Zach Wooten’s strong season at Green Bay raises his stock heading into NHL Draft

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

When Zach Wooten was playing high school hockey at Eastview, it was clear he was a solid player with the abilities to play college hockey.

He wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire, and while he played for a strong and emerging program like Eastview, he wasn’t suited up with a blue blood high school program that was going to showcase his skills at the state tournament or in a big section final game.

Yet, NHL scouts have taken note on Wooten’s game after a spectacular season in the USHL where he earned First-Team status after posting a solid campaign with the Green Bay Gamblers of 35 goals and 27 assists in 61 games. His point-a-game prowess was a huge leap from his first season in the USHL where he scored 11 goals and added seven assists in 49 games between Omaha and Green Bay.

Eastview High School Coach Aaron Fulton saw Wooten’s potential during his tenure with the Lightning.

“Zach was a really dependable and impactful player for us during three years at Eastview,” Fulton said. “He brought a combination of skill, size, and competitiveness that made him a difficult player for opponents to handle. He was someone we could rely on in all situations—offensively, defensively, and in big moments.”

His steady progress started to show in high school as his point production increased from 25 to 35 to 50 points in his three years as a varsity player.

“He really took a step forward offensively and in his overall game,” Fulton said. “But what stood out most was how consistent he was every night and the way he competed for his teammates.”

At 6’2” and 205 pounds, Wooten combines a strong skill set with good size. Those assets not only helped him become a better player, they helped him raise eyebrows with NHL scouts, and in turn, earned him an offer from the University of Wisconsin.

“I’d say he was somewhat of a late bloomer, especially in terms of how people outside our program noticed him,” Fulton said. “Within our program we always knew the potential was there. He had good size in high school and was already a strong kid and hit a bit of a spurt the summer of his senior year, but he’s definitely continued to grow into his frame and add strength since then.”

Fulton adds one more nugget to his resume: work ethic.

“His work ethic and competitiveness are probably the biggest things,” Fulton said. “Zach has always been a player who wanted to improve and put the work in to get better. He’s very coachable, and he takes pride in doing the little things the right way—winning battles, playing responsibly, and being strong on pucks.”

He will take his game to Madison, joining a program that struggled some before Mike Hastings arrived and took them to the national title game last season. Fulton believes his game will translate well to college hockey.

“I definitely think he has the tools, the attitude, and the work ethic to make an impact at that level,” Fulton said. “He has the size, skating ability, and scoring touch that translates well to the college game. On top of that, he plays a responsible 200-foot game, which coaches value a lot. As he continues to develop, I think he has the ability to be a really important player for Wisconsin.”

In addition to a strong game on the ice, Fulton said Wooten’s character off the ice is also worthy of praise.

“Off the ice, he’s just a great teammate and a very respectful young man,” Fulton said. “He’s the kind of player coaches enjoy working with because he’s humble, works hard, and represents the program the right way. He’s well liked amongst his peers and a very easy kid to root for.”

While most NHL teams are drafting 18 year-olds, it isn’t uncommon for overagers to be selected. It’s estimated that 15 percent of drafted players are players who were initially passed over at age 18. Ironiocally, last year’s #94 ranked North American skater was another Green Bay Gambler, Aidan Park. Park, too, was selected after a year of juniors where he excelled for the Gamblers with 66 points in 55 games. He was selected in the seventh round (#223 overall) by Edomonton. He skated for the University of Michigan last season and notched 8 goals and 8 assists.

Whether or not Wooten follows a similar path and hears his name called remaisn to be seen. But he is for certain on the radar of NHL teams and his steady growth form age 16-20 should have scouts giving him a good, hard look as a potential NHL player one day. The draft is slated for this Friday and Saturday.

“Zach is the type of player who has steadily improved every year, and that’s a credit to his work ethic and mindset,” Fulton said. “He’s earned the opportunities he’s getting, and it’s been really fun to watch his development. I’m excited to see what he accomplishes moving forward because he still has a lot of upside.”