Reid Valade – Kitchener Rangers – Player Profile

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 162 Pounds

Date of birth: March 14, 2002

Hometown: Caledon, Ontario

Position: Right Wing

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 17^th overall, 2018 Priority Selection

NHL Central Scouting Rankings

Reid is a speedy winger that is constantly moving and putting pressure on the other team. He has electric speed and is always challenging defencemen wide or jumping quickly in and out of holes for scoring chances. He has a good skill set which allows him to beat players one-on-one as well as finish off scoring chances when they arrive. He shoots the puck well and has a quick release. Reid is a smart player that can play any type of game or role on his team.

That was OHL Central Scouting’s scouting report on Kitchener Rangers Right winger Reid Valade following his Minor Midget AAA season with the Toronto Marlboros during the 2017-2018 season. Valade scored 31 goals and assisted on 38 in 55 games for the Marlboros. He added 3 goals and 6 helpers for the Marlboros in 6 games at the OHL Cup and represented Team GTHL Blue at the OHL Gold Cup, scoring 3 goals and 4 points in 4 games.

Valade made his OHL debut on September 21, 2018 and registered his first point, an assist, on October 5, 2018. His first OHL goal didn’t come until his 31^st game on January 4, 2019 against the Owen Sound Attack. Valade would finish the year with 5 goals and 15 assists in 62 games. He would also represent Canada at the World Hockey Challenge Under-17 and record 2 assists in 5 games.

By the time the 2019-2020 season was cancelled, Valade had appeared in 52 games, scoring 18 goals and assisting on 21.

Valade is an exceptional skater with tremendous speed and very quick acceleration from zero. Even when in motion, he has a surprisingly quick separation gear. He gets in on the forecheck quickly and despite his 5’10” frame, he’s not shy about going into battle when he gets there. He’s also willing to drive to the blue paint with or without the puck.

Valade plays at a high pace and does so at every turn. He provides the Rangers with a lot of energy the way he plays the game and he can get under the oppositions skin. Valade possesses a very good shot, with a quick release and an ability to beat goaltenders with. He’s been used on the powerplay and has shown he can be effective with limited opportunity.

Valade by all accounts is a very coachable player. He can be seen absorbing what coaches are telling him on the bench and taking direction from teammates. He can also be trusted defensively. His skating allows him to come back on the forecheck, he understands the need to get into and take away lanes. He uses his stick effectively; he can kill penalties and be trusted to go up against the opposition’s top players.

Most believe that the knock on Valade is that his head and his hands need to catch up to his feet. There is some truth to that. He plays at such a high pace with a lot of energy, that he doesn’t always make the right decisions. But there is certainly a lot to like.

NHL Central Scouting didn’t list Valade on their players to watch list in the preseason or November lists. However, when their mid term rankings came out, they had Valade at 123 among North American Skaters and dropped him 25 spots on their final rankings. That puts him in the 7^th round for the 2020 NHL Draft.

Valade can be a solid 4^th liner at the next level that can kill penalties, can be trusted defensively provide energy and pop in the odd goal. If he can put it all together, he can bring the same attributes on the third line with a little more scoring ability.