4. Brett Leason
Acquired:Â 2019 NHL Draft (second-round pick)
Age:Â 20
Position:Â Right Wing
Stats:Â 55 games, 36 goals, 53 assists, 89 points, 22 postseason games, 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
Prospect Report
It’s not a stretch to say Brett Leason was one of the best forwards in the WHL last season. Usually, when an overager does it, it’s because they’re playing above their competition. But with Leason, I think his development curve just took a little while longer to start.
He’s a huge forward at 6’4″ and 201 pounds. Leason has an NHL-ready body and he uses it very effectively. He’s not as physical as you might think. Rather, Leason uses his length and size to protect the puck along the boards. He’s very hard to play off the puck, especially since Leason is great at positioning himself to win battles.
However, Leason is skilled enough to play away from the boards as well. He can beat you in a variety of ways, including from the slot. The Capitals will be sending him to the AHL. Leason should quickly earn playing time there, especially if he plays as well as he did last season. He’s skilled enough and fast enough to play with skilled linemates without dragging them down.
Future Outlook
Next season will be quite telling for Leason. It’s hard to fairly judge him since he was older than most of his competitors last season. Leason has the tools and hockey IQ to be a decent top-six forward. At the very least, he should be a good third-line forward.