D Cale Makar - UMass (Amherst), NCAA (2017, 4th, COL)

[BigRangy]

Hypothetical question here but if he goes to Medicine Hat Next year, can he play in the AHL when he is 19? I thought I heard something about a rule that if a player signs when they are 18 they not subject to the same rules as players drafted out of the CHL. That might only be for non Canadians though

Since he's a late birthday, he could go to the AHL in his draft+2 regardless of whether or not he plays CHL in his draft+1.

 

[Grant McCagg]

Makar looked like he was playing against Bantams last night..he's at a level I've never seen in Junior A tier 2 ...something to behold.

Here are the Makar highlights - Check out the play he makes on his first goal going outside the blueline for a 1-timer wind up that goes top cheese. The other two plays are excellent as well..makes it look easy.

https://recrutes.ca/cale-makar-2g-1a-vs-portage-may-3-2017/

 

[Jonas1235]

its crazy that Brooks Alberta, population 13000 has like a 2500 seat arena.

 

[Grant McCagg]

its crazy that Brooks Alberta, population 13000 has like a 2500 seat arena.

Not really..rural areas are where tier 2 junior teams get the most support. Pembroke always leads the CCHL in attendance and it's a "city" of 16,000.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Makar looked like he was playing against Bantams last night..he's at a level I've never seen in Junior A tier 2 ...something to behold.

Here are the Makar highlights - Check out the play he makes on his first goal going outside the blueline for a 1-timer wind up that goes top cheese. The other two plays are excellent as well..makes it look easy.

https://recrutes.ca/cale-makar-2g-1a-vs-portage-may-3-2017/

How much of that do you think is Makar being amazing, and how much is the competition being mediocre?

Every time I watch Makar, I can't get over how much faster he is than everybody else. It's like they're in slow-mo.

 

[TMLife*]

Ya, Brooks is only an hour and a half from Calgary, used to scoot out there all the time

 

[Steve Kournianos]

 

[Martinez]

How much of that do you think is Makar being amazing, and how much is the competition being mediocre?

Every time I watch Makar, I can't get over how much faster he is than everybody else. It's like they're in slow-mo.

Both. His speed and hands will still be top notch in the NCAA. His passing is good. But when he plays in college he won't be able to walk around everyone as easily. I'm looking forward to seeing how he is defensively against better players. Point is, his strengths will still be strengths at the next level.

 

[XX]

Level of competition really isn't doing Makar any favors here.

 

[Grantham]

Colton Parayko was drafted straight out of the AJHL. I'm sure a lot of teams are kicking themselves for not keeping an eye on him. While Colton is a beast of a man physically, Makar has significantly outproduced him offensively in his draft year. Makar is playing in this league only because he is going the NCAA route.

I hope that Jim Benning is paying attention to him, seeing that he was a star defensemen in the AJHL himself.

Makar has dominated every league/tournament he has participated in, and I think he may turn out to be the best player in this draft.

 

[Siludin]

Wouldn't Fabbro be an ideal comparison?

 

[lawrence]

Wouldn't Fabbro be an ideal comparison?

He had Jost as a teamate though.

Makar has no other notable teamates. Right now the AJHL is a playground to him.

 

[wings5]

How does the competition in the AJHL compare to say HS hockey which Mittelstadt played this year?

 

[Aceboogie]

Colton Parayko was drafted straight out of the AJHL. I'm sure a lot of teams are kicking themselves for not keeping an eye on him. While Colton is a beast of a man physically, Makar has significantly outproduced him offensively in his draft year. Makar is playing in this league only because he is going the NCAA route.

I hope that Jim Benning is paying attention to him, seeing that he was a star defensemen in the AJHL himself.

Makar has dominated every league/tournament he has participated in, and I think he may turn out to be the best player in this draft.

Parayko grew like 5 inches in 2 years from midget to 2nd year junior. Complete bambi on ice till 2nd half of 2nd year which was when he get drafted. Really took off in 1st ncaa year when skill caught up to size and development exploded. Not really good examples

Makes plays ajhl not whl to preserve ncaa eligibility. Parayko played ajhl because he had little to no shot at whl out of midget

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

How does the competition in the AJHL compare to say HS hockey which Mittelstadt played this year?

Much, much faster, more physical and just older (for lack of a better word) than MNHS. There are some very talented players in MNHS, but the vast majority of them spend a year in Tier II hockey (USHL, BCHL or AJHL) before heading to NCAA schools.

 

[XX]

Makes plays ajhl not whl to preserve ncaa eligibility. Parayko played ajhl because he had little to no shot at whl out of midget

Why does he want to play in the NCAA and at UMass of all places? How much education is he going to get in one or two years?

 

[tigervixxxen]

Makar isn't playing in the AJHL right now anyway, he's playing in the tourney that leads to the RBC Cup. That latest highlight package was against another league champion.

 

[Sundinisagod]

Wouldn't Fabbro be an ideal comparison?

In terms of style of play? No, not really. Fabbro is more of a heady 2way guy Makar is more dynamic offensively and a better skater.

 

[rt]

Makar isn't playing in the AJHL right now anyway, he's playing in the tourney that leads to the RBC Cup. That latest highlight package was against another league champion.

Would you mind expanding on this. I'm unfamiliar and would like to learn. Thank you!

 

[Frk It]

Why does he want to play in the NCAA and at UMass of all places? How much education is he going to get in one or two years?

I don't think he "chose" it, I think it was the best school that recruited him.

 

[rt]

I don't think he "chose" it, I think it was the best school that recruited him.

A few decent nhlers have made stops through Amherst over the last ten years. Plus, if people are concerned about his physical strength, the D1 schedule allows for and usually demands a lot of time in the gym/weightroom. The CHL schedule is so loaded, especially for top guys who play internationally, that you usually don't see a whole lot of in-season strength development from prospects. It's all about off-season for major junior weight gain, from what I've seen.

 

[Caesium]

How much of that do you think is Makar being amazing, and how much is the competition being mediocre?

Every time I watch Makar, I can't get over how much faster he is than everybody else. It's like they're in slow-mo.

Prospects undergo 3rd party testing that is standardized. I've seen his numbers, his mobility is off the charts. He beat McDavid in a couple of tests.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Would you mind expanding on this. I'm unfamiliar and would like to learn. Thank you!

This is definitely not my area of expertise but what I understand is the AJHL is one of 10 leagues in the CJHL and they gather all 10 league champions to compete in a tournament that eventually leads to the RBC Cup, their version of the Memorial Cup. Since there's 10 league champions there's an additional tourney to get one of the three regional births, this is the step Brooks is in now and they have advanced to the final game of the West regional.

So while this is still junior A and all that, I would consider this a higher level of competition than just the AJHL. One of the league champions they recently played and beat was Pentiction.

 

[covfefe]

Level of competition really isn't doing Makar any favors here.

Plenty of notable NHLers played in similar leagues in their draft years, including most of the league's NCAA alumni.

Wouldn't Fabbro be an ideal comparison?

Not really, Fabbro likes to allow plays to develop, he's less aggressive and very smooth.

Makar is much more explosive and seems to have some special athletic gifts. Seems like the kind of guy who would could be excellent in several sports.

 

[Alberta Yote]

Would you mind expanding on this. I'm unfamiliar and would like to learn. Thank you!

He is the dominant player on the dominant team in a tournament featuring the leagues champions from the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Junior A leagues. This tournament decides participants in the RBC Cup which is the Junior A version of the Memorial Cup.