Brayden Yager vs Calum Ritchie

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Which prospect do you like more?

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ritchie very easily. I see him as a 2C. I see Yager as a 3C. And if either of those projections are high, I think it's more likely Yager.

 

[LeProspector]

Ritchie has the higher offensive ceiling but I really like Yager’s potential two way capabilities.

 

[Grinner]

As a Sharks fan, I'd prefer Yager. I see him as a top 6 RW. Something we sorely lack.

 

[Whileee]

Earlier in the season I think Ritchie looked clearly better, but since being traded to Lethbridge Yager has elevated to another level. A closer call now.

 

[wetcoast]

Earlier in the season I think Ritchie looked clearly better, but since being traded to Lethbridge Yager has elevated to another level. A closer call now.

Ritchie just projects as the better player in the NHL as he is more projectable as a center and I think has more hockey IQ going on.

 

[Whileee]

Ritchie just projects as the better player in the NHL as he is more projectable as a center and I think has more hockey IQ going on.

Perhaps, but Yager has been showing very good vision and playmaking, and he's a very solid defensive C. Ritchie's size gives him that advantage, but I won't be surprised if Yager has a similar NHL impact. A lot will depend on how hard they work on their games in the next year or two and then what development pathway they have with their NHL organizations.

 

[EXTRAS]

As a Sharks fan, I'd prefer Yager. I see him as a top 6 RW. Something we sorely lack.

I'd assume he's a center in the nhl. Lead the wjc in faceoff and had like 71% on the dot.

 

[FourQuarters]

During his D-1 year, everyone saw Yager as a shooter. However, since his draft year, his goal-scoring numbers were no longer among the most outstanding in his age group. This shift in playing style makes me very curious.

 

[Whileee]

During his D-1 year, everyone saw Yager as a shooter. However, since his draft year, his goal-scoring numbers were no longer among the most outstanding in his age group. This shift in playing style makes me very curious.

Watching him this year he's been a very adept passer, showing good vision and quick decisions.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

I think Ritchie has a chance to drive play and create scoring chances on his own as a top 6 forward in the NHL. At the NHL level - think Yager is a C that will need a lot of hard work and heavy lifting from his wingers to succeed.

If he figured out how to play off an elite linemate.. Yager could be deadly as a wing. In a way Ritchie couldn’t. Just not sure I see that in his game.

 

[Captain Clutch]

I think Ritchie has a chance to play C in the NHL, though his skating will need to improve considerably. He isn't a bad skater but I don't think it will hold up very well as a 2C in the NHL unless he gets considerably stronger and quicker. It's no shame because he was only 19 at the time but he got quickly exposed in the NHL during his 7 game stint; didn't have nearly the pace to play center and wasn't effective on the wing either. He'll probably need at least a year or two in the AHL to improve his skating enough to play the pivot and all the defensive responsibilities that come along with it, especially if he's going to play up in the line up. I love his hockey sense though, very smart, sees the ice extremely well and most importantly, makes the players around him better. Great passer too.

Yager has much better wheels, has a chance to score goals and play in the top 6 in the NHL (more likely middle six) but he will never be a center there, in my opinion. Not a great defender, not strong enough, not smart enough, not good enough at the Dot. I like his game but I really don't think he would be effective as a C in the NHL. To me he's a winger all day, and probably a good one though he's not a big guy either and he's going to have to rely on speed & smarts & some grit to be successful.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Whileee]

I think Ritchie has a chance to play C in the NHL, though his skating will need to improve considerably. He isn't a bad skater but I don't think it will hold up very well as a 2C in the NHL unless he gets considerably stronger and quicker. It's no shame because he was only 19 at the time but he got quickly exposed in the NHL during his 7 game stint; didn't have nearly the pace to play center and wasn't effective on the wing either. He'll probably need at least a year or two in the AHL to improve his skating enough to play the pivot and all the defensive responsibilities that come along with it, especially if he's going to play up in the line up. I love his hockey sense though, very smart, sees the ice extremely well and most importantly, makes the players around him better. Great passer too.

Yager has much better wheels, has a chance to score goals and play in the top 6 in the NHL (more likely middle six) but he will never be a center there, in my opinion. Not a great defender, not strong enough, not smart enough, not good enough at the Dot. I like his game but I really don't think he would be effective as a C in the NHL. To me he's a winger all day, and probably a good one though he's not a big guy either and he's going to have to rely on speed & smarts & some grit to be successful.

Just my 2 cents.

I think Yager might lack the ideal size and strength to play C at the NHL level but I think he has the smarts and can be good enough as a defender.

He's 55% on face-offs this season, which is the same performance as Ritchie.

Still, he might be better at RW in the NHL, though I'd guess the Jets are going to give him a chance to show whether he can play C.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I think Yager might lack the ideal size and strength to play C at the NHL level but I think he has the smarts and can be good enough as a defender.

He's 55% on face-offs this season, which is the same performance as Ritchie.

Still, he might be better at RW in the NHL, though I'd guess the Jets are going to give him a chance to show whether he can play C.

Still shocked that the Jets drafted Barlow over Ritchie when Ritchie is the prototypical player that the Jets scouts love and is a C to boot. Swap Barlow with Ritchie, and the Jets easily have a top 10 pool.

Ritchie, Lambert, Salomonsson, Chibrikov, He, Walton, and Yager is disgusting mix of depth and top end potential. Even with Lucius' injury concerns, he still has potential.