Statistics

Scout Quotes

Woo projects as a potential shut down defenseman, who can also provide a little offence. He will likely never be the biggest offensive threat on his team’s blueline, but he can be a support piece. His defensive game is very strong though, and if he can continue to develop this over the next couple of years, he should have a big impact and play big minutes for his NHL team. Woo’s game is similar to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. This is a style comparison only though, and not one based on skill or potential. – Last Word on Hockey

AJ’s Thoughts

Woo has been around on prospect radars for a few years now. As time has progressed, he’s slowly worked his way from a top prospect down into the late-first round conversation at best. He’s a hearty defenseman who I enjoy watching play because he makes quality reads and maintains an excellent gap. His stickwork is solid and he’s a strong, stocky kid who doesn’t have any issue getting into a player’s grill and making them pay for intruding into his personal space.

He’s a player who has already learned how to pick his spots for aggression and that’s a quality sign of a mature young defenseman. His high IQ is appealing and you have to like the way he processes the game. His raw skills leave a little to be desired and I think that’s a big reason we’re seeing him continue to slip, especially in this class of high-end puck-movers. He really sticks out as a guy who has ability in his own end and may end up getting the “safe” label as a prospect because his offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping.

Woo isn’t without talent offensively, though. He has a decent shot and if you watch enough of him you’ll see a player with good vision and legitimate passing ability. I wouldn’t count on him ever scoring more than five goals in an NHL season but he could easily profile as a guy who puts up 25 points a year for you. I’m not sure I’d ever put him on a power play but he would be a lead penalty killer for me without hesitation.

I do think his conservative approach to offense is a big reason he’s being pushed down in this draft. I think a team is going to settle up with that and pull the trigger on draft day and I think in the long run they’ll be plenty pleased with the player they actually got versus worrying about the player they could have had.

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVswJjO5ULI

Avalanche Fit

Not great, Bob. He’s a fine defensive prospect and as a righty, he’ll fill a valuable role in some other organization. In Colorado, he would join a heavy right side with Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie already in Colorado with Nic Meloche, Conor Timmins, and Cale Makar all pushing for time in the future. Again, I like Woo and he’s a guy with intriguing upside and a polished skill set that Colorado isn’t already teeming with so he wouldn’t be a terrible pick (no player with real talent would be a “terrible” pick IMO). He’s just sort of more of the same and kind of a redundant asset in the large scheme of things. But even then…so what? If he ends up as a quality NHL player, that’s never bad. There should be other priorities to be filled with their two second-round selections, however.

Rankings

#30 Hockey Prospect
#26 Future Considerations
#41 McKeen’s Hockey