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

 

[luapejrug]

Wondering what has been up with Goyette this season. Hoping he bounces back next season but I feel like all the prospects to make the jump to pro he has definitely been the most underwhelming by a wide margin.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Wondering what has been up with Goyette this season. Hoping he bounces back next season but I feel like all the prospects to make the jump to pro he has definitely been the most underwhelming by a wide margin.

By far. Given how he had stepped up and produced at every level, I expected him to out perform Firkus and Sale both this season. I have been very surprised by his lack of production.

 

[Fuhrious]

Ngl I’ve long felt that the biggest flaw in the hockey development model has been the gaping chasm between “dummying kids who barely have half your talent” in the CHL and “playing against grown men, basically a CHL All-Star team every night” in the A/NHL

Wish they broke CHL into more age brackets or something, Idk.

 

[CLW]

Some good news.

 

[The Marquis]

Some good news.

Great news. Let’s hope he keeps progressing.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

Ngl I’ve long felt that the biggest flaw in the hockey development model has been the gaping chasm between “dummying kids who barely have half your talent” in the CHL and “playing against grown men, basically a CHL All-Star team every night” in the A/NHL

Wish they broke CHL into more age brackets or something, Idk.

College hockey could fill in that niche development/age gap now that players can go from majors to NCAA.

 

[Fuhrious]

College hockey could fill in that niche development/age gap now that players can go from majors to NCAA.

Maybe. Wish hockey had a tiered model like baseball honestly.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

College hockey could fill in that niche development/age gap now that players can go from majors to NCAA.

Someone on the main boards mentioned that kids in CHL cannot go to NCAA once they have signed their ELC's. If that is correct, then a lot of higher draft picks may not have that option since teams are more likely to want to make sure that their prospects do not bail after college either.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Kraken prospect Catton named WHL Player of the Month for February - Western Hockey League

Catton has become the fifth player in Spokane Chiefs history to record back-to-back 100-point seasons.

chl.ca

 

[majormajor]

Someone on the main boards mentioned that kids in CHL cannot go to NCAA once they have signed their ELC's. If that is correct, then a lot of higher draft picks may not have that option since teams are more likely to want to make sure that their prospects do not bail after college either.

Players at the level of Catton though would go the NCAA route without concern, because they won't need 4 years. I think even Firkus, Goyette, Rehkopf, they all seem like guys that would have benefited from the NCAA route, if it had been available to us before they signed.

 

[Scomerica]

With people like Tanev and Bjorkstrand gone, who can we expect to get called up for game time for the rest of the season and who do we expect to make the Kraken roster next year from Coachella?

 

[luapejrug]

With people like Tanev and Bjorkstrand gone, who can we expect to get called up for game time for the rest of the season and who do we expect to make the Kraken roster next year from Coachella?

I expect to see Winterton and Nyman up at some point before the end of the season.

 

[sigma six]

I expect to see Winterton and Nyman up at some point before the end of the season.

Winterton was the second player ever drafted here, and he's in danger of being passed by if he doesn't show he can stick at this level soon imo.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I watched most of the Royals and Chiefs game today. Catton had no points in a 2-1 shootout victory today but I saw something in him that gave me lot of hope.

It was the drive to win. He got a few heavy hits on him and the team as a whole was struggling to generate any offense. Catton looked like he was just playing angry. Not in the way that he was being reckless or careless but just an angry determination to generate offense and get his team going. He was making some amazing plays and generated so many chances for the Chiefs but the Royals goalie was standing on his head. It was giving me such an amazing vibe about this kid being a future leader on our team. He really could end up being someone special for the Kraken.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Winterton was the second player ever drafted here, and he's in danger of being passed by if he doesn't show he can stick at this level soon imo.

I have been wondering about Wints as well. The kid has been pretty good in the AHL but has struggled through all his callups. 17 GP 0G 1A -8 is hardly a stat that gives me the confidence that he is improving.

Just guessing here but it was after his last callup when he went back to CV, he has just not been the same. His numbers have taken a good dive. I think/hope it's just a confidence issue. He is still only 21.

But yeah, he is kind of on the clock from a depth perspective. By next season it is very possible that atleast 1 of Firkus/Nyman/Sale surpass him. And he will likely be competing with Rehkopf, Goyette, Melanson. Maybe OFM if he comes over to the US?

 

[majormajor]

I watched most of the Royals and Chiefs game today. Catton had no points in a 2-1 shootout victory today but I saw something in him that gave me lot of hope.

It was the drive to win. He got a few heavy hits on him and the team as a whole was struggling to generate any offense. Catton looked like he was just playing angry. Not in the way that he was being reckless or careless but just an angry determination to generate offense and get his team going. He was making some amazing plays and generated so many chances for the Chiefs but the Royals goalie was standing on his head. It was giving me such an amazing vibe about this kid being a future leader on our team. He really could end up being someone special for the Kraken.

That's really good to hear. Thanks for the write up.

I am a little concerned about the "heavy hits" part - the best small guys usually have a gift for avoiding taking contact (unless it's on their terms, e.g. Seth Jarvis). I've seen so many super skilled juniors who got hit too much and became marginal pros.

 

[CLW]

I have been wondering about Wints as well. The kid has been pretty good in the AHL but has struggled through all his callups. 17 GP 0G 1A -8 is hardly a stat that gives me the confidence that he is improving.

Just guessing here but it was after his last callup when he went back to CV, he has just not been the same. His numbers have taken a good dive. I think/hope it's just a confidence issue. He is still only 21.

But yeah, he is kind of on the clock from a depth perspective. By next season it is very possible that atleast 1 of Firkus/Nyman/Sale surpass him. And he will likely be competing with Rehkopf, Goyette, Melanson. Maybe OFM if he comes over to the US?

That really is the nature of the beast. It's the players who keep developing year after year that go on to have stable careers in the NHL. That's why the draft is such a crap shoot. You never know which kids will keep growing. Also the competition is relentless, there's always someone breathing down your neck for your spot, unless you are a superstar in the league already.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

That's really good to hear. Thanks for the write up.

I am a little concerned about the "heavy hits" part - the best small guys usually have a gift for avoiding taking contact (unless it's on their terms, e.g. Seth Jarvis). I've seen so many super skilled juniors who got hit too much and became marginal pros.

Not something to worry about in my opinion. I have watched a lot of Catton this season. Probably, more than the Kraken to be honest. Hope this makes sense (edible), but it seems like he is always in the play, but it is never a direct physical engagement. Just his positioning. He is ready to help receive the puck, generate a turnover, stop a breakaway, etc. but is "away" from the play. Just his IQ maybe?

Today was one of the few times that I have seen him get hit. And he just upped his game from that point on and it didn't happen again.

 

[CLW]

Tbf Jarvis has been clocked pretty good in the NHL, by Trouba for example. Boardplay and learning to roll off hits are important NHL skills that don't come overnight. Maybe leaving Catton in the WHL for next year to grow into his body a bit more isn't the worst option. Doesn't seem to have hurt Cristall.