Photo Credit: https://chl.ca/whl-americans
With the new year now upon us, I thought it was time to continue with this series of articles highlighting who I think are the best prospects available for each position.
Previously, I put out my evaluation of the best forwards available this spring, which you can read below if you’re interested.
But this article will focus on the top blueliners available. And my oh my, are there some good ones in this draft.
With perhaps the cream of the crop being:
Matthew Schaefer-LHS
This young man, who shoots from the left side and stands at 6’2 and 183 pounds, is so good that he is projected to be taken with one of the top three picks overall. And, in my mind, I believe the likelihood of that coming true is high, primarily due to the work I see him putting in on a nightly basis while playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.
Logging in massive minutes on the blue line for the Otters this year, Schaefer has shown he can be trusted to play against the opposition’s top lines. It doesn’t matter if it requires him to play five-on-five, quarterback the power play, or be out there when his team is down a man or two. Matthew has been able to perform his job with masterful precision.
Offering up a perfectly blended mix of reliable defense and opportune offense (thanks to his elite skating ability), Schaefer has managed to compile seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in only 17 games played for Erie this year. And reading that, I don’t care who you are; you have to admit that a defender who can score at a rate of 1.29 points per game while maintaining a +21 average is going to be very enticing this spring.
I think it should also be noted that Schaefer was still among Team Canada’s point leaders at the recent World Junior U20 Tournament despite only playing in two games because of that darn goalpost jumping out and getting him. And while I’m not the kind to play around with what-ifs situations, I can’t help but think that things might have gone a little different for Canada if he was in the lineup for all their games.
Jackson Smith-LHS
Another enticing name that I feel should be on this list is Jackson Smith. Jackson is a 6’3, 190-pound defender who can also skate like the wind. Smith plays for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, where this season, he has a total of two goals and 27 assists for 29 points in 36 games played.
Now, while Smith may not be as refined as Schaefer just yet, let me assure you that Smith’s potential is through the roof. Because as good as he is now, Jackson’s true worth is still yet to be determined. And what I mean by that is he is a student of the game. Smith is always trying to add new aspects to his game and refine others. In an effort to make sure he’s not going to be just another prospect who you hear about plateauing too early in random conversations 10 years from now when people see him driving a Zamboni at his hometown rink.
That’s why, because of his efforts both on and off the ice, Jackson continues to see his stock rise as the NHL draft looms closer and closer. Where even currently, most so-called draft experts have him going inside the Top 10.
Kashawn Aitcheson-LHS
Now, some of you may not agree, but I view Aitcheson as the third-best defender in this draft class. And that’s because night in and night out, this man has been asked and proved capable of shutting down top-tier talent like Michael Misa and Porter Martone.
What I love about this guy is that Kashawn is one of the most physical defensemen in this draft class. This old-school player has no problem entering into board battles, blocking shots, clearing the front of the net, and throwing hands when needed to protect a fellow teammate.
And, honestly, I think for every offensive-minded defenseman a team has, they need to get back in the habit of drafting a prospect that plays the way Kashawn does so that they can stay back and protect goals from happening while the other joins the rush. I thought that was taught in Hockey 101, but some GMs must have skipped class that day or something.
As far as where or when he will be drafted, it’s hard to say because Aitcheson is the type of player that a team can really fall in love with and, therefore, might reach a bit for if he is still on the board when they take the podium.
Logan Hensler- RHS
Now, although he won’t offer you a lot as far as the score sheet goes, Logan is a big, bodied defender who can log A LOT of minutes and moves the puck with ease. Standing at 6’2, 196 pounds, Logan oftentimes can be found using his size to assist him in protecting the puck from the opposition as he carries it up ice to set up his club with an offensive zone chance.
And while he may not be able to finish off a play like other defenders on this list, trust me, come draft day, Hensler will still have a lot of suitors fighting for his services.
Carter Amico-RHS
For my final pick to round out my Top Five Defenders in this draft class, I’m going to go off the board a bit and suggest a guy who I think is being slept on, and that’s the towering 6’5 205-pound prospect known as Carter Amico.
Now, as some of you may know, Carter was playing for the United States National Development Program this year before he suffered a season-ending leg injury. This injury couldn’t come at a worse time, as he was just starting to gain some recognition away from some of his more well-known USA defenders. But therein lies the chance for a team that was paying attention to cash in by selecting him this spring.
Carter is possibly the most physical of any defenders in this draft class. Game after game, Carter was able to wear down the opposition by inflicting as much pain as possible, which he did so by way of delivering the most bone-crushing hits imaginable. His body checks were so impactful that they left his opponents thinking twice before going back along the boards to retrieve a puck, which we all know is a trait that goes a long way, especially during a seven-game playoff series.
As far as when we will get to see him play again, Amico says he should be ready to go by the time next season commences and is committed to playing for Boston University of the NCAA next season, so we will get to see what he can do against full grown men in a league that most now think of as the second-best league in the world.
Again, these players are who I view as being the best defenders set to come out of the draft this year. I know there are some other choices I could have made, but I’ve done extensive research on this draft class and interviewed most of them as well. So remember, this is just my opinion. You can take it or leave it. Because, as we all know, with any prospect, only time will reveal whether I was right or wrong anyway. And that’s just the beauty of this game.
