This is my personal ranking of the CHL forwards (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) along with some drivel as to why I ranked them this way:
1. Shane Wright
Just can't ignore the pedigree. Granted exceptional status to play in OHL as a 15 year old and SCORED 39 GOALS THAT YEAR! Prior to that, scored 150 pts in 72 games as a 14 year old playing AAA hockey with 15 year old kids. Leads the OHL draft eligible player with 94 pts this season. No brainer, Shane Wright is the best CHL player available.
Some say he's a defensively responsible Centre and is compared to Toews / Bergereon. I see more offensive upside and will likely exceed both those players in stardom.
2. Matthew Savoie
Again, I love a history of scoring. Savoie has always been the best in Western Canada amongst his age group and continues to be so today. As a 13 year old he scored 97 pts in 30 games CSSHL U15 league which was 2nd only to Dylan Guenther (who's a year older and was a top pick in last year's draft). The next season, he DOUBLE AGE ADVANCED to the U18 CCSHL team (he was only 14 years old) and managed to put up 71 pts in 31 games.
As a 15 year old, Savoie applied for exceptional status to join the WHL a year early. His bid was ultimately denied; however, he did manage to get a few games in the the Winnipeg Ice on an emergency recall basis. The Covid cancelled season had him playing with the Dubuque Flighting where he put up 38 pts in 34 games to lead his team in pts per game average. Pretty good for a doulbe underager playing in the USHL.
Of course, this season he has 90 points in 65 games to lead all draft eligible players in the WHL (almost identicaly to Shane Wright's season in the OHL).
Savoie is smaller listed at 5'9 with incredible edge work, great hands and dynamic playmaking ability. I see alot of Johnny Gaudreau in his game.
3. David Goyette
Did I mention I love history of scoring? Honestly, this kid has *IT*! In the Ottawa / Hull region's AAA hockey circuit, he scored a whopping 94 pts in ONLY 30 games as a 14 year old kid. His next season, we went on to play Prep Academy Hockey in the US. He scored 153 pts in 65 games! That was 30 pts more than Frank Nazar who's considered in top 10 player in this draft class. Of course, last year's cancelled OHL season meant he played nearly no hockey at all.
This season (his rookie year in OHL) - he has decent numbers: 35 goals / 73 pts. However, CONTEXT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT in this case. His Sudbury Wolves team is AWFUL and in full rebuild mode. They are amongst the worst teams in the OHL. They scored amongst the few goals. They have no notable drafted players in their roster. He is in every measurable way, their ENTIRE team. Gets no help whatsoever. He's a 17 year old rookie shouldering this load.
Goyette's 73 pts is 23 pts HIGHER than their 2nd best forward (only 50 pts) - which is pretty sad. Of his 73 pts, only 15 of them have been power play meaning he's scored 58 even strength points which places him almost exactly in the same ballpark as Savoie / Wright (even strength contributions).
His game is electrifying. He's fast and carries the puck with confidence. He creates a bunch of turnovers with his relentless backcheck and active stick. Stylistically, he plays like Claude Giroux.
4. Conor Geekie
Conor was the 2nd overall pick in the WHL draft after Matt Savoie. He scored 86 pts in 31 games as a 15 year old playing AAA hockey. His 70 pts this year are fine (similar to Goyette); however, unlike Goyette, he plays on the best team in the entire CHL, on a team filled with talent (Savoie, McClennon, Milne, Benson, etc). Also unlike Goyette (2nd best player had 50 pts) - the Winnipeg Ice had 7 players score more than 60 pts. That should have led to Geekie inflating his stats total by simply being on the ice with this much talent. This is similar to the 1980s Edmonton Oilers effect.
I think Geekie is very misunderstood as a player. He's big (6'5) and *can be* physical, but that's not really his game. I see much more Joe Thornton - he's a play maker with a bit of dazzle. The difference is Joe Thornton put up 122 pts his draft year whereas Geekie put up 70 on an elite team.
I've been to a bunch of Ice games this year. Love his confidence. Love the hands and vision. I just don't know why it's not translating on the scoresheet given his massive physical advantage over much smaller WHL players. I really want to believe in Geekie, but am a bit skeptical as of this moment.
5. Jordan Dumais
Who??? JORDAN DUMAIS. He's the 2022 NHL draft version of Debrincat / Point (late picks due to size / speed concerns).
Jordan Dumais is 5'9 and has average speed. That's honestly the only negatives. Everything else is 10/10.
Where to start? As a 17 year, he had 92 pts in the QMJHL and has FIVE GAMES to play. He's projected to topple 100 pts. Over the last 12 seasons, the ONLY OTHER 17 YEAR OLDS to score 100 pts in the QMJHL: Huberdeau (105 pts), Drouin (105 pts), Lafreniere (105 pts), Ehlers (104 pts). Pretty good, right?
So, he must be on a stacked team and benefitting from great teammates? Well, the 2nd highest scorer on the team is 20 year old Flyers draft pick Desnoyers who has 75 pts. The 3rd highest scorer has 57 pts. Of note, he plays on same team as Zach L'Heureux (1st round pick last year) who only has 56 pts.
Has he done this in the past or flash in the pan? Yep, he has. He played in the same Prep Academy team as David Goyette. He put up 125 pts in 50 games which (again) exceeded Frank Nazar who played in same league.
Dumais has a game that reminds me a bit of Cole Perfetti. He plays chess while everyone else on ice is playing checkers. Crafty, clever plays. Nice reads, etc.
6. Del Bel Belluz
7. Jagger Firkus
7. Owen Beck
*Do NOT draft: Nathan Gaucher
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