2024 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Berkly Catton living up to potential in WHL

Credit: Berkly Catton (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

With the U-17 World Hockey Challenge getting underway last week, it helped kick off the latest IIHF international break – giving fans and scouts alike a good look at the best future talent around the world.

We’re about to see a slate of tournaments of all levels this weekend, including the five nations tournament between Czechia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA in Finland from Nov. 8-12. There will be some action at every age group, so there’s no shortage of hockey to watch over the next few days.

But we’ll focus on that next week. Instead, let’s look at some notable 2024 NHL Draft talent you need to know:

WHL

– While there’s been more hype around some of the other players off to an incredible start this year, we can’t ignore Berkly Catton, who is doing exactly what everyone expected from him. He’s up to 21 points in 14 games with the Spokane Chiefs, giving him a solid 1.5-point-per-game average. Paired with 20-year-old Conner Roulette – who is looking for a chance with another NHL team after Dallas elected not to sign him this past spring – Spokane has a 1-2 duo doing a lot of the heavy lifting this year. Catton had three points this past weekend while showing why his hockey sense is among the best in the draft.

– Cayden Lindstrom isn’t the only massive forward putting points on the board. Adam Jecho came up short Sunday, but he had five points in a three-game stretch as he started to look more comfortable in his new environment. The Oil Kings are, to put it simply, awful, but Jecho is still humming along with 15 points in 16 games. Jecho has been on draft radars for a few years now, having played in a whopping three Hlinka Gretzky Cups, mixing speed and size together to form an interesting package. Some scouts think he’s a lock for the first round.

OHL

– Oshawa Generals blueliner Luca Marrelli had quite the weekend, nabbing a pair of two-assist efforts over two games. He’s not much of a shooter, but he’s an excellent skater with good defensive instincts – which, believe it or not, is becoming a bit rarer with puck-moving defenders this year. Marrelli is strong positionally and can push players around thanks to his 6-foot-2 frame, but he doesn’t ever get overly aggressive, either. He just looks like a kid with a good pro toolkit.

– The Windsor Spitfires went all-in last year and came drastically short. And, naturally, the team’s paying the price with a 4-10-1 record this year. Liam Greentree has managed to remain a bright spot with 17 points in 12 games, putting him on pace for around 90 points as a second-year OHLer. He made a splash with 45 points last year, displaying his powerful release against unsuspecting goalies. At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, he has size, and he skates well enough for his frame, too. If Windsor is in your area, I recommend checking Greentree’s game out – he’s fascinating.

QMJHL

– Recently given a “W” ranking as a potential 6-7th-round pick, Marcus Kearsey is doing everything he can to get noticed. Kearsey is riding a five-game point streak, with seven points in that span – including three over the past two games. The Charlottetown Islanders defender is trending toward a potential 60-point campaign, but he needs to prove he’s more than just a puck-moving defenseman. For the QMJHL, he’s excellent. But he’s 5-foot-11 and can get overly aggressive trying to force a play, only to get crushed in his own zone. Still, Kearsey is a potential late-round sleeper.

USHL

– I’ve been impressed with everything I’ve seen from James Reeder out of the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Sure, he’s a 5-foot-9 forward and, yes, he’s one of the oldest first-year eligible prospects as an October 2005 product, but he looks significantly more impactful with the puck this year. He had 15 goals and 34 points last year, but with 17 points in 14 games – including nine in his past four – he’s well on his way to slaughtering that total. Over the past two years, I’ve watched him become a significantly better playmaker while also looking more comfortable shooting from more than just a few feet away from the net.

USHS Prep

– Aidan Park elected to return to the Shattuck’s St Mary’s prep team this year, something that seemed to catch many off guard. He looked almost too dominant there last year and was a prime candidate to go play in the USHL instead. At the very least, he’s thriving with 10 goals and 27 points in 17 games, good for second in American prep scoring behind William Zellers. He had a decent Hlinka Gretzky Cup but paled in comparison to what Trevor Connelly produced. Right now, Park’s skill is shining through.

Sweden U-20

– He didn’t have much on the scoresheet to show for en route to a silver medal at last year’s U-18 World Championship with Sweden, but Simon Zether still caught my eye. He’s a 6-foot-3 forward who can put significant power behind his shot while being quite impressive in tight to the net. He’s credited with nine games played with Rogle’s SHL team, but he didn’t see the ice in six of those. But in a recent viewing of him against U-20 competition on Friday, Zether had two goals, three points and seven shots in a 5-1 win – the fifth time he had three or more points this year. With 25 points in 16 games with Rogle in Sweden’s top junior league, he’s turning heads.

– With three games in three days, Lucas Pettersson was busy. He delivered in a big way, scoring three goals and six points en route to helping Modo’s U-20 team win twice. One of the most impressive Swedish U-17 players a year ago, Pettersson is third in U-18 scoring in the Swedish U-20 league with 24 points in 19 games. His 1.26 points-per-game average is slightly below the 1.27 set by the two forwards in front of him, so he’s looking good.

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2024 NHL Draft Prospect Roundup: Berkly Catton living up to potential in WHL

WHL

OHL

QMJHL

USHL

USHS Prep

Sweden U-20

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