Anyone want to dig a little deeper and go after the #33 pick? I really like Beecher if he is there. Here is his McKeen's analysis:
On a USNTDP team long on skill and short on size, especially up front, Beecher
was the policeman for much of the year. His inherent skills were held in check
as he provided bodily force, sometimes violent bodily force.
Certain aspects of his game were clearly better than the bottom six type role
he had assumed. Most noticeably, his skating. Not only was he a good skater for
a 6-3”, nearly 210-pound teenager, but his speed was better than many players
four inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter. When he has clear ice in front of him,
he eats it up.
As this season progressed, Beecher became more comfortable using his speed
to create scoring chances. As few players at this level could contain a player of
his size going that fast, he would be less hesitant in taking the puck right to the
goalmouth. The more he did that, the more he showed patience with the puck,
waiting for the goaltender to make a move first before skating around him or
flipping the puck over him. He also showed that his hands work very well in
tight, opening up more ways for him to help his team.
While there are some players of Beecher’s general size who are plus skaters,
many are limited to straight lines. In Beecher’s case, he can play with some
shake and bake as well. He has incredible puck protection abilities as well,
making it exceptionally difficult for opposing defenders to force turnovers from
him.
Like many of his teammates on the program, Beecher is a high IQ player. He is
advanced at reading the play and handles situations appropriately. He sells out
his body on defense to shut down a play or block a shot.
Offensively, the game reading ability leads to him recognizing when space
opens up underneath the defense and being able to attack that space,
increasing the potency of a scoring threat. Between his size and his balance,
he likes to play in front of the opposing goaltender, where he can be near
impossible to dislodge.
As much as his skill game has come on in the last few months, Beecher first
came to scouting prominence as a physical threat. He knows that his biggest
advantage over opponents has always been his physicality and he plays with
that always in the forefront of his mind. He is a bear against the boards, and
those who have tried to play heavy with him have quickly felt his wrath. The
USHL is not a fighting league but provoking him is not really a wise idea. He
sticks up for his teammates and for himself and I expect him to do so more
forcefully at the next level.