LOC is 22, so yes, he counts. I kind of forgot about him, but he had a really good year with the Eagles.
Yeah he really did. Exactly the kind of year you hope to see from a kid like him transitioning to the pros honestly. Got better as the year went on.
I dont think he has a tonne of upside, but I dont think anyone else really has a tonne of upside left in the pool now outside of Kovalenko, Shvyryov, and Henry. And in both Shvy and Henry's cases I dont see them remotely reaching that 2nd line upside I think they have.
But with O'Connor I think he projects as a bottom 6 Center well and I think he has the tools to reach that level very soon. I thought he had a great albeit brief showing in the NHL last year and his AHL game seemed to really take off after that stint so to me that's exactly what you want to see.
EDIT: Just to add to this a little. In O'Connors first 30 games in the AHL he had 9G, 7A for 16 points in 30 games and averaged 2.53 Shots per game. In his 34 games after his NHL stint he had 10G, 16A for 26 points in 34 games as well as averaging 2.88 Shots per game.
So he saw a big change in his production after returning, and an improvement in the shots he was taking as well. That's the exact type of stuff you want to see from a young kid like that after getting a taste in the NHL IMO.
Long story short I like him and like his chances of being a future NHL player for us in a bottom 6 role. Even in an extremely competitive landscape that right now includes the likes of Bowers, Kamenenv, Greer, Kaut, and Dries all trying to earn an NHL roster spot, and on an NHL roster that has a number of established quality veterans like Wilson/Nieto/Calvert/Bellemare already penciled into that lineup.