Shea Theodore
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Four Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Skating: Theodore is a smooth puck-mover who can skate himself out of trouble in his sleep. His straight-line speed and lateral agility make him a nightmare to contain in transition, and his shiftiness contributes to his playmaking in the offensive zone. His game is effortless.
Passing: Even with his outstanding wheels, he doesn’t play too fast, always scanning the ice for an opportunity to put his teammates in plus situations. He’s a clever and accurate passer. Thanks to his high-flying style, he also draws a lot of attention and can thus create for others.
Hands: Rounding out his skill set is a soft pair of mittens. Theodore can maneuver through the neutral zone like few blueliners in the league. He’s also confident enough in his talent that he’ll attack defenders one-on-one, shaking them at the offensive blue line before getting downhill for a chance.
WEAKNESSES
Defense: Theodore is a poor defender. He blows assignments in his end and puck-watches far too often. Even worse, he doesn’t show the commitment required to keep pucks out of his net. He’ll just allow a player to establish inside leverage and won’t fight to regain it. He needs a steady partner.
Decision-making: Despite a strong offensive arsenal, he doesn’t make the soundest choices with the puck. His shot selection on the power play isn’t great and he occasionally forces low-percentage passes through traffic when he’d be better off holding on or dishing to a safer outlet.
