A move from London to Niagara should have given Read the opportunity to become a top player for the team, but instead it has highlighted his offensive limitations. He’s a hard worker and his skating has improved, but the offense just isn’t there. Once he had to shoulder a much larger offensive burden, the flashes we saw during his rookie year disappeared. While the upside was questionable from the beginning, it now looks significantly worse than it did in his draft year. Read might struggle to make the NHL without signs of major growth.

Read is a high-motor, detailed forward who has built his game on energy, speed, and forechecking. He’s constantly pressuring opponents, plays with an edge, and pushes the tempo in all facets of play. He recorded 10 goals and 26 points in the regular season, with six more points in the playoffs. He only averaged around 12 minutes per game and is set to see an increase in playtime and role next season. Read flashed strong puck skills and translatable habits. The next step is to make them consistent. He’s limited by a lack of explosiveness, but his intelligence and timing stand out. With improved skating, he could grow into a reliable bottom-six forward who can add some offense.