Buckeye Newcomer Spotlight: Janik Moser

Janik Moser
Defenseman - Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

DOB: Sep. 26, 1995

5'11 / 181 lbs

Shoots: Left

Photo Credit: muskegonlumberjacks.com

Captain Curtis Gedig was the only Senior defenseman on the Buckeye roster this past year. Therefore, it's a safe assumption that there is going to be a lot of experienced veteran talent on the blue line for Ohio State this upcoming year. However, having a roster spot open on defense, head coach Steve Rohlik is bringing in some talent from across the Atlantic to fill the hole left in the OSU roster.

Mannheim, Germany native Janik Moser, coming off of his first season on American soil in the United States Hockey League, will be beginning his collegiate career in Columbus this fall.

Although the Muskegon Lumberjack doesn't possess as much size as the 6'3, 202 pound Gedig does, he makes up for it in his offensive ability. In four seasons with the Mannheimer ERC U16 and Jungadler Mannheim U18 programs in Germany, he produced 66 goals and 107 assists. This past season with the Lumberjacks, he netted 3 goals and had 12 assists in 47 games for a Muskegon team that finished just one point out of a USHL playoff spot.

The highly touted defenseman has spent time with his junior national team as well. He played in the World Hockey Challenge U17 Tournament in 2011 and 2012. Moser also took part in the U18 World Junior Tournament in 2012 and 2013 and the U20 tournament in 2014. In 28 games wearing a Germany uniform, he had 6 goals and 5 assists.

It's understandable that his favorite NHL player is Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks. It would not come as a surprise that Moser models his game around him given Keith's impressive offensive output. The Blackhawk assistant captain was fourth in overall points on Chicago (first in assists) and second in overall points among all NHL defensemen.

There's a reason that Janik is on Central Scouting Service's Preliminary 2014 North American Players to Watch list. He's talented. He may not have the profound size of other Ohio State defensemen 6'5, 225 lb. Craig Dalrymple or 6'6, 222 lb. Justin DaSilva, but he has good hands, and the ability to make things happen on both ends of the ice.

Given enough time and with continued development, he may become an elite defenseman in the Big Ten Conference.

Here is a look at what the promising defenseman has done statistically in recent years: