I don't disagree with any of that, and I do like his skill set, a defenseman with high end skating and passing ability is desperately needed on this team. He might be the best skater in the prospect pipeline now.
But I'm worried enough about there being room for Hronek and Saarijarvi in GR with the roster hoard Holland has going on. I want to see Cholo get a top role somewhere and dominate after his freshman year, and WHL seems like the best option for that.
Well apparently his skating isn't very good according to others...
I don't know where that is coming from. The point of this drill is to be choppy and compact. Outside of the initial mishandle at the beginning he was exactly what you want it to be. It is a short burst agility drill with puck handling.
His skating has been lauded continuously by our scouts, other teams scouts and everyone that watches him. If you want to pick on Cholowski skating isn't the place to do it. Like you said at this point he might be the best skater we have in the prospect pool.
McDonagh isn't bad but I think he is a more advanced defender defensively than Cholowski, I also think if he fills out correctly Cam Fowler might be a good comparable. He has to put in the work. Going to the WHL isn't the worst thing for him.
Just because things aren't going well doesn't mean we need to devalue the handful of very promising prospects that we do have.
Cholowski could be a big possession driver that plays a lot of minutes because of his skating ability.