With the 75th pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft the Dallas Stars have selected defenseman Alex Peters from the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL.
Peters is said to be a big lad- 6’4″ and over 200 lbs according to most reports. His 18th birthday is less than a week away, so you have to think there’s still some growing to do there, and certainly some filling out and physical maturation. Shoot left. Born in Ontario.
Let’s see what some of the experts have to say out there in their first reactions…
Peters smart, safe, minute eating defender who thrives when the play collapses down low. Understands his size advantages and plays to them
— Sean Lafortune (@SeanLafortune) June 28, 2014
Stars select Alex Peters (Plymouth, OHL)… big and mobile but raw defenseman.
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) June 28, 2014
Red Line Report on Stars 3rd round pick Alex Peters: “Shutdown d-man with great wingspan & surprising agility.”
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) June 28, 2014
Safe. Shutdown. Not sexy words on draft day, perhaps, but you have to trust that these guys know what they’re doing and then see how it unfolds in the coming years. They’re showing us a little bit of everything to this point. The offensive d-man righty. The raw, skilled center. The big, stay at home defenseman. Variety is the spice of life, and you need a little bit of everything…
| Regular Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
| 2012-2013 | Plymouth Whalers | 58 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 31 |
| 2013-2014 | Plymouth Whalers | 50 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 44 |
From McKeens…
makes a solid first pass and keeps his game very simple.. rarely gets into trouble and displays a low panic threshold .. showed good improvements in his ability and willingness to make plays ..competes within his limits and never pushed it past the red line before locating an option .. despite his massive size, he does not employ a physical brand of play but rather elects to smother and suffocate his man down low .. plays an honest game, rubbing opponents out and delivering checks if presented with the opportunity .
Big, but not does employ a physical brand of play… Sometimes smarter is better. Sometimes, though, you just want to find a big, nasty _____ _______. So we’ll wait and see.
Welcome to the Dallas Stars family, Alex Peters.