F Brayden Yager - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2023, 14th, PIT; traded to WPG)
- Thread starter Dominance
- Start date
landy92mack29
Registered User
Best prospect from Saskatchewan I've ever seen(including Catton for next year). Him and Heidt have similar skill sets but what sets Yager apart from everyone is his insane hockey IQ. He can think the game better than most of the best WHLers already. Bedard is more flashy but there's a couple WHL teams who currently prefer Yager and wouldn't be surprised if he goes 1st. I highly doubt he'll get exceptional but should be a impact player in his 16 year old year. Doesn't throw as many hits as Heidt but still plays a physical style and likes to give some subtle shots when the refs aren't looking. Hoping he stays in the Eastern Conference and doesn't go to Prince George or Seattle.
NYIschremp44
Registered User
Believe they are informing players today, with a news release to follow shortly after.
landy92mack29
Registered User
In the order you listed them in. Obviously Catton will still have to improve to get to Heidts ability but with how he's improved from last year to this year I imagine he'll be the better player(all 3 should be special though). Catton is the early front runner for 1st in 2021 but there are other kids who'll challenge him for that spot including another high end Sask kid Buczkowski
Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
The number of truly exceptional players coming up from Saskatchewan right now is incredible. There have been times where there was not anyone on that level for years, and there’s, like, a dozen to get excited about right now. Great to see. I think Adam Beckman could be a huge steal for Minnesota going forward, too.
Neither Yager nor Heidt were ppg in the SMHL, aren't they only one year younger than most of their competition? I could be missing something as I'm not too familiar with the league but wouldn't two players applying for exceptional status have much better numbers?
landy92mack29
Registered User
most of the players in the Sask Midget AAA league are 16+17. The few 15 year olds are almost all kids who are whl picks or listed. On the Contacts the only 2 15 years olds were Korchinski taken 10th by Seattle and Spencer taken 50th by Kamloops who fell because he's undersized. It's a very tough league to make as a 15 year old let alone 14.
Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
This, plus it’s some of the most structured and defensively tight leagues of that age I have seen. Probably the top of that list.
Sask hockey is all about defence first mentality. I sometimes wonder if this is why there aren't many high end offensive kids coming out of Sask.
Dominance
99-66-4-9-87/97
Yeah, even the more skilled guys are all responsible in their own end. Hopefully Beckman, Yager, Heidt, Catton, etc. are signs of a new wave that adds top-end offensive ability to that two-way play.
Yager stays in Saskatchewan after getting chosen 3rd overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL Bantam draft. Will exciting to watch him battle the other Sask team and face off against Regina and Connor Bedard soon.
landy92mack29
Registered User
Yager and Ben Riche are going to be deadly together. Yager didn't want to go to PG and Heidt was willing to
That's exactly what I hoped would happen. Warriors might be building a decent team two or 3 years. No doubt we will miss out on playoffs next year as well.
I'm actually really excited about this pick. Warriors will be a decent team possibly in about 2 years. We seem to have a knack for developing Braydens 
(Point, Tracey) hopefully Yager can be a real high end player for us.
Only trouble we may have is Regina and Winnipeg will also likely be good teams about the time we are peaking so it may be pretty rough in the prairies. Brandon always finds a way to be competitive, Saskatoon should still have some decent players then, PA always seems to be a big and well coached team. Swift is the only teams whose future looks bleak after pretty much going all in a few years prior.
Kid has speed, a good shot, good hands and plays a smart game.
(Point, Tracey) hopefully Yager can be a real high end player for us. Only trouble we may have is Regina and Winnipeg will also likely be good teams about the time we are peaking so it may be pretty rough in the prairies. Brandon always finds a way to be competitive, Saskatoon should still have some decent players then, PA always seems to be a big and well coached team. Swift is the only teams whose future looks bleak after pretty much going all in a few years prior.
Kid has speed, a good shot, good hands and plays a smart game.
Yager and Heidt , are currently playing while Bedard is missing playing time, you'd have to think this gives them an slight advantage development wise
Midget AAA is Saskatchewan is currently suspended until December 17th.
Government of Saskatchewan/Ministry of Health Announcement
That is unfortunate for AAA still, I honestly don't know how realistic it is for WHL to start in January as planned with the current Covid situation in Western Canada
He isn't even the best current scorer amongst 2023 kids in the league...
Elite Prospects - SMAAAHL Stats 2020-2021
Elite Prospects - SMAAAHL Stats 2020-2021
Meh, they’re all high WHL draft first rounders at the top of the list and point difference is marginal . Plus the Saskatoon Contacts are absolutely loaded so ice time is distributed pretty evenly .
This is completely irrelevant, given their age and especially considering the sample size. Six games means absolutely nothing.
