Andrew Su - Prospect Scouting Report

[Da_Berr 219]

Andrew Su

Nationality: 

Postion & #: Center | #7

Age: 16

Shoots: Left

Height & Weight:  6' 0" | 190 lb.

 

 

Not often do we see a 16 year come directly into the VHLM, even less so we see that 16-year-old tear the league up. In his one single year in the VHLM, Andrew Su has had a monstrous season having 99 points in 73 games played. The young center came into the league through the Dispersal Draft without as much polish as some of the other players, but with heaps of potential. Slotting into Mississauga's top lines after the draft, he had an immediate impact on the ice, which continues after being traded to cup favourites, Ottawa Lynx. Su comes into the S72 VHL draft as the second-ranked center, behind only the estimated first overall pick SS Hornet. Draft boards currently put him as the 8th best player this draft, and any team that gets the young Canadian is sure to feel the immediate impact he brings. 

 

Strengths
Shooting
Su's natural shooting ability has allowed the young prospect to make a name for himself so far in the minors. Despite not having a particularly strong or fast shot, Su makes his money off his quickness and accuracy. He thrives off being fed one-timers from the top of the faceoff circle, but can also use his laser-beam accuracy to beat some of the best goalies in the league. This is as witnessed by his 51 goals on the season and 15% shooting percentage.

 

Skating
For a 6 foot player, Su's skating ability is deceptively good. In terms of pure speed, Su is one of the fastest players in the VHLM. Along with that, Su is one of the best skaters at quickly changing up his speed. With Su's skating, a simple chip off the boards is often enough to blow by the defender as they're often caught off guard from the sudden shift in speed. His agility on the ice also allows him to quickly react to pucks that jump out from battles on the boards or corners. 

 

Puck Handling
Su this year had ample opportunity to show off his puck handling skills, especially in Mississauga. Although Su often doesn't like to get fancy with his puck handling, when he does it's a sight to see. His ability to dangle through the majority of defenders, along with his speed, makes him a nightmare for opposing defences to try to contain him. 

 

Weaknesses

Leadership
Su is not a locker room presence, nor is he a leader. Most teammates would describe him as quiet, but pleasant to be around. He lacks the presence or influence that historic and great captains naturally have. If a team is looking for someone to rally the players before a game, don't expect it from Su.

 

Faceoffs
Despite improvements near the end of the season, Su is still not a great faceoff taker. Getting possession immediately, especially in the defensive zone is invaluable. For a center, Su commits some beginner's mistakes on the faceoff dot and it can lead to an entire game's momentum shifting. To be an effective center up in the VHL, Su will have to change the way he does faceoffs dramatically. 

 

Strength & Physicality
These are the two biggest weaknesses that Su has currently. Although not weak by any stretch of the imagination, Su could put in more time in the weight room. The lack of physicality is also linked to his current strength. Su gets hit a lot. That could cause injury concerns, but so far he's held up remarkably well. The bigger problem is that he led the league in hits taken up until the final week of play, where Lucas Brant took that under crown. Sometimes Su is in the prime position to make a play but then losses a puck due to a hit thrown at him. This problem will only be magnified as he moves up to the VHL where players are stronger and faster.

 

Overall

Andrew Su provides an exciting prospect at around the mid-first-round. He has tremendous upside and should be able to have an immediate impact on VHL rosters as a depth piece. As seen with his time in Ottawa, he has no problems playing behind another player. There are a few major flaws, but that is specifically with his current physical attributes. For his skills, most scouts and coaches agree that his fundamentals are great, but could improve on some more precise details in his game. Relatively speaking, compared to the other top prospects, Su is a risky prospect. He has a low floor and can be out of the league in 3 years, but if he puts in work and is in the right environment he can be an exceptional player for any cup contending team.