Owls' Quick Draft Hits: Max Gildon

#Max Gildon: United States National Development Team Program (USNDTP/USHL)

A defenseman with traditional size (6’3”) and room to grow into his frame (185lbs), Max Gildon came into the season as an intriguing US National Development Team prospect – as a Texan native, the USNDTP was a large step up in competition compared to the Texas major midget league, and he handled the transition into the U17 team last season decently, but this year with the departures of highly touted prospects Adam Fox, James Greenway, Chad Krys, he had some very big shoes to fill on the U18 team. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t really fill them -- Quinton Hughes took the "small offensive juggernaut" role from Adam Fox, and David Farrance took the "all-situations rock" role from Krys, which left Gildon as the second choice in both roles. He played big minutes at both ends of the ice and really struggled early in the year (where he was projected to be a mid second rounder), before finding his footing and seriously improving near the end of the season, finishing with 33 points in 63 games and carrying his momentum into the IIHF U18s where he was named to the all-star team (and second best defenseman after Miro Heiskanen) after a performance that included 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games and a gold medal finish for the USA.

Left-shooting, Gildon’s best attributes are solid skating and passing. His acceleration needs work, but his overall mobility once he’s moving is top notch and gives him the ability to jump into a developing break-out in transition, skate the puck out of danger areas himself, and keep up with attacking players if a turnover should occur. He’s also got a good shooting toolbox, with heavy slapshots, a good one-timer, and accurate wrist shots from the point that can find their way through shins and bodies – and good instincts for when to pinch down from the line looking for the passes.

Gildon has the size to be threatening in his corners and crease, and doesn’t shy away from playing a physical game (although he’ll need to get bigger to keep playing this way at higher levels), pinning players to the boards and using good angles to keep threats to the outside – although he’s rarely found laying out the Byfuglien-esque hits. A large wingspan makes his stick threatening in a huge radius, and he uses it well to interrupt plays and restrict passing options. His defensive game (particularly past his own blue-line) definitely could use some refining, but that’s something many younger players struggle with.

In terms of NHL-upside, there’s a lot of Tyler Wotherspoon in Max Gildon if he doesn’t put it together – he’s a quietly effective minute muncher with decent skills in every area and no glaring weaknesses, but decent basically gets you to the bottom pairing in the NHL. If he does round his game into form though, there’s the potential for a Ryan McDonagh type of not quite elite at anything but amazing as an NHLer, the type of player an NHL team would love to steal in the third round.

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