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

[Michael Brand Eggs]

Yup, you’re totally right here. It’s very hard to project him, especially since we haven’t seen him very much under duress thus far this season.

With his package of skills though, I’m still thinking he’s a lock for a top 10 pick

That skating alone, man. I don't know if there's anybody in the NHL that quick laterally. It's truly something to behold.

It's an interesting predicament. This kid passes the eye test with flying colors, but he might as well have been practicing all year long. How much does that matter? I guess we'll see. I think up around pick 6-7, GMs are going to feel really pressured. I mean, do you take a proven B level player over an unproven potential A level player? Just think of how stupid you can look even next year if you've got the B level guy. GMs have gotten canned for less.

 

[McSpecial DraiBlend]

What Colborne accomplished in 2008 alone:

- 2nd best scorer in the league
- playoff MVP
- player of the year award
- lead his team to win the RBC cup

Sounds pretty dominant to me. I'm not saying Makar can't be good but it's a fact that the league is weak.

Tons of kids have dominated in the AJHL and BCHL.
Noone is denying that. When you actually watch a kid like this play live you see how special of a talent he is. Something stat sheets don't reflect.
I have seen a ton of players in the BCHL and AJHL, including players like Kyle Turris and even Paul Kariya. This kid is at a completely different level like these type of players.

 

[Balthazar]

Tons of kids have dominated in the AJHL and BCHL.
Noone is denying that. When you actually watch a kid like this play live you see how special of a talent he is. Something stat sheets don't reflect.
I have seen a ton of players in the BCHL and AJHL, including players like Kyle Turris and even Paul Kariya. This kid is at a completely different level like these type of players.

No one is denying that he has exceptional talent. The problem when you play in a weaker, slower league is you can do stuff that you wouldn't do at higher level. If a big part of your success comes from liberties that you take now but wouldn't take in a better league you're in trouble.

If he was playing like that and having the same success in the CHL he'd be the de-facto 1st OA pick.

 

[McSpecial DraiBlend]

No one is denying that he has exceptional talent. The problem when you play in a weaker, slower league is you can do stuff that you wouldn't do at higher level. If a big part of your success comes from liberties that you take now but wouldn't take in a better league you're in trouble.

If he was playing like that and having the same success in the CHL he'd be the de-facto 1st OA pick.

Without a doubt he would.
All I was eluding too is that you can just see his IQ on the ice.

 

[tigervixxxen]

What Colborne accomplished in 2008 alone:

- 2nd best scorer in the league
- playoff MVP
- player of the year award
- lead his team to win the RBC cup

Translated to the NHL it would be like finishing 2nd in scoring, winning the Hart, winning the Conn Smythe and winning the Stanley Cup. All in one season. I don't know about you but that sounds pretty damn dominant to me.

I'm not saying Makar can't be good but it's a fact that the league is weak.

Colborne completely sucked in an Avs uniform but he's a legitimate NHL player. That's the point of the draft and if a weak league can turn that out then it's not too poor to keep looking at.

 

[XX]

He just had an amazing assist against Chilliwack in the Western Canada Cup Finals winner moves onto the RBC cup.

Why is Makar headed out of the zone after the pass? It looks absurd. I don't care if he can skate at an exceptional level. He'll have to learn how to play a more realistic game in the NCAA and then the NHL.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Why is Makar headed out of the zone after the pass? It looks absurd. I don't care if he can skate at an exceptional level. He'll have to learn how to play a more realistic game in the NCAA and then the NHL.

That highlight is a great example of his weak competition and stuff he just won't get away with at the higher levels.

Makar is impressive but I think criticizing his level of competition is completely warranted. The CJHL is just not an elite league. I've played with lots of guys who have had success in that league and couldn't even sniff action in the OHL including members of the RBC cup winning Pembroke Lumber Kings.

 

[Grantham]

Can you please enlighten me as to why skating out of the O Zone after setting up a one timer at the blue line is such a bad thing? QOC is a legit point of conversation, but i don't understand this point of criticism.

 

[lawrence]

That highlight is a great example of his weak competition and stuff he just won't get away with at the higher levels.

Makar is impressive but I think criticizing his level of competition is completely warranted. The CJHL is just not an elite league. I've played with lots of guys who have had success in that league and couldn't even sniff action in the OHL including members of the RBC cup winning Pembroke Lumber Kings.

You are exactly right. Even the best Junior A players cannot even touch the CHL, and we see that, but Makar is special. He is rare, kinda like Kyle Turris, Tyson Jost and now him. To see a defensemen dominate like this? He deserves some credit. It's a playground right now for him.

 

[Daximus]

You are exactly right. Even the best Junior A players cannot even touch the CHL, and we see that, but Makar is special. He is rare, kinda like Kyle Turris, Tyson Jost and now him. To see a defensemen dominate like this? He deserves some credit. It's a playground right now for him.

He's definitely a good offensive defencemen but there are a lot of things in his game that won't fly in the NCAA. If he can learn to adapt quickly he could definitely take the league by storm but given how much of an adjustment period Fabbro needed I don't think Makar will do much better. Really rare for anyone to make such a massive jump in level of competition like that and not have some adjustment period. Think it's odd that he or anyone would or should be anticipating a one and done year at UMass.

 

[Frk It]

That skating alone, man. I don't know if there's anybody in the NHL that quick laterally. It's truly something to behold.

That's a bit of an exaggeration. I don't even think he has the best lateral quickness among prospects, I think that belongs to this guy:

 

[Birko19]

He just had an amazing assist against Chilliwack in the Western Canada Cup Finals winner moves onto the RBC cup.

He looks like a Bobby Orr in that video, but let's up the level and see if he can pull the same moves on better players, that seems to be the main question now.

 

[AvsCOL]

That's a bit of an exaggeration. I don't even think he has the best lateral quickness among prospects, I think that belongs to this guy:

Yeah, Merkley is incredible. Hope we get one of Dahlin, Merkley or McIsaac next year.

 

[57special]

That's pretty well the rub on Mittelstadt, too. Looks great, but you never really know till they play against top competition. Will their game hold up against stronger, faster competition?

Poehling is pretty much the opposite case, playing on a good NCAA squad(better than CHL) while still being of HS age.

 

[Superlative Soup]

That's a bit of an exaggeration. I don't even think he has the best lateral quickness among prospects, I think that belongs to this guy:

 

[BlazingBlueAnt]

Can you please enlighten me as to why skating out of the O Zone after setting up a one timer at the blue line is such a bad thing? QOC is a legit point of conversation, but i don't understand this point of criticism.

Because they don't score there, he's completely taken himself out of the play

That's pretty well the rub on Mittelstadt, too. Looks great, but you never really know till they play against top competition. Will their game hold up against stronger, faster competition?

Poehling is pretty much the opposite case, playing on a good NCAA squad(better than CHL) while still being of HS age.

At least with Mittelstadt we have his performance in the U-18's last year and his short stint in the USHL

 

[portamoral]

Why is Makar headed out of the zone after the pass? It looks absurd. I don't care if he can skate at an exceptional level. He'll have to learn how to play a more realistic game in the NCAA and then the NHL.

he was probably going to switch off with the other D until he decided to stay put and take the shot. he was still headed that way and about to cut back into the zone, but he saw the guy had just scored so he didn't bother and continued on towards center..

some of you are trying way too hard to criticize this guy and its hilarious.

 

[covfefe]

You are exactly right. Even the best Junior A players cannot even touch the CHL, and we see that, but Makar is special. He is rare, kinda like Kyle Turris, Tyson Jost and now him. To see a defensemen dominate like this? He deserves some credit. It's a playground right now for him.

Well, given that the best Jr. A players from Canada are regularly coveted by top D1 programs, I'd tend to disagree.

Agreed in full with the rest of your post, though. Also it's pretty crucial to consider that these leagues have more parity than when Turris/Bozak/Benn were around, which makes what Makar is doing all the more special.

 

[Daximus]

Well, given that the best Jr. A players from Canada are regularly coveted by top D1 programs, I'd tend to disagree.

Agreed in full with the rest of your post, though. Also it's pretty crucial to consider that these leagues have more parity than when Turris/Bozak/Benn were around, which makes what Makar is doing all the more special.

I'd argue the only reason top Junior A players are coveted by D1 programs is because they can't have the really good ones in Major Junior because of their own rules.

 

[hradekbr]

That's pretty well the rub on Mittelstadt, too. Looks great, but you never really know till they play against top competition. Will their game hold up against stronger, faster competition?

Poehling is pretty much the opposite case, playing on a good NCAA squad(better than CHL) while still being of HS age.

Mittelstadt has more to go on than Makar... wouldn't really compare the two in that sense when regarding QOC.

 

[XX]

Can you please enlighten me as to why skating out of the O Zone after setting up a one timer at the blue line is such a bad thing? QOC is a legit point of conversation, but i don't understand this point of criticism.

When have you ever seen that done in the NHL?

he was probably going to switch off with the other D until he decided to stay put and take the shot. he was still headed that way and about to cut back into the zone, but he saw the guy had just scored so he didn't bother and continued on towards center..

some of you are trying way too hard to criticize this guy and its hilarious.

Watch it again, but this time slow it down. He's almost out at center ice before anyone realizes it's in. It's a stupid play on his part, indicative of someone playing hero hockey against very weak competition. There's no way of knowing if this kid can simplify his game against men in a structured league.

 

[GetFocht]

That's the thing with Makar, he plays a game that even Erik Karlsson can't play in the NHL.

He's going to have a rude awakening when he starts playing the NCAA and learns he can't dangle 4 players or skate deep into the offensive zone without repercussions.

 

[Stud Puffin]

I think some of you will be surprised at how well he adapts. I recall the WJA Challenge 2 years ago where he was the youngest player on the team. Jost and Fabbro were also on this team. He started out as a 3rd pairing dman and was asked to play defensively and curb the non-stop pinching that he is encouraged to do in the Bandits system. He not only did this he ended up on the top pairing by the championship game. He was on the ice in the final minutes holding off the other team. He outplayed Fabbro and the other D.

Keep in mind that all the rushes you see is also part of the way that the Bandits play. If any of you had watched a single Bandits game you will see most of our D do this. It isn't that Makar doesn't know how to play D, it is the system we use. I am 100% confident in his ability to adapt at the next level.

 

[Stud Puffin]

[ Do you realize that the AJHL has players from major junior? Due to the 3 20yr old rule, many 20 yr olds play and to be honest, they aren't that great. Example Brooks has Kord Pankowicz, used to play for Lethbridge Hurricanes. Decent numbers for a Dman...he is a 3rd pairing defenseman and was even put up to forward for a spell because he had trouble cracking our top 6. There are a lot of players that could play in the CHL...they play Jr. A to go to college and have a future.

 

[Daximus]

[ Do you realize that the AJHL has players from major junior? Due to the 3 20yr old rule, many 20 yr olds play and to be honest, they aren't that great. Example Brooks has Kord Pankowicz, used to play for Lethbridge Hurricanes. Decent numbers for a Dman...he is a 3rd pairing defenseman and was even put up to forward for a spell because he had trouble cracking our top 6. There are a lot of players that could play in the CHL...they play Jr. A to go to college and have a future.

Didn't Kord get cut from Lethbridge midway through last season because he was playing like absolute crap?