Hunter Brzustewicz

June 2023 – Brzustewicz was selected 75th overall by the Canucks. Pat Quinn

October 2022 – Brzustewicz is the exact type of player a contending team will rush to the podium to draft in the back end of the first round in the 2023 draft. He is a smooth-skating, intelligent right-shot defenseman who is calm under pressure and should be able to play an NHL role sooner than most other defensemen in the class. While he lacks high-end puck skills, a threatening shot, and aggressive transition defensive habits – such as a tight gap – he does a lot of things very well and simplifies the game, which makes him a valuable diffuser of play under forechecking pressure. His skating ability is what enables him to play this style so effectively. Brzustewicz’s edgework is borderline elite, and his stride mechanics are very good – he moves with real fluidity and purpose – which facilitates evading opposing players. Offensive transition is where he shines brightest. Despite keeping his simple style and rarely going for the hail mary stretch pass or taking the puck end-to-end on his own, he finds the best simple plays to gain zone entries, and he does so extremely effectively and subtly. Brzustewicz also has untapped offensive potential, which is starting to make itself clear with seven assists through six games on a struggling Kitchener Rangers team. He will likely never become a first-pairing NHLer, but a ceiling as a dependable second-pairing guy who progresses play very effectively in transition and has some playmaking flashes at even strength is certainly there. Sebastian High