Giant 6-6, 225 lbs right-shot defensemen don’t grow on trees, and by virtue of these facts, Kleber has a rather straightforward path to the NHL. His identity is that of a play-killer and total shutdown guy, logging heavy minutes against the opposition’s very best. In this regard, Kleber already possesses great skating for a guy his size, and he’s very physical, pinning players to the boards and clearing the crease. Basic puck skills are all that he needs, but any level of growth will just improve his overall game. A better ability to get pucks out quickly and accurately will be a great addition to his toolbox. At the moment, Kleber needs to refine his gap control and learn to angle better to avoid being in situations where he loses his margin for error. Not a point producer, but for leagues where blocks and hits are of notable value, keep an eye out for Kleber when he makes his NHL debut 2-3 seasons from now.

Kleber took the ice as an NCAA rookie this past season, playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. As a towering 6-6 defenseman, offense won’t be (and hasn’t been) his forte. He scored two goals and three assists for five points across 33 games. He will be a wait before he’s in range of making the show, and if and when that time comes, he’s more likely to be a defensive type of defenseman in the bottom four.

Adam Kleber profiles as yet another one of the big, rangy defensemen in this year’s draft, but he comes with a lot of added benefits. He’s a good skater, has some very surprising small-area handling skills, he’s a good breakout passer, remarkably accurate in the offensive zone, and good at defending the rush, and that’s just the start. Kleber’s defensively intelligent and generally plays with that strength, but is no slouch offensively and is willing to get aggressive when the situation calls for it. The overall lack of speed and high-end skills might limit him going forward, but there’s a lot to like in Kleber as the top 6 defenseman he projects as now, and he has a very real path to some second pairing upside. (April Rankings: 64th)

June 2024 Kleber was selected in the second round, 42nd overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2024 NHL Draft. Hadi Kalakeche