Wings Nation First Round Targets: Owen Tippett
6 years ago
Owen Tippett is a pure goal scorer. He already possesses an NHL-ready shot and high-end speed, making him a lethal scorer off of the rush. Standing at around 6’1” tall and weighing 204 lbs, Tippett has good size and strength to allow him to get to the net as well. He has played the last two seasons with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL and played for Canada at this years U18 World Junior Championships.
Tippett will probably be the first winger selected in this draft, and I believe Tippett will be available at the Red Wings’ number 9 overall selection. The Wings’ have a solid stock of scoring wing prospects, so Tippett is not necessarily an organizational need for the team, though he could be the best player left in the draft when they have their first round pick.
The Stats
Tippett scored an impressive 44 goals this season, ranking second among draft eligible players in the OHL (behind Nick Suzuki). His 75 points ranked 3rd among draft eligibles and first on his team. He continued his strong play in the playoffs, scoring 10 goals on a Steelheads team that lost in the OHL finals. Tippett will need at least one more year in the OHL before he has a chance to crack an NHL lineup.
The Eye Test
TSN’s Craig button had this to say about Tippett in his mid-season draft rankings:
Right winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is sixth on the list and looks to be the best pure goal scorer in this class (33 goals in 39 games). He has a shot that can overpower goalies, but also possesses a quick release that can surprise. It’s a multi-dimensional weapon and combined with excellent skating ability and power in his game, he is a very difficult player to keep in check.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek also had high praise for the winger:
Has a shoot first mentality who’s able to get his shot off in just about every situation. Has a great burst in his first three strides and possesses great breakaway speed. Can change a game in one shift.
Does He Fit With The Red Wings?
Owen Tippett projects as a top-6 scoring winger capable of becoming a perennial 25-30 goal scorer. Some NHL comparisons I have seen are Evander Kane and Phil Kessel. As I said above, the Wings already have quality scoring winger prospects in Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, and Evgeny Svechnikov. That being said, all of the high end center and defensemen prospects could be off of the board when the Wings pick. If that is the case, I would have no problem with a Tippett selection. The team only had one 20 goal scorer this past year and continue to struggle to score consistently enough to win hockey games. The Wings could also use one of their wingers in a deal to bring in other players of need in the future, as they could have an organizational strength at the position.
