Zach Olsen
2025-26 Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Date of Birth: Mar. 16, 2008
Place of Birth: Calgary, AB
Ht: 6-foot-1 Wt: 196 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Ranking
- NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings: 36th (among NA skaters)
- Dayton Reimer’s Top 64 March Rankings: 47th
- Elite Prospects: 77th
In his second season with the Saskatoon Blades, no player brought the same level of physicality, skill, and work ethic as Zach Olsen. Every time he stepped out onto the ice, he made sure his opponents knew that he was going to make their lives miserable for the next 30 seconds.
Over the 57 games Olsen suited up for this season, he established a reputation for never taking a shift off. Every shift was just as important as the last, no matter the score, and his coaches noticed. Although he started the season playing on the third line, by the end, he was regularly appearing on the Blades’ top line alongside Saskatoon’s leading scorer, David Lewandowski. He also earned time on the power play and penalty kill, where he was just as effective as he was at even strength. Whatever he was asked to do, Olsen took it head-on and always gave it his all.
Olsen is on a constant mission to get the puck, no matter what, but he shows a lot of intelligence in how he chooses to engage. He loves to throw a big hit, crushing an opponent into the boards to knock him loose from the puck, and he’s no stranger to dropping the gloves, finishing the season with three fighting majors. However, he also uses a lot of stickwork and pressure to force turnovers behind the net and in the corners. He’s a strong skater and can get up to speed quickly, which can catch opponents off guard when he rushes towards them, and he also has quick hands to catch the loose puck once it’s coughed up.
Once he has the puck, Olsen is just as dangerous. He’s a great stick handler, and combined with his speed and strength, he can bowl through a defender while maintaining puck possession. He also has a quick, accurate wrist shot that helped him score 18 goals. But what makes him so dangerous is his limitless energy. He can take out an opponent with a big hit, pick up the loose puck, and lead the charge into the offensive zone to set up the next scoring chance. It’s a big reason why he finished with the fifth-most goals on the Blades with 18, and was selected to the U18 World Junior Championships, where he added another two goals to his season total.
Olsen’s game doesn’t have many flaws, but one he’s been working on is when to shoot. He has a strong release, but he doesn’t use it enough and instead will look to pass first when he enters the zone. He still averaged nearly two and a half shots per game and a shooting percentage of 13%, the fifth-highest totals on the Blades, but on a team that had only three 20-goal scorers, he could have taken more. That likely will come as he improves his hockey sense. Olsen has shown he knows when to engage physically, but he needs to improve his offensive sense to become a dominant power forward.
Olsen is set to join Colorado College next season and begin his goal of completing a university degree alongside former Blade Brandon Lisowsky. However, there is a chance he returns to Saskatoon next season and re-joins fellow draft-eligible teammates Cooper Williams and Brayden Klimpke, both of whom delayed their college debuts for a season to help Saskatoon make a deep playoff push. If Olsen decides to stay, he has all the skills to be a serious difference maker and could become a huge part of Saskatoon’s push for a championship.
Other THW Profiles
Zach Olsen – NHL Draft Projection
Olsen is the type of player who will draw a lot of attention after the first round. He plays a very similar style to Braeden Cootes, who was picked in the 2025 first round by the Vancouver Canucks: both are incredibly hard workers and can change the flow of the game when they’re on the ice. However, while Cootes has a more refined offensive sense, Olsen brings more size and physicality to the table, which NHL teams love to see. Expect to hear his name called somewhere in the top 75 picks.
Quotables
“Zach’s built for playoffs. He plays every game like it’s a playoff game: fast, physical, relentless on the forecheck, hard to play against. He’s going to be one of those guys, a bit of an X-factor for us. He’ll play a big role in all areas of the ice, and he plays in all situations, so Zach will be someone we expect to drive the bus a little bit for us in the playoffs.” Dan DaSilva, Saskatoon Blades head coach
“Olsen was my favourite player in the first half (of the WHL Top Prospects Game). He had a goal, landed some hits, and made some excellent passes up the ice. He’s smart, nimble, and has a powerful wrister he loves to show often. Olsen is a hard-working forward who has really impressed scouts the past few months for his commitment to detail and his improving hockey sense. This should help his draft stock.” Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
“Zac Olsen’s playstyle looks like one that can translate to the NHL level. His 6’1″, 202-lb frame could carve out a scoring, power forward role. Speaking with a Saskatoon Blades representative, Olsen likes to be the agitator and isn’t afraid to get under opponents’ skin. And he did that early on, laying powerful hits and often causing scrums after the whistle.” Tyson Cole, Canucks Army
“Of the 2008-born players, Zach was by far the most impressive, as he seemed to impact the game nearly every shift. On his goal, Zach attacked the middle lane and received a pass from Calvert, who was skating up the left wall. He spread his legs and dropped his shoulder to power past Parker Alcos (an NHL draft pick) and beat the goaltender to the blocker side. As a bigger player, Zach was able to win pucks down low and forecheck effectively. He was also strong in open ice, using his speed to transition the puck up the ice. He made a slick indirect pass in transition, banking the puck off the side wall onto the tape of a teammate, showcasing his soft touch. Due to his size, speed, and skill, Zach is sure to garner significant consideration for the 2026 NHL Draft, as he has the ability to play both a power and finesse game.” Neutral Zone
Strengths
- Strength and physicality
- Intensity and competitiveness
- Speed
- Adaptable; can play throughout the lineup
Under Construction/Improvements to Make
- Shot volume
- Hockey sense
NHL Potential
Olsen has the makings of a competent middle-six power forward. He’s a coach’s dream player, relishing any assignment and attacking it with intensity. He’ll go into the tough areas and fight for the puck, no matter who he’s up against, or take on daunting defensive matchups on the penalty kill. His offensive ceiling is more limited than someone like Cootes, but he still knows how to shoot the puck or set up a teammate, giving him a fairly high floor. That will earn him plenty of opportunities, no matter where he goes.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk: 2/5 Reward: 4/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offence: 6/10 Defence: 6/10
Awards/Achievements
Interviews/Links
- 2026 NHL Draft: Interview with Saskatoon Blades Forward Zach Olsen
- Behind the Blade | 2026 WHL Prospects Game
- Saskatoon Blades Impress at 2026 WHL Top Prospects Game
- Olsen not letting Type 1 Diabetes hold him back of success
Zach Olsen Stats
Videos
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