Mutala is having a good year on one of the worst teams in the WHL. He's 24 points ahead of the second highest scorer on the team.
He is having a phenomenal year on one the worst teams in the entire CHL.
The Americans are absolutely trash. They get blown out in half the games they play. Mutala is an interesting case, because his stats for his D+1 season are very good and exactly what you hope to see. Even if he was a 1st or 2nd round pick last year this season would still be considered a strong D+1 year.
The question I have now is whether he's just benefiting from being by far the best player on an absolutely garbage team where he's getting lots of quality opportunity and minutes to succeed. If he gets traded to a contending team next year and has to share some of the opportunities will his minutes decline? Or does getting a chance to play with actual good teams and good linemates create the chance for him to be even more offensive and dangerous next season.
He was considered a potential 1st round pick going into his draft year. Obviously everything that went on with his parents that year really messed with him as it would any 17 year old. Now it at least looks like he is back on track and showing exactly why he was considered a potential 1st round pick prospect, and exactly why the Avs took a flyer on him late.
I like the pick a lot. It was probably my favorite selection of the 2019 draft beyond Byram.