The Edmonton Oil Kings own Trey Fix-Wolansky was selected 204th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Wolansky has spent the last two seasons with the Oil Kings club, where he led the team in scoring last season with 89 points in 71 games He suited up on their top line last season and top power play unit.
Wolansky is a crafty play-making winger who despite being diminutive in size he is heavy on his feet and can fend off checks from bigger defenders. Not afraid of the physical game, loves to throw his weight around and he is willing to fight when he needs to. He is a compact skater with the ability to attack laterally. Wolansky relies on an east-west possessive game, loves to locate holes in the neutral zone and control the puck through lanes. He might be one of the most creative players in the WHL, he has slick puck control and can dazzle at times with a move on a defender. A shooter on the power play, he has a slick deceptive release and can get shots around defenders. A right handed shot who can one time shots on the power play.
Lacks the defensive game a bit, a true winger who usually just keeps it simple and focuses on his defensive assignment in his own zone. Needs to be more consistent game-to-game, he improved on this late last season but it still an issue that he struggles with.
Wolansky will likely return to the Oil Kings lineup for the next two seasons where he is expected to be an offensive catalyst. Expectations are high on him this upcoming season, likely a 100 point player with the young core of Edmonton starting to come up and support him. Love the pick by Columbus.
