CHASE REID, SAULT STE. MARIE GREYHOUNDS
Chase Reid burst onto the scene following a midseason move to the OHL and carried that hype and momentum into an elite draft season leading the Soo Greyhounds blueline. An explosive skater and dynamic player with the puck, Reid was the engine that keyed the Greyhounds’ attack and produced impressive numbers for a team without much high-end depth around him.
Reid’s offensive instincts and aggressiveness off the puck lead to plays at both ends of the ice, throwing big hits and showing the ability to maneuver around defenders with his puck skills. A consistent presence in the rush, Reid uses his skating ability to generate tons of chances and shows some strong vision when moving around the offensive zone. His offensive abilities point to a future impact player on the powerplay, as he’s got great dexterity along the blue line and a hard, accurate shot with a quick release. While his attacking mindset leads to many highlight-reel plays, his decision making and focus in the defensive zone could use some improvements. However, his physical tools and the ability to drive play and create for himself he showed this season should land him near the top of the first round as a potential top-pairing defenseman in the NHL.