For my first ever deep dive article I will be analyzing the rookie class for the Colorado Raptors after roughly a quarter of the season. I will be looking at their stats and using that data to extrapolate what kind of player they are on the ice, and what SHL teams can potentially hope to get out of that player should they choose to draft them in the coming SHL entry draft.

The Raptors drafted six players in the S60 SMJHL entry draft, and have signed one player after the draft. I will be analyzing the players in ascending order based on hey they appear in the Colorado Raptors' team roster subforum. I will not be providing analysis for any players which have gone inactive, as they will most likely not be drafted into the SHL. 

1. Jamal Nightingale - LD

24 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | +1 | 8 PIM | 26 Shots | 18:49 TOI | 18 GA | 6 TA | 34 Blocks | 42 Hits |

Jamal is slotting in as a second pairing defenseman in his rookie season alongside fellow rookie Hans Graf. Jamal is clearly more of a defense oriented player, who cares more about keeping the puck out of his own net than trying to put into the other team's net and his lack of shots illustrates this point clearly. He has also earned top PK unit minutes in his first year with the team. There could be some concerns with the giveaways seeing as how he is in the upper echelon for that stat on the Raptors roster, but he also has a lot of room for improvement and the amount of blocks and hits that he has recorded through only 24 games should be an encouraging sign for any SHL suitors looking to shore up their blue line prospect pool.

2. Donald Trump Jr. - RW

24 GP | 1 G | 3 A | 4 PTS | +6 | 6 PIM | 36 Shots | 15:05 TOI | 9 GA | 5 TA | 23 Blocks | 41 Hits |

Donald is playing on the third line, which has a focus on playing heavy hockey instead of getting goal and he also gets time on the second PK unit. The name of Donald's game is laying the body, and with 41 hits Donald is ranked 26th in the entire SMJHL. Even though he won't be able to go out and light up the scoreboard, with a +6 it's clear that a team doesn't have to worry about Donald giving up goals while he is on the ice, and he is defensively responsible. Any SHL team that needs a solid bottom six player in the near future should be eyeing Trump Jr. as an option.

3. Gabe - Gooney - Waters - Harrak - RW

24 GP | 1 G | 8 A | 9 PTS | -4 | 10 PIM | 25 Shots | 11:44 TOI | 2 GA | 3 TA | 0 Blocks | 17 Hits |

This amalgamation of names from the Steelhawks locker room is currently playing on the Raptors' fourth line, where he looks to get scoring going for the bottom six in limited minutes. He also gets minutes for the third PK unit. This ice skating chimera has shown a knack for dishing the puck and playmaking, and while his plus/minus may cause some hesitancy, the fact that a team using last shifts to get favorable matchups with their top six against the Raptors' fourth line may be the root cause of this. If GGWH starting ripping the puck more often it's very likely we would see even higher production out of Colorado's first pick in the S60 draft.

4. Hans Graf - RD

24 GP | 4 G | 6 A | 10 PTS | -2 | 12 PIM | 53 Shots | 18:29 TOI | 3 GA | 8 TA | 18 Blocks | 23 Hits |

Drafted in the second round, Hans Graf has become the most productive of the Raptors' draft class. He leads the rookies in goals and total points while playing on the second defensive pairing with fellow rookie Jamal Nightingale, as mentioned before. Hans has a great two way game, providing both offense and defense, as illustrated by his points, shots, takeaways, blocks, and hits. He may be the most well rounded player of all that Colorado drafted. Hans does have the most penalty minutes of all draftees, but if he is able to work on his discipline and keep himself out of the box he will become even more effective. Any SHL team that needs a dynamic defenseman that plays a two hundred foot game should be keyed in on Graf.


5. Max Manning - C

24 GP | 1 G | 5 A | 6 PTS | -12 | 2 PIM | 18 Shots | 11:34 TOI | 9 GA | 5 TA | 29 Blocks | 10 Hits |

Manning is currently slotted in as the fourth line center. Based on his goal and shot totals, it's clear that Max is more focused on creating plays and passing the puck than he is scoring it. With regards to the issue of his plus/minus, the same thing that was said of GGWH can be said here for Max, however his plus/minus being eight points lower than that of his linemate could cause some teams to wait and see if Max is still available in the later rounds. However, whoever drafts him could be getting a diamond in the rough. Manning has a game that could be ready to explode as players age out of the roster and he moves into a top six center role with the Raptors.

6. Magnus Galtisson - RD

Magnus has only played two games for the Raptors, so I feel it is unfair to him and his player for me to attempt to analyze his play with such a small sample size.

@Junior GRADED! +5 TPE