C Berkly Catton - Spokane Chiefs, WHL (2024, 8th, SEA)

[Roasted Nuts]

I don't think you understand. He's a human fabergé egg. A glass antique. A phone charger that has to plug in so precariously that the slightest movement will cease its charging.

He's a subatomic particle. The mere act of observation is enough to change his direction or location on the ice.

Schrödinger's Catton?

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Schrödinger's Catton?

Quarkley Catton

 

[majormajor]

I think he probably tops out at 6'-0" and 185-190 lbs. That's OK.

You shouldn't be adding inches to players beyond the age 17. The majority stop getting taller at that point.

The Demidov one has started bothering me.

How is this guy with how we saw Michkov fall so far projected as #2? It makes no sense. Catton skates better. He plays the more valuable position. They are virtually the same size. I wouldn’t say Catton is any worse defensively.

I think Demidov is very good, but I’m just not understanding how Demidov is loved and Catton is pretty much hated.

Demidov is well built.

Look at how players take contact - Catton sometimes goes flying and looks crushed. Demidov is often the one doing the damage.

There's also a long list of caveats with Michkov that don't apply to Demidov. If Demidov got a lot smaller and weaker and started telling teams not to draft him and looked like a pylon in his zone, then sure similar situation.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Many have compared him to Clayton Keller

Zegras and/or Keller type comparison. That seems accurate to his max potential from what I see.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Zegras and/or Keller type comparison. That seems accurate to his max potential from what I see.

Logan Cooley is the best comparable IMO.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Logan Cooley is the best comparable IMO.

Another good one.

 

[jfhabs]

The Demidov one has started bothering me.

How is this guy with how we saw Michkov fall so far projected as #2? It makes no sense. Catton skates better. He plays the more valuable position. They are virtually the same size. I wouldn’t say Catton is any worse defensively.

I think Demidov is very good, but I’m just not understanding how Demidov is loved and Catton is pretty much hated.

Same, and also I would tend to value WHL production over MHL because it's closer to the NHL in terms of style. Easier projection.
Don't think Catton is hated, but he's undervalued compared to other, bigger frame prospects.

I wouldn't mind of the Habs picked Catton at 5

 

[wetcoast]

He had absolutely terrific linemates.

His team stunk and they had no depth scoring but Roulette is a drafted NHL player in his 4th straight season as a PPG+ WHL player who put up 108 points and Bertholet has basically been a PPG player over the last 3 WHL seasons and led Spokane (and Catton) in scoring by 15 points in 22-23.

This is what I was talking about.

Just like Crosby's " excellent team mates" who were huge nothing burgers at the next level.

 

[Juxtaposer]

This is what I was talking about.

Just like Crosby's " excellent team mates" who were huge nothing burgers at the next level.

Not that I agree with Catton’s linemates being excellent, but whether or not they’re future NHLers is completely irrelevant. Catton plays with a couple good WHLers, not some slubs he’s dragging around. They are solid players and would be without Catton too. Roulette in particular jumped out at me watching Spokane—don’t think he’s an NHLer or anything, but he’s a very good WHLer.

 

[wetcoast]

Another good one.

Catton is a much better goal scorer than Cooley.

 

[wetcoast]

Not that I agree with Catton’s linemates being excellent, but whether or not they’re future NHLers is completely irrelevant. Catton plays with a couple good WHLers, not some slubs he’s dragging around. They are solid players and would be without Catton too. Roulette in particular jumped out at me watching Spokane—don’t think he’s an NHLer or anything, but he’s a very good WHLer.

By next level I mean the AHL not NHL.

Either way Catton is a okay driver, his support last season greatly benefitted from him not the other way around.

To me he very easily can become the 2nd best forward in this draft long term.

I really Demidov as well.

The size thing is over rated as he isn't 5'8 or anything.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Lots of talk about his size but is the skill so overwhelming that he projects as a top skill guy in the nhl? Some say he’s more in the Keller tier.

 

[FlyguyOX]

.

There's also a long list of caveats with Michkov that don't apply to Demidov. If Demidov got a lot smaller and weaker and started telling teams not to draft him and looked like a pylon in his zone, then sure similar situation.

Strongly disagree that Michkov is smaller and weaker to a significant degree or can't play defense.

AND atleast he had the dignity to tell teams BEFORE the draft that he didn't want to play for them, unlike scumbag Gauthier.

 

[TLEH]

I guess NHL teams are contributing the production to the sheer amount of ice he played, and then just don't like the size profile. Can't say I agree with them one bit, I guess we'll see how it plays out.

Its not like he benefited from playing with some elite players, everything he got, he earned.

 

[MS]

This is what I was talking about.

Just like Crosby's " excellent team mates" who were huge nothing burgers at the next level.

If your standard for 'good linemates' is 'guys who went on to become NHLers' like the London Knights of a few years back, virtually nobody has good linemates.

Roulette is an NHL-drafted player who scored 108 points and has been a 4x PPG player in the WHL with 3 different teams. He's one of the best forwards in the WHL, regardless of whether he has the skills to move on. Same deal with Bertholet who led Spokane in scoring by 15 points last year. These are outstanding players at this level and Catton absolutely did not have 'weak linemates' like he was 13-14 Draisaitl or something.

 

[Faceboner]

If you're wondering why Catton will slide to around #10-15 this is how slight his frame is (image pulled from a Spokane Chiefs youtube video earlier in the year):

View attachment 867332

At least he's displaying how he's trying to pack on some pounds.

There are scrawny skilled guys who make it and he's just a kid, but a team that already has size in the top 6 would be a good landing spot for Catton.

Meh... protein shakes between meals and standard strength building like squats, bench, dead lifts etc... he could pack on some muscle weight over the summer...

 

[wetcoast]

If your standard for 'good linemates' is 'guys who went on to become NHLers' like the London Knights of a few years back, virtually nobody has good linemates.

Roulette is an NHL-drafted player who scored 108 points and has been a 4x PPG player in the WHL with 3 different teams. He's one of the best forwards in the WHL, regardless of whether he has the skills to move on. Same deal with Bertholet who led Spokane in scoring by 15 points last year. These are outstanding players at this level and Catton absolutely did not have 'weak linemates' like he was 13-14 Draisaitl or something.

I never said anything about weak linemates was just pushing back on the excellent linemates argument that has come up in the past.

Also if one thinks these two or even one of them is outstanding at this level the fact that Catton significantly outscored them in his draft year must be a huge plus for Catton eh?

If Catton drops out if the top 10 he might very well end up as the best value pick in the first round.

 

[TLEH]

I’m sorry but NHLers play with other NHL prospects in the CHL all the time, every single season. Bertholet and Roulette are good players no doubt, but there are legit drafted NHL prospects playing with each other all the time.

 

[MS]

I never said anything about weak linemates was just pushing back on the excellent linemates argument that has come up in the past.

Also if one thinks these two or even one of them is outstanding at this level the fact that Catton significantly outscored them in his draft year must be a huge plus for Catton eh?

If Catton drops out if the top 10 he might very well end up as the best value pick in the first round.

Roulette is an excellent linemate, full stop. Amongst recent high WHL draftee forwards, Catton has above-average linemates.

Obviously Catton is an outstanding prospect. It's weird because I have him at 10-ish and feel like I like him a lot - and it's in line with NHL scouts - but this board loves tiny players with lots of points so it makes it like I'm negative on him which I'm definitely not.

 

[WarriorofTime]

People forget that being projected to go like 10th in a Draft doesn't mean everyone thinks you suck.. The discourse on prospects on fan sites gets all out of whack. Who would he potentially lower than that would be insulting? Different players bring different things to the table... It's not just skill, skill, skill down the line when it comes to selecting.

 

[majormajor]

I guess NHL teams are contributing the production to the sheer amount of ice he played, and then just don't like the size profile. Can't say I agree with them one bit, I guess we'll see how it plays out.

Its not like he benefited from playing with some elite players, everything he got, he earned.

I'm guessing as to why he isn't rated higher as well, but I don't think scouts are taking away from Catton how good he was this year. Really damn good. Incredible transition ability.

I think there is something with his physique that is scaring them off. Otherwise there is no way you pass on this guy in picks #8-#10.

 

[wetcoast]

Roulette is an excellent linemate, full stop. Amongst recent high WHL draftee forwards, Catton has above-average linemates.

Obviously Catton is an outstanding prospect. It's weird because I have him at 10-ish and feel like I like him a lot - and it's in line with NHL scouts - but this board loves tiny players with lots of points so it makes it like I'm negative on him which I'm definitely not.

I guess the thing for me is that he doesn't project as tiny he is already 3 inches taller than what people usually consider tiny, he just has a slight frame and his Hockey IQ is off the charts and there is more risk in other larger prospects when projecting for the NHL IMO.

 

[TLEH]

I guess the thing for me is that he doesn't project as tiny he is already 3 inches taller than what people usually consider tiny, he just has a slight frame and his Hockey IQ is off the charts and there is more risk in other larger prospects when projecting for the NHL IMO.

Yeah. He’s not tiny. He’s slight, but he’s not even that tiny. There are successful NHLers who are 3 inches shorter. I haven’t seen 9 better players than him this year so seeing him at 10 is just surprising.

People always say you can’t teach size, I agree. I would argue you can’t teach people to process the game in the way players like Catton do either.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He's clearly going to be the Benson of this years draft, NHL teams will wonder why they took the players they did ahead of him almost immediately, and then go into 2025 undervaluing a similar player only for the process to repeat itself.

 

[Buttonwood]

This kid might fall out of the top 10, on which teams in the 15 to 25 range would he be the most coveted? I think a trade up for him as a potential top 5 talent might be interesting/warranted.