#12 - Greg Chase

Moving up once again, Greg Chase continues to rise in the top 25 and is on the "good" side of half this time around.

Previous Rank: 13

Chase is an agitating forward who has strong hockey sense and a bit of offensive flair. He’s big with good foot speed and never backs down from a tough battle in the gritty areas of the ice. He’s tough to knock off the puck, has good hands and sees the ice well. His on-ice attitude is often a bone of contention for some, but his intriguing offensive upside and raw talent make him a somewhat of a hidden gem for the Oilers as a former late round draft pick. - Hockey's Future

A real Red Line favourite who flies under the radar. He’s a fine puck distributor who shows great patience and possesses the touch to constantly find linemates off the cycle. Keeps feet going after making a pass to sustain pressure in offensive zone. Versatile forward has spent time on every line and been effective in every role. Shows up every shift and his play away from the puck is impressive, makes things happen by constantly filling open ice. Refuses to back down in contested areas; first player into the corners. Wide skating stance helps him maintain balance and uses edges well to maximize glide. Hungry player has a great compete level and looks to make a difference every shift. Not as dynamic offensively as other prospects on this list, but plays a well-rounded, consistent game. - Red Line Report via The Cult of Hockey

Agitating. Hungry. Compete level. Three buzz words that tend to get tossed around a lot when it comes to prospects, and really they can mean completely different things to any number of people, but if you've watched Greg Chase and the Calgary HItmen play the Oil Kings in recent seasons, you know exactly what they mean. And as annoying as he can be when he's playing for the other team, knowing that he might one day play for your team makes it a little easier to handle.

Chase was drafted in the 7th round (188th overall) in the 2013 NHL entry draft and has shown that draft pedigree doesn't necessarily define a prospect. Since his draft year Chase has put up decent numbers, even after being traded to the Victoria Royals from the Calgary Hitmen early on in the 2014/15 season.

Chase obviously had a drop off in production from Draft+1 to Draft+2 seasons, falling from 1.21 points/game to 0.97 but at just under a point per game there is little to complain about. Following the completion of Victoria's season, the were eliminated in the second round by the eventual WHL Champs and Memorial Cup runner up, Kelowna Rockets, Chase played a handful of games for the Barons during their short playoff run this spring.

Upcoming Season

With his junior career now complete, Chase will most likely be playing in Bakersfield with the Condors this season. Chase’s first professional season will be interesting to watch from a far, obviously there has been some hype in these parts around the 20 year old but playing hockey against men is a big task. And he'll likely be slotted well down in the Condors depth chart, starting the season on the fourth line. maybe the third. How will his style of play translate against bigger, stronger, better players? All questions that we can't answer today but might know a little more about the next time we go through our Top 25 Under 25.

Out of all of the prospects in the Oilers’ system Chase is the one I am probably most excited about. Not because he’s going to be a Taylor Hall or Connor McDavid, but because he could be the best player selected beyond 188th since Kelly Buchberger was selected in 1985, ten years before Greg Chase was even born.