Getting to Know Ryan Walsh

With the 188th pick at the 2023 National Hockey League Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins select from the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL center Ryan Walsh.

Some of the public rankings:

NHLCS	FC HOCKEY	MCKEEN’S	RED LINE	EP	UPSIDE SCOUTING
NR	NR	NR	231	NR	NR

Dom – Hockey Ratings (Scale 3 – 9):

SKATING	PHYSICALITY	SKILLS	IQ	SHOOTING
6.5	6.0	6.5	7.0	7.0

Statistics:

SEASON	TEAM	LEAGUE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
2021-22	Salisbury School	USHS	28	16	23	39	–	–
2022-23	Cedar Rapids	USHL	61	30	49	79	29	21

Don’t worry that the 6’0”, 180-pound center is not on some of the public draft rankings. This is where you want to take a chance on a player like Walsh. He’s a draft re-entry and despite being an “overager” in this draft class, he is committed to Cornell University for the 2023-2024 season, therefore the Bruins will hold onto his rights for four years. Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but this is exactly what they should have been doing.

Walsh had okay production playing US High School Prep hockey during the 2021-22 season but this past season he lit up the USHL and saw his stock rise. He finished second in league scoring and set a single season record in scoring for Cedar Rapids.

Walsh possesses a terrific shot that has proven to be able to beat goaltenders at this level. But it’s his playmaking that really stands out. He’s got very good vision, is able to slow the pace down wait for lanes to open – he can also create lanes with his skating ability – and then deliver a perfect pass for his teammates.

We know he’s been able to provide offence at this level – he’s dynamite on the powerplay – but he’s no slouch defensively either. Walsh has been a stalwart almost from the start of the season on Cedar Rapids top penalty kill unit. He just seems to find himself in the right place at the right time using anticipation, skating and his IQ.

He could be a low risk, high reward at this pick.

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