Every team needs minute munching defenders if they want to be truly competitive and that could be exactly what the Leafs would get if they use the 23rd selection of the draft to take Emery.
EJ Emery
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 185lbs
EJ Emery is a pure athlete, as his results at the NHL Combine this past week can attest:
It’s possible that Emery should have chosen basketball as his go-to sport, but hockey is lucky to have him. He placed high in wing span, body fat percentage and agility testing as well as a few others, and has made a name for himself as being a big, strong defender that is difficult to play against.
Emery isn’t the most physical defenseman, but his skating and speed, combined with a long reach and high defensive IQ allow him to break up plays at an alarming rate. His gap control and ability to close on defenders quickly project him to be a top 4 defensive defender that can play against top competition.
If anything about his game needs work it’s his offensive instincts. He can make breakout passes efficiently enough, but he doesn’t create much in the offensive zone. His goal totals are non-existent. Through 61 games with the U.S. National U18 team of the USHL he registered 0 goals and 16 assists. He also dressed for 27 contests with the USNTDP Juniors of the USHL and again registered 0 goals, this time with 6 assists. Lastly, he played 7 games at the U18 WJC and scored 0 goals while contributing 6 assists. You’d almost think he would have fluked into a goal through that many games, but his default is to retrieve the puck, get it to his teammates and reset to play more defense. If paired with a puck rushing/offensive defender he would allow them the time and space to comfortably play their game, acting as a safety blanket of sorts.
I’m not sure if the fans in Leafs Nation know of any defenders that fit that bill though, do they?