Projection: Second Pair Shut Down

Strengths: Size, Mobility, Physical Engagement

Development Opportunities: Passing Decisions, Defensive Details

Right from the start of the year, the physical tools were obvious. The 6’2 frame and the footwork were there to mark him as a player worth keeping an eye on, and the more I watched, the more his defensive engagement became a constant theme. He’s always looking to close down oncoming attackers, take away their space, and never shies away from finishing his check. There’s been an offensive touch on display at times, but I’ve pegged him as a shutdown projection at the next level, someone who can bring a physical edge and make life difficult for an opponent’s top lines.

The physical play is certainly among the selling points, but it does come with a cost. He occasionally overextends to lay a check, the man skirts by or chips it to a streaking teammate, and the opposition enters the zone with control. Maintaining a tighter gap, taking away options first, and finishing checks in a more calculated manner is what I think will pay dividends to his game. The tools are certainly all there and with some refinement to his defensive reads, I can easily see him being a reliable shutdown defender in the OHL.

As always, Sixsmith’s footwork caught my attention early and remained a consistent asset throughout the game. Especially in defensive situations, Colten used his footwork incredibly well to apply pressure to oncoming attackers and shut them down with ease. He gave them no space to operate, shadowing their every move and looking to apply pressure early and force turnovers as they were attempting to enter his zone. Upon securing a puck, Colten could swiftly turn plays around, using his footwork to quickly evade a check and then hit a pass up ice to spark transitions the other way. On the power play, Sixsmith unleashed a point shot that sparked a scramble, leading to a rebound goal by Minet. Sixsmith has been the primary standout every time I watch this Eagles squad and someone I expect to crack my next rankings as I expand beyond the current top 40.

Sixsmith was one of a duo of Burlington defenders that really impressed me. I thought he was incredibly active defensively, winning pucks in his own end and stopping attackers. With the puck, he brought a calming presence, taking his time to scan for passing outlets and move pucks up the ice with control. These two elements made Colten a critical defender for the Eagles, as he helped them consistently keep pucks out of their end. He scored the highlight of the night, activating up ice, carrying the puck through the neutral zone, and rifling a puck top shelf from his knees after being tripped. He’s got the skating and frame to make for an interesting player, and I thought he impacted the game positively throughout to make for a strong showing.

Sixsmith brought mobility and smart passing to the Eagles blueline. All game long, he was jumping up into plays and connecting on quick outlet passes to be the backbone to their transition game shift after shift. Colten just seemed always in control, playing with calmness and confidence to process his options and make the right play. He found the back of the net, creeping in and capitalizing backdoor.