In every single scouting report out there on Logan Brown, his size is mentioned. Seriously, I challenge you to find a scouting report in which Brown’s 6’6, 225 pound frame isn’t acknowledged. Though his size certainly is one of his most valuable assets, it’s Brown’s elite skill that makes him stand out as one of the top prospects of the 2016 draft. Every year, a few prospects climb to the top of the draft because of their size, and it may be tempting to assert that Brown has done the same, but this is not the case. Take for example Lawson Crouse, the 11th overall pick of last year’s draft. Crouse was ranked 5th among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings, but he dropped to 11th overall. Why? Because teams realized that he was overrated due to his size. Lawson Crouse is an excellent prospect, but he wasn’t even a point per a game player his draft year, scoring 51 points in the 56 games he played. Also, Crouse is a full two inches shorter than Brown.

In the 2013 draft, Michael McCarron was drafted by Montreal with the 25th overall pick. Standing at 6’6 and 230 pounds, McCarron has nearly identical size to Logan Brown, but a lot less scoring. In his draft year, McCarron put up a respectable 10 points in the 19 games he played for the U.S. National Development Team. McCarron opted to play in the OHL the following season, the same league Brown plays in, and he produced just 34 points in 66 games. Keep in mind, this was a full year after McCarron’s draft year.

With the 21st overall pick in the 2013 draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Frederik Gauthier, a 6’5, 215 pound center from the QMJHL. Again, a similar build to Brown, slightly smaller, but still a massive hockey player. Gauthier posted 60 points in 62 games his draft year, and scored 52 points in 54 games the following year.

What’s my point? It’s not too often that you see prospects as big as Brown who can also generate a ton of offense. Brown scored an impressive 74 points in the 59 games he played this season, and he’s bigger than most of the players mentioned above. Scouts tend to salivate over players of Brown’s build who can score at nearly a point per a game in Major Junior hockey, and Brown scored at a rate of well over a point per a game. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a prospect with both the size and scoring ability of Brown, yet analysts seem timid to slot him as a top six or seven pick in fear of being ostracized for ranking him too high solely based on his size. In fact, many mock drafts have him being picked outside of the top ten.

Logan Brown is an incredibly unique player because despite his size, he is a phenomenal skater. The main issue players of Brown’s size tend have is their skating ability, but one of the strongest aspects of Brown’s game is his skating. Brown can enter the zone with his blazing speed, and keep the puck away from opposing defenders with his massive frame. Brown is an exceptional passer, so when he enters the zone, and retains possession of the puck, he generates tons of offensive opportunities with his pristine passing. He has an excellent mind for the game, and his playmaking prowess outshines his goal scoring ability. That being said, Brown also has a rocket of a shot, and can blow pucks past goalies when he puts his body weight into his shot. The first half of the season, Brown simply wasn’t shooting enough, and once he started shooting the puck more, the goals began to pile up. He scored just 6 goals in the first 30 games of the season, but revved up his goal scoring to 15 goals in the final 29 games he played. On top of all of his offensive talent, Brown is also a two-way player. He is fantastic in the defensive zone, and does a good job of using his size to get the puck out of the zone.

Though many believe that Brown is overrated because of his size, teams picking in the top ten should think twice before sleeping on him. He undoubtedly has all of the tools necessary to become a number one center in the NHL. If he does fall outside the top ten, he could turn into the steal of the draft, and prove that he is more than just a big body.