Rhett DeGrath Rookie Profile

[STZ 5,360]

 

RHETT DEGRATH ROOKIE PROFILE

Draft Position: 2nd Overall S52

Drafted Team: Stockholm Vikings

Projected: Elite Starter Goalie

Style: Positional Butterfly Goalie

 

 

Rhett DeGrath enters the VHL as one of the first players under the Project Player 2 program that was introduced. He will be the second player represented by the STZ Player Agency which is currently representing Unassisted, as well as previous HOF players Ethan Osborne and Jake Wylde. DeGrath was selected second overall to the Stockholm Vikings, and is projected to be an elite goalie and franchise goaltender for the Swedish team. DeGrath already has two Founder Cups to his name, as well as winning the Top VHLM Goalie award in S51. While Rhett was expected to return for some more seasoning with the Saskatoon Wild, the VHL Management declared him too good to stay down, and forced Stockholm’s hand in keeping him in the VHL.

 

+ Knack for Winning

DeGrath has won at every level he has played. He’s won Championships in Junior, at the World Junior Championships, and twice in the VHLM. He had back-up experience with Team Canada in the World Cup of Hockey. It’s safe to say that he knows what it takes to get a win in a big moment. He’s been a part of strong teams, and has played with some of the best prospects in the world. There is no doubt that the winning attitude has been ingrained in him - and there’s a lot of value to a young goalie who has experienced winning.

 

+ Poise

Time and time again DeGrath showed that he has the poise to shut the door when needed. He led the VHLM last season with 19 Shutouts in 69 starts. Those are staggering numbers when the next closest goalie had 13 and then after that no one had more than 6. When his team needed saves, DeGrath was there to provide. It is a comforting feeling knowing that you only need to score one goal to get a win, and with DeGrath there will be many nights where that is the case.

 

+ Jack of all Trades

DeGrath came into the draft class as a lanky teenager who had good reaction time, but very delayed foot speed. Over the course of the draft he developed his skills, and grew into his frame. He’s a well-balanced goalie who has very little weaknesses. He isn’t a master of any skill but rather a jack of all trades. He has a great glove hand, and is regularly in great position. You don’t see him in a panicked frenzy, sprawling everywhere. He keeps his composure and uses his newfound size to cover as much of the net as humanly possible.

 

- Needs Shots

Scouts have questioned whether DeGrath has really been challenged in his young career. While he posted great numbers including a staggering shutout statline, he also only faced 14.2 shots per game as a member of the Saskatoon Wild. Some say that this is a disadvantage for goalies as they cool down, and would play better seeing more action. DeGrath was equally as good both when facing 20+ shots as he was facing around 10. However, there is a huge question as to what happens when he joins the VHL with better scorers and more scoring chances.

 

- Beneficiary of Structure

Degrath was not alone in Saskatoon. He had the benefit of being behind one of the most structurally sound defense cores in VHLM history. Top draft pick Fabio Jokinen headed the core, as Izidors Balders and the Syndergaard brothers rounded out the top four. It was the big reason the shot total was so low - and the shots that did go through, they weren’t very challenging. Degrath joins a Viking team who already has Lee King Snatch as their top defender, but what happens if they don’t have the same depth to protect DeGrath? The question is whether he can stand on his head nights that he needs to.

 

- New Home

DeGrath played his entire career in Western Canada. When he was drafted to Saskatoon of the VHLM, he really didn’t need to move very far. However, he is not only joining a new team, a new structure, but also a new Country which is across the ocean. He is going to a country which does not speak English, and is going to need to adapt very quickly. Only time will tell if this impacts his game on the ice, but there are many cases to show how this can negatively impact a young hockey player.