Scouting Report: Jason Robertson, 16-year-old Right-handed Defenseman

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210 lbs

Robertson is a solid two-way defender, adept on all sides of the ice with an assortment of important skills. On the offense, he can shore up a blue line with his puck handling and passing skill, keeping a possession alive. He can also get open easily to get a solid shot off. On the defensive end, he can use his size to neutralize a player on the boards or make a hard hit to end a play before it starts. He can use his positioning to steal a puck with a good stick play or block a shot he thinks might be dangerous. His ability to read the defensive zone is commendable, as he can dissect an offense before it can get set. He’s got a great set of speed and power, with an extra gear he rarely needs to hit. His agility and balance makes him a threat in the neutral zone, and he can use those skills to neutralize plays or make them himself.

No 16-year-old is perfect, though. His shot is impressive, but it’s also not a strength. To be a solid two-way player, you need a shot on the offensive end, and some balls in the defensive end. Robertson chooses not to commit in some situations where it might mean making or taking a hit to make a play, and that can be a liability against a more physically minded team. He’s a softie, and in hockey, softies don’t make it. You could be 5’6” and if you sacrifice your body, you’re more valuable than a 6’6” guy who can’t make the play. It’s up to Robertson whether he makes that change in his game, but it’s an important decision to make.

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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