PSR - Ryuji Sakamoto

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               After being drafted 14th overall in the VHLM Entry Draft by the Mexico City Kings, Japanese defenseman Ryuji Sakamoto has had a contentious start to his year. Going into the Draft, all the talk was about his pure speed and raw potential. He had begun showing some promise in his own zone during a brief Declared Free Agency try-out with the Halifax 21^st, notching 10 points in 16 games along with nearly 30 hits and 20 blocked shots. With his UDFA VHLM season in the rear view and the VHL Draft approaching with the inevitability of a ticking clock, it's time to take a deep dive into what Sakamoto brings to the table.

 

Strengths:

-        Skating speed. This kid just flies on the ice and has VHL-level quickness.

-        Defensive responsibility. He knows that his first priority is keeping the other team from scoring, by any means necessary. He'll put his body on the line, stand up for teammates, throw big open-ice checks, pin guys against the boards, and always gets back up ready to go.

-        Physicality. He's not a "fearsome" hitter, but Sakamoto is like a time bomb on the ice, ready to explode at any moment. He needs to get a little bit better about choosing his spots, as he sometimes lets his emotions control his play.

 

Weaknesses:

-        Offensive skills. He's yet to really show anything in terms of attacking the net or creativity in the offensive zone. Yeah, he put up ­­10 points for the young Halifax squad, but he still has a lot of untapped potential in that area.

-        Discipline. Sakamoto is a passionate guy. He's going to take some bad penalties when his anger gets the best of him. For his sake, he better get a sponsorship deal with a stick manufacturer, because he's inevitably going to be breaking sticks on the boards or on the goal pipes.

-        Puck handling. For all the passion he brings to the table, Sakamoto has yet to figure out the finesse of the game and tends to turn the puck over at inopportune times. He is perhaps overly reliant on his speed and quickness getting him out of trouble, and can lose focus on the puck on his stick, leading to unforced turnovers.

 

               While most scouts believe he can be a diamond in the rough blueliner in the future, the fact remains that Ryuji Sakamoto needs to show a great deal of development on and off the ice over the next few months. His raw speed and commitment will carry him far, but unless he develops some offensive skills, his ceiling will be quite limited.