Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2024 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! Today we bring you our Henry Mews Scouting Report.
Henry Mews’ draft season was a golden one. He started the year playing for Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Mews put up a goal and six assists for seven points in five games, helping the Canadian squad to a gold medal. He also finished the year with another gold medal. Mews put up two goals and five assists for seven points at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships.
In between his international commitments, Mews starred for the Ottawa 67s in the OHL. He put up 15 goals and 46 assists for 61 points in 65 games. He also added two goals and three assists for five points in 10 OHL Playoff Games. Mews, the 7th overall pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection Draft, also had a strong season in 2022-23. He put up 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 55 games. Furthermore, Mews added a goal and three assists for four points in 11 playoff games. At the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, Mews was named a tournament all-star. He scored two goals and six assists for eight points in six tournament games.
Henry Mews 2024 NHL Draft Scouting Report
Right Defence — shoots Right
Born March 9th, 2006 — Ottawa, Ontario
Height 6’0″ — Weight 183 lbs [183 cm/83 kg]
Skating
Mews is an elite skater with outstanding acceleration and speed in both directions. He quickly reaches top speed and can push the pace offensively with his speed through the neutral zone. Mews also has outstanding edgework and agility. This allows Mews to cover a ton of ice. He can get involved in the offence and still get back to make plays defensively. Smooth pivots allow Mews to transition quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa.
Mews’ skating allows him to play a 200-foot game. He can join the rush and create effective zone entries when he carries the puck through the neutral zone. His quickness and ability to walk the line allow Mews to open up passing and shooting lanes and generate scoring chances in the offensive zone. His skating also allows him to play strong defence. Mews is tough to beat in one-on-one situations. He maintains good gap control and forces attackers to the outside. He has the makings of a very effective two-way defence prospect.
Offensive Game
Mews combines his excellent skating ability with good puck control. He is very good in transition, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and creating effective zone entries. He is also good at handling the puck in the offensive zone. Mews controls the play at the blue line. He is calm and composed and this helps him to be an effective power play quarterback. Mews’ patience allows his teammates time to get open. When they do, he has the vision to find them and the passing skills to make a tape-to-tape pass through tight areas. Mews’ lateral agility also allows him to walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes.
Mews could use some work on his slapshot as the power rating is just average. However, Mews uses his skating ability and an excellent wrist shot to score goals. His wrist show is powerful, features a quick release that fools goalies, and is very accurate. He loves to sneak into the top of the circles and pick corners on the power play. In addition, Mews is a very smart player. He reads the play extremely well and almost always makes the right play with the puck on his stick.
Defensive Game
Mews uses his skating and hockey IQ to be effective in the defensive end of the ice. He uses his strong skating to keep attackers to the outside and cut off the middle of the ice. He forces them into poor shooting areas. Mews could stand to be a bit more physical though. He is more likely to try and make a poke check, or take the puck away from an opponent than to rub him out along the boards. This can sometimes result in some issues containing opponents down low on the cycle. As he adds muscle to his frame, this could improve. His positioning is strong and his active stick allows him to intercept passes and create turnovers. He is also willing to block shots. When a turnover is created, Mews is quick to get the puck out of the zone and transition to offence.
Projection and Comparison
Mews has the skills to become a top pairing defender and play in all situations. Conversely, he will need time. He needs to bulk up and improve his slapshot and physical game. It is likely that Mews will spend another year or two in the OHL before he is NHL ready. Once that is done, he might also need some AHL time. Defenders just take a little longer than forwards, typically speaking and there are areas where his game could be rounded out. Mews game is reminiscent of Brian Rafalski. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on his skill or ability.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Henry Mews that are available on YouTube and Twitter.
Henry Mews with the patience!
The #NHLDraft eligible defenceman waits out the Oshawa defender and goalie, then goes bardown for his second of the #OHLPlayoffs
#ForTheX | #CapitalTerritory pic.twitter.com/OV688gI0Wj
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) April 17, 2024
What an overtime goal by Henry Mews #11 in Oshawa pic.twitter.com/0WZPyIxf8N
— Hannah (@hannah_marriner) January 29, 2024
That's why you shoot low, kids
Henry Mews (#NHLDraft) takes the shot, and Braeden Kressler (#LeafsForever) pots it on the juicy rebound!#ForTheX | #CapitalTerritory pic.twitter.com/vR7pf3kcdu
— Ottawa 67’s (@Ottawa67sHockey) April 16, 2024
An absolute rip by Henry Mews
pic.twitter.com/HkZhvGti9d
— Garrett Eddy (@garretteddy2) March 24, 2023
Check back later for our latest 2024 NHL Draft Article.
Main photo credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
The post Henry Mews Scouting Report: 2024 NHL Draft #15 appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.