We understand that Owen Buesgens is a year away from NHL draft eligibility, but we feel he is a player to start tracking now as he fits the mold for today’s NHL game that thrives on transition.
| Owen Buesgens | Chanhassen HS | Minnesota HS | R | D | 5’9″ | 159 | Victoria, MN | 2006 | 2023-2024: C |
MN-HS: Chanhassen vs Lakeville South, December 30, 2022: Really good with his vision and breakout passes constantly throughout the game. Mobile and quick while putting quality shots on the net from the point. Grade: B
U16: Minnesota Blades vs Shattuck, October 13, 2022: Buesgens totaled 23:28 in ice time including 2:18 while on the power play and 2:08 while shorthanded. At this point he is an undersized right shot defender who has an inline shoulder-knee-toe skating posture with a long fluid stride that finishes with a toe snap. In offensive transition we like that he sprinted to retrieve pucks while looking over both shoulders and how he used the net to create space for himself as he wheeled the net. As a puck carrier his eyes were always up and his feet were always moving. He scored on what looked like a harmless quick release snapshot from the offensive blueline, but we loved how he moved his feet before receiving the pass and how he subtly faked and changed the shooting angle without needing to stickhandle. He finished the game +1 with 1 goal, 2 shots, had 1 shot blocked, 6 giveaways and 9 takeaways.
U16: Minnesota Blades vs Team Wisconsin, September 17, 2022: Buesgens totaled 24:47 in ice time including 1:35 while on the power play and 3:30 while shorthanded. He finished the game -1 after miss playing an attempted keep-in at the right point that led to a full ice 2on, he had 0 points, 3 quick release snapshots from the point that he changed the angle on, 1 PP shot, 0 hits, received 3 hard body checks and had 1 point shot shot blocked by an opposing defender in front of the net. Buesgens is a very poised defenseman. He walks the offensive blueline smoothly looking for a play whether it’s a shot or pass. He has an easy first touch and handles the puck very nicely. Likes to use his edges to create time and space with the puck eluding oncoming forecheckers. Grade: B+
2006s: World Hockey Trophy Nashville, July 11, 2021: Buesgens is a solid, right shot defenseman that keeps the game simple. He is great on his edges and doesn’t get beat out of the corners to the net. Owen always picks up sticks and bodies to box out in front of his own net. He separates players from the puck along the wall, using his size very well and has a deceiving reach that gets in on attackers quickly. GRADE: C
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images