February 17, 2023 by Spencer Pomoty

The Edmonton Oilers made an astute selection when they chose Jake Chiasson from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL in the fourth-round (116th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. Having followed the 2021 draft class, I was convinced Chiasson was a great value pick at that spot. In his draft year, Chiasson made a strong impression with nine goals and 20 points in 23 games. His skillset complemented the team’s more experienced players, such as Lyndon McCallum, Ben McCartney, and Luka Barzan. He also made life easier for the Wheat Kings’ offense by playing hard in all three zones, finding space for his shot and being a dependable forechecker.

However, since then, Chiasson has encountered some setbacks. He underwent surgery on his shoulder due to an injury sustained during the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp in 2021, limiting him to just 20 of Brandon’s 68 games in the 2021-22 WHL season. Despite his injury, Chiasson managed to set a career-best of 0.90 points-per-game in those 20 games, which prorates to 61 points. During the playoffs, the Wheat Kings were knocked out in six games, and Chiasson made three assists. This season, he has managed to remain injury-free, but his points have dropped to 0.76 per game, which is not an ideal result for a 19-year-old pick in his fourth season in junior. The Wheat Kings have also struggled to score goals this season, affecting Chiasson’s point output.

Related: ON THE RECORD | Forward Jake Chiasson

Since he was dealt to the Saskatoon Blades on January 10, Chiasson has tallied four goals and 13 points in 17 games, resulting in the same points-per-game rate as before the trade. Upon his return to Brandon on January 31, Chiasson performed well, picking up an assist off a beautiful pass to Trevor Wong and playing hard until Saskatoon won in overtime.

So what does the future hold for Chiasson? Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 188-pounds, Chiasson has some room to fill out his frame. He needs to continue working on his skating as he tends to hunch his back and fails to use his outside edges to their full potential. Improving his lower body strength could help with some of his skating issues. Creativity and awareness are also areas that require further development. Chiasson is a straight-line player who prefers to be on the forecheck or finding space instead of carrying the puck. He is not a player who will impress with his hands. While he checks defensively, he can sometimes get caught watching the puck, but he usually keeps his head checking behind him for any threats. However, he needs to improve his ability to scan up the ice consistently when his team has the puck, which will prevent dump-outs or predetermined plays.

One of Chiasson’s key strengths is his forechecking ability. He is excellent at getting through the defender’s hands and finding the puck on the stick first, aiming to regain possession instead of delivering a big hit. As he ages, getting stronger will help him maintain pressure on his back, while lowering his center of gravity will enable him to buy time with the puck. Although he is not likely to use his skating to elude defenders, he has an excellent shot that he can release quickly off either foot and consistently one-time it. Refining his skill at finding soft ice in the offensive zone will allow him to use his shot more effectively.

All-in-all, Chiasson has the potential to become a fourth-line player in the NHL. His work ethic and defensive play are his strengths, and they could take him far. However, his issues with the puck and skating might end up ultimately limiting his potential. With the abilities he has today, if he continues to learn and grow I expect he’ll be pushing for a shot in the bottom half of the lineup in a few short years.