2016 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Adam Karashik

Adam Karashik

Position: Defense
2015-16 Team: Avon Old Farms
League: NE Prep (Founders League)
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
Shoots: Right
Height/Weight: 5'10.5"/174
DOB: 1/15/98
College Commitment: Connecticut

Adam Karashik is one of the more intriguing prospects to analyze among the New England prep players eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft. Standing at just five-foot-10, he's a high risk, high reward player who plays with a flare for the dramatic.

He's a good skater who likes to line up opposing forwards rushing down the wing. He willingly steps into the rush and he provided more than a few highlight reel plays throughout the prep season.

However, the concern is whether or not that can translate to the next level given his lack of size. He has a strong lower body and a good sense of timing, but as he progresses to a higher level of hockey, players will be bigger and faster. Will he still be able to make those big hip checks? Will he be able to cruise down the left side on an end-to-end rush and do a spin-o-rama before sending a backhand pass out to the trailer?

Those are some of the questions upper management will be asking scouts who are trying to sell their organization on selecting the prep all-star. He'll obviously have to scale back some of his high risk plays, but his skating, going straight ahead, side-to-side and backwards, is good enough that some of his skill set should translate.

Whether it be prep games, split-season midgets or showcase events during the summer, Karashik likes to throw his weight around. There was no defenseman in New England who had as much of a physical impact on the game as he did.

He thinks the game well, anticipates and reads plays, and makes quick decisions with the puck. He makes a crisp outlet pass. He does a nice job moving laterally to step to the side and get shots on net from the point. He has a good one-timer.

The former CT Oiler will spend a year in the USHL with the Chicago Steel before matriculating to Storrs to play for head coach Mike Cavanaugh's UConn Huskies.

Draft Projection: His size and style of play makes it tough to project future success. He's a fun player to watch at this level, but it's hard to sell a team on taking anything more than a late-round flier on him. Regardless, he should be a mobile, puck-moving defenseman in Hockey East, similar to a Jared Kolquist at Merrimack.