Rookie Profile: Apollo Hackett [1/2]

[Renomitsu 934]

 

Name: Apollo Hackett

Position: D

Current Team: Saskatoon Wild

Age: 19

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 215 lbs.

Birthplace: USA

 

Scout Notes (Brief)

Nephew of former S46 draftee Saul Hackett, Apollo makes a relatively late transition to professional hockey after diverting from a potentially successful career in STEM.  He primarily has experience in recreational leagues between junior year of high school and three years’ worth of college – and scouts and GMs are rightfully concerned about his inexperience with the game. He may have a leg up on other prospects because of his level of maturity and his uncle, but lacks muscle memory of many shots, passes, and general wherewithal to be an elite prospect from the get-go.

 

Even if he receives some starting experience in the VHLM this season, he will be far from polished even compared to mid-round Entry Draft picks. However, coincidental thinness at defense in the Season 66 draft may work in his favor. Projected in early fourth round at the earliest, likely fifth or sixth; expect him to play another season or so in the minors before his drafting GM even considers putting him on the ice with the pros.

 

Scouting Report

Strengths

Physicality – Apollo is a staunch defenseman through and through. In spite of his lack of experience, he has the stature and gravitas to intimidate forwards, with a rapidly-improving checking technique to supplement it. He seeks and initiates contact, seeking to set the tone with opposing forwards before the have a chance to get into a rhythm.

 

Defensive Fundamentals – If nothing else, Apollo can rely on the basics of positioning and shot blocking to increase his effectiveness as a defender. He understands basic matchups with snipers, power forwards, and playmakers alike, as well as how to play around and behind the net as necessary. It’s difficult for Apollo to make a boneheaded mistake, but his reliance on his fundamentals may prevent him from neutralizing more refined forwards.

 

Skating – Compared to most VHLM players entering both the Dispersal and Entry draft, this particular defender is quik on skates and can keep up with most any minor league forward. He’ll need extra work to compete with major leaguers, but that can be said of most of his skills at this point in his career.

 

Weaknesses

Offensive Impact – While Apollo can handle the puck, block shots, and lay out hits, he’s something of a liability on offense. Pushing the puck up the ice or towards the net are both significant weaknesses, and must be planned around by coaching staff until he begins to develop competency in these skills. Even simple, short passes can be troublesome for the defender, and shots are essentially a non-factor regardless of where he is on the ice. On power plays he will likely be more of a harm than a help.

 

Big Stages? – Even at the secondary/high school level, Apollo does not have experience with the spotlight. He is relatively reserved off the ice, and hasn’t had a chance to face immense pressure from great players or a large audience – and this may affect his performance in important games. To be clear: he hasn’t fumbled under pressure, he just hasn’t really been exposed to it.

 

Penalties – Apollo has excellent checking and defensive technique generally, but his penchant for contact will often draw more penalties than some of his coaches and teammates would like. Though this has not arisen as a significant issue, it will be up to the young defender to develop his discipline and limit the number of penalty kills his team has to execute.

[nethi99 39]

Really good read!

[HenrikZoiderberg 469]

Review:

 

The picture and formatting contribute a lot, well done there.

 

On 3/29/2019 at 5:11 AM, Renomitsu said:

Scout Notes (Brief)

 

This section is fantastic. It speaks to the player's intelligence and fleshes them out to be more than a stat line. Well done.

 

Maybe add a summary to the bottom to tie things up, but as @nethi99 said, great read. Well done on this one.