6. Isak Rosen, LW, 20 (Rochester Americans)
Rosen’s a slippery goal-scoring winger who just looks talented in possession. On the attack, he’s a crafty handler who sneaks through traffic to navigate in and out of space in control, drawing attention as he goes. A lot of the tools he hones are also the ones required of smallish players (he’s now listed at 6 feet and 173 pounds which is up an inch and five pounds for last year) in today’s game.
He’s inventive. He’s a light, fluid skater who changes directions in an instant and beats defenders off of cuts. And his ability as a marksman really can’t be overstated (though he’s still figuring out how to get to the inside more consistently in the AHL to go from productive to closer to point per game). His shot is pinpoint accurate (both his one-timer and his wrister) and he makes a ton of quick adjustments before he releases the puck to catch goalies and defenders off guard. Though his mentality is to look to attack the slot to score, he’s also got great touch with the puck when play breaks down and he has to improvise or make a play to a linemate.
He’s going to have to learn to play a little differently to build toward a scoring role at the next level but with patience and proper development, he’s going to inject skill into an NHL top nine and threaten on the power play in the long term. He’s got the threatening transition game, nifty release, perimeter speed and control, and shot shaping to become a 20-plus-goal scorer. He can run a little hot and cold (he was hot to start this season but has cooled of late in Rochester), but consistency will come with reps and maturity and you have to remind yourself of his age when considering he has already played two years in the AHL.