Jorian Donovan is speedy, puck-moving defender with excellent mobility who can double as an effective power play quarterback. His confidence with the puck stands out, especially when afforded time and space in the offensive zone. He has a great first stride and can get up to his top speed quickly, allowing him to beat opponents to open ice and create plays when he has the puck on his stick. He isn’t afraid to jump into the rush and attack these open lanes, and at times displays a power element to his game, driving the center lane through opposing defenders. On the power play he can really shine, as he is a solid passer who can use his mobility to create open passing and shooting lanes. He knows how to use the extra ice that being on the power play affords him and he displays the awareness you want to see in a power play quarterback. His skating ability allows him to capably defend the rush, using his legs and size to maintain solid gap control and take away his opponent’s ice and force them away from the center lane. In the defensive zone, his positioning and ability to know where his assignment is at all times is a work in progress. Like many young defenders, he gets caught puck-watching a little too often and loses his assignment. Without improvement, he can become a liability in the defensive zone and higher levels of competition will be able to exploit him whenever they have him hemmed in his own zone. He has the skills to be an effective offensive defender, but will need to show improvements in his two-way game before Donovan can become an all situations type of player. Teams will take a swing on his puck skills and offensive upside somewhere in the middle-rounds.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide