Scouting Report: John Brown, 16-year-old Right-handed Defenseman

Height: 6’3”
Weight: 204 lbs

John Brown is a dynamo, an intense in-your-face defensive presence who can shut down any attack in a variety of ways. He’s got the speed to neutralize a threat right-out, while using his strength to force the puck from an opponent. He has the dexterity and physical presence to force a player to the boards and win any battle, and the agility and mass to make any cheeky forward not up to snuff turn from an offensive threat to a heap of limbs an equipment. Barring that, he can take the puck from you with a sneaky pokecheck, and can position himself in a way where half the ice is an area where a shot towards the goal will have to go through him. He’s a beautiful specimen of penalty-killing, offense-ruining power.

But Brown has a major weakness to his game. While he excels in his own end, zone exits are a struggle. His passes aren’t clean, his handling of the puck can often lead to turnovers at the blue line, and his lack of ability to make space for himself means he can be lumbering and awkward when trying to maneuver on the attack. As if that was it, his shot leaves much to be desired, and he frequently makes the wrong shooting decisions, killing a possession. It’s something that isn’t a crucial need as a defensive defenseman, but the job of a pro is to be reliable, and I have no doubt John Brown will keep marching on to bigger goals if he handles his offense.

Eddie Morozov signing off for now. Stay tuned for more info and more reports from my trips abroad scouting the next SHL stars!

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