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Conor Geekie Scouting Report: 2022 NHL Draft #14

Conor Geekie Scouting Report

Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2022 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Conor Geekie Scouting Report. 

The younger brother of Seattle Kraken forward Morgan Geekie, Conor Geekie was drafted in the first round, second overall, by the Winnipeg Ice in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. This season he scored 24 goals and 46 assists for 70 points in 63 games. He also added 49 minutes in penalties and was an incredible +46 this year. Geekie added two goals and six assists for eight points in nine playoff games so far. Geekie also played in the CHL Top Prospects Game.

In 2020-21, while the WHL season was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Geekie joined the Virdin Oil Capitals in the MJHL. He put up one goal and three assists for four points in nine games. Once the WHL season got started he played in 24 games for the Winnipeg Ice. Geekie scored nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 24 games. He also played seven games for the Ice in the 2019-20 season.

In addition to Morgan, there are other high-end hockey players in the Geekie family. Geekie’s father, Craig Geekie, played for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Spokane Chiefs in the 1990s. Older brother, Noah Geekie, also played Tier II hockey.

Conor Geekie Scouting Report

Centre — shoots Left
Born May 5th, 2004 — Strathclair, Manitoba
Height 6’3″ — Weight 196 lbs [191 cm/89 kg]

Skating

Geekie needs some work on his skating. His stride is awkward and he doesn’t get enough bend in his knees. This leaves him with below-average acceleration and top-end speed. Geekie needs to rely on his positioning to keep up with the play and is often the last forward in the zone on the rush. His agility and edgework also need work. Geekie makes wide turns that rob him of his speed. He also has trouble generating power in his cross-overs. Thanks to his sheer size and ability to use it effectively, Geekie can overpower opponents in board battles and establish his position in front of the net. He can be tough to knock off the puck as well, showing balance and power in his skating ability.

Offensive Game

Geekie has outstanding size. He uses his long reach and good stickhandling to protect the puck and extend possession down low. He creates puck possession and drives possession at even strength. Geekie is not the most aggressive player but his size makes him very effective in protecting the puck in the cycle game as well as creating havoc in front of the net. Geekie can extend plays, waiting for his teammates to get open. He has good vision as well as his strong hockey IQ. When they do get open, Geekie is able to make a pass to a teammate through a tight passing lane, setting up a scoring chance.

Geekie can also score goals. He works well in tight to the net with his soft hands. Geekie can score on deflections, rebounds and quick one-timers. His long reach also makes him tough to defend in one-on-one situations. A quick move with his stick can open up a shooting lane. He loves to drive the net, fighting through checks and getting to high danger areas. He also has a very strong wrist shot and his quick hands give him a deceptive release. Geekie can control the play and beat goaltenders from further out. His shot is amongst the best in this class. Geekie will bowl over an opponent to get to the front of the net. He could stand to use his size more effectively on the forecheck though.

Defensive Game

Geekie is strong defensively. He is committed to helping out the defence and works hard down low, winning battles on the boards and keeping opponents to the outside when defending against the cycle game. He also uses his high-end hockey IQ and good positioning to his advantage. Geekie reads the play well, cutting down passing and shooting lanes. With his long and active stick, he creates turnovers and intercepts the opponent’s passes. Once a turnover is created, he looks to pass the puck up the ice and create a scoring chance. He is also not afraid to use his body to block shots. Geekie does the little things extremely well and this will help him at the next level. He is also pretty good in the faceoff circle.

Projection and Comparison

Geekie’s combination of size and skill are extremely intriguing and will attract a lot of NHL teams. Teams are always looking for a big, powerful centre that can play in both ends of the ice. His potential is high. However, his skating is a real concern and Geekie will need to continue to work on improving this aspect of his game. Working with a strong skating coach could really help take his game to another level. Expect Geekie to spend another year or two in juniors working on this aspect of his game. However, given his strong two-way game and his intelligence, he should become an NHL player. The question is how dynamic he can be offensively. In terms of style, Geekie compares well to Brian Boyle. This is a stylistic comparison only though and not one based on skill and ability.

Highlights

The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Conor Geekie that are available on youtube and Twitter.

 

Check back tomorrow for our next article on the 2022 NHL Draft.

 

Conor Geekie Scouting Report Main Photo:

Embed from Getty Images

KITCHENER, ONTARIO – MARCH 23: Conor Geekie #28 of Team White skates during the morning skate of the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

Ben Kerr

Ben Kerr

Ben is a credentialed sports writer from just outside Toronto, Canada. A lawyer, he has a highly analytical approach to writing. Ben is the COO of Last Word On Sports INC. Most of his writing can be found in the hockey department, though he follows and writes on other sports as well.

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