I know you’re a huge Chesley fan, but I think it’s highly likely this turns out to be a very bad take. I see a guy with a well rounded game at lower levels, but nothing about his offence really pops, I don’t see him being a big contributor offensively at the NHL level. Perfectly fine puck mover/solid breakout passes, sure, but not an impact player offensively (in the NHL). And it’s hard to excel in a stay at home role at the NHL at 6’, even with a strong build like Chesley.
I think he’s a future NHLer, but more likely bottom pair than top 4. Nothing screams “should have been a top 5 pick” to me.
Not sure why you’re coming at me for a take from July. If you wanted to argue with me about that, you should’ve done so in July.
Chesley has a bomb of a shot. If you don’t see that, I don’t know how to help you see it. He’s also a great skater and heavily aggressive offensively, when given a chance to play that role.
We saw this his U17 season. Unfortunately, he was tasked with babysitting Hutson last season, to the demise of the team when it mattered. And then this season he’s playing a small role for the best team in the country. They have three upperclassman defensemen that take the minutes that could allow for him to score more points.
And besides, the way hockey works, the chances a player gets with regards to minutes and PP time is huge. Everyone knows this. You think all those players who just so happened to increase their totals for expansion teams the last five years did so because they magically improved so much in the course of one season as opposed to were given bigger roles?
No lock that ever happens for Chesley. Some, including you, have boxed him into a defensive role. However, he was never going to get a big role this season for such a good team. Don’t know why months after the fact you’re trying to come at me for something there’s no way was going to be resolved this season. And by all accounts from Minnesota fans he’s playing well.