LHD Olen Zellweger - San Diego Gulls, AHL (2021, 34th, ANA)

[BKarchitect]

He’s special, beyond just compiling points. He’s clearly got that “it” factor in the way he plays that small guys need to make it at the pro level and as has been mentioned he’s not that tiny plus the way he skates with beautiful edges, agility and balance - I almost see his size as a benefit as he’s going to be really hard to hit or contain.

He’s a no doubter for me to be a modern, impact offensive play driving, breakout machine defender at the next level. I’d wager in 5 years we will be asking why he wasn’t a top 10 pick to be honest. He’s a real blue chip prospect IMO. Love the blueline the Ducks are building - skill, skating and energy for miles.

 

[covfefe]

He’s special, beyond just compiling points. He’s clearly got that “it” factor in the way he plays that small guys need to make it at the pro level and as has been mentioned he’s not that tiny plus the way he skates with beautiful edges, agility and balance - I almost see his size as a benefit as he’s going to be really hard to hit or contain.

He’s a no doubter for me to be a modern, impact offensive play driving, breakout machine defender at the next level. I’d wager in 5 years we will be asking why he wasn’t a top 10 pick to be honest. He’s a real blue chip prospect IMO. Love the blueline the Ducks are building - skill, skating and energy for miles.

Yeah, someone rinsed me for suggesting he was a 1st round talent last year - WJC's will go to show just how good this kid is. Anaheim doesn't typically miss.

 

[42]

I know he is years away, but if Thrun, Zellweger and Lacombe all hit for the Ducks, I wonder if one of the three become trade fodder for another team.

How do you know he's years away?

 

[Dominance]

Ridiculous he wasn't a first rounder.

That’s the pandemic for you. I think it’s safe to say even those of who follow the WHL closely were surprised by his play in limited games last year.

The way he’s playing this year…if he was born a few days later he would firmly be in top-5 discussions for the 2022 draft. Does he have the track record to be selected for the WJC? We shall see.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

How do you know he's years away?

you really think he can crack the lineup next year? I don’t think so

 

[42]

you really think he can crack the lineup next year? I don’t think so

Not next year but the year after next is a distinct possibility.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Not next year but the year after next is a distinct possibility.

so again, years away

 

[BKarchitect]

I mean it’s always good to hedge the arrival time of a prospect to being an NHL regular…the jump is massive. Especially usually for undersized guys. But again if you look at a guy like Sam Girard - he became an NHL regular at age 19 as a very slight defenseman - he’s a beautiful skater, extremely shifty and cerebral - and he was brought into the fold by a team (Nashville) who knows exactly how to scout, develop and deploy defenseman and was surrounded by lots of good NHL defenders.

Owen is going to be in a very similar situation with another team who knows what they are doing with top tier defensive prospects, traditionally. So I wouldn’t put it past him to defy the development curve.

 

[FLYguy3911]

That’s the pandemic for you. I think it’s safe to say even those of who follow the WHL closely were surprised by his play in limited games last year.

The way he’s playing this year…if he was born a few days later he would firmly be in top-5 discussions for the 2022 draft. Does he have the track record to be selected for the WJC? We shall see.

And yet, if he were 6'2 and physical these teams would have been tripping over themselves to pick him in the top 32. It's just baffling to me that this league watched Zellweger and Nolan Allan play in the same league and at the same u18 tournament and decided Allan was the better player.

Zellweger was super young. He was super productive. And he was an exceptional skater. He checked every box except height. There were pretty much no other holes in his game or profile. I thought I was going crazy having this guy 13th overall while no credible source in the public sphere could even agree this kid was a consensus first rounder.

 

[covfefe]

And yet, if he were 6'2 and physical these teams would have been tripping over themselves to pick him in the top 32. It's just baffling to me that this league watched Zellweger and Nolan Allan play in the same league and at the same u18 tournament and decided Allan was the better player.

Zellweger was super young. He was super productive. And he was an exceptional skater. He checked every box except height. There were pretty much no other holes in his game or profile. I thought I was going crazy having this guy 13th overall while no credible source in the public sphere could even agree this kid was a consensus first rounder.

100%, that one is not going to age well for Chicago

 

[42]

I thought he and Scott Morrow should have been easy 1st rounders.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I mean it’s always good to hedge the arrival time of a prospect to being an NHL regular…the jump is massive. Especially usually for undersized guys. But again if you look at a guy like Sam Girard - he became an NHL regular at age 19 as a very slight defenseman - he’s a beautiful skater, extremely shifty and cerebral - and he was brought into the fold by a team (Nashville) who knows exactly how to scout, develop and deploy defenseman and was surrounded by lots of good NHL defenders.

Owen is going to be in a very similar situation with another team who knows what they are doing with top tier defensive prospects, traditionally. So I wouldn’t put it past him to defy the development curve.

He looked really good at all of our camps, i doubt we see him anytime soon tho, well take our time with him.... we have lindholm/folwer here already... and guys like Thrun and Zellweger should be allowed to develop and gain strength for as long as they need.

I wont lie tho... im pretty excited about his potential.

 

[bsu]

Sam Girard 2.0

 

[Fantomas]

Lukas Cormier was like Sam Girard. Now Zellweger is like Girard. Neither of them is like Girard.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Zellweger is a much better skater and defensive player than Cormier.

 

[covfefe]

Lukas Cormier was like Sam Girard. Now Zellweger is like Girard. Neither of them is like Girard.

And you're speaking from a position of knowledge? Having watched Zellweger play how many times?

 

[bsu]

Ducks got an absolute steals with him and Sasha Pastujov.

 

[Doc5]

Habs need to poach Madden, Anaheim’s scouting is unreal.

 

[bsu]

Habs need to poach Madden, Anaheim’s scouting is unreal.

Please don't

 

[newfy]

He played really well tonight in Canadas scrimmage against the university all stars. He was paired with Sebrango whose a stay at home guy that can skate really well and they had really good chemistry. I think they probably played themselves onto the team tonight alone, and would be surprised now if they werent a pairing when the pretourney games start. Those 2 were head and shoulders above the rest of the dmen out there

 

[covfefe]

If you watch the video above and count the number of hits thrown or even just the body contacts or boxing out in the slot you realize why he, most likely, won't go anywhere near the first round. The exact same problem was visible at the WJC18 as well. He's one of the younger players so he has that going for him but the red flags are there. Some upside is there but at this point he's a gamble and quite the project.

WHOOPS

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Habs need to poach Madden, Anaheim’s scouting is unreal.

Ya I’m sure hed get a ton of teams trying to pack him

 

[NotProkofievian]

Ducks got an absolute steals with him and Sasha Pastujov.

As is tradition. And yet somehow it's still a discussion whether Montreal should hire Martin Madden Jr. as our next GM. This feeling is that of having taken crazy pills.

 

[Gliff]

Habs need to poach Madden, Anaheim’s scouting is unreal.

We riot.

 

[bsu]

He took Clarke's spot on team Canada.