Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2015 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Sports Events Guide is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! The following is a complete listing of all our 2016 Draft Articles.
After being a third round pick in the 2014 OHL Draft, Tim Gettinger burst onto the OHL scene last season, putting up 10 goals and 25 points for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. After a strong showing with four points in four games at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and scoring a goal at the All-American Top Prospects game during the summer, big things were expected out of Gettinger as he returned to the Greyhounds last fall. His 17 goals and 39 points in 60 games was decent enough, but fell below the expectations that many had for the young forward. He also had one goal and four assists in twelve games for the Greyhounds. Gettinger has been an important leader for the Soo, even taking on an Alternate Captaincy this past season. He comes from a hockey background, as his older brother, Grant Gettinger, played defence for Mercyhurst College in the NCAA.
Tim Gettinger Scouting Report: 2016 NHL Draft #65
Left Wing — shoots Left
Born Apr 14 1998 — North Olmstead, Ohio
Height 6’06” — Weight 202 lbs [198 cm / 92 kg]
Another huge (6’6″) prospect in this year’s draft, Tim Gettinger is not your typical big man. While he does not shy away from a hit, he is not one to drive the physical play. He is willing to battle along the boards or to get to the front of the net, but he is not a devastating hitter by any means. Gettinger is a goal scorer, with a heavy wrist shot, and an excellent release. He has the instincts to find openings in the defence in order to get off that wrist shot, or a powerful one-timer. He also has decent puck handling ability and uses his body as a shield to protect the puck in the cycle game. When he gets the opportunity he drives the net, and Gettinger has the ability to finish plays in tight to the net, with his excellent hand eye co-ordination. Gettinger can also be a decent passer, but can improve upon his vision and hockey sense going forward.
Gettinger is a decent skater for a big man, with good speed. He could stand to work on his first step quickness, as well as his acceleration going forward. He is also light on his feet for a big man, with good agility and the ability to work his way through traffic. Gettinger could stand to bulk up and improve his core strength before he is ready for the NHL. He has good height, but is a little skinny and so sometimes is not as strong on the puck as one would like, and can be beaten in battles along the boards. This should change as he bulks up.
Gettinger has shown defensive skill this season, playing important minutes against top lines and on the penalty kill. He is willing to play hard on the back check, supporting the defense down low and working to help out against the cycle game. Gettinger plays a strong positional game, and uses his size to cut down both passing and shooting lanes. He has a long stick which he can use to intercept passes, and he is more than willing to use his size to block shots.
Tim Gettinger has the potential to be a top nine NHL forward. He must show more consistent offense, as well as work to improve his passing and skating skills before he can fulfill that potential though. He can be a real boom or bust type of prospect. In terms of style, Gettinger plays similar to former Chicago Blackhawks winger Eric Daze, but this is a stylistic comparison only, and not one based on talent.
The following is a compilation of Tim Gettinger highlights, assembled from youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the #66 prospect on our NHL Draft Board.
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