NHL Draft Prospect Profile: A.J. Greer

Get to Know A.J. Greer

Date of Birth: 12/14/1996
Place of Birth: Joliette, QC, CN
Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 203 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Team: Boston University (NCAA)

When looking at prospects likely to be drafted in the middle rounds, teams are mining for diamonds in the rough. Most of the time, they’ll be happy if they get a decent role player or potential AHL roster filler who can help in a pinch when they need a call-up. Sometimes you get players whose draft years may not be indicative in the slightest of a player’s true potential. This year, it appears Boston Terriers forward AJ Greer is one of those players.

Playing as a freshman on a star-studded powerhouse college team that lost in the National Championship game, Greer was a mere role player on the path to near glory as he excelled on the team’s 3rd and 4th lines throughout the season. His offensive numbers aren’t going to sell anyone on him as a player but look for him to have an expanded role in upcoming years, making him a potential diamond in the rough for this year’s draft.

Greer’s non-traditional route to the NCAA began when he was born in Quebec, typically not a hotbed of future American college hockey players, and even included a 2-game stop in the USHL. This circuitous path to the NHL Draft only serves to enhance his anonymity as he quietly chugs along behind the scenes as a potentially very good NHL player that nobody has heard of….yet.

Statistics

What Scouts See

mynhldraft.com:

A massive and raw power forward…generates a good amount of speed and power with his stride…needs to work on foot speed and to keep his feet moving as that is when he is most dangerous…so physically dominant that at times, he looks like a man amongst boys on the ice and in the corners…needs to be more consistent with his physical play…

…has good athleticism for such a big kid…has a strong shot and hands that make him dangerous down around the opposition’s crease…needs to put on muscle mass and learn to utilize his impressive reach better…raw talent going the NCAA route…has a very impressive upside.

draftsite.com:

Playing on talent laden BU roster, his opportunities and heavier workload are yet to come. It’s apparent he can make an impact in some way in every shift. Excellent size, athleticism and feet. his strong on his skates and defenders have trouble detering him from going where he wants, usually a drive to the net, maybe even taking up shop there.

Displays a heavy shot, good passing ability and the desire to win. Will get thicker and his role at BU will expand, so the team that selects him might end up with a real solid left winger.

What BSN Avalanche sees

I’ll plainly state up front that I love Greer’s game. I don’t see an explosive, game-changing future star player in Greer but I think that he has everything you need to become a good contributor in the NHL someday. He’s already a big body and has even more room to fill out his frame, which will enhance his physical play style. Greer is an excellent, aggressive, and relentless forechecking forward who punishes opposing players at every opportunity.

His tendency to wear down opposing players is something NHL teams are going to love when they flip on tape of this kid. His large size and high-end speed is a tantalizing combination but his balance and edge work need a bit more work as he continues to grow and add strength. His slap shot is nothing short of booming, and his wrist shot is accurate with a quick release. Greer’s raw offensive tools are definitely there.

The biggest downside of Greer’s game is that he simply hasn’t had much ice time to develop his raw skills just yet. While he’s not likely to turn into a point-scoring monster at any level, he’s definitely a better player than a 7-point season would suggest. Greer is still raw and needs more ice time in all situations if he’s going to reach his ceiling. With another star-studded recruiting class coming in, Greer should see plenty of ice with great players in coming years.

Highlights


NHL Potential

While Greer’s offensive numbers in his freshman season were nothing special, he certainly has higher offensive upside than his stat line shows. His physical style and aggressive natural forecheck profile him as an effective 3rd or 4th liner and if he addresses his weaknesses and rounds out his game, he could be a very good third liner with a long NHL career ahead of him.

Expected Draft Position

Ranked as the 69th best North American skater by CSS, Greer’s highest ranking, listed as an Honorable Mention on Corey Pronman’s (of ESPN) Top 100 list, and 112th on the Final Considerations board, Greer is firmly seen strictly as a middle round prospect. If those rankings indicate where he’s likely to be drafted, he should start to look to come off the board in the fourth round and beyond.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

As a big-bodied winger who can skate and has loads of untapped potential, Greer profiles as an excellent candidate for the Avalanche in the middle rounds. Greer plays the kind of heavy style that Head Coach Patrick Roy loves and while his production was certainly nothing special, his role will expand in coming years, providing Greer with the opportunity to put up the kind of numbers you expect from a draftable prospect.

Were Greer to be drafted by Colorado, he would put himself firmly in the mix with recent draftees Nick Magyar, Julien Nantel, and Alexis Pepin as wingers to keep an eye on down the line. Because Greer plays college hockey and not in the CHL, anybody who drafts him will have the opportunity to wait a few more years before making a decision on him but Greer’s potential screams future NHL player.

Depending on what the Avalanche do with their early-round draft picks, Greer could be a redundant selection because Colorado is currently linked to just about every big-bodied forward thought to be available at the 10th and 40th selections, where Colorado selects in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Nonetheless, Greer’s potential and stylistic fit with Colorado’s newer philosophy makes him a very good prospect to keep an eye on for Avalanche fans, especially in the fourth round.

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