One of the most physically daunting and imposing players in the 05’ draft class, Declen McDougall is a grizzly bear on skates. Standing at six-foot-four, it is incredibly difficult for players to get around the long reach of McDougall and if they become lined up in his sights, they will pay the price as a result, being placed on the receiving end of a devastating body check. McDougall is a strong defensemen, able to position himself well on the ice and make effective plays within the defensive zone. While being a formidable player physically, McDougall also has excellent stick checking skills, he is able to strip the puck from any forward moving towards him on the rush. McDougall does some of his best work on the penalty kill as he is able to use his size to his advantage and make power play units sweat as they struggle to generate offence with the man advantage. McDougall is a superb skater at his size, able to push the puck from the defensive zone and create scoring chances for his team on the other end as a result. McDougall has a strong first pass, able to hit his teammates with strong tape-to-tape passes in transition. McDougall is an incredibly hard worker and is making strides towards becoming a more complete player offensively. As McDougall fills out his big frame and gets stronger, his skating should improve with more power and speed. McDougall is packed full of upside and will be a commanding force on the defensive end as his career advances, Look for McDougall to rapidly develop and become a strong stay at home defenseman at the junior level.