Draft Track: Five players to watch for the 2014 NHL Draft

Chase  De Leo– LC – Portland Winterhawks (WHL) – 5’9” 172

De Leo is an undersized, but gritty centre who mostly played on the 3rd line this season. He was not really depended on to shut down opponents, but because of the Winterhawks’ depth, he was expected to provide offense while being responsible in his own end. Chase impressed scouts late in the season with a solid showing at the the 2013 Memorial Cup.

De Leo’s size is misleading because he plays much bigger than he is. He does not back down from anybody, and provides a very pesky presence for Portland. He is not afraid to go to the net to try to score off of rebounds, and will go back again and again despite the physical punishment he receives. De Leo is a good, responsible playmaker off the rush. He makes quick decisions with the puck, and also is creative with it. He can pass the puck off to the wing then drive the net, make a quick stop at the faceoff circle to wait for the trailer or drive to the net then quickly make a pass to the slot. De Leo’s offensive work mostly occurs off the rush, as he has a difficult time along the boards with protecting the puck due to his size, and is a liability when trying to set up in the offensive zone.

Defensively, De Leo is not particularly good in his own end. He has to read the play better, and try to take away space more rather than just engage physically. He also has a tendency to focus too much on the puck and not be aware of his surroundings, which is a problem as he often plays down the middle and is counted on to watch the slot.

De Leo’s lack of size will definitely worry teams, even though he plays a grinding style of game. He has not been able to show the ability to be a consistent offensive threat and tire out opponents with the cycle. He will most likely have to move to the wing as a pro, but his poor work along the walls will not help his cause. If he can get stronger, then teams could take a chance in him.