Prospect Info: Capitals Top Prospects 2023 #3

[um]

Cristall easily, his range of outcomes is: the floor Sonny Milano, the middle Trevor Zegras, the ceiling Jack Hughes.

He was picked 40th, not 4th.

 

[OV Rocks]

“Bedard is the gold standard, and then there’s Cristall who isn’t too far down the list, from a skill perspective,” a scout said. “He’s so deceptive. His talent is top-five worthy.”

Yes Cristall does have that potential.

His floor is probably Milano and just like Milano his potential is going to give him more chances than most other players. His skill will keep him on the PP, meaning he will get 10-15 goals and 35 points, just like Milano.

Maybe we found a gem and the Caps staff can work on his skating, taking him up from Milano level to Zegras level. 20-30 goals, 30-40 assists. Is that too much of a reach I don't think so.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

I feel bad for how overhyped our fans are making this kid. Cult of Cristall

 

[Hivemind]

“Bedard is the gold standard, and then there’s Cristall who isn’t too far down the list, from a skill perspective,” a scout said. “He’s so deceptive. His talent is top-five worthy.”

Yes Cristall does have that potential.

His floor is probably Milano and just like Milano his potential is going to give him more chances than most other players. His skill will keep him on the PP, meaning he will get 10-15 goals and 35 points, just like Milano.

Maybe we found a gem and the Caps staff can work on his skating, taking him up from Milano level to Zegras level. 20-30 goals, 30-40 assists. Is that too much of a reach I don't think so.

You can find scouts who are enamoured with every prospect, and in particular there are plenty of prospects in that later 1st-early 2nd range that were slated for higher draft slots at earlier portions of their season (or that individual scouts would still pickt hem there). There's undersized forwards with sizzling potential galore in that draft range as well.

For example:

"Despite being a little on the smaller side, he deserves a top 10 ranking, as he possesses an immense amount of unique offensive talent. He moves effortlessly as a skater, showing the ability to gain power from each stride. That allows him to divert more energy to playmaking. His agility makes him tough to check in open ice. He turns his hips a lot, and his wide skating stance makes it difficult to predict where he will move. That said, his speed only ranks as good, not top end. Shinkaruk has rapid hands, and he can be very dangerous due to his creativity and coordination."

"Watching perhaps my favorite NHL Draft prospect this year Hunter Shinkaruk. Always seems to be in the right place to make something happen."

Two quotes about Hunter Shinkaruk, drafted 24th overall in 2013 (right after Burakovsky). Managed to play 1 game for the team that drafted him (Vancouver) and appeared in 14 games (over 2 seasons) for Calgary. Now playing in the KHL.


"Mascherin is the hockey equivalent of an elite quarterback who can carve up a zone or man-to-man defense without impunity, and he uses a long stick and quick thinking to steal passes and exploit a numerical advantage or create one himself. Mascherin, a former top pick in the OHL Priority Selection, plays a clean, disciplined game and has legitimate top-line potential."

"At 5’10” it is easy to dismiss Mascherin as a “small player” and that is not entirely accurate. Yes he is short by pro hockey standards, but he is not small. He is 205 pounds and strong as an ox. He is built like a fire hydrant and has excellent skating ability. He has explosive acceleration and a high end top gear. Mascherin has a deadly shot, hard, quick and accurate and controls the puck well at top speed. His game is reminiscent of Phil Kessel, but stronger and not yet quite as gifted offensively"

Those are both for Adam Mascherin, drafted 38th in 2016 (and 100th in 2018 after he didn't sign with Florida) - played 3 years with Texas in the AHL before going to Sweden. 0 NHL appearances so far.

I don't think people are taking too much exception with you saying Cristall has potential. What people are taking exception with is your claim that he has a Sonny Milano floor. He doesn't, simple as that. There is a very real and very significant chance that he never establishes himself as a full-time NHLer. There are very very few prospects who are "guaranteed" to make the NHL, and they are almost always drafted very early on.

 

[Neil Racki]

Iorio gmv.

Big tall D man, looked much older than 20 years old in the Calder run. Seemed to be on the ice a lot w da bears.