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

[Bubbles]

I totally don't like it, not this trade, it's the whole thing about Mem-cup, and I don't think rockets will have a strong team next season. Mem-cup isn't just a tournament, it's a business, about money. Three years ago, when Rockets have a strong team, CHL didn't let them host it, and now when they're going to lose all those great players, they get it.

I have the same thoughts. You don't just get better in one year in junior hockey. It's always in 4 year cycles. I thought they would acquire more 17-18 year guys to build a good core for this half season and than next season.

 

[Cush]

3+4 so far tonight (3rd pd)

 

[landy92mack29]

Both him and Catton with 7 point nights...hockey Canada couldn't have used that chemistry at all lol

 

[Juniorhockeyguru]

I have the same thoughts. You don't just get better in one year in junior hockey. It's always in 4 year cycles. I thought they would acquire more 17-18 year guys to build a good core for this half season and than next season.

In 2020 they most certainly didn't have a good team if that's what you mean.

 

[wickedwitch]

2+2 tonight. Only 4 points each for him and Catton, so I guess they're slowing down.





(Also, LOL at Hockey Canada.)

 

[MrCreamm]

Really eager to see what he does next season wherever he is.

 

[Kuz]

Really eager to see what he does next season wherever he is.

He was close to make the Caps team after an impressive camp so should get some games in the NHL, but unless he does even better than expected he will probably get most of next year in Hershey.

 

[CaviarAndRinkFries]

 

[wetcoast]

Disagree.

COVID cancelling Kelowna's Memorial Cup in 2019/20 was a blessing in disguise. They were a .500 team and were going to get completely embarrassed against top CHL competition if it hadn't been cancelled.

After dealing Cristall + Price they have 8 1st round picks between 2025-2027 to trade for immediate help this summer and at next year's deadline. Hopefully Stancl and Graham get dealt before the deadline for additional picks/players as well.

The Rockets will look completely different next year. Silly to say they won't have a strong team next season

The problem is that they won't have enough of a base even if they score one or two big guns and other teams are much better situated for next year.

Their 18 year old groups has a couple of good players, 17 years old a couple more but just not enough talent and depth from top to bottom to build upon.

 

[Hale The Villain]

The problem is that they won't have enough of a base even if they score one or two big guns and other teams are much better situated for next year.

Their 18 year old groups has a couple of good players, 17 years old a couple more but just not enough talent and depth from top to bottom to build upon.

They have six 1st round picks and multiple 2nds from 2025-2027 to trade for immediate help.

They'll be adding a lot more than one or two big guns using some of those assets + some others.

Whether it's a good idea for Kelowna to be going all-in and gutting their future outlook to load up for a single year of potential success, that's another story.

 

[MS]

I'm not even the biggest Cristall fan projecting him moving up levels but not taking him to the WJCs was functionally insane. He's the most purely talented Canadian U20 player not in the NHL right now.

The team took maybe 2 of the 10 most x-factor players they had available to them and built around a 16 year old who proceeded to score 1 point. The whole thing was just nuts. No other country operates like this.

 

[Kuz]

I'm not even the biggest Cristall fan projecting him moving up levels but not taking him to the WJCs was functionally insane. He's the most purely talented Canadian U20 player not in the NHL right now.

The team took maybe 2 of the 10 most x-factor players they had available to them and built around a 16 year old who proceeded to score 1 point. The whole thing was just nuts. No other country operates like this.

McKenna is of course a remarkable talent, but you want the older guyd to lead the way and not put all the pressure on a 16 year old. McKenna was not put in a good position to succeed.

Cristall gets a lot of complaints for his WJC U18 when he was 16, but he still put up 6 points in 7 games. He got a lot of blame while not being that bad and he have developed a lot since that. He was an obvious choice for Team Canada and he would most likely produce points something they really needed.

 

[wetcoast]

They have six 1st round picks and multiple 2nds from 2025-2027 to trade for immediate help.

They'll be adding a lot more than one or two big guns using some of those assets + some others.

Whether it's a good idea for Kelowna to be going all-in and gutting their future outlook to load up for a single year of potential success, that's another story.

Time will tell but I still don't think that their base will be strong enough but maybe they get lucky with a couple of really good imports?

McKenna is of course a remarkable talent, but you want the older guyd to lead the way and not put all the pressure on a 16 year old. McKenna was not put in a good position to succeed.

Cristall gets a lot of complaints for his WJC U18 when he was 16, but he still put up 6 points in 7 games. He got a lot of blame while not being that bad and he have developed a lot since that. He was an obvious choice for Team Canada and he would most likely produce points something they really needed.

Given his play after not being selected and just before the trade deadline it's a bit of a red flag for me as his skillset doesn't translate to automatic NHLer and next season will be very telling in Hershey.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Time will tell but I still don't think that their base will be strong enough but maybe they get lucky with a couple of really good imports?

I suspect they'll be able to sell a few Euro imports on being a part of a Memorial Cup team, as well as a few USHL/BCHL guys now that the rules have changed and they can still remain eligible for college.

Add in 3 overagers and a couple big acquisitions sometime between the WHL draft and the trade deadline, and I suspect the Rockets will be in a position to challenge for a WHL championship.

 

[wetcoast]

I suspect they'll be able to sell a few Euro imports on being a part of a Memorial Cup team, as well as a few USHL/BCHL guys now that the rules have changed and they can still remain eligible for college.

Add in 3 overagers and a couple big acquisitions sometime between the WHL draft and the trade deadline, and I suspect the Rockets will be in a position to challenge for a WHL championship.

I doubt that they will be able to challenge for the league championship but they get an automatic berth to the memorial Cup and might be rested enough to do something there, hard to say but there will be other WHL teams that will be considered better next year mark my word on that.

 

[VeteranPresence]

Both him and Catton with 7 point nights...hockey Canada couldn't have used that chemistry at all lol

But according to the braintrust that is HC, sometimes the process can be right but not lead to the right result!

 

[frontsfan67]

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Interested to see how he does in pro next year whether it be in the A or in the league