Mikey Milne is a tenacious forward who plays a very straightforward game at a high pace, which allows him to slot into any part of a lineup. He recognizes he’s not a player who is going to create boatloads of offense for himself, so when paired with more skilled linemates he’s more than willing to keep things simple and tackle the necessary dirty jobs to help his trio be effective. Very high character kid. He’s effective on the forecheck, retrieving pucks and displaying good vision from down low to find teammates in dangerous areas, and he’s more than willing to put his body on the line and create traffic in front of the net. When he does get the puck in the offensive end he’s not flashy, but he has enough feel for the puck and lower-body strength to twist and turn from defenders to prolong possession until he can find a good outlet. His work ethic also allows him to be an effective penalty killer. He has an aggressive mindset and takes time and space away from puck-carriers in hopes of forcing turnovers. He enjoyed a very successful offensive season for someone who was passed over in last year’s draft. Teams may need to be wary, as playing on an offensive juggernaut team may have skewed his point totals in significantly favorable way. There are also fair questions that need to be asked about his skating and how well he will be able to get around the ice at the NHL level. However, his well-rounded game and high-level work ethic make him a high-floor, low-ceiling type of prospect who is worth a gamble given his production numbers. He’ll most likely need quite a bit of seasoning time in the minors, but could one day develop into a reliable and popular complimentary forward down the road.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide