Flames Second Round Targets 2016: Cam Dineen

Monday, Dineen didn’t get any points and yet his impact was indelible. He hustled back for a dump-in and drew a cross-checking penalty on Montreal Canadiens draft pick Jeremiah Addison that set up the game’s first goal. There he was again, joining the rush to become a decoy and open a passing lane to facilitate captain Mike Amadio’s game-winning goal. And making smart passes that initiated dangerous rushes and forced Ottawa to take penalties, one of which also led to a power-play goal.

The more you watch of Cam Dineen, the more you realize he thinks a game at a very high level.  He handles the puck with great poise, and sees openings in the defence to thread a pass to a teammate. Dineen quarterbacks things from the point on the powerplay, showing the ability to walk the line and to create passing and shooting lanes. He makes smart plays with the puck. In addition to being an excellent playmaker, Dineen has an absolute rocket of a shot, which he keeps low, and gets it on net providing opportunities for tip-ins and rebounds. Dineen also has good stickhandling ability, which he uses to avoid forecheckers, and to skate the puck out of his own end. He can also make a good first pass to start the transition game, including being able to make a home-run pass to a streaking forward.

Dineen’s best asset is far and away his ability to see the ice offensively. His hockey sense is elite and his brain for the game is going to carry him places. I saw North Bay a lot this year and I honestly can’t remember him making a bad pass out of his own end. He also distributes exceptionally well on the powerplay and does a great job of getting a low hard point shot through to the net. The physical skills are only average (size, strength), and I’m sure there are some scouts who wish he was a little more explosive in his first few steps (he moves well and has very good overall mobility, but I do think it is a legit criticism). But you just can’t ignore how well he processes the game.