Rocco Grimaldi
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Birthday:
1993-02-08 |
Position:
C |
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Eligible for draft:
2011 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2011 |
Height:
5-6 |
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Acquired:
2nd round (33rd overall), 2011 |
Weight:
161 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- D
History
2009-10: Rocco Grimaldi split the season between the U.S. NTDP national team and the squad playing in the USHL. In 32 USHL games, he scored 11 goals and added 9 assists for 20 points. In 36 games for the Under-17 squad, Grimaldi scored 14 goals and added 26 assists for 40 points. In 26 games for the Under-18 squad, he scored 7 goals and added 16 assists for 23 points. Grimaldi played for the gold medal USA squad at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 4 goals and adding 10 assists for 14 points in 6 games. His performance earned him a berth on the tournament All-Star Team. Grimaldi also earned gold for the USA at the 2010 U-18 World Junior Championship, where he scored 2 goals and added 8 assists for 10 points in 7 games.
2010-11: In 23 games for the NTDP squad playing in the USHL, Grimaldi scored 12 goals and added 13 assists for 25 points. He won a gold medal again while playing for the USA at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and adding 6 assists for 8 points in 6 games.
2011-12: Grimaldi appeared in just four games for the University of North Dakota in what would have been his freshman year. A knee injury suffered in pre-season camp eventually led to season-ending surgery in January 2012. In four early season games with the Fighting Sioux he had 1 goal with 1 assist and was minus-five with 2 penalty minutes. He was invited to USA Hockey's Lake Placid U20 Evaluation Camp but was still recovering. Grimaldi was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA and will once again be a freshman in 2012-13.
Talent Analysis
Grimaldi is a top-flight NHL hockey player in a small package. He is a terrific skater, both with and without the puck. His quickness and acceleration are truly high end and he has the agility to match. His shot is deadly, and his passing skills are professional grade. He is a tireless worker and often the most competitive player on the ice, which can sometimes result in perceptions of selfishness. His size is the main obstacle in his path to the NHL.
Future
Grimaldi will once again lace up his skates for a freshman year at North Dakota this fall after receiving a redshirt allowance from the NCAA. Grimaldi should have plenty of opportunities to display his talent on the powerplay and at even strength and will be counted on to provide scoring and speed to the UND lineup. Despite missing the US evaluation camp this summer, Grimaldi could still have chance to suit up for US team in the World Junior Championships in the fall. He is the prototypical boom-or-bust prospect whose NHL career will be as a scoring line playmaker and sniper or nothing at all.
