BSH 2024 Community Draft Board, No. 30: Charlie Elick

Charlie Elick could turn into one of the dark horses in this year’s NHL Draft. He has size, he has a motor and he does not mind separating the opponent’s body from the puck. It would be a huge disservice on him to compare him to the likes of Chris Pronger, but there seems to be elements in his repertoire that would harken back to the effective, edgy and sometimes take-no-prisoners approach Pronger had in his own end. It’s a combination that would definitely make him enticing with the Flyers’ second pick of the first round.

Pre-Draft Rankings

No. 31 by FC Hockey
No. 35 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 27 by Draft Prospects Hockey
No. 28 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 24 by Elite Prospects

Statistics

What’s to like?

Everybody loves, loves, loves the physical style and hitting that Elick can deliver on opponents. After playing with Brandon in the Western Hockey League this season, Elick also was a member of the U18 World Championship Canadian team in May. His tourament was not jaw-dropping with a -2 in the gold medal game, but he did perform well in the rest of Canada’s games. Earlier this year during the CHL Top Prospects Game he ranked in the top five in terms of on-ice testing.

Elick has all the tools needed to succeed, including a nice burst of speed from a stopped position as well as better than average backwards skating. His feet and skating are strong, using his edges to turn his rather impressive frame on a dime or to simply dodge defenders and perhaps most importantly prevent himself from being hit either in open ice or along the boards. So, in short, Elick’s size is very good, his speed is very good.

What makes Elick appear to have an edge over other defensemen in the draft is his ability to kill plays, whether with an active stick, reading plays very well or simply using his size to take the player off the puck and start transition up ice. Elick’s name and the phrase “shut-down” has been echoed by many scouts, making many realize he might play a straightforward simple defensive game but he is more often than not on the right side of the puck in the defensive zone.

Elick also plays with an edge and a mean streak. It’s something that is a fine line to play with without being a detriment to his team, but Elick makes it clear he’s not about to run away from play if it becomes rough and tumble. It’s a trait that the Flyers have never shied away from and probably aren’t about to start now.

What’s not to like?

Some scouts believe there’s more for Elick to improve on, particulary in the offensive zone. With only 27 points during the season for Brandon, the defenseman needs to deveop a bit more in the opponent’s end, either getting pucks through traffic or finding gaps in the defense to create scoring chances or put pucks in the net. His puck handling also could be better but these are talents than sometimes take a bit longer in some prospects than others to develop.

Others have noticed that at times his first pass out of his own zone isn’t as crisp or precise as it needs to be, but again that is something that can be improved upon with the right instruction and Elick’s willingness to improve his game and learn. Particularly if the Flyers coaching staff (yes, I mean Brad Shaw) has any influence on Elick’s development.

How would he fit in the Flyers system?

Although he doesn’t have the mammoth, double-take size that caused Ron Hextall to take a swing at Sam Morin, the Flyers do like size on the blueline and especially in a prospect with that height and bulk by the time he turns professional. Being a right-handed shot also is a plus but Elick still might need time to develop in the minors before he becomes a part of the Flyers backend. The fact that without the offensive potential he could still end up being the conversation of being a top-four or second pairing defenseman is hard to ignore.

Can the Flyers actually get him?

It’s highly unlikely the Flyers would risk their first selection in the first round on Elick. However, because he appears to be a late first round pick he might be in play for their second pick of the first round. It’s doubtful the Flyers would trade assets to move up or move down to get him however. But as Briere said on June 20 in a press conference nothing is off the table.

What the scouts are saying

“He’s got a good stick and great feet defending the rush and gapping up, but can also step up and lay the body, which he does with force (he’s one of the hardest-hitting players in the draft, regularly driving through players to sit them down along the wall and occasionally even leaving his feet).” — Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

“The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenceman looks poised to be a first-rounder in June’s draft, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s an extremely physical defender with explosive feet, a desire to create on breakouts, and flashes of offensive potential.”— Mitch Brown, Elite Prospects

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The next draft prospect added to the draft board is Adam Jecho, a center who played last season with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. Here’s what some of the scouts have said about the Czech-born forward.

“He protects pucks well and will make the odd soft-area play. He has flashed some skill when he has time and space to make a play on a defender (he can take guys one-on-one and handle pucks in his feet, though less proficiently when he’s in a hurry/crowd). His curl-and-drag wrister comes off his blade hard and he’s a big, strong kid already. He has learned to work and use his frame off the puck to become a more rounded player defensively.” — Scott Wheeler, The Athletic

“Adam Jecho is an offensive weapon who has exploded in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Edmonton Oil Kings this season. Watching him play live and having the pleasure of seeing how strong of a player he is at both ends of the ice, it’s clear he will make a difference at the NHL level one day. He likely won’t find a home as a top-six forward, but he could easily make an impact as a bottom-six scoring winger in a few seasons. He will need to keep improving some little parts of his game including his skating and expanding his offensive skills, but he has the potential to be a difference maker.” — Jesse Courville-Lynch, The Hockey Writers

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Previously on the 2024 Community Draft Board….

Talking Points