Dylan Guenther – 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

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Dylan Guenther

2020-21 Team: Edmonton Oil Kings
Date of Birth: April 10, 2003
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta
Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 170 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: LW/RW
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2021 first-year eligible

Rankings

Although the Western Hockey League and its players have not been as fortunate when it comes to playing time due to the pandemic, Dylan Guenther is still making an impact shortly into the shortened season. Having played four games so far, he has managed to score six goals and added four assists for 10 points. He was also loaned to the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the hiatus, where he collected five points in four games.

Related: THW 2021 NHL Draft Guide

Guenther is near the top of scouts’ rankings for many reasons. With the puck on his stick, he is deadly. His ability to find open teammates in the slot is impressive. He is also really good at finding open space in the slot to present himself as an option for a scoring chance. As witnessed during the first game of his season, he was able to walk into the slot and scored a few minutes into the first period.

Another strong aspect of his game is his transitional ability. He is great at moving the puck up the ice and is able to garner speed through his crossovers and attack open lanes in the offensive zone without hesitation. Guenther is also responsible in the defensive zone as well. He plays with an active stick and is good at being in position to start the breakout or receive a pass from his defensemen. He is not afraid to battle for the puck in the corners and does not shy away from physicality which is good to see. At times, he may tend to jump too early when the puck has not exited the zone but that is not something that should be worrisome. Guenther is going to be a key piece for the Oil Kings over the next few years and I do believe that if they find success, he will have played a major factor in doing so.

Dylan Guenther – 2021 NHL Draft Projection

Guenther is an amazing player and I think he will definitely be a top-15 pick in the draft. It all depends on what teams value in a player and what their draft lists look like but Guenther is definitely an enticing option for any team.

Quotables

“Guenther’s transitional game is also extremely sound, as he is very dangerous off the rush. His puck control when he hits his top speed is excellent, and he can drive the puck towards the net from the outside or change directions quickly to fool defenders. Guenther has the ability to beat defenders one on one or attack through multiple defenders directly. Calm and confident when opponents pressure him, Guenther’s creativity shines when the puck is on his stick. Also a solid puck distributor, Guenther’s instincts allow him to find his teammates from anywhere on the ice in the offensive zone, and he can make excellent passes off the rush as well.” – Lauren Kelly/Raw Charge

“Speaking of moving the puck with ease, Guenther is a strong transitional winger. From a skating perspective, he normally needs three lengthy leg extensions to get to top speed. Occasionally, he will start his acceleration with a few crossovers to get his feet truly moving, but he seems to pick up the most speed on those leg extensions. Once he has generated solid speed, he shortens up on his extensions, which allows him to be more mobile in the offensive zone. When he is not completing a controlled transition, he will constantly look to feed passes towards the middle of the ice and loves to drop saucer passes down the middle for his teammates to pick up.” –Josh Tessler/Smaht Scouting

Strengths

  • Skating ability
  • Always presenting himself as an option
  • Vision

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

  • Would be good if he could add on a bit more weight

NHL Potential

Guenther has all the tools at his disposal to become an impact NHL player. He still needs to work on rounding out his overall game but he has the potential to become a 60-point player. He is so good with the puck and makes his impact felt on a nightly basis.

Risk/Reward Analysis 

Risk – 2.5/5, Reward – 3/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential 

Offense – 9/10, Defense – 7/10

Awards/Achievements

In 2017-18 while playing with Northern Alberta U15 Prep of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL), he led the league in points with 103 and was crowned Alberta Cup Champion with Team Edmonton Blue. In 2018-19, while suiting up for Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep, he was named CSSHL Freshman of the Year and was crowned CSSHL U18 Champion along with his teammates. He also won a bronze medal at the Canada Winter Games. In 2019-20, he was named WHL Rookie of the Year (Jim Piggott Trophy).

Dylan Guenther Statistics

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