bert
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2002
- 37,576
- 23,899
Bullshit on all of that. His raw ability is elite. He also grew very late. He didn't get his points because he is 6 months older. You haven't watched him. Just because a player is an early birthday doesn't mean they are physically fully developed. If anything it sounds like he has way more development to go than most players in this draft. Big players his size are always on a longer curve. He has terrific Edgework and good top speed. Like most big clunky teenagers he still has to develop his coordination. He needs to work on his first few steps. That is a trainable skill. Physical development is not linear. Look at Jack Quinn and Marco Rossi. Almost the same age exactly. One player was one of the least physically developed in their draft. The other was one of the most. You have to do a deeper dive than these blanket statements.Yakemchuk's hockey IQ is low-like so many of our recent picks-and he's one of the oldest players in the draft, which is partially why his stats are so high. Also, his skating is mediocre.
There's a good chance that his high point totals won't translate to the NHL where you have to think at a fast pace. It's once again, a case of our scouts drafting someone for size and "character".
Yakemchum lead the WHL in goals on D but they drafted him for 'character'. Lazy narrative. You can do better.
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