Kyle Platzer

History

2010-11: Kyle Platzer appeared in eight games for the Waterloo Wolves midget AAA team and was one of the top scorer’s for the Wolves’ minor midget team. He had 2 goals with 2 assist in for the major midget team. In 30 regular season games for the midget minor team he scored 20 goals with 22 assists and had 20 penalty minutes. He scored 6 goals with 7 assists and had 16 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games. Platzer was selected by the London Knights in the fourth round (65th overall) of the 2011 OHL Priority Draft.

2011-12: Platzer made his OHL debut, skating in four mid-season games with London, and was the leading scorer for the Waterloo Siskins in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He had 1 assist and was +1 in his brief stint with the Knights. Platzer scored 31 goals with 24 assists and had 70 penalty minutes in 50 games with Waterloo. The Siskins finished seventh in the Midwestern Conference. In six playoff games Platzer scored 4 goals with 6 assists and 6 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Platzer skated in 65 games for London in his first full OHL season. The Knights were the league’s top team in the regular season and captured the playoff title; advancing to the Memorial Cup. Platzer scored 5 goals with 17 assists and was +7 with 15 penalty minutes in the regular season. He played in all 21 playoff games and scored 2 goals with 4 assists and was +4 with 8 penalty minutes. In five Memorial Cup games he scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was +1. Platzer was ranked 110th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings and was selected by Edmonton in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Platzer began his second OHL season with the London Knights before being acquired by Owen Sound at the trade deadline as part of a multiplayer trade that sent Gemel Smith (Dallas) to London. In 66 regular season games between the two teams Platzer scored 22 goals with 14 assists and was -14 with 12 penalty minutes. Six of his 13 goals with the Attack were scored on the power play. Owen Sound finished fourth in the Midwest Division and lost to Sault Ste. Marie in a first-round playoff series. Platzer scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -2 with 6 penalty minutes in five playoff games. 

2014-15: Platzer attended training camp with the Oilers before returning to Owen Sound for his first full season with the Attack. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with Edmonton in April 2015 following the OHL playoffs and made his professional debut with the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons. Platzer scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was +2 with no penalties in four regular season games with the Barons. He saw ice time in three AHL playoff games with no points nor penalties. Platzer had a breakout year for Owen Sound in his third OHL season. He scored 34 goals with 47 assists and was +13 with 46 penalty minutes in 68 regular season games. The Attack finished fourth in the Midwest Division and lost to Guelph in a first-round playoff series. Platzer scored 1 goal with 4 assists and had an even plus/minus with 4 penalty minutes in five playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Platzer is a smallish center, but he does not let his size dictate his physical play. He is gritty and tough and is always the first one in the corners. Platzer has emerged as a primary scorer for Owen Sound in his third season of junior hockey and appears to be just scratching the surface in terms of his potential.

Future

Platzer is skating for Oilers' AHL affiliate Bakersfield in 2015-16. Playing a lower line role for the Condors and experiencing the struggles of trying to crack the lineup not uncommon for a 20-year-old in his first season of pro hockey, he has chipped in offensively at times. A big scorer for Owen Sound in his final season of junior hockey, Platzer projects as more of a crash-and-bang, two-way forward who can provide secondary offense.