Minnesota Wild 2024 NHL Draft Target: Liam Greentree

Dylan Loucks

Jun 27, 2024, 22:21

Dylan Loucks

Jun 27, 2024, 22:21

Continuing the Minnesota Wild Draft Target series with Windsor Spitfires forward Liam Greentree.

Continuing the Minnesota Wild Draft Target series, today we look at Windsor Spitfires forward Liam Greentree.

Greentree played in the OHL last season with the Windsor Spitfires. He led the team in points with the next closest teammate 24 points behind him.

The 6-foot-2 forward recorded 36 goals, 54 assists, and 90 points for the Spitfires. The team went through a bit of a rebuilding year so Greentree did not get to play in any playoffs but he did play for Team Canada at the Under-18's Tournament.

In seven games for Canada, Greentree recorded two goals and four points.

Greentree has a pro-frame already at 6-foot-2, he projects to be a top-six winger but could be a great top-nine winger.

In a perfect world, Greentree becomes like Alexis Lafreniere or Owen Tippett. In 125 career OHL games, Greentree has 61 goals, 74 assists, and 135 points. He was the Spitfires captain last year and showed everyone he could create offense by himself.

He projects to be a power-forward at the NHL level. The dream is for him to become a great power-forward. He has the offensive abilities to be a top-six producing forward and has the abilities to be a physical middle-six power-forward.

Liam Greentree being compared to Owen Tippett.

According to Hockey Prospecting, Greentree has similar draft comps to Owen Tippett, Tage Thompson, Ivan Barbashev, and Timo Meier.

"He had a really good year" one scout said. "Liam is a big, strong power forward with good hands. They had a young team and traded guys away, and he continues to add to his role."

Ryan Kennedy with The Hockey News has Greentree at 15 on his top 120 rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft.

"He's a big man and deceptively quick," another scout told Kennedy. "He's a better skater than you think he is. He has size and reach and uses both of those assets really well. He's got a great shot, tremendous release, and gets rid of the puck in a hurry."

We know what kind of players the Wild like to have on their team. They have built a bit of an identity over the year of wanting to be hard to play against. Greentree has that upside plus offensive skills.

"We've created a bit of an identity with the Wild of being heavy and hard to play against," Wild's Director of Amateur Scouting Judd Brackett said. "But we want that without diminishing our skill."

Greentree could be an option at pick No. 13 for the Wild for sure.

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