General Prospect Discussion (2024-25)

[gstommylee]

One thing I like about GMRF’s strategy is building the team around strong center depth through the draft. If things go according to plan they’re going to run three deep with Beniers, Wright, and Catton. Any one of them should return a top pairing defenseman if they choose to trade from their position of strength.

What make you think seattle will keep catton at center when we have stephenson... Makes no sense to waste talent to have catton as a 3c...

The cap going up significantly will soften that a bit, anssuming ownership is truly willing to spend to the cap each season.

Plus if Chandler sticks in the 3C spot for most of his contract, all the more reason to trade one of your three big centers to fill an upcoming position of need. (I’m not necessarily saying he will.)

Seattle isn't getting rid neither beniers or wright for heaven sakes... You move Catton to wing and play him either with Beniers or Wright. Seattle's biggest weakest forward wise is wing. You build around beniers and wright and get them wingers rather that is FA, trade or develop, Center isn't exactly strong as you think it is. Also forward line wise Top 6 should be the best players you have and well considering Catton is extremelely talented it would be a waste to keep him as a 3rd line or get rid of wright or beniers just to keep him as center. You move catton to wing and play him in the top 6...

 

[majormajor]

But Cups (Stephenson) has a generations long contract that’s far from affordable.

What make you think seattle will keep catton at center when we have stephenson... Makes no sense to waste talent to have catton as a 3c...



Seattle isn't getting rid neither beniers or wright for heaven sakes... You move Catton to wing and play him either with Beniers or Wright.

Like you suggested, Catton is likely a winger for Beniers or Wright.

Stephenson though is not a factor to any of it. His presence here isn't going to determine what position Catton plays or what line he is on. And Stephenson's cap hit is going to be around 5.5% of the cap in the final years of his deal. That's not nearly as big of a deal as folks here make it out to be. We can agree that it's not a good contract but constantly bringing it up as a franchise killer is obnoxious and it's simply not true. Our future will be determined by how good Catton, Wright, and Beniers are, along with the rest of our prospects and who draft from now on.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

What make you think seattle will keep catton at center when we have stephenson... Makes no sense to waste talent to have catton as a 3c...



Seattle isn't getting rid neither beniers or wright for heaven sakes... You move Catton to wing and play him either with Beniers or Wright. Seattle's biggest weakest forward wise is wing. You build around beniers and wright and get them wingers rather that is FA, trade or develop, Center isn't exactly strong as you think it is. Also forward line wise Top 6 should be the best players you have and well considering Catton is extremelely talented it would be a waste to keep him as a 3rd line or get rid of wright or beniers just to keep him as center. You move catton to wing and play him in the top 6...

Come on Tommy, actually read my posts. I never once said Catton should be their 3C. If Catton can play center in the NHL you obviously have a surplus in that position. The original post was discussing how they’ve struggled to draft top end defensemen so far. All I’m saying is if they need to trade for one instead, there’s a surplus of center talent that goes a long way in bringing back top end defensive talent via trade. I’m not saying it’s written in stone that they will, ffs.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

Like you suggested, Catton is likely a winger for Beniers or Wright.

Stephenson though is not a factor to any of it. His presence here isn't going to determine what position Catton plays or what line he is on. And Stephenson's cap hit is going to be around 5.5% of the cap in the final years of his deal. That's not nearly as big of a deal as folks here make it out to be. We can agree that it's not a good contract but constantly bringing it up as a franchise killer is obnoxious and it's simply not true. Our future will be determined by how good Catton, Wright, and Beniers are, along with the rest of our prospects and who draft from now on.

I don’t disagree with any of this. You’re right that Stephenson’s contract doesn’t determine where Catton slots in. I’m guessing because his contract will be so hard to move, Stephenson’s probably locked into 3C for another 4-5 years or so, until his talent starts to slip into 4C territory. Hopefully it’s deep enough into his contract that he can be bought out by then.

Of course the big question independent of all this is whether Catton can center a top-6 NHL line. If not I agree, he’s a wing. If he can and you need an elite top pairing defenseman 5-10 years from now, why wouldn’t you consider a trade?

 

[majormajor]

If he can and you need an elite top pairing defenseman 5-10 years from now, why wouldn’t you consider a trade?

You would certainly consider it if that's a bigger need for the club at that point. We really don't know. If Catton is an elite playdriver that may be more important for us, a bigger need. We'll have to see.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

You would certainly consider it if that's a bigger need for the club at that point. We really don't know. If Catton is an elite playdriver that may be more important for us, a bigger need. We'll have to see.

Exactly. If Catton ends up being an elite offensive talent, even as a winger, you don’t move him.

His offensive ceiling is higher than both Wright and Beniers. That is something this team desperately needs