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Josh Doan Scouting Report: 2021 NHL Draft #77

Josh Doan 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 Josh Doan Scouting Report.

The son of former NHLer Shane Doan, Josh Doan went undrafted in the 2020 NHL Draft. He struggled in his first season with the Chicago Steel playing in the bottom-six of a stacked team in 2019-20. Doan scored just five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 45 games. The Steel would finish first in the USHL, but the COVID pandemic cancelled the playoffs.

This season, the Steel were again a strong team. However, with some graduations amongst the 2019-20 forward group, Josh Doan was given a much bigger role. He thrived with the added minutes and responsibility. Doan scored 31 goals and 39 assists for 70 points in 53 games. The Steel didn’t miss a beat, again finishing with the best record in the USHL. This time though, they would get to chase the Clark Cup in the USHL Playoffs. Doan and the Steel did not disappoint. He picked up two goals and three assists for five points in eight playoff games as the Steel took home the Cup. Doan will be staying close to home next year. He is committed to playing Division One hockey for the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Josh Doan Scouting Report

Right Wing — shoots Right
Born February 1st, 2002 — Scottsdale, Arizona
Height 6’1″ — Weight 183 lbs [185 cm / 83 kg]

Skating

Doan really improved his skating over the last year. One particular area of improvement was his first few steps and his acceleration. Doan is a lot better at winning short races to loose pucks. He also has the ability to change speeds when attacking defenders. He uses this as a weapon, fooling defenders and getting into open spaces. Doan will probably never be considered a speedster but his strong stride allows him to keep up with the play. Doan also has good edgework and agility. He changes directions quickly, cutting into open space. Doan is also strong on his skates for his age. He wins battles in front of the net as well as along the boards. This should continue to improve as he matures physically.

Offensive Game

Doan plays a similar power game to his father. He has an excellent wrist shot and a very quick release. His shot is very powerful as well as accurate. Doan loves to shoot, and will do so anytime he gets the opportunity. He also loves to drive the puck to the net. He will take a defender wide and then drop his shoulder and get to the front of the net. Doan also has the soft hands to finish in close when he gets there. He is not afraid to get involved in physical play. Doan is very good at getting in quickly on the forecheck and pressuring defenders into making mistakes. He is also not afraid to get to the front of the net without the puck. Doan can score rebounds and tip-ins.

While he is a shoot-first player, Doan can also play the role of playmaker. He has good stickhandling ability. This allows him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and generate effective zone entries. He is also good at protecting the puck down low and working in the cycle game. Doan has good vision. When he sees the opportunity to set up a teammate, he is able to pass the puck through tight openings to make it happen. His quick hands also allow him to make quick moves to open up passing lanes.

Defensive Game

Doan is a smart defensive player. He brings his willingness to play physically to all three zones. Doan supports the defence down low as well as bringing good backpressure against the rush. He also wins a lot of battles on the boards. Doan still needs some work away from the puck though. He can get too aggressive chasing down a puck carrier and lose his man. He also needs a bit of work on cutting down passing lanes. Once a turnover is created, Doan is good at quickly getting the puck up the ice and starting the transition game.

Projection and Comparison

Doan could become a middle-six winger if he continues his development. Heading to Arizona State University, he will get plenty of time to continue to add muscle to his frame as well as continue to develop his skating. With solid bloodlines, he will be a hot commodity on draft day and it’s highly unlikely that he goes undrafted a second time. In terms of comparison, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Josh Doan’s game is reminiscent of his father Shane Doan. This is a stylistic comparison only, not one based on skill and ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Josh Doan that are available on youtube as well as Twitter.

 

Check back later for our latest NHL Draft article.

 

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