| STORIES |
- Tuesday, June 24, 2008: Mighty Max ‘good at everything’
- Monday, October 27, 2008: Ryno catches bad break
- Monday, November 10, 2008: Ritola rising in Grand Rapids
- Monday, December 8, 2008: Nicastro progresses in Windy City
- Wednesday, November 10, 2010: Nicastro gets physical
- Tuesday, November 8, 2011: Health matters as Cayer finds college stride
- Wednesday, February 22, 2012: Lower risk, higher rewards
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| AWARDS |
- 2008-09 USHL East Division All-Star
- 2009-10 Hockey East All-Rookie Team
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| HISTORY |
2006-07:
- Committed to Boston University for 2009-10 while playing midget hockey in Los Angeles.
- Competed for U.S. in 2007 World Junior A Challenge in Nelson, B.C. (4-0-1-1).
|
2007-08:
- Logged big minutes as USHL rookie with Chicago on top pairing with hard-nosed Will Weber.
- Finished second on team in defense scoring (58-6-14-20) and was a plus-7 with 79 shots.
- Did not make roster for USHL Top Prospects/All-Star Game in January.
- Climbed from 117 at mid-season to 90th at season’s end in Central Scouting’s rankings.
- Selected in the third round (91st overall) by the Red Wings on NHL draft day.
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2008-09:
- Became one of USHL’s top defenseman in his second season with Chicago (57-9-22-31).
- Logged big minutes and ran the power play for a team that missed the playoffs.
- Finished 10th in scoring among USHL defensemen, fifth in goals and sixth in shots with 121.
- Won a gold medal with the U.S. at the world junior A challenge in November.
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2009-10:
- Made a smooth transition to the NCAA with Boston University (37-3-12-15).
- Finished second among Hockey East freshmen in defense scoring and cracked all-rookie team.
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2010-11:
- Returned to Boston University for sophomore NCAA season.
- Took a step back production-wise (38-5-4-9), five points fewer than his freshman year.
- Also posted a minus-9 rating and had 44 shots on goal.
- Improved all-around game and stepped up physical play (59 PIMs in 38 games).
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|
2011-12:
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2012-13:
- Struggled to establish himself as AHL regular with Grand Rapids (25-1-2-3, 18 SOG, even plus-minus).
- Performed well during nine-game ECHL stint with Toledo at mid-season (9-2-3-5, 19 SOG, plus-1).
- Appeared in four ECHL playoff games with Toledo (4-1-0-1, 3 SOG, minus-2).
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
|
“He’s a No. 4 or 5 type of guy. He won’t be a big offensive guy, but he moves the puck smart and safe, he can play the power play but he’s not a big point producer. He’s got good size and he competes hard defensively. He’s a well-rounded defenseman.” — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2008) … “He is big and strong with good mobility. He is able to knock guys around without much effort and is very competitive … He appears to be one of the more physical defensemen in our system.” — Red Wings scout David Kolb (November 2010) … “He has good size, a big, strong guy, physical. He can shoot the puck. He’s a strong skater.” — Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill (July 2012, MLive.com).
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| STRENGTHS |
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Combines excellent size with above-average skating and mobility … Willing to play with an edge and is one of the more physical prospects in the Red Wings’ system … Tough in front of the net … Extremely heavy shot … Intense competitor … Willing shot-blocker … Capable puck-mover.
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| WEAKNESSES |
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Needs to improve his defensive positioning … Doesn’t shoot enough despite his cannon of a shot … Still has untapped offensive upside, although the Red Wings aren’t counting on him to produce points … Off-ice problems during college career raised questions about his character.
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| PROJECTION |
| The former third-round pick has seen his development slow since he made the Hockey East all-rookie team back in 2009-10. But with good size, mobility and a willingness to play a tough, physical game, Nicastro has the tools to be a solid pro and potentially an NHLer. He’ll look to get himself into the AHL lineup on a regular basis with Grand Rapids in 2013-14. |
Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2006-2007 |
Los Angeles Jr. Kings U18 |
Midget |
48 |
17 |
19 |
36 |
44 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2007-2008 |
Chicago Steel |
USHL |
58 |
6 |
14 |
20 |
78 |
| |
Playoffs |
7 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
12 |
| |
USA U19 |
WJAC-19 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
28 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
Chicago Steel |
USHL |
57 |
9 |
22 |
31 |
84 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Boston Univ. |
NCAA |
37 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
26 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
Boston Univ. |
NCAA |
38 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
59 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
Boston Univ. |
NCAA |
27 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
32 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2012-2013 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
25 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Toledo Walleye |
ECHL |
9 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
| |
|
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|
|
|
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Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
