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Prospect Info: 2024 Draft (5/131): Colton Roberts (D) | Vancouver Giants (WHL)

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The Nemesis

The Nemesis

Semper Tyrannus
Apr 11, 2005
90,700
37,094
Langley, BC
This pick was acquired from Calgary in the Nikita Okhotiuk trade. It had previously changed hands through Chicago and Toronto as well.

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TH]Outlet[/TH]
[TH]Rank[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]NHL Central Scouting[/TD]
[TD]#36 North American Skater[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]TSN Bob McKenzie[/TD]
[TD]#84[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]TSN Craig Button[/TD]
[TD]#91[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]EliteProspects[/TD]
[TD]#79[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sportsnet Cosentino[/TD]
[TD]NR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sportsnet Bukala[/TD]
[TD]NR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Future Considerations[/TD]
[TD]#130[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THN Ryan Kennedy[/TD]
[TD]#59[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]THN Tony Ferrari[/TD]
[TD]NR[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tankathon[/TD]
[TD]#84[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]FloHockey[/TD]
[TD]#75[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Daily Faceoff[/TD]
[TD]#98[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dobber Hockey[/TD]
[TD]#104[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]The Hockey Writers[/TD]
[TD]#50[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Main Prospects Board Thread

EliteProspects
Player Type Keywords: Mobile Defenseman, Physical Defenseman

Roberts’ mobility is most evident on retrievals, where he easily beats opponents to the puck, takes away their space, and accelerates on reception. He’s also capable of making high-level plays on the breakout.
Click to expand...


www.eliteprospects.com

Colton Roberts - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Colton Roberts, 2006-06-08 Ridge Meadows, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Vancouver Giants. Complete player biography and stats.
www.eliteprospects.com www.eliteprospects.com

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The Athletic

Tier: Has a chance to play games

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Roberts played a big role for Vancouver this season, lining up on both special teams. He’s an athletic defenseman who skates well for his size. He has NHL straight-ahead speed and good enough four-way mobility and first-step quickness to skate at the pro level. Roberts’ game isn’t overly flashy. He shows some skill as a puckhandler and passer and can make the odd tough play but I wouldn’t call him overly offensive. He can create with his feet and leads the odd rush. Defensively, he uses his length to break up plays and has some physicality. If his puck play gets more consistent, he could get games.
Click to expand...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5598387/2024/06/28/sharks-rangers-nhl-draft-picks-grades-2024/ (****PAYWALL****)


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FloHockey

A big, right-shot defenseman, Roberts showed improvement in his puck game this season and was able to increase his production some. I think there’s still some raw ability for him to tap into, but I had enough concerns about hockey sense that it was hard to put him any higher despite the athletic toolkit.
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www.flohockey.tv

NHL Draft Rankings 2024 Final Edition

Macklin Celebrini leads FloHockey's 2024 NHL Draft Rankings of the top 100 prospects from Chris Peters heading into June's draft.
www.flohockey.tv www.flohockey.tv
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Click to read more...
 
Last edited:
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Elite Prospects ranks him #79:

''A tall, mobile defenceman with shutdown potential and breakout skill, but hockey sense must continue to improve.

Colton Roberts is one of the draft’s most exciting – and biggest – blue-line projects. The 6-foot-4 defenceman brings NHL-calibre skating with plenty of flashes of skill, but hasn’t quite yet put all the pieces together. But one thing’s for certain: He has home run potential.''
 
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Also this:

chl.ca

Giants Defenceman Roberts Selected by Sharks in 2024 NHL Entry Draft - Vancouver Giants

Colton Roberts is the newest member of the San Jose Sharks, after they took him in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
chl.ca chl.ca

Scouting snippits from that article:

WHAT THE SCOUTS SAY:​


“Able to kill plays. He’s 6-foot-4, 200 lbs. and he’s got good size. His favourite player is Victor Hedman. He’s not quite as big as Victor, but in terms of that reach and what he’s able to do with that size defensively, those are the kind of elements you want from a guy his size. His ability to defend, his compete level, those are the big strengths of his game. I think there’s a little more offence there probably. One of those players that I’m just intrigued to watch his development as he continues to grow. We had him in our Sportlogiq rankings 75th, so we obviously think pretty highly of him.” – Mike Kelly (NHL Network & Sportlogiq)


“A big, right shot, skating, puck moving defenseman that has made significant strides this season and has a big upside. He has the size, reach and physical assets to finish his checks and to defend effectively and with a purpose. He plays big minutes on the top pairing and is utilized in all situations. Plays the top on the power play or as a shooter, moves the puck around quickly and efficiently to make plays. Makes the good first outlet pass, connects with the long stretch pass and joins the rush smartly where he can also beat attackers with his puck skills and skating.” – NHL Central Scouting


“He’s an extremely competitive player who plays a physical, hard game built upon a foundation of athletic tools. He’s a strong skater who plays sturdy over his balanced posture. He battles and holds his ground (and likes to chirp). He’s hard to play against. He’s got the reach and the willingness to use it and finish checks decisively…With some refinement, more attention paid to the details and positioning, and hopefully a little more creativity in time, there’s a pro-style player there.” – Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)


“The 6-foot-4 defenceman brings NHL-calibre skating with plenty of flashes of skill, but hasn’t quite yet put all the pieces together. But one thing’s for certain: He has home run potential. Roberts’ mobility is most evident on retrievals, where he easily beats opponents to the puck, takes away their space, and accelerates on reception.” – Elite Prospects Draft Guide


NOTES:​


  • Roberts becomes just the third Giants defenceman drafted to the NHL in the last 10 years. The others are: Bowen Byram (2019 – Colorado); Alex Kannok Leipert (2018 – Washington)
  • He is the 38th Giants player to ever be drafted to the NHL.
  • Roberts becomes the 2nd Vancouver Giant ever to be selected by the Sharks, after Tyson Sexsmith in 2007.
  • The Vancouver Giants have had at least two players drafted in the same year 14 times
Click to expand...
 
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Just stumbled on Roberts at 47 on Jason Bukala's mock draft at Sportsnet. Some very good stuff:
Roberts missed some time in the second half with injury, but he has provided me a body of work that has to be dissected closely to be appreciated. Roberts moves very well, has great size, and he’s a coveted right shot defenceman. He projects as a two-way defenceman who can provide some secondary offence. There are times his routes when defending his zone can improve, but he’s also had some tough luck in his zone with plays breaking down around him that led to goals against. It’s my opinion he brings solid value in the second round of this draft class.
Click to expand...
 
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Might just be his personality, but he seemed pretty flat in the interview, maybe not that stoked to be drafted to SJ or maybe just less effusive as a person.

These guys are the total lottery tickets so we'll see what happens.
 
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Was looking through Sharks' depth chart. Other than Thompson, there was only one other RH shot D below the main roster.

There are a few that have yet to be signed.

Eleven assists in 12 games to start the year for the Giants. Where does Roberts fit in the mix?
 
Jersey Fan 12 said:
Was looking through Sharks' depth chart. Other than Thompson, there was only one other RH shot D below the main roster.

There are a few that have yet to be signed.

Eleven assists in 12 games to start the year for the Giants. Where does Roberts fit in the mix?
Click to expand...
@The Nemesis is following Roberts locally/closely.

It sounds like he's got a lot of tools, but is highly inconsistent. If he finds some consistency, and maybe a bit more mobility/faster decision making? He could possibly crack the lineup in the future as a bottom pair D in a bunch of years (with time in the A).

Currently, the best RD in the pipeline is probably Pohlkamp, who is at DU (and therefore not yet signed to his ELC, why you didn't see him probably) and above Roberts in our fanbase's pipeline voting.
 
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coooldude said:
@The Nemesis is following Roberts locally/closely.

It sounds like he's got a lot of tools, but is highly inconsistent. If he finds some consistency, and maybe a bit more mobility/faster decision making? He could possibly crack the lineup in the future as a bottom pair D in a bunch of years (with time in the A).

Currently, the best RD in the pipeline is probably Pohlkamp, who is at DU (and therefore not yet signed to his ELC, why you didn't see him probably) and above Roberts in our fanbase's pipeline voting.
Click to expand...

Agree on Pohlkamp and was already familiar with his game. See more college hockey than I do juniors - especially the WHL and the Q.
 
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coooldude said:
@The Nemesis is following Roberts locally/closely.

It sounds like he's got a lot of tools, but is highly inconsistent. If he finds some consistency, and maybe a bit more mobility/faster decision making? He could possibly crack the lineup in the future as a bottom pair D in a bunch of years (with time in the A).

Currently, the best RD in the pipeline is probably Pohlkamp, who is at DU (and therefore not yet signed to his ELC, why you didn't see him probably) and above Roberts in our fanbase's pipeline voting.
Click to expand...

Mobility isn't a problem. He's not an elite skater (for comparison I watched Bowen Byram here for the 3.5 years he played jr and he was sooooo goddamn smooth. Roberts isn't that.) but he is still very good overall and excellent for a guy his size.

His biggest problem is processing speed and decision making. He can force plays sometimes or make sub-optimal choices when pressured, or can take long enough to make decisions that options are closed off before he makes his decision.

And I think that the consistency is a symptom of that. When he's in his groove and making the right calls without thinking too hard he puts up points and does his job in the defensive zone. But when things start to fall apart he'll start freezing or trying to force passes and that is where he stumbles.

I feel like (obviously somewhat biased take) he's probably a guy who gets a contract next year and gets a year or two on the Barracuda once he's eligible (his age-20 season will be 2026-27 so he's 2 years away from being AHL eligible) to prove there's something there with the hope that pro coaching can iron out some of those processing kinks.

He's currently 8th on the Giants in scoring with 11 points (all assists) in 12 games. And he's 3rd on the team among blueliners behind undrafted 19yo Mazden Leslie (5/12/17 in 12 games) and lauded 16yo (draft eligible in 2026) Ryan Lin (0/13/13 in 13 games. Keep an eye on him. He's like the anti-Roberts. 5'11, but my god he processes the game well)
 
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