LUKAS DRAGICEVIC

Defense
6’2/181
Right
Tri-City Americans/WHL

Lukas Dragicevic had a solid first full season with Tri-City in the 2021-22 season, notching six goals and 26 assists in 62 games. Although he still is a work in progress on the defensive side of the puck, he has taken his offensive output to another level in the 2022-23 season.
Through the first couple months of the season, he is one of the WHL’s top-scoring blueliners with 9 goals and 46 points in 36 games. He’s known best for his offensive instincts, but his skating is average at best and his decision-making with the puck is also a massive question mark Despite these issues, Dragicevic has an excellent raw toolkit to work with because he has a 6’2 frame and is a Right-handed defenseman. He has the potential to be a top-four defenseman in the NHL and depending on how he finishes this season, could be a top-20 pick in the draft.

Bet Now

Size/Strength Good
Skating Average
Shot/Scoring Good
Puckhandling Good
Physical Play Average
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Play Average
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Great

Strengths

1. Right Handed Shooting defenseman, with pro size, great offensive instincts, and mobility.
2. Aggressive offensive blueliner with great mobility and a heavy shot.
3. He’s very smart and poised with the puck and great on the Powerplay.

Areas of Improvement

1. Needs a lot of work in the defensive zone.
2. Needs to improve his skating
3. Decision Making is a big knock

Scouting Report

Lukas Dragecivic was initially a B-rated skater on NHL’s Central Scouting but was upgraded to an A-rated skater on the most recent version of Central Scouting’s players to-watch list. Through the first couple of months of the season, Dragicevic has been one of the WHL’s top-scoring blueliners with 9 goals and 46 points in 36 games. Dragicevic is a right-handed shooting defenseman with pro size, good offensive instincts, and mobility. Plays a calm game as a responsible defender and although he doesn’t have any high-end attributes, he is not unwelcoming in any facet of his game. Dragicevic’s aggressiveness and assertiveness really stand out. He controls the offensive line with poise, he will shrink the offensive zone at the appropriate time, and he has a heavy shot that makes him a legitimate scoring threat from the point. His vision as a passer also shines at the junior level, as he can make skilled passes through layers of traffic when he gets the opposing defenders moving around the zone. There is room for improvement in terms of his in-zone defending as he can sometimes get caught puck-watching or lose his assignment on sustained cycles for the opposition, but he does well to steer oncoming attackers where he wants them to go before attacking with an active stick. Dragicevic’s game is built around his mobility and aggressive nature. He is a powerful and agile skater with good form, allowing him to skate the puck up ice in transition and play tight gaps when defending the rush. There is room for improvement in terms of his in-zone defending as he can sometimes get caught puck-watching or lose his assignment on sustained cycles for the opposition. The NHL Comparison for Dragicevic is Damon Severson, who is a solid top 4, offensive defenseman in the NHL. Already with a projectable offensive game, Dragicevic will have to continue to build upon his foundation of defensive skills, but he has clear top-4 NHL potential and could be one of the first defensemen taken in the 2023 NHL Draft.