As I’ve said before, this is quite a deep draft. There is great potential to be had all across the board. While I had brought up the fact that Detroit might need to address their shallow defensive prospect pool in my last draft profile, I’m also going to do a couple involving forwards.
The Red Wings aren’t going to get Connor McDavid, or Jack Eichel. We’re not going to get Mitch Marner, or Dylan Strome. While those players are incredible for any team to have, there is one player who I am absolutely obsessed with, and he’s completely flown under the scouting radar because of his size. Funny, this draft has certain prospects ranked low due to lack of size, and yet they have prospects ranked high because of their size. I’m not sure when we’ll throw that narrative away, but regardless, any team who ends up taking New York native Jeremy Bracco is getting an extraordinary player.
Player Profile:
Name: Jeremy Bracco
Position: Center/Right Wing
Born: March 17, 1997 — Freeport, New York
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 172 lbs.
Shoots: Right
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
| 2013-2014 | USNTDP Juniors | USHL | 34 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 10 |
| U.S. National U17 Team | USDP | 54 | 16 | 58 | 74 | 20 | |
| USA U17 | WHC-17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2014-2015 | USNTDP Juniors | USHL | 24 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 6 |
| U.S. National U18 Team | USDP | 65 | 30 | 64 | 94 | 10 | |
| USA U18 | WJC-18 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
Kyle’s Analysis:
He’s small, that’s for sure. Coming in at 5’9″ 172 lbs, he would be considered too small for the NHL by scouts, coaches, general managers, analysts, and the list goes on. With his lack of size, Jeremy Bracco nullifies it with his incredible offensive skill. Perhaps he is small, but he’s hard to get off the puck due to his elite skating and stride. Once he gets going, it’s difficult to catch up. He strikes me so much of what Patrick Kane was when he was at his age, but Bracco has found a bit more success oddly enough. Kane put up 68 points (33 goals, 35 assists) with the U.S. National U18 Team, while Bracco put up 94 points (30 goals, 64 assists.)
Most would argue that Bracco’s production has a lot to do with being on a line with top pick Jack Eichel, but after reviewing highlights and video, it’s clear that it wasn’t just the “Eichel effect.” Bracco and Eichel made each other better players, no doubt about it. Jeremy Bracco is a very “pass first” type of player, but when given the chance can score some gorgeous highlight reel goals.
With over a point-per-game average in every single level of hockey Jeremy Bracco has endured, he’s shaping up to be a glorious recruit for Boston College, who he has committed to as of 2015-2016.
Here is what @TPLHockey has to say about Jeremy Bracco:
Thanks to his size, he’ll likely slide towards the end of (if not out of) the first round, which is a shame because he’s been an impressive scoring force in the NTDP (he broke a couple records once held by another undersized forward, perhaps you’ve heard of him, Patrick Kane). Despite being 5’9, he was a late cut for the 2015 WJC team, staying in camp a little longer than already-drafted prospects. He’s going to be a good hockey player in the NHL, but some teams will be scared away by that stature.
STYLE COMPARISON: Patrick Kane
Rankings:
ISS RANKING: #28
NHL CSS RANKING: North American #60 (SIXTY!!!)
Jeremy Bracco will be available when the Red Wings are on the clock. Hell, he even might fall to the 2nd round.
Bottom Line:
Whoever ends up taking Jeremy Bracco will end up with a steal. Yes, he is small, but he is a flashy high-octane playmaker who will end up putting on muscle as he progresses throughout his career. This is certainly a player that Detroit could have even trading down to acquire a later 1st round pick along with a 2nd round pick. He may not be a defenseman, but you can never have too many players who have experience playing center. I would be absolutely ecstatic if we took him.
Highlights:
