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

[TLEH]

I actually agree with Pavel.. rip

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

I've watched his game since he was a peewee including having him on our bantam team as an underager. In no way does he play a shoot-first style of game.

 

[Jukurit]

Helenius has played a good chunk of the season on the wing, but you wouldn‘t know that, would you?

Helenius has played 0 games on the wing this season, but you wouldn't know that, would you?

 

[WeThreeKings]

Yeah, shoot first is not the way I'd ever describe Catton.

He clearly wants to shoot more this year to become a more diverse offensive threat and its working.

 

[TLEH]

Another 3 point night for him.

Just had a great give and go with Roulette. He's my guy for the 2024 draft. Watched a ton of the WHL this year. Hard to find a guy who drives play more for his team and makes it happen than him.

JK, make that 4 assists.

 

[Bubbles]

This kid has sick vision. 4 assists tonight.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

One of the most underrated/under talked about top 10 guys in my time following the sport. Especially for a Canadian, you would think the hype train would be larger.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

One of the most underrated/under talked about top 10 guys in my time following the sport. Especially for a Canadian, you would think the hype train would be larger.

It seems he’s playing better and moving down lists.

Why? He’s one of the most skilled players in this draft, plays in every zone, skates very well, and is having a good season.

 

[Scintillating10]

I've watched his game since he was a peewee including having him on our bantam team as an underager. In no way does he play a shoot-first style of game.

Who would you compare Catton to?

 

[MrCreamm]

I take him easily over Eiserman, and I don't think it's really close.

 

[HawksDub89]

I take him easily over Eiserman, and I don't think it's really close.

He’s definitely in my top 5.
Catton/Lindstrom/Demidov are all forwards I like ahead of Eiserman right now.

 

[Juxtaposer]

There’s a huge tier of 6-7 guys who have an argument for #2 and I think Catton is one of them. It’ll be interesting how the draft after Celebrini plays out.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He’s definitely in my top 5.
Catton/Lindstrom/Demidov are all forwards I like ahead of Eiserman right now.

Demidov gonna fall because Russian

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Who would you compare Catton to?

Player comparisons are not exactly a strength of mine, but I'll give it a shot. Even as way back as bantam the one player he reminded me of - and this will probably get some push back - is Joe Sakic. Back in the day I was able to watch a lot of Joe's games when he was playing in Swift. The way Catton drives lines, competes, is a dual threat passing and scoring, and shows up in big moments reminds me a lot of those old Bronco days. Both just played the game with a natural feel. Anyway, I'm sure there's better, more modern comparisons, but that's who came to mind for me.

 

[Nabrules]

There’s a huge tier of 6-7 guys who have an argument for #2 and I think Catton is one of them. It’ll be interesting how the draft after Celebrini plays out.

Completely agree here, Silayev, Levshunov, Lidstrom, Catton, Eiserman, Demidov and Dickinson can all go as high as 2 IMO.

 

[wetcoast]

LHS Robert Thomas

Except more dynamic and a way better goal scorer then sure.

 

[wetcoast]

Dissapointing draft season in my opinion

How so he is 8th in scoring in the Dub, what more do you want?

 

[wetcoast]

Spokane's bottom 3 lines suck but he has a couple solid WHL scorers on his wings so I don't really know if that's an issue in terms of the guys he's actually playing with. He has a good shot and he likes using it, and uses it a lot.

He has a weird profile. So does Bedard, but he's Bedard. There aren't a lot of small, shoot-first Cs in the NHL.

I'm not so sure on the "couple of solid WHL scorers on his wings" comment.

Both guys as full aged WHLers scored 24 and 28 goals last year and are over agers this year.

They basically aren't good enough for the next level and might never be but I'm a huge Catton fan just loved his processing skills and his dynamic game at the Hlinka and he is going to be an outstanding franchise center man in the NHL.

 

[MS]

I'm not so sure on the "couple of solid WHL scorers on his wings" comment.

Both guys as full aged WHLers scored 24 and 28 goals last year and are over agers this year.

They basically aren't good enough for the next level and might never be but I'm a huge Catton fan just loved his processing skills and his dynamic game at the Hlinka and he is going to be an outstanding franchise center man in the NHL.

Roulette and Bertholet have both been roughly point-per-game players through their 18-19 y/o seasons. They were good WHL players even before they were overagers.

He's a very good prospect who will go pretty high in this draft but I don't see 'franchise C' in him at all.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

If we're talking about a WHL draft-eligible whose point totals are being raised by others, it seems to me like thats Lindstrom. He plays on a team with the likely 1OA in 2026 that can pass other players open for a tap-in, and then another good scoring forward that could be a first or second round pick in 2024.

Not saying those guys are completely responsible for his totals, but Catton plays with a bunch of bums in comparison to who Lindstrom is playing with.

 

[Scintillating10]

Player comparisons are not exactly a strength of mine, but I'll give it a shot. Even as way back as bantam the one player he reminded me of - and this will probably get some push back - is Joe Sakic. Back in the day I was able to watch a lot of Joe's games when he was playing in Swift. The way Catton drives lines, competes, is a dual threat passing and scoring, and shows up in big moments reminds me a lot of those old Bronco days. Both just played the game with a natural feel. Anyway, I'm sure there's better, more modern comparisons, but that's who came to mind for me.

Catton would look good in Habs Jersey

 

[BoneHutson]

Catton would look good in Habs Jersey

He already does (Spokanes jersey is basically a habs one)

 

[Bubbles]

3A more tonight in a 11-3 spanking of Tri-Cities.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Now 7th in total WHL points.

The only three WHL players since 2000 with a higher U18 PPG than Catton (not counting guys with like 12 games) are Bedard, Petan, and Jarvis. Petan and Jarvis are also within reach.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Completely agree here, Silayev, Levshunov, Lidstrom, Catton, Eiserman, Demidov and Dickinson can all go as high as 2 IMO.

Yup, that’s the exact group I was thinking of, with the possible inclusion of Helenius.

It’s depressing as hell as a Sharks fan to know they the success or failure of our rebuild is 100% dependent on lottery balls. 2nd overall this year is pretty much equal to 8th overall.