Diaby is a toolsy defenseman that has a ways to go to fulfill his potential. He has some serious skating issues that will need improvement and is the kind of skater that just shows better all-encompassing mobility when he stays in constant motion. He has adequate straight-line speed for a guy his size but his sluggish feet and long sweeping turns at slower pace will need to be focused on this summer. He’s not the next Paul Coffey by any means, but can handle the puck and carry it for short distances. He also possesses a very heavy slapshot. He also rarely turns the puck over in his own zone as he uses his size, strength and reach to keep it shielded from the forecheck. He has so much more strength than the majority of his opponents he doesn’t really need to be ultra-aggressive to get the job done. Given his size, Diaby needs to be a little nastier out there. He utilizes his massive size well to impede opponents and eliminate them from the offensive play. He’s a project defender that will need to focus on his skating but has some good reward potential if he does. (May 2013)