Alex Cotton, 132nd Overall

[LastWordArmy]

Undrafted last year, defenceman Alex Cotton had an absolutely monster season and has been noticed as a draft re-entry. The Langley, British Columbia native led all WHL defencemen in points and was named to the league’s Second All-Star time. He put up 20 goals and 47 points for 67 points in 63 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. It was a real breakthrough after struggling in his first two seasons in the league.

Drafted in the fifth round, 99th overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, Cotton first saw action in the 2017-18 season, though it was limited. He played just five games but did not record a point. Instead Cotton played for Yale Hockey Academy Prep School, putting up 11 goals and 43 assists for 54 points in 32 games. He led the CSSHL in points by a defenceman. He added a goal and two assists for three points in three playoff games. In 2018-19, he played the full season with Lethbridge. However, Cotton was limited to just two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 54 games. There were signs of his offensive improvement in the playoffs though. Cotton had one goal and three assists for four points in seven games.

Alex Cotton Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #108 - Last Word on Hockey

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[Henkka]

Alex Cotton Scouting Report

Defence — shoots Right
Born May 12th, 2001 — Langley, British Columbia
Height 6’2″ — Weight 175 lbs [188 cm/79 kg]


Alex Cotton Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #108 - Last Word on Hockey

How can this good guy be available?

2nd team all star, 6'2 RhD, scored 20 goals.

 

[lhsgolf19]

For those that missed it

I like it as a 5th

 

[Henkka]

Skating and defensive issues.

Long project, if he ever pans out.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Like the idea of him and the story

 

[Konnan511]

Move him to forward.

 

[RedMenace]

Got a nice shot, that's for sure.

Obligatory:

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

I went back 7 seasons & this one in the WHL to find player comps for Alex Cotton and I'll say on paper his season has been very exciting.

Here are the guys who were his age and put up 0.9ppg or better..... really great names up there with him.

Name	Pts/GP	Age (Season End)	Season
Josh Morrissey	1.24	19.1	2014
Ty Smith	1.19	19.1	2019
Shea Theodore	1.13	18.8	2014
David Quenneville	1.06	19.1	2017
Alex Cotton	1.05	19.0	2020
Jett Woo	1.02	18.8	2019
Henri Jokiharju	1.00	18.9	2018
Joe Hicketts	1.00	19.0	2015
Jake Bean	0.98	18.9	2017
Calen Addison	0.97	19.1	2019
Travis Sanheim	0.94	19.1	2015
Ethan Bear	0.93	18.9	2016
Yegor Zamula	0.92	19.1	2019
Morgan Rielly	0.88	19.2	2013

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

from another thread. Think this was our best value pick in the draft

 

[newfy]

Sounds like a lot of his points came from playing on a pretty stacked PP. Wait and see on him I guess but his shot is huge. Hes not soft either

 

[Frk It]

Kid can shoot.

 

[MBH]

Cotton was in his D+1 season, essentially
Cotton 63 games 20-47-67 +15 D+1
Bowen Byram 50 games 14-38-52 D+1
Ty Smith 46 games 19-40-59 D+2
Calen Addison 50 games 10-42-52 D+2

But of the D+1 class it was Cotton and Byram.

Cotton doesn't have a great scouting report. But he's got a shot, some hockey IQ, good size and that's worth a 5th to me.

 

[Frk It]

Where will he play next year? Has been over a PPG in each of his last 2 seasons in the WHL. Does it make more sense for him to go back there or jump to the AHL? Is there room in the AHL for him?

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Where will he play next year? Has been over a PPG in each of his last 2 seasons in the WHL. Does it make more sense for him to go back there or jump to the AHL? Is there room in the AHL for him?

Does he even have any junior eligibility left?

 

[Frk It]

Does he even have any junior eligibility left?

I don't think so. So I guess it's Toledo or GR next year?

 

[teemussalami]

He'd be a good winger. Big kid, nice shoot.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Does he even have any junior eligibility left?

I guess I don't know the financial implications or anything like that, but I would be surprised if the CHL like the NCAA doesn't waive some of those requirements because of guys missing so much time.

 

[Gniwder]

I guess I don't know the financial implications or anything like that, but I would be surprised if the CHL like the NCAA doesn't waive some of those requirements because of guys missing so much time.

I doubt it because it's a developmental league. If they let all of the 21 year olds play, then where will 16 year olds play?

Each WHL team is allowed 3 overage players though, so Cotton could still return to the WHL. Considering he's the second leading scorer on tat team, I'd think the team would want him back.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I doubt it because it's a developmental league. If they let all of the 21 year olds play, then where will 16 year olds play?

Each WHL team is allowed 3 overage players though, so Cotton could still return to the WHL. Considering he's the second leading scorer on tat team, I'd think the team would want him back.

How many 16 year olds can make that jump with a year out of hockey? I could see them upping the overage rule at least to balance some of this. We will see, the CHL has to be kind of in a panic with no NHL agreement, my guess is that is their priority with that one year extension running out. I wonder if we hear more once they work that out in terms of plans.

 

[MBH]

I was kind of surprised he wasn't signed to play in the AHL this year, but I guess they're not sold on him.
I certainly wouldn't be opposed to signing him.
I don't think we have a ton of defense playing in Toledo/GR next year, do we?

Possible AHL/ECHL defense next season.
Cholowski - if waived
Lindstrom
Newpower
Johansson
McIsaac
Barton
Viro - Is he coming over?
Sebrango - back to the OHL
Seider - very unlikely.

I'd sign Cotton and shove him in Toledo if we have too many D in GR.

Tuomisto will be back in college at least one more year. Moore is back in college.

 

[Killerjas]

Was not signed to an ELC. Never saw anything in him, no surprise he was not signed up, since the Griffins defense is pretty contested at the moment.

 

[Henkka]

Seems to be another Regula on Yzerman standards.

Great production, but no defence.

 

[Frk It]

Best of luck to him.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Not sure I would have signed with the Wings if I were in his shoes if offered. Best of luck to him

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

We all kind of knew that Cotton didn't have the stuff. His skating is really, really bad. I can't remember the last time I saw a player skate so poorly and get signed. Maybe Matt Ellis?

And looking at the 2020 draft in hindsight and the Wings really could have done much better in the 3rd to 5th rounds that year. I know these picks are normally longshots but 2020 was a pretty deep draft, and you could see a lot of the talent in the later rounds that we missed at.

Guys that were available after Viro in the 3rd that look to have legit chances:
Ty Smilanic - C/W
Calle Clang - G
Nico Daws - G
Justin Sourdif - RW

After Sam Stang in the 4th
Brandon Coe - RW
Carter Savoie - LW
Adam Wilsby - D
Dylan Garand - G
Thimo Nickl - D

After Jan Bednar in the 4th
Blake Biondi - C
Zion Nybeck - W (The skill is there but he's super small)
William Villaneuve - D
Antonio Stranges - LW (Great skater. Could be another AA. Could be a great 3rd/4th line grinder)
Sean Farrell - LW
Ty Tullio - C/W (This guy screamed Kris Draper pick. I don't know how we missed this.)
Martin Chromiak - LW

After Alex Cotton in the 5th
Brett Berard - W
Elliot Desnoyers - C
Jakub Dobes - G (6'5" goalie at that.)
Ryder Rolston - RW
Isaak Phillips - D (Already played with Chicago this year)
Ryan Francis - C
Pavel Novak - RW

I keep pressing on the need to reinvest in North American scouting in Detroit. That's where we can find good value role players with smart drafting.

 

[Gniwder]

We all kind of knew that Cotton didn't have the stuff. His skating is really, really bad. I can't remember the last time I saw a player skate so poorly and get signed. Maybe Matt Ellis?

Aside from Berggren & Raymond, none of the prospects that played in the tournament or preseason this past season impressed at all. Big chance to impress the front office, and they all looked like they were playing a non-contact pickup game at the local rink.

Cotton was by far the worst, left Sebrango stranded so many times. I think he was on the ice for more than half the goals against. He has really low hockey IQ, I think MBH was the only one who liked him, lol.