MacKenzie Weegar
ON-ICE VALUE
First-Pairing Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Hockey IQ: Weegar shows good instincts in all three zones. He recognizes when he should support his forwards on the attack, when he should sag back, when he should pressure the puck-carrier, etc. This feel for the game more than compensates for his average physical tools. It also makes his teammates’ lives much easier.
Gap Control: While he’s a solid defender overall, his ability to nullify zone entries is phenomenal. He does a great job of gauging speed, distance and angles, closing off his opponents’ space until they can only dump the puck in or attempt low-percentage, turnover-prone plays. The best defense is limiting the time you spend defending.
Fearless: Despite an average 6’0”, 200-pound build, Weegar doesn’t back down from any challenge. He’ll lay out for desperation blocks, throw the body on puck-carriers and step in to fight opponents who take liberties on his teammates. You won’t find many defensemen who battle with more tenacity and guts than this seventh-round pick.
WEAKNESSES
Over-Aggressive: His unflinching desire to support his teammates at both ends of the ice can backfire when the puck-carrier is a bit sloppy. Weegar will find himself caught in no man’s land and have to race back to foil any rush attempt. This is particularly noticeable because of how otherwise difficult it is for opponents to enter Florida’s zone during his shifts.
Scatterbrained: At times, Weegar can almost play too fast in an attempt to put out fires started by his teammates. He’ll fly around the defensive zone with good intentions, but he won’t accomplish much outside of abandoning his post and opening up even bigger seams for the opposition to exploit.
