Our Summer prospect series continues with our #18 best prospect in the Blue Jackets organization, Trey Fix-Wolansky.
Reason for Ranking
Out of all of us that were putting together the rankings, Paul was the highest on Fix-Wolansky. It may have to do something with his proclivity for scoring and his way to get around the net. Myself and Dan had him further down our lists.
He can pretty much do it all. He fights, he scores and he can make plays as well. He would likely be ranked a bit higher if he was taller than five-foot-six. His height likely caused him to be an overage draftee. Another solid year could vault him higher up the list and into a lot of regular fans' consciousness.
NHL Projection
This is a tough one to project. He is small and scrappy. He can score. He just has the feel of a bottom-six winger in the NHL or a tweener spending most of his career in the AHL. He has a little Jonathan Marchessault to his game but it will be a while until his path becomes immediately clear.
Best Case Scenario
Middle-six NHL winger.
The WHL doesn't translate well to the NHL as we have seen in recent memory. Fix-Wolansky also plays on an Edmonton Oil Kings team that doesn't churn out many productive NHLers. He is going to need to blow off the doors of the WHL for this to even come close to a possibility. Scoring is what helps you overcome all size and Fix-Wolansky has a chance to do a lot of it.
Strengths and Weaknesses
He is an above average skater and has an above average skill set. He is going to be a leader on an improving Oil Kings team. He should lead the team again in scoring unless something unforeseen happens.
He is going to get tagged as a player that is going to need to do more to be able to succeed. He just needs to continue to be the type of player that will do whatever to make it happen. That will carry him far, add that to what he is doing in the WHL, he doesn't have much to improve upon.
