KEVIN HE

2025-08-03

Scout: Austin Kelly

Skating:

Kevin He is one of the best skaters in the OHL, perhaps even the CHL. He is a mobile forward who has a strong burst and skating stride that makes him a menace with the puck. He has also shown a lot more elusiveness to his game and using his footwork to do so.

Passing/Handling:

He is a fine playmaker but his passing game seems a bit basic. Short, simple passes without a lot of higher-end creation plays. It works but He can play a bit too simplistic at times and prefers to play a little too safe with the puck. He can move the puck well enough but needs to get better at scanning the ice and finding the right play, rather than the easiest.

Shooting:

He is a very strong shooter who has shown a versatile bag of scoring tricks, whether it'd be from the point or from distance, capable of finding the net from a slapshot or jamming the puck in close. He has found success in multiple facets of the game getting the puck to the net and can get goals no matter where he needs to be.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He plays with a lot of composure and awareness on the ice. Never overtly flashy but He makes smart plays and doesn't make many mistakes with the puck.

Forechecking:

Defense:

There's a lot of defensive calmness in He's game. He is more of a hard worker than he is a powerhouse, and he's willing to play an intense, scrappy game even if he's not the most physical. He does well defending the net and keeping composed in 1v1, all that's missing is the strength.

Best Asset:

The ability to score from anywhere and the intensity to compete are two things that could make Kevin He a speciality player in the NHL. A guy who plays hard and fights to get goals is something that could make him a valuable asset if he's just a bottom-six player, with any team really needing that sort of energy player who can provide offense.

Biggest Concern:

He plays a little too safe at times and needs to open himself up more to have a higher projection. A lot if his game has the habit of being a bit basic and he risks not being able to flash higher end skills at a higher level because it works well against OHL competition, but he'll need a flashier toolkit at the pro ranks.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

He's peak is a middle-six winger with 2nd line potential, possible 20-25 goal, 50-55 point producer who can play PP2.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He is a mobile goalscoring winger with good intensity. If he's able to continuing getting feistier and more dynamic, he could very will rise as a player. He has been a bit of a simple player, but if there's that added layer of craftiness that's unlocked, it'll be a big boost.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Third line goalscoring winger who can provide energy, 10-15 goals with 25-35 points.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

As mentioned before, He isn't the most advanced player at times, and it could limit him to a bottom-six role. Now that's a role where he should be fine appearing in, but it depends on how much more creative of a player he can be, and if he can move the puck more often.

Stylistic Comparable:

Could become a Josh Norris type player who gets goals and plays with a lot of energy and good skating. May not reach his peak but could become a good value version of what Norris does.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

Games Scouted:

4/5/25 - Niagara vs Barrie

3/5/25 - Niagara vs Sudbury