Craig Button's Top 50 Affiliated Prospects List (2024)

[Sticktape]

No Othmann?

 

[viper0220]

Cutter Gauthier, Alexander Nikishin lead Craig Button’s top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list | TSN

Cutter Gauthier was in the midst of some controversy this season, but there's nothing controversial about Craig Button ranking him at No. 1.

www.tsn.ca

 

[bossram]

Well yes, when you rate Edvinsson 17 under ASP and Reinbacher 16 under Hutson, and fans of both Detroit and Montreal will tell you the formers are far more well rounded and NHL-built, people are going to question if you're not just stat-watching.

And for Detroit fans particularly, we're aware Button has a history of this considering he shat on Seider before realizing he could actually put up numbers, too.

Then why do you care what Button has to say?

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Then why do you care what Button has to say?

Well I dunno... The forum is called "Hockey's Future" and a lot of us are here to discuss "Hockey's Future", even if it's an opinion we generally disagree with.

Crazy, I know.

 

[GAGLine]

Also just so everyone knows Cossa has a higher save percentage by 3 points than wallestadt in the AHL, and .932 in his past 10. not saying he’s better but his lack of respect compared to his peer blue chip goaltender prospects is silly.

Wallstedt put up good numbers last year in the AHL while Cossa was playing almost entirely in the ECHL. It's going to take time for Cossa to once again be thought of in the same context.

Dylan Garand was WHL goalie of the year and CHL goalie of the year, over Cossa, in their final year of juniors. He won gold at the WJC, starting over Cossa. He spent all of last year in the AHL and was great down the stretch and in the playoffs. He was 2nd overall in GAA and SV% in the playoffs last year. This year, his numbers are right there with Cossa's.

Despite all of that, Garand continues to fly under the radar, which is fine. It's nice to see prospects get recognition, but ultimately what matters is whether or not they reach their potential.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Wallstedt put up good numbers last year in the AHL while Cossa was playing almost entirely in the ECHL. It's going to take time for Cossa to once again be thought of in the same context.

Dylan Garand was WHL goalie of the year and CHL goalie of the year, over Cossa, in their final year of juniors. He won gold at the WJC, starting over Cossa. He spent all of last year in the AHL and was great down the stretch and in the playoffs. He was 2nd overall in GAA and SV% in the playoffs last year. This year, his numbers are right there with Cossa's.

Despite all of that, Garand continues to fly under the radar, which is fine. It's nice to see prospects get recognition, but ultimately what matters is whether or not they reach their potential.

Cossa has never really been thought of in the same context. Mainly because a lot of people never wanted to acknowledge that Wallstedt was a much more complete goalie while Cossa was a lot more raw of a project.

Both are on track to be NHL goalies, and probably good ones, but I think Cossa's ceiling is higher. The question has always been how likely he is to reach it.

 

[Jared Dunn]

Button always puts a few "out-there" placements in his rankings. Nothing new. It's the schtick. It's to generate clicks and conversation.

He is certainly happy to wear the clown shoes

 

[MS]

I don’t think it’s too bad of a list other than overrating a couple PP specialist defenders (Hutson, ASP) and underrating some other better all-around guys.

Stankoven and Perreault are rated more than fairly.

 

[Siludin]

Lekkerimaki and Willander jumping all over everyone's prospect lists has been my favourite Canucks subplot this season.

 

[Parliament]

I mean,.. that's definitely a list.

 

[The Burdened]

brutal list.

 

[Antiillafire]

I get wright’s stock has fallen but he’s producing at a very solid rate in the AHL. I really don’t understand him being that low. This list is brutal.

 

[bossram]

Well I dunno... The forum is called "Hockey's Future" and a lot of us are here to discuss "Hockey's Future", even if it's an opinion we generally disagree with.

Crazy, I know.

That's absolutely fair. 100%. It sparks general discussion about the players in question, which is what everyone here likes to do.

It's just bizarre people are reacting to Button's list like it's a crazy injustice coming out of nowhere when...we already know this is a regular occurrence from him.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

Michkov better be a 80-90 point player at least by the time he comes to North America based on all the hype being given to him by posters here.

 

[GAGLine]

Cossa has never really been thought of in the same context. Mainly because a lot of people never wanted to acknowledge that Wallstedt was a much more complete goalie while Cossa was a lot more raw of a project.

Both are on track to be NHL goalies, and probably good ones, but I think Cossa's ceiling is higher. The question has always been how likely he is to reach it.

Given that both Wallstedt and Cossa were drafted in the 1st round, with Cossa going 5 picks before Wallstedt, I'd say they were thought of in the same context at that time. Maybe they didn't both have the same timeline, but they were both thought of as future franchise goalies.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Button's lists, any of them, are always a little bit... well, Button's. As we say in Russia "I'm an artist, I see it this way"...

 

[bossram]

Lekkerimaki and Willander jumping all over everyone's prospect lists has been my favourite Canucks subplot this season.

I'm from Vancouver and am a Canucks fan. But I would definitely not have Lekkerimaki that high.

 

[Captain97]

I can't speak for Montreal fans... But to me, Edvinsson and Reinbacher below ASP and Hutson respectively, is a hilarious take.

Button's giving Scott Wheeler a run for his money when it comes to "Biggest stat watcher".

Yeah I wouldn't trade Reinbacher for Hutson. I think Hutson will be good but he has serious question marks. Reinbacher should be in the style of Alex Pietrangelo. Whether he's a 1,2,or 3 is likely the question. Kids has a very high floor. (Yes he may bust but he's pretty surefire at being a top 4 guy).

Hutson could be Adam Fox but he could be Shayne Gostisbehere. He could be great but it's a gamble for sure.

 

[saska sault]

I don't see Brady Clevland, trash list.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah I wouldn't trade Reinbacher for Hutson. I think Hutson will be good but he has serious question marks. Reinbacher should be in the style of Alex Pietrangelo. Whether he's a 1,2,or 3 is likely the question. Kids has a very high floor. (Yes he may bust but he's pretty surefire at being a top 4 guy).

Hutson could be Adam Fox but he could be Shayne Gostisbehere. He could be great but it's a gamble for sure.

Guy looks amazing in the NCAA. Breaking records...

I get that people are concerned about him translating, it's a valid concern. But if he's anywhere close to the player I've seen down there he's going to be a tremendous player. And he's a good three inches taller than when he was drafted to boot.

We'll see.

 

[Static]

It's funny that lists, even the "best", always end up looking bad in hindsight and yet that never stops people from criticizing ones off the beaten path.

This one will end up looking bad, just like the others, just for different reasons.

 

[AKL]

Could just be me, I haven't seen many others talking about it as I scrolled through, but Calum Ritchie seems wildly out of place at 6.

It's funny that lists, even the "best", always end up looking bad in hindsight and yet that never stops people from criticizing ones off the beaten path.

This one will end up looking bad, just like the others, just for different reasons.

If they're all bad anyway, why would a list off the beaten path be immune to criticism?

 

[Static]

Could just be me, I haven't seen many others talking about it as I scrolled through, but Calum Ritchie seems wildly out of place at 6.



If they're all bad anyway, why would a list off the beaten path be immune to criticism?

Because it's a nonsensical argument.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Michkov should be 1st.

Perreault should be the highest ranked BC player. He leads college hockey in scoring, for crying out loud.

Draft position biasing this rating.

 

[Raistlin]

Tell me you based your entire ranking around the WJCs without telling me...

Better yet, tell me you only value production in defensemen without telling me... ASP and Hutson ranked above Jiricek, Edvinsson, and Reinbacher is laughable.

he does value WJC a lot over other scouts, because he's usually there to see it with TSN. Its his thing.

He did rank Willander over Hutson and they are often linemates. Willander is quite disappointing points wise compared to other top Defense prospects. Gauthier over a lot of the higher touted guys is a take. Stankoven at 22 is a bit of an injustice. but I have no problem ranking GP at 7 under his teammates, they simply have more to offer outside of the scoresheet.