Hugo Ollas
2019-20 Team: Linkoping HC J20
Date of Birth: April 24, 2002
Place of Birth: Linkoping, Sweden
Ht: 6-foot-8 Wt: 238 pounds
Catches: Left
Position: G
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2020 first-year eligible
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting: 7th (among EU Goaltenders)
- Larry Fisher’s Top 500 Final Rankings: 360th
For Swedish goaltending prospect Hugo Ollas, size is everything. Clocking in at six-foot-eight, 238 pounds, he is not only one of the biggest players available at the 2020 NHL Draft but would be the tallest goaltender in the NHL right now if he were a starter.
Despite his size, Ollas has posted very average numbers while playing in the J20 SuperElit and Nationell developmental leagues in his home country. throughout 2019-20, he posted a 2.43 goals-against average, while to start off 2020-21, he has been hovering around a .885 save percentage.
Related: 2020 NHL Draft Guide
So, if a team falls in love with Ollas, they will be taking on a rough goalie prospect with an incredibly high ceiling. Sure, this makes him a bit of a project, but for a franchise that is stable in net, like the Tampa Bay Lightning or Winnipeg Jets, it could be a late-round gamble worth taking.
Other THW Draft Profiles:
Hugo Ollas – NHL Draft Projection
Given his size and the strength of Sweden’s goaltending pipeline, it seems likely that Ollas will be selected at the 2020 draft. Where he could hear his name called is another story, of course.
If there is a run on goaltenders, then there is a chance he could be selected as soon as the fifth-round. More than likely, though, he will fall to round six or act as a seventh-round value add prospect for a franchise.
Quotables
Ollas is huge and Swedish, which means there is a decent chance he gets drafted this year… Some scouts like him as the second-best Swedish goalie for 2020 behind Calle Clang.
Larry Fisher – THW
Strengths
- Massive frame to build upon
- Has, arguably, the highest ceiling of any mid to late-round goaltending prospect available at the 2020 NHL Draft
Under Construction (Improvements to Make)
- Needs to mature into his size
- Overall game is rough
NHL Potential
Goaltenders are tough to project under any circumstance but adding in Ollas’ size complicates things even more. Oftentimes, goalies this big are unable to fully harness their physical advantages, leaving holes in their game that they struggle to grow past.
There is starter potential in Ollas, but that would likely be five or more years down the road. For now, he could be challenging for an AHL gig when he turns 20, which is as good a place as any to continue growing his game.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 3/5, Reward – 5/5
It may seem strange to list a late-round pick as a risk, but considering the questions around Ollas, there’s the potential that he never develops into an AHL-caliber prospect. Big goalies are always an unknown, especially when they are a late pick.
Related: THW 2020 Mock NHL Draft Round 1
However, if things go perfectly, Ollas could become one of the most dominant goalies in the NHL. You can’t teach size, as they say, and if he can develop his all-around toolkit, he could use that size to change the game.