Ryan Kujawinski is one of the more out there prospect profiles that we will be doing at Defending Big D. Firstly Kujawinski isn’t going to be a first round pick and he probably isn’t going to be a second round pick. Why write a profile on him in that case? I personally find him to be an intriguing prospect with the raw skill set to do very well in the NHL if everything goes well.
Kujawinski is 6″1 and 203lbs and has excellent hockey sense. He has a huge range of offensive potential which, if tapped, would make him an elite offensive player. He can see the plays developing around him and understands the game very well. He has a quick, but not completely accurate wrist shot and in reality is probably better suited to the wing rather than the centre at which he plays for the Frontenacs.
He has the skills and hockey sense to be a first round prospect but has been plagued by inconsistency. There are times when he completely disappears off the radar and doesn’t do anything. Other times he’s the best player ont he ice creating plays. It appears that when he gets knocked off his game he finds it very difficult to readjust and continue playing at a high level. This has plunged his draft stock but in my opinion he might be worth a flyer in the middle rounds if he is still available.
He’s also a player that scouts disagree on, just reading the various scouts reports on him shows the difference in opinion from person to person.
Yes he is inconsistent but from my own analysis of it, appears to be due to confidence issues and not a lack of talent. His defensive positioning can be resolved through coaching and refinement. What Kujawinski is, is a project prospect with some top upside but also a high risk factor. He is a big risk big reward player and considering the Stars ability and attention to these things it possible that the Stars could find a way of helping him resolve any inconsistency and confidence issues.
Would I like the Stars to take Kujawinski? Yes, between the third and fifth rounds I think he could be a worth while pick who could work out but might not work out either.
| Season | Team | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- | Penalty Minutes |
| Regular Season | |||||||
| 2012-2013 | Kingston Frontenacs | 66 | 17 | 31 | 48 | -12 | 40 |
| 2011-2012 | Kingston Frontenacs | 30 | 15 | 15 | 30 | -6 | 15 |
| 2010-2011 | Sarnia Sting | 29 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -7 | 2 |
| Playoffs | |||||||
| 2012-2013 | Kingston Frontenacs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 2 |
Scouting Reports:
McKeen’s Hockey:
Hit career highs and finished second in scoring for Kingston, but fell below expectations based on a stellar rookie season in `11-12 .. Kirkland Lake, Ontario native went fourth overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection .. won bronze with Ontario at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (5-1-2-3) – and gold with Team Canada at last summer’s Ivan Hlinka .. SCOUTING REPORT .. sizeable forward packs a prime weapon in an explosive wristshot that features a hair-trigger release and tremendous velocity .. not a refined shooter though ..
Future Considerations:
SCOUTING REPORT: Kujawinski is a strong, physical winger with upside. He skates well as he gets to his top speed within just a few quick strides. He has a good top speed and strong balance making him hard to contain and knock off the puck. He’s competitive and battles hard most shifts, using his size to his advantage in board battles and wins his fair share of them. He can handle the puck but will not dangle his way around defenses instead using his size to power the puck towards the goal. He shows good vision but not high end creativity in the playmaking department. He’s more of a ‘see a lane, make short to medium range passes’ type of player. He finds open ice and utilizes his heavy shot. The puck jumps off his stick so quick although he could sharpen up his accuracy. He has some untapped potential in the defensive zone as he will play gritty and shows a strong stick but needs to learn the correct positioning to be effective and be coached up in that regard. He goes through slumps where he does not keep his feet moving and pulls himself out of the play for whatever reason. Once considered a first round prospect, he had a very inconsistent year and has seen his draft stock take a plunge. He still could be a late developer who makes a team look brilliant if he can finally put it all together and live up to the potential. The weakness that has most concerned is his hockey sense or lack thereof.
NHL POTENTIAL: Top 9 Two-Way Winger
International Scouting Services:
Has the raw skill-set on both sides of the puck to be amongst the biggest steals of the Draft. He has an untapped arsenal of offensive weapons with understanding for the 200 ft game. Ryan has an elite level of hockey IQ and makes those around him better through his incredible vision. He has a big shot and is effective around the net. Consistency has been troublesome and at times he can be the most dominant player in the game then bear near invisible the next. His game really comes to the forefront when he gains confidence on the puck, otential to be dynamic around the net.
Highlights:
Apologies for the music: