[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (Hidden Gems Edition, Vol. 33):

RW Tanner Lam (5'10",157lbs)
Kitchener (OHL): 67gp/ 13g/ 40a/ 53pts, +18, 24 PIM

Winger Tanner Lam (ranked # 175 NA Skaters) is a graduate of the Halton Hurricanes U16 AAA program, where he was the top-scorer on the OMHA South Central team that featured Tyler Hopkins, Brady Smith, and Matt Schaefer- piling up 38 goals and 71 points in just 35 games. Those numbers contributed to his total of 132 points in 69 games at the U16 level, second only to Lev Katzin, but ahead of several future OHL players. He had to wait until the 2nd-round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection (41st-overall) to be drafted though, as he was only 5'8" at the time, and 145lbs. Size issues aside, Lam is a highly skilled and dynamic playmaker, and possesses some of the best puck-skills in this draft-class, with elite abilities in one-on-one situations; he can handle through traffic with the puck on a string, with dekes, dangles, and hesitations, making defenders look foolish. Despite his stature, he goes to the net, sprints to every loose puck, and attacks the middle of the ice- even though he often pays for it with physical punishment. His spatial awareness and ability to read gaps are also near the top of the class, as he can instantly locate open space to traverse on and off the puck, find soft spots in the slot to sneak into, and can spot passing seams that few others could see. To deceive and manipulate opponents, he virtually uses every inch of his body- including shifts of weight, feints in his footwork, false angling in the blade of his stick, changes of pace and direction, head fakes, as well as look-offs. It seems like he makes a few highlight-reel plays every game, and is so elusive that he can often carry through exit and entry without being barely touched.

Lam is able to push enormous pace through transition with his excellent speed and handling, hooking up with teammates in give-and-go sequences for clean entries. From there, he can push defenses back in order to leave the puck in space for trailing teammates, or dip into his arsenal of deft cut-backs and delays to open space to wait for the right option in order to maintain possession for his team. Though he could use improvements to his top-speed, he is explosive enough in short-distances to blow past defenders along the boards, separate in open-ice, and beat them wide on occasion. He is light on his skates, with excellent edgework and agility for escapability, and a quick change of pace- he gets off the wall a ton. Lam is a smart playmaker and a skilled passer from both his forehand or his backhand, and stretches defenses out using give-and-go's, but he can also execute short slip-passes through triangles, saucers over sticks, and can pass cross-ice for dangerous chances. It's hard to say if he's truly a high-end creator, but he can drive play. Some have said that his shot is weak, but I disagree; he certainly doesn't use it nearly enough, and might not be able to score often from distance, but his wrister is a laser and he wields a stunning release.

Lam will throw the odd hit, but his physical impact most games is virtually non-existent, and he doesn't contribute much on the forecheck. He has no problem taking a hit to make a play, and keeps his feet moving through contact, but he spends plenty of time in games on his rear-end. It seems to be unanimous among fans and scouts alike that, while he often enjoys a great deal of success due to his puck-skill, Lam's willingness to attack the middle and fearlessness in playing through traffic means that he sometimes takes a ton of abuse, gets bumped off the puck quite easily, and gives up an inordinate amount of turnovers. Some say he will either need to bulk up considerably for the pros, or change his style completely in order to learn how to create offense without putting himself in dangerous spots. While his game in the offensive-third is his calling card right now, his impact defensively is nothing special. He is usually well-positioned all over the ice, but his effort and engagement level in his own zone is in question. At his best, he can be disruptive with his speed, skill, and anticipation, and he displays an ability to make high-end plays on the breakout. Lam will most-likely be a huge offensive producer in the OHL as early as next season, but he appears to be more boom-or-bust as far as his NHL-potential goes. Some team may gamble on his skill at the draft, but if so- he will have to wait until the late rounds.