Dallas Stars draft prospect report: Kole Lind

Stylistically it’s hard to classify Kelowna Rockets right wing Kole Lind.

He has the foundation and mindset to play more like a power forward, but at the moment he doesn’t have the size or muscle mass to be a physical force at the next level. Lind could also turn into more of a playmaker, but he’s far from flashy and tends to fly under the radar from time to time.

That’s why Lind is one of the more interesting forward prospects in this draft class. He could follow a couple different career paths, and either way it could turn into a nice selection for the Dallas Stars at No. 29 or No. 39 later this month in Chicago.

Lind is consistently consistent. He isn’t particularly dominant in any area, but as you watch the game he continues to stand out for the little plays and makes the most of his offensive chances — he had 30 goals and 87 points in 70 WHL games this season.

Lind is a very good skater, but he’s not a terribly strong one. He has good speed and a fluid skating motion, but the next step to being an elite skater is adding more strength to his 6-foot-1, 176 pound frame and relying on that to fight through checks and win position battles at the next level.

While he could add strength, Lind’s shot isn’t lacking any power. He has a dangerous wrist shot with a quick release, while he’s very effective one-timing shots on the power play or during 5-on-5 play. Lind has also shown off creativity around the net and scored goals by patiently out waiting the goalie or finding loose pucks off rebounds.

His work with the puck will get better as he adds muscle and he’ll be able to protect the puck more. He already makes smart passes and isn’t selfish with the puck in the offensive zone.

Defensively Lind works hard and has been improving. More size and strength, which is a recurring theme with him, would make him even more effective in the defensive zone. There have been times he’s been caught trying to leave the zone early, but that’s something that can be taught and fixed with proper coaching.

Lind doesn’t look like a top-line right wing in the NHL, at least not on a playoff contender, but projects out as a strong second-liner that will be consistent all around and score the occasional big goal. For the Stars it could be a welcome addition to the prospect pool, especially if he’s still available at No. 39.