Huckins is a big forward who can play center or wing and has some intriguing skill, but also some inconsistencies to work out with his game. While he can show flashes of good top-end speed and good puck control, he can also be a rollercoaster with his decision-making and overall competitiveness on and off the puck. He is at his best with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, corralling it before looking for chances to shoot or make plays, though there are times when his puck-handling isn’t quite fluid enough. Recovers pucks with his size and reach and tries taking them to the net. He is especially dangerous when he has the extra time and space allocated with the man-advantage. His shot is powerful and quick. As a big player you would like to see him use his size more to his advantage, but instead, he often struggles to get and maintain possession, particularly in key situations around his opponent’s net. He gets angled off pucks and also physically pushed around a surprising amount. He stills seems to need to add some muscle to his frame to really drive the slot, but luckily there is room to do so. There is a bit of a hitch in his skating when going from gliding to his stride, which causes him to be a step behind his opponents, but in open ice he owns a much more clean and powerful full stride. Through transition he shows some bouts of good speed, but he plays in a very upright stance and has little to no flexion in his ankles. Defensive play is also an issue overall. He is too much of an observer of the play and is fairly disengaged far too often, simply allowing the play to happen around him, although his long reach can help him poke check and stick lift the puck away from attackers. There are flashes of commitment and work ethic, but they need to be more consistent.

– FCHockey’s 2021 NHL Draft Guide