F Cole McKinney - Chicago Mission, U15 AAA (2025 Draft)
- Thread starter GermanSpitfire
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Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 5,779
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Was ranked 33rd amongst NA skaters by CS in the midterm rankings (one spot behind NDTP teammate Will Moore). How much will the Five Nations tournament boost his draft status?
Safe to assume he'll play for.the USA in the U18 WJC?
Safe to assume he'll play for.the USA in the U18 WJC?
MichaelFarrell
Registered User
I think he’s done enough to solidify his status. Scouts must love the raw tools of Moore, but on the ice, he hasn’t shown a whole lot.
I don’t think McKinney will be lights out offensively, but he is a really smart player with a very projectable pro-style game. I think he’s the best player on the NTDP for sure.
Ryan Van Horne
aka Scribe
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
He’s a lock for the U18 Worlds. One of the first names on the roster.
Truly cannot fathom how anyone has him below Moore. Don’t know why this tournament would help his draft stock that much either. This has been him for two years at the NTDP. You’d like to think scouts aren’t first learning about a player in February of the draft year.
Had 1+1 today against Czechia, including the OT winner. Ended up with 4+2=6 points in 4 games.
Truly cannot fathom how anyone has him below Moore. Don’t know why this tournament would help his draft stock that much either. This has been him for two years at the NTDP. You’d like to think scouts aren’t first learning about a player in February of the draft year.
Had 1+1 today against Czechia, including the OT winner. Ended up with 4+2=6 points in 4 games.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
I have essentially no doubt he will play in the NHL, and probably stick in the NHL. Hard to see him not at least being a 4C with how responsible he is, but I think a 2C or 3C is definitely in play. The biggest impediment is his skating for his size. He seems maxed out physically. Has been the same height for a few years. Not that he's "small", but he's pretty much like bang average height. Yeah, he's well built, but still has an average frame with "C+" level skating.
He has some sneaky skill moments, but he's not really a driver. Doesn't have the passing or elite hands/skating needed for that. Could end up a complimentary offensive zone player who can chip in 30-60 points (wide range, I know), who excels on the defensive end. Think it'll come down mostly to if he can improve his skating. If he doesn't, he may just be a 3/4C hybrid. I like his game. Have always been a McKinney fan. Been the most consistent guy in this NTDP group. I think late first is fair, but I think it's 50/50 if he actually makes the first round or ends up early second.
He has some sneaky skill moments, but he's not really a driver. Doesn't have the passing or elite hands/skating needed for that. Could end up a complimentary offensive zone player who can chip in 30-60 points (wide range, I know), who excels on the defensive end. Think it'll come down mostly to if he can improve his skating. If he doesn't, he may just be a 3/4C hybrid. I like his game. Have always been a McKinney fan. Been the most consistent guy in this NTDP group. I think late first is fair, but I think it's 50/50 if he actually makes the first round or ends up early second.
Was going to say the program has won 10 straight games and he seems to be the driver!
Ryan Van Horne
aka Scribe
It seemed like it started while they were in Sweden for the Five Nations in early February. He had a great tournament there.
Ryan Van Horne
aka Scribe
Sturdy high floor. Kid will play for sure. I don't bet money on players making the NHL, but I might drop a bet on him. Does all the dirty work, takes faceoffs, kills penalties and will likely wear a letter. I hope he also gets a chance to develop his offensive game and doesn't get pigeon-holed as a checker.
In a weak draft in my view I think he will go late first round for exactly everything you said . I’d be shocked if he makes to the second round
SI90
Registered User
I love this kid. He might not have an elite offensive ceiling at the next level but the way he plays the game is so impressive. Reminds me of a bit of Micheal Peca.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Has a 14 game point streak going right now, guys.
And this isn’t an offensive player. Crazy how underrated he is. How is he not a lock for round 1?
And this isn’t an offensive player. Crazy how underrated he is. How is he not a lock for round 1?
SI90
Registered User
Based on this draft and his advanced level in the defensive zone and faceoffs id take a flier with a late first.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
I think he may be moving into the mid first, but yeah generally agree.
How is Brady Martin (who I like for the record) being talked up as a potential top 10 pick and McKinney may go in the first round? To me, they are similar players and it’s at least close over who is better, even if I’d lean Martin.
LeProspector
AINEC
- Feb 14, 2017
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Because McKinney is underrated in the draft process, he should be rated higher by actual scouts I hope. This dude is Boone Jenner to a T.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
If he's a Boone Jenner then there's absolutely nothing to be excited about. Looks like a late first, early 2nd rounder to me and he's rated exactly where he is supposed to be.
Lol. HFB in a nutshell. Only here would getting a two-way top six center and captain in the middle of the 1st round be considered a disappointment and “absolutely nothing to be excited about”.
Jenner is a great outcome at #10 let alone #30, especially in this draft. It remains to be seen if McKinney lives up to that kind of praise but holy exaggeration…what a ridiculous statement.
Boone Jenner is like his ultimate final potential. There's a big probability that he doesn't reach that potential, that's why late first made sense based on that. If his upside is a superstar 90 points potential then scouts would have him way higher, that's just how it is lol.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
Or you know, it’s more nuanced than you say it is.
There aren’t like 100 players per draft who could be as good as prime Boone Jenner is.
There are maybe like 20-25 who go in the first round and then a few after the first round exceed anyone’s wildest expectations and obviously did have that upside, even if it wasn’t initially recognized.
There’s actually a pretty high floor with McKinney relative to most. He’s arguably been the best player this season at the NTDP (it’s either him or Murtagh), which produces NHL’ers every single year and often a number of very good NHL’er each year.
And then the game he plays isn’t one that takes a lot of imagination or projection. He could probably play NHL games next year as a defensive 4C. He won’t because it wouldn’t be smart for his development, but you are underrating him and he’ll be no less than a late first round pick. Might even earn his way into the teens.
MichaelFarrell
Registered User
I have him at 23 right now. I suspect he could go between 20-45. Personally, I could see Chicago taking him with Toronto’s first or their first 2nd round pick. Hometown kid and seems like the player the type of forward they could use in their system.
Pavel Buchnevich
Drury and Laviolette Must Go
