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

[Bubbles]

Where's that poster that said he was slow? Well, this definitely proves your point.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Where's that poster that said he was slow? Well, this definitely proves your point.

@Goldenhands said Helenius was fast and he wasn’t that fast, if I’m remembering correctly.

 

[Bubbles]

@Goldenhands said Helenius was fast and he wasn’t that fast, if I’m remembering correctly.

No, there was some one on this thread earlier that claimed Catton was a slow skater. Pretty obvious he's never watched him play.

 

[Bubbles]

Only 3A tonight, back to back 100PT seasons.

 

[wetcoast]

He’ll be in the NHL.

Maybe if Seattle has an early season injury or moves a center but that's going to be hard with Stephenson, Berniers and Wright down the middle for them right now and going into next season.

Not sure if they are going to play him 4th line MPG with 4th liners although he might be too good for junior sure.

He might be one of those legitimate guys who should go to the AHL as I think he could survive and develop there but the rules say he can't.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Maybe if Seattle has an early season injury or moves a center but that's going to be hard with Stephenson, Berniers and Wright down the middle for them right now and going into next season.

Not sure if they are going to play him 4th line MPG with 4th liners although he might be too good for junior sure.

He might be one of those legitimate guys who should go to the AHL as I think he could survive and develop there but the rules say he can't.

I think you can justify starting him on the wing if need be

 

[majormajor]

Maybe if Seattle has an early season injury or moves a center but that's going to be hard with Stephenson, Berniers and Wright down the middle for them right now and going into next season.

Not sure if they are going to play him 4th line MPG with 4th liners although he might be too good for junior sure.

He might be one of those legitimate guys who should go to the AHL as I think he could survive and develop there but the rules say he can't.

Physically weak players especially are less likely to start at center. I'd expect Catton to start on the wing and it might be a few years before they start trying to establish him at center.

Next year is going to be tricky. Catton needs to get up to NHL strength, but he's not close. And he's too good for junior. I think it makes sense to play him a partial NHL schedule with a lot of extra time for the gym, and an AHL conditioning stint mixed in before the next WJC.

 

[wetcoast]

I think you can justify starting him on the wing if need be

Sure but then again he has the same problem with 6 established and contracted wingers already.

Look I'm really high on Catton and he was a steal dropping to 8th IMO but I don't see him physically ready and there is the real world contract situation of better players right now in seattle.

Maybe Catton develops physically in 7 months but he didn't even dominate at the world juniors and my bet is that he will be playing at that tournament next year again.

Physically weak players especially are less likely to start at center. I'd expect Catton to start on the wing and it might be a few years before they start trying to establish him at center.

Sure.

Next year is going to be tricky. Catton needs to get up to NHL strength, but he's not close. And he's too good for junior. I think it makes sense to play him a partial NHL schedule with a lot of extra time for the gym, and an AHL conditioning stint mixed in before the next WJC.

Sure that could happen but a lot depends on that conditioning part and playing at the NHL level because he is "too good" for the CHL (what does that even mean really?) even if he isn't ready just seems pointless to me.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Sure but then again he has the same problem with 6 established and contracted wingers already.

Depends on how this TDL and off-season goes. Also, we have been giving Wright 3rd line minutes. That has to change next season. Does that mean you already make Stephenson the 3C or do you try to justify his contract by continuing to play him as 2C. There are a lot of questions and concerns with our top-9.

McCann
Kakko
Beniers
Wright
Schwartz
Bjorkstrand
Eberle
Tolvanen
Stephenson
Burakovsky

I agree that there is little room for Catton in that top-9 unless you start moving people off the roster. Things will certainly be better in 2026-27 but we need to do what is best for Catton's development. It is much more important to figure out a way to make room for him in the NHL next season if that is the best for his growth. I am not sure exactly what he does in the WHL next season? He already has 100 points in 47 games this season and as many others have said, it will be a lot harder for him to focus on physical strength and adding muscle in juniors.

 

[wetcoast]

Depends on how this TDL and off-season goes. Also, we have been giving Wright 3rd line minutes. That has to change next season. Does that mean you already make Stephenson the 3C or do you try to justify his contract by continuing to play him as 2C. There are a lot of questions and concerns with our top-9.

McCann
Kakko
Beniers
Wright
Schwartz
Bjorkstrand
Eberle
Tolvanen
Stephenson
Burakovsky

I agree that there is little room for Catton in that top-9 unless you start moving people off the roster. Things will certainly be better in 2026-27 but we need to do what is best for Catton's development. It is much more important to figure out a way to make room for him in the NHL next season if that is the best for his growth. I am not sure exactly what he does in the WHL next season? He already has 100 points in 47 games this season and as many others have said, it will be a lot harder for him to focus on physical strength and adding muscle in juniors.

The thing is that it's hard to be playing anywhere and adding physical strength in season, except maybe the NCAA but those guys are busy studying so much when they aren't playing or practicing right?

Plus he can't go that route now.

Not really sure what the answer is here as even if the NHL allows say a one player exemption per team per year, those spots will automatically get filled even if some prospects aren't ready for the aHL and most of them aren't.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Depends on how this TDL and off-season goes. Also, we have been giving Wright 3rd line minutes. That has to change next season. Does that mean you already make Stephenson the 3C or do you try to justify his contract by continuing to play him as 2C. There are a lot of questions and concerns with our top-9.

McCann
Kakko
Beniers
Wright
Schwartz
Bjorkstrand
Eberle
Tolvanen
Stephenson
Burakovsky

I agree that there is little room for Catton in that top-9 unless you start moving people off the roster. Things will certainly be better in 2026-27 but we need to do what is best for Catton's development. It is much more important to figure out a way to make room for him in the NHL next season if that is the best for his growth. I am not sure exactly what he does in the WHL next season? He already has 100 points in 47 games this season and as many others have said, it will be a lot harder for him to focus on physical strength and adding muscle in juniors.

No offense, but the team is bad. Upholding the status quo should not be the plan. Anyone who is older and not producing should be a good candidate for a trade or a move down the lineup and some older players playing well should also be trade candidates.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

No offense, but the team is bad. Upholding the status quo should not be the plan. Anyone who is older and not producing should be a good candidate for a trade or a move down the lineup and some older players playing well should also be trade candidates.

I agree 100%. Most of our fans do. However, we dont really have much confidence in Francis/Management doing what we would like.