by Christopher Nardella, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC. — With just over a month until the commencement of the NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens’ ninth overall pick will be scrutinized regardless of the selection. There is an abundance of talent available in the top-10.
Tyson Jost, C, Penticton (BCHL)
6-0, 194 lbs., Shoots L, Canada | @josty_17
2015-’16: 48 GP, 42 G, 62 A, 104 PTS (Penticton Vees)CSB: No. 16 | ISS: No. 9 | THN: No. 11 | HP: No. 10 | FC: No. 13
Somewhat similar to the selection of Alex Galchenyuk in 2012, Tyson Jost’s stats are a moderately skewed, although not by playing a limited number of games, but by playing in a league with an undistinguished reputation. Jost, who turned 18 years old this past March, is projected as being selected anywhere between ninth and 16th in this upcoming draft with an almost unlimited number of options within that range.
The BCHL by no means has the reputation of a league such as the CHL which has led to the stats of not only Jost but fellow Penticton Vee and projected first round pick Dante Fabbro having an asterisk next to them. In 48 games, the Vees captain scored 42 goals and recorded 104 points, leading the BCHL in scoring with over two points per game.
The preceding year as a rookie in the league the then 16-year old, and eventual 17-year old, was one point away from registering one point per game with 45 in 46 contests. He also captained Canada’s U-18 team this year at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and found the point sheet 15 times including six goals in seven games, as the team finished fourth in the tournament. He was also named the captain of Canada West’s U-19 team.
Jost was awarded the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as MVP of the BCHL. This past week Jost was named Hockey Canada’s RBC Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) National Player of the Year. The centre is committed to the University of North Dakota next season although the Everett Silvertips own his WHL rights as they selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 Bantam draft.
Jost has a relentless work ethic befitting of the role he’s maintained multiple times with Penticton and Canadian national teams. He’s constantly on the opposition on the forecheck and backcheck, particularly impressive when applying pressure in the offensive zone. When Jost misses with a check or simply is beaten, he stays with the player and further harasses him rather than showing defeat thus compensating for any mistakes. He stays involved in all three zones and rarely allows himself to be beat.
As with the other talented forwards in the first round of this draft, Jost has outstanding vision coupled with tremendous creativity. He quickly finds a lane to make a play. Undeterred by traffic, he routinely turns back in another direction and then fires a pass cross body to an open teammate.
Not only is Jost a visionary on the ice but he creates passing options given his stick-handling skills and being so good on his edges. Once he creates those lanes he can thread the needle and get off passes quickly. His edgework and being able to find passing lanes keeps the defense on its toes with the very real possibility that he will find a hole.
Despite his passing ability, Jost is still is a goal scorer at heart, as is illustrated by his 42 goals last season. Coming out from behind the net towards the corners, the 5-foot-11-inch forward likes to turn his back to the goal, then spin to fire the puck towards the net in one swift movement not unlike Patrick Kane or Evgeni Malkin.
#RBCCup awards banquet: @josty_17 accepts the RBC CJHL National player of the year trophy pic.twitter.com/a27UdpgG1I
— BC Hockey League (@bchllive) May 21, 2016
Oddly enough the St. Albert, Alberta native prefers using the backhander when space permits and doesn’t need much space to unleash it. In the offensive zone, Jost also likes to station himself on the right half wall to set up for a one-timer. Jost has a quick release on his wrist shot often getting it off before the goaltender has ample time to set. Even when he’s off balance he has the ability to maintain possession and take a shot.
Jost is always moving in the offensive zone looking for areas where teammates can find him. He can screen the goaltender but relies more on his ability to create deflections parked in front of the net. He can set up in every area on the ice, and is even more assertive when on the power-play.
He almost exclusively sets up on the right half wall to begin an advantage but Penticton’s powerplay is very mobile not limiting Jost to a single position. His preference is a one-timer but can also drift to other areas on the ice to release a quick wrister or relay the puck through a passing lane. The way the Vees deploy on the power-play it isn’t an anomaly to witness Jost as the lone point man where he quarterbacks the power play and shifts his mindset from goal scorer to facilitator.
Comparisons have been drawn between Jost and Clayton Keller who both encapsulate all the abilities of elite forwards. All the same, Jost is more than 20-pounds heavier than the American giving him excellent puck protection abilities yielding a higher success rate on his scoring opportunities.
Need to catch up on potential draftees? You will find the All Habs draft archive here or use the quick links below to check out our most recent articles on the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
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