F Andrew Cristall - Kelowna Rockets, WHL (2023, 40th, WSH)

[bsu]

I see some Sam Steel but his upside is possibly Giroux type?

 

[sting101]

Yeah my problem with Cristall is if he doesnt improve his skating enough to be a top 6 forward, does he have a role in the league at that size.

The answer to your question pretty much applies to all prospects that are not the size of Mark Stone Jason Robertson or Milan Lucic.

It's not even just speed because he has edges and deception that off set pure speed to buy time and his hockey IQ is off the charts but its gonna be how he handles less time and space and if he can manipulate games the same way. Almost every draftee has to add speed but is a fair question mark when it doesn't jump off the page

If he becomes a purely one dimensional playmaker how does that look as a top15 pick? probably not very good considering people on these boards dont want to even offer a 1st round pick for a 26yr old Conor Garland (example because im a Canucks fan) who is more than that and drives play and does most of his scoring 5v5. He has to be a top line almost PPG level player to be a good top15 pick. It's just the reality of his role and position going forward

 

[FourQuarters]

He's learning defense, before his injury, he has began to play on the PK. His defense got better as the season went on, he left his skate to break up a breakaway successfully last night, stole a puck in the end of PK that led to his first goal in his return game. These scenes may be missed in the highlights, I'm not saying his defense has become his strength, but he's improving.

 

[ForsbergForever]

I see some Sam Steel but his upside is possibly Giroux type?

You're really going out on a limb with that prediction. Anywhere from fringe NHLer to borderline Hall of Famer...

 

[bsu]

You're really going out on a limb with that prediction. Anywhere from fringe NHLer to borderline Hall of Famer...

Yeah that's why he's not ranked as high as some think he should be. One of the biggest boom or bust of this draft similar to Lambert last year IMO. If he doesn't pan out as a top 6 guy he doesn't really have a role in the NHL. He doesn't have the size, motor, speed or frame he needs to be scoring.

 

[bsu]

 

[docbenton]

Yeah that's why he's not ranked as high as some think he should be. One of the biggest boom or bust of this draft similar to Lambert last year IMO. If he doesn't pan out as a top 6 guy he doesn't really have a role in the NHL. He doesn't have the size, motor, speed or frame he needs to be scoring.

I don't think there's much bust risk with this player, very similar player to Marner. He's not one of those undersized junior players who put up huge points but are lacking in skill and are just really good at exploiting time and space. The only question is will he be a middling skilled 2nd line winger or a star 1st line winger.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I don't think there's much bust risk with this player, very similar player to Marner. He's not one of those undersized junior players who put up huge points but are lacking in skill and are just really good at exploiting time and space. The only question is will he be a middling skilled 2nd line winger or a star 1st line winger.

This question is certainly risky when you're selecting top-10.

 

[bsu]

I don't think there's much bust risk with this player, very similar player to Marner. He's not one of those undersized junior players who put up huge points but are lacking in skill and are just really good at exploiting time and space. The only question is will he be a middling skilled 2nd line winger or a star 1st line winger.

So his absolute floor is 2nd line player to you.... You must be high on him.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Is Cristall's skating that bad? Doesn't look like a problem in any video/games I've seen but admittedly it's limited.

He's reminding me of Zegras (with less speed apparently). Alot of the concerns & strengths seem similar. Is that comp fair?

 

[keppel146]

So 8-12 range?

 

[danyhabsfan]

Is Cristall's skating that bad? Doesn't look like a problem in any video/games I've seen but admittedly it's limited.

He's reminding me of Zegras (with less speed apparently). Alot of the concerns & strengths seem similar. Is that comp fair?

Cristall seems to be a more of a sniper and Zegras more of a playmaker.

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[Postulates]

He runs into the goalie with his skate from his poor mechanics smh

 

[2014nyr]

well i finally have one thing i dont like about him. who the hell tapes their stick past the heel? psycho stuff

 

[JeffreyLFC]

Is Cristall's skating that bad? Doesn't look like a problem in any video/games I've seen but admittedly it's limited.

He's reminding me of Zegras (with less speed apparently). Alot of the concerns & strengths seem similar. Is that comp fair?

His skating is average if you compare it to similar players (top 6 winger) in the NHL. He can still improve it but he would not be a burner. His skating reminds me Drouin or Cole Perfetti. Very elusive, some top end speed but his acceleration, lateral movement and edge are average.

 

[Bubbles]

Hat trick tonight. Slick moves on his 2nd.

 

[FourQuarters]

Scored goals in 2 games after returning.
Scored 2 hat trick in these 2 games.

 

[Deleted member 339941]

 

[Kcoyote3]

He didn’t mention how old he is.

 

[bsu]

Kind of reminds me of Wyatt Johnston at times.

 

[austin63867]

 

[Kevin Musto]

Robbery if a playoff team runs away with Cristall

If he falls that far, hopefully it'll be Chicago using Tampa's 1st round pick

 

[majormajor]

Cristall almost certainly won't fall that far.

I've done mocks where I've built in a lot of skepticism for Cristall and I'd still have him going in the 18-28th range because everyone there has question marks.

Cristall might not make it because he's small and not an elite skater but you don't pass on him for a guy who might not make it because he doesn't have NHL baseline talent.

 

[Juxtaposer]

“How did Brayden Point fall to the 3rd round??”

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