Vancouver Canucks 2016 NHL Draft Profile: C Logan Brown
The Vancouver Canucks are preparing for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft — and so are we.
Unfortunately, the 2015-16 season was cut short for the Vancouver Canucks, which means we have a long offseason ahead of us. Canucks GM Jim Benning and his staff will use the time to prepare next season’s roster, and the 2016 NHL Entry Draft will certainly play an important part in that process.
Vancouver started off strong in the fall of 2015 but ended the season with a thud. Thanks to their abysmal 28th rank in the league standings, the Canucks own seven picks early in each round. Benning did a great job in his first two years at the job and another successful draft could certainly help boost the rebuild.
Here at The Canuck Way, we will do our best to prepare you for the upcoming event by profiling as many draft-eligible players as we possibly can. Keep in mind that we are not saying these are players the Canucks are targeting. Instead, these are players that we think the Canucks could or should have interest in.
Today we are taking a look at Logan Brown, a big center for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires.
Name: Logan Brown
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Height, weight: 6’6”, 218 lbs
Team/League: Windsor Spitfires, OHL
Stats (from eliteprospects.com):
G
A
P
PIM
+/-
592153744024
NHL CSS Ranking: 7th (North American Skaters)
Risk, Reward: 2/5, 4.5/5
NHL-potential: First-Line Center
Draft Range: Top 15
Scouting report
"Brown is a huge center that excels at both ends of the ice. He can be dominant in the offensive zone but takes care of his own end as well. His 6’6 frame is key to his success as he uses his body to shield his puck and his reach to keep it off other players sticks. He is not overly physical for a player his size, but will finish every check and battle down low very effectively. He has a good shot with a pro like release as well as good creativity and maturity when passing the puck. (Tyler Parchem, Elite Prospects 2016)"
Strengths
Logan Brown’s standout attribute is without a doubt his size. Better yet: he uses his size extremely well and combines it with terrific offensive skill.
Brown has a very long reach that helps him succeed both with and without the puck. When handling the puck in the corners, he can shield it well using his body positioning and reach. Without the puck, his reach helps him gain possession with poke checks or by intercepting passes.
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Despite his huge frame, Brown is in no way a punishing player and might not turn into that huge, aggressive power forward, but that is not his role. He uses his body to win puck battles, he forechecks hard, and he finishes his checks well.
Once he has the puck, Brown displays a lot of creativity and great hockey sense. He never looks out of place because he always gets into position nicely. Furthermore, he sees his teammates well and frequently finds open passing lanes. He can set up teammates for scoring chances or finish plays himself.
Brown has a strong, accurate shot with a quick release but needs to use it more. He knows how to get in position but sometimes opts for the pass in what might be a great opportunity to release his heavy shot.
In addition, Brown knows his defensive responsibilities and can help his team in all three zones.
Weaknesses
As mentioned above, Brown is not overly physical. He certainly doesn’t need to be, but a 6-foot-6, 218-pound “kid” should be able to add a little more grit and physicality to his game. He doesn’t need to chase opponents for hits, but hitting when he has the opportunity could improve his game.
Also, Brown needs to improve his decision making, mainly regarding the decision when to shoot or opt for a pass. He had 21 goals this season but could definitely get up into the 30s if he tried.
A somewhat big weakness is Brown’s skating. But, looking closely, it actually just looks awkward but is quite effective. Like most big players, he struggles a little bit skating-wise but it is not bad enough to endanger his NHL career. Still, his skating might be enough to let him drop closer to No. 10 or even 15 than No. 5.
Final Thoughts
Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning wants a No. 1 center for the post-Sedin era as much as he wants a No. 1 defenseman. The consensus seems to be that Pierre-Luc Dubois is the best center option in the draft, but there is a lot to like about Brown as well. In fact, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button has the Canucks picking Brown in his post-lottery mock draft.
Brown has been compared to San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds but is an absolute force offensively. Thornton was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997 and is currently in his 18th NHL season. So far, he played 1,367 regular-season games, scoring .98 points per game, and an additional 140 playoff contests, scoring .75 points per game. He has won an Olympic gold medal, a Hart Trophy and is enjoying a rather successful career overall.
Next: Alex DeBrincat 2016 NHL Draft Profile
In other words, it is highly unlikely that Brown would have a similar career. However, he plays a very similar style and, without a doubt, has the potential to be a No. 1 center for the Vancouver Canucks. It is not all Dubois vs. Matthew Tkachuk.