Niklas Aaram-Olsen:
Projection: Middle 6 Winger
Strengths: Release, Explosive skating, Confidence along the boards
Weaknesses: Effort and consistency, Execution in his playmaking
Analysis:
Niklas Aaram-Olsen could be another late first-round steal in this
draft. He’s a very confident and intelligent player, dictating plays
and making use of open ice. He has an exceptional release that can
find its way through traffic or beat goalies clean. He sees the ice
very well and positions himself in places to make an impact. Along the
boards, he is strong and agile, creating and taking advantage of any
open space given the opportunity. He also has a very good
stick-handling ability for someone of his size and stature.
My concern is his consistency and effort. He can take shifts off or
over analyze plays, effectively taking him out of the play and
becoming ineffective. There are times when he gets caught floating
around waiting for the puck to come to him, or he doesn’t back-check
when needed. He also lacks consistency in his playmaking. His passes
aren’t always crisp or reach their intended destination. He sees the
ice really well, but struggles to translate that into his passing and
playmaking.