{"id":138081,"date":"2023-06-08T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T16:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=138081"},"modified":"2023-06-20T02:00:16","modified_gmt":"2023-06-20T06:00:16","slug":"2023-nhl-draft-scouting-report-38-charlie-stramel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/06\/08\/2023-nhl-draft-scouting-report-38-charlie-stramel\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 NHL Draft Scouting Report #38: Charlie Stramel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><i>Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2023 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lastwordbkerr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>Ben Kerr<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>, <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pereira_report\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>Kyle Pereira<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> and <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mr_frans2603\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b><i>Frederik Frandson<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> 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 <\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023-nhl-entry-draft-headquarters\/\" target=\"_self\"><b><i>headquarters for everything \u201cNHL Draft\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i>! Today we bring you our Charlie Stramel Scouting Report.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-106095 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2021\/04\/TSPLogo-300x80.png\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2021\/04\/TSPLogo-300x80.png 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2021\/04\/TSPLogo-768x204.png 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2021\/04\/TSPLogo.png 1024w\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"80\"><b>Charlie Stramel Scouting Report<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charlie Stramel, born October 15th, 2004, from Rosemount, Minnesota, is a forward playing in the NCAA. The 6\u20193\u201d and 216-pound freshman for the University of Wisconsin is one of a few true freshmen eligible for this draft. That\u2019s a list that includes top prospects Gavin Brindley and Adam Fantilli. Before joining the University of Wisconsin, Stramel played for the US National Team Development Program. With the NTDP last season, he scored 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 26 games, including seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 16 USHL contests. This year, he produced five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 33 NCAA games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a modest season in the NCAA, Stramel has been ranked in the first round by a couple notable sites and experts. However, he has also been ranked as late as the third round by others. Those rankings include him being placed 19th by The Hockey News, 21st by Bob McKenzie, 32nd by Daily Faceoff, 41st by Draft Prospects Hockey, 42nd by Smaht Scouting, 43rd by Recruit Scouting, 47th by Elite Prospects, 50th by Dobber Prospects, 61st by McKeen\u2019s Hockey, 63rd by FCHockey, and 70th by Craig Button.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Charlie Stramel Deep Dive<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Centre\/Right Wing &#8212; shoots Right<br \/>\nBorn October 15th, 2004 &#8212; Rosemount, Minnesota<br \/>\nHeight 6&#8217;3&#8243; &#8212; Weight 212 lbs [191 cm\/96 kg]<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.eliteprospects.com\/iframe_player_stats.php?player=623837\" width=\"700\" height=\"435\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"yes\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most notable rankings here are McKenzie\u2019s and Button\u2019s. McKenzie\u2019s rankings largely reflect what teams think. Meanwhile, Button has been in the industry for many years and is well-respected by colleagues and executives. The fact that they are this far apart shows that there really is a massive range for Stramel to fall into. If he falls, what could make him a steal? What risks would teams have to weigh if they want to take him early?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Stramel\u2019s Skating<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stramel is a bigger prospect than most this season. Not just height-wise, but he\u2019s also one of the heaviest prospects. That\u2019s reflected in how hard it is for opponents to knock him off the puck while he\u2019s skating with it. His balance and lower body strength are very evident when watching him play. The problem with Stramel\u2019s skating, however, is similar to most prospects who are taller. His stride is awkward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It could be the fact he isn\u2019t used to his growing body just yet. Which is the case for many younger guys with larger frames. As he gets older, this aspect could sort itself out. In the meantime, his edges and top speed definitely need work. He loses speed in his turns and can\u2019t always stop on the puck quickly. He\u2019s also noticeably slower than some guys. Although that can be attributed to poor acceleration, as it takes him several strides to hit his top speed. But, NHL skating coaches, getting used to his larger frame, and working on his stride mechanics will clean this all up. He may never be a great skater, but it\u2019s unlikely it\u2019ll be the weakness it appears to be today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Offensive Abilities<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offensively, Stramel will make his money with his smarts. That includes strong anticipation and knowing where to be in the offensive zone to be an option for teammates. Additionally, it\u2019s his willingness to play at net-front, using his large frame to its fullest capabilities. With his off-puck play being strong, what can he do with the space he finds? He has a heavy shot. While he may not possess the most accurate shot just yet, that won\u2019t be hard to develop. His shot is a weapon, even now, and will only keep getting better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rest of his game, as mentioned, is based on smarts. He does not push the pace very well in a sense he doesn\u2019t challenge defenders with passes to the slot. There are other times where he has looked off dangerous passes that could\u2019ve been made. Instead, he goes for the safer and easier pass to retain possession. He does limit mistakes in that sense, and that can lead to extended offensive zone shifts. But, a more willing passing ability could add another element to his game. That, in turn, could free up more chances for his shot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Charlie Stramel\u2019s Transitional Abilities<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to Stramel\u2019s general lack of risk-taking and slower pace, to go along with below average skating to this point, his transitional game isn\u2019t great. While he can be efficient, not forcing passes and at the very least dumping the puck in to chase, it\u2019s more due to the fact he wasn\u2019t very involved. That is to be expected for a true freshman on a good team like Wisconsin. However, in the limited chances he did have to lead the rush, he didn\u2019t do much with it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moving forward, working on his skating and willingness to take more risks will go a long way to help his transitional game. Additionally, working on his stickhandling ability will allow him to take more advantage of his size, puck protection ability, and reach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Stramel\u2019s Defensive Zone Play<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to the defensive side of the game, Stramel brings solid value. For one, he plays physical, especially when containing the cycle or defending the rush. For example, when he is the first man in on the forecheck, he can make the opposition pay if they have their head down. Additionally, he does a very good job using his reach to cut off not just passing lanes, but also skating lanes, forcing them away from the middle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest value Stramel brings to the defensive zone, however, may be his play reading ability. While he isn\u2019t necessarily a game-changer in this aspect, he does an excellent job reading the eyes of the opposing puck carriers. He&#8217;s always clogging up lanes to high-danger areas. His ability to read where the puck carrier is thinking of taking the puck, and then discouraging them from taking that route or shutting it down if they do, is an excellent trait to have. It\u2019s not taught. That said, if he can improve his skating, he could be a very, very good defensive forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Charlie Stramel\u2019s Potential<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stramel doesn\u2019t exactly possess a ton of potential. He\u2019s a power forward, who\u2019s willing and able to play well in the dirty areas. He can extend offensive zone possessions by limiting turnovers, and can place himself in good spots for teammates. His shot is very good, and if he can continue to develop that further, he can be a solid goal-scorer at the NHL level. That being said, he projects more as a third line scoring forward. That, with the potential to play on both the power play and penalty kill, thanks to his 200-foot play and shooting ability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>NHL Comparison\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking at stylistic comparisons, and not projecting his future value, Stramel reminds me of two different players: Chris Kreider and Jordan Greenway. Greenway is more physical and has a bit more flash to his game than Stramel does currently. But they are similar in the way they attack with a heavy shot and great spatial awareness. Greenway also brings good value to the defensive end. Using his size, physicality and reach to break up plays, which is similar to what Stramel does.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for Kreider, his willingness to get in front and score dirty goals has turned him into a star. Again, his ability to find space in the offensive zone to allow for him to take advantage of his shot is what allowed him to also be a star. While Stramel isn\u2019t as complete in the offensive zone, his shot and ability to find space while being a net-front presence is very similar to that of Kreider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Highlights<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2023 NHL Draft : Charlie Stramel - 22-23 Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GkjlWKF6U04?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raw stats via Elite Prospects<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><em>Main Photo: Mark Stewart \/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2023 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3602,"featured_media":138084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1279,4547,4548,3462,309,3302],"tags":[7075,7747,1325,1444],"class_list":["post-138081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl-draft","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-nhl-prospects","category-nhl-top-prospects","category-ushl-ncaa","tag-2023-nhl-draft","tag-charlie-stramel","tag-college-hockey","tag-wisconsin-badgers"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3602"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}