Rangers draft Sean Day

[kreidertime]

Thank you Gordie for bailing our moron GM out as always. Look at this scouting report. Ranked 58 on some boards.

2016 NHL Draft Profiles: Sean Day
Sean Day – 6’2, 230-pound left-shot defenceman from the Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Sean Day Rankings

• Ranked #59 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
• Ranked #51 by McKeen’s Hockey Draft Guide
• Did not make Craig Button’s Top 100 final rankings

Sean Days Scouting Report provided by Brock Otten of OHL Prospects

Sean Day Strengths

• Sean Day is 6’2, 230 pounds and was ranked the best skater in the 2016 draft class by the McKeen’s Hockey Draft Guide. What you have here is an athletic freak.
• I thought Day closed out the season exceptionally well. The two biggest reasons for that were an increased intensity level in the defensive end, and an increased propensity for starting the rush and looking to use his speed to push across the neutral zone.
• In my opinion, Day’s future at the next level rests on his ability to defend his own end; using his size and mobility to be a shutdown type of defender. That’s why I think his increased desire to play the body and play mean in his own end towards the end of the year is a major step forward.
• On the ice, I think Day is finally realizing what his role is and the way he needs to play to be successful.
• From Sean Lafortune, speaking on the Steelheads’ selection of Sean Day back in 2013:
  “Sean Day’s talents are unique. His footwork and skating ability are unmatched. He’s innovative in possession, showing an ability to either impact the game with a sizzling outlet or flashing his slick in close skills. He would routinely impose his will on the opposition in our viewings. No doubt he needs to work on his decision making in all three zones, but the tools that he possesses are unmatched.”

Sean Day Weaknesses

• No question Sean Day didn’t have a great draft year, and I actually had him lower on my list up until about the last month and a half of the season (in which he took some strides forward).
• Certainly you have to look at the overall motivation levels (with everything that has come out in the media about his attitude and character), and NHL teams will have done their homework at the combine (I’m guessing he was one of the most interviewed players there).
• For me, I don’t actually believe Day has a ton of offensive potential. While the skating ability obviously makes you hope that’s the case, I just don’t see a player who possesses a natural ability for creating offence.
• From Gare Joyce’s piece at the Draft Combine:
  “Sean Day. Sigh. Okay, he’s down 20 pounds at least from last summer. At 230 he still looks like a beer leaguer but it’s a start. It didn’t look like he bought into the idea that the combine was a chance to make a big impression. He went from ordinary to very ordinary to below average at the stations, and seemed sort of nonchalant. You look at him and think: How does an unathletic kid possess plus-plus skating? This is one of life’s mysteries and the reason that someone will undertake Day as a challenge.”

The Verdict
You’re not looking at the next Drew Doughty. He’s not going to be that type of guy. But can Sean Day be a successful NHL player? Absolutely.

 

[kreidertime]

On one hand he's called an athletic freak. Then another guy calls him unathletic. Seems to me that scout just hates the guy. Either way, if the guy can dedicate himself and get into shape, seems like he's got a nice upside. I have said for a while the Rangers are trying to get back to speed.

 

[mrmel29]

Sounds like another high risk high reward type player which you take when your picking as late as we are. Would have been nice if he was RD.

 

[kreidertime]

Scouting report
A mobile two-way defenceman that boasts an elite level skill package. Strong on the forecheck and delivers hard shots and crisp passes. His consistency and enthusiasm exhibited at the game’s defining moments does seem to wane, and the pressure felt seems to impact his decision-making slightly. When focusing on simplifying his game and getting all the little things right, he becomes a forceful impact that is hungry to be a difference maker. All-in-all, a talented two-way defenceman that has all of the raw abilities in place to become an elite defenceman, but has yet to put it all together and prove that he can thrive in the driver’s seat. (Curtis Joe, Elite Prospects 2015)

Strengths
If you are looking for raw elite skill, Sean Day is your man. If you are looking for a well-rounded player with good hockey sense who is guaranteed to make the NHL, he certainly is not.

The main reasons for Day being granted exceptional player status to play junior hockey a year early were his size and skating, along with outstanding puck skills. Three years later, those are still his standout attributes.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, Day already has the perfect frame for an NHL defenceman. Yet, he is an elite skater. A powerful stride, speed, mobility — Day has it all.

Another standout attribute is his passing. Day plays powerful, accurate passes, especially during breakouts. He can also make big plays in the offensive zone and possesses a good, heavy shot.

Last but not least, Day is a terrific puck handler and could turn into a large two-way defenceman who can drive the puck up ice and be a power-play quarterback.


Weaknesses
First, there is his inconsistency. One second you see that elite exceptional status player, the next you see a below-average junior player like you find them aplenty in the CHL.

Second, many scouts question his hockey sense. Day used to play a “get the puck and go” style in minor hockey and had a hard time changing that (and he is still working on it).


Furthermore, Day seemed to struggle a lot with the strong competition in the OHL and the pressure of being granted exceptional player status. He was used to being much bigger and better than all his peers in minor hockey, but playing against 20-year-olds was a change he struggled to adapt to.

Day was a minus-35 in his rookie season and struggled defensively in general. He got better in his second year — offensively and defensively. In 2015-16, his production dropped, but he got much more responsible in the defensive zone. If he continues his defensive development like he has for the past year, it should not be an issue at the next level.

Perhaps the biggest issue, if all the rumours are true, is Day’s character. Granted exceptional player status, he was said to just take everything for granted instead of working hard to be successful. Then, he was reported to have had a few falling-outs with his coach. Furthermore, he reportedly demanded a trade — to the London Knights and the London Knights only.

 

[mrmel29]

Just watching the kids interview at the draft. Said he played with 90% body fat!! Ouch. Says since season ended he's been working out and down to 12-13% body fat. Maybe the light has gone off in this kids head.

 

[kreidertime]

So if I'm reading this right. If the guy wasn't a moron with a bad attitude he would be a top 15 pick talent wise. So basically, it's a HR pick. All or nothing it seems. Gordie has made a lot of those and quite a few worked out. However, our dumbass GM's have dealt many of them.

 

[kreidertime]

Yeah. He's a wild bastard. Hopefully, he's figuring it out.

 

[cagedlion]

Does this organization ever go for players to fill their needs?..............

RD, C (who can win draws), LW

 

[kreidertime]

Actually, this does fill a need. The Rangers have become painfully slow on defense other than McDonagh and Skjei. McIlrath actually skates very well for his size. They need speed and lots of it all over this roster. The league is about speed. Pitt made them look like slow retards in the playoffs.

 

[Ranger71]

Nope, they just draft the same type of dman over and over..and over. We need wingers badly. Day seems like a 5th round reach. Maybe the Finnish guy will be ok.

 

[kreidertime]

Just a hunch. Let's say Day gets it now. Wows at prospect camp. Wows in the pre-season. Makes the team. Rangers deal Staal. Holden is the 7th defenseman. It's a long shot but I think this is possible. He has the talent to play as an 18. It's all about his fitness and attitude. I'm sure the Rangers who are getting crushed for having no picks would love to trot this kid out opening night.

 

[mrmel29]

In chat with the Rangers website, Gordie Clark spoke about Rangers third round pick Sean Day and said (NYR):

• He is a big guy who can "skate forever"
• He had a great year as a 15 year old, had a family setback in his second season that sent his game for a bit of a spin.
• He got too heavy at one point but came to the combine at 220.
• "He's an animal, he's just so big, his shoulders, his lats, his thighs, he's just a big man"
• He is the closest thing to a "Paul Coffey" skater that he has seen in a while.
• The Rangers got to know Day well and spoke with him, his coaches, his skill coaches and had their strength coach Reg Grant call up his trainer.
• "Sean has actually become an athlete, he was always a talented guy, just a big talented guy that could skate. But he's actually becoming an athlete now and a very proud one."
• The Rangers did a lot of homework and research and feel that he has the mental side of his game in order now.
• The Rangers went through the same kind of process of getting to know and learning Day that they did when they selected Anthony Duclair.
• He can play both the right and left side and "skating wise, when he plays, all I told Glen and Jeff and Schoeny is that Sean is the closest I've seen to a Paul Coffey skater in my time." (MSG)
• Day has dominated with his skating and size since he was 11 and has had to deal with players growing up around him. (MSG)
• He is now working in a "high end" training program and with skill coaches.
• His second half of the season last year was "oustanding." (MSG)

This kid is going to be a home run and a grand slam if he remotely looks like Paul Coffey

 

[Ranger71]

The way they're propping this guy up we should be getting the lovechild of Zubov and Larry Robinson.