Mat Tocco Scouting Report [1/2]

[Matmenzinger 167]

 

Name: Mat Tocco

 

 

Country: Czechia
Age: 19
Height: 5'9
Weight: 170lbs
Position: RW
Team: Philadelphia Reapers

 

 

Tocco has proven to be a very well rounded and capable player. After multiple successful seasons with the HC Standion Litomerice, and a one year stint on HC Sparta Praha (where he put up 40 points in 49 games) Tocco has decided to take his talents to the VHLM and finds himself playing for the Philadelphia Reapers. With his draft stock improving each coming day, Tocco will be a player to keep an eye on.

 

Strengths

 

Skating: With Tocco's size and weight he usually finds himself to be one of the more agile players on the ice. While not at McDavid levels of speed, Tocco can still manage to keep up with some of the leagues better skaters. His stocky frame and quik strides have helped Tocco with being a fast and powerful skater. With his natural speed and continually proving technique, Tocco's skating is his strongest asset.

 

Strength: Despite his size Tocco is actually considerably hard to move off the puck. Initially appearing to be an easy target Tocco quickly reminds his much bigger opposition that he won't be that easy to ragdoll. He hasn't taken kindly to being hit in his career and in reverse is actually averaging a hit per game so far this season. Modelling his game off of Max Domi, Tocco's 5'9 stature hasn't prevented him from being a presence on the ice. 

 

Scoring: Given his skating skills, Tocco often finds himself with prime scoring chances. He has the ability to bury the puck and has had a tendency in his career so far to produce on otherwise low scoring teams in The Czech League. With his shot being fairly accurate Tocco should provide solid secondary scoring. 

 

Weaknesses 

 

Discipline: Given his size Tocco often finds himself to be a Target on the ice and doesn't take to kindly to it. Feeling like he has something to prove,  his emotions frequently get the best of him. Whether it's for interference, instigating, or fighting he found quite a bit of his time on Litomerice spent in the box. Hopefully that won't follow him into Philadelphia. 

 

Checking: While the prospect doesn't necessarily shy away from hitting, his checks don't exactly carry much force behind them. Mostly thrown to protect himself (i.e reverse hits), Tocco's checks usually do little more than stagger the target.  Hopefully Tocco will look to build more muscle and pack a bigger punch in seasons to come. Although with his size and skill with the puck, it may be better for him to shy away from throwing the body as much as possible.

 

Penalty Shooting: Tocco's skills with the puck have yet to translate into penalty shooting or shootouts. Finding himself 0/12 in his amateur career, Tocco is probably better left on the bench in critical situations like these as his hockey iq just isn't there yet. 

 

All in all Tocco's physical game needs to develop but all of the skills are there. As of the latest reports Tocco is currently ranked #64 in the upcoming draft, and will likely find himself higher in the rankings come the next report. 

 

[johnnyhockey42 13]

Glad to see Mat isn't letting his size get the best of him! Awesome that he's an emotionally driven player, love the honesty throughout the profile!