2024 Draft Profile:
LW Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat WHL
Andrew Basha is universally regarded as a late 1st round pick for the 2024 NHL draft and it's easy to see why. He's one of the quickest players in the entire class, also offering high-end speed in open ice. He's got solid size at 6'0-185 and can be considered high-end in the areas of playmaking, puck skills and offensive hockey sense. When he's on his game, the only question is why he isn't universally ranked higher. But Basha's greatest area of necessary improvement is that he can be taken off his game by strong and physical defensive opposition, and it's frustrating to see a player of his talent underperform.
At the outset of the season, Basha was deployed regularly alongside fellow 2024 draft-eligible Cayden Lindstrom, and the two players made up perhaps the most dynamic duo in the entire CHL. Basha's game was the perfect compliment to Lindstrom, as it is based on offensive generation and quickness. It's difficult to read any analysis of Basha without seeing the word "quick", sometimes several times. This will be no different. Basha has feet as quick as any in the draft class -- he can change direction in a blink, he's unbelievably agile on his skates and his edges are tremendous. This works in tandem with his quick, deft set of hands and ability to immediately identify almost any vulnerability in the opposing defense. It is not unusual to see Basha pinned into a corner by two defenders and -- zip! Basha makes three quick changes in direction while manipulating the puck brilliantly, and -- zip! One of the defenders leans the wrong way and -- zip! Basha has shot through the hole and -- zip! By the time the defense realizes what just happened, Basha has already surveyed everything, and has sauced a perfect feed to Cayden Lindstrom right on the doorstep of the crease.
Basha is a player with pace and smarts, and at his best, he's incredibly fun to watch. What he needs to work on is not his compete level, but rather an aspect of his compete level which usually is what collapses when he is off his game. Because when things are working for him and his line, Basha is all over the puck, all over the play, working his tail off and even effective in the defensive zone. What he doesn't like is being hit, and he can also get very frustrated when he or his team is not playing well on the whole. Despite being a decent-sized kid, Basha really doesn't like being played physically, and sometimes all it takes is one good shot by a physical defender to keep him on the perimeter for the ensuing 5 shifts. While I understand that physicality and bulldog attitudes are not the calling card for every hockey prospect, Basha needs to understand that the more opponents see a weakness in any player, the more they will key on that weakness, especially at the higher levels of the sport. So, while Basha's overall compete and character are not aspects I would cast aspersions upon, he certainly needs to work on his perseverance and become a bit more relentless if he is going to fulfill his promise which, to me, is extremely high end.
Andrew Basha is a player I will certainly have in the 20s overall for my final rankings, simply because his speed and quickness are at the top of the class, and he possesses the skill and smarts to match. His upside is as huge as anyone who will be picked in the late part of the 1st round. His chemistry with Cayden Lindstrom is undeniable, so one of my favorite draft-day scenarios sees a team with a pick early and late in the 1st round (Anaheim #3, #29 or Montreal #5, #26) grabbing Lindstrom early and Basha late on draft day.
LW Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat WHL
Andrew Basha is universally regarded as a late 1st round pick for the 2024 NHL draft and it's easy to see why. He's one of the quickest players in the entire class, also offering high-end speed in open ice. He's got solid size at 6'0-185 and can be considered high-end in the areas of playmaking, puck skills and offensive hockey sense. When he's on his game, the only question is why he isn't universally ranked higher. But Basha's greatest area of necessary improvement is that he can be taken off his game by strong and physical defensive opposition, and it's frustrating to see a player of his talent underperform.
At the outset of the season, Basha was deployed regularly alongside fellow 2024 draft-eligible Cayden Lindstrom, and the two players made up perhaps the most dynamic duo in the entire CHL. Basha's game was the perfect compliment to Lindstrom, as it is based on offensive generation and quickness. It's difficult to read any analysis of Basha without seeing the word "quick", sometimes several times. This will be no different. Basha has feet as quick as any in the draft class -- he can change direction in a blink, he's unbelievably agile on his skates and his edges are tremendous. This works in tandem with his quick, deft set of hands and ability to immediately identify almost any vulnerability in the opposing defense. It is not unusual to see Basha pinned into a corner by two defenders and -- zip! Basha makes three quick changes in direction while manipulating the puck brilliantly, and -- zip! One of the defenders leans the wrong way and -- zip! Basha has shot through the hole and -- zip! By the time the defense realizes what just happened, Basha has already surveyed everything, and has sauced a perfect feed to Cayden Lindstrom right on the doorstep of the crease.
Basha is a player with pace and smarts, and at his best, he's incredibly fun to watch. What he needs to work on is not his compete level, but rather an aspect of his compete level which usually is what collapses when he is off his game. Because when things are working for him and his line, Basha is all over the puck, all over the play, working his tail off and even effective in the defensive zone. What he doesn't like is being hit, and he can also get very frustrated when he or his team is not playing well on the whole. Despite being a decent-sized kid, Basha really doesn't like being played physically, and sometimes all it takes is one good shot by a physical defender to keep him on the perimeter for the ensuing 5 shifts. While I understand that physicality and bulldog attitudes are not the calling card for every hockey prospect, Basha needs to understand that the more opponents see a weakness in any player, the more they will key on that weakness, especially at the higher levels of the sport. So, while Basha's overall compete and character are not aspects I would cast aspersions upon, he certainly needs to work on his perseverance and become a bit more relentless if he is going to fulfill his promise which, to me, is extremely high end.
Andrew Basha is a player I will certainly have in the 20s overall for my final rankings, simply because his speed and quickness are at the top of the class, and he possesses the skill and smarts to match. His upside is as huge as anyone who will be picked in the late part of the 1st round. His chemistry with Cayden Lindstrom is undeniable, so one of my favorite draft-day scenarios sees a team with a pick early and late in the 1st round (Anaheim #3, #29 or Montreal #5, #26) grabbing Lindstrom early and Basha late on draft day.
