|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 13:15:09 GMT -5
Love this pick at this point. I have had him on my draft list in two last drafts. 20 year old LHD 5’11” 174 puck mover, offensive defender.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 13:18:01 GMT -5
Was on USA WJC team. 3 pts in 7 games
In his freshman season at U of Minnesota (Pitlick’s teammate) 21 pts in 38 games
55 pts in 60 games the year prior with Madison in the USHL
I have seen him play in the Minnesota state high school championships, USHL, NCAA and WJC. I like his game.
A super value pick at this point of the draft.
|
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 13:20:22 GMT -5
197th Overall – D Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesota (NCAA)
The younger brother of Sabres forward Casey, Mittelstadt had a strong freshman year with Minnesota, surprisingly earning himself a spot on Team USA at the most recent World Juniors. At 20, he was in his final year of eligibility.
Bio
Defenceman
Shoots: Left
DOB: Jan. 22, 2002 – Eden Prairie, MN
Height: 5’11
Weight: 174 lbs
Scouting Reports
Recrutes: He made a seamless transition to college hockey and was solid at the WJC this past winter, prompting socuts to revisit his draft stock and rank him in the middle rounds of this draft class. Finished top 30 in NCAA plus/minus as a rookie blueliner and demonstrated that he can handle bigger/older opponents just fine despite his size. Smart, competitive and mobile.
McKeens: Luke’s strong freshman season at the University of Minnesota has made him a likely selection in his final year of draft eligibility. Mittelstadt was one of the highest scoring freshman defenders in the NCAA and he even earned a place on the U.S.’ WJC team, where he performed admirably. Luke’s four-way mobility is an asset, especially in terms of starting the breakout or holding the offensive blueline. His defensive game has also improved greatly in the last two years, dating back to his Minnesota high school hockey days. What Mittelstadt is at the NHL level is a bit unclear, given his lack of elite physical tools, but the improvements made in the last calendar year have improved his outlook.
HockeyProspect.com: Mittelstadt is not a big statured defenseman, he has average size at around 5’11” but he uses good positioning and gaps to defend the rush very well. Around his own net and in one-on-one situations, Mittelstadt showed the ability to use leverage and his IQ to defend. He has a strong frame and shows the ability to clear the crease area despite giving up some size to his opponents at times. He has a quick stick and is able to poke pucks off the stick of skilled players when defending one on one.
DraftPro Hockey: Fast release on his wrist shot. Picks corners when given time to choose his spots and get his shot off. Scans the ice when he gets the puck, makes smart passes. Plays a tough game but could deliver more hits. Manipulates the play by using fakes at the blue line, maneuvering, and creating offensive chances in front of the net. Overall edgework can be quicker. Unselfish, playmaking style offensive defenseman but also plays a structured, consistent defensive game. Opportunity to be a solid bottom four defenseman.
Elite Prospects: At his core, Mittelstadt is an offensive defenceman. The 5-foot-11 blueliner is most comfortable at the top of the offensive zone, navigating the blue line on his inside edges, probing for shooting opportunities, and making occasional forays low into the offensive zone with cunning weak side activations. He’s far from a sure thing, though. A development regimen that prioritizes improving his off-puck reads and puck management may well elevate Mittelstadt to an NHL third pair, though.
Future Considerations: Mittelstadt is known for his stellar offensive upside and can utilize his speed to optimize opportunities, often becoming a fourth forward on the ice. This enables him to join in rushes and use his quality shot or vision to keep the opposition on their toes. His skating, puck skills, vision, and shot in the offensive zone, although not elite, classify him as a jack-of-all-trades due to his versatility.
Statistics
Rankings
Elite Prospects: 119
Future Considerations: 131
McKeen’s: 198
Central Scouting: 97 (NA Skaters)
Craig Button: 91
Draft Prospects Hockey: 101
Daily Faceoff: 103
|
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jun 29, 2023 14:00:46 GMT -5
Love this pick at this point. I have had him on my draft list in two last drafts. 20 year old LHD 5’1” 174 puck mover, offensive defender. Wow is he short... lmao... |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 14:16:00 GMT -5
Love this pick at this point. I have had him on my draft list in two last drafts. 20 year old LHD 5’11” 174 puck mover, offensive defender. Wow is he short... lmao... Fixed for you. Added 10” of growth. 😆 |
|
|
|
Post by Willie Dog on Jun 29, 2023 14:57:19 GMT -5
Wow is he short... lmao... Fixed for you. Added 10” of growth. 😆 Lol... |
|
|
|
Post by seventeen on Jun 29, 2023 15:30:22 GMT -5
Wow is he short... lmao... Fixed for you. Added 10” of growth. 😆 If he can repeat that next year and maintain his skating, we might have something. |
|
|
|
Post by NWTHabsFan on Jun 29, 2023 16:35:40 GMT -5
From Chris Peters at FloHockey in an article featuring possible draft steals and late round picks.
Luke Mittelstadt, D, University of Minnesota
A third-year draft-eligible who was passed over last year despite an exceptional season in the USHL, Mitteldstadt followed that up with an effective, productive freshman campaign with the Golden Gophers. He played some of his best hockey toward the end of the season for the national runner up and also played for Team USA at the World Junior Championship. Mittelstadt moves pucks well, has good vision to find seams and get pucks up ice quickly. He’s an average defender with compete that can go in and out. Still, he’s going to be the kind of player that attracts major attention as a college free agent if he does not get picked. A team that needs more mobility and puck movement from their back end would do well to add Mittelstadt in the second half of the draft.
|
|
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/6F6VF25GCFF2HFJCOITRJSGNPE.jpg)
