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Why the Red Wings should pick Oliver Moore at 9

This is the start of a series that I’ll be doing leading up to the NHL Draft on June 28th. The purpose of this series is to go over some of the prospects projected to go to the Red Wings at pick nine and go over why they should pick them. This is not meant to be a full analysis of each prospect, but rather an analysis of their positive traits and why they as a player would make a good fit in the Motor City.

Oliver Moore is a fascinating prospect who spent last season as part of the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and is committed to play for the University of Minnesota next season. He can play both center and wing but was primarily a center for the USNTDP. The Red Wings still do need center depth for the future despite drafting Marco Kasper a year ago, but being able to play either position would be a big asset for the Red Wings.

What makes Moore so intriguing?

When you look at Oliver Moore play, the first thing you think is “Wow, this guy can fly.” His athleticism is on another level entirely from the majority of the prospects in this draft class. His skating is unbelievable and is his biggest strength as a player. In an interview with The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, USNTDP’s strength and conditioning coach Brian Galivan stated, “I would put him up there in the same speed category as Connor McDavid…” and that is insanely high praise. McDavid is one of if not the fastest skater in the NHL today and to be put in the same category in terms of speed is a testament to how fast Moore is.

Being fast isn’t everything, however. It’s how you use it, and oh boy, does Moore know how to use it. His ability to just burn defenders with speed is unmatched in this class. He creates so many chances with it both for himself and his teammates, and it played a big part in finishing with 31 goals and 44 assists in 61 games for the USNTDP last season, including nine points in seven games at the Under-18 World Junior Championships.

To add to that speed is a blistering shot with a really quick release. He can get his shot off in stride and pick corners without needing to slow down which, with his speed, is a huge asset. He’s very shifty with the puck as he has very quick feet and can change direction with ease. It plays a huge part in the transition game as well as cycling in the offensive zone and creating open space for himself and his teammates while in possession of the puck.

What makes him such an interesting prospect is that he uses the speed for more than just creating chances. He’s a hard-working competitor who gets back on defense and having the speed on a backcheck is a blessing. His ability and desire to play both ways is the kind of thing that Steve Yzerman loves. He’s also an excellent leader, as he was one of the captains for the USNTDP this season. In the article with the Athletic, Gallivan hyped him up as the one who “drives the team on the ice, off the ice.”

A familiar face as a pro comp

What makes him even more intriguing for the Red Wings to take him is who he has been compared to by many analysts. His current biggest comp is Red Wings captain, Dylan Larkin. They both use their speed similarly, both in the offensive and defensive games. They both are great goal-scorers but are also great playmakers who can make things happen both for themselves and their teammates. Having a second player like Larkin certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing on this team.

Gimme gimme Moore

Oliver Moore has been projected by most to go somewhere in the top 11 picks in the draft. Looking through some mock drafts, I’ve seen him drafted as high as seven but most have him going either ninth to the Red Wings or tenth to the St. Louis Blues. With that in mind, Moore would be a fantastic draft pick for the Red Wings at nine, and someone that I would love to see putting on the Winged Wheel come the 28th of June.

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