E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Stuart Percy #58

By Eldon MacDonald

58. Stuart Percy - “Mr. Good Vibrations” - D - Canada

Vitals: Size - 6’1”, 186 lb.; Shoots left; born 18-May-93 - Oakville, ON
Team: Mississauga, OHL
2010-11 Stats: 64-4-29-33-50-(+50) + OHL playoffs - 20-2-12-14-(+11)

Rankings:
28 - Craig Button's Top 30 of 8-Jun-11
34 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts (HM’s = 61 to 85)
50 - ISS per TSN
50 - hfboards Readers’ Poll
51 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
53 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
54 - Future Considerations Final Rankings
58 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
58 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
66 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (53rd North American skater)
70 - The Hockey News per TSN
Draft result:
25 - Toronto Maple Leafs

OK, many of you who are reading this are (were) also watching Stuart Percy at the Memorial Cup. What kind of vibe did Stuart Percy give you??? Is it that comfortable slipper that just makes you feel warm and cared-for??? Is it that co-worker that always has your back and maybe even gets you a “Tim’s” on occasion??? Is it that feeling of safeness that you get when you first put on a new set of winter tires??? Yes, those are all good vibrations and that is what Stuart Percy brings to a team - the good vibrations of a dependable, solid, two-way defenseman with nice mobility and the poise to do the right thing. Hmm, maybe that is why he was an awesome +50 during the regular season followed by an awesome +11 in the OHL playoffs.

So there you have it. The only thing awesome about Stuart Percy is the results. He is not the biggest guy, not the fastest guy, not the strongest guy, not the most exciting guy but he does get the job done with his excellent hockey sense, crisp first passes, NHL type positioning and lack of mistakes. Stuart will have to work on his strength like most junior defensemen of average size and his shot is only average but if you are looking for Josh Georges like reliability on the back-end, Stuart Percy is your man. So the next time you are watching Stuart Percy on TV, turn down the sound and put on a Beach Boys song (preferably, Good Vibrations) and see if things are not right in the world.

Where will Stuart Percy go in the draft??? Most have him late second to early third but if the guy drafting him has “Good Vibrations” on his I-Pod, early second is a possibility.