Player Introduction
Date of birth: February 26, 2003 – Kamloops, B.C
Height: 5’8″/173cm
Weight: 170lbs/77kgs
Position: Centre/Wing
Shoots: Right
- Intense
- Fearless
- Relentless
Above sit three simple keywords that summarize Stankoven’s game. He’s a natural-born sniper who is constantly stuck in hyperdrive gearing, creating havoc for defenders across the Western Hockey League. He’s just five-foot-eight but don’t let that fool you, Stankoven is built like a freight train and just happens to be wired like one. Last season he was able to pot 29 goals and contribute 19 helpers through 59 games, any doubts about his size and ability to play effectively were vanquished pretty quick as he displayed his protean talent. Coming into season 2020/21, there was an expectation that Stankoven again would take further steps in his development. Then of course Covid-19 happened… you know the rest.
Offensive Catalyst
Relative to the 2021 forward class, a solid argument could be made for Stankoven being the most dangerous and creative scoring threat. Whilst there is at times somewhat an unadorned feel to his game, it’s extremely effective and produces points.
Stankoven generates offense in a multitude of ways, there is no strong predilection in anything he does. In simple terms, he’s damaging in many ways.
His ability to get pucks through on net off the rush is fantastic. Stankoven can either be the primary puck carrier finding shooting lanes or follow the play up and finding shooting space behind the first wave of attack with equal proficiency. Stankoven’s fast pace/north-south style causes havoc for defenders. So much space in front of him gets eaten up and fast, often leaving defenders in a bind as how to defend him.
He’s also got a penchant for mixing up his speed and angles upon entry, getting defenders to commit to him and dish sweet little drop passes back behind into the space he creates. This allows for Stankoven to not only create shooting lanes for teammates, it gives Stankoven avenues to work through layers and room to present himself as an option to again be involved in the play.
Note that word ~ Involved. It’s something that visually is very appealing and apparent in his game. Stankoven is not only a primary offensive catalyst with the puck, but his ability to recognise space and create ways to involve his teammates within that space is high-end.
Offensive Zone Pressure
Just as proficient is his aptitude to win his own pucks by way of forechecking and stifling zone exits. Stankoven applies great pressure on puck carriers down-low and when exiting the zone. He uses his speed and anticipation to cut the puck handler and throws his nuggety frame around to lock the play up along the boards. It doesn’t end there. He is able to kick pucks free and make shifty little passes that are first rate.
They are quick, clean dangerous passes into quality areas to facilitate scoring chances or restart an offensive cycle. He’s also shown that he can engage in board battles and come away with the puck on his stick and find his own chances; finding ways to do so more regularly with consistency will be a key factor moving forward for a smaller-stature player.
The majority of his offensive is a of a shoot first mentality. His secondary go-to is to seek the best way to incorporate a teammate to get the better shot, pretty simple stuff. Stankoven makes fantastic accurate passes that are very well weighted. He has a great sense of where teammates are going to be and has the capacity to pass people open. Stankoven has a niche for making quick decisions if a shot isn’t the best option. He processes what’s around him and more often than not, finds his targets by pass. His passing isn’t by any means his strongest suit, but it’s better than just good.
The aspects of Stankoven’s offensive makings, both on the puck and off of it are elite.
Straight Shooter
Stankoven follows up on his adept creativity and drive with one nasty release. His snapshot and wrister are one or the better in the class, he’s able to release both with superlative timing and accuracy. Stankoven also is readily accessible to shoot when supporting the rush and patrolling the offensive zone, his stick is always loaded and close to ice.
Stankoven does a great job of altering his body position with his edgework, accompanied by nifty drag moves in order to improve his shooting angles with regularity and great success. The beauty about him is, he has both the physical and intellectual make-up to improve his shot distances and location. He knows how to play to his strengths and it in no way detracts negatively from anything else he does. Many players have to play to their strengths, simply because they simply don’t have that much in their toolkit. Stankoven has a profound ability to collaborate between his hockey senses and physical strengths to place him into positions to accentuate skill.
Hands
Stankoven has high-end hand eye coordination. He doesn’t have mass diversity in way of a range of puck skills, it’s his efficiency in being able to recieve pucks that’s impressive. One of the lesser spoken about skills and one of my most important, being able to recieve the puck and transition it into your stride with little effort is a massive trait to have for when the game eventually gets faster. Passes thrown behind him and bobbled pucks don’t seem to faze him. He’s got a sweet touch and brings the puck onto his tape with soft but purposeful touches.
He has really fast wrist motions in his shot and posseses a nice forehand-backhand transition to boot. I’d like to see some more deceptiveness on the puck however. Stankoven tends to utilise his feet in accordance with his passing to evade stick checks and contact perhaps a little bit too much for me liking. He can be prone to having a puck roll on him time-to-time as he really does show a propensity to carry it quite far from his body when pushing the pace. A bit more time working on some skills in-close to his body will bode him well.
Neutral Zone and Defensive Positioning
Positionally, he does a superb job through the neutral zone and defensive zone to smother passing lanes and is like a fly in ointment. He sticks to attackers, playing a suffocating press type coverage when defending through the neutral zone and in his own end. He shows a propensity to rush the puck carrier, divert the path of attack and uses his stick to force break ups. He doesn’t always boast the same intensity or volume in his backchecking as he defends higher in the defensive zone. Stankoven is the team’s most inventive exponent in exiting the zone and covers very well defensively in the high slot area. Often he’s playing a traditional F3 role when defending. But when required, Stankoven is terrific at supporting his defence and willingly chases the puck/ puck-handler down-low and relentlessly works to retrieve and turn possession over. He’s not prolific in anything he does defensively, but more than holds up his end of the bargain.
Skating Ability
Stankoven’s skating isn’t what I’d call alluring, but that’s simply due to aesthetics. Stankoven is a very effective skater and has a good-to very good top-end seed. His skating base is wide, very much a power skating style. He doesn’t necessarily have pronounced dorsiflexion in his stride, he more so relies on momentum for consistent strides. He does have evident explosiveness in his first few strides, a tributary from his core and leg strength.
Stankoven blends powerful skating with beautiful edgework. He can cut and curl in a tight radius and pushes off his edges with vigour in order to change angles and create separation. There isn’t unnecessary upper body rotation and he doesn’t over exert his arm motion, meaning he can maintain speed over longer periods throughout a shift.
When transitioning the puck from his own end, his skating really comes to the forefront too. He displays a good capacity in being able to push defenders back with his north/south speed and is able to space the ice with his sharp changes of angles.
There isn’t a concern for me with his skating moving forward. He’s only going to continue to improve on what is an already stellar trait, something that he has a higher proficiency in already than most of his peers.
Powerplay Threat
Stankoven will prove to be a continual powerplay threat as he advances levels in his career. He is a dominant left half-wall player. When in possession, he doesn’t ever remain stagnant, always churning his skates yearning for space.
Conclusion
The biggest challenges for Stankoven moving forward aren’t what you’d expect. For a smaller player, the ‘he’s too small narrative’ doesn’t even matter here, period. Stankoven may not have a six-feet-two frame and a 190 pound frame, but what he does have is just about everything else you could ask for.
The challenge for Logan is going to be narrowing down and procuring more skill relative to which position he wants to focus on. Stankoven can play centre or wing with equal effectiveness, you could argue he’s spoiled for choice. Ultimately it’s going to come down to both Logan and his coaches finding a way to maximise on his talents and find a fit. I think that he could be a very competent NHL centerman. But for me, he’s going to make his mark as a winger and in a big way. As good as his defensive flashes are, they aren’t always consistent as they could be. Constructing further defensive skills at the centre position may just take away from his evident natural offensive talent. Stankoven is never going to be a selke type forward, but he’s not slouch either. Give the kid a centre who is distribution minded and let him go get you some goals, it’s that simple.
I project Stankoven to become a solid top-six contributor at NHL level. He’s going to score you goals and supply some jam in transition. Powerplay contributions too. I believe Stankoven is a 25-goal scorer at NHL level if given the correct development. He has a game style that is similar to that of Jonathan Marchessault in my opinion.
Logan Stankoven Is Ranked:
#21 In my personal February rankings
#20 Recruit Scouting November ranking
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