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Noah Warren Scouting Report: 2022 NHL Draft #48

Noah Warren 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 2022 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 Noah Warren Scouting Report.

Drafted by the Gatineau Olympiques with the eighth overall pick in the 2020 QMJHL Draft, defenceman Noah Warren came into the league with big expectations. The big defender never seemed to find his game in his rookie season, a year that was interrupted for big periods of time due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Warren scored just one goal and three assists for four points in 29 games. He also added one assist in four playoff games.

Things went better for Warren this season. He showed big improvements in his offensive production. Warren scored five goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 62 games. He also added one assist in seven playoff games. Warren was rewarded for his efforts with an invite to the CHL Top Prospects Game. He helped Team White to a 3-1 victory. Warren was also invited to the recent NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo, New York.

Warren’s grandfather, Raynald Boutin, played in the QMJHL in the early 1970s before bouncing around senior amateur hockey. He was a goaltender and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the ninth round, 135th overall in the 1972 NHL Draft.

Noah Warren Scouting Report

Right Defence — shoots Right
Born July 15th, 2004 — Montreal, Quebec
Height 6’5″ — Weight 224 lbs [196 cm/102 kg]

Skating

Warren is a very good skater but there are still some areas that can be improved. That said, the criticism is a bit of a nitpick, as it’s very rare to see a 6-foot-5 teenager skate the way he does. His forward stride is powerful and gives him excellent top-end speed and acceleration. Warren was one of the best in straight-line speed testing at the CHL Top Prospects Game. This allows him to cover a ton of ice and could help him to develop a better offensive game. His backwards skating is also good, though not quite at the near-elite level of his forwards skating. Warren can improve his backwards crossovers to generate even more speed.

Warren’s pivots and edgework are also very good. He can change directions quickly. This allows him to maintain good gap control and explode into a body check if an opponent tries to get around him on the outside.  He also has good agility and lateral movement. Warren is extremely strong at the junior level. While he is one of the younger players in this draft, his size and strength can make him seem a man amongst boys in the QMJHL. He wins battles on the boards and clears the front of the net. Warren should get even better in these areas as he continues to mature.

Offensive Game

Warren’s offensive game is a bit of a work in progress. He can retrieve loose pucks in his own zone and skate them out, clearing the zone effectively. He is also decent at carrying the puck through the neutral zone, though he doesn’t do this often, instead he often looks to pass the puck up to one of the forwards. Inside the offensive zone there is some work to be done. His shot lacks power and he doesn’t do the best job of moving laterally and opening up passing lanes. He also is not the most creative passer. Warren looks to move the puck quickly and usually keeps things around the perimeter. While his numbers went up a bit this year, this is likely not going to be the strength of his game.

Defensive Game

Warren plays a strong physical game in his own end of the rink. He uses his plus skating to defend against the rush and maintain his gap control. Warren loves to hit and with his size he is able to be absolutely devastating with some of his checks. If a forward comes down his side of the ice, Warren can explode into the hit. He needs to be a bit more disciplined at times though, as he can take penalties or get himself out of position looking for that hit. Warren is good at winning battles along the boards and clearing the front of the net as well.

He also does a good job of using his size and his long stick to cut down passing lanes. Warren is strong positionally and is not afraid to use his big frame to block shots. He reads the play well, anticipating attacks and cutting them off. He is very good at stepping up at the blue line and denying the opponent an easy zone entry.

Projection and Comparison

With his size, skating ability and mean streak, Warren is an intriguing prospect for NHL teams. He may not be the flashiest player and there likely won’t be a lot of power-play time in his pro career but he can still grow to be an effective part of a winning lineup. Warren could become a shut-down stay-at-home defender capable of playing top-four minutes and killing penalties if he reaches his potential. He likely needs a bit more time in the QMJHL and AHL though. His game is reminiscent of Scott Mayfield. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one that is based on skill and ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Noah Warren that are available on youtube and Twitter.

 

Check back tomorrow for our latest 2022 NHL Draft Article.

 

Noah Warren Scouting Report Main Photo:

Embed from Getty Images

KITCHENER, ONTARIO – MARCH 23: Noah Warren #6 of Team White skates during the morning skate prior to the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022, in Kitchener, Ontario. (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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