2024 Prospect Profile - Charlie Elick
Big body and he knows how to use it
Happy Friday! Let’s talk about some upcoming options for the Carolina Hurricanes at pick 27 in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and this week, we’re going to change up the pace and talk about a shutdown defenseman, Charlie Elick.
Elick is a right-handed defenseman who has that prototypical size every NHL general manager dreams about, that being 6’3 and about 200 pounds. The 18-year-old plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL, posting 4 goals and 26 assists for 30 points in 69 games played.
Defensively, Elick ticks off every box. He’s as physical as you could ask, not shy about putting that body to use in just erasing a player from being able to control the puck, as well as not being shy about giving up the body to block a shot. His skating is absurd, using twitchy movements both backward and laterally to control the offensive player he’s trying to guard. Elick’s hockey IQ is also something to behold, always attempting to think one play ahead and cut that play off as it’s happening.
(To quote Adam Cole and the nickname of Alexander Nikishin, boom).
He’s a perfect mobile, physical, shutdown defenseman who plays at the NHL level in a top 4 role. Elick was trusted to play a big role on the PK for both the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Canada U18 team at the World Juniors this past season and did ok in that role. One really important thing to note is that the Wheat Kings were less than average this past season so Elick posting a +4 in big minutes is rather surprising, the -9 in the playoffs on the other hand sadly isn’t.
The biggest, and I do mean biggest, downside with Elick is his offensive game. It’s not for a lack of trying as his breakouts can be good at times. He loves to throw the stretch pass to streaking forwards, probably a little more than he’s supposed to. Elick is also not completely opposed to joining the rush, even though he’d much rather trail the play and prevent any potential counters. One of my favorite clips from my viewing.
His hands just consistently fail him from time to time, just not being able to control the puck cleanly at points. I will say though, Elick has a rocket of a shot if he can fully connect with a puck.
Overall, even if Elick doesn’t develop fully offensively, he still holds immense value as a pure shutdown, physical defenseman. Especially being a right-handed defenseman, those hold great weight at the NHL level. If he can develop that offensive game, his 200-foot game will be perfect to add to the Canes prospect group. I have seen Elick compared to current NHLers Kaiden Guhle and Braden Schneider, which tracks from what I have watched. Elick would be a great pick if he is available at 27, which if we were to believe most rankings, he should be.