2027 NHL Draft Prospect Report – Rhett Sather (LD)

Rhett Sather (Spokane):Projection/Architype: Second Pair – Offensive DefencemanStrengths: Skating, Offensive engagementWeaknesses: Hockey IQ, Defensive effectiveness, Physicality, Patience with puck Analysis:Rhett Sather is an all or nothing offensive defenceman. His primaryfocus every time he touches the ice is to put the puck in the opponent’s net by any means necessary. The biggest asset in his game that helps him complete this goal is his skating. He utilizes a quick but powerful stride, smooth and fluid skating, and agile edge control to maneuver around the ice with ease. His skating helps him consistently be the fourth forward in offensive rushes by jumping up in the play and providing options to his teammates. When the puck is in the offensive zone, he continues to search for open ice with his skating and engaging with the play by providing options, chasing loose pucks, and being another factor for his opponents to control. However, there are some detrimental flaws in Sather’s game that bring him down a couple pegs for me. Firstly, I find his hockey IQ to be quite low compared to his peers. Sure, he is actively looking to jump up offensively to help his team score, but he does it quite literally every shift. He cheats the game in his own zone in order to jump up in the rush, sometimes even being the first player to leave the zone, from either team, just to look for an opportunity to generate something offensively. I find that he doesn’t see or read the game all that well either, having occasions throughout the game where he thinks the puck will end up one place but doesn’t end up getting there, leaving him out of position and relying on his skating or teammates to save him. His lack of IQ also affects him when he goes for pinches. Again, trying to generate offense, he pinches frequently without seeing the repercussions if he is unsuccessful. If he does miss on the pinch, he often leaves his line mate out to dry in a two on one or worse before he can catch them with his skating. In his own zone, he isn’t that effective at winning battles, clogging up passing or shooting lanes, or controlling his assignment despite his skating abilities. I find that he lacks a good physical aspect of his game and any patience when the puck is on his stick and he is pressured by his opponents. In all honesty, he has many areas of his game to work on if he wants to succeed in the pro level of hockey.