Teddy Stiga, a target for the Canadiens due to Kent Hughes?
Throughout the 2023-2024 NHL season, TSLH Prospects shares observation reports and prospect profiles on young players eligible for the upcoming draft. Similar to the past four seasons, the columnists produce texts on a significant number of prospects to provide a comprehensive overview of the cohort and its progress. Today, the focus is on Teddy Stiga, a forward playing for the U.S. National U18 Team.
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It didn’t take long for me to notice Teddy Stiga this season. Despite being under 6 feet tall, he is a forward who plays much bigger than his size. He’s not necessarily a pest, as he is a very disciplined player, but you can see that he disrupts on the ice with his enthusiasm and his aggressiveness. Additionally, he brings a very interesting offensive touch in the USHL for his team.
All of this results in an attractive combination for an NHL team, especially for an organization led by a general manager who has already « coached » this young player (Kent Hughes was previously his coach in the United States). Similar to rumors about the Canadiens’ interest in Will Smith last year, the Canadiens’ GM could be inclined to select Teddy Stiga due to his familiarity with him. Personally, because of his profile and this connection, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him named by the team in the late 2nd round or within the 3rd. It would be a good guess.
Teddy Stiga’s main quality is everything surrounding mobility and pace of play. He is a forward who never stops working. Whether in possession of the puck or in recovery, the young player applies constant pressure on the opponent with his explosiveness and speed. He attempts many actions towards the net to beat goaltenders up close or to send the puck to a teammate on the opposite side. Everything he does often makes him stand out the most with Cole Hutson among eligible prospects for the 2024 draft in the American program.
Note that I don’t mention Cole Eiserman, who has more points and is higher on the most of the lists that we see online, simply because it’s a fact. Stiga is noticed much more on the ice than his teammate. He may not have the same talent, but his impact is more diversified and visible on the ice. Whether this will still be the case in the professional leagues is yet to be determined, but I have good hopes that the smaller of the two manages to make his way to the pros.
Teddy Stiga’s engine greatly helps compensate for his lack of strength. He often manages to destabilize opponents in one-on-one situations because they don’t expect such dynamism. I don’t believe he will be a significant point generator against men, but he could support his teammates in great ways, especially considering that his sense of anticipation is well-developed. I see him competent in forechecking and penalty killing in the NHL, while also being able to contribute offensively. Though, I would like a little bit more balance because he falls a lot on the ice while at max speed.
During my viewings, I’ve seen him play in all forward positions, so one can argue that he is a player with good adaptability. This is certainly an important asset, as his size might prevent him from being a center every night. If we only consider his sense of play and responsibilities, he could definitely be placed there, but it’s quite rare to see a center of his size. Therefore, I personally refrain from projecting him into that position.
As for the draft, I certainly see him with the Montreal Canadiens, but I don’t have any information other than what I indicated at the beginning of the text. It’s just a natural fit in my eyes. I see him going in the second or third round personally, despite his size. He practices a style that is far too professional to be ignored for long.
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