E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Reece Scarlett #87

By Eldon MacDonald

87. Reece Scarlett - “Bucked Bronco” - D - Canada

Vitals: Size - 6’1”, 168 lb.; shoots right; Born 31-Mar-93 - Sherwood Park, AB
Team: Swift Current, WHL
2010-11Stats: 72-6-18-24-59-(-37)

Rankings:
72 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (57th North American skater)
72 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
87 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
100 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
Draft result:
159 - New Jersey Devils

Reece Scarlett is a guy I really, really like who, lets face it, had an awful, awful time of it this year. I really like him because he is so fluid with his skating and his long arms seem to reach out to everywhere and he makes some sweet passes up ice. However, this Bronco was on a terrible, terrible Bronco hockey team and got bucked and gored more than a few times. Because the team was so awful, Reece ended up playing half the game including power play, penalty kill and most critical situations. So, Reece who is of slight build anyways ended up getting gassed and being part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

I still believe that teams are smart enough to see the potential of this guy if he can bulk up enough not to get pushed around in the dirty areas and is developed properly. I had him as a late second rounder earlier in the year but he will be penalized at least a little for his performance so he is more likely to be a third or early fourth rounder.