The bigger the better, right? Well in the case of Jarred Tinordi, he’s big and getting better! This year the Maryland native moves up two places from last year’s rankling.
The 20-year-old, first round pick by the Canadiens in 2010 gets his chance to bring his size to the pros this season, now finished with his Junior career.
Despite missing 10 games, due to an eye injury, Tinordi lead his London Knights to an OHL championship, where they went 16-3 in the playoffs. Not known for his offense, Tinordi stepped it up with three goals and five assists and a +27 rating during the postseason.
A single goal kept the Knights from a Memorial Cup, losing the final in overtime to Shawinigan and fellow Habs prospects Michael Bournival and Morgan Ellis.
With a father who played 12 seasons on the blue line in the NHL, with the Rangers, Stars and Capitals, Tinordi will hope to bring a second generation of tough physical play to the league.
Voting among the panel put Tinordi in the Top-10, with only one exception. The 6′ 6″ rearguard has slowly has inched up the list each season since it’s inception in 2010.
| Player | Berkshire | Cooper | Peter | Boyle | van Steendelaar | Dahan | Ives | Boucher | La Rose | Rice |
| Tinordi | 8 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
Strengths: For a man of his size, Tinordi has relatively decent skating speed which will improve at a pro learning level. He gets an advantage with his tremendous reach and coverage of the ice, which will be a nightmare for attacking forwards who think they are home free.
His body-checks are thunderous, and those going into the corner with him will want to move and decide quickly. He’s willing to drop the gloves as well if anyone objects to his physical play.
The goaltenders in Hamilton, and eventually Montreal will be well protected with his big body protecting the net, blocking shots and keeping the opposition out of the crease.
His leadership, character and hockey pedigree will be an added bonus to his development in Hamilton this season.
Weaknesses: Tinordi brings little in terms of generating offense. Establishing the first pass out of the defensive zone showed improvement in 2011-12, and his slap shot is deemed as above average. His confidence handling the puck is a concern and decision making in the offensive zone will need improvement at the pro level.
Projection: Tinordi has all the makings of a very solid shutdown defenseman at the NHL level. He will benefit strongly in Hamilton and should see plenty of time on the penalty kill. At the NHL level, he has the serious potential as high as a second pairing rearguard, if paired with the right puck carrying partner on the blueline.
Corey Pronman was impressed enough with Tinordi’s play this season, moving him up from a “below-average third pairing defender,” in 2011 to “an average second-pairing defenseman who logs tough defensive minutes,” this past July.
With a healthy defense corps already established in Montreal, he’ll get a great opportunity to showcase himself, and work on his skating and playing in the offensive end, with the Hamilton Bulldogs for a full season.
If his play can progress as we have seen so far, the Canadiens future on defense could be e;xtremely frustrating for the opposition with Tinordi, Alexei Emelin and Josh Gorges in front of Carey Price.
The next Hal Gill, or the next Mike Komisarek? I’m strongly leaning to the former.
One game scouting report from Chris Boucher.
Tinordi’s talk with Abe Hefter, from the NHLPA Rookie Showcase, earlier this week.
More from Tinordi at the showcase, via the Hamilton Bulldogs
| #9: Danny Kristo | #8: Jarred Tinordi | #7: Brendan Gallagher |
