F Ondřej Becher - Prince George, WHL (2024, 80th, DET)

[czech]

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[Czechboy]

No nice surprises with our NHL Czechs with Zboril being waived, Smejkal sent down, Zohorna waived and Blumel sent down. Rousek too!

However, Becher's play in the WHL is something I don't think any of us saw coming?!

 

[Czechboy]

That whole team is just killing it right now.

 

[czech]

7 points in last two games.

 

[MS]

He's a guy who didn't really stand out to me in the couple PG games I saw last year, but then when I was looking at the numbers at the end of the year and he was a +31 on a team where the next forward was a +14 I felt like maybe I missed something. And apparently so.

It's hard to know how NHL teams will react to some of these OA guys. I really thought Michal Gut in 21-22 looked like a legit prospect - especially after he ripped up the WJCs as well - but he went undrafted and is now muddling along back in the Czech Republic.

 

[elFefino SVOBODA]

He tested positive on... Becherovka!!!

Jokes appart, I was also (happily) suprised to see him at the top of the standings, even though I don't particularly watch the minor leagues...

 

[Czechboy]

If you asked me to rank the 10 Czechs in CHL who would be leading in scoring... he wasn't on my radar or list at all. What a nice surprise.

 

[Halakitlikethat]

He’s been excellent this year. I know that line is scoring a ton of points but they are solid defensively as well . Becher has an awesome stick and is great at creating turnovers.

 

[Czechboy]

I can't see him winning the scoring title.. I assume the 17 year olds are first rounders though.

 

[Eye of Ra]

he should make it to the czechs wjc team, no?

 

[Goodman68]

he should make it to the czechs wjc team, no?

It will be difficult for a coach to ignore a player from the forefront of scoring in the WHL.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

a bump

scored a (natural) hat-trick in about 4 minutes

28 goals, 89 points, +34 (1.62 ppg)

 

[Czechboy]

Did that say 35 points in 16 games? Amazingly, he's still not guaranteed to get redrafted.lol

 

[Bubbles]

Did that say 35 points in 16 games? Amazingly, he's still not guaranteed to get redrafted.lol

This is his last year I think? But he may be signed in the summer as a free agent.

PG has a good history of OA signing deals so there may be interest in him even if doesn't get drafted.

 

[MS]

Did that say 35 points in 16 games? Amazingly, he's still not guaranteed to get redrafted.lol

He *should* get drafted this year.

He's not a really eye-catching player but he's a natural C with decent size, responsible two-way player, and his offensive IQ is outstanding. 10 points in 7 games at the WJC, would have easily cleared 100 points in the WHL this year without his time away at the WJCs.

 

[Czechboy]

He *should* get drafted this year.

He's not a really eye-catching player but he's a natural C with decent size, responsible two-way player, and his offensive IQ is outstanding. 10 points in 7 games at the WJC, would have easily cleared 100 points in the WHL this year without his time away at the WJCs.

He's probably not as consistent as he should be and that could be work ethic. It's my only guess because he consistently comes up with 3 to 4 point games. Including in the World Jr's.

He seems to be invisible and 0 points of 3 points and great. That's the worst thing I can say about him. Really curious how it ends for him career wise. I can't see him in CHL next year and hope he moves on to AHL or back to Europe (if not drafted).

 

[MS]

He's probably not as consistent as he should be and that could be work ethic. It's my only guess because he consistently comes up with 3 to 4 point games. Including in the World Jr's.

He seems to be invisible and 0 points of 3 points and great. That's the worst thing I can say about him. Really curious how it ends for him career wise. I can't see him in CHL next year and hope he moves on to AHL or back to Europe (if not drafted).

Excluding a game where he got hurt early, he's only been held off the scoresheet twice since the start of December.

 

[czech]

 

[Czechboy]

40 points in 18 games.lol

 

[Bubbles]

40 points in 18 games.lol

If he had scored at this rate the whole season (he had that red hot start too) he would have been the WHL leading scorer by a fair margin.

 

[Czechboy]

If he had scored at this rate the whole season (he had that red hot start too) he would have been the WHL leading scorer by a fair margin.

I think he should be allowed to include his 10 points in 7 games at the World Juniors!lol

I'm not sure what scouts didn't like but his offence is undeniable... given Stefan and Szturc got contracts.. I can't see how he doesn't IF he doesn't go in the redraft.

 

[Petes2424]

Don’t think there’s much of a question who Prince George’s best forward has been in these playoffs. It’s strange that we’re going to have one team with multiple players drafted, after not being drafted in previous drafts. Kmec is likely a 5th-7th rounder as a RHD, but Becher? He could absolutely go in the 2nd or 3rd Round.

He’s come so far the last 2 years, and while he absolutely relies on his physical maturity some, it’s not your typical older player who’s solely using physical maturity. He plays the game the right way too.

In a draft that’s not deep with skill, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t go higher than a normal re-draft kid usually does. Last I remember seeing, he’s being ranked between 60-70, and that’s probably about where he should go. Perfect for one of Utah’s 50 2nd/3rd Rd picks in this draft. They can afford to make these type of picks.

In all 6 games against Portland btw, he’s been the second best forward on the ice after Danielson.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Happy to see this thread pop up, I agree with you Petes, this guy is incredible

Outside of goaltending, Becher and Danielson are the best players in this series. I’d lean Becher over Danielson, but it’s a toss up. I’d even argue Becher is the best player in Jr hockey right now. His defensive game is even better than is offence too. He’s a force

 

[Petes2424]

Happy to see this thread pop up, I agree with you Petes, this guy is incredible

Outside of goaltending, Becher and Danielson are the best players in this series. I’d lean Becher over Danielson, but it’s a toss up. I’d even argue Becher is the best player in Jr hockey right now. His defensive game is even better than is offence too. He’s a force

Feel bad for Prince George as that’s been their best team ever, and this series could’ve went either way really. They will likely be loaded again next year.

As for Portland, think they have to be the favorite going into the WHL Finals. Danielson is just such a great player and was the perfect acquisition to not only put them over the top, but really take them to another level. If he has any part of his game that you’d like to see improve, it really is to just shoot the puck a little more. He reminds me a lot of Trevor Linden. The better the competition, and team’s putting their best guys on him, trying to shut him down, the better he actually gets. Can’t say that about too many players. He’s going to have a really good NHL career, and it’s coming much faster than some might think. Especially the stat watchers, who haven’t a clue.

As for Becher, we’ll see where he ends up going, and wherever it is, he likely walks into the AHL next year. He’s ready to play against men every night. May take him a bit to start piling up any stats, but there’s no reason to think he won’t be playing in the NHL in 2 years from now. He needs to work on driving pace more, but that should come as his confidence grows playing against men.

 

[Kipper933]

Becher's play away from the puck is almost as impressive as his play with it. And when he's a center to boot with no qualms about his ability to transfer as a C to pro hockey, he was hard to keep out of my 1st round.

From being a 0.8ppg in the Czech u20 league two years ago to what he did in the WHL this year is such a massive leap. When overage players have such a drastic development curve, they tend to get drafted fairly highly, such as David Perron and Brett Leason in recent memory.

His playmaking and vision is at such a high level, he should be a great value pick in the 2nd round, or potentially the 3rd.