We're officially less than a month away from the NHL Draft, and the Nashville Predators still have all three of their first-round picks. While the possibility of trades is ever present with Barry Trotz manning the controls, there is always a chance that the Predators will pick two, or even three players, this year in the first round.
One of those players might end up being Cameron Reid.
Size Matters Not
The average size for an NHL defenseman is around 6'02" and around 210 pounds. Cameron Reid is listed at 6'0" and 190 pounds. He might be a touch smaller than that (The Athletic has him listed at 5'11.75", which seems odd to try and be that exact), but he is incredibly skilled.
He was essential to the Kitchener Rangers' offense this year. Over his 67-game regular season, he scored 14 goals and added 40 assists for 54 total points. He added 23 points during his OHL rookie year. His improvement impressed scouts, who already really liked his defensive game. Hitting 6 foot ish helped put some people at ease and allowed him to start winning more physical battles. HIs high IQ, especially on the defensive end of the ice has had him on radars for a while. Developing into a power play quarterback has shot him up into first round contention.
Here's the highlight reel
If you want other strengths in his game, then start with his skating. The most fundamental skill in hockey, and one that might be even more important for defensemen in the modern NHL, is where Reid has shown he shines. Whether it is on the defensive end with his gap control or creating space to work on his burgeoning offensive game, Reid has great feet, using speed, angles, and an assortment of other skills to always stay in motion.
He keeps an equally active stick, breaking up plays defensively and joining the rush when the situation calls for it. If Reid was 6'3" we'd be talking about drafting him with the 6th pick.
So Why Aren't We?
It isn't just the size that's kept Reid from the top of the draft boards. While his offensive game really flourished this season, it isn't expected to be as proficient at the NHL level, maybe not even a 2nd power play kind of player.
He's coming into the pro ranks as a very well-rounded player, albeit one that is undersized for his position and is left-handed. Defense is an increasingly premium position in the NHL, but left-handers don't carry the same cache that right-handers do at the moment. Especially when the Predators top defensive prospect is a 6'0 180 left-handed defenseman. Cameron Reid is essentially Tanner Molendyke part deux.
That doesn't have to be a reason to not draft Reid, but it means that the Predators have to carefully plan out their picks and development. If they have the appropriate partners to pair with players like Reid and Molendyke, then there is room for both on the team. If not, well, Molendyke is already in the system, and Reid will get passed up. Maybe for a player like Blake Fiddler, one of those big defensemen we've profiled in this draft class already.