Rookie Spotlight: Tanner Lam

2007-born winger Tanner Lam has had an electric start to his OHL career with the Kitchener Rangers since being selected in the second round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection.

Kitchener Rangers right winger Tanner Lam has had an electric start to his rookie season on the scoreboard, but there are still some questions regarding his potential.

With Lam, there is no denying the skillset and his ability to create loads of offence. His pure skill has translated to the junior level smoothly, and he has had several goals on the highlight reel thus far. His combination of quickness in his hands and playmaking ability makes him a threat in the offensive zone at all times.

He has five goals and 15 points through 22 games this season. 

The 5-foot-10 winger still has some questions and concerns to answer before we can consider him a higher-end NHL prospect for the 2025 draft.

In 2022-2023, Lam played his U16 AAA season with the Halton Hurricanes in the SCTA. Halton had a stacked roster, including first overall pick Matthew Schaefer, and fourth overall pick Tyler Hopkins. Other notable OHL draftees on that team included Casey Bridgewater and Brady Smith. 

Despite Schaefer's and Hopkins' spectacular season, Lam actually finished first on his team in points, with 132 points through just 69 games. He has arguably the highest offensive upside in this entire draft class. Regarded a riskier pick at the time, Lam has proven that he can survive and even succeed at the junior level.

Considering the amount of offensive talent in Kitchener, Lam has been providing secondary scoring. He has been fluctuating between the second and third line, obtaining some significant ice-time as a rookie.

In the Rangers' last game against Erie, Lam was playing on an all-rookie line with Luca Romano and Matheas Stark.

The concerns with Lam's game rely on the methods in which he is producing. He tends to drive through traffic a lot, and turns the puck over while doing so. He often gets taken advantage of physically, and puts himself in dangerous situations against opposing players. 

Lam has gotten away with these habits at the junior level, but it is likely not something that will fly once he goes pro.

In order to establish himself as a high-end draft prospect next season, Lam will need to find a way to use his skill that doesn't put himself in such physically dangerous situations.

Again, there is no doubt about Lam's skill and his ability to manipulate the opposition in the offensive zone. He is a thrilling player to watch, and always keeps you guessing what he is going to pull off next.

Lam has been a significant piece in the Rangers' puzzle this season, and if he continues the track he is on, he will finish as one of the top rookies in the OHL.