Sandis Vilmanis is a goal-scoring winger who plays the game with tons of skill. If you’re in need of a goal he’s the type of player you want on the ice. He has smooth puck-handling ability that allows him to weave in and out of traffic with the puck and generate controlled zone entries for his team. He has deceptive puck skills, lulling defenders into a state of comfort before making a quick move and making them miss in one-on-ones. He is both a capable passer and shooter, making him difficult to defend especially when he reaches his top speed. Defensively is where there are some concerns with his game. In his own zone he can get caught standing still too often allowing his assignment to get open and create a quality scoring chance. There are times he looks uninterested in playing on the defensive side of the puck, which may not be that uncommon with young skilled players but it is something that he needs to work on if he wants to make it to the next level. He’s impatient in waiting for the play to turn the other way, too. Without the puck, he can disappear becoming anonymous for long stretches of the game. With the puck he’s a different story, but this night-and-day approach to the game might cause some scouts to be concerned because it simply won’t fly the further along he advances in his career. When he’s engaged, he’s a beast offensively and has the upside and the skill to be a solid scoring winger in the NHL. It all comes down to how risky teams want to be. If they bank on him finding that desire to play more consistently in the defensive zone then someone will take a swing on him and potentially get a late-round steal. If he doesn’t improve, he’s going to have a tough road to the NHL playing a one-way game.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide