F Brayden Yager - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2023, 14th, PIT; traded to WPG)

[Torts]

Gonna put this in writing now to look back on in June but when this draft is all said and done I think it's Bedard #1 and Yager #2.

Totally possible. He is legit.

 

[Dominance]

Gonna put this in writing now to look back on in June but when this draft is all said and done I think it's Bedard #1 and Yager #2.

I don’t think this is a hot take.

Michkov will definitely fall out of the top-3, possibly top-5, with all the uncertainty around him and the quality of the players in the draft. Nobody has a better case for 2 than Yager, outside of maybe Fantilli.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t think this is a hot take.

Michkov will definitely fall out of the top-3, possibly top-5, with all the uncertainty around him and the quality of the players in the draft. Nobody has a better case for 2 than Yager, outside of maybe Fantilli.

I wouldn’t say definitely. Teams take risks all the time. I don’t think it’d be unfathomable that teams take a clear top two player in this draft that has some concerns surrounding him about two situations that have nothing to do with his ability to play hockey.

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[ijif]

For those that are really familiar with this player, how well do the games he has played thus far represent his ability? I’ve watched 3 games, and I have a been very underwhelmed.

 

[MNRube]

Kid makes it look easy. Reminds me a bit of Seguin with his explosiveness and the heavy RH shot

 

[tunnelvision]

For those that are really familiar with this player, how well do the games he has played thus far represent his ability? I’ve watched 3 games, and I have a been very underwhelmed.

In my eyes the Warriors collectively have been a bit underwhelming compared to last year. Especially in the game against #1 ranked CHL team Winnipeg they had trouble getting out of the zone or creating much offense. I've partially watched 3 regular season games.

That said, imo Yager was their best player in that 3-game span.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Kid makes it look easy. Reminds me a bit of Seguin with his explosiveness and the heavy RH shot

He reminds me a bit of MacKinnon. He’s a powerful guy. But maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see because they are both #29 lol

 

[AMScouting]

Significant plays from three games of Yager:

 

[Bubbles]

He reminds me a bit of MacKinnon. He’s a powerful guy. But maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see because they are both #29 lol

No, even his teammate Firkus said the same thing and most people have used the comparison. He doesn't have the explosive speed like Mac but his IQ is better than Mac's at draft time.

 

[Antonche]

For those that are really familiar with this player, how well do the games he has played thus far represent his ability? I’ve watched 3 games, and I have a been very underwhelmed.

He's not wow effect player, but he's effective

 

[Mrb1p]

He's not wow effect player, but he's effective

Hes not wow? He literally is scoring goals down wing like hes Guy Lafleur, hows that not wow lol.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think Seguin makes more sense than MacKinnon.

 

[Nabrules]

Off to a relatively slow start - 9 points in 8 games (for his standards anyway). To be fair, the entire MJ team has started slow

 

[BKarchitect]

Not too worried. Once things start clicking he will score an avalanche of points. The skating, shot, intelligence package is just elite. Sample size way too small to drop him out of the top group of prospects (Bedard, Michkov, Fantilli, Yager, Carlsson).

 

[Scintillating10]

Does 167lbs and 18 PIMS last season worry you on such a high pick?

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Does 167lbs and 18 PIMS last season worry you on such a high pick?

Why’s that?
If anything a player that has yet to fill out has more potential than a guy that has if they put up similar totals.
Yager is putting up numbers like that and he has yet to fill out. Imagine when he does and what he can do.
MacKinnon had the same “problem” in his draft year and a few seasons after.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Why’s that?
If anything a player that has yet to fill out has more potential than a guy that has if they put up similar totals.
Yager is putting up numbers like that and he has yet to fill out. Imagine when he does and what he can do.
MacKinnon had the same “problem” in his draft year and a few seasons after.

What are you talking about? MacKinnon was built even as a 17 year old, he was always a physical specimen.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

What are you talking about? MacKinnon was built even as a 17 year old, he was always a physical specimen.

No he wasn’t.

On draft day he was listed as 180lbs.
Today he is listed as 200lbs.

It‘s been documented that a big reason for why he broke out in 2018 is because of his focus on his body and fitness.

 

[maroon 6]

No he wasn’t.

On draft day he was listed as 180lbs.
Today he is listed as 200lbs.

It‘s been documented that a big reason for why he broke out in 2018 is because of his focus on his body and fitness.

MacKinnon weighed in at 190 lbs (7.5% body fat) at the draft combine which happened the week after his team won the memorial cup, so he likely weighed more during the season.

 

[LeProspector]

This kid reminds me a lot of Nate MacKinnon.

He is going to be a stuD

 

[GermanSpitfire]

If anything a player that has yet to fill out has more potential than a guy that has if they put up similar totals.
Yager is putting up numbers like that and he has yet to fill out. Imagine when he does and what he can do.

 

[ijif]

If anything a player that has yet to fill out has more potential than a guy that has if they put up similar totals.
Yager is putting up numbers like that and he has yet to fill out. Imagine when he does and what he can do.

Numbers like what?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Numbers like what?

Do a quick google search, it’s not difficult.