A deep dive into 2024 NHL Draft prospect and Lethbridge Hurricanes' forward Miguel Marques.
The WHL is set to play a significant role in this year's 2024 NHL Draft. 57 players were included on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, with a handful expected to be drafted in the first round. Today's draft profile is of Lethbridge Hurricanes' Miguel Marques, who enters the draft as the 53rd-ranked North American Skater.
Marques enters the draft as one of the more offensively gifted WHL players. In his second full WHL season, he recorded 28 goals and led all Hurricanes' players with 74 points. Marques is a threat every time he touches the puck in the offensive zone, thanks to his fantastic shot and top-notch playmaking ability.
The key to Marques's success in the offensive zone is his playmaking. He can deliver tape-to-tape passes through bodies and sticks to open teammates while also providing accurate touch passes. Whether it is at five-on-five or on the power play, he understands when and how to get the puck to teammates in scoring positions.
In the transition game, Marques is often the player with the puck in the neutral zone. While he does like to drive play into the offensive zone, he can also hit teammates in stride who are skating through the neutral zone with speed. Overall, he is very good at reading defenders and finding the best way to get the puck into the offensive zone.
Consitency is the biggest question with Marques. While he is going to get his chances in the offensive zone, he needs to become a more consistent player in the defensive zone. This also includes waiting an extra second before leaving the defensive zone, providing his defenders an easier target to hit when trying to clear the puck into neutral ice.
Heading into the draft, Marques is projected to be drafted either late in the second or early in the third round. He is a player with plenty of potential that could one day make an impact at the NHL level. If he can continue to make strides in his development and round out his game, he could be a draft-day steal for whatever organization selects him.
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