Connor Lockhart | C

[Dazzle]

Connor Lockhart is an immensely talented offensive center who can dictate the pace of play and turn the game on its head with a flash of speed and skill. During his Bantam season with the Ottawa Jr. Senators, Lockhart put up a ridiculous 50 goals and 76 points over 30 games. He has led his league in goals over both of the past two seasons.” – Prospect Pipeline

 

Strengths

• Release and shooting
• Creativity and offensive awareness
• Skating

Under Construction (Improvements to Make)

• Defensive zone play
• Making clean and crisp passes on the breakout

NHL Potential

Whoever decides to pull the trigger and draft Lockhart won’t consider him a player who can lead the team to Cup championships like Patrick Kane or Sidney Crosby, but they might see him in their middle-six and as a power-play specialist. It’s also going to be a team that is willing to be patient and develop him at a slower pace. Lockhart is the kind of player who could thrive in the right situation if given the chance.

Risk/Reward Analysis

Risk – 5/5, Reward – 2.5/5

 

https://thehockeywriters.com/connor-lockhart-2021-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

 

 

Not particularly flattering, but I guess the scouts see something worth drafting than Trevor Wong

Edited July 24, 2021 by Dazzle

[JM_]

Dobber had him at 67, interesting. 

[FlyLow_]

Don't mind taking a flyer like this at all at this point in the draft.

[Dazzle]

Talking heads said he's basically a ball of fire. Very hard working and has oodles of offensive skill. Nice pick.

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

 

 

[Phil_314]

Potential poor man's Alex DeBrincat?  Small but skilled.
Not the worst idea to swing for the fences since we've had some recent luck with later picks it seems -- Gaudette, Hutton and Forsling were all 5th round picks who've become NHL players on some level, and maybe he could be a Brandon Pirri).

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[GoldenAlien]

 

[HighOnHockey]

Posted this in the draft thread but was quickly buried. My brief note on Lockhart from 2019 U17s, after the first Canada Red game I watched.

 

"The one guy I really liked from Canada Red was Connor Lockhart. That's right, the 90s teen sitcom star. For real though, he's got moves and was one of the few players on that weak Red team who ever had the gall to hold on to the puck and try to make something happen. They play like Switzerland circa 2010. "

[Dazzle]

40 minutes ago, HighOnHockey said:

Posted this in the draft thread but was quickly buried. My brief note on Lockhart from 2019 U17s, after the first Canada Red game I watched.

 

"The one guy I really liked from Canada Red was Connor Lockhart. That's right, the 90s teen sitcom star. For real though, he's got moves and was one of the few players on that weak Red team who ever had the gall to hold on to the puck and try to make something happen. They play like Switzerland circa 2010. "

Your insights are always much appreciated. I, for one, try to pay attention to what you say because you show a clear passion at what you do, and I also love how you explain the players with some measured dimension, not just some vague description about him like "very quick, good hands"

[Marv-the-wet-bandit]

I loved this pick, had the OHL gotten games in this year I think he goes in the 2nd round but definitely don’t think he would have gotten out of the 3rd. I can’t wait to see this guys numbers next year. Great pick where they got him

[GoldenAlien]

From OHL prospect writer/ McKeen's scout Brock Otten:

 

19. Connor Lockhart - Center/Wing - Erie Otters

A former highly touted U16 player, Lockhart was the third overall pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection; and with good reason. This is an intelligent, creative, and well rounded offensive player. Equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, Lockhart has that unique ability to alter pace and control the offensive zone, taking what the defense gives him, rather than forcing options that aren't there. Armed with a quick release and excellent instincts, Lockhart certainly has the potential to become a high end goal scorer. However, he also sees the ice well and makes those around him more viable and serviceable offensive players. An excellent skater, the one knock on Lockhart is that he did not use his speed enough with the puck last year to create. On the forecheck, his speed was a massive weapon as he proved to be a pain in the arse for opposing defenders and forced a lot of turnovers with his motor and anticipation without the puck. Yet, in transition, he often seemed hesitant to truly let loose. Part of that was a strength piece, in my opinion. At a quicker pace, Lockhart was more turnover prone as he was angled off the puck, lacking the strength to penetrate the middle. But make no mistake, he has the potential to impact the game in this way. Adding strength will also make him a more effective three zone player, which in turn would make him more effective at the center position and not just on the wing. In a lot of ways, watching Lockhart from a season ago reminded me of Nick Robertson as he was breaking into the league and I do think Lockhart has that same sort of potential.

 

Lockhart was an honourable mention in Otten's media/ scout survey for OHL's top 10:

 

Connor Lockhart – Forward – Erie Otters

Total Votes: 4

Highest Ranking: 8th (1x)

Comments:

 

“I think I like Lockhart and I hope he has made the kind of progress that warrants a mid-round pick, but I can’t truthfully tell you because I haven’t seen him play in 16 months!” - Anonymous

“Highly intelligent and agie playmaker. He owns some great edges and is highly mobile in all four directions. Love how he sees the ice and his ability to generate chances through smart passing. Lockhart really helps his team transition the puck with great speed do to his quick passing ability. He is on the smaller side, and could struggle to put it all together at the NHL level, but I see a player who could contribute to some good offensive depth in the NHL in a team's bottom 6.” - Dylan Galloway

“I am going off the board here with Connor Lockhart. Let’s face it, if he wasn’t 5’9”, he would get a lot more attention. In my opinion anyway. Lockhart is one of the top 2 or 3 skaters in the draft class. Truly elite speed and first step acceleration with the edgework to go along with that. And despite his diminutive size, few are as willing to use to the middle and use that skating ability to drive to the net. For a small guy, he really possesses a deceptive shot. And again, for his size, he is a tenacious forechecker using his speed to get in on defences quickly. What he needs to work on is to continually push the pace on the offence. That is when he is at his best. He often pauses to let the play develop around him and see what is happening instead of going continuously.” - Dominic Tiano

[Ghostsof1915]

Anyone noticing a pattern lately? We're getting a lot of hard working type players.

That's a good thing. 

[flickyoursedin]

I like this pickup! A kid that was touted highly but fell because he didn’t play this year. Really a fifth round pick the odds aren’t good but had he played he probably would have went much higher. Good value pick here!

[Ilunga]

7 hours ago, Dazzle said:

Your insights are always much appreciated. I, for one, try to pay attention to what you say because you show a clear passion at what you do, and I also love how you explain the players with some measured dimension, not just some vague description about him like "very quick, good hands"

I feel the same way about you.

You obviously have both a great passion and eye for hockey/ hockey players.

You are also polite,a quality I admire greatly.

[Dazzle]

3 minutes ago, Ilunga said:

I feel the same way about you.

You obviously have both a great passion and eye for hockey/ hockey players.

You are also polite,a quality I admire greatly.

Thank you very much. I remember you to be a thinker of history, thus I remember your other posts throughout this forum as being logical and well-supported. I am less knowledgeable about hockey players, but I do love reading what people have to say about the players. Although there will always be bias, I would prefer that the bias is in control and not written in such a way that would make people think the writer is objective. Some people are very obvious in their bias, such as Wolfgang Durst.

Edited July 25, 2021 by Dazzle

[Ilunga]

1 hour ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

Anyone noticing a pattern lately? We're getting a lot of hard working type players.

That's a good thing. 

I can't remember which hockey coach it was but he stated,"give me the poor kid who has had to fight for everything all his life".

Quite often those with talent don't feel like they have to extend themselves to improve.

 

When you combine elite talent with those who give 100% to what they do,those are the people who stand head and shoulders above the rest and they are very rare.

[theo5789]

30 minutes ago, Ilunga said:

I feel the same way about you.

You obviously have both a great passion and eye for hockey/ hockey players.

You are also polite,a quality I admire greatly.

 

27 minutes ago, Dazzle said:

Thank you very much. I remember you to be a thinker of history, thus I remember your other posts throughout this forum as being logical and well-supported. I am less knowledgeable about hockey players, but I do love reading what people have to say about the players. Although there will always be bias, I would prefer that the bias is in control and not written in such a way that would make people think the writer is objective. Some people are very obvious in their bias, such as Wolfgang Durst.

[GoldenAlien]

 

[-Vintage Canuck-]