Utah Hockey Club NHL Draft Picks Tracker: Ratings, Fits and Analysis

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Corey Pronman explains what to expect from the Utah Hockey Club’s new talent and how they fit into the farm system. This page will be updated during the 2024 NHL Draft.

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Design class

6. Tij Iginla, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

1 August 2006 | 1.83 m | 86 kg

Level: Bubble top and middle player of the lineup

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Recording: High-End

Player comparison: Viktor Arvidsson

Analysis: Iginla has excelled in the WHL for Kelowna and in the U18s for Canada this season and has developed into a top NHL talent. The son of Jarome Iginla, Tij is a very talented offensive player. His stick-handling ability consistently stands out. He often beats defenders one-on-one and improvises very well with the puck. He skates well and can make high-level plays with his feet moving. Iginla has a great shot that comes off the stick quickly and can pick corners. He has scored a lot of goals this season and is expected to beat pro goalies from distance. He also gets inside to score and shows strong effort without the puck. However, his pure sense and playmaking do not stand out as much as the rest of his game. He is valued as a strong top-six winger who will score a lot of goals.

Pick class: B-

Thoughts on the selection: Iginla is a player who has gotten better as the season has gone on and has become an option so high in the draft. He is a very competitive scorer with a lot of skill. I had a few minor concerns about his hockey sense and am a little surprised they didn’t go in that direction given some of the great defensive talent on the board like Anton Silayev, Zeev Buium and Zayne Parekh. Iginla is rated as a top-six forward who brings a lot of elements to a lineup.

24. Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie Colts (OHL)

April 24, 2006 | 1.88 m | 94 kg

Level: Player in the middle of the lineup

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-End
Shot: Above NHL average

Player comparison: Andrew Copp

Analysis: Beaudoin is a very likeable player. He is an incredibly hard-working center with the size and skill of an NHL player. He constantly stands out throughout the game by the number of pucks he wins and the number of plays he makes. He is very physical and is not afraid to get into the difficult spots on the ice. As a junior, he can create offense, but since he has a somewhat heavy skating style, it is questionable how his game will translate to the pros. I have seen him get past enough defenders and think he competes well enough that he will work in a potential third-line center role.

Pick class: B

Thoughts on the selection: Beaudoin is a very likeable prospect. He’s an extremely competitive, big center with enough talent. He’s probably a third-line center in the NHL that your coach loves, but when he scores, he reminds me a lot of Boone Jenner at the same age.

(Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)