2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Alex Pharand

The Scouting Report:

Alex Pharand from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, born on January 5th, 2005, is an NHL draft-eligible prospect for the 2023 NHL entry draft. Pharand is one of the bigger players in the 2023 NHL draft class, listed at 6’3″ and 201 pounds, Pharand has the keys to be physically imposing at the NHL level. A true leader on-and-off the ice, Alex Pharand has proved valuable for the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League.

Related Post: 2023 NHL Draft – Nashville

Unranked by Inside The Rink
Ranked #77 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #86 by Draft Prospects Hockey
Ranked #140 by McKeen’s Hockey

Conrad Jack of Inside the Rink has Alex Pharand projected at 86th overall.

Posting 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 67 games with the Sudbury Wolves, Alex Pharand certainly has some extra eyes on him heading into the 2023 NHL draft in Nashville. I don’t see Pharand missing the third round this year.

Diving Deeper:

Alex Pharand is sound offensively and defensively, which may be his strongest stand-out trait. However, let’s dive deeper into Alex Pharand’s attributes and areas for improvement.

Speed/Skating:

For being 6’3″ and 201 pounds, Alex Pharand certainly is a highly mobile forward who gets it done offensively. Pharand can whip past you in the blink of an eye and do it out of nowhere too, just when defenders think they have Alex Pharand figured out, he turns on the jets. Alex Pharand uses his size and skating talents well, which allows him to dominate offensively and advance the rush. Loved by his coaches and teammates, Pharand is certainly an asset to any team he plays on.

Areas for Improvement:

If Alex Pharand can improve his shot power, accuracy, and ability, he could turn into a Tage Thompson-like forward in the NHL. I’m certain that Pharand will develop as time passes, but for now, the biggest concern around Pharand’s game is his shot in three categories.

Prospect Potential:

I already gave a wee bit of potential for Alex Pharand, but that’s if everything clicks at the right time. On a more realistic note, Alex Pharand can be a solid middle-six forward who contributes a decent 30-40 points per season. Pharand, likely to be taken in the second to the third round, can be a key piece for championship teams looking to retool their depth pieces.

Final Thoughts:

I can’t see Alex Pharand being passed up multiple times, there’s a ton of potential for this player, especially with his size and willingness to play the dirty areas. You don’t get big players who can skate extremely well this low in the NHL entry draft.

Stats via Elite Prospects
Highlights via MyNHLDraft.com