Get to Know Mitchell Vande Sompel
Date of Birth: 2/11/1997
Place of Birth: London, ON, CAN
Ht: 5’10” Wt: 183 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defense
Team: Oshawa Generals (OHL)
If I told you that a player scored at a 1.08 pts/game pace during his draft eligible year, you’d likely assume I was talking about a forward. However, when it comes to Mitchell Vande Sompel, that’s not the case.
The shifty defenseman finished 5th in OHL defensive scoring despite missing 10 games due to injury. This also earned him the distinction of the top scoring draft-eligible blueliner from the O. While he might not be the largest player on the ice, his offensive instincts will provide his future club with an incredibly valuable scoring from the point.
Statistics
What Scouts See
Vande Sompel’s certainly not a big guy (5’10), but he plays a lot bigger than that. He’s shown a very high compete level this year, especially in the corners where he’ll initiate contact to gain possession of the puck. His awareness defensively has really improved too, which is promising considering he hasn’t been playing defence all that long. He’s still far from a perfect defensive player, but the progression is very promising and I think he’s more than just an offensive guy.
However, it is the offensive aspect of his game which is the highlight. His skating is fantastic and it allows him to start the breakout as quick as anyone not named Tony DeAngelo (in the OHL). He doesn’t need many strides to hit full speed, and as such he’s a very difficult player to hem in his own zone.
Vande Sompel is also aggressive offensively, showing little fear in attacking across the opposing blue line. As a power play QB, he makes quick and smart decisions on the point and is a large part of why Oshawa’s power play was 4th best in the league this year. Interestingly enough, Vande Sompel excels as a forward on the penalty kill, where he uses his speed and tenacity to break up plays. The size factor will hurt him at the NHL draft, but I think teams will admire his courage on the ice and appreciate his potential enough for him to not slip too far down the board.
What BSN Avalanche sees
Vande Sompel is a prototypical offensive defenseman. Even though he’s a bit smaller in stature, he’s learned to make up for his size with great skating, stick handling, passing, quickness, stick lifts, and fearlessness along the boards. His shot could use more strength and power, but it’s quite accurate, and his offensive instincts are already highly honed.
He’s a very solid quarter back on the power play, effectively directing the movement of the puck from near the blueline, and as mentioned in the scouting report, he plays forward on the PK. It’s a bit of an unusual setup, but it seems to have worked for the team that went on to win the Memorial Cup this year. Vande Sompel also loves to pinch and join the rush 5-on-5, adding further diversity to his game.
Defensively, he’s still rather raw. While his speed and tenaciousness are great attributes, he’s still learning how to harness them. On a number of occasions during the games I watched, he seemed to get a bit turned around and confused when it came to who he was supposed to be defending, especially on broken plays like odd-man rushes. Hopefully this will work itself out with a bit more coaching, but it does mean that it will likely be a few years before he’s ready to make the jump to the NHL.
Highlights
NHL Potential
While Vande Sompel’s size and defensive game means he’s unlikely to settle into a top pairing duty, he’d be a great addition to a second or third pairing and top power play unit. His defense still has a long ways to go, and the strength of his team does raise questions about how much of his offense will transfer, but if everything comes together, he could be a very valuable contributor from the blueline in the relatively near future.
Expected Draft Position
Most scouts have him going in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. His size and defensive games are knocks against him, but if a team is willing to be patient with his development, the trajectory of his development is headed in a very promising direction.
How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization
With so many left handed defensive prospects nearing their graduation to the NHL and few pure puckmovers in the system, Vande Sompel could be a great addition to the Avs farm. His 3-4 year ETA is a luxury the Avs can afford when it comes to blueliners, especially if he’s available with a 3rd round pick.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t fit with Roy’s desire for the team to get bigger, but by the time he’s ready for the NHL, it’s very possible the bigger players will already be in place. Keeping the prospects pipes primed with new talent of all sizes is important to the long-term viability of the Avs, and Vande Sompel’s upside might just be worth the gamble.
