NHL Draft Profile: Brock Boeser

The Player

Name: Brock Boeser

Position: Right Wing

2014-2015 team: Waterloo Blackhawks(USHL)

2014-2015 stats: 57 games, 35 goals, 33 assists, 68 points

Final NHL Central Scouting rank: 27th among North American skaters

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Boeser's game starts with his strong skating. He's both fast and powerful with his stride. That strong stride gives him the ability to fight his way through traffic with the puck into prime scoring areas where he takes advantage of his above average shot to finish off plays. He's a player that competes hard and gets the most out of his abilities.

On the downside, Boeser is a decent puckhandler and playmaker but it's not a huge strength. That means his offensive game can be a bit one-dimensional and he doesn't create as many chances for teammates. He's definitely more of a finisher than a creator.

Is he trending up or down heading into the Draft?

Boeser established himself as a potential first round pick last summer when he put together a very strong performance for Team USA at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial U18 tournament. This past season, he made the move from Burnsville High School in Minnesota to playing full-time in the USHL for the Waterloo Blackhawks. Though the Blackhawks didn't experience as much team success as hoped, it was a very successful season individually for Boeser. He finished third in league scoring with 68 points in 57 games and tied for the league lead in goals scored with 35. It wasn't enough for a seismic shift in his draft ranking, but did move him from a player that was a borderline first round pick to a consensus first round draft pick.

Where is he projected to go in the Draft?

Expect Boeser to be selected somewhere between 20th overall and 30th overall in the first round of the Draft. A few outlying projections have Boeser just outside that range on both sides, but those last ten picks of the first round seem to be the general consensus.

What is his pro upside?

Boeser already plays more of a pro-style game so what you see now is likely what you'll get at the pro level. He projects as a strong skating two-way top six winger at the NHL level with the ability to be a player you count on for 20+ goals per season.

Where will he go next?

Boeser had an interesting year. He committed to play at the University of Wisconsin, where he has deep family ties, as a 16-year-old. But with Wisconsin's program in shambles this past season, Boeser decided not to sign with the Badgers. He re-opened his recruitment and eventually settled on the University of North Dakota where he will enroll next fall.