A big body that loves to hit the greasy areas, Tkachuk moves quite well, using a long, powerful stride to gain momentum like a freight train on rails as he enters the zone. He's no doubt a tough load to handle along the walls and beneath the goal line with his long reach and puck protection skills, but Tkachuk is at his best when he imposes his will to work over defenders and own space in front of the net. His pesky 200-foot motor attracts a lot of attention, creating both room for his linemates and often chaos after the whistle.
Tkachuk contributed nice offensive numbers this past season for Boston University as the second-youngest NCAA player, amassing eight goals and a team-leading 23 assists while enjoying top-line minutes. To further accent his impact as a true freshman, Tkachuk also led the club with 131 shots on goal and 61 PIM to earn a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
A product of the U.S. National Team Development program, Tkachuk also earned a bronze medal with the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, notching three goals and nine points in the tournament's seven games.
Whichever club selects Tkachuk will have a say on if he turns pro next season or if he returns to the Terriers, who will be guided by new head coach Albie O'Connell. Minor tweaks will be required for Tkachuk to hit his professional ceiling, but there is no question that he's primed to one day be a gritty difference-maker that a team is going to love having in an intense playoff series.
<< #5 Oliver Wahlstrom | #3 Filip Zadina >>
Click Here For The Full List
For more on all the youngsters in the Sabres pipeline, check out Kris Baker's website, SabresProspects.com. You can also follow him on Twitter (@SabresProspects).
