Projection: Middle Six Upside

Tools: Defensive Play, Physicality

Development Opportunities: Lateral Movement, Skating

A power style two-way centre, Readings was a true riser this year for me. At first, some flashes of puckskill and solid north-south drives caught my eye but I didn’t truly appreciate his game until the new year. I have a lot of time for Readings, who shows a mature and defensively responsible game, providing a lot of value down a man and in his own end. He is not afraid to sacrifice the body and mix it up with opposing players, battling for the upper hand. But when he gets the puck, he can make some really fast drives with it and has shown some legitimate skill with the puck, deking around opposing defenders and gaining position. He also has a well developed and well rounded offensive game with the ability to score goals or set up opposing players.

Readings does so many things right and plays a very mature and projectable game as is. However, in order for him to be a more impactful player, he should work on his east-west game, adding more lateral agility to his skating repertoire. This will help him in becoming a much more dynamic offensive player, allowing him to more easily get around players and adding dimensions to his game. It will also help him in transition, while forechecking, and even in his own end, being able to keep up with attackers and neutralize offensive threats.

Jake Readings showed his skillset as a great utility player playing alongside a skilled forward like Quinn Roberts in this game. He is a strong forechecker who engages in board battles and digs in down low inside the offensive end, getting pucks to his linemates. Readings also has strong two-way capabilities, especially inside his own end using his stick and aggressive nature to strip pucks from players. He logs time on the penalty kill and was able to neutralize opposing players like Roman Vanacker quite effectively.

Jake recorded two assists in the final and impressed with his committed two way game. He was always going, moving his feet, and getting in on the forecheck. Readings was never sitting back and watching the play, but looking to get involved and disrupt a play. He set up both of Butler’s goals, one with a beauty pass to him open back-door for an easy tap in and the second he hustled to win a puck in the corner and then quickly hit Butler in the slot who fired it home. A good mix of playmaking and work ethic in the final from Jake.

A skilled powerforward who can act as a swiss army knife positionally and with his style of play, Jake Readings was noticeable throughout this game. He has good speed and quick acceleration, allowing him to turn on the jets and rush up ice with the puck on his stick. He uses his frame and size to shield the puck well and is physical along the boards. On top of this, he has good reads and on multiple occasions was able to pick off passes or intercept pucks and showcase some adept playmaking.

Jake Readings is a fast powerfoward who showed a lot of interesting skills in this game. He did not generate a point in this one but he kept popping up in my notes over and over. He had a few good rushes showing off his speed either with the puck on his stick or in a foot race. He also uses his large frame to fight off opponents and shake off contact. His passing looked quite refined against the Colts, making a few good dishes and generating some offense but despite his efforts was unable to record a point.

Readings had a few really nice flashes of evading with his hands and protecting pucks. Especially when working along the wall and around the perimeter, Jake could shield pucks with a balance of dekes and smart body positioning to maintain possession to extend plays in the offensive zone. He sparked one of London’s goals, showing the ambition to attack the middle of the ice. While his move didn’t work out, it created a loose puck in behind him that Cameron Jolicoeur buried.