Prospect Info: Chase Yoder, Centre (6th Round, #170 Overall, 2020)

[Jobeycool]

Look at the terrible trades that went down....horrible...

 

[Speaking Moistly]

On real talk, I always feel like “compete” is a meaningless buzzword when it comes to these draftees. Sure you get a Pouliot or a Daigle every once in a while, and sometimes the players just burn out, but for the most part, even getting as far as the draft means these kids want to be in the show and will work hard to do it. So, yeah, as BFD points out, not really a reassuring thing.

I get the desire for high compete levels. It speaks to effort in general, potential adaptability (top 6 prospect to 4th liner in the NHL) and most players aren’t skilled enough to be lazy. They’re also 17/18 and that’s nowhere near set in stone. They can get lazy or develop a better work ethic. They can work hard but not smart, they can work too hard and burnout, etc.

It shouldn’t be the defining characteristic.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Having taught 18-25 year olds for about 5 years now, I can absolutely say that they can all learn to work harder when the screws are put to them.

Like I get the sentiment, but it just doesn’t really seem like it’s that good of a descriptor, if you can apply it to most everyone in the draft class.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Having taught 18-25 year olds for about 5 years now, I can absolutely say that they can all learn to work harder when the screws are put to them.

Like I get the sentiment, but it just doesn’t really seem like it’s that good of a descriptor, if you can apply it to most everyone in the draft class.

Most people can. Offer me enough incentive and I’ll be ready to run a marathon in a month. Yesterday I was too pathetic to get up and find the clicker to get Netflix going again.

I think it’s more of a covert way to mark the ones who don’t compete hard enough but aren’t bad enough to be labelled lazy.

Competes hard
Takes some shifts off
*crickets*
Low compete
Might be dead, not sure

If they’re not talking about skill or work ethic bye bye.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Yeah, I also feel like scouts see players who are visibly working but not actually making good plays or things happen as hard working. Kind of like how everyone insisted Lemieux was a lazy skater for years.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Yeah, I also feel like scouts see players who are visibly working but not actually making good plays or things happen as hard working. Kind of like how everyone insisted Lemieux was a lazy skater for years.

It’s like defensive specialist. Are they good defensively or do they contribute nothing offensively? These are not the same things but they’ll call players who don’t produce defensive forwards/defensemen when they’re not good defensively.

 

[Shady Machine]

Finally a center!!!!

 

[HandshakeLine]

Finally a center!!!!

Don’t worry, we’re converting him to goalie as we speak.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Chase Yoder? Isn't that what Luke Skywalker did for much of the Empire Strikes Back?

 

[Mischa]

isn't Yoder a common amish last name?

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

It’s like defensive specialist. Are they good defensively or do they contribute nothing offensively? These are not the same things but they’ll call players who don’t produce defensive forwards/defensemen when they’re not good defensively.

So ZAR

 

[wej20]

Drafted for Star Wars night.

 

[Peat]

Here's what the Black Book says about him:

"Yoder is a pretty smart kid who plays a hard-working and honest two-way game. He is strong on his stick and can be relied on to chip pucks out of the zone or win big faceoffs. We really like how advanced his defensive stick play and timing is for this age and caliber of player. He has a stocky build and a low center of gravity that he uses to his advantage to gain leverage and win puck battles all over the ice. Yoder tries to engage physically but he just isn’t overly strong yet, but there is a willingness there. He is an above average skater with decent speed and an increasingly powerful stride.

He is a very good penalty killer and really embraced his role, showing a terrific ability to block shots, take away passing lanes, and win puck battles. It’s a little bit of a double-edged sword with Yoder. We’re impressed at him embracing his role as a grinder who does the dirty work. On the flip side, a lot of the time NHL clubs end up with a depth player because they failed as a skill player and now have to recalibrate their sights. Starting at this point on the development curve, doesn’t leave a lot of room for error. While his hands seemed to improve throughout the season, he just can’t reliably beat players at this level.

With him whisking off to Providence College in the fall, it may make it tougher for him to tap into a little bit of that offensive upside. It really does look like he has the head for the game to offer a little bit more, but he is also a bit hamstrung by his role and linemates most of the time. His shot is a tick above average and so is his playmaking and passing ability. If he has anything in his bag already, it’s a toe-drag move that he turns into a shooting opportunity, but that’s about the length of his consistent offensive gusto. If his skill continues to develop, he can combine that with his heady two-way play, proper forecheck angling, and compete to widen his window a little bit more in terms of making it as a pro."

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Nice an amish Hockey Player finally drafted in NHL

 

[Peat]

Also re this talk on Scouting talk on hard work/skill/our selections...

I think people are overthinking this a little through exasperation. I mean, we literally took a high talent low compete player this draft. And scouts say all bunch of things that differ from each other, for whatever reason. If they can't agree, and can't always get right, whether a guy is an alright skater or not, how much skill they have, whether they're a good shooter, etc.etc. then why are they going to agree on work rate and defensive acumen?

I also think we're at a stage in the talent selection process where the players have had their feet held to the fire to see who's willing to work, and not everyone's willing to work all the time, and there's also plenty of guys who are still getting by on talent rather than hard work. I don't think most players in this draft really compete every shift, and I don't think most of the players who are relying on their talent and aren't high compete by this point are going to make it.

Not that this guy is likely to make it either, and I'm happier betting on talent - or at least betting on compete allied with something freakish athleticism wise - but these guys aren't all super high compete. If they were, the draft would be a hell of a lot more accurate.

Also the fact we're having this discussion about a player where the first thing out of a journo's mouth was "tons of skill"...

 

[Peat]

Difference between good and very good skating will make a lot of difference to how this one plays out I think - and I can't help but wonder whether a guy like him would have been better out of the NDTP, on a team that encouraged him to play like he was the best person on the team and to grow his skill level.

 

[Jacob]

Difference between good and very good skating will make a lot of difference to how this one plays out I think - and I can't help but wonder whether a guy like him would have been better out of the NDTP, on a team that encouraged him to play like he was the best person on the team and to grow his skill level.

Maybe some of the hope is he’s got more offensive skills to show than what he was able to on a stacked team.

 

[DesertPenguin]

maybe they will force Him to be a goalie

He's got "Positional Flexibility"

 

[Peat]

Maybe some of the hope is he’s got more offensive skills to show than what he was able to on a stacked team.

I think that's got to be some of the hope, aye, although judging from Allvin's Blueger comparison they really like his ability to help the team in a non-offensive role too.

 

[JTG]

On real talk, I always feel like “compete” is a meaningless buzzword when it comes to these draftees. Sure you get a Pouliot or a Daigle every once in a while, and sometimes the players just burn out, but for the most part, even getting as far as the draft means these kids want to be in the show and will work hard to do it. So, yeah, as BFD points out, not really a reassuring thing.

You or I could work hard on the ice...we would still suck. I'll take Phil Kessel every time.

 

[Al Smith]

isn't Yoder a common amish last name?

I went to school in NE Ohio; amish/mennonite country; seemed like every other farm was owned by a Yoder or a Miller. So when I saw they'd drafted a Yoder, that was my first thought.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

isn't Yoder a common amish last name?

No idea, but I don't think there's many Amish living in Texas.

 

[EightyOne]

For once I’d like us to draft someone who doesn’t compete every shift, just to see if they actually had talent.

lol

 

[cygnus47]

It’s like defensive specialist. Are they good defensively or do they contribute nothing offensively? These are not the same things but they’ll call players who don’t produce defensive forwards/defensemen when they’re not good defensively.

The biggest thing is that those guys are cheap and easy to find in free agency and trade. Why would you use up a draft pick on a 10% chance of something that you can pick up in a 100% guaranteed veteran NHLer for free or for a 4th or something when you need it? It's completely nonsensical. The things that are hard to find are gamebreaking skill and offensive hockey IQ. Those are the things that you can't just pick up whenever you want for a bag of pucks. Every pick should be used on those things and especially the deeper picks.

As much as he's a total downer, I agree with Ryan Wilson on drafting goalies too. There are like 5 consistently good goalies maybe. Not only that, drafting them is a complete crapshoot. For every Carey Price, there are 10 1st round busts. Not only that, but if you draft them you get maybe 5 years before they're too expensive to be worth it! Even PRICE is screwing his team up by getting a fair deal. It's far easier to just sign whatever capable starters and hope they get hot at the right time and you give yourself more lottery tickets on skilled dudes.

 

[Peat]

The biggest thing is that those guys are cheap and easy to find in free agency and trade. Why would you use up a draft pick on a 10% chance of something that you can pick up in a 100% guaranteed veteran NHLer for free or for a 4th or something when you need it? It's completely nonsensical. The things that are hard to find are gamebreaking skill and offensive hockey IQ. Those are the things that you can't just pick up whenever you want for a bag of pucks. Every pick should be used on those things and especially the deeper picks.

As much as he's a total downer, I agree with Ryan Wilson on drafting goalies too. There are like 5 consistently good goalies maybe. Not only that, drafting them is a complete crapshoot. For every Carey Price, there are 10 1st round busts. Not only that, but if you draft them you get maybe 5 years before they're too expensive to be worth it! Even PRICE is screwing his team up by getting a fair deal. It's far easier to just sign whatever capable starters and hope they get hot at the right time and you give yourself more lottery tickets on skilled dudes.

Tampa just spent two 1sts on getting two defensively excellent guys without much attacking upside in and it got a cup for them. We just spent 3.5m on Tanev and were spending 4m on Hagelin when we won our cups. I don't think genuinely great defensive forwards are as cheap and easy to find as you think they are. And while I'd rather swing high on gamebreaking skill, I'd rather they went with the defensive guy they really believe in ahead of a high skill guy they don't think will ever make it. Better something than nothing.

And while I hate drafting goalies early too, reality is Philadelphia blew about a decade of Championship window on trying to find a goalie and we won two cups thanks to a goalie prospect we'd drafted and developed. I'd also point out the benefits of drafting and keeping a strong selection of goalies also played a part in St Louis', Washington's, and Tampa's victories.