Luke Walker
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Birthday:
1990-02-19 |
Position:
RW |
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Eligible for draft:
2008 |
Shoots:
Right |
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Drafted:
2010 |
Height:
6-1 |
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Acquired:
5th round (139th overall), 2010 |
Weight:
174 lbs. |
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
- C
History
2007-08: Luke Walker skated in 70 of 72 games for Portland in his first WHL season. He scored 9 goals with 12 assists and had 84 PMs. Walker's -37 plus/minus was par for the course as the Winterhawks won just 11 games and had the WHL's worst record.
2008-09: Walker was the second-leading scorer for WHL Portland, scoring a team-high 29 goals with 23 assists. He had 84 PMs in 71 games and was a much-improved -17 as the Winterhawks won eight more games than in 2007-08 but again finished last in their division and missed the WHL playoffs.
2009-10: Walker was a two-way, team leader for Portland in his over-age season with the Winter Hawks and also skated for the gold medal-winning USA at the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship. In 61 games for the Winterhawks, who won 44 games and returned to the WHL playoffs in their first season under former Vancouver assistant Mike Johnston, Walker scored 27 goals with 30 assists and was +17 with 103 PMs. Walker skated in all 13 playoff games for the Winterhawks and scored 6 goals with 4 assists while finishing -4 with 17 PMs. Walker played in all seven games for Team USA and was +1 with 6 PMs. Passed over in two previous drafts, he was selected by the Avalanche in the fifth round (139th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
2010-11: Walker signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Colorado in August 2011 and skated in 75 of 80 games for the Avalanche's AHL affiliate Lake Erie. His responsibilities with the Monsters increased as the season went on and he finished -12 with 10 goals, 8 assists and 40 PMs. Walker skated in five games in Lake Erie's seven-game first round series with Manitoba; scoring 1 goal with 1 assist and finishing -2.
2011-12: Walker returned to Colorado's AHL affiliate Lake Erie as a 21-year-old for his second pro season. Playing in mostly a lower line role, he scored 9 goals with 18 assists and was minus-three with 26 penalty minutes. He skated in 61 games for the Monsters, suffering a season-ending upper body injury in March. He had eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in one nine-game stretch beginning on January 28th – including goals in three straight games. Lake Erie finished third in the North Division – missing the playoffs by two points.
Talent Analysis
Walker has some offensive tools in his repertoire and isn't afraid to go to high-traffic areas to get the puck. He is a bit of a grinder who won't back down from a challenge along the side-boards or in the corners.
