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Tristan Broz Scouting Report: 2021 NHL Draft #66

Tristan Broz 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 “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Tristan Broz Scouting Report. 

Drafted in the ninth round, 142nd Overall, in the 2018 USHL Draft, forward Tristan Broz has turned into a draft steal for the Fargo Force. An alternate captain on the team, Broz scored 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 54 games with the team this year. He also put up three goals and eight assists for 11 points in eight playoff games. Broz helped the Force reach the Clark Cup Final. Unfortunately, they lost the Championship Series to the Chicago Steel by three games to one.

Broz was also a key member of the team in 2019-20. He scored 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 48 games before the season was shut down. Broz was awarded a spot on the USHL Second All-Rookie Team for his efforts. Broz played just six regular-season games with the Force in 2018-19 but showed his potential picking up a goal and four points. He also played in two playoff games. Broz spent most of the season playing high-school hockey, putting up 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points in 25 games with Blake. He is committed to playing for the University of Minnesota next year.

Tristan Broz Scouting Report

Centre/Left Wing — shoots Left
Born October 10th, 2002 — Bloomington, Minnesota
Height 6’0″ — Weight 178 lbs [183 cm / 81 kg]

Skating

Overall Broz is a solid skater but there are some improvements he can make in his game. He is more quick than fast, with an excellent first step and very good acceleration. However, over long distances, Broz’s top-end speed is merely slightly above average. If he can work on his knee bend, this is an area that can really improve in the coming years. His agility and edgework are excellent though. Broz is very dangerous in tight spaces. He can make a quick change or direction and quickly change speeds to get away from a defender and create space. He also needs to continue to gain muscle as he matures. Broz does a decent job of fighting through checks and being strong on the puck at the junior level, but this will be challenged as he continues to move forward.

Offensive Game

Broz has many of the skills necessary to make an offensive impact at the next level but needs continued refinements in his game. He marries his skating ability with excellent stickhandling. He is able to control the puck as well as make plays while still making those quick changes in direction or darting into open space. Broz also has very good vision and passing skills. He can find an open teammate and pass the puck through tight areas in order to create a scoring chance. Broz controls the puck well, using his stickhandling to protect it. He is effective in the neutral zone, leading the rush as well as generating efficient zone entries.

Broz can also play the role of a goal scorer. He has an excellent wrist shot and snapshot. Broz gets them off with a quick release and can fool goaltenders by varying the angle on that release. Broz also has a very good one-timer. He does a good job of adjusting his feet to imperfect passes and still getting his shot off. The criticism is that Broz will spend too much time playing on the perimeter and not get to the dirty areas of the ice enough. When he goes to the net, he is effective. He has the soft hands to finish in tight to the goal. However, he is not consistent in getting to those areas both with and without the puck. Broz also needs to improve his physical engagement along the boards when fighting for loose pucks.

Defensive Game

Broz also shows a good defensive game. He is conscientious about getting back to support the defence against the cycle. Broz is not overly physical but will use his size to contain his man. He could work on winning more battles on the boards though. He also takes good angles and supports the defence with back pressure against the rush. Broz is strong positionally and uses his active stick to cut down passing lanes. He is also willing to block shots. Broz does a good job of keeping himself between his man and the net when defending away from the puck. When a turnover is created, Broz is good a transitioning the puck out of the defensive zone and pushing the offence quickly.

Projection and Comparison

Broz could become an effective two-way player at the NHL level if he is able to reach his potential. Some time in the NCAA is ideal though. Broz will get the opportunity to improve his top-end speed. With the lighter NCAA schedule, he will also have the opportunity to bulk up in the weight room. This could lead to Broz being more effective on the boards as well as more willing to drive the net. If he can make these improvements in his game, he could develop into a middle-six forward capable of playing in all situations. If he continues to play on the perimeter, he could end up playing on the wing at the next level. Broz’s game is similar to Casey Mittelstadt but 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 Tristan Broz that are available on youtube as well as Twitter.

https://twitter.com/dylan_krill/status/1388296396521066498

https://twitter.com/dathockeydoe/status/1335293827611934721

https://twitter.com/USHL/status/1195151145422987264

https://twitter.com/PodStreetGove/status/1387853593873731590

 

Check back later for our latest draft article.

 

Tristan Broz Scouting Report Main Photo:

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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