Mitch Eliot – The Next Ones: NHL 2016 Draft Prospect Profile

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Mitch Eliot

2015-16 Team: Muskegon Lumberjacks (#2)

Date of birth: 06/02/1998

Place of birth: Grosse Pointe, USA

Ht: 6’0 Wt: 190

Shoots: Right

Position: Defence

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2016 1st year eligible

Twitter: @mitch_eliot44

THW Draft War Room May Rankings: unranked

 

Other Rankings

  • Central Scouting NA skaters: 132
  • Future Considerations: unranked

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Eliot: Solid, but Not Outstanding?

Defenceman Mitch Eliot is not the type of player that possesses any outstanding skills, but he is a guy that keeps the game simple and is really effective in his own zone. The defender of USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks did not combine for more than 18 points in 124 USHL games and two seasons with the team. If you are going to expect much offence by him then you are surely going to be disappointed by the Grosse Pointe-native.

However, Eliot is a very competitive defender, especially in his own zone where he plays a more than solid game. He is very matured and keeps a cool head in tough situations. Although he is listed at only 6’0, he is playing a strong physical game and does not back off from any battle. He is hard to beat in the corners as well as along the boards and his upper-body strength is impressive.

Eliot is a calm puck carrier and often leads by example on and off the ice. He does not commit a lot of mistakes and if he does, he hustles back as hard as he can to make up for his mistake. He shows good work ethic and has some leadership skills, is a good communicator and can be used in pressure situations to shut the opponent’s top line down.

He is a mobile skater and moves around fluidly. His good skating skills allow him to enter the zone with speed and move through the neutral zone with the puck on his stick without slowing down. Although he is more of a defensive-minded defender than an offensive player, he does have a decent shot and can shoot the puck with decent velocity.

NHL Draft Projection:

Given the fact that Eliot does not possess any outstanding skills, he will most probably need to wait until the later rounds before his name appears on the board. He could be scooped up somewhere in the 5th to 7th round. However, he plays a well-rounded game and shows leadership skills, and although he is not ranked in many mock drafts, I would be surprised if he remains undrafted.

Quotables:

A physical two-way defenceman that plays a structured competitive game. Smooth skating compliments his ability to control the puck at higher speeds. Displays a pretty hard shot and crisp tape-to-tape passing ability, but is actually relied on more in the defensive zone. Battles very hard for puck possession and sees the game in lanes. Very strong positionally and is poised in his own end. As he continues to grow, he will become a more well-rounded defenceman with each game, as he recognizes and learns from his mistakes. Can play long shifts.

-Eliteprospects.com

He’s a good skater with a smooth, fluid stride. He’s not overly fast, but he has enough foot speed to stay competitive. He has a good first stride that allows him to accelerate to loose pucks and retrieve dump-ins behind his own net. He has a decent shot from the point that he gets on net more times than not. He will likely never be relied upon as an offensive-producing defenseman. He’s added a nice element of physicality to his game. He has a strong lower body that allows him to be rugged and play with a mean streak at times.

-Jeff Cox, sbncollegehockey.com

Statistics: 

Strengths:

  • Effective own zone game
  • Not committing a lot of mistakes
  • Good, mobile skater
  • Powerful shot
  • Leadership skills
  • Strong on his skates, good skating balance
  • Tough to beat in 1vs1 situations

Under Construction (Improvements to Make):

  • No high-end offensive skills
  • No outstanding overall skills

NHL Potential:

Eliot has the potential to become a two-way defender, but who sees it as the first priority to play solid and effective in the own zone. He can play physical and has a decent shot but he most probably won’t be more than a second pair guy at higher levels.

NHL player comparison: Erik Gudbranson

Risk-Reward Analysis:

Risk = 2/5   Reward = 3/5 ·                     

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive = 3/10   Defensive = 7/10

Awards/Achievements:

2014/2015: Drafted in the 11th round in the OHL Priority Selection

Interview/Profile Links:

Draft prospect profile on SB Nation College Hockey

Eliot named to NHL Central Scouting rankings

Video(s):

Shots From the Slot (Interesting Notes):

Eliot captained the U.S. U18 team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup last summer. This shows that he has leadership skills and that he is a matured, young man who can become a good leader in the future, maybe even at higher levels. He was one of the more solid U.S. defenders at the Hlinka Memorial.

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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph