Providence Bruins General Manager Evan Gold announced today that the club has signed Owen Pederson to a standard American Hockey League contract. The deal is for two years beginning with the 2023-2024 season.
The 6’3” – 198-pound center/left wing spent four seasons with the Winnipeg ICE of the Western Hockey League. He was a former 5th round pick (89th overall) by the ICE in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.
A native of Stony Plain, Alberta, Pederson appeared in 65 games, scoring 32 goals and 42 assists. He played in all situations. He scored 9 powerplay goals on the season but also had 3 short handed goals, showing he could be a threat when down a man. He had a relatively high shooting percentage of 21.6%. While he spent some time playing down the middle, faceoffs were always a weak spot for him finishing this season at 41.5%. Through his 5-year WHL career he was just 44.3%. In 237 career games he compiled 94 goals, 111 assists and 205 points.
Pederson was first eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2020 and was ranked as a late round pick by several independent scouting agencies. NHL Central Scouting had him higher at 103. He went unselected in 2020 and in subsequent drafts making him an undrafted free agent.
So, what are the P-Bruins getting?
In Pederson they are getting a big body that, when he plays physical can change momentum and outcome. When he’s banging it creates a threat that opens up time and space for his teammates. He can also crash through players along the boards and come away with the puck. He also uses that size to crash the net at times. The issue is that he doesn’t play like that with enough regularity.
The knock against Pederson through the drafts was always his skating. He was always referred to as a below average skater. In fairness to him, he has made some improvements but he still needs to get quicker in both first steps and top speed.
To earn an NHL contract, the skating will need to improve while finding consistency in his game. He’ll provide a strong net front presence, crash the net, be responsible defensively and someone you can use in all situations for Providence. But he has a long way to go.
So, what does this signing mean for Providence for next season:
It’s to early to tell, but reading the tea leaves it most definitely means that the intention is to have Jakub Lauko as a full time NHL’er next season. It also means John Beecher will be given every opportunity to make the big club, thus opening up a spot in the middle for Brett Harrison instead of on left wing. Matt Filipe is a Group 6 UFA and this signing could mean his days are numbered.
I don’t think there is an NHL contract in his future unless things improve. But only time will tell.
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Dom - Hockey 