Projection: Puck Moving Upside

Strengths: Mobility, Puck Moving, Two-way Impact

Development Opportunities: Strength, Play Under Pressure, Consistency

Mowat is the final piece of the North Stars’ defender trio on our list. He brings a smart, mobile profile and has consistently shown the makings of a capable puck-moving defenceman. I’ve always liked his desire to play a controlled, puck-managing game, typically looking to find a pass up ice and keep possession in the North Stars’ hands. He’s aggressive without the puck, whether applying pressure or keeping plays alive in the offensive zone, rarely hesitating to pounce on a loose puck or intercept a pass. There’s some offensive impact here as well, using his footwork to walk the line with confidence and showing some clever passing moments to move pucks around the zone.

There are similarities here to Eastern Ontario Wild defender Leo Hendriks. The foundation is there in the footwork and Lucas makes the right play more often than not, but it can be hit or miss under pressure. He’ll occasionally rush his progressions and force an errant pass when a quick scan around would have opened up a better option. The tools are there and he’s someone I’d bet on, just a matter of putting it together and learning to handle elevated pressure at the junior level.

Similar to Kohen, I thought Mowat played excellently. From winning pucks, shutting down plays, and being that reliable first pass out of his zone, Lucas seemed to thrive at helping the North Stars stay out of their end. I really liked how he used his feet and reach to take away time and space, giving oncoming attackers no space to operate as he’s pressuring them closely. Getting around him in the neutral zone was difficult and he disrupted plenty of transitions through this desire to apply pressure early and give up no ground. With the puck, he was calm and controlled, taking his time to look for passing options, and was a quality puck-mover out of the back for Niagara. There’s been a few views now where Lucas has really impressed me, and he’s earned his way to be well on my radar as someone to watch in this year’s class.