Dragicevic returned to form in what could be his final OHL season, scoring 18 goals and adding 52 assists for 70 points in 66 games. This year begins the first year of his entry level contract and one would expect him to earn a role with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2025-2026. Dragicevic is likely to run a powerplay, and start his audition for the same role at the NHL level. He is under-owned in fantasy, and though he is not a top-tier offensive defenseman the likes of Denton Mateychuk and Olen Zellweger, his performance to this point has not been leagues behind. He’s worth stashing if unowned in your leagues.

In 2023-2024, Dragicevic took a step back from his previous year’s output. He dropped to a line of 14-36-50 in 66 games. He still sat 15th overall in points by a defenseman in the WHL for the year, but will need to regroup and continue his development. What that performance does do, especially with another draft of new rookies for managers to fawn over, is open up a potential buy low window on him. Keep an eye on his progress this year.

Dragicevic was selected 57th overall by the Kraken.

Dragicevic had a strong first full season with Tri-City in the 2021-22 season, notching six goals and 26 assists in 62 games. The defensive side of the game was still a work in progress but there has been improvement in that area in the early going of his draft year, and he has taken his offensive output to another level thus far. Through the first couple months of the season, he is one of the WHL’s top-scoring blueliners with seven goals and 22 assists in just 21 games.

Dragicevic’s game is built around his mobility and aggressive nature. He is a powerful and agile skater with good form, allowing him to skate the puck up ice in transition and play tight gaps when defending the rush. There is room for improvement in terms of his in-zone defending as he can sometimes get caught puck-watching or lose his assignment on sustained cycles for the opposition, but he does well to steer oncoming attackers where he wants them to go before attacking with an active stick. Dragicevic will also engage physically, and while he may not blow guys up with regularity, he will squeeze oncoming attackers along the wall and finish his checks. With the puck on his stick, he utilizes quick head and shoulder fakes to hold opposing defenders and open up space for a head-man pass or for him to skate the puck up ice himself. Dragicevic has good scanning habits that help him to identify his options in short order, adding to his efficiency as a puck mover. In the offensive zone is where Dragicevic’s aggressiveness and assertiveness really stand out. He controls the offensive line with poise, he will shrink the offensive zone at the appropriate time, and he has a heavy shot that makes him a legitimate scoring threat from the point. His vision as a passer also shines at the junior level, as he can make skilled passes through layers of traffic when he gets the opposing defenders moving around the zone. Already with a projectable offensive game, Dragicevic will have to continue to build upon his foundation of defensive skills, but he has clear top-four NHL potential and could be one of the first defensemen off the board at the 2023 NHL Draft.