David Rashford Prospect Scouting Report

[Knight 1,289]

David Rashford Prospect Scouting Report

 

It's been a tumultuous road to the VHL for David Rashford filled with highs and lows. Overall, and rather regrettably, Rashford's development has been stunted by a lack of opportunity and trust which has clouded his outlook on the professional league he chose to join. With a call-up to the VHL with an organization that seems committed to him, brighter days are ahead for the British youngster.

 

In the S88 VHLM Entry Draft, Rashford was drafted in the third round (27th overall) by the Houston Bulls. He did not end up signing with them and instead chose to sign with the Philadelphia Reapers where he would spend the entirety of his VHLM career. In his first season, he struggled to adjust to the pace of the league having missed the first part of the season but ended strongly posting 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 52 games. He was a huge part of their championship run scoring 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 19 games, producing at one of the highest point-per-minute rates in the entire league. While he thought this would prime him for success in the following season, he was never given the opportunity to shine and had his minutes reduced. He still managed 29 goals and 29 assists for 68 points in 72 games, however he was left feeling disappointed with the wealth of forwards brought in at the end of the year which kept him off the ice. The Reapers were not able to repeat their previous years success and so he decided to make the leap to the VHLE to see if he could be given more opportunity to further develop.

 

The S89 VHLE Entry Draft saw his once again be drafted in the third round (22nd overall) to the Rome Gladiators on the strength of his contributions toward the championship run of the Reapers. While initially given decent minutes at the beginning of the S90 season, Rashford's minutes kept reducing over the course of the regular season following additions to the team and line changes. He was never able to develop any kind of rhythm and ended the season with 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 72 games - not an output he was proud of. Rashford's frustrations at lack of playing time were only compounded in the playoffs where he barely averaged 10 minutes a game. He couldn't understand why he wasn't being given more opportunity even though his work rate was greater than some other players who were being played much more frequently. A pathetic 12 minutes per game resulted in, naturally, a pathetic 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in 14 games during the Gladiators playoff run which ended one game from a championship. Rashford will always feel that maybe they could've come away with the cup had he been given more of a chance. 

 

Speaking of frustration and stepping back a season, Rashford was drafted in the 2nd round (22nd overall) of the S89 VHL Entry Draft by the Helsinki Titans. Having reached out to the GM of Helsinki, Rashford was left bewildered by the silence and lack of contract offer as the season began. Wanting to actually be a player in the league one day, he was forced to sign with another team choosing to sign as a free agent with the Moscow Menace following a plethora of contract offers from GMs around the league. He has been called up to the VHL for this season and hopes to leave the frustrations behind him in the pursuit of team success with Moscow. Quite the start to a VHL career before he's even stepped foot on the ice. 

 

 

David Rashford Stats

 

VHLM - Regular Season

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
89 (PHI)	72	29	39	68	17	250	28	114	12	4	8	0
88 (PHI)	52	14	23	37	15	120	30	103	4	2	3	0
Totals	124	43	62	105	32	370	58	217	16	6	11	0

VHLM - Playoffs

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
89 (PHI)	15	2	9	11	7	39	12	21	0	1	0	0
88 (PHI)	19	7	10	17	7	31	20	27	1	2	0	0
Totals	34	9	19	28	14	70	32	48	1	3	0	0

 

VHLE - Regular Season

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
90 (ROM)	72	13	21	34	-2	204	32	81	11	0	3	0
Totals	72	13	21	34	-2	204	32	81	11	0	3	0

VHLE - Playoffs

Season	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SHT	PIM	HIT	SB	GW	PPG	SHG
90 (ROM)	14	1	2	3	1	25	9	10	0	1	1	0
Totals	14	1	2	3	1	25	9	10	0	1	1	0

Edited October 25, 2023 by Knight