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Prospect Profile: Gabriel Johnson
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GwdjohnsonIIHF Federation Head siMp
(This is my first article on the site!)
Double Media Draft Article! Prospect Profile: Gabriel Johnson While most draft media tends to surround the players who are at the forefront of the draft rankings, let us take a moment to look at a lesser-known and discussed player of the S48 Draft Class: Offensive Defenceman Gabriel Johnson. Johnson, hailing from Montreal, Canada, is a young blueliner who has recently been catching the eye of SMJHL scouts at bantam level. For his age, he has a very strong game sense, and does very well at contributing offensively while also making sure to fulfill his defensive responsibilities. He is a very swift skater, as well as an intelligent passer who almost always knows the right play to make as soon as the puck reaches his stick. His endurance is another encouraging aspect of his game, as this past season he has been consistently among the leaders in ice time for his team, something that compliments his above-average skating very well. These assets in Johnson's game have not gone unnoticed by many SMJHL GMs and scouts, who have personally held talks with Johnson regarding the possibility of drafting him. Supposedly even an SHL team has made contact with him in order to monitor his progression over the SMJHL season. But obviously, Johnson has some weaknesses in his game that prevent his skillset from ranking him higher on SMJHL GMs' lists. He lacks size and toughness in his game, but he will be the first one to tell you that, noting that he will need to bulk up if he wants to avoid getting bossed around at the higher level. The SMJHL is a big step up for Johnson from his current level, and he has many aspects of his game to improve upon if he is to be a successful mid-to-late-round selection for whoever takes a punt on him. Johnson makes it no secret that his shooting is way less developed than his passing, stating in interactions with interested teams that he has a pass-first mindset due to his passing ability vastly outweighing the danger his shots provide. If Johnson wants to be 'the type of defenceman you want quarterbacking your powerplay', as he puts it, he'll need to develop his shot into a useful asset. Forwards in the SMJHL will evidently be way above the level Johnson is accustomed to, as well, meaning he will need to make sure he improves on the defensive aspect of his game. Something admirable about Johnson is his mentality about the game. Despite not being a prospect that's discussed often, he ambitiously maintains that his aim is the SHL, and that he is driven to make it there. Although he has subtly expressed a desire to play for his hometown SMJHL team, the Montreal Militia, he has affirmed that his favourite team will be whichever one drafts him, and that he will play at his best for whichever city calls his name out tonight. When asked by the Anchorage Armada GM Acsolap how long he planned on playing at the junior level, Johnson simply replied "However long it takes for me to make it to the big show. I'll give my all for however long I need to spend there". Fighting words for someone that many SMJHL teams are possibly not even thinking about! With the draft set to be in roughly 3 hours, Johnson will certainly be anxiously awaiting which colours he will play in next season, but he will not give any less than 100% for whoever it may be, because of his dream to make it to the very top. Gabriel Johnson: Player Profile Word Count: 600 Edit: Johnson has since been selected in the second round by the Anchorage Armada!
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GwdjohnsonIIHF Federation Head siMp
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