By Russ Cohen
I’ve always liked the way Oliver Moore plays the game. In his draft year, I was high on him for good reason. He was always going to take a little while to develop because he had to put some muscle on his frame and continue to grow his game.
“The left wing has crazy speed through the neutral zone. His closing speed to the net matters, and he can finish.”
I still feel like these two attributes are the hallmark of his game. I said this about him in 2023. Now, add being a solid penalty killer, and all that’s left to wonder is how many points he can score. The rest is there. His hockey I.Q. is terrific, too.
Whether he’s playing in the middle or on the wing, he’s probably on the wing so that speed is harder to handle. I think he can put up 45-50 points. In his best year, could he get 60? I think so. He’s a coach’s best friend. He can play up and down the lineup without hesitation, and that versatility is going to be massive when he plays in the NHL.
Moore is a great teammate and many times the straw that stirs the drink. Once he gets to Chicago permanently and creates some chemistry with his linemates, he will be a fun player to watch. He’s started his AHL campaign strong out of the gate, and if he stays down there all season, he will be an All-Star.
