Stuart Percy
Date of Birth: May 18, 1993
Hometown: Oakville, ON
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 186
Shoots: Left
Position: Defence
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2011
One Timer:
If Stuart Percy were to be compared to a food dish then the reliable mistake-free defenseman might best resemble the warm comforting winter stew that grandmother serves after a hard day of work. There is nothing too flashy or exciting to a good stew and it is difficult to mess up but it is one of the more satisfying dishes you can eat. Stu Percy plays the game like a good hearty stew.
Entering his draft eligible season, Percy didn’t find himself among those listed in the NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings. It’s quite apparent that his omission served as a motivator as Percy increased his stock and play as the season rolled along. Known for his reliable and smart game, Percy improved significantly as his Mississauga Majors continued on their Memorial Cup run and became a vital part of the team’s success. The Oakville native will not excite you with his style of play but teams and scouts are attracted to his well-rounded dependable approach to the game.
Central Scouting has Percy ranked 53rd among North American skaters but after a strong Memorial Cup there is a chance he is selected in the late first round but it’s expected he will fall within the second round. The young defenseman admits that his defensive skills will be the keys to NHL success but Percy has shown flashes of offensive brilliance that have some scouts thinking there’s some untapped offensive skill to his game. The team who selects Percy will be doing so in hopes of him becoming a number three or four puckmoving defenseman that can log big minutes. One of the biggest criticisms of Percy is that he doesn’t excel in any one part of the game and is just average in all areas. Percy will make an excellent second round selection as his ability to make good outlet passes using his well-developed on-ice vision and tendency to bring a calming influence to a team’s backend is a valuable commodity.
Top Prospects Game
Stuart Percy skated for Team Orr’s winning team but failed to reach the scoresheet.
Statistics:
Scout’s Honour:
-TSN Scout Grant McCagg,
“Strengths – Smart, steady defender with solid puck-moving skills. Excellent poise and vision, rarely makes a glaring mistake. Good gap control and solid positionally. Reads the play well, exemplary work ethic and leadership qualities. Good vision and passing skills. Weaknesses – Not physically punishing, foot speed and shot will need to improve as he adds some strength. Quickness and pivots are average, shot could be harder. NHL Upside – Solid NHL defender who can kill penalties and provide secondary power play duties..”
– TSN’s Craig Button,
“Percy continuously got better as the season progressed. He’s a smart player who knows how to make the right plays in all different situations”
– Kirk Luedeke of B2011DW,
“Percy’s hockey sense and instincts are the best aspects of his game- he understands where he needs to be on the ice and uses an active stick and rapid reads to effectively defend his zone. He’s not going to be a big point producer at the next level, but with his good wheels and passing ability, he can move the puck effectively to be one of those accomplished all-around guys you win with.”
Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):
– Heady times for St. Mike’s star Stuart Percy
– Draft tracker: 5 questions with Stuart Percy, Mississauga-St. Michael’s Majors
International Tournaments:
2009-10: Percy played for Team Ontario at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, notching up 3 assists in 6 games for the silver medal squad.
ETA: 3 years
Risk-Reward Analysis:
Risk: 1.5/5 Reward: 2.5/5
NHL Potential:
No. 3/4 puck moving defenseman with 30-35 point upside
Strengths:
*See “One Timer” section above
– Plays an extremely consistent two-way game
– Poised and difficult to knock off his game
– Strong active stick capable of taking away lanes
– Accurate first pass
– Extremely focused with good decision-making
– Good positioning
Flaws/Aspects He Needs to Work On:
– Limited offensive upside
– Needs to improve his shot (slap shot specifically)
– Improve overall strength to handle players out front of the net
– Needs to develop a physical aspect to his game.
– Improve his skating footwork and speed
Fantasy Hockey Potential:
Offensive: 5.0/10 Defensive: 8.0/10
NHL Player Comparison:
– Dan Girardi (less physical), Dan Hamhuis
Video(s):
Off the Iron (Interesting Notes):
– Percy finished the 2010-11 OHL season with an astounding +50 rating and followed that up by finishing +11 in the OHL playoffs.
– Percy was chosen in the first round, 15thoverall, of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection by the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors.
– Percy’s favourite players include Nicklas Lidstom and Drew Doughty while his favourite NHL team is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
– At the 2011 Memorial Cup, he led all defensemen with four assists and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team (nhl.com).
– Follow Stu Percy on twitter
Brendan Ross is THW’s Detroit Red Wings’ writer and also specializes in prospect and fantasy writings. Twitter: @rossyyoungblood
This document is the intellectual property of Brendan Ross and cannot be used or duplicated in any way without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Brendan Ross will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.