The 1st overall pick in the 2011 USHL Futures Draft, Cammarata already has 28 points in only 25 games, putting him in a tie for 9th in league scoring.

If you look at Taylor Cammarata only on paper, most people would immediately write him off as an undersized forward who has no future in hockey. Not so fast. Cammarata may not be that impressive on paper, but he plays a big role in every game. The 5-foot-6, 145 lbs. forward has been doing nothing but impressing not only scouts and coaches, but dazzling fans with his skilled, explosive game. To see a 16-year-old doing this well in the USHL – the best junior league in the United States – is absolutely astonishing.

Cammarata is great skater and is very quick and nimble on his feet. He has the ability to find the soft spots in the offensive zone and exploit the defensive breakdowns he causes by getting “lost in the crowd” with his small frame. Cammarata can get from anywhere in the offensive zone to any other point in the zone lightning quick and defensemen often lose track of him. His shot is a big strength. It’s unusual to see a guy with such a small frame with a booming wrist shot, but Cammarata’s got it. Vision in the offensive zone has also been a big strength with him making the right passes at the right times. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Cammarata play five times this season starting at the Fall Classic in September and he’s continuously gotten better in every viewing. His biggest strength has been his ability to adjust to the speed and physicality of the USHL with his size and age.

It’s unusual to see a guy with such a small frame with a booming wrist shot, but Cammarata’s got it.

As for weaknesses in Cammarata’s game, his biggest weakness is obviously his size. 5-foot-6 is definitely not what coaches and scouts look for in a player, but there’s a guy who comes around every now and again where his skill outweighs his size. I firmly believe Cammarata is that guy. Just like Rocco Grimaldi a year ago, people have been doubting Cammarata all his playing career, but he just keeps impressing at every level he plays at. Cammarata still hasn’t really developed a solid defensive game yet either. He is very much focused on his play in the offensive zone, and it’s been paying off, but Cammarata doesn’t seem to back check all that much. He will need to develop and edge to his game if he wants to keep developing and dominating at the next level.

Cammarata hasn’t signed an NCAA D1 letter of intent yet, and at only 16-years-old, he has plenty of time to make that decision. Players like Cammarata usually make great collegiate players but don’t pan out at the professional level. I expect Cammarata to break that mold. I am sure he will be an outstanding collegiate player, but I expect him to be fairly successful at the professional level as well. Looking forward to the 2013 NHL Draft, I don’t expect teams to take a shot at him in the first two or three rounds, but whoever decides to take Taylor Cammarata is drafting a small forward that knows how to find open ice and bury the puck in the net when it’s on his stick.

Tags: 2013 NHL Draft, 2013 nhl draft prospects, Taylor Cammarata

About the Author: Justin Schreiber