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

[FLYguy3911]

He's so slick and agile with the puck. Kills defenders with cutbacks. His top end speed isn't overly impressive but the way his hands and feet work together is phenomenal.

 

[Constable]

I think I prefer him to Benson at this point, not to take away from how good Benson is. Cristall, pound for pound, is just having a better season at this point and I like the offensive upside a bit more here. Just an insane creator, I value people who create things when there seemingly isnt anything over all and Cristall is a definition of that. Ironically find him comparable to Schiefele.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Put on a clinic at the end of that period. Net front goal and then a nifty toe dag to backhand pass for a Dorey tap-in. Such a crafty player.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

He already has 4 points tonight.

His PPG is 1.96...which is nuts for a non-Bedard 17 year old in the WHL.

 

[Kevin Musto]

How long until he's a top 5 lock?

He's top 5 on my board, as of now.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

8 points in his last 2 games, has taken an agenda to catch B in his absence.
after the World Juniors, it will be fierce race between those two.

 

[Dominance]

I don’t think it’s possible to ignore the production here. Size, skating, whatever. He’s a 17 year old dominating the WHL to an almost unprecedented degree on a team where he pretty much is the offense.

 

[vildurson]

He sure as hell is fun to watch when he is playing well.

He shows plenty of Mitch Marner tendancies on the ice. Bad ones(sometimes loses from the picture when things get rough, turnovers at times) and good ones(excellent playmaking etc).

Can't quite figure out how high he should be placed on board but production is kinda hard to ignore.

Still betting he is the one to fall at draft day if his production dips even a little.

 

[jfhabs]

He sure as hell is fun to watch when he is playing well.

He shows plenty of Mitch Marner tendancies on the ice. Bad ones(sometimes loses from the picture when things get rough, turnovers at times) and good ones(excellent playmaking etc).

Can't quite figure out how high he should be placed on board but production is kinda hard to ignore.

Still betting he is the one to fall at draft day if his production dips even a little.

I'd think 7-12 range

 

[AintLifeGrand]

want him on tbe preds- my fav player in the upcoming draft

 

[Kevin Musto]

The more I watch Cristall, the more I'm convinced he's the best winger in the draft

 

[Dust]

Since I don't follow Kelowna all that closely, how is it that their top 4 scorers are all listed as LWers?

 

[Kevin Musto]

Since I don't follow Kelowna all that closely, how is it that their top 4 scorers are all listed as LWers?

Cristall has played RW all season.

Szturc plays center.

Dach plays center, sometimes LW.

Kydd plays LW and RW.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The more I watch Cristall, the more I'm convinced he's the best winger in the draft

Michkov exists.

 

[FourQuarters]

Since I don't follow Kelowna all that closely, how is it that their top 4 scorers are all listed as LWers?

If everyone is available
Kydd-Szturc-Cristall
XXX-Dach-XXX

Sometime
XXX-Szturc-Cristall
Kydd-Dach-XXX
Because Dach needs some help.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Michkov exists.

I don't think I like him as much.

Michkov, while very cerebral, is only active in the offensive end and even then he's a floater off the puck.

I much prefer Cristall who is always relentless.

 

[FourQuarters]

I don't think I like him as much.

Michkov, while very cerebral, is only active in the offensive end and even then he's a floater off the puck.

I much prefer Cristall who is always relentless.

But… AC wasn't very dynamic in our own zone, too…

 

[Kevin Musto]

But… AC wasn't very dynamic in our own zone, too…

He's not Bergeron, but Cristall backchecks, causes turnovers, engages in board play, etc.

There isn't a lick of that in Michkov's game.

 

[FourQuarters]

He's not Bergeron, but Cristall backchecks, causes turnovers, engages in board play, etc.

There isn't a lick of that in Michkov's game.

I know his defensive play is improving, but it's far from being an advantage. He did also make some mistakes which led to opponents' goals. He doesn't need to be compared to Michkov, it makes no sense. They have never been seen as players at the same tier…
Michkov has Michkov's glitter, Cristall has Cristall's magic. I love Cristall, but that doesn't stop me from admitting that Michkov is better at this point. If one day Cristall is more successful than Michkov, then I will be very happy. But now I can't come up with enough evidence to support this view.

 

[Kevin Musto]

He doesn't need to be compared to Michkov, it makes no sense. They have never been seen as players at the same tier…

EliteProspects just ranked Cristall at 5, one spot below Michkov.

Guess that's not true anymore.

I suspect other outlets will follow suit. There's just no way Cristall isn't in the top 5 conversation come draft day, and I've got him at 3 right now.

 

[bsu]

EliteProspects just ranked Cristall at 5, one spot below Michkov.

Guess that's not true anymore.

I suspect other outlets will follow suit. There's just no way Cristall isn't in the top 5 conversation come draft day, and I've got him at 3 right now.

There's no one that thinks Cristall is a better prospect than Michkov that is employed in the NHL. Now if you're scared to draft Michkov because of what's going on in the world plus his contract status that is a whole different thing.

 

[Kevin Musto]

There's no one that thinks Cristall is a better prospect than Michkov that is employed in the NHL.

Source?

 

[Nabrules]

EliteProspects just ranked Cristall at 5, one spot below Michkov.

Guess that's not true anymore.

I suspect other outlets will follow suit. There's just no way Cristall isn't in the top 5 conversation come draft day, and I've got him at 3 right now.

Obviously subject to change but Grant McCagg (although controversial, has quite a few NHL connections) said a majority of the people he’s talked to in NHL circles don’t have crtisall top 15, let alone close to Michkov. Corey Pronman reiterated similar.

 

[FourQuarters]

EliteProspects just ranked Cristall at 5, one spot below Michkov.

Guess that's not true anymore.

I suspect other outlets will follow suit. There's just no way Cristall isn't in the top 5 conversation come draft day, and I've got him at 3 right now.

Buddy, no offense. But I don't know why you're so obsessed with rankings… Do you want hawks to draft him? Or you want your guy to be drafted high?
If he's 15OA, he's not going to be someone else. If he's first overall pick, he's not going to be guaranteed anything. Cristall is Cristall, no matter where he is. I just hope he could meet a great coach to help him refined his play.
You only make people into his haters by comparing him to others like this…

edit: I'm not trying to change your mind, it's just my opinion.

 

[KevSkillz4]

I would be really thrilled if Habs draft him even if they have already small prospects like Sean Farrell and Filip Mesar then Cole Caufield at 5"7. They can all play on different lines and make 3rd great different offensive lines, I would expect like that:

Slafkovsky - Suzuki - Caufield.
Cristall - Dach - Mesar. (Cristall is 5"10, Mesar is 5"9, but maybe 5"10 soon) play with a big C 6"4.
Heineman - Beck - Farrell.