Antoine Barksdale Prospect Report

[CrookedAnt 78]

Antoine Barksdale is a prospect fresh out of Italy. He made headlines in a local tournament in an Italy park game for a small mini park tournament, and that landed him in talks with some teams. The team's offices offered to fly him out on their dime to talk about potential deals, and ways for him to get drafted into an entry level league. First they sat him down, and he went through meeting process. He had to fly back, and forth between the meetings to finish competing in the Junior Showcase with the Brigade where the eventually won, and that got him put on the Las Vegas Ace's radar.

Strengths being his ability to pass, score, and speed across the ice. He is a unique two way sort of build, and while he didn't flash out with the sixteen to twenty minutes a night he made an impact, and scored game winner after game winner in the JST to close games out in the group stage of the playoffs for his team. He is an absolute unit at six eight, and two hundred fifty pounds being an unmovable, and fierce force when driving the puck towards the opponents goal. His ability to pass allows his teammates to shine, and highlight their strengths for higher contracts.

His weaknesses include he is a bit too fast for someone his size, and can't slow down at will. He lacks finesse on the ice, and his stick handling is weak at the moment. Once he gets a bit better control hopefully the forward will figure out his qualms in the rink. He can get back on defense, but lacks the prowess what to do when he is in right position. All things that will be hammered out in the season, but could be a bit alarming as the GM that drafted him. 

Another telling factor in his story is that the Brigade won in six games. It wasn't an easy sweep despite being up three, and zero on the enemy team in the finals. The Clue forced them to fight for the trophy they hoisted, and it may show a lack of control when big game moments come around. Can Antoine be calm, and cool in the clutch, and close out games? He has the offense to hit game winners, but will he be able to defend the final drive to the net? Or rely on his teammates to catch his slack?