Akil Thomas made a solid impression in 2017-18 as a top performer for the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara Ice Dogs, earning a point in 50 of his club's 68 games while taking strides in rounding out his two-way awareness.
A creative, energetic force that keeps his feet moving in pursuit, Thomas leads by example as he hounds the puck with a no-quit mentality.
He sees the ice very well as a centerman, racking up 59 assists to place fifth among Ontario Hockey League skaters, but curious scouts will wonder if he projects just as well down the wing once he learns to use his impressive shot more often. Thomas added 22 goals to finish the year with a team-best 81 points, before again leading the way in the playoffs with five goals and 11 points in 10 postseason outings.
Regardless of how his versatility is used, Thomas is a high-IQ, high-character player that will make an impact based on the "want" he plays with when truly dialed in. When fully engaged at even strength, he pressures the opposition into mistakes and makes them pay by quickly capitalizing on turnovers and applying heat to the net front.
He can finish and create off the rush, using both his vision and a capable one-on-one skill set to put points on the board.
The only knock you can place on Thomas, and you can do this with so many young, developing talents, is that he needs to bring the heat in the high traffic areas on every shift of every game. It's a tall task to play with vim and vinegar every time you hop over the boards and not blend in with the flow, but the elevated consistency is what Thomas will need to strive for when proving his readiness for a steady NHL role.
A very likable prospect with a noticeable work ethic and desirable offensive instincts, Thomas will likely spend two additional years in the OHL and challenge for World Junior duty before transitioning into the professional ranks.
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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).
