Yes, but that's not super unusual for people who make their own lists. If people saw 20 lists from scouts here, they'd probably report the posts to moderators on the Prospects board haha - there's such a weird drive for consensus with this stuff. I got a late start this year because I'm working on other things. I'm making my list the "wrong" way because I know it's impossible for me to watch all the players I need to in time. But whatever, who cares about my nonsense...re: Aitcheson.
Look, I get it. Don't think that I watch this player and go, "wow, everyone is a moron except for me." This could just as easily blow up in my face. And there's actually a shot between the ages of 21 to 24 where I'd be "worried" (as worried one can be about making predictions on an internet message board, heh) that will come to pass. It's gonna be close in the right situation with perfect development.
Anyway...
In short, this is just a stand out junior defenseman. He is armed to the teeth with junior traits, but not a lot of them look like they'll transfer very well. There are some head and shoulder fakes at the attack line - I like them. But his hands and hand speed are really quite unimpressive to me. He skates fine, he looks like a flexible athlete. But then you look at the shot/pass/puck release technique there's weirdly little follow through, there's weirdly little core rotation. You start looking down the list of his actual technical ability and you come away going, "man, he really isn't technically good at very much" - his defense (his interpretation of defense, that is) is entirely skating/stick led, and that's fine now a days, but when push comes to shove, can I trust that you'll really defend?
The answer to that right now, for me, is: I don't trust that. He has physicality but it's not tactical or well timed. Where does he gain inside leverage? Where are there proper box out techniques? He doesn't even withstand contact that he doesn't initiate very well. The hockey sense and mental processing are average at best. Is there a shred of something I can hang on to and think I can build off of it? Outside of angle change shooting and compete, not really. Not enough for my tastes.
The highlights are sweet...it's all the highlight clips you like, right? Big hits, big shots, all that stuff. It's like that alleged "best d-man outside of the NHL" nonsense on that giant ox man that plays for Carolina now...that'll last to Halloween next year before people start to go, "oh man, this is kind of a mess sometimes..."
Now, you're going "well, all D prospects are blah blah blah" and with good coaching "you could boo boo boo" and "he's only 18, so wah wah wah" - I know. By that logic, everyone would pan out every draft, but the reality is most of them don't make it. This player has elements, a chain of very familiar elements to me, that do not work out in the NHL.
Will he play? Yeah, I could see it. He IS on my list. But I just wouldn't be comfortable taking him there. He's on my list in the spot where I'd be comfortable taking him (which is in the middle rounds). That is comfortably in a spot where I know I won't get him. I am comfortable with that.
