Welcome back to Top Shelf 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 2020 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 Ian Moore.
Concord, Massachusetts native Ian Moore was drafted by the USHL’s Chicago Steel and the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, but he opted to continue to play high school hockey for St. Mark’s. The defender put up 12 goals and 34 assists for 46 points in just 28 games with the team and was named to the USHS First Team All-New England Team (East). He also appeared in one game for the US National Team Development Program. Moore also played two games for the Boston Jr. Bruins in the NCDC, as well as 10 games for the Boston Little Bruins in the EHF Under-18. He scored six goals and five assists for 11 points. Moore played for Team Kelly at the USA Hockey S-17 Selection Camp. He put up one goal in five games.
Moore also spent the 2017-18 season with St. Mark’s. He put up 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 31 games. Moore has indicated that he will play for the Steel in the USHL next year. He will then move up to NCAA Hockey, where he is expected to join the Harvard Crimson for the 2021-22 season.
Ian Moore Scouting Report
Defence — shoots Right
Born January 4th, 2002 — Concord, Massachusetts
Height 6’3″ — Weight 171 lbs [191 cm/78 kg]
Skating
Moore is an excellent skater and this allows him to play a solid two-way game. He moves very well in both directions as he has excellent speed. He also has a smooth stride with a good first step and strong acceleration. Moore has very good agility and edgework. He gets around the ice well and his lateral movement helps open opportunities in the offensive end and makes him difficult to beat in the defensive end. Moore could stand to get stronger. While it hasn’t been a huge issue in the games we have watched as he’s playing lesser competition, his frame still looks a bit lanky. He will likely need to add muscle to play at higher levels.
Offensive Game
Moore combines his strong skating with strong stickhandling. This gives him the ability to carry the puck out of his own end as well as to rush the puck through the neutral zone. He generates effective zone entries and sets up the play. With his skating, he can join the rush or pinch in at the blue line and still get back defensively. That may not be true at higher levels of hockey though. He does a good job of keeping his head up and finding teammates with a pass. This is true both in starting the breakout and in quarterbacking the play in the offensive zone. He is quick to move the puck up the ice and is always trying to create an offensive opportunity.
Moore could use some work on his shot. He needs to get stronger and add more power to his slap shot in order to be able to beat goalies at the next level. His wrist shot is accurate, but he will also need to improve his release here. His ability to move laterally allows Moore to open up shooting lanes and get his shot on the net. He would be well served to make sure he keeps his shots low and puts his teammates in position to get deflections and screens.
Defensive Game
Moore’s good skating allows him to play a strong game in his own end. He maintains good gap control and is tough to beat in one-on-one situations. A quick stick allows him to steal the puck from opponents. While he is not a big hitter, he is willing to be physical in the corners and in front of the net. Moore will need to keep getting stronger to play this style at the next level. He is quick at moving the puck up the ice when a turnover is created. His quick skating also helps him to get back quickly and retrieve loose pucks, quickly getting the puck out of the zone and limiting the opponent’s zone time.
Projection and Comparison
Moore has looked dominant at the high school level. In his game with the US NTDP, he looked good considering that it was his first appearance with the team. He clearly has skill but is going to be a long term project as he must bulk up and learn to use his skills in faster-paced games at a higher level. Moore’s game is reminiscent of Erik Gustaffson, however, this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and potential.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Ian Moore that are available on youtube and twitter.
Doing some more high school work on RHD Ian Moore, who was ranked 47th by Central Scouting.
Don't feel comfortable ranking him yet because I need more viewings, but there's a lot to like here. Wirey 6'3" frame with a lot of room to grow, and quite mobile as well #2020NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/UZYtpJgMPt
— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) May 13, 2020
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.
Ian Moore Main Photo:
We have added defenseman Ian Moore in advance of tonight’s game. Welcome, Ian! pic.twitter.com/GGgOmHhX6Y
— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) January 31, 2020
