Welcome back to Top Shelf Hockey Prospects the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2017 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we look at Callan Foote.
What do you get when you combine the bloodlines of being the son of Adam Foote, with the junior hockey team with the best reputation for developing young defencemen year after year in the Kelowna Rockets? The answer is Callan Foote. After a strong rookie season last year, Foote followed it up with six goals and 57 points in 71 games this year. He has added another five points in nine playoff games as Kelowna has advanced to the WHL Western Conference Final. Canada petitioned the IIHF to allow Foote to play in the 2017 World Junior Championships, but were turned down. At the time, Foote had only played for a Canadian team, the Kelowna Rockets, for the past 16 months, not quite reaching the two-year requirement to be eligible. He should be able to play for Team Canada at the 2018 World Juniors.
Callan Foote Scouting Report: 2017 NHL Draft #19
Defense — shoots Right
Born Dec 13 1998 — Englewood, Colorado
Height 6’3″ — Weight 210 lbs [192 cm / 95 kg]
Skating
Foote is an excellent skater. He skates well in both directions, with good speed and acceleration. He also has solid pivots and edgework which allow him to cover a lot of ice, as well as to transition quickly from offense to defence, and vice-versa. His lateral agility allows him to walk the line, and to open up passing and shooting lanes. Foote is strong on his skates, with good balance and a strong lower body. This helps him in battling for pucks in the corners and in clearing the front of the net. Like most draft eligible prospects, there is room to add muscle to his frame, which should only help him as he moves up in levels.
Offensive Game
Foote has a good slap shot which he keeps low and puts on net. This allows his teammates to get deflections and rebounds. He could stand to improve the power even more though. This can comes with more muscle on his frame as well. Foote also uses his wrist shot effectively. He has a good release, and gets his shot on net when under pressure. Foote also has good poise with the puck on his stick, and the vision to quarterback things from the point on the power play. He reads the play well at both ends of the ice and has extremely good positioning. Foote understands when to sneak down from the point to take a pass, or to pinch in at the line to keep the puck in. His strong skating ability allows him to take chances and get back quickly.
He also makes an excellent first pass out of the zone, starting the transition game. Foote has the stick handling skill, and quick feet to skate the puck out of danger and create plays starting the rush.
Defensive Game
Foote isn’t quite as physical as his famous father, but Foote is still willing to play the body. Its more about battling in the corners and clearing the front of the net than throwing big open-ice hits though. He has good positioning and is willing to block shots. His large size helps him to cut down passing lanes. Foote maintains good gap control and is tough to beat one-on-one off the rush.
Foote has been known to stand up for teammates and to drop the gloves from time to time.
Potential and Comparison
Foote has the potential to be a top pairing NHL defender, but will still need time to develop. He does many things well at the junior level, but will need some time to refine his game before going to the pros. In terms of a stylistic comparison, Foote is similar to Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is not a talent comparison though, just a stylistic one.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of highlights, assembled from Youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect available on our draft board.
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