D Charlie Elick - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL(2024 Draft)

[landy92mack29]

Recent 3rd overall pick by Brandon and has already signed. 1st thing you notice is his skating ability which is already elite. Solid size already and is starting to use it more physically. Good shot that will need more power as he grows but quick release. From what I've seen has good IQ and quite high puck skills which should make him fit well into the modern pmd role. Brandon is looking like it's loaded for a couple year run at championships on Elick will likely soon be the main man on D once Iorio moves to pro

Charlie Elick at eliteprospects.com

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[wings5]

Recent 3rd overall pick by Brandon and has already signed. 1st thing you notice is his skating ability which is already elite. Solid size already and is starting to use it more physically. Good shot that will need more power as he grows but quick release. From what I've seen has good IQ and quite high puck skills which should make him fit well into the modern pmd role. Brandon is looking like it's loaded for a couple year run at championships on Elick will likely soon be the main man on D once Iorio moves to pro

Charlie Elick at eliteprospects.com

More than likely if he is good enough that he represents Canada but I wouldn’t be disappointed if helped Austria out and represented them internationally

 

[Artorius Horus T]

A bump.

Had a nice wrister goal (sure the goalie didn't see the shot)
in his 2022-23 WHL preseason opener.

Played in 9 games last season, scored a goal an assist.

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[Bubbles]

This kid is going to be good. Great offensive instincts and loves to hit people.

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s very similar to a former Wheat King RHD, Braden Schneider. Has size, skating, physicality, and can defend. His puck game is inconsistent and I find that he lacks a little playmaking, but he has a big shot and can make some offensive plays. He’ll likely be a first rounder in 2024.

 

[landy92mack29]

Was hit awkwardly into the boards and had to get strechered off. Was moving his hands and giving thumbs up so hopefully ends up not too serious

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s going to have a chance to be a first round pick because he’s big, fast, very physical, and good defensively, but his puck game really worries me. He coughs up the puck way too much under pressure and isn’t very accurate with his passing. He has a very shot and can carry it a little bit when you don’t stick check him, but that’s pretty much the extent to his contributions with the puck.

 

[Dominance]

He’s going to have a chance to be a first round pick because he’s big, fast, very physical, and good defensively, but his puck game really worries me. He coughs up the puck way too much under pressure and isn’t very accurate with his passing. He has a very shot and can carry it a little bit when you don’t stick check him, but that’s pretty much the extent to his contributions with the puck.

A year ago I would have said he had a shot at being the first defenseman drafted in 2024. His puck skills definitely haven’t come along as I would have hoped - that one turnover today where he flubbed the pass made me physically cringe. I would be stunned if he isn’t still a first round pick, though. He has the size, skating, and smarts where it’s as close as it gets to a guarantee he will be a middle pairing guy at the NHL level for a long time. Somebody will take that over swinging on a small high-offense winger.

 

[Bubbles]

Got an assist today on the OT winner.


But what really impressed me was an open ice hip check. He sent that Hurricanes player into the boards with force.

Looks like he's bringing back the old school hip check because I've seen him do that a few times.

 

[landy92mack29]

We'll see how much his offense progresses this year but he looks very similar to Schneider, floor is Hamonic.

 

[rt]

A year ago I would have said he had a shot at being the first defenseman drafted in 2024. His puck skills definitely haven’t come along as I would have hoped - that one turnover today where he flubbed the pass made me physically cringe. I would be stunned if he isn’t still a first round pick, though. He has the size, skating, and smarts where it’s as close as it gets to a guarantee he will be a middle pairing guy at the NHL level for a long time. Somebody will take that over swinging on a small high-offense winger.

He’s going to have a chance to be a first round pick because he’s big, fast, very physical, and good defensively, but his puck game really worries me. He coughs up the puck way too much under pressure and isn’t very accurate with his passing. He has a very shot and can carry it a little bit when you don’t stick check him, but that’s pretty much the extent to his contributions with the puck.

I agree with you guys.

Elick handles the puck like a hand grenade from what I’ve seen. Big time spazz. I was happy to look past this last season as he was D-1 but I was hoping to see improvement. I haven’t yet. But it’s still early. There’s time for him to take a step. His puck management is really bad. Too many turnovers and just dumping the puck into space. He acts much more quickly than he processes. He looks like a kid who wants to be anywhere in the world other than skating with the puck on his stick. I can relate. I’m also a panic prone spazz with the puck. We can smell our own.

 

[Petes2424]

Starting to see some talk about Elick in the Top 50, and even some talk of the 1st Round? I watch him quite a bit, and I don’t see it… yet.

I say yet, because we are starting to see some top end skills developing, and the game’s slowing down for him, as he starts playing with confidence. I would like to see him control play more. To me, a 1st or 2nd round pick needs to show it more than he does. To be fair, we usually start seeing that mid 17 year old year, so let’s wait and see.

His retrieval skills are real good, he’s a real good skater, and he does have top end instincts. Probably why we’re seeing some of this talk. Those 3 things get you drafted when you have good size.

Let’s give it a month or two, but he is a player people should keep an eye on. One thing’s for sure…. As it stands, he’s gonna get a ton of ice time in Brandon this season.

 

[rt]

I watched a few Brandon games very early on this season (first couple of weeks) and I was extremely underwhelmed by this player. Liked the physical aggression and basically nothing else. I’ve been unable to talk myself into watching more Brandon games when there are so many other CHLers I want to watch.

Any updates from those who watch him more regularly?

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I watched a few Brandon games very early on this season (first couple of weeks) and I was extremely underwhelmed by this player. Liked the physical aggression and basically nothing else. I’ve been unable to talk myself into watching more Brandon games when there are so many other CHLers I want to watch.

Any updates from those who watch him more regularly?

I've seen him a number of times since then and I also share this opinion on Elick. I'm not sure I see good enough puck skills or quick enough decision making with the puck on his stick to be warranted a top 50 let alone a 1st round pick.

For lack of a better word to describe him, the word "clunky" comes to mind. Personally not the biggest fan but maybe others see something I don't.

 

[LeProspector]

Impressive mesurables at the prospect game.

May be a defence first guy, but he can move!

 

[Mrfenn92]

Big fan of him

 

[rubenflamshep]

Offensive output hasn't been there. Unless he has other really elite tools hard to see him going top 50.

 

[MikeyS]

Offensive output hasn't been there. Unless he has other really elite tools hard to see him going top 50.View attachment 809385

Judging a defensive player off their offensive output is a terrible way to evaluate that kind of talent.

 

[MS]

Offensive output hasn't been there. Unless he has other really elite tools hard to see him going top 50.View attachment 809385

His offensive output is actually pretty solid for a guy who doesn't get PP time and has 0 PP points.

ES production, top-rated WHL defenders:

Carter Yakemchuk (6 CSS) - 42 GP/20 points
Colton Roberts (24) - 43 GP/8 points
Charlie Elick (28) - 43 GP/19 points
Tarin Smith (54) - 45 GP/21 points

His size/skating/physicality is definitely interesting and to me he's probably an early 2nd rounder.

 

[Joe Hallenback]

He is a very toolsy player he just needs to put it together consistently

 

[landy92mack29]

His offensive output is actually pretty solid for a guy who doesn't get PP time and has 0 PP points.

ES production, top-rated WHL defenders:

Carter Yakemchuk (6 CSS) - 42 GP/20 points
Colton Roberts (24) - 43 GP/8 points
Charlie Elick (28) - 43 GP/19 points
Tarin Smith (54) - 45 GP/21 points

His size/skating/physicality is definitely interesting and to me he's probably an early 2nd rounder.

yup the box score scouts won't be high on him because he gets no free points. NHL teams will love a 6'3-6'4 200+ lb shutdown dmen with passable puck skills. They're a lot harder to find than the pp specialists. I have him 25-40 range

 

[TheMadHatTrick]

How does he compare to a guy like Brandon Carlo (another big RD who could skate but lacked puck carrying skills)?

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

After last night, he may have just snuck in the first round.