Undrafted centre Beau Jelsma has been flying under the radar since his first season in the OHL. When will a team decide to take a chance on him?
Beau Jelsma — the undrafted Barrie Colts centreman — has been passed on in the last two NHL Drafts.
Many people around the OHL have been expecting him to get drafted, but no team has given him the chance. He was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs' development camp in 2022, and Carolina Hurricanes' camp in 2023.
The 2004-born centre has one-and-a-half seasons left in junior hockey, but it is a matter of time before a team takes a chance on Jelsma's potential.
Jelsma has been Barrie's first line centre since last season, and he has succeeded with a variety of players throughout the lineup. For his linemates, he's an incredibly easy player to play with, you just have to always be ready for the puck.
By driving with his speed, Jelsma is able to create often off of the rush. He has the ability to command the offence and dictate plays in the attacking zone. Jelsma creates in a variety of ways, he can beat opponents with his speed, or cut through the middle and find a teammate.
Jelsma has one of the highest motor's in the OHL, and his ability to explode off of his first step is tremendous.
He's always playing and moving with maximum intensity and compete. He has the potential to fill a variety of roles at the professional level. Jelsma could fit well as a bottom-six centreman and play more of a gritty, energy role. But he could also support some high-end top-six skill quite well.
So far this season, Beau Jelsma has 30 points through 27 games. He consistently plays on the first line, as well as the first powerplay unit, and on the penalty kill.
The London, Ontario-native drives a large majority of the Colts' offence and is relied upon in a lot of different situations. Jelsma has been a large reason for the success that Barrie is finding this year, though they have a losing record.
Jelsma continues to prove why he deserves a chance at the professional level. Even if he goes undrafted again in the 2024 NHL Draft, the team who takes a chance and signs him will not regret it.