If there's one thing people learned from watching Encanto, it's that "we don't talk about Bruno." Supposedly, Bruno is the black sheep of the family and was exiled from his family until his love for his family was revealed.
At least, that's how the story goes. But there's an NHL Draft candidate who could be the talk of the town, should he make it big. His name? Bruno Idzan, and he could be what the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for prospect-wise.
After all, Vegas is lacking in relative forward talent. It's been mentioned, but having just Trevor Connelly and Mathieu Cataford to get you by isn't doing the job. Therefore, you need to replenish the system with reliable steals.
That's where Idzan comes into play. Armed with a heavy shot, the Croatian forward has left an impressive impact in Europe with his game. But that's not all he can provide to the Golden Knights if selected.
Let's take a deeper dive into what the 19-year-old can offer to a team like Vegas. What does he bring to the table? What are his strongest points?
Getting to know NHL Draft prospect Bruno Idzan
The 19-year-old Croatian stands at 6'1" and weighs 194 pounds. He also carries a left-handed shot with him, similar to what Pavel Dorofeyev has.
He used that shot to score 22 goals and 22 assists (36 games) with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. He also scored 21 goals and nine assists in 19 games with Croatia's KHL Sisak, making him a potent offensive weapon.
His scoring spurts can ignite a team's fiery heart, adding more potency at the forward position. But that's not all he can provide. Idzan is also fast on his skates, dashing down the ice in transition. Imagine the 19-year-old pouncing on a loose puck and darting down the ice for a goal.
That's especially dangerous when mixed with the ability to drive to the net. He also uses his heavy shot on one-timers, which blister past opposing defenders and goaltenders with ease.
What's the problem with the Vegas Golden Knights drafting Idzan?
Sure, Bruno Idzan had a solid 2024-25 season. But can he do this consistently? The University of Wisconsin commit also scored 50 goals with Viggbyholms in 2021-22. However, there isn't much of him scoring double digits in other seasons.
The 19-year-old also doesn't have too much flash in his game. While he's a speedy player on the ice, his skating can be choppy. Luckily, he can develop this game when he's with the Badgers.
There's also his tendency to drift into the zone without much thought as a trailer. The good news is he knows when to slip into space and receive a pass. Such sneakiness can catch opposing teams off-guard, leading to surprising scoring opportunities.
If Kelly McCrimmon wants to get players to follow in the steps of Pavel Dorofeyev and Nicolas Hague, look no further. Idzan's the right guy for the third or fourth round, specifically if you're looking to boost the forward group in the farm system. Yes, we can talk about this Bruno, guys.