Player Information:
Name: Jake Neighbours
Position: Left Wing
League: Western Hockey League (WHL)
Team: Edmonton Oil Kings
Shoots: Left
Age/DOB: 18-years-old, March 29th, 2002
Birthplace: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Height: 5’11
WHL Drafted: By Edmonton Oil Kings (first round, fourth overall, 2017 WHL Bantam Draft)
Weight: 201lbs
Potential Draft Round: Early second
NHL Potential: Middle-six guy
NHL Comparable: Lars Eller
Statistics:
Scouting Notes:
The WHL has almost 1/3 of the prospects who we could see go in the first round and today we’ll take a look at the left-handed shooting Jake Neighbours. Neighbours has spent the past two-plus seasons in the CHL with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. Over that time, he’s accumulated 34 goals and 64 assists for 98 points in 122 games. He also had a whopping 228 shots in 64 games this past season.
Neighbours is a guy who can play a full 200 foot game and plays with an edge. He’s not afraid to go out and throw a few hits and make plays happen. He’s got solid speed from a standing position which has shown in the WHL as he always seems to have that extra step on defenders.
The 18-year-old winger has shown that he can play on both special teams which will make an easy fit once he finds his way to the NHL. His versatility and edge to his game is one of the factors that could see him being a surprising late-round pick in the opening round. As Most players who get drafted, expect Neighbours to spend next season in the WHL to develop and continue to improve his game.