D Cale Makar - UMass (Amherst), NCAA (2017, 4th, COL)

[SB84]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

 

[Neil Hamburger]

Getting drafted doesn't mean you're going to be a good NHL player.

The best NA players in the NHL in terms of scoring and awards come from Canadian major junior.

It makes sense that more good players come from the CHL than the USHL because far more players play in the CHL.

The USHL has been churning out top talent the last several years, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski (4 of the best young players in the game), etc all drafted since 2013.

The WHL & QMJHL have not had as much success producing high-end talent as the USHL has in recent years.

 

[93LEAFS]

It makes sense that more good players come from the CHL than the USHL because far more players play in the CHL.

The USHL has been churning out top talent the last several years, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski (4 of the best young players in the game), etc all drafted since 2013.

The WHL & QMJHL have not had as much success producing high-end talent as the USHL has in recent years.

Can't really compare the USNTDP directly with the USHL guys (which would include Boeser, Connor, Tolvannen, etc) because they aren't really a full USHL team. The two USNTDP teams split a full USHL schedule while going off to international tournaments (U-17 challenge, Five Nations, U-18, etc) and playing exhibition games against regional HS All-star, NAHL and NCAA teams. Regional All-star and NAHL are primary opponents for the U-17 while the U-18's play NCAA teams.

USHL is starting to produce better players, but its hard to give the league credit for the USNTDP guys as the programs is so much different than the league in set-up and organization. Their facilities are also way ahead of most USHL teams (not that there isn't a disparity in the other jr leagues between say London and Sudbury).

 

[TeddyBare]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

Gasp........... better not draft any NCAA players.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

Can't really compare the USNTDP directly with the USHL guys (which would include Boeser, Connor, Tolvannen, etc) because they aren't really a full USHL team. The two USNTDP teams split a full USHL schedule while going off to international tournaments (U-17 challenge, Five Nations, U-18, etc) and playing exhibition games against regional HS All-star, NAHL and NCAA teams. Regional All-star and NAHL are primary opponents for the U-17 while the U-18's play NCAA teams.

USHL is starting to produce better players, but its hard to give the league credit for the USNTDP guys as the programs is so much different than the league in set-up and organization. Their facilities are also way ahead of most USHL teams (not that there isn't a disparity in the other jr leagues between say London and Sudbury).

Canada doesn't have the equivalent of the USNTDP, if it didn't exist, the USHL would have the Eichels and Mathews.

 

[King In The North]

Soccer to devellop his vision, his footwork, different kind of cardio, his lower body strenght etc...
Tennis i won't suggest...Ping-Pong might be better, devellop reflex, hand-eye coordinnation etc...
Boxing would be a great training too


I have a different mind and opinion thant most on that subject... I find GYM session to be useless until 21-24

A gym isn't useless until 21-24. These guys are going at 16. I don't know why you'd think that.

You can develop footwork, lower body strength, reflexes all at the gym...it's not just about weights.

 

[BigRangy]

The question with Makar is "Does he project to be elite?"

If you think he does then he's going to be top 10 and maybe even top 5 on your board.

If you think he doesn't then he's a small, old, NCAA track defenseman who's not all that special and you'll probably have him in the 20's or lower.

I think that his combination of high end IQ, ultra-elite mobility, and his considerable poise with and without the puck leads me to believe that he can be elite and so I have him in my top 10.

 

[mazmin]

A gym isn't useless until 21-24. These guys are going at 16. I don't know why you'd think that.

You can develop footwork, lower body strength, reflexes all at the gym...it's not just about weights.

I'm a personal trainer with 10+ years experience and I agree.

I've trained plenty of 16-17 year old hockey and lacross players. I build them up gradually towards Olympic lifting. We never go as heavy as they could for obvious reasons, but these movement allow athleted to safely build explosive power and coordination.

Anyone who thinks teenagers can't lift needs to read articles published this decade.

 

[Romang67]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

I'd be stunned if he stayed at UMass Amherst for more than a year.

 

[93LEAFS]

Canada doesn't have the equivalent of the USNTDP, if it didn't exist, the USHL would have the Eichels and Mathews.

Or they would go to the CHL. We don't know what they would do. Kids in NCAA markets probably go USHL (Eichel, Werenski) whereas non go to the CHL.

Plus, it's talking about the developmental quality of the CHL and USHL, you can give USA Hockey credit for those kids, but you can't say they would have become what they did in the USHL. The development approach is so fundamentally different.

 

[King In The North]

Or they would go to the CHL. We don't know what they would do. Kids in NCAA markets probably go USHL (Eichel, Werenski) whereas non go to the CHL.

Plus, it's talking about the developmental quality of the CHL and USHL, you can give USA Hockey credit for those kids, but you can't say they would have become what they did in the USHL. The development approach is so fundamentally different.

I agree with your last point. The US NDTP is unique and such an interesting approach to develop top talent. Not surprised some other countries are using the same model for their teens.

 

[Breakers]

Getting drafted doesn't mean you're going to be a good NHL player.

The best NA players in the NHL in terms of scoring and awards come from Canadian major junior.

"Major junior is the best development league in North America. This isn't up for debate."

Your exact quote

It;s funny how you just can't accept that there is a different way of developing in a different league
embarrassing.

 

[93LEAFS]

I agree with your last point. The US NDTP is unique and such an interesting approach to develop top talent. Not surprised some other countries are using the same model for their teens.

I think Slovakia is doing it, while Russia was trying to, but the disaster of the melodeum scandal messed it up.

Of all countries though, it makes by far the most sense for the United States (especially 15 years ago). This is mainly due to the limited hockey culture in an extremely large country (geographically and population-wise). There was no way to build a development system that compared to the CHL in area covered while remaining high-quality, so centralizing it was needed.

 

[covfefe]

It makes sense that more good players come from the CHL than the USHL because far more players play in the CHL.

The USHL has been churning out top talent the last several years, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Seth Jones, Zach Werenski (4 of the best young players in the game), etc all drafted since 2013.

The WHL & QMJHL have not had as much success producing high-end talent as the USHL has in recent years.

What you meant to say is that the USNTDP has been churning out top talent the last few years.

The bottom two claims in your post are completely hollow to me if you are looking at output since 2013, Eichel/Jones are nice, but Draisaitl/Provorov is just as nice a combination...two former WHLers.

Jones also played more games in the WHL than the USHL

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

The question with Makar is "Does he project to be elite?"

If you think he does then he's going to be top 10 and maybe even top 5 on your board.

If you think he doesn't then he's a small, old, NCAA track defenseman who's not all that special and you'll probably have him in the 20's or lower.

I think that his combination of high end IQ, ultra-elite mobility, and his considerable poise with and without the puck leads me to believe that he can be elite and so I have him in my top 10.

It's going to be interesting to see his measurements this weekend. Spurgeon, Stralman, Goligoski, Barrie and Greene were the only sub 6' top pair players in the league last year. And Barrie and Greene just are not good enough for the role. They were only there because their teams had no one else.

 

[canucks20]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

I'm guessing you have not really watched him in person?

 

[wings5]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

Thought I heard something about him leaving early, even after one year, could be confusing him with another prospect though.

 

[BeaverSports]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

I bet you he makes the team who takes him look very smart. His skating, hockey sense, and skill are off the charts.

 

[lawrence]

Really hope Vancouver takes him. A few reasons I would stay away from Makar:

- He is undersized, especially for a D man
- He is playing in a very weak league compared to his top ranked, draft eligible peers (tier 2, junior A)
- He has committed to UMass (Amherst) for next year which caries the risk of him staying in school and becoming a FA

Definitely doesn't warrant a top 15 pick imo. Reminds me of the Jankowski pick

I feel sorry for people like you. Very sad to be in your shoes.

I will be more then happy to see Vancouver call his name.

 

[93LEAFS]

It's going to be interesting to see his measurements this weekend. Spurgeon, Stralman, Goligoski, Barrie and Greene were the only sub 6' top pair players in the league last year. And Barrie and Greene just are not good enough for the role. They were only there because their teams had no one else.

How do you define top pair minutes? Krug was 2nd on his team in TOI and is 5'9. Almost 22 isn't top pairing on some, but it was for the Bruins.

 

[lawrence]

It's going to be interesting to see his measurements this weekend. Spurgeon, Stralman, Goligoski, Barrie and Greene were the only sub 6' top pair players in the league last year. And Barrie and Greene just are not good enough for the role. They were only there because their teams had no one else.

you know who else is sub 6'?

a guy by the name of Erik Karlsson.

 

[SB84]

I'm guessing you have not really watched him in person?

I bet you he makes the team who takes him look very smart. His skating, hockey sense, and skill are off the charts.

Correct, i've watched him 3 times via the television. Obviously he was the best on the ice by a country mile and was very impressive in every game. In saying that, there is very little structure to his game, he was all over the ice and was skating circles around everyone. We have no idea how he will do when he has to play with structure, rely on his teammates a little, refine his game and how he'll do when he's no longer the best player on the ice. That's too big of an unknown for a top pick.

I feel sorry for people like you. Very sad to be in your shoes.

I will be more then happy to see Vancouver call his name.

you know who else is sub 6'?

a guy by the name of Erik Karlsson.

Fantastic, let's both hope they take him

Makar is the Erik Karlsson of the AJHL
It's like being the best in Division 4 hockey and then being asked to not only move up to Division 1 in time, but dominate and become a top pairing guy.

 

[bossram]

The question with Makar is "Does he project to be elite?"

If you think he does then he's going to be top 10 and maybe even top 5 on your board.

If you think he doesn't then he's a small, old, NCAA track defenseman who's not all that special and you'll probably have him in the 20's or lower.

I think that his combination of high end IQ, ultra-elite mobility, and his considerable poise with and without the puck leads me to believe that he can be elite and so I have him in my top 10.

You could pretty much ask that of any player. If the answer is yes, then they're obviously high on your board.

The question with Makar is, is he worth the risk? What weight do we assign to his quality of competition, age and size? There's no disputing he has some great tools and skills. But if the perceived risk (and there are a lot of red flags) is just too great, then you might as well pick someone with nearly as much upside who is overall a much "safer" bet to pan out.

 

[bert]

Correct, i've watched him 3 times via the television. Obviously he was the best on the ice by a country mile and was very impressive in every game. In saying that, there is very little structure to his game, he was all over the ice and was skating circles around everyone. We have no idea how he will do when he has to play with structure, rely on his teammates a little, refine his game and how he'll do when he's no longer the best player on the ice. That's too big of an unknown for a top pick.






Fantastic, let's both hope they take him

Makar is the Erik Karlsson of the AJHL
It's like being the best in Division 4 hockey and then being asked to not only move up to Division 1 in time, but dominate and become a top pairing guy.

I dont think you have a very good grasp on the level of hockey he is playing at judging by your posts. The gap in talent isnt nearly as large. Suggesting what he is doing is easy is not accurate.

 

[lawrence]

Correct, i've watched him 3 times via the television. Obviously he was the best on the ice by a country mile and was very impressive in every game. In saying that, there is very little structure to his game, he was all over the ice and was skating circles around everyone. We have no idea how he will do when he has to play with structure, rely on his teammates a little, refine his game and how he'll do when he's no longer the best player on the ice. That's too big of an unknown for a top pick.






Fantastic, let's both hope they take him

Makar is the Erik Karlsson of the AJHL
It's like being the best in Division 4 hockey and then being asked to not only move up to Division 1 in time, but dominate and become a top pairing guy.

Division 4 ? What the heck,...... its tier 2 and the 2nd highest level if junior hockey Canada. A step down from chl. as a Canadian you should know that.