Mazden Leslie
2022-23 Workforce: Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Date of Start: April 15, 2005
Place of Start: Lloydminster, AB
Ht: 6-foot-1 Wt: 181 kilos
Shoots: Proper
Place: Defenceman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2023 first-year eligible
Rankings
Mazden Leslie selected the suitable yr to have profession highs throughout the board. With 12 targets, 38 assists, and 50 factors, he smashed his earlier season-best of 5 targets, 14 assists, and 19 factors set in 2021-22 and completed 14th amongst defencemen in complete factors within the Western Hockey League (WHL). Three of these 12 targets had been scored by way of a hat trick on March 1 versus the Prince George Cougars, which is a rarity amongst defenders.
Regardless of that, NHL Central Scouting has him ranked one hundred and twenty fifth and dropped him 45 spots to eightieth from their mid-term rankings to their ultimate rankings. Additionally, throughout the web scouting group, solely THW’s personal Logan Horn and Draft Prospects Hockey have him ranked. His general defensive sport might be the rationale for this as his strengths clearly reside on the offensive finish of the ice. Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants (Rob Wilton)
Regardless, Leslie has many attributes that might make him an efficient NHL defenceman sooner or later. In a league that’s based mostly on pace and talent by way of the impartial zone, his skating, mobility, imaginative and prescient, and passing talents would possibly make a crew take an opportunity on him within the later rounds.
As I’ve stated a number of occasions on Prospect Nook, you possibly can’t educate offence, however you possibly can undoubtedly educate defence. Pair him with a superb teaching workers, and there’s an opportunity he turns into a steal like Gustav Forsling – who was drafted within the fifth spherical in 2014 and is now taking part in within the high 4 with the Florida Panthers.
Leslie additionally might grow to be an influence play specialist, even when his defence doesn’t finally catch as much as his offence. Along with his correct shot and anticipation to know when to sneak down from the purpose, he can be an enormous asset to an influence play unit sooner or later.
Sadly, until he can considerably shore up his defensive shortcomings, a crew may not be snug having him as an everyday within the lineup if the person benefit is the one state of affairs they really feel assured having him in. The age of pure offensive defenceman – until you’re Erik Karlsson, I suppose – is gone. A defenceman has to have the ability to defend to have longevity within the league.
Newest Information & Highlights
On the brilliant facet, Leslie has the instruments to develop that facet of his sport. With a body of 6-foot-1 and 181 kilos, he has the dimensions to battle greater forwards alongside the boards and are available out with the puck.
As soon as he has possession of it, the remainder is gravy, so if he can add some physicality to his skillset, get higher positionally in his personal zone, and restrict the turnovers, his defensive sport might match one thing like Quinn Hughes’. He has grow to be a bit extra of a two-way defenceman resulting from his potential to take care of puck possession and both go or skate his manner out of hassle. In any case, the opposite crew can’t rating in the event that they don’t have the puck.
Mainly, Leslie can make it on the NHL stage, it’s going to simply take time and endurance from a developmental standpoint. He’s undoubtedly a undertaking, however a undertaking value investing in contemplating his offensive upside. Oh, sure, he’s additionally a right-hand shot, one thing that’s uncommon in defenders today. These issues alone needs to be sufficient for a crew to take a flyer on him sooner or later within the later rounds.
Different THW Draft Profiles
Mazden Leslie – NHL Draft Projection
The overall feeling within the scouting world (because of my colleague Adam Kierszenblat for that data) is that Leslie can be drafted within the sixth or seventh spherical. That jives with most shops as nearly all of them don’t have him ranked.
Logan (THW’s head of prospects protection) and Draft Prospects Hockey are a bit extra optimistic about his destiny, having him chosen within the late third spherical. If I used to be a betting man, I’d in all probability place him between the third and fifth. If he falls into the seventh, he’s bordering on steal territory – for my part anyway.
Quotables
“Firstly, it was just a little bit messy. I believe I’ve labored on that in follow a bit, so I believe that has gotten just a little bit higher by boxing folks out and never letting them get straightforward alternatives. I’ve labored on my defensive sport and simply preserve making an attempt to get higher. Excel at hole management, boxing out, all these varieties of issues. Simply making an attempt to get higher in my very own zone.” – Mazden Leslie
“Leslie persistently performs as if he’s a fourth ahead on the ice, all the time anticipating alternatives to affix the assault or step right into a passing lane. He operates on the left half wall throughout energy performs and positions himself deeper within the zone for quick-release snap pictures. His distinctive imaginative and prescient permits him to make speedy choices and transfer the puck swiftly.” – Joel Henderson, FC Hockey