Toronto Maple Leafs: A Look at Ian Scott
The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have much depth in the pipeline when it comes to goaltenders. You could say that hasn’t been the case for years, now.
Garret Sparks and Kasimir Kaskisuo are on the Marlies. It doesn’t seem like they will be world beaters. Joseph Woll has been playing well in college and for team USA. Woll has promise but is likely years away. The Toronto Maple Leafs do have another prospect in the system however, and he’s worth keeping in mind, His name is Ian Scott.
A little backstory…
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Ian Scott 110th overall in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He’s got a frame NHL teams want at 6’3, 174 pounds with plenty of room to fill out. Scott is athletic, quick, and aggressive. Other than that, what’s there to take note of? The 18 year-old’s track record isn’t very big or impressive.
A 3.69 GAA and an .895 save% last season? Not the most inspiring. We need to dig a little deeper.
His junior team was terrible…
The Prince Albert Raiders were brutal (and I’m being polite about that) last year. The WHL team had a 21-44-0-7 record and a goal differential of -95. Scott got shelled. Any improvements to the team should help that.
This makes Ian Scott’s numbers over his 50 games played (a large amount for his age) quite a bit more understanding. His numbers during his previous season were similar but this past year he played 24 more games.
There’s no reason to think he can’t improve his stats over the rest of his time in junior.
What scouts have said…
"“A goaltender who balances challenging opposing shooters and when to drop back into his crease and hold the fort…cool when handling shots to the glove hand, keeping the glove angled according to net position and the situation in front…swallows up high shots without any rebounds, pinning pucks to his chest or belly pad…quickness is elite and whether it be his pads or glove hands, he was constantly flashing his limbs at pucks…has a lanky frame, but makes himself look massive in the net by being assertive in the crease.” Future Considerations“He looked like he had anvils on his shoulders after the first third of the year. I like the fact that he fought through it, but in terms of giving him a chance it (Prince Albert) was one of the worst place he could be. There’s more to him than what was shown.” The Hockey News"
Upon reading these, professional eyes believe something is there. Scott has the frame and many of the fundamentals. He needs time. An opportunity to play with a better team in front of him would help a lot if possible. This would help him develop more technique and work on his mental game, rather than having to scramble around the net.
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No need to rush…
Scott will be spending his next two years in junior for sure. The Toronto Maple Leafs have their starter in Andersen locked up. Beyond him, there are questions. Once Curtis McElhinney is done, Sparks or Kaskisuo will likely be backup, not to mention any other minor-leaguers that are signed.
The Toronto Maple Leafs goalie of the future could be Joseph Woll considering his current play, but it’s too early to be sure.
As the saying goes, goalies are voodoo. The next two years of Ian Scott’s development will be interesting to watch. The talent and size are there, it’s only a question of if it will all come together for him.
Next: A Look at the Competition: Senators
If it does, the Leafs could have a problem with having too many capable goalies for the first time in ages.
Sounds good to me.