Just like Boris Valabik, Taylor Doherty, and every other player who is freakishly tall.
why even make this comparison?
Valabik simply could not skate, he was drafted on mere size. Same goes for Joe Finley. Some of you posters on here have no idea who Jamie Oleksiak is and what type of player he is. All you see is his height, followed by his stats.
Well let me inject some attributes for you:
First off, Oleksiak for his size is one of the better skaters I have seen at this age. That simply means most kids his size are very awkward because they are learning how to move in their big frames. Jamie looked this last year in the USHL. I saw a physical dman that was a monster, but simply was awkward in his body. I felt if this kid gets it (skating and balance) he is going to be a force.
Now barely a year later, Oleksiak has simply gotten it, and is a much better overall player then the names mentioned above at this age. Oleksiak is not a liability on the ice in any situation. He actually makes very solid outlet passes and on the rush, the kid has turned his game around so much from last year that I feel this is bizzaro world.
For those that want to assume it is a "stretch" to take him top 10, well that is fine because you are merely going by stats and scouting services instead of seeing his skillset and potential. If Dylan McIlrath went in the top 10 last year, so can Oleksiak.
As for the Bruins taking him, cant really comment on that, but I would imagine they probably would if most of the top 5-6 are gone. The emergence of Steven Kampfer might make a Ryan Murphy selection not needed as originally thought, and maybe they do go for that other opposing dman in Oleksiak.
Bottom line is Oleksiak is getting massively underrated on here, and is getting wrongfully thrown in with big goof balls from the past. I am not saying Oleksiak will be the next Chara, I am sure he will be the next Jamie Oleksiak, but underrating this kid is going to make many look foolish on here. Top 10 is not a reach for Oleksiak in June, I see him in the 14-18 range, but in the right circumstance he certainly can go top 10, and we just saw it happen last year.