Lynden LAKOVIC

Left Wing
6’4/190
Left
Moose Jaw Warriors/WHL

Related: Brady Martin

Lynden Lakovic is a big tall and lanky forward, standing at 6’4 and weighing 190 pounds, he plays for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Western Hockey League. In the 2024-2025 season, Lakovic has recorded 43 points (18 goals and 25 assists) over 33 games. However, on December 28, 2024, he sustained a lower-body injury, sidelining him for a significant period. Despite this setback, Lakovic’s performance has positioned him as a top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. He is ranked #9 by EliteProspects.com and #13 by FCHockey. Recently, on February 14, 2025, the Moose Jaw Warriors appointed Lakovic as their new captain, recognizing his leadership qualities and contributions to the team. Despite his size, he is not a power-forward but rather a very skilled and creative offensive player, who has a rare blend of size, skating, and puck skills. Thanks to the tremendous season he is having, he shot up the draft board and has even cracked the top 10 in some draft rankings. He projects to be a top 6 winger and is definitely a player to monitor down the stretch of the season.

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

Strengths

1. Lakovic is a 6-foot-4 winger with an impressive blend of speed, puck-handling skills, and scoring touch. His ability to protect the puck, get off the wall, and integrate his linemates into plays has shown noticeable improvement.
2. Lakovic’s strengths lie in his excellent shot, raw offensive potential and ability to use his stick to protect the puck when he has it. He’s also adept at disrupting opponents’ developing plays when he doesn’t.
3. He has a powerful and fluid stride and can easily avoid checkers. He’s a creative offensive player with the hands to make defenders miss often.

Areas of Improvement

1. At times, he can be inconsistent with his effort and physical play.
2. Lakovic is a solid skater but not an outstanding skater, so he could work on his top-end speed.
3. Like most bigger players, he might take some time to fully develop his skillset at the NHL level.

Scouting Report

Lynden Lakovic is a dominant forward with a unique blend of size, skill, and offensive upside. He plays with a goal scorer-like mentality and uses his large frame effectively to protect the puck, drive play, and establish positioning in front of the net. Lakovic has an evolving offensive game, showing flashes of high-end skill, particularly in puck control and goal-scoring ability. For a player of his size, Lakovic moves well. His top-end speed is solid, and he has a long, powerful stride. He’s agile for a big player but could refine his edgework and explosiveness to be more dynamic in transition, has strong balance, making it difficult to knock off the puck. Lakovic has excellent hands for a player his size, capable of making quick moves in tight spaces. Protect the puck well along the boards and in the offensive zone. He Shows flashes of elite stickhandling, especially when attacking the net. Possesses a powerful, accurate shot, particularly on wrist shots and snapshots, has a good release, but could improve consistency in shot selection. He’s capable of scoring from a distance but thrives in net-front battles and rebounds. Understands spacing well and positions himself effectively. Lakovic plays a smart game, reading plays and adapting to different situations. He’s developed into an underrated passer and can create opportunities for teammates off the cycle. Has Good decision-making in the offensive zone, though he leans more toward being a goal-scorer. If Lakovic continues to develop his offensive game, he could trend more toward a Tage Thompson-type impact. Tage Thompson took some time to fully blossom into a star player with the Buffalo Sabres, but he became a pretty special player once he did. Lakovic projects as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the potential to rise depending on his offensive production. His mix of size, skill, and physicality makes him an attractive option for teams looking for a top-six forward with his skillset. If he continues developing his offensive toolkit, he could become a dominant top-line winger at the NHL level.

Skill: big, skilled forward with excellent hands and shooting ability for a player his size.

NHL Comparable: Tage Thompson

NHL Potential: Play-driving Top 6 Winger

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2023-24	Moose Jaw Warriors	WHL	88	23	47
2024-25	Moose Jaw Warriors	WHL	33	18	43
	Team CHL	Prospects Challenge	2	1	2