Jagger Firkus

April 2022 – Firkus has had a massive season for Moose Jaw, spurring a meteoric rise in public draft circles. He has been the Warriors’ leading scorer and the second-highest scoring WHL draft-eligible player this season, just behind projected top-10 pick Matthew Savoie of the Winnipeg Ice.

Firkus lags behind much of his peer group in terms of physical development but makes up for it with intelligence and high-end skill. He makes quick reads and can execute plays under pressure, allowing him to efficiently distribute the puck and create space in the offensive zone when defenders close on him. Firkus can still be overwhelmed in physical battles but his escapability and internal clock help mitigate those issues at the junior level. For a smaller player, his shot is a surprisingly potent weapon that he utilizes in a variety of ways. He gets good torque on his one-timers, can quickly string a pass reception into a curl and drag release, and does well to change the release angle on his wrist shot in order to create deception. He has a tendency to stick to the perimeter at times and it will be interesting to see if he develops more of an attacking mindset as he matures physically, but he is still dangerous from the outside, both as a shooter and as a passer. Firkus will need to continue to work on his lower body strength to improve his explosiveness and ability to protect pucks down low but he has no shortage of enticing offensive potential. Nick Richard