Thrower Throws Caution to the Wind

One of the more intriguing and "wildcard" prospects for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft in late June is hard-nosed, gritty defenseman Dalton Thrower of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League. The rugged defenseman not only likes to throw his body around, but is very proficient offensively as well. In 66 games this season for Saskatoon, Thrower scored 18 goals and 54 points, while also chipping in 103 penalty minutes. He also recorded 1 assist in 4 playoff games. It is the blend of scoring ability and toughness that Thrower brings to the table that makes him one of the most interesting top prospects for the 2012 Draft.
Dalton plays a fearless game, yet not reckless or undisciplined. Standing at roughly 6'0" and 200 lbs., he's not one of the bigger players in the WHL but he will drop the gloves with anyone. Thrower displays good hockey sense and distributes the puck crisply and intelligently. He's also a great skater who rushes the puck well and possesses a cannon of a slapshot. He is a good powerplay weapon on the point and will likely remain so for the duration of his career. He plays both the left and right sides effectively.
While Thrower is not one of the top defensemen in this draft in his own end, he improved greatly in that area in the 2011-12 season. He has shown that he can step up and deliver when tons of minutes are thrown at him, and he was a cornerstone of the Blades' defense corps this season paired with Colorado Avalanche prospect Duncan Siemens on the top defensive unit. Thrower has said he tries to play like Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa, and that is an honest assessment of himself. You can see the similarities. They both play a solid two-way game and like to get noticed at both ends of the ice. They both like to be chippy in their own end and can contribute offensively.
In addition to everything else Thrower brings to the table, he has also shown great leadership qualities and a tireless work ethic. It is the entire package of intangibles that Thrower can offer that NHL teams value highly. Thrower will likely be selected between #20-40 in the draft, and his impeccable work ethic and character may have quite a few general managers and scouts thinking he should go towards the higher end of that range.

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