F Riley Heidt - Prince George Cougars, WHL (2023, 64th, MIN)

[BE Friend]

Lot of PP points. And gravy from the lessor teams. PG PP numbers have continued to be excellent this year. I wonder if his rating got discounted from that. Yes from the mid to lower first round to basically third round is a big drop.

 

[57special]

It was really weird to me that he was picked in the third round. I thought for a while after that what I could’ve missed in terms of any glaring deficiencies in his game because I ranked him #15 overall.

I’m glad he’s going on to play so well this year. I still can’t believe he was picked so late, but then again I had Andrew Cristall at #9 and he didn’t go until #40.

Cristall is another one... both players are following up last year's excellent performance with very strong starts to the 23-24 season.

 

[Bubbles]

I don't really believe in this "interview" explanation. If that was the case, he wouldn't be drafted at all.

Scouts miss all the time. Brayden Point was widely regarded as a 1st round talent and he went in the 3rd. And funny enough the biggest knock was his skating.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

He’s going to have the same issues most players of his protoype have. He’s skilled enough and a smart enough player to be a top-6 NHL player. If the Skating and Strength doesn’t improve rather significantly, he probably doesn’t have a very long career. Players like him don’t do very well if they’re just average skaters. The bet is that he develops into a good skater in the next couple of seasons. I guess not a lot of teams we’re willing to make that bet, at least not in the first 2 rounds.

 

[Blueston]

Cristall is another one... both players are following up last year's excellent performance with very strong starts to the 23-24 season.

Which is neither surprising nor all that instructive. Their ability to produce in juniors isn’t in question. It’s whether they can do it at nhl. If either of these guys can morph into Jaden Schwartz then y’all can crow, but if they are next Ty rattle..

 

[AD1066]

Which is neither surprising nor all that instructive. Their ability to produce in juniors isn’t in question. It’s whether they can do it at nhl. If either of these guys can morph into Jaden Schwartz then y’all can crow, but if they are next Ty rattle..

I'd still rather take that chance than have a Brady Cleveland. My team's GM, however, feels otherwise.

 

[57special]

Which is neither surprising nor all that instructive. Their ability to produce in juniors isn’t in question. It’s whether they can do it at nhl. If either of these guys can morph into Jaden Schwartz then y’all can crow, but if they are next Ty rattle..

And you think your comment is?

 

[Peasy]

Lot of PP points. And gravy from the lessor teams. PG PP numbers have continued to be excellent this year. I wonder if his rating got discounted from that. Yes from the mid to lower first round to basically third round is a big drop.

He was awful at the U18s while being gifted a top role instantly.

Also, just from scout quotes in the black book, they really dislike his compete, perimeter player, and compare him to drouin. Someone who will look way better in junior than the NHL.

 

[Blueston]

And you think your comment is?

I think it’s tiresome that folks like you need to attack posters making good faith points.

 

[57special]

5 point night ties him with Firkus for P/pg lead.(1.95). 2nd in oa WHL scoring.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Don’t think his skill will ever be in question. Is the rest of his game good enough for the NHL? Time will tell, but I think the answer will be yes.

 

[57special]

Don’t think his skill will ever be in question. Is the rest of his game good enough for the NHL? Time will tell, but I think the answer will be yes.

Well, he's scoring at an elite level, which has been on an uninterrupted upward trend since he cam into the WHL 4 years ago. Size isn't an issue at 5'11", 180+(could end up 6', 190+), skating is decent or better, plays with a bit of nastiness... I know some will get on his two way game, but that can be learned.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Well, he's scoring at an elite level, which has been on an uninterrupted upward trend since he cam into the WHL 4 years ago. Size isn't an issue at 5'11", 180+(could end up 6', 190+), skating is decent or better, plays with a bit of nastiness... I know some will get on his two way game, but that can be learned.

I think the skating is more of a concern at that size for me, at least last year. Haven’t seen him outside of highlights this year. Maybe it’s improved.

 

[57special]

4 point night, now leads the WHL in scoring, albeit narrowly. Firkus, and his linemate, Funk are just behind him.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I still worry a little about his 5 on 5 play

 

[Artorius Horus T]

His WHL career so far

First 87 games : 23+43 (0.76 ppg)
Last 94 games : 39+121 (1.70 ppg)

He is 18 years old.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Leads the WHL in points with 53 and is one of only two players right now that has hit 50. Funk is the other one.

 

[JotAlan]

Looks like he's training shooting with Tim Turk. If he improves his already good shot and starts shooting more along with his passing and vision qualities, we could see an even more monstrous season.

 

[57special]

Looks like he's training shooting with Tim Turk. If he improves his already good shot and starts shooting more along with his passing and vision qualities, we could see an even more monstrous season.

During the summer he was quoted as saying he wanted to shoot more, but so far he seems to be in distribution mode. Funk has almost twice as many shots as him, Tescarik(don't know how much he plays with Heidt now)over 50% more.

 

[JotAlan]

During the summer he was quoted as saying he wanted to shoot more, but so far he seems to be in distribution mode. Funk has almost twice as many shots as him, Tescarik(don't know how much he plays with Heidt now)over 50% more.

Where can I see these shooting statistics and statistics like scoring in 5on5?

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Looks like he wasn’t even invited to the WJC Camp

 

[JotAlan]

Looks like he wasn’t even invited to the WJC Camp

I don't understand what's against him, because Yager was and Heidt has been running over Yager's season (since last year, in fact).

 

[Reddawg]

Seems pretty obvious that someone high up in Hockey Canada is not a fan, he wasn’t invited to the WJC summer camp either.

 

[57special]

The Canadian WJC team will be loaded in the top 9. They probably invited Yager over Heidt because they think he will be better suited to bottom of the lineup minutes than Heidt.

 

[Bubbles]

5A tonight...do you think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder?