Marko "Book 'Em" Dano: The Next Ones NHL Draft Profile

Excerpt from in-depth profile on Dano as found on The Hockey Writers. 

Marko Dano THW Close-Up:

Marko Dano (Photo: HC Slovan Bratislava)

Date of birth: 1994-Nov-30
Place of birth:  Eisenstadt, AUT
Ht: 5’11  Wt: 183 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: C/W
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2013 1st year eligible
Twitter:  n/a
THW The Next Ones Rankings (Final Top 210): 54th

Other Rankings:

• NHL Central Scouting Aggregate Final Rankings: #57
• THW War Room Rankings (June): #50
• ISS: #82
• Craig Button: #72
• Bob MacKenzie: #53
• THN: 43
• Consensus aggregate of several services (NHL Numbers): #43

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[NHL 2013 Draft Guide – The Next Ones Draft Headquarters: Your quintessential draft resource]

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Book ‘Em, Dano!

Dano is an Austrian born Slovakian forward who is an interesting study for this draft class.
He first impressed me at the 2012 World Juniors in Calgary as the youngest player on the Slovakian squad as a spark-plug player who initiated play and showed creativity in somewhat limited duty. As planned, he was a leader of the Slovakian 2013 WJCs entry and impressed with 9 points in 6 games.
The 5’11″ forward is an energetic and very good skater although NHL Central Scouting’s Goran Stubb has stated he could use work on his skating and first step acceleration. We’ll have to agree to disagree on this aspect of Dano’s game as I see him as a powerful skater with good speed and get up and go ability.
What has allowed Dano to succeed in the Slovakian Men’s league 2 seasons ago and in the KHL this past season is his high level hockey sense and above average vision. He’s a smart player who reads the game well. He is a very aware and responsible player all over the rink.
Dano plays an in your face up-tempo game and is that agitating, gritty but skilled forward that every NHL team covets these days. He plays a physical game and is very strong for his size – his performance at the Scouting Combine proved that.
Dano doubles as an effective playmaker and finisher. He also possesses a good set of mits, as they say, with deft puckhandling ability. He also has great hockey genes as his father Jozef played professionally in Europe for 19 years and is current assistant coach with Dukla Trencin in the Slovakian Men’s top league. While the younger Dano likes Jaromir Jagr as a player, the reason he wears jersey #68 in club play is because that was his father’s number, as he explained to me through a translator in Calgary in 2012.
Who’s going to step up to the podium in Newark and say: “Book ‘em Dano”?

Where He’ll Land in June:

 He was ranked 54th overall in The Next Ones Final Top 210 Rankings and could possibly go anywhere from 40 to 60.

*This article was originally published at The Hockey Writers.