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Mark Scheifele
Mark Schiefele {Photo: barriecolts.com}
Born: Kitchener, ON
DOB: March, 1993
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 175
Position: Centre
Shoots: Right
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2011
One-Timer:
A premium is set on big offensive centers, and Scheifele holds that in spades. An otherwise bright spot on an awful Barrie season.
Schiefele possesses that which most scouts look for in a center– size, skating, vision, hands and hockey intelligence.
Seen as somewhat of a ‘safe’ pick by scouts, as he has all the tools needed to be an NHL’er, it’s just unknown in what capacity that may be. His playmaking and vision are his bread and butter, and he uses them in Joe Thorton-like fashion, always looking for the open man.
In a time where teams are so heavily looking for center depth, especially those playmaking pivots, Schiefele has seen his stock rise and could be a surprise pick to move into 15th or so.
With added strength to his frame, he could be all that much better, and a real gem for the team that brings him into the player development fold.
Top Prospects Game: Was held pointless, and saw little ice time. When he did hit the ice, he looked for the pass and played a two-way game.
Statistics: 66 GP – 22 G – 53 A
Scout’s Honor:
“He has to play against everybody’s best players every night,” the scout told NHL.com, “where you might have a player on a real good team that doesn’t have to play against the top defensive pair or maybe they’re playing against the third line every night. There’s a big difference. You have to take that into consideration.”
“Mark protects the puck very well and will take it to the net while fighting through checks,” Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards told NHL.com. “He’s got a great work ethic. His Barrie Colts have struggled this season and he has been relied upon to provide offense. He sees the ice very well and his playmaking ability is very good. He gets back quickly and works hard defensively.” (NHL.com)
***
“He’s done better than most people thought,” Hawerchuk told NHL.com. “I never like to pencil a guy or pigeonhole a guy — this is what I expect from him. The opportunity was there for him and he ran with it.”
“He’s going to be so much further ahead this time next year for having to play against top lines and 19- and 20-year-olds night in and night out,” Hawerchuk said. (NHL.com)
Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):
- · Hockey’s Future – Interview on Going OHL Route
- · Schiefeke’s Draft Blog at NHL.com
International Tournaments
ETA = 2 yrs
Risk-Reward Analysis:
Risk = 1.5/5 Reward = 4.0/5
NHL Potential:
Top 6 offensive playmaking center, who is reliable defensively.
Strengths:
*See “One Timer” section above.
- High end vision
- Tremendous stickhandler
- Big body
- High Hockey IQ
- Quick shot
Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:
- Core Strength- needs to bulk up on his lanky frame to use his size more effectively along boards/corners, and to endure rigors of the NHL
- Shoot more!
Fantasy Hockey Potential: Offensive =8 /10 Defensive = 7/10
NHL Player(s) Comparison:
– At his best:
- Paul Statsny
- Brad Richards
- Mike Ribeiro
- Anze Kopitar
Video(s): Scheifele Shows his Lacrosse Background
Off The Iron (Interesting Notes):
- Lists Daystuk at his favorite player- idolizes the two-way game
- Also listed Detroit as his favorite team
- Left a scholarship with Cornell to go OHL Route when he noticed he had a good chance at getting icetime with Barrie, following a trade from Saginaw
THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph
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