21. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 186lbs    

Midterm Rank: 18 | League Rank: 8th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Denmark

     Nicklas Jensen is yet another Oshawa Generals prospect who will stand a great chance of being picked in Round 1. He will be considered a project prospect as he has all the tools to be a high scoring winger, but will need some time to get there, if he gets there at all. After being selected 8^th overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft, the Denmark native was expected to make an immediate offensive impact. He did just that. In his first season in the OHL Jensen tallied 29 goals and 29 assists for 58 points in 61 games. He also played in the WJC D1 tournament with Denmark where he scored two goals and five points in five tournament games. Jensen could easily turn out to be one of the top offensive players to come out of this draft, but at the same time he could end up being the player who is shifting between the minor and major leagues.

     In the junior ranks, Jensen is one of the most offensively gifted players in the league when he puts it all together. For his 6.03 frame he is a great skater, with a fluid stride. In combination with his skating ability, Jensen has great hands, and can often be seen going coast-to-coast and can really make things happen with little to no room. Of the 29 goals he scored in the OHL this season, a few of them could possibly be called goal of the year. This really speaks to the finishing ability that Jensen possesses and could translate into a 30 goal scorer at the next level. He is the type of player that if you give him an inch he will take a foot which makes him a difficult player to defend.

     Jensen has lots of room to grow into his lanky build. He currently stands at 6.03, 186 pounds and will be required to put on some muscle before he is able to compete at the next level. That being said, he really began adapting to the North American game in the latter part of the season. Although, still a little weak on the puck at times, he is learning how to use his size to his advantage, and protect the puck. Consistency is the main concern in his game, as he was incredibly streaky, and could be seen taking shifts off. Near the end of the season, and in his playoff run, he began to drop that from his name, as he marked seven goals and 10 points in 11 games. Although the strong finish he has a long way to go to prove to critiques he is the real deal.

     Overall Jensen could be that player that becomes the steal of the draft and becomes an 80 point scorer at the NHL level. The real concern is that he becomes the player that never really finds his place in the top 6. Despite his consistency issue, Jensen’s skill set is enough to attract NHL teams. The question now, is how attractive are his skills? Can he be drafted in the 10-15 range? Sure. For now, he fits in at 21 in the TSR’s final rankings for 2011.

Pros: Game-breaker, Size and speed, High-end skills
Cons: Strength, Consistency, Improve hockey sense
Skill-set Comparison: Joe Colborne

Tags: 2011 nhl draft prospects, Nicklas Jensen, Scouting Report

About the Author: Mike Kloepfer

I am currently a fourth year Laurentian University student, working on a Sports Administration degree (BComm). I’ve been a fan of hockey my entire life, and in high school I started to realize that it might be a viable career option. In particular, I am an avid fan of the OHL and have been fortunate enough to work a pair of internships with OHL teams. Last season I did some marketing work with the Sudbury Wolves, and this season I’m continuing to broaden my knowledge with the Guelph Storm. My long term goals are to work on the business side of a hockey club, but I would also love to do some scouting work as well if I secure a job with an OHL team. Email: [email protected]