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Lynden Lakovic is another one of those players that people can’t really decide on. Some view his 6’4″ frame and offensive upside, and have him in their top 10. Others see his defensive lapses and consistency issues and rank him in the late 20s. Regardless, the upside that Lakovic provides is undeniable.
ICYMI: Captain Lynden Lakovic is BACK!@MJWARRIORS | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/mNbhqEEdC6
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 15, 2025
Lynden Lakovic Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #16
Left Winger – Shoots Left
Born Dec 12, 2006 – Kelowna, BC, CAN
Height 6’4″ – Weight 190lbs [193cm/86kg]
The Offensive Potential
The defining feature of Lakovic’s game, other than his size, is his ability to generate offence using his plethora of skills. His puck skills are well above average for a player of his size. Lynden can navigate through traffic, pulling off slip passes and manipulating defenders. He thrives in transition and off the rush, excelling in give-and-go passes. He has an extremely dangerous shot with an edge of deception and can quickly release it once acquired. All these tools allow Lakovic to generate over three high-danger scoring chances a game. A trait like this can be of exceptional value to teams lacking in offensive production. The only knock is his shot efficiency, as far too many shots are blocked or miss the net.
6’4 190 insane release and shot.
Smooth as butter.
I’m telling yall, buy Lakovic stock coming off his shoulder injury..
He’s ELITE.
— The Wizard of Baz (@cowboyaroza) May 6, 2025
Skating is also a strength of Lakovic’s, as it is very mechanically sound. His long, powerful stride allows him to generate speed quickly, and his smooth crossovers help him carry pucks into dangerous areas with control. Lynden has shown the ability to drive wide and cut inside, often catching defenders flat-footed. These are skills that aren’t present in most 6’4″ players. His numbers this season were good, but not as dominant as you might expect. Through 47 games with Moose Jaw, Lakovic scored 27 goals and 58 points.
Defensive Project
As the heading suggests, Lakovic is a defensive work in progress. Still, there are aspects of his defence that are good. For example, Lynden’s size allows him to use his long reach to disrupt plays through the neutral zone. If he fails to make a play or the puck goes the other way, Lakovic is making progress in his ability to effectively track back and break up the play. Subsequently, if he is not able to break up the play off the rush, his retrievals and puck battle wins in the defensive zone have seen an increase from the beginning of the season.
Despite progress in some areas, more work needs to be done. Lynden is still learning to process play without the puck and tends to puck-watch and lose track of developing threats behind or around him. His defensive zone scanning habits will need to improve for him to be trusted in late-game situations. It’s worth mentioning that even though there have been defensive improvements this season, seeing them constantly has been an issue.
Lynden Lakovic is now #1 on my WHL list, ahead of Roger McQueen.
A powerful skater, 6’4″, and an excellent playmaker. There’s so much to like.
Below are five examples of his powerful skating ability #17), which allows him to be a menace in transition.#2025NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/awvM5bKQ4W
— Ben Misfeldt
(@BBMHockey) December 16, 2024
Comparisons and Projection
The two players that come to mind when watching Lakovic are Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres) and Lawson Crouse (Utah Mammoth). I feel Lynden’s game is in some ways a combination of these two players. You have the tall, lanky frame of Thompson as well as his offensive dynamics and the physical potential of Crouse. I wouldn’t expect Lakovic to be quite as offensively dominant as Thompson, but he projects to be more of an offensive threat than Crouse.
Lakovic projects as a middle-six winger with the upside to push for top-six minutes. The skill, speed, physicality, and scoring touch are all traits that NHL scouts love. If he can continue to work on his defensive awareness and consistency, while also becoming more of a physical threat, Lakovic will certainly see NHL minutes in the future. Despite a lack of consensus, I expect to hear Lynden Lakovic’s name called in the 10-20 range in June.
Main photo by: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
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