NHL Trade Deadline: Cody Payne, Lane MacDermid Scouting Reports

Let’s start with Lane MacDermid.

MacDermid is a 23 year old, 6’3 205Lbs 2009 4^th round (112^th overall) draft pick of the Boston Bruins. He’s come to be considered one of the toughest guys the Bruins have drafted recently. While not highly skilled he hits everything that moves and plays an intimidating, space creating style of hockey.

Over four years in the OHL, played with the Owen Sound Attack and Windsor Spitfires, MacDermid scored 66 points but amassed 502 penalty minutes at the same time. Since then he’s played for the Providence Bruins in the AHL as well as two separate call-ups to Boston for a total of 8 NHL games. In providence he had 46 points and 516 penalty minutes through 249 games in four seasons.

While he doesn’t project to be any sort of scoring force, MacDermid provides a fierce and intimidating presence and has shown willingness to stick up for his teammates and play a hard game day in and day out. MacDermid is an enforcer who will probably split time between the Dallas and Texas Stars as his career moves forward. The Stars, however, haven’t had a real enforcer since Krys Barch so when MacDermid sees time with the Dallas Stars he will be looked at to fill this hole and provide a constant physical presence and spark for the team.

Sarah Connors of Stanley Cup of Chowder gives us a good scouting report:

Lane Macdermid is a guy who in Providence was known for being part of the self-proclaimed "buzzsaw line" with Bobby Robins and Christian Hanson. They were a defensively solid line that played third/fourth line minutes for the most part; Providence coach Bruce Cassidy would often deploy them after the other team scored to get the P-Bruins' "energy" going. And frequently it worked pretty well. MacDermid's known more for his fighting skills than his scoring prowess; his lone NHL accomplishments in eight games are three fights - no points - but he's fairly good in his own end of the ice, his skating is decent, and he could potentially be groomed into a good defensive forward in the NHL.

Cody Payne was drafted by the Bruins in the 5^th round (145^th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’2 202lb right wing from Weston, Florida is in his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League, currently playing for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL playoffs.

In his four seasons he has scored 74 points in 176 games and has shown a lot of improvement in the last year. After scoring 14 points in 50 games during the 2011-2012 season, he has put together a solid campaign this year going 24-21-45 in 66 games played.

Payne is thought of as a power forward through and through. He uses his body to knock people off the puck and then protect it. It should also be noted that he hasn’t necessarily had the best opportunity to shine throughout his OHL career. However, It appears that he has taken advantage of his opportunity in his last season of junior to show that he can produce when given the chance. He is thought of as a project and will likely be a bottom-six player when he reaches the NHL.

Some additional insight from Brock Otten, who runs the OHL Prospects Blog and has done plenty of scouting of Payne in the past. Here's what he has to say:

I like Payne. I think he's got definite upside as a checking line winger at the NHL level. Like a 15/15 guy. Last year he was drafted as purely a crash and bang winger. Threw the body around and looked to create havoc off the forecheck, but offensively he looked very limited. This year, he's really rounded out his game offensively. Still crashing and banging, but also taking chances with the puck and looking to play off the rush, driving to the net. He's also getting himself in better scoring positions, which would explain the increased goal numbers. Moving forward, his puck skills will continue to need to improve. Same with his first few steps to make him more explosive off the rush. Be great if he could improve his shot too, so that he can get it off quicker and add that element to his game. Definitely had a great year and is progressing well though.