Dans Locmelis is a center that shows a great two-way hockey sense. He displays smarts and makes effective, efficient decisions on the ice and is the type of player who can play in many different situations. It’s like he just knows what decision to make and when to make it. His hockey IQ is high, and as a two-way center he is effective on both the forecheck and on the backcheck. He is great at breaking up plays in the defensive zone and then quickly making a transition pass up the ice to help his team get on the counterattack. He shows creativity and energy almost every shift when he is in the offensive zone with or without the puck. Even though he isn’t the biggest player on the ice, he is able to get into the dirty areas and play with a lot of intensity during loose-puck battles. He is well-balanced and looks strong in his legs and quick when turning so, and even if he gets forechecked, he handles situations well and often finds a smart solution before absorbing the hit. He needs to get stronger to help him in loose-puck battles and while carrying the puck into the prime scoring areas as at times he can be easily knocked off the puck and diverted from his original path. He plays a mature game and has the skillset that will translate well to the NHL level. Adding strength will effectively make him a solid bottom-six center, allowing him to work through contact and become a force during 50/50 battles. His offensive ceiling is a tad limited, which will hurt his long-term outlook, but he’s still the type of player you want in your lineup on a nightly basis. He will be a good defensive player who can occasionally find himself chipping in offensively, providing great value in the middle rounds.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide