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

[Chainshot]

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

As it should be, considering Stecher's age advantage and experience.

 

[CanuckCity]

So why did this guy rocket up the rankings?

people actually watching/scouting him rather than making grand assumptions based on league.

 

[Samsonite23]

people actually watching/scouting him rather than making grand assumptions based on league.

That's what gets me. I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I have seen has blown me away. It'd be nice to hear some talk about his actual play.

 

[Iceman]

people actually watching/scouting him rather than making grand assumptions based on league.

Yeah but why so suddenly? What was his ranking half a year ago?

 

[Frk It]

That's what gets me. I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I have seen has blown me away. It'd be nice to hear some talk about his actual play.

A lot of defenseman in this draft would blow you away playing in the AJHL on a Brooks team that dominated... that's part of why it's hard to assess/project him.

Yeah but why so suddenly? What was his ranking half a year ago?

He was ranked #12 in the mid-term rankings done by TSN. He was more recently at #7. Button is much higher on him than that, but consider that Button's rankings are his own opinion, whereas McKenzie actually polls NHL scouts.

 

[CanuckCity]

Yeah but why so suddenly? What was his ranking half a year ago?

Well a year ago he wasnt even thinking about the NHL hence why he committed to Umass. Not sure where his preseason rankings were but likely faaar from where he is now.

I think its a combo of weak draft + a compounding effect. As his name popped up more, more people started watching him, then it seems after people watch him he shoots up their rankings. Also his play didnt drop off at all in the recent RBC Cup & world junior A championship which likely solidified it for many scouts.

And now of course now we've had him in the top5 by multiple scouting resources.

 

[Samsonite23]

A lot of defenseman in this draft would blow you away playing in the AJHL on a Brooks team that dominated... that's part of why it's hard to assess/project him.



He was ranked #12 in the mid-term rankings done by TSN. He was more recently at #7. Button is much higher on him than that, but consider that Button's rankings are his own opinion, whereas McKenzie actually polls NHL scouts.

I'm talking about blowing you away even with that knowledge. There are parts of his game like his lateral quickness that really jump out at you as elite. Obviously he's going to look better than his competition. That's not what I'm referring to.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

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

You mean the same Russian team that held Makar pointless? He also missed out in playing against the USA squad, and he didn't face the other Canadian team either.

Good for Makar for beating up on the Swiss though.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

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.

Shift by shift video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLHLPlmVV8MUsBAEbAssmGH3YJsaoCZhwR&v=0CNiiTNtgYM

Granted it's just one game, but I'm not impressed with him away from the puck.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

That's what gets me. I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I have seen has blown me away. It'd be nice to hear some talk about his actual play.

Yeah but why so suddenly? What was his ranking half a year ago?

Hey everyone,

I can definitely give insight into this. I scout hockey for a living and I mean legitimately not just some random ranking website or twitter account that claims to watch players. I can't say who I am employed by (for obvious reasons) but I am from Alberta and have followed Makar's development since he was 14 in bantam ( I used to scout bantam players for the WHL draft).

At the 2015 WJAC tryout camp it really became clear to me that this kid was going in the 1st round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Coming into this season I made a list at the end of August/beginning of September and I had Makar around 26th for this draft. I know scouts that liked him even more than me before the season started too. He opened a lot of eyes to scouts at the WJAC in 2015 when he was named Canada West's top dman over Dante Fabbro.

A lot of posters probably won't believe what I said above which is all good everyone has their opinion but if anyone has questions about Makar i can give you my answers and opinions based on watching him for a couple years and not from just watching some highlight videos or from seeing him in one tournament.

 

[Frk It]

You mean the same Russian team that held Makar pointless? He also missed out in playing against the USA squad, and he didn't face the other Canadian team either.

Good for Makar for beating up on the Swiss though.

He had an assist against Russia

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4728-russia-czech-republic-victorious-on-second-day-of-wjac.html

 

[rsgd]

You mean the same Russian team that held Makar pointless? He also missed out in playing against the USA squad, and he didn't face the other Canadian team either.

Good for Makar for beating up on the Swiss though.

He had an assist against Russia

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4728-russia-czech-republic-victorious-on-second-day-of-wjac.html

He also played the USA team in an exhibition game and got 2 goals in a 6-5 Canada West win.

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/N...ld-Junior-A/2016/Stats/game-summary?gameid=62

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

He had an assist against Russia

http://www.eurohockey.com/article/4728-russia-czech-republic-victorious-on-second-day-of-wjac.html

According to the box score it was Cox, not Makar.

 

[Daximus]

According to the box score it was Cox, not Makar.

So he got a phantom assist in a game he didn't even play in?

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

So he got a phantom assist in a game he didn't even play in?

What?

 

[sting101]

Hey everyone,

I can definitely give insight into this. I scout hockey for a living and I mean legitimately not just some random ranking website or twitter account that claims to watch players. I can't say who I am employed by (for obvious reasons) but I am from Alberta and have followed Makar's development since he was 14 in bantam ( I used to scout bantam players for the WHL draft).

At the 2015 WJAC tryout camp it really became clear to me that this kid was going in the 1st round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Coming into this season I made a list at the end of August/beginning of September and I had Makar around 26th for this draft. I know scouts that liked him even more than me before the season started too. He opened a lot of eyes to scouts at the WJAC in 2015 when he was named Canada West's top dman over Dante Fabbro.

A lot of posters probably won't believe what I said above which is all good everyone has their opinion but if anyone has questions about Makar i can give you my answers and opinions based on watching him for a couple years and not from just watching some highlight videos or from seeing him in one tournament.

What would you consider the reason's for being considered as a top 5 pick. He's had an extra development year and his size and stats aren't anything that jump off the page considering his teammates numbers and what say Kyle Turris did putting up 66goals and 121 pts in his 17/18yr vs Makar and his 75pts in his 18/19yr.

What is so elite about his skillset because even Turris struggled for some time and isn't really a top end 1st line player. Fabbro and Cholowski both struggled this year at the NCAA level. A top5 pick should be a 1st line player...why would teams think this is the case with Makar?

 

[Daximus]

What?

Did he play in that game?

 

[Canucks LB]

A more offensive stecher is a good comparison, but don't undervalue stecher, the guy is a hell of a D-man, top 2 potential imo

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

Did he play in that game?

According to the stats.

 

[Mathew Barzal]

A more offensive stecher is a good comparison, but don't undervalue stecher, the guy is a hell of a D-man, top 2 potential imo

Classic post. 10/10

 

[Oliewud]

Classic post. 10/10

lmfao I like luc but his homerism is too funny.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

Seeing him a lot in the top5 lately, even 3/4 spot. No defenseman under 6'0" has been selected in the top5 since a decade ago and in fact it didn't turn out very well, it was T.Hickey (listed at 5'11 at draft day) and I can't find one before that. Is Makar really that good? Like that exceptionally good? We haven't even seen him in the WJC18 or Hlinka to see how he compares against other top prospects. I know he is a very dynamic player and can create plenty of offense just by himself, but his size will always be a limiting factor in his game at the NHL level; board battles, crease battles, limited reach with his stick, taking space to block shooting/passing lanes, etc. Are his strengths really that good to make him a top5 pick despite all of this? So many other good options anyway. I feel like people and even scouts are getting too excited with that comparison with Karlsson, no one should be compared to Karlsson is skill set is unattainable, it is like comparing Hischier with Crosby, it doesn't make sense to me. I know it only compares the style of play, but even then, you can't replicate the style of play of Karlsson at the NHL level without his skill set, otherwise you will be a turnover machine, I feel like we are getting fooled here because Makar does in fact play the Karlsson type of game right now, but at the AJHL level it doesn't mean anything. It just won't happen, he won't be able to play like Karlsson at the NHL level, he will have to adjust his game and often go for the simpler plays, there is no way around that. So what now? He is that 5'11"(maybe 6'0) offensive player who create some flashes offensively from time to time, help running PP, but still with is limitations in his game, is that 4th/5th overall? No way imo. He even has a late birthday to add to this. I wouldn't touch him in the top5. Too high of a risk for a ceiling who all things considered isn't even that exceptionally high in the first place. I have nothing against him, in fact I have been very impressed every time I watched him play, I simply wouldn't put him that high.

 

[1972]

Seeing him a lot in the top5 lately, even 3/4 spot. No defenseman under 6'0" has been selected in the top5 since a decade ago and in fact it didn't turn out very well, it was T.Hickey (listed at 5'11 at draft day) and I can't find one before that. Is Makar really that good? Like that exceptionally good? We haven't even seen him in the WJC18 or Hlinka to see how he compares against other top prospects. I know he is a very dynamic player and can create plenty of offense just by himself, but his size will always be a limiting factor in his game at the NHL level; board battles, crease battles, limited reach with his stick, taking space to block shooting/passing lanes, etc. Are his strengths really that good to make him a top5 pick despite all of this? So many other good options anyway. I feel like people and even scouts are getting too excited with that comparison with Karlsson, no one should be compared to Karlsson is skill set is unattainable, it is like comparing Hischier with Crosby, it doesn't make sense to me. I know it only compares the style of play, but even then, you can't replicate the style of play of Karlsson at the NHL level without his skill set, otherwise you will be a turnover machine, I feel like we are getting fooled here because Makar does in fact play the Karlsson type of game right now, but at the AJHL level it doesn't mean anything. It just won't happen, he won't be able to play like Karlsson at the NHL level, he will have to adjust his game and often go for the simpler plays, there is no way around that. So what now? He is that 5'11"(maybe 6'0) offensive player who create some flashes offensively from time to time, help running PP, but still with is limitations in his game, is that 4th/5th overall? No way imo. He even has a late birthday to add to this. I wouldn't touch him in the top5. Too high of a risk for a ceiling who all things considered isn't even that exceptionally high in the first place. I have nothing against him, in fact I have been very impressed every time I watched him play, I simply wouldn't put him that high.

just a tip but you should break this down into paragraphs or no one is going to read it.

 

[johna2626]

Cale Makar to the Devils?

I realize Pronman is not a reporter, but he just posted a mock draft with Cale Makar going first overall:



This is his quote about his mock draft:

To reiterate, this is not my preference and ranking of various prospects. In fact, my opinion differs substantially on several players listed here. Rather, this is simply what I believe will happen on Friday based on discussions with scouts and executives all season.

 

[Edmonton East]

Hack gonna hack