2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Luke Coughlin

The Scouting Report:

Luke Coughlin from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, born on April 11th, 2005, is a draft-eligible prospect for the 2023 NHL entry draft in Nashville. Coughlin is an incredibly mobile defenseman who can move the puck well and is known for his reliability and his strong play on the ice. Coughlin is undersized by NHL standards, listed at 5’10” and 172 pounds, Coughlin knows how to use his frame effectively, whether it’s by protecting the puck or being physical as required, Coughlin has found his niche in hockey.

Related Page: 2023 NHL Draft – Nashville

Unranked by Inside The Rink
Ranked #144 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #77 by FCHockey
Ranked #202 by McKeen’s Hockey

Conrad Jack of Inside the Rink has Luke Coughlin projected at 72nd overall.

In 37 games with Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL this season, Luke Coughlin posted five goals and 14 assists for 19 points across the season. Teams will almost without a doubt be looking at how he benefits his teammates and not just his offensive play. I’ll be shocked if Coughlin falls out of the third round this year.

Diving Deeper:

I’ve briefly highlighted some of Luke Coughlin’s attributes, so let’s take a deeper dive into Luke Coughlin’s attributes and areas for improvement.

Defensive Instinct:

Luke Coughlin is so defensively sound that it’s almost second nature to him. If he were to play without thinking really, he could easily be a third-pairing defenseman for Rimouski. However, Coughlin focuses so much that he’s excelled in the defensive game and made sure that he’s in the conversation for the 2023 NHL draft. He’s excellent at establishing and anchoring the blueline and pushing forward his teammates during the play.

Areas for Improvement:

Luke Coughlin isn’t really physically punishing his opponents, and as a defenseman, you need to be physically punishing. This might be the biggest flaw in Coughlin’s game other than his gap control, but every defenseman could use a bit of extra work in their gap control.

Prospect Potential:

I truly think Luke Coughlin could refine his skills and abilities to become a solid second-pairing defenseman in the NHL. It’s just up to him to put in that work and take advantage of the time that he has headed into the NHL draft.

Final Thoughts:

Luke Coughlin has the potential to become one of the better sleeper prospects in the 2023 NHL entry draft in Nashville. Coughlin is a great defensive prospect and can provide great depth to any team looking to solidify themselves defensively.

Stats via Elite Prospects
Highlights via MyNHLDraft.com