Shane Mars Rookie Profile [1/2]

[Spade18 1,305]

Name : Shane Mars

 

Position : LW

 

Height: 6'4"

 

Weight: 225 lbs

 

Hometown: Morris County, NJ, USA

 

Junior Hockey: Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

 

NHL Comparables: Ilya Kovalchuk, Patrik Laine, Phil Kessel

 

 

Hockey History

 

As most American player’s hockey careers do, Shane Mars’ hockey life began in the house leagues of his home state.  Quickly recognized for his incredible shot, the traveling teams of North/Central New Jersey could only hold on to the illustrious goal scorer for so long before the professional ranks came calling.

 

Taken 1^st Overall in the 2014 USHL Draft by The Green Bay Gamblers, Mars has had expectation placed on his shoulders from the very beginning.  The Green Bay Gamblers most recent NHL success story of Blake Wheeler has a second coming with Shane Mars, who looks to be another big, tough goal scorer who is always there in a pinch.  Mars’ success at the USHL level came at mostly a personal level, with his team failing to win a championship in his tenure, but Mars certainly left his mark on the league by breaking Rod Taylor’s 1986-87 season record of 67 goals by posting 73 goals in his final season.  Rather than jump to the NHL as many expected, Mars instead took his talents to the VHL where he was recently drafted at 3^rd Overall by the Minnesota Storm.  Look for Mars to fill the net in the VHL as he has in every other league,he’s been in.

 

Scouting Report:

 

NHL Comparable - Professional scouts have drawn a few high-profile player comparisons to Mars’ game.  Ilya Kovalchuk is the first comparison many make as Mars has a DEADLY shot that can score from every corner of the ice, and with his speed, he gallops up the ice, leaving defenders in his wake.  His defensive effort, which Kovalchuk eventually developed in his time with New Jersey, is also well reflected on as many high-profile scorers are rather lacking in this area.  Scouts also reference Laine and Kessel when speaking of Mars, as his game doesn’t quite have a power forward aspect to it yet, and he is focused on scoring goals more than any other aspect of the game.

 

Pros:

 

Scoring – I don’t know how many times I can say it, but Mars has a shot which is uncanny to behold.  His quick release makes every second he is in the offensive zone a scoring chance, and his ability to pick corners leaves even the best goalies scratching their head, wondering how the shot just got past them.

 

Skating – Mars is a fast, aggressive skater.  During his time in Green Bay, you could hear the crowd start cheering when he picked up the puck in the defensive zone, as they anticipated him barreling his way through the neutral zone on another mission to score highlight goals.

 

Puck Handling – Mars’ game is usually defined as “aggressive” and “scorching” but while people are focused on him scoring goals, they tend to leave out how deft he is with the puck on his stick.  Dangling opponents, winning puck battles, keeping possession, some times it seems like Mars could be out there by himself against 5 and still put the puck in the net on a break away.

 

Cons:

 

Passing – Mars is a shoot first player.  He will pass if need be, but most of his assists come from teammates chasing rebounds. Don’t expect him to put up shining assist numbers.  Most of his points will be off of goals.

 

Physical Game – Being so focused on his offensive game, Mars doesn’t quite use his larger stature as well as he should.  Checking and Body positioning are not his game, though many coaches have tried to coax the huge winger into a checking role, his offensive nature has never required a particularly intense physical game.

 

Discipline -Because of his lack of a physical game, and the general speed at white he plays, Mars has occasionally gotten into penalty trouble.  His aggressive play style nets him a decent amount of high sticking, slashing, and hooking penalties. Which is altogether fine as he’s not a player we expect to see on the Penalty Kill any time soon. 

[Nykonax 1,564]

rip off Dahlberg

[oilmandan 688]

What part is he like Kessel? Hot dog eating champion?

[Spade18 1,305]

13 minutes ago, Nykonax said:

rip off Dahlberg

 

Everything but being a bust =P

[Spade18 1,305]

11 minutes ago, oilmandan said:

What part is he like Kessel? Hot dog eating champion?

 

DAT TOP CHEDDER SNIZIPE DAWG

[hedgehog337 3,483]

OMG HE DID IT  UNBELIEVABLE

 

but will he do the bio though 

[Spade18 1,305]

2 hours ago, hedgehog337 said:

OMG HE DID IT  UNBELIEVABLE

 

but will he do the bio though 

 

BOY DO I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU

[Greg_Di 1,022]

Review: Nothing really to say about this, it was well done. My only suggestion would maybe add a short little summary at the end? Also for " every other league,he’s been in." no comma needed