Red Wings Central prospects

MAX NICASTRO

Position:	Defence
Shoots:	Right
Vitals:	6'3'' / 200 lbs.
Birthdate:	March 2, 1990
Hometown:	Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Acquired:	Detroit's second choice (91st overall) in the 2008 draft
CSS Ranking:	90th North American skater (2008)
Contract:	None (must sign by Aug. 15, 2013)
RWC Says:	No. 4 Defenseman

STORIES
June 24, 2008: Mighty Max 'good at everything' December 8, 2008: Nicastro progresses in Windy City

AWARDS
2008-09 USHL East Division All-Star 2009-10 Hockey East All-Rookie Team

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.
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.
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.

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 can be a physical player when he wants to be at (the USHL) level, but he needs to develop more of a mean streak. His physical play has been too inconsistent this year, and he needs to learn to punish guys more." — Red Wings scout David Kolb (December 2008).

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 can be a physical player when he wants to be at (the USHL) level, but he needs to develop more of a mean streak. His physical play has been too inconsistent this year, and he needs to learn to punish guys more." — Red Wings scout David Kolb (December 2008).

STRENGTHS
Mobile ... Smooth finesse player with good all-around smarts ... Poised first passer who can lead the breakout ... Defends with his stick more than his size and physical play, but willing to stand up and play the man ... Heavy shot ... Competes ... Good leadership qualities ... Potentially a good-sized defenseman as he becomes more physically mature, which will help his solid defensive game ... Describes himself as a finesse defenseman and models his game after Nicklas Lidstrom.

STRENGTHS

Mobile ... Smooth finesse player with good all-around smarts ... Poised first passer who can lead the breakout ... Defends with his stick more than his size and physical play, but willing to stand up and play the man ... Heavy shot ... Competes ... Good leadership qualities ... Potentially a good-sized defenseman as he becomes more physically mature, which will help his solid defensive game ... Describes himself as a finesse defenseman and models his game after Nicklas Lidstrom.

WEAKNESSES
Extremely lean and needs to add strength ... Lacks a mean streak ... Still a bit raw carrying the puck ... Still learning the offensive game ... Doesn't put his point shot to good enough use ... Doesn't really wow you on a given night, but neither does Nicklas Lidstrom.

PROJECTION
Nicastro is still a raw, unpolished project, but he had an encouraging NCAA freshman year at Boston University in 2009-10. The Red Wings are getting everything they expected out of Nicastro so far, and the big Californian could be on the verge of making a big jump up the prospect list if he continues to develop in 2010-11. He has potential to be a top-four NHL defenseman.

STATISTICS
			REGULAR SEASON					PLAYOFFS
SEASON	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
2007-08	Chicago	USHL	58	6	14	20	78	7	1	2	3	12
2008-09	Chicago	USHL	57	9	22	31	84	—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Boston U.	NCAA	37	3	12	15	26	—	—	—	—	—

The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)

01	F	Tomas Tatar »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
02	D	Jakub Kindl »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
03	D	Brendan Smith »	Wisconsin (NCAA)
04	F	Gustav Nyquist »	Maine (NCAA)
05	F	Jan Mursak »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
06	G	Thomas McCollum »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
07	F	Joakim Andersson »	Frolunda (SEL)
08	F	Mattias Ritola »	Grand Rapids (AHL)
09	F	Landon Ferraro »	Red Deer (WHL)
10	D	Brian Lashoff »	Grand Rapids (AHL)

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The next wave

RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)

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