The QMJHL is in the midst of its most promising season in recent memory with a strong NHL Draft class ahead of 2025, and Owen Conrad is no exception to the talent coming out of the Q this year.
Conrad was in the conversation for first overall leading up to the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft but fell to the Charlottetown Islanders at the last pick of the first round. Conrad has been on an upward trajectory ever since, posting 29 points in 59 games in his rookie season in 2023-24. He represented Canada Red at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge and played a large part in the team’s success.
Conrad finished top three in rookie scoring among defencemen last year and started off this season with four points through five games. Conrad is primarily a defensive defenceman, but he certainly comes with some upside offensively if he can polish some of his more raw tools, including his skating ability.
Player Information
Team: Charlottetown Islanders
Date of Birth: March 10th, 2007
Height: 188cm / 6’2”
Weight: 95kg/209lbs
Position: LD
Handedness: Left
Skating
Owen Conrad is a strong and mobile two-way defenceman, albeit with average skating. He has great footwork when he is up to speed, but his acceleration and first step hold him back. Conrad takes short and clunky strides, resulting in him taking more steps than necessary to reach top speed. He also lacks elite straight-line speed which affects his ability to create separation when carrying the puck.
His skating technique is good, even if it doesn’t result in good speed or acceleration. He has good edgework and the ability to pivot. He uses his hips, which allow him to pivot in the offensive zone when patrolling the blueline for a quick pass, but also transitioning from backward to forward skating.
Still, as a 6’2 defenceman, you can tell his skating has not caught up with the rest of his raw abilities to defend. As is the case with many young players his size, there is a lot of room for improvement. Watch for Conrad to gain more power in his first strides as he becomes a more powerful skater overall. Once he can do this, his skating will become more of an asset than a liability.
Defensive Play
A two-way mobile skater with an emphasis on the defensive side of the puck, Conrad has an intriguing toolkit of defensive skills that are not limited to the typical archetype of a 6’2 defenceman. Largely a defensive defenceman by the nature of his skills, Conrad uses his size with purpose. He does not look to make a hit for the sake of it, but rather he hits strategically for puck separation and to gain advantageous positioning in board battles.
His defence in transition is also very strong. He rarely commits on odd-man rushes, respecting the possibilities of a shot or pass, which gives his goalies a fighting chance either way, especially if he is able to slow down the play. He also has great reaction speed, which allows him that extra split-second to make a decision in prevention rather than reacting after the play unfolds. He does not often fall victim to a head fake or deception.
Conrad also rarely gives up on plays. Oftentimes coming back, if he is behind the play, he will do almost anything to prevent a shot or scoring chance, as shown in this clip:
Conrad’s greatest strength, however, is his perimeter defence. This is where he uses his size the most, to muscle puck carriers into positions, allowing the puck to be moved to a vulnerable position for him to poke loose or have his teammates collect.
Offensive Upside
Conrad is at his best offensively when set up in the offensive zone. He is a great facilitator of offence and a great quarterback on a powerplay in that regard. He looks to move the puck efficiently, so as to not allow the penalty killers to get set.
In transition, Conrad usually looks for the easy first pass to start the breakout. He is also collected when he does not have that option and will find open ice to skate to, opening up options as the opposing defenders have to respect him as a puck carrier. When the play is in front of him, he sees the ice extremely well and chooses routes with weak or no resistance at all.
Finally, in the offensive zone, Conrad loves to use open ice to creep in from the point for a one-timer. He recognizes when opposing defences congest the defensive zone to create unprotected ice, as he does here against Moncton:
Conrad is a steady offensive presence. He won’t blow the hinges off with his offensive numbers, nor does his skillset allow for that. However, he has shown he can contribute meaningful minutes offensively to preserve a cycle or facilitate it himself. The follow-through on his shot is smooth, and if he can create more high-danger opportunities instead of firing pucks into traffic or with no resistance, watch out.
Conclusion
Owen Conrad is an interesting defensive prospect for the 2025 Draft class. He does not possess the same offensive upside that other defenders in this class do, but he has a projectable toolkit which should make him appealing to NHL front offices come draft day.
Conrad has the chance to develop into a lower-end top-four defenceman at the NHL level. His rush defence, strength in board battles, and mobility in his own transition should be considered strong suits to him as an asset. He is an effective distributor on the powerplay and at five-on-five in the offensive zone, giving him a moderate offensive ceiling if he can continue to grow those facets of his game. His IQ and vision bring an air of unpredictability to his opponents.
The more I watch Owen Conrad, the more I see an unfinished product. At the lower end of his potential, Conrad could become a strong, defensive-minded, bottom-pair defenceman with the potential to log powerplay minutes, albeit in a limited role. Time will tell, but Conrad has all the makings of an NHL defenceman.
Check back here at RecruitScouting.com for more coverage of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft as the year goes on.
