Graham Sward

Defense

Spokane Chiefs/WHL

Height: 6’2″/ Weight: 176 lbs.

Size/Strength     Great
Skating       Great
Shot/Scoring     Average
Puckhandling   Average
Physical Play       Excellent
Offensive Play     Average
Defensive Play    Excellent
Hockey Sense      Excellent
Competitiveness  Excellent

Strengths

1.  A defensemen whose hard to play against due to his physical play and defensive capabilities.
2. A lanky skater with long legs and a controlled effortless stride that is efficient; has great  four-way mobility.
3. He applies constant pressure on the puck carriers and can close in quickly and impose himself physically to create a turnover. 

Area’s for Improvement

1. Offensively Sward game is still quite under developed. He is not a confident puck carrier and doesn’t utilize his mobility enough in the offensive zone.
2. Is very limited offensively; if mainly a shutdown defenseman at this point in his career.

Scouting Report:

Drafted with the 17th overall pick in the WHL Draft by the Spokane Chiefs, Graham Sward had a solid rookie season recording 17 points and a +12 rating in 55 games. Sward is a defensive-orientated player however who makes most of his impact on the game in his zone. A lanky skater with long legs and a controlled effortless stride that is efficient. Sward’s lateral abilities contribute well to his four-way mobility, he’s able to mirror the opposition coming down on him and force puck carriers to the outside. His stick work is exceptional, he keeps it active and pokes pucks off the player stick with ease. Sward constantly engages on the puck carrier and is well aware of his surroundings. He applies constant pressure on the puck carriers and can close in quickly and impose himself physically to create a turnover. Graham is a defensemen whose hard to play against due to his physical play and defensive capabilities. He is incredibly aware of when his defensive partner needs help and can provide support when needed. As great as Sward on defense, he doesn’t have much offensive ability, which might drop his stock in the draft because the team is more inclined to draft a defenseman with more offensive upside if they had a choice.

Skill:

A Shutdown defenseman with great mobility, physical presence and defensive abilities.

Style Comparison: Adam Larsson

NHL Potential: Top 4 Shutdown Defenseman

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2017-18	Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep	CSSHL U15	26	2	18
2018-19	Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18	BC U18	32	7	26
2019-20	Spokane Chiefs	WHL	55	2	17