NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Ryan Gropp

 

Get to know Ryan Gropp

Date of Birth: 9/16/1996
Place of Birth: Kamloops, BC, CAN
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Left Wing
Team: Seattle Thunderbirds

Ryan Gropp is a goal-scorer, and got a lot of face-time this season finishing off plays for one of the more highly rated players in this WHL draft class, Matthew Barzal.

Gropp led the Thunderbirds in goals and scoring this past season, though his points-per-game averages were lower than those of Barzal and defenseman Shea Theodore. 30 goals and 58 points in 67 games is certainly nothing to scoff at, but not being a point-per-game player keeps Gropp from being considered one of the premier wingers eligible to be selected on June 26th.

Central Scouting rates him as the 71st best North American skater, which makes CSS one of Gropp’s harshest critics. Future Considerations  rate him as the 54th best overall player, and Bob McKenzie had him at 56th overall on his list.

The status quo on Gropp is a player who at times looks like a future impact winger for an NHL squad, but also goes through stretches where he doesn’t dominate and produce at a high enough level to make scouts confident he will become that impact NHL winger.

Statistics

What Scouts See

Cody Nickolet, WHL Scout for Future Considerations Hockey

Ryan Gropp is a big north-south style winger. He’s a very good skater and has one of the best shots of this draft class. He really stepped up his game for Seattle when teammate Mathew Barzal suffered a knee injury in the middle of the season, increasing his offensive production despite losing an elite linemate. He’s not the most consistent guy and he could stand to be more physical and committed defensively, but he could be a steal if he slides outside the top 60 or 70 selections.

My NHL Draft, Curtis Joe

A big-bodied player at [6’2], Ryan Gropp is making a splash in the WHL and he is quickly becoming a fan-favorite with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

A potential elite-level power forward, he has all of the technical tools, as well as the natural size that lets him bulldoze his way to the front of the net, to be a constantly dangerous scoring threat. He is a tremendous blend of work ethic and tenacity (digging in deep; never giving up on the play), hockey-IQ (creative and responsible mind for the game), and skill (skating, hands, patience, and vision).

What BSN Avalanche Sees

If you gave two scouts twenty different minutes of footage on Ryan Gropp, one might say he’s a dominant power forward who gets to the front of the net, and has the hands to put home boatloads of goals. The other might say he left a lot to be desired, and didn’t always get the most out of his skill-set. Both would be correct.

Gropp has above average skating ability, and possesses a very good shot. He is able to finish off plays around the net, and is capable of getting hot and scoring in bunches, as evidenced by his 30 goals for the Thunderbirds last season.

His hands are also good, and at times he trends toward having elite playmaking skills for a winger. He tends to avoid the physical game, despite his decent size. Gropp’s impact isn’t felt like a traditional power forward, who bangs bodies and wreaks havoc in the corners. Improvement in those areas will really help elevate Gropp’s game and potential moving forward.

Defensively Gropp can get into bad habits of watching the play. As with most young players who are skilled and enjoy the offensive end of the rink, committing to defense will be a part of the development process for Gropp.

Pure goal-scoring ability is something that Gropp has plenty of, and gives him huge upside, even as a second or third-round pick. If he was a bit more committed defensively and played a slightly more physical brand of hockey, he’d likely be a full round higher on many draft-boards.

I like Gropp’s competitive spirit. His focus should be ironing out a few weaknesses in his game, and finding ways to make his impact felt on the ice, even when he isn’t getting a chance to unload his wicked wrist shot.

Highlights

NHL Potential

Gropp is talented enough to play a top-six role in the NHL within a couple of years. Bigger players who can skate and snipe home goals are valuable commodities.

Scouts should have seen plenty of Gropp playing with Matthew Barzal, who is one of the slickest playmakers in the WHL, and may be a top-ten pick in the draft. The ability to play and succeed with good players, especially NHL calibre players, is sometimes an overlooked asset.

Gropp is a player who has shown the capability to make those around him better, and has shown glimpses of being able to elevate his game when his team needs him to be the guy.

Expected Draft Position

Ryan Gropp has second-round pick written all over him. At the end of the day, you have to have guys who can score goals, and Gropp can certainly do that.

Consistency issues and a few areas of his game that will require further development keep him out of the first round. His preference of playing a finesse game also adds risk, as he may not develop into a player who would have an ideal fit on a checking line if his top-six aspirations fall short.

How Would Gropp Fit in the Avalanche Organization?

Cody Nickolet hit the nail on the head with this one. If the Avalanche are lucky enough to have Gropp still available at 71st overall, he would be a steal of epic proportions on draft day. Even at 40th overall, it would be a justifiable selection to call Gropp’s name.

He would instantly upgrade forward depth in the system, and if coupled with a power winger such as Lawson Crouse or Mikko Rantanen from earlier in the draft, would brighten the Avalanche’s future on the wing immensely.

Gropp is far from a sure thing, but if he pans out, he will give the Avalanche a power play weapon, a guy who can fill in for Alex Tanguay or Jarome Iginla in a couple of years, and a bit of size and speed that Roy covets.