NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Joey Anderson

Get to Know Joey Anderson

Date of Birth: 6/19/1998
Place of Birth: Roseville, MN, USA
Ht: 5’11” Wt: 190 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
Team (League): U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)

Statistics

What Scouts See

Hockey Prospectus:

Anderson gets some notoriety as the most common third wheel on the first line with Keller and Bellows. That said, I find him to be underwhelming. He grinds hard and keeps his feet constantly in motion, moving well in small areas, but his overall skating is only so-so, with below average top speed. He positions himself well in the offensive one to be disruptive and has a solid shot. Anderson will be attending Minnesota-Duluth next season. He has bottom six upside.

SBNation College Hockey:

Anderson is a very competitive player that plays with a high motor. He battles for loose pucks and attacks the opposition hard to take away time and space and create turnovers. Though he’s got a big enough shot from the perimeter to be effective there, he isn’t afraid to fight his way to the front of the net. He’s a player that gets the most out of what he has.

What BSN Avalanche sees

Anderson was the third member of the lethal Kieffer Bellows-Clayton Keller line this year and he showed pretty well. At times he looked like Alex Burrows next to the Sedin twins, doing all the dirty work and playing the grinder role for his star teammates. That isn’t all there is to Anderson’s game, however, as he has plenty of skill himself. He’s got a very quick release and plays an intelligent all-around game. I love his work on defense, as well, as he isn’t shy about dropping down to support board battles and blocks shots with regularity.

You wonder how much offense there is in Anderson’s game. Playing next to the guys he did all year and he wasn’t even a point-per-game raises a red flag. He’s not a very good skater and has a short, awkward stride and he isn’t good on his edges. He has good balance but the rest of his skating needs a lot of work.

Highlights

NHL Potential

Anderson currently looks like he’s most likely going to pan out as a third or fourth line guy with enough skill to chip in offense here and there. I’m not I totally agree with that consensus because I see more upside there and think he could be a really effective second line guy. I’m pretty sold on his shot translating to the next level and think he’s a smart enough player to find ways to contribute.

Expected Draft Position

Anderson’s rankings put him in the second or third round conversation.

How Prospect Fits in Avalanche Organization

I think Anderson in the third round would be a good get for the Avalanche. I wouldn’t take him at 40 but at 71, he’s worth taking the chance on. His offense could still take a leap in college and he’s a hard-working kid with a good defensive game. He fills a need as a winger and would give the Avalanche another potential goal-scorer down the line.