Intro: Sportsnet.ca is previewing the top 30 prospects in the 30 days leading up to the National Hockey League draft in New Jersey on June 30. The second profile in our series outlines Shea Theodore, the supremely-skilled defenceman from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Stats: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | 71 GP | 19 G | 31 A | 50 P | -24 | 32 PIM
Who is Shea Theodore:
The big defender joined the Thunderbirds as a 16-year-old rookie a year ago and has been a solid and key contributor ever since. Theodore finished eighth among WHL defencemen in points this season, and second among draft-eligible rearguards behind Seth Jones. Theodore won gold medals with Team B.C. at the 2011 Canada Winter Games and at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial and 2013 IIHF under-18 world championship.
Shea Theodore’s scouting report:
Theodore is a pure offensive defenceman with a crisp and mobile skating stride. He makes good reads in the offensive zone and is strong in carrying the puck up ice and creating in the transition. His downside is in his defensive and physical play, two areas that notably need improvement. Theodore may be a boom or bust prospect, but could really take off with an organization that will be patient in grooming him.
Teams who might be interested in Shea Theodore:
No matter his downfalls defensively, Theodore brings traits that NHL teams highly covet in his mobility and ability to create and manufacture offence. The Calgary Flames have an additional first-round pick due to the Jarome Iginla trade with Pittsburgh, while the Chicago Blackhawks may be targeting another offensive-minded defenceman following the quick-developing Adam Clendenning. Theodore makes sense as a late first- or early second-round pick.
Scout’s take: "Theodore is an offensive-minded defender with strong puck skills," says Ross MacLean, head scout with International Scouting Services. "He uses great active deception to open up lanes with the puck and has a strong combination of identification and execution skills with the puck. He is excellent at launching transitional attacks but works best from the blue line in. He has a great shot, is mobile and can attack lanes quickly. He’s an excellent option on the PP. He needs to get a bit stronger and get better in his own end at taking away the most dangerous areas and spaces around his net."
"Good goal scorer," describes David Burstyn, director of scouting for McKeen’s Hockey. "He’s a good puck-mover, he’s got good finesse skills. He’s also kind of prone to making some errors. He tends to hold onto the puck a little too long, over-handles it and sometimes makes low-percentage plays. He compensates with being quicker in transition. He’s got a big body, he’s got a long reach, so that also helps in defensive situations. But for as big as he is, he is sometimes a little bit soft. He’s not as physically-engaging as he should be.
"At the NHL level, he’s probably going to factor into being a Johnny Boychuk kind of player. He’s going to be good, but he also has to learn the nuances of the game. He has to learn sometimes that less is best and he has to play up to his size. He’s got enough offensive ability that he’s an enticing player."
Rankings: 11th by the NHL’s Central Scouting (North American skaters), 49th by McKeen’s Hockey