Joe Exotic Junior Review

[Joe Exotic 32]

 

After playing two seasons in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, Joe Exotic burst onto the college scene, scoring 17 goals and 36 points, the second-highest total for a Freshman in Penn State University’s history.

 

His strong rookie-year performance valued the undrafted forward an invite to several rookie camps in the VHL where he currently awaits offers.

 

As he continued putting up dominant numbers with the Nittany Lions, Exotic’s presence continued to grow on organizations’ radar. Last summer, the Boston Bruins brought him over to their own camp before deeming they didn’t have the NHL roster room.

 

Over the course of his four years at Penn State, the offensive strength of the team certainly factored in Exotic’s close to point-per-game pace, but his high-production also tells another story. One of a forward who learned to blend with his linemates and to capitalize on his chances to become the all-time points leader of the University.

 

Exotic drove Penn State’s offence through his supporting ability or his knack for always giving short-passing support in all three zones. He is patient on breakouts; he stays in the vicinity of teammates to give them simple outlets with the goal of moving up-ice as a group and in a controlled way.

 

The forward can outrace many defencemen in transitions and creates through his passing. He skates as far as the line of defence lets him, but doesn’t force one-on-one moves against defenders; he slows down or pivots to send the puck laterally towards friendly sticks, changing the point of attack from the middle to the wide-lane (and vice versa) to force defences to give up the offensive blue-line. Once he breaks in the offensive zone, the forward keeps the same mentality; he looks for give-and-gos to find ways to the net.

 

Exotic doesn’t need a ton of space to execute his feeds. This season, his soft back-hand or between-the-legs touches while surrounded by defenders allowed teammates to walk freely to the slot for shots on net. The prospect’s ability to find teammates under pressure should have him still create scoring chances for his line-mates in the AHL.

 

But despite what his collection of assists might indicate, Exotic’s potential isn’t really in a playmaking role. He is not one to manipulate defenders to open passing lanes or create plays that don’t clearly present themselves.

 

Exotic shows more advanced abilities as a scorer. Over his career, his timing, his consistently moving feet and the use of some tricks made him one of the better scoring threats in the BIG Ten Conference.

 

Those are usually the sort of odds that come with these lottery tickets, though. Nothing out of the ordinary there for Exotic. His qualitative outputs offer reasons for optimism though. Don’t count this kid out just yet.

Edited March 28, 2020 by Joe Exotic