Noah Rod probably tops out at a fourth-line agitator, but given his universally lauded work ethic I wouldn’t be surprised to see him surpass that ceiling. He’s a ferocious back-checker, gets under his opponents’ skin and possesses a bit of offensive upside.
Think of Rod as a Tommy Wingels type player — someone who will score now and again but may show his true value in tricking his opponents into the penalty box. Rod vastly improved his scoring last season, notching 16 points in 44 games after scoring only four in the previous season.
He’s not a particularly good skater and he’ll need to bulk up a bit before playing in the NHL, but I’m curious to see what Rod does in training camp and (most likely) with the Barracuda next season.
Name: Noah Rod
Age (as of 10/12/16): 20
Position: Right Wing
2015-16 Team: Genève-Servette HC
Where he’ll (probably) be next year: San Jose Barracuda
What we like: Work ethic.
What to improve on: Skating and adding size.
Highlight:
Rod gets to the front of the net and tucks home a rebound in the WJC.
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