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NHL 2016 Draft Radar: Sam Steel

By Sam Blazer

Jun 7, 2016, 15:27 EDTUpdated:

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Once regarded as one of the top prospects of the 2016 draft, Sam Steel has seen his stock drop bit by bit since 2014. Playing well in multiple international tournaments will only get you so far. Steel still has a chance to be a first round draft pick but it is now an outside shot. Where did it all go wrong?

NHL CS Ranking

30th skater in North America.

The Stats

A slight improvement in his points per game over this past year, he failed to break the point per game plateau in the WHL, a disturbing development. That doesn’t mean that he isn’t skilled, more like he isn’t as consistent as many though he would be. In twelve playoff games this year, he had sixteen points. Not too shabby. He will have these amazing spurts but fall off for a period of time. That is fine in the NHL, since you already made the big time. Against your own peers? Poor development.

The Eye Test

Aynsley Scott of Dobber Prospects had this to say about Steel in April of this year:

“Sam Steel is an elusive, smallish center with exceptional hockey IQ and offensive creativity. Steel possesses elite on-ice vision and situational awareness which, when combined with his high-end speed, gives defenders fits when trying to shut him down. He has the ability to stickhandle in tight spaces through traffic, or under pressure from checkers, and he can thread the needle to his open wingers at anytime.
Steel has a deceptively hard and accurate shot, which he could stand to use more of, and he has a penchant for scoring big goals 5-on-5. His defensive game still needs refinement but he is a capable backchecker and penalty killer, and displays leadership qualities on and off the ice. Steel continues to need to grow and get stronger to make the best of his tools but as he does he may become an even more dominant offensive player.”

David Struch, Assistant General Manager of the Regina Pats had this to say about the Pats centerman:

“I’ve never seen him get worked up. You can see him when he misses opportunities to score that he’s a little disappointed in himself, but it doesn’t discourage him as much as it would other guys. He just keeps plugging away.”

Does he fit in with the Red Wings?

Steel will be a late first round pick and will more than likely see a long developmental path. He has shown the skill to be a potential top six forward, can he put it together? I don’t see why he couldn’t. In a high scoring WHL, if you can’t find scoring consistency, he won’t find it anywhere else. As more time passes, he will find his path to the NHL. Getting anywhere close to it though is going to be a task in self motivation. Is this a player the Red Wings might want?