NHL Scouts’ Quotes – Cormier and Mysak
April 30, 2020
By Grant McCagg
Jan Mysak – C/LW Hamilton OHL 2002-06-24 5-10.25 175
2019-20 Stats – 22 15 10 25 10 Shoots Left
NHL scout Feb. 2020 – I’ve had mixed reports. Whoever had him in the first round after the World Juniors had him too high. I’ve heard some say he was a mid-round guy. I just saw him in Hamilton. He’s better than a mid round. He’s second-round talent. I’d be a little leery about the first, but he’s pretty smart, he makes plays. I think once he adapts. These guys never play with their peers and they get lousy raps…bad or good. I want to let him play a little bit with his peer group, and he might trend up. I didn’t think he was a second rounder at the World Junior because he didn’t create. I understand that it’s hard…but he showed some flashes. Then I saw him in Hamilton, and he was better. Played center pretty well when he came over to play, and that’s not easy…he did a good job. He looked a bit hyper and nervous at the World Juniors, but understandably. He’s not overly creative off of the rush, it’s almost a one and done kind of thing.
NHL scout Feb. 2020 – His skating needs to come along; he didn’t look quite as quick when he was asked to play center on the smaller OHL rinks. I like his shot, desire and hands. When you have those three traits, you have something to work with; I like him. You wonder if he is just a rush player, though. He doesn’t always see his linemates in the open; he can end a team possession a little more often than a pro coach would like. There will need to be some more adaptation to the pro style.
NHL Scout April 2020 – I don’t see him putting up a pile of assists and playing in your top six. I see him as a third-line guy who will get you 15-20 goals a season. A handful of those will make the highlight reels, and each time, pundits will say: ‘What a great second-round pick!’ At the end of the day, he likely projects to be a third-line NHL winger who will score some big goals thanks to his skill level and willingness to drive to the net and go to the dirty areas to score. I see him going at the start of the second round.
Lukas Cormier – D Charlottetown QMJHL 2002-03-27 5-9.5 180
2019-20 Stats – 44 6 30 36 28 Shoots Left
NHL Scout Feb. 2020 – He is a second all day. He’s small but he’s a fu**ing good player. Not dynamic enough for his size; good player, though. He’s good with the puck, but doesn’t skate great for a smaller guy.
NHL Scout April 2020 – He came back from a foot injury and his skating wasn’t great, he wasn’t confident. Didn’t turn well, didn’t have power in his turns; his game was different for a while. He was better down the stretch. But I think his skating is not an issue. I wish he was more dynamic, but he’s gritty. He’s just a smart, two-way defender.
NHL Scout April 2020 – Guys that skate like that are pretty rare. He’s a really good skater. He passes the puck well, and he’s a hard-working kid. For me he’s better than Mete, but not as good as Girard. Somewhere in between. If you have one 5-9 defenceman per team, that’s fine. Two? That might be a little rich.
NHL Scout April 2020 – You see more and more 5-9 defencemen being drafted in the first round of the junior drafts, so it’s no surprise that you are seeing several have an impact at the NHL level. I think with the recent success of Hughes, Girard, Mete and others…there is less hesitancy to pass on a smaller defenceman in the top 50 if you think he brings enough to the table to warrant being picked that high. Teams are looking for mobile puck movers. With less clutching and grabbing, there is more room for the smaller guy who can defend predominantly with his speed and stick. Cormier is a lot better defensively than Girard was at the same age; but he’s not as dynamic offensively. He’s closer to Mete perhaps in terms of his all-around game, but with a bit more offence in his game; he has more options. Well…Mete was helping his NHL team when he was 19. He was playing with Weber. Cormier doesn’t quite skate as well as Mete, but he does everything well. He can make plays and gets pucks on net. He may go higher than some expect.