Future Considerations: Scouting report on new Leafs goalie Keith Petruzzelli

Occasionally NHL teams have to tap into their goaltending depth when a starter or backup goalie go down with injury. There are capable third string goalies in most systems around the league and they generally have the ability to play some games in the NHL if required.

Rarely do teams have both of their NHL puck stoppers land on injured reserve at the same time. Even more rare is the possibility the fifth string goalie in the organization might actually have to eventually play a game or two, and not just dress as the backup.

Before I get to the scouting report on newly signed Leafs goalie Keith Petruzzelli, consider some of the luck the Leafs had on their side before Ilya Samsonov went down with injury on Saturday night.

On Friday the Leafs waived forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel and he was claimed by the Washington Capitals. If Aube-Kubel wasn’t claimed on waivers the Leafs still would have been at the 50 contract maximum without any wiggle room. It was a stroke of luck that Aube-Kubel was claimed because the Leafs needed a slot to open up and were fortunate one did.

MEET KEITH PETRUZZELLI

Petruzzelli was a third-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2017. At the time he was drafted he had completed a season in the USHL playing for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Petruzzelli went on to play his college hockey at Quinnipiac University and had a winning record throughout his career there at 51-27-8.

The Wings never signed him, though, and so the goalie elected to sign on with the Toronto Marlies in the summer of 2021.

He spent some time in the AHL last season, but played the majority of his games in the ECHL with the Newfoundland Growlers, going 16-6-1 with a .927 save percentage.

He was off to a great start to this AHL season before signing his NHL deal on the weekend. Petruzzelli had won all six of his starts so far with the Marlies and posted a 2.31 GAA and .922 save percentage.

But is he ready for NHL games? There’s a possibility we might find out this week. Depending on the status of Ilya Samsonov, the Leafs could be looking at a tandem of Erik Kallgren and Petruzzelli for at least the short term. Toronto plays Vegas at home Wednesday, followed by back-to-back games versus Pittsburgh (Friday) and Vancouver (Saturday). There is a chance we could see Petruzzelli get his start versus the Canucks on the weekend.

PETRUZZELLI SCOUTING REPORT

Petruzzelli is a massive goalie who takes up a ton of net. When he is square to the shooter he doesn’t give opponents much to look at. He plays a butterfly/hybrid style, but when he is down in the butterfly there are times I would like to see him sit taller and not get hunched over.

He is going to need to improve his lateral push/quickness for the NHL game. When moving side to side he is a bit lethargic-looking, but his mechanics are fine. Petruzzelli relies heavily on his stature (think Ben Bishop) more than his athletic ability.

FIVE NATIONS TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY TEAM USA THIS WEEK

Team USA is hosting the November edition of the Five Nations tournament this week in Plymouth, Michigan at the USA Hockey Arena.

The entire NHL scouting fraternity will be in attendance to view many of the top end prospects for the 2023 NHL draft.

Players representing USA, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Czechia will be looking to improve their draft ranking in this key event.

TEAM USA AND THEIR ELITE MODEL AT THE USNTDP

The U17 and U18 teams for USA are based out of Plymouth, Michigan. It’s an elite program that has been producing NHL stars for several years. Names like Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, Spencer Knight, Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield and Matty Beniers have all recently come through the USNTDP.

At the 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver the USNTDP had a record eight players selected in the first round. At the most recently completed draft in Montreal the program had six players selected in the first round and 14 players drafted overall.

The USNTDP is extremely structured. The facilities are first rate, but so is the support system for the players.

Since the pandemic the players have been completing their schooling online and they report to the team facility to take their courses.

Considering most U18 players are college bound after this season the expectation in the classroom mirrors that of the NCAA. College players are required to carry a minimum GPA to be eligible for games at that level as well.

The facility in Plymouth provides the athletes everything they require to move their game to the next level (weight room, physiotherapy, extra ice, classroom support etc.)

The out of town players “board” with local families the same way major junior players do in Canada.

TEAM USA PLAYERS TO WATCH

Speaking with head coach Dan Muse this weekend, he indicated the depth of the current roster is something he and his staff take a lot of pride in.

“Our team has depth in all positions," Muse said. "Some of our top scorers like Will Smith, Gabe Perreault, Ryan Leonard and Oliver Moore leading the group offensively, but we have depth in all areas and players contributing in a variety of roles.

“Our goaltending, for example, has been outstanding this year so far. All three of our rostered goaltenders have contributed to our start this season. Trey Augustine and Carsen Musser have been excellent. Michael Chambre has been injured but he too is an outstanding prospect.

“Players like Will Vote and Paul Fischer have brought another layer of scoring and detail to the group."

Muse really believes his entire team deserves recognition and exposure. They aren’t a top-heavy team that only relies on a core group of players. The fact that they have 23 players listed on the NHL Central Scouting ranking speaks for itself.

Here’s a look at some Team USA/USNTDP players that I will be scouting closely this week in Plymouth:

Trey Augustine, G

Augustine’s stats are fantastic so far this season. He is 7-0-1 through his first eight starts and has a 2.53 GAA to go along with a .921 save percentage.

Augustine is an athletic goalie who is aggressive challenging at the top of his crease. He generally resorts to going down in his butterfly to make himself as big as possible low to the ice. At times it can work against him moving laterally, with pucks ending up over his shoulders.

Paul Fischer, D

Fischer is an interesting prospect. What he doesn’t bring offensively he delivers defensively. He moves well, takes care of his end first, generally outlets pucks efficiently, and can be used in key match-ups.

Ryan Leonard, F

Leonard is a goal scorer. He can beat goalies from long range with his quick and accurate release. He’s generally responsible in all three zones and can be used in a variety of scenarios.

Oliver Moore, F

Moore is another intriguing prospect. The fact that he can play both the middle and the wing is a bonus. He is capable of being used in all situations. Although not elite in any one category, his well-rounded game makes him an attractive target in this draft class.

William Vote, F

Vote is an undersize forward who plays a responsible two-way game. He is used in all situations at the USNTDP. I’m not bothered by his stature. He goes to the net looking for tips and rebounds. I’m looking for him to go to another level offensively to earn more of my trust and understanding.

Will Smith, F

Smith is the leading scorer for Team USA. He’s a deceptive offensive talent. He can make plays in tight quarters. He’s a player opponents have to be aware of every time he hits the ice. Smith is trending up and has a legitimate chance to be a top line scoring forward at the NHL level.

Gabriel Perreault, F

Perrault has, historically, been more of playmaker than a shooter but his goal scoring has gone to another level so far this season. He has an underrated release and the ability to find quiet ice in the offensive zone. His element is definitely offence, but he has the hockey sense to know where to defend in his zone and provides a second layer defensively tracking back 200 feet.