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Real expectations for forward Brett Howden

By Jason Katinas

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Brett Howden #21 of the New York Rangers celebrates the game winning goal at 15:51 of the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on October 03, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Jets 6-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 03: Brett Howden #21 of the New York Rangers celebrates the game winning goal at 15:51 of the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden on October 03, 2019 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Jets 6-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Brett Howden #21 of the Moose Jaw Warriors (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Brett Howden #21 of the Moose Jaw Warriors (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

WHL Comparisons

Nolan Patrick was also 17 years old during the 2015-16 WHL season. He would score 41 goals and 102 points to lead the WHL among 17 year olds (fifth overall). Patrick would lead all players in playoff scoring that season as part of the Brandon Wheat Kings championship season, scoring 30 points in 21 games.

In October 2016 Patrick would suffer an upper body injury that would limit him to just 20 goals and 46 points in 33 games. The injury would also keep him from participating in the World Junior Championships. Expected to be the first overall pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the injury and lack of international play did little to lower his stock.  Patrick would go on to be selected second overall in the 2017 draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Patrick would make his NHL debut in October 2017 and play two seasons for the Flyers before being sidelined for the 2019-20 season with Migraine Disorder. During his two seasons of play, Patrick would score 61 points in 145 games including 26 goals. He posted a 50.6% faceoff winning percentage and was a minus seven while receiving an average of 14:24 minutes per game.

Sam Steel scored 70 points, including 23 goals in 72 games while playing for the Regina Pats as a 17 year old during the 2015-16 WHL season. He would additionally put up 16 points in 12 playoff games before the Pats would fall to the Red Deer Rebels in the second round. Steel would go on to be selected 30th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks.

During the 2016-17 WHL season, Steel would score a league leading 131 points, including 50 goals in 66 games. Regina would finish first in their division. He would add 11 goals and 30 points in 23 playoff games helping Regina to the finals before losing to Seattle Thunderbirds in six games.

The following season Steele would score 83 points in 54 games, before adding 11 points in seven playoff games. Steel would also win gold representing Canada in the 2017 World Junior Championships. He would contribute four goals and nine points.

Steel would make his NHL debut in October of 2018, but would be sent down to the San Diego Gulls of the AHL at the end of that month. He was recalled in February 2019, finishing the season with 22 games played. In 87 total games with the Anaheim Ducks he has scored 33 points while receiving an average of 15:24 minutes a game. In 65 games this season, he scored 22 points, good for seventh on a Ducks team that failed to qualify for the post season.

Steel has won exactly 50 percent of his faceoffs, but does not play a particularly physical game with only 33 hits and 31 blocks over two seasons of play.

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