Fantasy Hockey Feature: Jake Neighbours' inspiring path

Jake Neighbours has gone from a controversial first-round pick in 2020 to an NHL player. How high in the lineup he can play long-term is still in question. Does he have point-per-game upside? Will he be a multicategory beast in dynasty leagues? We will dig into these questions and more.

Neighbours was drafted 26th overall in 2020 by the St. Louis Blues. The EP Rinkside team listed Neighbours as a “do not draft” candidate. While there was clearly a lot to like about his physicality, puck-handling, and playmaking, the team couldn’t get past his low hockey sense and poor skating. The team noticed he failed to identify open teammates and skate directly into pressure, among other issues. 

Neighbours played his junior hockey in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings. During his tenure, the team was ve