Prospect Info: Zach Nastasiuk

[joe89]

Corey Pronman @coreypronman
DET selects Nastasiuk. A high-energy power forward who plays a physical style. Scouts divided on his offense, I think there's some there.

“He’s a guy that plays a strong game in terms of his (competitive) level and his determination,” said Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manager of hockey administration. “He’s a really smart two-way player and he competes hard and plays big.”

“He’s got a real good set of hands and he can be dangerous offensively,” Martin said.

Added Red Wings scout Jeff Finley: “He might be a third-line player, but he’s got upside to be a second-line winger. Just a real good useful player.”

http://www.redwingscentral.com/2013/07/01/4077/hard-working-nastasiuk-a-coachs-dream/

Click to read more...

 

[Frk It]

Some info for you guys

Scouting Reports:

Nastasiuk is one of the more interesting prospects in this draft class. Scouts have a wide range of takes on his game, but nobody objects to his physicality and intangibles. He is a very hard-working, strong forward, and he does a lot off of the puck. He pressures well on the forecheck, playing a good two-way game. He kills penalties, and can lay some good hits on opponents. He protects the puck well on the cycle, and he can be hard to move when he plants himself in front of the net. His offensive upside and his skating ability are the questionable areas of his game. His production this year was just okay (40 points in 62 games), but he did produce around a point per game in the OHL playoffs. He has above-average puck skills, but some scouts say he is not overly creative. That is not a consensus opinion, however. Scouts are also divided on his skating, with one saying it is bad, another calling it average and yet a third qualifying it as high end. I give it a grade of average, but with uncertainty. There is an argument that Nastasiuk could be a scoring line player, but there is a chance he could end up as a great third liner.

Nastasiuk is among the most well rounded players in this year’s draft class. He’s a team first player who will do whatever it takes to win and lay it all on the line every shift. He never backs down from anyone and wins a lot more puck battles than he loses. He’ll block shots, his positioning is good and overall he’s excellent defensively. Nastasiuk is a very smart player and isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice. His offensive game is good and getting better, too. He uses his strong frame to protect the puck, keep it away from oncoming defenders and is good when cycling the puck. He has a decent set of hands on him, can distribute the puck and can chip in with goals here and there, as well.

 

[LastWordArmy]

http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/06/06/zach-nastasiuk-2013-nhl-draft-player-profile-55/


Zach Nastasiuk: 2013 NHL Draft Player Profile

 

[WingsOverAvs]

Definitely on board with this pick

 

[RedWingsNow*]

looks like a right-handed Abdelkader

 

[PensFan101]

Congrats on getting the best heart and soul player in the draft. His offensive upside reminds me of pre-2012 Pascal Dupuis. Creates from straight hard work. Should be a quality top 9 forward with the potential to be more.

 

[Frk It]

Sounds like the new Cleary to me

 

[joe89]

Sounds like the new Cleary to me

If he's a young injury free Cleary I welcome him with open arms

 

[Frk It]

If he's a young injury free Cleary I welcome him with open arms

Especially if he kicks the old Cleary out the door

 

[Vladdy84]

If he's a young injury free Cleary I welcome him with open arms

So we'll be releasing him in a couple years?

 

[Debrincat93]

great pick!

 

[joe89]

A bit surprised this pick isn't getting more discussion. I think we added a very solid prospect.

 

[FlashyG]

I really liked him in his interview with TSN.

Well spoken kid.

Said he thinks it will take him about 3 or 4 years to make the team. Plans to return to juniors then make an impact in Grand Rapids before making the Wings.

 

[GBFP]

A bit surprised this pick isn't getting more discussion. I think we added a very solid prospect.

Nothing to complain about. About where Zach should have went. The draft went steeply downhill from here.

 

[Christien]

A bit surprised this pick isn't getting more discussion. I think we added a very solid prospect.

Agreed, kid sounds like a gamer. Very pleased to add him to our prospect pool.

 

[FlashyG]

Nothing to complain about. About where Zach should have went. The draft went steeply downhill from here.

Other than the Bertuzzi pick and the Swede we took in the last round I thought we did pretty well.

Both the WHL defencemen we got were ranked quite a big higher than where we drafted them and at least one of them should turn out to be a good compliment to a guy like Sproul.

 

[Wingsfan2965*]

Other than the Bertuzzi pick and the Swede we took in the last round I thought we did pretty well.

Both the WHL defencemen we got were ranked quite a big higher than where we drafted them and at least one of them should turn out to be a good compliment to a guy like Sproul.

Melen has Hakan Andersson written all over him. We'll see where he goes.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Just a very solid pick.

 

[SportsballChic]

You know what? Just saw his interview and I can tell you right now this kid is pretty smart.

Now, "head smart" and "hockey smart" aren't always the same thing but he's a thinker. Well spoken, knows what he's trying to say. It's in the eyes; he's not afraid of that interview or that moment at all.

A lot of prospects say the right things, but he was feeling it. I like him already.

 

[Filppula]

You know what? Just saw his interview and I can tell you right now this kid is pretty smart.

Now, "head smart" and "hockey smart" aren't always the same thing but he's a thinker. Well spoken, knows what he's trying to say. It's in the eyes; he's not afraid of that interview or that moment at all.

A lot of prospects say the right things, but he was feeling it. I like him already.

Don't want to sound too harsh, but listening to Mantha and he's the opposite. Sounded like a kid who's English is their second language at times.

 

[SportsballChic]

Don't want to sound too harsh, but listening to Mantha and he's the opposite. Sounded like a kid who's English is their second language at times.

Well, part of that is that English *is* his second language. But I agree with you; not trying to be a jerk but the kid's eyes are so dull he looks high. Just didn't seem particularly sharp to me.

That having been said, I always try to give not native english speakers as much credit as possible; I speak french and I guarantee you 100% that I sound dumber in French than I do in English.

Cue cutting insult in 5..4..3..2..

 

[Point Shot]

This is probably my favourite pick of our crop this year. Maybe he's never more than a second/third line tweener, but with a high compete level and that fearlessness, that's the type of player you win with. Nastasiuk seems like he'd fit with Sheahan and someone else to form a tough line to play against, much less score against.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

My only worry is that his skating has been put at 3/5 by Craig Button.

It was:

3/5 skating
4/5 hockey sense
3/5 hands
3/5 shot
5/5 compete level

So... Cleary? Who knows.

 

[TheNextDaigle]

My only worry is that his skating has been put at 3/5 by Craig Button.

It was:

3/5 skating
4/5 hockey sense
3/5 hands
3/5 shot
5/5 compete level

So... Cleary? Who knows.

So, where is Button´s grading on room for improvement?

 

[TheNextDaigle]

I like this pick, and am surprised so few people are discussing him. My guess the shocker at #58 stole the limelight.