LW Jared Bethune - Prince George Cougars, WHL (2015 undrafted)

[R S]

Hard to say where he fits into NHL draft plans in 2015 as a fairly borderline guy but I think he's thread-worthy for the future. If he doesn't get drafted this year he is surely a good camp invite candidate so fans looking for info can read about him here.

I recently featured him along with 8 other WHL forwards who combine skill with size. He's a big strong kid who has some decent potential when looking ahead.

http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/2015/02/whl-offers-abundance-of-size-and-skill.html

Jared Bethune – Prince George Cougars – LW – 6’1 – 185

Games: 51
Goals: 6
Assists: 14
Points: 20
Pts/Game: 0.39
PIM: 33

Many around the WHL were eager to see what Bethune had to offer to the Cougars after he up and left the United States Hockey League this fall and decided to join the New Ice Age in Prince George. While I think many have been a bit surprised by his lack of offence, his rugged nature and compete have been a big part of his game. Bethune is a thick and strong kid, reminding me a lot of Gabriel Landeskog in the way he looks while skating and controlling the puck in the offensive zone. Like the Colorado Avalanche captain, Bethune also has a nice physical aspect to his game. He hits with purpose and you can tell that he will be hitting to hurt once he gets closer to 200 pounds. The big winger also has a smooth and powerful skating stride and is a noted agitator when he wants to be. The product of Minnesota has had a bit of an adjustment period this year as a WHL rookie, posting only 20 points in 51 games. But NHL teams will have watched him plenty considering teammates Jansen Harkins and Brad Morrison are surely drawing NHL interest, so we’ll see if anyone likes him enough to call his name at the draft. Personally I have him ranked in the early 30’s among WHL competition, making him roughly a 7th round player in my books.

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[phillipsj89]

Hard to say where he fits into NHL draft plans in 2015 as a fairly borderline guy but I think he's thread-worthy for the future. If he doesn't get drafted this year he is surely a good camp invite candidate so fans looking for info can read about him here.

I recently featured him along with 8 other WHL forwards who combine skill with size. He's a big strong kid who has some decent potential when looking ahead.

http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/2015/02/whl-offers-abundance-of-size-and-skill.html

I agree with you.

He has underperformed this year but I honestly think it has to do with Pochiro coming back. If Pochiro would not have come back it is liekly that Bethune would have seen a lot more offensive minutes. Now, that is not to say that he shouldn't have been able to put up some decent points, which he really hasn't.

I really think he could break out next year. The Cougars will be losing Pochiro and Erricson, with those two gone, Bethune will be the next in line to receive a share of their minutes. Unfortunate for him and his draft stock, but I could see him as a 45-55 point man next year.

 

[zjh]

I am a little surprised that Bethune hasn't had a better year. He was probably the last cut from the Hlinka team in the summer and fit in with some of the better known WHL names like Musil, Gawdin, and Soy. I thought his skill level and skater were at a higher level. Of course PG is a team looking to the future, so he is definitely a guy that will put up numbers when Harkins and Morrison are 19, guys like Almeida and O'Rourke will be coming up and Bethune will be relied upon to score. Could see him being taken in the 5th by a team that likes him, but wouldn't be the slighest bit surprised if he went through the draft. I personally have liked Matteo Gennaro more in my viewing this year.

Question is, how high would he have went if he continued playing at Warroad? Had amazing numbers there and likely would have lit up poor competition again. He was a 'B' prospect coming into the year.

 

[sb24]

I am a little surprised that Bethune hasn't had a better year. He was probably the last cut from the Hlinka team in the summer and fit in with some of the better known WHL names like Musil, Gawdin, and Soy. I thought his skill level and skater were at a higher level. Of course PG is a team looking to the future, so he is definitely a guy that will put up numbers when Harkins and Morrison are 19, guys like Almeida and O'Rourke will be coming up and Bethune will be relied upon to score. Could see him being taken in the 5th by a team that likes him, but wouldn't be the slighest bit surprised if he went through the draft. I personally have liked Matteo Gennaro more in my viewing this year.

Question is, how high would he have went if he continued playing at Warroad? Had amazing numbers there and likely would have lit up poor competition again. He was a 'B' prospect coming into the year.

Oshie put up 85 pts jr year 100 sr year at warroad went 24th in 2005
Nelson put up 87 pts jr year 99 sr year at warroad went 30th in 2010
Bethune put up 92 pts jr year.
Have to think as far as the draft goes the move hurt him badly.

 

[Bonin21]

Have to think as far as the draft goes the move hurt him badly.

I'd like to think players will get picked where they should get picked regardless, but unfortunately I feel like this kid may have made the wrong decision. Would have gotten a good scholarship for sure.

 

[phillipsj89]

Oshie put up 85 pts jr year 100 sr year at warroad went 24th in 2005
Nelson put up 87 pts jr year 99 sr year at warroad went 30th in 2010
Bethune put up 92 pts jr year.
Have to think as far as the draft goes the move hurt him badly.

Unfortunately, I think you are right. Will be interesting to see if a team takes a late round flyer. I just hope this doesn't hurt his confidence long term. He has been paying really good hockey as of late, not putting up a lot of points, but he is taking the body and doing some little things right.

 

[R S]

http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/2015/05/final-whl-rankings-2015-nhl-draft.html

#86 Jared Bethune

Team: Prince George Cougars
Position: LW
Shoots: L
Height: 6’0
Weight: 185
GP: 61
Goals: 6
Assists: 14
Points: 20
Pts/Gm: 0.32
PIM: 39

Player Analysis: Jared Bethune is a thick and agitating forward for the Prince George Cougars…owns a smooth and powerful skating stride…can really lengthen out his stride once he gets going…would consider his speed to be above average for his age at the CHL level...is more of a north-south guy than someone who is overly effective when going east-west…protects the puck well due to his strength and sturdiness on his skates…isn’t afraid to drive the net and hang around the blue ice…owns a hard shot but isn’t great at finding open ice to receive the puck…handles the puck at a fairly solid level but seemed to rush his offensive decision making during my viewings…has plenty of positives away from the puck…not the tallest guy but is heavy and hard to play against…throws big hits with regularity…has a nasty and feisty edge to his game…loves to chip and chirp, getting under the opposition’s skin…is fairly solid in his positioning defensively…good work ethic on the ice…showed plenty of versatility within the Cougars lineup this season…could move all over their lineup including playing either wing…joined the Cougars after leaving the USHL, where he had started the year…to be perfectly honest, I think many people expected far more production than he put up…not only that, but he showed a 44% decline in offensive production when comparing his first half of the season to the second…was named as the Cougars Rookie Of The Year this season…was an undrafted player, being listed by the Prince George Cougars…reminds me a bit of a poor man’s Gabriel Landeskog as a thick and strong player with a good shot…overall I see Bethune as a decent project prospect…while I was rather disappointed with his production, he has some solid tools while seemingly lacking a bit in the hockey sense department…I think he would be an ok camp invite type of player following the 2015 NHL Draft and would be a guy that could still carve out a pro career as a bottom 6 type with continued hard work along with increased production…