NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Cam Dineen

Get to Know Cam Dineen

Date of Birth: 6/19/1998
Place of Birth: Toms River, NJ, USA
Ht: 5’11” Wt: 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Defense
Team (League): North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Statistics

What Scouts See

The Draft Analyst:

Dineen is not big or overly physical, but he’s silky-smooth with the puck and maintained his consistency even after opposing coaches realized how big of a three-zone threat he was. He’s an exceptional passer with eyes in the back of his head, and he has soft hands to where he can deaden the puck and lay it flat to make a cleaner follow-on play. Dineen has an above-average shot, and he can fire both his wrister and slapper with authority and accuracy. He routinely makes high-percentage decisions and has all the makings of a solid top-four NHL defenseman.

Last Word on Sports:

Cam Dineen shows the potential to be a top four defender, but still has some holes in his game. He will need to work on his defensive game, add some muscle to his frame, and continue to improve his speed and acceleration. There could be a very good reward here though for a team who is able to invest in Dineen’s development and help him reach the next level. In terms of style, Dineen looks an awful lot like Duncan Keith when you watch him.  This is a comparison of his skating stride and the type of offensive game he plays though, and not necessarily a comment on his skill level or potential.

What BSN Avalanche sees

One of the authors above sees Duncan Keith in Dineen’s game but I see a lot more Chris Bigras. He isn’t as good a skater as Bigras but his hockey IQ is off the charts and he wastes very little time leading the breakout with the puck. He’s as smooth and natural a defender as you will see and very rarely do you find yourself watching Dineen and wondering exactly what he’s thinking.

He’s not very big and his defense still has some holes in it. I don’t love his skating and would to see him refine that to be more of a strength in the future. He struggles in the dirty areas of the ice at times and can allow himself to be physically overwhelmed by bigger guys. He doesn’t have a lot of pushback in those situations, which can be disheartening.

Highlights

NHL Potential

He’s a top four defender in my eyes. He could play in all situations in the NHL and be a solid all-around defenseman. He isn’t likely to be a game breaker or win any style points with his solid, steady approach but an NHL coach is going to absolutely love this guy.

Expected Draft Position

He started the year off in no man’s land and finished in the conversation for the last first round, early second round. Pretty good spot to be in.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

Dineen would be an excellent fit for the Avalanche in the second round and few would have strong objections to his selection. He’s a steady, smooth defensemen whose hockey IQ will have in the NHL sooner than later and will keep him there for a solid decade or so. I have a hard time complaining about a kid like this coming into your organization, his warts be damned.