Jared Hauf THW Close-Up:
Date of birth: 1995-Mar-6
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 216 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defenseman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2013 1st year eligible
Twitter: @Jared_Hauf
THW The Next Ones Rankings (Final Top 210): 126th
Other Rankings:
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[NHL 2013 Draft Guide – The Next Ones Draft Headquarters: Your quintessential draft resource]
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Hauf: Big Defenseman With Big Potential
Seattle’s Jared Hauf got his junior hockey baptism by fire in 2011-2012. At only 16-years-old and on a team that found itself lacking depth on the blue line Hauf was asked to play a lot of minutes over 56 games. He took his lumps, as is to be expected for a player that young playing in a league like the WHL, but he managed to come out the other side as an NHL prospect.
The first thing that stands out about Hauf is his NHL ready size. Standing at 6’6″ tall Hauf is an imposing looking figure patrolling Seattle’s blue line. After a rookie year that saw him get spun around a lot by quicker forwards Hauf learned from his mistakes last year and saw his plus/minus drop from -38 to -18. Even that number is a bit misleading as he really improved in the later half of the season.
Hauf is not the fleetest of skaters on the ice but has a tremendous reach and he knows how to use that to help neutralize the quicker players he has to take on. He is the quintessential stay-at-home defenseman as he has not displayed an offensive knack. He failed to score a goal last year and registered 11 assists – but his offense is not what is going to get him drafted. Hauf has the potential to be a bruising defenseman that could work his way into an NHL pairing.
While he is never going to be a big scorer it would be nice to see Hauf develop a slap shot. With his frame he should be able to develop a big time shot that will help him advance at the next level. Offense may not be his strong suit but he does make a good first pass and is more than just a ‘bang it off the glass’ defenseman. He can get the play started safely out of his own end.
Where He’ll Land in June:
Hauf will get drafted later this month. While he will not be a point producer his size and skill are too enticing for the NHL to pass up. With his size and potential for physical play he can become an intimidating presence on any team’s blue line. Look for him to be drafted in the later rounds – most likely the fourth round.
Scout’s Honour:
“A giant 6-foot-6 defensive defenseman, Hauf is able to shutdown one entire half of the defensive zone because of his long strides, large wingspan and impressive strength. Like many big defensemen, the Calgary product will need to continue refining his agility but currently displays decent mobility with strong defensive hockey smarts and physical gifts to keep even the more skilled forwards contained against the boards. He also has surprisingly decent hands for a big man to play a safe and mistake-free game.” – Dan Chan – Future Considerations
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Statistics:
Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):
ETA :
3-4years
Risk-Reward Analysis:
Risk = 4/5 Reward = 3/5
NHL Potential:
Solid stay-at-home defenseman who will be physical and not make mistakes with the puck
Strengths:
- Size
- Long reach
- Physically strong
- Makes smart plays
- Good first pass out of the zone
Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:
- Quickness
- Slap shot
NHL Player(s) Comparison:
Hal Gill
Video(s):
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THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph