| Evan Konyen | Sudbury Wolves | OHL | R | F | 5’11” | 174 | Sudbury Wolves | 2020 | Mars, PA | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, August 2021: Evan looked to make the jump to the OHL last year, but obviously that didn’t go as planned. So what we’re all going to be watching for is how did he spend the time not playing games? Was he in the gym, on the turf and on the ice working on his craft? We saw that he looked quicker during the PBHH and that was a real positive towards his future. But we also saw him go pointless during the Select 17s after averaging 2 points per game at the Select 15s two years ago. Now I don’t think the USA Camp is the end all be all for a player’s professional future because players tend to look good pulling off foolish toe-drags, but you’d like to see a 5’11” worker put up a couple. Anyway, Evan is a kid who’s not on many draft watch lists right now, but I find him fascinating and will be watching closely. He can rip it. He has a serious work ethic. And he can score. He can score dirty ones, and he can score pretty ones from the high slot. I like how he can positively impact the game in a lot of different ways or roles. I’m looking forward to watching Sudbury this year.
USA Hockey Selects 17’s, July 14, 2021: Konyen is one of NZ’s more highly regarded 2004s. He played well here but left us wanting more. He went the week with no points. A lot could be because he is playing in the OHL and Ontario shut hockey down all season. He has not played a meaningful game in a while. He got better as the week went on. He played a balanced, strong game in traffic. His stick is strong and he protects the puck. His release was hard as well and his edges looked better and better. Evan drove the net and had jam near the net. He stayed with pucks and worked. He came off the wall through contact and got pucks on net. He is smart and looked good when he made passing plays. He caught a pass and quickly ripped it over the net. He was just a bit off. Konyen saw the whole ice but looked like he needed an extra step at times. Again, this event did not change our opinion of him but he was not at his best. NHL upside. Grade: B
U18: PBHH Invitational: Top 15 Underagers, June 9, 2021: Konyen was a fourth round OHL pick by Sudbury last spring after a somewhat dominant year with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U15 squad. He had a skating deficiency particularly in his speed and first step quickness and agility but he’s made improvements on that aspect of his game and was able to handle the older, stronger, faster competition here. He’s got a high hockey IQ, he can read the whole sheet and move pucks to the right areas. He has the details in the game; he stops on pucks, he gets on the defensive side of scrums, he gets open and creates passing lanes away from the puck in all three zones and he has good positioning defending in his own end. His best attribute is his puck possession skill; he has poise, touch and protection ability and he can evade opponents in the neutral zone and break down defenders 1v1 on the rush. He finds open ice, he cuts back and curls off and regroups in all three zones to create time and space for himself and his head is always up looking for passing and shooting lanes. He’s not a burner and can’t win foot races but he outsmarts his opponents, he’s tricky with the puck and has a quick, potent release. A heady playmaker who impressed us here with a goal and 2 assists through the first 3 games. An obvious NHL Draft prospect for 2022. Grade: B+
U15: Whitby Silver Stick, December 2019: Konyen has great puck awareness and knows to get open ice for a pass or get to a loose puck quickly. He demonstrated amazing skill grabbing an errant rebound behind the net and quickly using a wrap around to tuck it in. Grade: B
U15: USHL Showcase, October 25, 2019: Evan provides a secondary scoring threat on the Penguins roster. He is a direct forward that drives the puck to the net and does not hesitate to play in the dirty areas of the rink. He battles in each zone and is a strong net-front presence. He has a strong first step which lets him gain the advantage on defenders coming out of the corners. He rolls off pressure and is strong along the walls. He stops on pucks and is reliable in his own end. He plays a complete 200 foot game and can be counted on in all situations. Grade: B
USA Hockey Select 15 Development Camp, August 24, 2019: Evan has a pro release right now. He shoots with his head up and while his feet are moving. On a line rush his snapshot is deadly and he finds the quiet areas naturally. Even though he finished the tournament with Seven goals he played with grit and grime. Opposing defenders tried to get him rattled with late hits and questionable slashes, but Evan just played to his strengths and was a dominant player in every situation. On the power play he is equally dangerous with or without the puck. He can expand the box from goal line and routinely attacked defenders from the mid-wall. His quick feet and anticipation allowed him to take chances on the penalty kill which resulted in turnovers or poor execution for the opposing power play. Grade: A
U15: World Selects Invite, July 10, 2019: Evan got up and down the sheet well. He is known for his consistent two-way game and we saw that here. He knows how to work the corners and when to stay behind the puck. He flashed some tricky hands on the rush and overall facilitated clean zone entries. In the zone, his vision is terrific. His shot is heavy and he picked up five goals here (we didn’t see any.) He played in all situations and is a smart penalty killer. His game is well rounded. We thought he was more effective driving the net than trying to dangle and as he moves up in levels, he will better understand how to balance that aspect of his game. High ceiling and makes others better. Grade: B+
U14: USA Hockey Nationals, April 30, 2019: Evan made Pitt go here. He played a versatile, smart game in all three zones and made everyone around him better. He was positioned well in his end and hit to defend. Konyen was able to get off checks quickly and took good angles in puck pursuit. His skating is strong. He is not overly fast but balanced and showed lateral mobility. He took direct paths to the net, set up screens and snapped pucks on the cage. His shot is heavy and he shot to create rebounds when he had traffic in front. In the offensive zone, he as dangerous in tight. Tough to move and was aware when to be the F3 to get back to his end. One of the best two-way forwards in Pittsburgh. He got better as the event went along and the bigger the games became. Player to watch as he is someone who can do a lot of things for a team and play up and down a roster. High upside and a huge part of Pitt’s success here.
U14: Silver Stick Finals 2004s, February 10, 2019: Evan played a heavy game and was really hard to handle for opponents below the dots. Can swivel and create but really his game is leaning on opposing defenders and gaining space. Net front is excellent. In space, his skating is balanced. He is not a burner but nor slow either. Speed is an area he can improve. We liked his overall game. It’s simple, based in puck possession, running the cycle and getting pucks to the net. Tough to play against and smart in his approach. He has nice upside because he will get quicker and he can play in the danger areas. Grade: B+
U14: USHL Fall Classic, October 24, 2018: Konyen has a bigger frame with above average feet. Slick with the puck and can make defenders miss. Scored a goal against the SSK but undressing the defender then walking in on the goalie and putting the puck up under the bar. He is strong and will continue to get strong and tougher to play against when he fills out. He isn’t afraid to battle along the walls and in front of the net. He is good on draws and is responsible in his own end. Want this player on the ice either up or down a goal in the final minute. Grade: B+
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Game Stats are from InStat.