Michael La Starza

July 2022 – La Starza was passed over in his first year of draft eligibility. Nick Richard

June 2022 – La Starza put up respectable numbers in the USHL for a player in his first year of draft eligibility. He tallied eight goals and 14 assists in 25 games with Waterloo before being traded to Sioux Falls where he added another eight goals and 14 assists in 32 contests.

La Starza is a smooth-skating, dual-threat offensive player with good vision and puck handling skills. He has great top speed and four-way mobility, allowing him to weave between checks and create chances off the rush. He also does a good job along the wall where he is able to protect the puck before taking it off the boards to make a short-area pass to sustain possession for his team. La Starza is more of a passer but he has a deceptive release that comes off of his blade quickly and he can beat goaltenders cleanly when presented with a good look. In tight, he has the hands and quick shift ability to make skilled moves around defenders and netminders alike. Where La Starza can get into trouble is when he tries to do too much or is a little too patient with the puck on his stick, resulting in turnovers or broken-up chances. Away from the puck, he is diligent and uses his speed to get into lanes or pressure opposing defenders on the breakout which adds a bit of versatility to his game. There is work to do in order to refine his game but the skating ability and offensive tools should make him a candidate to be chosen in the middle rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft. Nick Richard