2019 NHL Draft Profile #4- Dylan Kruss
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| (Photo Credit: A1 Hockey Advancements/Instagram) |
Ed. Note: With the 2019 NHL Draft just days away, all of my posts in the month of June will be focused on unranked yet intriguing prospects eligible to be selected in Vancouver later this month.
Heading from New England to Illinois on our roadtrip through some of hockey's less-travelled locales, we land at yet another prep school off the beaten path. Today's featured prospect is notable not just for his accomplishments on the ice, but also his ties to a people who have have been well-represented in the NHL throughout history -- and for whom he will hope to one day carry on a proud if largely unknown tradition.
How about Andre Burakowsky, Mike Cammalleri or Zach Hyman?
Would it surprise you that all six share a rather unique trait, at least where pro hockey is concerned?
Before we get into that, let's meet today's under-the-radar prospect. If you were to ask most goaltenders if they'd be satisfied with a season at or just above 2.00 GAA, you'd likely get a strange look in return -- and for good reason. Even the best netminders in the world struggle to post such a statline over an entire season. In the CHL this year alone, only seven goalies accomplished the feat -- and just one of them, 2018-draft eligible Dustin Wolf, played more than 50 games.
That's what makes Thornhill, Ontario native Dylan Kruss' 2018-19 season so remarkable. A sophomore at Illinois' Lake Forest Academy- whose only recent NHL alum of note are Alex DeBrincat and Teddy Purcell- Kruss posted not only some of the gaudiest numbers by a goalie in the 2019 class, but some of the best ever by a prep school netminder:
Would it surprise you that all six share a rather unique trait, at least where pro hockey is concerned?
Before we get into that, let's meet today's under-the-radar prospect. If you were to ask most goaltenders if they'd be satisfied with a season at or just above 2.00 GAA, you'd likely get a strange look in return -- and for good reason. Even the best netminders in the world struggle to post such a statline over an entire season. In the CHL this year alone, only seven goalies accomplished the feat -- and just one of them, 2018-draft eligible Dustin Wolf, played more than 50 games.
That's what makes Thornhill, Ontario native Dylan Kruss' 2018-19 season so remarkable. A sophomore at Illinois' Lake Forest Academy- whose only recent NHL alum of note are Alex DeBrincat and Teddy Purcell- Kruss posted not only some of the gaudiest numbers by a goalie in the 2019 class, but some of the best ever by a prep school netminder:
| Secret Scout Profile | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Dylan Kruss |
| Ht/Wt: | 6'3, 179 lbs |
| Position: | G |
| 2018-19 Team: | Lake Forest Academy Caxys (US-Prep) |
| 2018-19 Stats: | 33 GP, 1.44 GAA, 0.942 Sv% |
Keeping your opponents to less than 1.5 goals a game would be considered impressive over the span of two or three contests, never mind thirty. But is it really the best prep season ever?
Well, when you factor in Kruss' play in the Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL) this year, it certainly could be. Although the MPHL has seen its fair share of NHL talent over the years -- which we'll get into later this week -- it's debatable whether the league's overall level of competition is all that far ahead of a top Midget AAA or Junior B circuit. Regardless, what Kruss managed to do was almost inhuman; in ten games against MPHL teams, the lanky netminder posted five shutouts and allowed just nine total goals for an unbelievable 0.71 GAA.
Kruss' year did not go unnoticed among recruiters; from their cross-border series against the MPHL to a NAHL showcase tournament earlier in the year to playing against highly-ranked programs such as Shattuck St. Mary's, the Caxys (the Greek word for the sound a frog makes, if you're wondering) were consistently scouted at and by all levels. For Kruss, that eventually paid off with a commitment to a Tier II program that has a healthy history of churning out NHLers:
Well, when you factor in Kruss' play in the Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL) this year, it certainly could be. Although the MPHL has seen its fair share of NHL talent over the years -- which we'll get into later this week -- it's debatable whether the league's overall level of competition is all that far ahead of a top Midget AAA or Junior B circuit. Regardless, what Kruss managed to do was almost inhuman; in ten games against MPHL teams, the lanky netminder posted five shutouts and allowed just nine total goals for an unbelievable 0.71 GAA.
Kruss' year did not go unnoticed among recruiters; from their cross-border series against the MPHL to a NAHL showcase tournament earlier in the year to playing against highly-ranked programs such as Shattuck St. Mary's, the Caxys (the Greek word for the sound a frog makes, if you're wondering) were consistently scouted at and by all levels. For Kruss, that eventually paid off with a commitment to a Tier II program that has a healthy history of churning out NHLers:
Although the USPHL- short for United States Premier Hockey League- may not be a familiar name, if you happened to watch a single minute of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, there's a good chance the South Shore Kings were mentioned at least once. Having entered the USPHL after the Eastern Junior Hockey League folded in 2013, the Kings were once a regional hotbed for Boston-area talent- including two members of the hometown Bruins, Noel Acciari and Charlie Coyle.
Despite being a step or so below the USHL on the Tier II ladder, Kruss' commitment represents a significant step forward in his young hockey career. But as with Jared Buckner, another prep prospect profiled earlier on this blog, there is a strong possibility that the tall, athletic keeper spends yet another year at the prep school level. After all, the teen is not slated to graduate from Lake Forest until 2020. What does that mean for his development?
As it happens, there's another netminder who followed almost the exact same path to the NHL just a couple states over. At the same age, future All-Star and Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck had just completed his junior year at Michigan's Walled Lake Northern -- a Detroit-area prep school competing in the Keningston Lakes Activities Association (KLAA).
Earning a fourth-team All-County nod in what would have been his draft year, although stats are not available for his high school career, Hellebuyck apparently did not have a great 18-year-old season; in Sportsnet's comprehensive Big Reads article on Hellebuyck's rise to the NHL, his junior year was even described as "mediocre". It was later revealed that the writer who named him to his county all-star list hadn't even seen him play, instead relying on word of mouth.
Despite those two wrinkles, there is still a valid comparison to be made; with nearly-identical physiques at the same age- Hellebuyck was 6'4 185 lbs at age 19, Kruss 6'3, 179- the two look poised to follow almost identical developmental paths:
Despite being a step or so below the USHL on the Tier II ladder, Kruss' commitment represents a significant step forward in his young hockey career. But as with Jared Buckner, another prep prospect profiled earlier on this blog, there is a strong possibility that the tall, athletic keeper spends yet another year at the prep school level. After all, the teen is not slated to graduate from Lake Forest until 2020. What does that mean for his development?
As it happens, there's another netminder who followed almost the exact same path to the NHL just a couple states over. At the same age, future All-Star and Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck had just completed his junior year at Michigan's Walled Lake Northern -- a Detroit-area prep school competing in the Keningston Lakes Activities Association (KLAA).
Earning a fourth-team All-County nod in what would have been his draft year, although stats are not available for his high school career, Hellebuyck apparently did not have a great 18-year-old season; in Sportsnet's comprehensive Big Reads article on Hellebuyck's rise to the NHL, his junior year was even described as "mediocre". It was later revealed that the writer who named him to his county all-star list hadn't even seen him play, instead relying on word of mouth.
| Secret Scout Head-to-Head | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Connor Hellebuyck | Dylan Kruss |
| Draft Year | ? (USHS) | 33 GP, 1.44 GAA, 0.942 Sv% (USHS) |
| D+1 | ? (USHS) | ? (USHS) |
| D+2 | 53 GP, 2.49 GAA, 0.930 Sv% (NAHL) | ? (USPHL) |
| D+3 | 23 GP, 1.37 GAA, 0.952 Sv% (NCAA) | ? |
While the USPHL is a tick or two below the NAHL on the hockey ladder, at the same point in his career, Hellebuyck's best offer was from a Tier III NA3HL team; it's certainly possible a team at the NAHL level or higher makes Kruss an offer later on that he can't refuse. However, even if he remains committed to the USPHL, there will be plenty of opportunity to attract interest from the NCAA; his division is, after all, called the National Collegiate Development Conference, or NCDC.
The question is, does he have the ability?
Although we don't have a quote to segue us into the scouting report, they say a picture's worth a thousand words -- so let's take a look at some video:
"Desperation" is as good a word as any to describe that stop. But while acrobatics are certainly a part of his toolkit, the majority of the time, Kruss is a stand-out by virtue of what he is not doing -- moving. By combining a wide, aggressive stance with his big frame, Kruss is able to shut down most scoring opportunities without having to leave his feet. A practiced puck-tracker, his vision and understanding of the play further feeds into his low-risk, positionally-sound game.
However, when needed, Kruss is able to quickly snap from post to post thanks to his fluid skating and powerful lateral push-offs. Seemingly aware of where every inch of his frame is at all times, the lanky netminder's spatial awareness is particularly impressive given his rapid rate of growth over the last two years; as recently as Midget, Kruss was closer to 6'0 than 6'4. That he has not only become comfortable with his size but now actively uses it to his advantage is impressive.
What Kruss will need to work on to maximize his talents is everything between his chin and hips; while not challenged to make the big glove save or blocker stop against prep school competition all that often, his reliance on positioning and padwork will change as the game gets faster and the players more skilled. In addition, his puckhandling skills could use refinement; content just to shovel it around the net, he will be even more of an asset if he develops a softer touch.
Will Kruss be drafted this year? Like Buckner, it's a distinct possibility; he already possesses the requisite size and fundamentals to be a potential pro, with only further refinement and physical maturation necessary. Already, you would not be amiss if you mistook him for a major junior-calibre goaltender. However, if an NHL club does, they would be wise to let him follow the Prep to Tier II route ala Hellebuyck to give him the most development time possible.
Returning to prep will also allow Kruss to once again participate in the Maccabiah Games. The what? To bring us back to the riddle at the beginning of this post, Mathieu Schneider, Mike Brown, Jason Zucker, Andre Burakowsky, Mike Cammalleri, Zach Hyman and a handful of other current and former NHLers are all practicing Jews. The Maccabiah Games are Israel's own Olympics, with nations invited to form teams of Jewish athletes in various disciplines.
The president of Lake Forest's Jewish Student Union, Kruss has not only represented Team Canada at the Maccabiah Games, but won gold. Although his opportunities to represent Judaism may become few and far between as he ascends up the hockey ladder, in taking after Connor Hellebuyck, he has an opportunity to not only become a role model for goaltenders taking an unconventional road to the NHL but also to those who share his faith as well. Yishar koach, Dylan!
The question is, does he have the ability?
Although we don't have a quote to segue us into the scouting report, they say a picture's worth a thousand words -- so let's take a look at some video:
A1's Dylan Kruss '01 with the potential #saveoftheyear #desperationsave #krussy #6foot2 #richmondhill #coyotes #AAA #OMHA #prepbound pic.twitter.com/bzmmxq1YjR— Chad Liley (@A1Advancements) 23 December 2016
"Desperation" is as good a word as any to describe that stop. But while acrobatics are certainly a part of his toolkit, the majority of the time, Kruss is a stand-out by virtue of what he is not doing -- moving. By combining a wide, aggressive stance with his big frame, Kruss is able to shut down most scoring opportunities without having to leave his feet. A practiced puck-tracker, his vision and understanding of the play further feeds into his low-risk, positionally-sound game.
However, when needed, Kruss is able to quickly snap from post to post thanks to his fluid skating and powerful lateral push-offs. Seemingly aware of where every inch of his frame is at all times, the lanky netminder's spatial awareness is particularly impressive given his rapid rate of growth over the last two years; as recently as Midget, Kruss was closer to 6'0 than 6'4. That he has not only become comfortable with his size but now actively uses it to his advantage is impressive.
What Kruss will need to work on to maximize his talents is everything between his chin and hips; while not challenged to make the big glove save or blocker stop against prep school competition all that often, his reliance on positioning and padwork will change as the game gets faster and the players more skilled. In addition, his puckhandling skills could use refinement; content just to shovel it around the net, he will be even more of an asset if he develops a softer touch.
Will Kruss be drafted this year? Like Buckner, it's a distinct possibility; he already possesses the requisite size and fundamentals to be a potential pro, with only further refinement and physical maturation necessary. Already, you would not be amiss if you mistook him for a major junior-calibre goaltender. However, if an NHL club does, they would be wise to let him follow the Prep to Tier II route ala Hellebuyck to give him the most development time possible.
Returning to prep will also allow Kruss to once again participate in the Maccabiah Games. The what? To bring us back to the riddle at the beginning of this post, Mathieu Schneider, Mike Brown, Jason Zucker, Andre Burakowsky, Mike Cammalleri, Zach Hyman and a handful of other current and former NHLers are all practicing Jews. The Maccabiah Games are Israel's own Olympics, with nations invited to form teams of Jewish athletes in various disciplines.
The president of Lake Forest's Jewish Student Union, Kruss has not only represented Team Canada at the Maccabiah Games, but won gold. Although his opportunities to represent Judaism may become few and far between as he ascends up the hockey ladder, in taking after Connor Hellebuyck, he has an opportunity to not only become a role model for goaltenders taking an unconventional road to the NHL but also to those who share his faith as well. Yishar koach, Dylan!
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