Photo courtesy of the Pioneer Press

Fantasy Summary

Undersized puck-moving defenseman with high offensive upside. Likely a future power-play QB.


Observations

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November 2023 – Addison was traded to the San Jose Sharks for Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round pick. Hopefully, Addison can find success and a coach that trusts him on the Sharks. Pat Quinn

 

June 2023 – Addison remains one of the most exciting prospects for the Minnesota Wild organization. This past season he put up an incredible 29 points in 62 games for his first full season at the NHL level. Despite putting up a great points-per-game total, he had an up and down season where he started strong on the first powerplay unit, but also saw moments where he was a healthy scratch due to his defensive play. Addison will need to improve his consistency, but at 23 years of age, Addison still has the potential to be a point-scoring top four defenseman in the long-run for the Minnesota Wild. Nathan Leblanc

 

January 2023 – Addison has successfully integrated full-time in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild. He has been playing top 4 minutes, as well as becoming a reliable power-play quarterback. There were initial concerns about whether Addison would step up to become a staple on the Wild blueline, and those concerns have gone away, as Addison has so far produced three goals and 16 assists in only 36 games thus far. As Addison continues to develop, expect his minutes and point totals to increase for the Wild. Nathan Leblanc

 

March 2021 – Calen Addison got a sniff at the NHL level playing three games and tallying zero points before he got sent down. Addison has not looked out of place on the Wild D-core and has shown flashes of a top-four defenceman. Addison looked comfortable playing with Suter and was able to communicate well with him. Addison is also able to move the puck with ease and flows the offense on powerplay pretty well when he gets the opportunity. You shouldn’t be surprised if Addison gets another shot with the Wild before the playoffs or solidifies a roster spot with the Wild full-time next season.  Rayan Tubeec

 

February 2021 – Calen Addison has joined the Iowa Wild of the AHL. With a strong season, Addison could position himself to debut in the NHL by next season. Sam Happi

 

February 2020 – Addison has a bright future as a power-play QB in the NHL – with Minnesota. The offensive-minded blueliner was dealt to the Wild with Alex Galchenyuk and a conditional 2020 first-round pick for forward Jason Zucker. Ending weeks of speculation, the Penguins get a badly needed forward for another Cup run. Minnesota gets a former first-rounder and a future first-rounder to help with a much-needed overhaul. Mark Allan

 

January 2020 – Playing with great poise and confidence for Canada’s World Junior Championship-winning squad, the young blueliner enhanced his reputation as a future NHL power-play weapon. Often the only Canadian back with a man advantage, Addison tied for sixth among all scorers with nine points (including eight assists) in seven games. Following his WJC debut, he’ll return to the WHL to complete his junior stint with the Lethbridge Hurricanes before turning pro next season. Mark Allan

 

December 2019 – Addison unsurprisingly made the 23-man final Team Canada roster for the World Junior Championship. In a practice after the final cut was made, the offensive-minded blueliner was coupled with Bowen Byram in what should be a potent pairing. The 5-10, 181-pound Addison has seven goals and 22 assists in 31 outings during his final junior campaign with the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. Mark Allan

 

November 2019 – The dynamic young defenseman continues an almost-point-per-game pace as a junior. After 22 appearances, his 21 points are third among WHL blueliners and his 17 helpers are one off the league lead for back-enders. In a series pitting Canadian juniors against Russian counterparts, Addison was named WHL player of the game after he scored the overtime winner in a 2-1 decision. He had one of three WHL goals in a shootout that decided the series in favor of the Canadian hosts. Mark Allan

 

September 2019 – Addison was returned to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a fourth season in the Western Hockey League. The power-play specialist needs to work on his defensive play. Mark Allan

 

August 2019 – Addison didn’t do a lot to distinguish himself during the 2019 World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Mich. The annual tournament is essentially a World Junior Championship tryout for Canadian, American, Swedish and Finnish prospects. He could still be named to Team Canada if a combination of Noah Dobson, Bowen Byram and Ty Smith are playing on NHL bluelines and are unavailable for the WJC. Addison, a 19-year-old power-play weapon is expected to return for a fourth campaign with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, although he has little to prove in the WHL except an interest in defense. Mark Allan

 

April 2019 – After his Lethbridge Hurricanes were eliminated in a seven-game opening-round playoff series to end Addison’s third full Western Hockey League campaign, he signed a three-year, entry-level deal with Pittsburgh. Although he was minus-6 in the series, Addison led all WHL blueliners in the opening round with nine points. He had six helpers with an extra man, and added a game-winning goal. In 67 league games, his 65 points (including 11 goals) were tied for 47th in the league and sixth among D-men. More than half (34) of those 65 points were on the power play, and 32 helpers solidified the impression Pittsburgh has drafted a legitimate power-play weapon. Mark Allan

 

January 2019 – The offensive back-end whiz is bang on at point per game in 44 outings with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. On pace to match or slightly exceed his second-year WHL numbers, Addison doesn’t have to prove his offensive skill to the Penguins. They’re going to want to see some defensive awareness. That’s what the AHL is for. Mark Allan

December 2018 – After not sticking with Canada’s world junior squad, Addison returns to Lethbridge of the WHL. The offensive dynamo has four goals and 30 assists in 32 games for the Hurricanes. Mark Allan

December 2018 – Addison is one of 34 youngsters invited to Canada’s world junior selection camp starting Dec. 10 in Victoria, B.C. Competing against 11 other talented young blueliners, Addison has the advantage of having played at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and was a member of the national men’s summer under-18 team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup and Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The 18-year-old righthand shot has a good chance to make Canada’s WJC team. Mark Allan

November 2018 – Addison is so far dealing fine with the elevated expectations that come with being a second-round NHL draft pick. With two goals and 14 assists for Lethbridge in his first 15 games of the WHL schedule, he’s roughly on track to match or exceed the 11 scores and 65 points he amassed in 68 outings with the Hurricanes last season. Perhaps preparing for the rigors of playing pro hockey, he projects to rack up about 100 PIMs in a full campaign. Mark Allan

September 2018 – The crafty puck-mover and potential PP weapon will hone his skills with another junior season for the Lethbridge Broncos of the WHL. As a second-round draft pick, he will be watched closely by Pittsburgh. Mark Allan

September 2018 – Fresh from being drafted in the second round, Addison is not expected to make the NHL roster right out of his first big-league training camp. However, the organization’s braintrust was pleased by the play of the smallish but quick and crafty blueliner at the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo. Quickness applies to his vision and his stickwork, which includes superior breakout passes. The 18-year-old looks like a good bet to be an NHL PP catalyst one day, although he’ll likely be returned to the Lethbridge Broncos of the WHL for at least one more campaign. Mark Allan

 

March 2018 – Addison began his draft year with a strong showing for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka, where he was arguably the best defenseman for Canada posting two goals and six points in five games. Selected second overall by Lethbridge in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Addison is posting point per game offensive production in his second season in the WHL which makes him a very fantasy relevant prospect. The 2018 Draft is full of undersized offensive defensemen and Addison is near the top of that list.

The right shot defenseman oozes hockey sense, is a precision passer and has a decent shot, but excels at creating transition offence and distributing the puck. Skating is an asset as he moves quickly, has good mobility and agility and strong edges. Addison is smart on both sides of the puck, is positionally sound and is not shy about playing physically, albeit his effectiveness is limited even at the junior level due to his size.  Peter Harling

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 8.5
NHL Certainty 10.0
Country CAN
Position D
Roster Type NHL
Shoot/Glove Right
Date of Birth April 11, 2000
Height 5‘11”
Weight 172 lbs
Drafted 2018 Round 2; Overall: 53

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2013-2014 Brandon Wheat Kings U14 AAAWAAA U1427 26 3056 50|        
  Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAAWAAA U15- - -- -|Playoffs3 1 01
 2014-2015 Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAAWAAA U1531 45 3176 46|        
 2015-2016 Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAAMU18HL15 8 715 42|Playoffs2 2 02 15 
  Lethbridge HurricanesWHL4 0 00 2|Playoffs3 0 00
 2016-2017 Lethbridge HurricanesWHL63 9 2433 52|Playoffs13 0 22
  Canada Black U17WHC-176 0 33 0|        
 2017-2018 Canada U18Hlinka Gretzky Cup5 2 46 4|        
  Lethbridge HurricanesWHL68 11 5465 53|Playoffs16 7 1219 20 
 2018-2019 Lethbridge HurricanesWHL67 11 5465 52|Playoffs7 2 79
  Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL3 0 22 0|        
  WHL All-StarsJr Super Series2 0 00 2|        
 2019-2020 Lethbridge HurricanesWHL50 10 4252 51|        
  WHL All-StarsJr Super Series2 1 12 0|        
  Canada U20WJC-207 1 89 0|        
 2020-2021 Minnesota WildNHL3 0 00 0|Playoffs3 0 11
  Iowa WildAHL31 6 1622 33|        
 2021-2022 Minnesota WildNHL15 2 24 2|        
  Iowa WildAHL43 7 2734 70|        
 2022-2023 Minnesota WildNHL62 3 2629 22|        
 2023-2024 Minnesota WildNHL12 0 55 6|        
  San Jose SharksNHL45 1 1011 26|        

Highlights