A couple weekends ago, I travelled down to Iowa to watch my cousins play hockey in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. While I was down there I watched 3 games over a 3 day period and one prospect in specific forced me to write this article. Seamus Malone, first line centre on the Saints was amazing during the time I was down there. He was so incredible I had to write this article.
Although I can’t put an analytical view on this player or his play I feel as if just watching this kid was good enough to determine his level of skill, vision and ability. The first game I saw him play in was on Friday night against Muskegon. Although he only registered one assist he was head and shoulders above anybody else on the ice. His ability to enter the zone with control and maintain possession is incredible. When he is given the puck on a zone entry the Saints almost always maintained control. Either that or a dump in is effectively used and his fast line mates pick it up. During the game against Muskegon, he drew a breakaway, had multiple scoring chances and made some defenseman look silly after going through the legs of his own or the defenders. His ability to make plays in one on situations in unreal. Although it may not work at a professional level, it definitely works at the USHL level. All in all, I would have given him a 9/10 in his first game.
The second Game I saw him play was in Des Moines, where he came out of it with a two goal performance and his team won. Although I thought he was less effective in his second game his finishing ability was obvious. His first goal was a semi breakaway as a defenseman got caught at his own blue line. He faked shot went backhand and then tucked it five hole making it look easy. The player obviously has talent as he is in the top 20 in points in the league at number 17 with 43 games played and 43 points.
As I became more interested in the player, I watched the third game with a little more emphasis on the different parts of his game. I really noticed his ability to break out of the zone with control. That may also be credit to the coach and his surrounding players as it is the system and the execution of it. A particular thing I noticed was that when Dubuque was on the plenty kill they ran a defense with one fore checker and 3 players on their own blue line. They played Seamus as the third forward on the blue line and he handled himself very well on defense. Although he may not have the size that teams over exaggerate the need for he is a great player. The most surprising thing I heard about this kid? He went undrafted last year. He’s a ’96 that will likely enter the draft this year and I would assume that a team that is awesome for drafting people based on skill rather than size i.e. New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning. I see this kid in the 5-7 rounds so it is a late round pick but I feel that it would be a great pickup for a low pick.
Get to work Ottawa!
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