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Ethan Del Mastro Scouting Report: 2021 NHL Draft #60

Ethan Del Mastro Scouting Report

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 2021 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 “2021 NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Ethan Del Mastro Scouting Report. 

Drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection Draft, defenceman Ethan Del Mastro has not put up big numbers to this point in his junior hockey career. A big part of that is the fact he did not get big minutes and was not used in offensive situations as a 16-year-old rookie. He put up seven assists in 57 OHL games. Del Mastro also made Team Canada Black at the Under-17 World Hockey Championships. He was held scoreless in five tournament games.

Ethan Del Mastro did not get the chance to put up offensive numbers in the OHL in 2020-21 as the league’s entire season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Unlike some of his fellow top prospects, Del Mastro did not go overseas to play. He also played for Team Canada for the IIHF Under-18 World Championships in Plano, Texas. Del Mastro picked up two assists in seven tournament games. He also helped Canada to the gold medal. His older brother Liam Del Mastro, 20, plays junior hockey with the Brampton Admirals in the OJHL.

Ethan Del Mastro Scouting Report

Left Defence — shoots Left
Born January 15th, 2003 — Freelton, Ontario
Height 6’4″ — Weight 210 lbs [193 cm / 95 kg]

Skating

Coming in at 6-foot-4, Del Mastro also has outstanding skating for his size. He is extremely mobile and this makes him extremely good defensively and can help him develop his offensive game. He has a strong and powerful stride. This gives him very good speed and acceleration in both directions. He also has very good agility and edgework. This allows Del Mastro to maintain good gap control. He also has strong pivots, allowing him to transition from offence to defence and vice-versa. Del Mastro is also strong on his skates for his age, playing physically and winning battles on the boards and in front of the net. As he continues to add muscle to his frame, this should continue to improve.

Offensive Game

Del Mastro may have a bit more offensive potential than he has shown so far. His strong skating would allow him to join the rush or pinch in at the blue line. He also shows decent passing skills from his own end. Del Mastro is effective at starting the transition game. He has also shown flashes of good passing skills in the offensive zone. Del Mastro could stand to be more confident and poised with the puck at the blue line. When he takes his time, he can see the offensive opportunity and make a play. However, if he rushes, he seems to make a safe play to the outside rather than making a creative play.

Del Mastro needs some work on his shot though. It may improve as he gets stronger, but he lacks some power and accuracy on his slap shot. Del Mastro tends to use his wrist shot more often. He will try to sneak in from the blue line and let it go at the top of the circles. Del Mastro also does a good job of keeping his shot low to let teammates get a screen, pounce on rebounds, or deflect the shot. However he could use a quicker release. It can take Del Mastro a bit to load it up though and this gives goalies time to anticipate the shot and be in a position to make the save.

Defensive Game

Del Mastro plays a physical and aggressive game in his end of the rink. He maintains good gap control. Once the opportunity presents itself, Del Mastro steps up to throw a big hit. He is also not afraid to engage opponents. He wins battles on the boards as well as in front of the net. Del Mastro is good at confronting his man in the cycle and keeping him to the outside. With his long stick, Del Castro cuts down passing lanes. He is also not afraid to use his body to block shots. Del Mastro moves the puck effectively, starting the transition with a good pass as well as skating away from forecheckers.

Projection and Comparison

Del Mastro’s combination of size, skating ability, and physicality make him an intriguing prospect for a number of NHL teams. There may not be a lot of offence in his game, but he could play a top-four role as a shut-down defender and key penalty killer if he reaches his potential. These types of defenders usually take a bit of extra development, so he should be a long-term project. Del Mastro will have the opportunity to be a top pair player for the Steelheads for the next two years and may get time to develop his offensive game. His game is reminiscent of Ben Chiarot. This is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Ethan Del Mastro that are available on youtube and Twitter.

 

Check back later for our latest draft article.

 

Ethan Del Mastro Scouting Report Main Photo:

Embed from Getty Images

OSHAWA, ON – NOVEMBER 28: Ethan Del Mastro #77 of the Mississauga Steelheads looks on prior to a face-off during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on November 28, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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