Claimed: Charles Cote Rookie Profile [1/2]

[Zark 24]

Charles Cote

Las Vegas Aces

Defenseman

S57 Draftee

18 years old

6'1", 210lbs

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

 

 

Overview

Charles Cote is a defensive defenseman who played for the Quebec Remparts in the juniors. In his last year in the QMJHL, he won the Kevin-Lowe Trophy, presented to the best defensive defenseman, as well as the Emile-Bouchard Trophy, awarded to the defenseman of the year. He is a great team player who always wants to get each and every member of his team involved in the play and loves to spread around the puck. While not being a goal-scoring defenseman, he excels on the defensive side and is always willing to block a shot, taking one for his team. Charles will almost always stay at the blue line while being in the offensive zone, he will very rarely go further up the ice, the only scenario being when he's 100% sure that his movement won't get his team in trouble in the events of a turnover. He was top 3 in takeaways last year, with an impressive 71 takeaways in 68 games played. Also, he was without a doubt the best defenseman in "2 on 1" scenarios, while not allowing a goal in more than 15 occasions, in which the goaltender only made 6 saves. He recently signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Aces, whose management team is definitely looking forward to seeing those defensive prowesses on their ice. 

 

 

Pros

Vision and knowledge

Cote's first and most remarquable quality is his vision and hockey knowledge. He is able to read the play very well, sometimes looking like he can practically read his opponents' minds. He seems to know where every enemy offense is going, and doesn't hesitate to communicate to his teammates. With that skill in his arsenal, Charles is almost never caught flat-footed, always being at the right place at the right time. Over the course of a hockey game, Cote analyzes the opponents and their habits, which gives him a lot of power in predicting what their next move will be.

 

Intelligence and discipline

Another of Charles' top skill is his intelligence on the ice. Hardly ever will you see him making any dumb mistakes, if not never. He's not looking for attention by trying flashy stuff, his goal being to do his defensive role and to not get his team in trouble by his fault. He is as smart as they come physically, but also mentally. He doesn't let opponents play in his head, and makes sure not to take any dumb penalties. He's a master at the art of keeping his cool, but doesn't hesitate to protect his teammates, when the time is right. Sometimes will you see him laying a big clean hit to make a statement. 

 

Speed and skating

Cote possesses above-average speed for a defenseman, especially amongst other defensive dmen. Charles can usually keep up with the elite forwards of his league, which explains his 2 trophies at the Golden Puck Awards Gala last year. He uses this speed to reposition quickly when the opposing team takes control of the puck, and makes sure he has time to think and analyze instead of getting caught in an emergency situation. His speed is a key asset of his play and helps him cause a lot of turnovers. It has definitely played a major role in his recent success in the takeaways category, as well as in odd man rushes. 

 

Cons

Too passive

What the scouts want to see the most in Cote is offensive production. Some criticizes that he takes his role as a defensive defenseman too seriously, and sometimes forget he can go help out his offense too. He doesn't like going far up the ice, but in some occasions he should, as it could put his name on the scoresheet. He's not aggressive enough with the puck and prefers to stay save, sometimes frustrating some of his teammates. Not for a long amount of time, of course.

 

Physical aspect

Charles doesn't use his body as much as he should, considering his 6'1, 210 lbs. He doesn't like getting physically involved, at the exception of protecting his teammates. This is another aspect of his game that the scouts want to see, as it could turn Cote into an even bigger defensive threat than he already is. 

 

Goal-scoring ability and puck handling

While not having a bad shot,  Cote lacks that ''fire'' that you can see in a pure goal-scorer. He's able to get the puck from point A to point B, but doesn't do too well when it comes to deeking around someone or orchestrating a big play. The scouts, as well as the fans, would like to see Charles spending more time puck handling, instead of always passing it around. He usually always stays at the same spot on the blue line in the offensive zone, passing the puck as soon as he touches it. They would also like seeing Cote taking more shots, as it could drastically improve his offensive contribution. 

 

 

Conclusion

Overall, Charles Cote is a very strong defensive defenseman who everyone is looking forward to seeing perform on the ice. While lacking offensive talent, his defensive side is pretty much flawless and drags a lot of attention around him off the ice. The scouts don't have a final projection for him yet, but he could very well be a late first round pick in the draft. Everyone should keep a close eye on him, as he gives everyone another reason to watch the Las Vegas Aces this year. 

 

Edited August 16, 2017 by Zark

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Great job, man!

[DollarAndADream 3,356]

Review:

Awesome Rookie Profile!

Love the formatting. Everything looks nice and crisp. Can't wait for you to hit the VHL!