Ht/Wt: 6' 3"/190 lbs
Position: C
Team: Portland (WHL)

Ryan Johansen's Player Profile

Ryan Johansen almost never came to the Western Hockey League. After being selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the 7th round of the 2007 Bantam Draft, it’s easy to see why the Port Moody, BC native was excited to get a scholarship offer from Northeastern University. After scoring 17 points in 47 games for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, Johansen came to a crossroads in his career: Either pursue a college scholarship, or come to the WHL and play for one of the top developmental hockey leagues in the world. As of now, it looks like Johansen made the right move.

Storming onto the scene with a Portland team that has finished at or near the bottom of the WHL standings for three consecutive years, Johansen quickly made a name for himself as one of the top young players on a rejuvenated Winterhawks team. The 6'3" 190 pound center notched 25 goals and 69 points in 71 games played, while adding a solid +17 and 53 penalty minutes, quickly becoming one of the top prospects for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Johansen centered the team’s top line, along with fellow Draft eligible’s Nino Niederreiter and Brad Ross; together forming one of the more talented lines in the entire WHL. They were also very impressive in the playoffs, where Johansen scored 6 goals and 18 points in only 13 games played, along with 18 penalty minutes and a +3.

Johansen’s biggest asset is his ability to make plays. He uses his size to win battles in all three zones, and is very shifty, capable of beating defensemen one-on-one by using his deceptive speed and quick stickhandling. He moves extremely well for a player of his stature, often catching players off guard, when they think they have him reeled in; he simply shifts gears and goes right on by. He is a very good passer, able to find his linemates open and more often than not get the puck to them in a scoring area. Johansen also works hard on the forecheck and plays in both powerplay and penalty kill situations.

The main thing Johansen could stand to improve upon is his physical play, his 53 penalty minutes may be a little bit inflated due to playing on a line with super pest Ross. As a player with such an imposing height, it might benefit Johansen to add some body mass in the offseason and use his physical frame better to his advantage. As it stands, Johansen is still a pretty raw talent but has alot of the tools at his disposal to make him a very dangerous player every time he’s on the ice.

With another year of seasoning most likely ahead of him in the Western League, Johansen should be able to round out his game with a Winterhawks team that has some great building pieces around him. They have all the makings of a powerhouse in Portland, and Johansen is one of the biggest reasons for such a turn around. He may be considered a bit more of a project than some of the players picked around him, mainly due to the fact that he has arrived onto the scene so quickly; but he has a very high skill level and a seemingly endless ceiling. He has all the tools to be a top-6 forward in the NHL.
Pros: Size, playmaking ability, strong work ethic
Cons: Lacks physicality, could shoot more often
Skillset Comparison: Jason Spezza
Submitted by: Curtis Deem of TheScoutingReport.org

Would you like to write a player profile for any prospect that may be entering the 2010 NHL Draft? Email profiles of any player (even players not on our list) to our Webmaster. Credit will be given to the author of the profile.

Ryan Johansen Video Clips

Ryan Johansen goal vs Seattle


Ryan Johansen Highlights





Click here to return