OHL Prospect Profile: Samuel Moncada

– Samuel Moncada –

Toronto Young Nationals (GTHL) | Goaltender | 2019 OHL Draft Eligible

Toronto, Ontario | 5-foot-9, 135-pounds | Jun. 4th, 2003

The Toronto Nationals are an elite team within the GTHL this season.

Boasting excellent depth offensively as well as quality defenders manning the blue line, the Nationals stand poised to enjoy a great deal of success throughout their 2018-19 campaign. However, perhaps no player within the Nationals’ roster is more impactful than goaltender Samuel Moncada — a highly athletic and competitive netminder who owns the ability to steal games for his team on a nightly basis.

Although one of the GTHL’s smallest goaltenders, Moncada is arguably one of its most skilled. Capable of competing with consistency, Moncada’s abilities between the pipes should propel the Nationals upon a deep postseason run this coming year and one which could lead to his selection early within the 2019 OHL Priority Selection.

Strengths:

Positioning
Athleticism
Reflexes
Compete-level

For Moncada, the foundation of his game is his stellar positioning.

Although standing just 5-foot-9, Moncada positions himself well and covers the vast majority of the net as shooters approach. Capable of fighting through traffic in order to maintain vision of the puck, Moncada always seems to be in the right place at the right time — an ability which makes his game appear not only easy but effortless.

Amplifying Moncada’s sound positioning in-goal is his raw athleticism. Extremely flexible and mobile within his crease, Moncada makes game-changing saves with remarkable frequency and appears to face little difficulty in doing so. Eerily similar in playing style to Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings, Moncada is a tireless competitor whose lightning-quick reflexes and sound structure combine to make him an impenetrable force.

Once of greater size, Moncada’s abilities in-goal will surely be second-to-none at the next level. Although many scouts and critics within the hockey world are quick to criticize a goaltender’s lack of size, they would be wrong to do so with regards to Moncada. Size aside, the native of Toronto, Ontario remains one of the GTHL’s most skillful and capable goaltenders.

Area of Improvement:

Rebound Control

Due to the impenetrable and comprehensive nature of Moncada’s game, it is truly difficult to determine areas — if any — in which the youngster can improve his play.

So, for the purpose of this feature, we’ll have to nitpick.

One area of Moncada’s game which could improve is his rebound control. Although Moncada already does a solid job of corralling attempts fired his way, the odd shot has the ability bounce off of his pads or chest and affords his attackers with an extra opportunity to pot a sudden rebound. Moncada’s ability to control rebounds is arguably made more difficult as a result of his athletic play — difficult and jaw-dropping saves boast the ability to generate fruitful rebounds with remarkable consistency.

So, while Moncada’s stellar athleticism stands as a key feature of his game, it also has the potential to produce plentiful rebounds for his opposition. Moving forward, Moncada must learn to play an athletic yet controlled game, and one founded more so on predictive play rather than reactionary movements.

Future Potential:

As the Nationals barrel their way through the 2018-19 season ahead of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Moncada will undoubtedly continue to impress scouts while dominating the GTHL at-large.

As one of the GTHL’s most talented netminders, Moncada could very well stand amongst the first goaltenders selected in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. Although he won’t be chosen in the first round of the Draft, an OHL franchise could be willing to call Moncada’s name in either the second or third-round given the youngster’s proven and promising abilities in-goal.

Sure, he won’t be the biggest goaltender available in next April’s OHL Priority Selection, yet Moncada will definitely be one of the most skilled. If prospective OHL teams can look past his short stature, Moncada could very well become a star netminder at the next level and beyond.