Teddy Stiga, our 2nd round pick. Love how quick he diagnoses his options, and he can finish too. I love this pick and don’t know why he wasn’t talked about as a first round talent. Is it his size? Well he’s tenacious on the forecheck so whatever!
by southern-charmed
@Nashville Predators
3 Comments
From Pronman
Stiga took significant steps forward in his development season, becoming a top forward for the U.S. NTDP and highly productive in junior player. Stiga is an excellent skater who brings a lot of energy and pace to his shifts. He buzzes around the ice, winning a lot of races to pucks. He is quite skilled and creates a lot of controlled entries. Stiga sees the ice well, and while he can create at the net, he has perimeter playmaking ability, too. Stiga’s only real issue is his frame at barely 5-foot-10. I don’t know if he’s dynamic enough at that size, but it’s a debate, and he has a puncher’s chance to carve out a bottom-six role in the NHL because of his talent and consistency.
Just to add Scott Wheeler’s cuz why not:
When I asked two staff at the NTDP about Stiga midway through the season, one called him the most underrated player on the team and the other simply said, “Teddy Stiga is just a hockey player.” That latter line, as ambiguous as it is, feels rather fitting. Scouts had a tough time putting a finger on a projection for Stiga to start the year, because while he was a likeable and talented player, he was a 5-foot-10 winger who didn’t wow people a year ago. His progression since, though, has been among the steepest in the age group. He isn’t necessarily a mold or an archetype but he stirs the drink on the ice, whatever line he’s on is usually the one that’s clicking, and his game has just taken off. Coming into this year, there were questions about which non-Hagens/Eiserman forward would separate themselves from the other ‘06s at the program and, for me, Stiga has emerged to establish himself as a cut above Brodie Ziemer, Kamil Bednarik, Christian Humphreys and Max Plante (with Ziemer as the closest for me).
He always seems to be in the mix of the play offensively on his line and producing and making plays when they’re there to be made. He’s got a great feel for the game and on-ice awareness. He’s consistently noticeable. He’s competitive and engaged and will let opposing players know both of those things when challenged. His shifts always seem to be spent in the offensive zone. He’s a plus-level skater who keeps his feet moving on and off the puck. He’s got skill and craft and showed some real creativity as the year progressed, with sneaky vision. Add in gifts as a small-area player with noticeable handling and finesse skills, some spins, and a knack for finishing on the chances he gets and he’s intriguing. He has caught my eye in most of my viewings this year, plays with some jump, seems to make plays in transition and inside the offensive zone, and seems to fit with talented players. I think he might surprise some people at BC next year with the impact he’s ready to make
he was ranked as high as 13th overall all by Smaht scouting
outside of the legacy prognosticators like Mckenzie and and Pronman etc he was a top 30 pick
I think elite prospects had him 18th overall