Scott Wheeler on Grans:
6. Helge Grans, RHD, 20 (Ontario Reign)
There are three prospects ranked below Grans on this list who’ve been NHL regulars or close at some point in their young careers already, and yet I still think Grans belongs here on the upside of what he’s capable of becoming if he puts it all together.
The appeal of Grans, in the past, has been anchored in the legitimacy of his individual tools more than the sum of his parts. He’s a 6-foot-3, right-shot defenceman who is both mobile and talented. He’s comfortable with the puck. He has great hands for his size. He’s a superb passer on outlets and through offensive-zone lanes. And he’s at his best when he’s playing an aggressive style and taking risks to make things happen.
There’s still some rawness to his even-strength play and he can look a little stilted on his pivots, but his game has started to take form defensively as well. He has driven results with the Reign this year, and despite having played parts of five seasons at two top pro levels, he’s just still just 20. Grans has the potential to be a second-pairing defenseman with two-way value. There’s a balance to be struck with his mistakes and some of that just comes with continued reps. I hope they encourage him to play a highly-involved game, because that’s when his tools really shine. I’d rather see him looking to make things happen than playing passively.
