Connect with us

Colorado Avalanche

Is Oskar Olausson the next Mikko Rantanen? Not yet…but some think he could be

Published

on

Oscar Olausson

When the Avalanche drafted Oskar Olausson 28th overall in the most recent NHL draft, the expectation, as is the case for any late first-rounder, is that he’d be more of a project, and would likely take three to five years to see NHL ice.

And that’s likely still the expectation, however, the Swedish-born winger is already turning heads and drawing big-name comparisons just a couple of weeks into his first NHL training camp and preseason.

“I’m really impressed with Olausson. I remember when I saw Mikko for the first time a few years ago you could just see he was going to be a player, and I kind of get the same vibe from Olli,” veteran Erik Johnson said following the Avs second pre-season contest of the 2021 exhibition.

Now, hold your horses there, Erik; that’s some high praise. While the veteran of over 800 NHL games is already lauding over the young Olausson, EJ is also very realistic in his expectations. When Rantanen was drafted by the Avalanche, he was already a hulking 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds, while Olausson comes in at 6-foot-1, 180. 

“He’s probably got to put a little size on and get a little stronger,” admitted Johnson. “But the NHL skillset is there, the shots there, the hockey sense—the things you can’t teach—are there. He might take a little bit longer, but he’s going to be a player.”

This content is for CHN+ subscribers only. You can join us for only $3.49 per month or $29.99 for an entire year!

Join us! –OR– Log in

A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, Scott has so far spent the early parts of his young career covering Colorado hockey — from the Avalanche to the Colorado Eagles to the DU Pioneers. His work can be found across sites such as NHL.com, TheAHL.com and SB Nation, among others. Scott currently resides in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, where he works as a Marketing Executive when he's not writing.

Colorado's premier coverage of the Avalanche from professional hockey people. Adrian Dater, Editor-in-Chief. Part of the National Hockey Now family.

This site is in no way associated with the Colorado Avalanche or the NHL. Copyright © 2019 National Hockey Now and Adrian Dater.

Colorado Hockey Now in your Inbox

Sign up and get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox!

Thank you!

Oops!