably the most important in order to get your stick to engage properly.

It think Elias Pettersson is a good example of this, relatively slight guy, autographs with his right hand but shoots left. I'm sure he's reasonably strong, but it has to be mostly technique with him. I think he golfs right handed as well.

 

[Andrei79]

Bedard and Michkov obviously. Guys like Wood and Halttunen have howitzers, Moore has a dart, and Dvorsky can crank on it.

Who else? Bonus points for later round candidates. For example, Kärki can uncork one.

Was the Barlow omission intentional ?

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

The only reason I knew about this is because my girlfriend’s brother once went on a (half serious) rant about how he would have made it big if his parents didn’t buy him a lefty stick when he was 4.

If my body didn’t hate me, I hadn’t gotten into the sport late, and I wasn’t a complete wuss- man!

Im somewhat ambidextrous, and it’s insanely beneficial. Stickhandling is good, shot is good, gotta think that’s why. Two left feet though, buying skates is expensive.

 

[Andrei79]

It think Elias Pettersson is a good example of this, relatively slight guy, autographs with his right hand but shoots left. I'm sure he's reasonably strong, but it has to be mostly technique with him. I think he golfs right handed as well.

Al Iafrate and Bobby Hull as well, both dominant hands on top. Same with Brett Hull actually (he was left handed, had a right hand shot).

No idea what Ovechkin is though. He throws left handed, writes right handed, shoots right handed.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Was the Barlow omission intentional ?

Yes. He's 30, and therefore not draft eligible.

 

[Kcoyote3]

Bedard
Michkov
Barlow
Yager
Leonard
Smith
Nadeau
Whitelaw
Halttunen
Lardis

Dragicevic and Reinbacher have excellent point shots. Willander too.

 

[Mrb1p]

All good mentions, though i dont think Moore is a good shooter. He uses a lot of his forward momentum to whip it but hes not a very versatile shooter. He does have a very good back hander though.

Ill add Lardis, Mukhanov, Sidorov and Sale.

Lardis definitely ranks in the top quantile of shooters in this draft.

 

[Jukurit]

Is Halttunen's shot even that good? He shoots hard but it's inaccurate. He had 0 goals in 28 games in Liiga.

 

[Mrb1p]

Is Halttunen's shot even that good? He shoots hard but it's inaccurate. He had 0 goals in 28 games in Liiga.

Its good. Mechanics are there, its his execution that is lacking.

 

[Jukurit]

Its good. Mechanics are there, its his execution that is lacking.

What does that mean?

 

[Mrb1p]

What does that mean?

Shot selection, angle, timing and release. Its basically all the things Halttunen struggles at because of his pea brain.

 

[NotProkofievian]

All good mentions, though i dont think Moore is a good shooter. He uses a lot of his forward momentum to whip it but hes not a very versatile shooter. He does have a very good back hander though.

Ill add Lardis, Mukhanov, Sidorov and Sale.

Lardis definitely ranks in the top quantile of shooters in this draft.

Some people like to separate shooting and being a good shooter. I don't. That's why I listed Michkov. His ability to generate volume is completely bonkers and overwhelms any deficiency you might find. But he also gets a lot of power out of very little movement.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Shot selection, angle, timing and release. Its basically all the things Halttunen struggles at because of his pea brain.

So he's not a good shot?

 

[LeProspector]

I have heard Will Smith has a good SLAP shot

 

[JJTT]

So he's not a good shot?

It is but he needs to know how to use it better. Not really working at the pro level just yet but looked cs junior players.

 

[Mrb1p]

Some people like to separate shooting and being a good shooter. I don't. That's why I listed Michkov. His ability to generate volume is completely bonkers and overwhelms any deficiency you might find. But he also gets a lot of power out of very little movement.

I mean anyone who calls Michkov anything but an elite shooter is stupid.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Michkov just makes it look easy.

Add Dvorsky, kid can rip a puck.