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Ty Dellandrea | C
Matt Duchene | C
Mathias Emilio Pettersen | C
Radek Faksa | C
Alexey Lipanov | C
Roope Hintz
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Speed: Hintz is a powerful and electrifying skater who can pull away from the vast majority of NHL defenders. Given his 6’3”, 220-pound frame, he’s an absolute nightmare to stop once he gathers some momentum. This pace generates a ton of odd-man rushes and also soaks up attention, creating space for his teammates to slip into scoring areas.
Dual Threat: Though he first broke out as an opportunistic scorer, Hintz has developed his playmaking to the point where he’s quite a balanced offensive player. He still converts at a high rate, but he’s equally capable of setting up teammates due to his wheels, vision and passing touch.
Patience: Unlike most burners who attempt to do things as quickly as possible, Hintz displays a knack for slowing the game down and making sound decisions. Once he gains a step, he’ll enter his glide and scan his surroundings for the best available play. His value extends beyond his impressive physical tools.
WEAKNESSES
Durability: While he hasn’t missed that much time throughout his career, he has been banged up a lot. And it’s plain to see when he isn’t 100%. His play-driving ability and three-zone engagement fall off the face of the earth. If he could stay healthy, he’d emerge as perhaps his team’s best overall forward.
Faceoffs: Hintz’s progression has been terrific thus far. However, he remains a subpar presence at the faceoff circle, failing to break even in two of his three pro seasons. Naturally, this limits how much he can play in crucial game situations.
