2022 NHL Draft Tracker: Hunter Haight
Hunter Haight is attempting to take the 2022 NHL Draft by storm.
The Barrie Colts rookie, who currently has 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in 32 games, is widely considered to be one of the top products out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
“Haight is an effective and smart two-way pivot who could contribute in all three zones and in all situations,” FCHockey scout Dylan Galloway said. “He was really well-rounded and proved to be a Swiss Army knife of a player taking key defensive draws, while also playing a role on the power play unit. I was impressed with Haight’s smarts on the puck and his ability to create plays when he had the time and space to make a pass. He proved to be capable of making passes through tight windows and also smart in his positioning to open those windows up.”
Haight is slotted at No. 56 in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2022 draft.
WHO IS HUNTER HAIGHT?
Haight is a two-way forward who can be a jack-of-all-trades type. He is a player who can be used in all situations.
In 2013-14, Haight represented the Toronto Bulldogs at the Brick Invitational tournament and went on to register eight points (one goal, seven assists) in six games. In 2019-20 Haight would suit up for the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs U16 AAA team. He was named an assistant captain of the team and would go on to record 58 points (32 goals, 26 assists) in 33 games. That was enough to catch the eye of the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL), where he played four games and had two points.
Haight’s impressive season would get him drafted No.9 by the Colts in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
HAIGHT’S STRENGTHS
Haight possesses a handful of traits that make him an intriguing prospect. Most notably, his skating is fluent and his edgework is pristine giving him the ability to accelerate and make a quick move to get past defenders.
“Haight is a high-pace two-way forward who is most dangerous with the puck on his stick. His skating and vision stand out as high-end attributes. He has a solid base where he is able to accelerate using a mixture of crossovers and linear movements,” said FCHockey regional scout Mat Sheridan. “He was not afraid to attack open lanes driving through the neutral zone and was able to create sustained offensive zone time for his team.
“He has good small area puck skills as he is able to use his edges to escape pressure and find teammates in high danger areas with the puck. Defensively, he hustled to get back to help out his defensemen, using a quick stick to close off passing lanes and intercept pucks. ”
HAIGHT’S AREAS OF IMPROVEMENTS
As with any prospect, there are always a few tools to polish to enhance their game. While Haight does possess raw talent and high-end attributes, he also has to work on a few aspects of his game.
“In terms of improvement, Haight needs to build on his strength,” Sheridan said. “There were times when he was knocked off the puck down low and as he transitions to the pro game, building up strength will be a necessity. Overall, Haight is a highly-skilled forward with great puck skills and mobility but he needs to focus on getting stronger.”
SUMMARY
Haight, like many other prospects in the OHL, did not play a single game last season due to COVID-19 shutting down the league. Many scouts are just getting their first looks at players actually skating in the OHL. Haight has managed to stand out, and given his unique toolkit, he could be a second, or third round pick.