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

[ManUtdTobbe]

Still waiting to see why everyone thinks Brannstrom should go 20-30 picks above where Girard went last year. That still baffles me.

Makar has 2 inches on Brannstrom, and pretty sure is a more explosive skater.

And 2 inches matter why? Brännström has proven he can defend Men, Makar is playing against B-level kids.

Also, Girard should have gone much higher, that was just bad drafting to let him drop that far.

Not sure Makar is a more explosive skater, he might be but it's not by a lot. I do think he's got the harder shot though, but i like Brännströms hockey IQ better, both offensively and defensively.

I see the upside in Makar, but what separates him from Brännström here? And what makes him a possible #1 overall pick? The hype is ridiculous imo.

He's almost a year older then Brännström too, that's a big difference.

 

[Frk It]

And 2 inches matter why? Brännström has proven he can defend Men, Makar is playing against B-level kids.

Also, Girard should have gone much higher, that was just bad drafting to let him drop that far.

Not sure Makar is a more explosive skater, i do think he's got the harder shot though, but i like Brännströms hockey IQ better, both offensively and defensively.

I see the upside in Makar, but what separates him from Brännström here? And what makes him a possible #1 overall pick? The hype is ridiculous imo.

He's almost a year older then Brännström too, that's a big difference.

Ok, well 2 inches makes a difference. Especially for defenseman. Count for me how many 5'9" defenseman are in the NHL. Now count for me how many 5'9" defenseman there are in the NHL that play in all situations.

I'm not even a Makar guy FYI, I think it would be bat**** crazy to take him #1.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Ok, well 2 inches makes a difference. Especially for defenseman. Count for me how many 5'9" defenseman are in the NHL. Now count for me how many 5'9" defenseman there are in the NHL that play in all situations.

I'm not even a Makar guy FYI, I think it would be bat**** crazy to take him #1.

Brännström is still 17, it's pretty likely he's not done growing.
I don't care how many short D-men are in the NHL and plays all situations right now, that has no bearing on this argument.
I'm arguing that Makar isn't better at hockey then Brännström right now, or atleast i can't see it and i want someone to make the argument for Makar.

I'm not talking in a mock draft situation.

And even if we do talk in a future NHLer situation, i'd take the short 17 yo with similar skill who's proven he can defend against big, strong Men over the 2 inch taller guy who looks flashy because he plays against B-level juniors where he barely has to defend.

Maybe i'm harsch against Makar, maybe i'm wrong, i'd be happy to eat crow if i can get a real argument as to why my opening statement isn't true.

 

[Frk It]

Brännström is still 17, it's pretty likely he's not done growing.
I don't care how many short D-men are in the NHL and plays all situations right now, that has no bearing on this argument.
I'm arguing that Makar isn't better at hockey then Brännström right now, or atleast i can't see it and i want someone to make the argument for Makar.

I'm not talking in a mock draft situation.

And even if we do talk in a future NHLer situation, i'd take the short 17 yo with similar skill who's proven he can defend against big, strong Men over the 2 inch taller guy who looks flashy because he plays against B-level juniors where he barely has to defend.

Maybe i'm harsch against Makar, maybe i'm wrong, i'd be happy to eat crow if i can get a real argument as to why my opening statement isn't true.

Well his brother and dad are hockey players, and they are 5'9" and 5'10", so not sure anyone is going to bank on him growing.
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=237839
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=126

But anyways, back on topic, I might agree with you he's not a better hockey player at this juncture. As far as their skills translating to the next levels... I'd imagine scouts rank him higher because he's a little bigger, a little quicker, and therefore projects better.

Quality of comp (along with being a 98) is a concern I also have with Makar. But we've also never seen what Brannstrom looks like on the small ice, either.

Honestly both players are too risky for me to warrant where they are being projected to go. Plus I feel like you can usually get guys like Makar in the 10-20 range, and guys like Brannstrom in the 25-50 range in most other drafts.

 

[keppel146]

Ok, well 2 inches makes a difference. Especially for defenseman. Count for me how many 5'9" defenseman are in the NHL. Now count for me how many 5'9" defenseman there are in the NHL that play in all situations.

I'm not even a Makar guy FYI, I think it would be bat**** crazy to take him #1.

Spurg.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

Ok, well 2 inches makes a difference. Especially for defenseman. Count for me how many 5'9" defenseman are in the NHL. Now count for me how many 5'9" defenseman there are in the NHL that play in all situations.

I'm not even a Makar guy FYI, I think it would be bat**** crazy to take him #1.

How many 5'11" Dmen play in all situations?

There might be more 5'11" guys overall, but both are still limited in their roles with just a couple exceptions.

 

[zharkenby]

As a devil fan, I can tell you I would find a new team without a problem if they took this kid first. Criminally overrated among scouts. Remember Ryan Murphy? Codi Ceci? he will top out as a 3dman. if a team wants to play him on their top pair good luck to them

 

[Czech Trio]

As a devil fan, I can tell you I would find a new team without a problem if they took this kid first. Criminally overrated among scouts. Remember Ryan Murphy? Codi Ceci? he will top out as a 3dman. if a team wants to play him on their top pair good luck to them

 

[TheSnipeshow91]

He reminds me a bit of stecher. Similar stature, both very good puck movers. But stechers defensive game is much better than makars.

 

[McMetal]

He's clearly talented, but what bothers me is that his talent level being so far above everybody else in his league means that he's never really had to learn how to defend, which is his main job. When you've spent so much time with the puck on your stick, you don't have a lot of experience being on the other side of it. I think he'll have a lot of difficulty transitioning to higher levels because of that. Once the talent levels start to equalize and he spends less time controlling the play and more time trying to contain other high-talent players, he's not going to have the toolset in place to do the job that the "D" next to his name gives him.

I'm not arguing that he can't learn to take on top competition, but he'll be at a disadvantage. And if he doesn't do that, and there's a significant risk of that, then he needs sheltering on a lower pair. I don't think I want to spend a top ten pick on a player who has a good chance of being a middle pair offensive guy. You can pick those up outside of the first.

 

[93LEAFS]

He has to be the top prospect who is scaring the **** out of GM's and scouting director. He has the skills to make you look absolutely foolish if you take him or if you pass on him. He's so boom/bust and his stock could dramatically change with struggles at the next level.

The very interesting, but worrying thing (but could be good for him development wise) is that he is going from a team that rarely needs to play much defense to an average to below average Hockey East program where he is going to be constantly challenged. His skill set is absolutely unreal but between being a late birthday, playing in a weaker league and being on a stacked team has to be keeping scouting directors up at night. Other guys who are probably causing teams scouting departments sleepless nights are probably Ratcliffe, Kostin, Tippett and Liljegren.

 

[Iceman]

So why did this guy rocket up the rankings?

 

[McMetal]

So why did this guy rocket up the rankings?

I'm guessing it's a combination of:

1) Karlsson making everybody wish they had a dominant offensive defenseman too.

2) A desire to have some competition for defensemen at the top of the draft.

3) Scouting media scrambling over themselves to get in on the hot new item so they can say they saw his rise coming before anybody else. Echo chamber takes over.

 

[93LEAFS]

So why did this guy rocket up the rankings?

I'm guessing it's a combination of:

1) Karlsson making everybody wish they had a dominant offensive defenseman too.

2) A desire to have some competition for defensemen at the top of the draft.

3) Scouting media scrambling over themselves to get in on the hot new item so they can say they saw his rise coming before anybody else. Echo chamber takes over.

Very weak draft at the top and he looked unreal at the World Jr A Challenge, which cemented to some he could step up against tough competition and wasn't just dominating a lower league.

 

[McMetal]

Very weak draft at the top and he looked unreal at the World Jr A Challenge, which cemented to some he could step up against tough competition and wasn't just dominating a lower league.

It's still Junior A though, a Mem Cup team would wipe the floor with the Junior A all-star team.

 

[93LEAFS]

It's still Junior A though, a Mem Cup team would wipe the floor with the Junior A all-star team.

The world Jr A Challenge brings in elite talent from around the world. For example, Russia had A. Svechnikov, Klim Kostin, and Lipanov.

 

[FrolikFan67]

praying for him at 10, but i fear he goes somewhere in the 7-9 range.

 

[Daximus]

The world Jr A Challenge brings in elite talent from around the world. For example, Russia had A. Svechnikov, Klim Kostin, and Lipanov.

Elite talent from Russia sure. But the US guys are mostly mid level USHL guys and all of the Canada guys are from.. well Junior A.

 

[Hiishawk]

Elite talent from Russia sure. But the US guys are mostly mid level USHL guys and all of the Canada guys are from.. well Junior A.

The USNTDP team, which won the IIHF U18s, finished near the very bottom of the USHL standings.

The WJAC U.S. team was made up of many of the best players on USHL teams that finished well above the U18-winning US national team in the standings. And they beat the Russian team with many of Russia's best draft prospects.

Perspective.

 

[linusandvarlamov]

If I were picking in the 6-10 range, I'd pick him without hesitation. But IMO he's too risky to take in the Top 5. In the videos I've watched of him on youtube you hardly ever get to see any footage of him in his own zone. The footage pretty much exclusively shows him in the offensive zone (and he is very impressive there but what about D?).

His ceiling in the offensive zone is through the roof (in that area he looks like he could dominate even more than Tyson Barrie for example). The way he exits his zone and skates into the offensive zone almost feels like a carbon copy of Tyson barrie. But Barrie is below average in the defensive zone and Makar could turn out to be even worse than Barrie when it comes to defending. That's where I see the risk.

 

[93LEAFS]

If I were picking in the 6-10 range, I'd pick him without hesitation. But IMO he's too risky to take in the Top 5. In the videos I've watched of him on youtube you hardly ever get to see any footage of him in his own zone. The footage pretty much exclusively shows him in the offensive zone (and he is very impressive there but what about D?).

His ceiling in the offensive zone is through the roof (in that area he looks like he could dominate even more than Tyson Barrie for example). The way he exits his zone and skates into the offensive zone almost feels like a carbon copy of Tyson barrie. But Barrie is below average in the defensive zone and Makar could turn out to be even worse than Barrie when it comes to defending. That's where I see the risk.

Brooks Bandits rarely had to play D. They outscored there opposition 294 to 107, while going 51-5-4. The big risk with him is that he rarely got tested defensively. They also only lost 1 game in in 3 playoff rounds. Makar is a very difficult guy to scout because of this, on top of the other obvious factors (lower division and late birthday).

 

[Daximus]

The USNTDP team, which won the IIHF U18s, finished near the very bottom of the USHL standings.

The WJAC U.S. team was made up of many of the best players on USHL teams that finished well above the U18-winning US national team in the standings. And they beat the Russian team with many of Russia's best draft prospects.

Perspective.

But again they still aren't the best of this class in most cases.

 

[Face Of Bear]

Not only is he playing in an inferior league, but based on the stats, it looks like his team is pretty stacked. It would be one thing if he was a lone ranger carrying his team, but he appears to be just one of several guys who were lighting it up this season for the Bandits. I'll admit I dont know much about this kid beyond the stat sheet, but for me I'd be scared ****less taking this guy in the top 10

 

[Frk It]

He has to be the top prospect who is scaring the **** out of GM's and scouting director. He has the skills to make you look absolutely foolish if you take him or if you pass on him. He's so boom/bust and his stock could dramatically change with struggles at the next level.

The very interesting, but worrying thing (but could be good for him development wise) is that he is going from a team that rarely needs to play much defense to an average to below average Hockey East program where he is going to be constantly challenged. His skill set is absolutely unreal but between being a late birthday, playing in a weaker league and being on a stacked team has to be keeping scouting directors up at night. Other guys who are probably causing teams scouting departments sleepless nights are probably Ratcliffe, Kostin, Tippett and Liljegren.

I think there will be a fair amount of motivation for GM's and teams to not be the guy who passed on Makar or Petterson due to the potential there. Probably will lead to someone taking the plunge pretty early on for both.

Could see Dallas going with Makar, and LV going with Petterson.

 

[93LEAFS]

I think there will be a fair amount of motivation for GM's and teams to not be the guy who passed on Makar or Petterson due to the potential there. Probably will lead to someone taking the plunge pretty early on for both.

Could see Dallas going with Makar, and LV going with Petterson.

If Dallas keeps their pick (a big if), I think they take Heiskanen. Its quite wide open. Pettersson or Glass also seems like the guy at 5.