HUNTER SHINKARUK - LW/C - MEDICINE HAT, WHL (CANADA)
ISS OVERALL RANKING: 13th - CENTRAL SCOUTING RANK (N.A. ONLY): 6th
HT: 5'11" - WT: 175
DOB: 10/13/94 BIRTHPLACE: CALGARY, AB CANADA
SHOOTS: L
STATISTICS:
Things scouts and other professional/amateur observers said about him:
PRO:
"Threat to create something offensively every time he's on ice. Sees the ice well & has quick hands." - ISS Hockey
"Shinkaruk has a tremendous wrist shot and excellent release, particularly when coming in on a rush off the left wing. His shot is very accurate, and heavy, and the release fools goalies leading to the puck being behind them before they know what happened. He also has a knack for finding the open areas of the ice and taking an excellent one-timer. Not just a one trick pony, Shinkaruk also has very good playmaking skill and vision which makes him very difficult to defend. Shinkaruk is an excellent stickhandler and can make defenders look silly in one on situations."
"Shinkaruk doesn’t really play a hugely physical game, but he is not afraid to battle on the boards or in front of the net. He also is more than willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice to make plays, and is able to make plays off the cycle game."
"We can also see him having the same type of potential (as Jeff Skinner), to be a dynamic offensive catalyst capable of creating and finishing plays at the NHL level."
"Slick sniping winger has been a scorer his entire career. He’s an explosive
skater who generates great speed through the neutral zone and can beat defenders off the rush. Has tremendous
hands - soft and quick. Has an imaginative mind - tries things others wouldn’t think of. Has
worked hard to round out the rest of his game the past two years, and is now decent in the defensive
end with a good effort level. Strong leadership abilities with a great attitude." - Redlinereport
"Has the best set of hands in tight that I have seen since Jordan Eberle roamed these parts. His ability to breakdown goaltenders in a one on one situation is something special. Often stealth like, someone who likes to hover around the play and picks the right time to strike when others least expect it." - Daniel Lezee, TSR, 2011
"Shinkaruk has been compared to fellow undersized forward Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks and The Dean’s List approves of that comparison. Like Patrick Kane, the boy-ish looking Shinkaruk has elite playmaking and puck handling abilities making him a valuable player to open up time and space for his teammates. Shinkaruk could be the best puck handler in the WHL and earns a accurate comparison to former WHL star Jordan Eberle for his strong playmaking skills and ability to find open space to score timely goals."
"his quick feet, strong base, good agility, and elite hockey sense makes him a difficult player to knock off the puck."
"The combination of Shinkaruk’s skating, hockey intelligence and stick skills makes him a deadly offensive threat but scouts are noticing that the youngster has been responsible in his defensive play as well."
"Hunter Shinkaruk also has quick footwork to boot. He is a fast skater that has a talent for finding a spot in open ice in which he can unleash he shot and launch the puck to the back of the net. His agility often puts him at the advantage when it comes to pivoting around his opponents to give himself the room needed to find a shot on net."
"What I like the most about this young forward is his modest personality and his overall excitement for the game that we all love. When asked about his ability to score goals on Shaw TV, Hunter was quick to laugh off a chance to boast about his talent."
“'I guess the puck was just bouncing [to] me … I’ve been playing with a bunch of great players, and I’ve been lucky the puck has been going my way.'”
"Shinkaruk is one of the most dynamically skilled players available in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. He is like a magician with the puck, and does everything at such a high pace that opponents have a difficult time containing him in the offensive zone. Shinkaruk scores highlight reel goals on a regular basis, which are often the results of his hands, speed and aggressive mentality. He is so fast and so agile out on this ice, that his skating abilities really allow him to be the dominant player that he is now." - Michelle Sturino
Things scouts and other professional/amateur observers said about him:
CON:
"Shinkaruk’s stride can sometimes be choppy"
"Some refinement to his skating technique could make him even more dangerous though."
"Shinkaruk’s two way game is decent, but he could use some more work on intensity in the defensive end of the ice. "
"He just sometimes can have a tendency to puck watch a little bit and lose his man. He also will probably need to bulk up before he can reach his full potential at the next level."
“He’s been real good,” said Kruger.
“When you look at the progression, it’s no
surprise at how successful he’s been. Hunter
has a lot of skill and his work ethic is second
to none. Based on his commitment to the
game and this hockey club, we felt good
about making him the captain because he has
consistently proven himself in all situations.” - Darren Kruger, Tigers Asst. Coach
QUOTES FROM THE PLAYER:
If Shinkaruk could sum it up in one
word, it would be passion. “I love to play
hockey,” he said. “I come to the rink with
a smile on my face. I want to be a leader
and help my team win. I want to score
goals with my speed and creativity. I know
I can put the puck in the net, but it’s the
excitement and joy I get from the game that
makes everything more special.”
Even though he was born and raised
in Alberta, Shinkaruk grew up cheering for
the Dallas Stars and his favourite player
Mike Modano.
“He’s the reason I wear No. 9,” said
Shinkaruk. “I’ve had a chance to meet him
twice and he’s a model of professionalism.
I always tried to pattern my game after
his even if I can’t do all the things he did
because of his size. These days, I look to
players like [Sidney] Crosby and [Claude]
Giroux - skilled leaders who play the game
with a high level of ability, passion, and
inspiration.”
MISC:
Played for Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF Under 18 World Championships, capping off a hat-trick with the overtime game winner to allow Canada to capture the bronze medal.
Hunter's father is a dentist and hockey enthusiast, his mother is a housewife.
VIDEOS:
Highlight Reel:
Highlight Reel:
Hunter's home made Vid (from a while back, obviously):
Hunter Interview
Exlund's take:
Hunter Shinkaruk may not get a lot of attention from Flyer fans, but this young left winger has certain exceptional abilities that should put him on any team's radar. Shinkaruk is a very good skater, with super quick hands and excellent stickhandling ability. He's also a lethal goal scorer, both in tight, where he he can employ any number of moves to beat the goalie or coming down on the rush, where he can use his speed and moves to blow past defenders and cut to the net...or he can pull up and unleash a swift, accurate wrister. He's very good at finding dangerous areas to go, with and without the puck. He's a good passer, but prefers to put the biscuit home if he has the chance.
His defensive game isn't anything special, but it's not trash either. He'll work on it...the kid seems like the type that will do what's necessary to become a better player. Off the ice he seems humble and happy go lucky...he obviously loves the sport and competing. On the ice he's a dynamic offensive force to be reckoned with. He's not a big player, but not that small really and he's strong on his skates and on the puck. The way he uses his body and angles to protect the puck should allow him to avoid being knocked around that much, and off the puck by larger players.
When I first watched his videos, after a few minutes, I found myself thinking "Where have I seen this before?"... and it hit me, I haven't seen a prospect with the type of hands, quickness, agility and potency around the net since Patrick Kane, a player I followed fairly closely in his draft year. I'm not going to say that Shinkaruk is the next Patrick Kane...Kane has a more complete game in terms of his vision and setting up his mates, but I do think it's a good comparable overall in terms of the soft, quick hands, the hockey sense, the skating...let's say he's a poor man's Patrick Kane...others compare him to Skinner. I see a smidge of Datsyuk's creativity in him too...but maybe that's just me.
I think this kid could do amazing things with Giroux..and we have an opening there for a top line left winger. I'm not saying he can make the jump right away, though Kane did, and that worked out well, but I'm not sure what else he needs to prove at the lower levels before making the jump...just some refinement of his overall game and a little more attention to D and of course, the ever popular, "bulking up".
So, yeah, I think if this kid is on the board when the Flyers pick at #11, and D prospects Nurse, Pulock and Zadorov are gone...and Lindholm and Nichushkin are gone*, I think they have to seriously consider taking Hunter Shinkaruk or possibly find themselves regretting it later.
*assumes (Jones, Drouin, Mac, Barkov are also gone)
