Connor Bedard's childhood friend in the sights of the Canadiens and Kent Hughes?
There are talents that are unanimous. Connor Bedard is the perfect example as everyone agrees that he will be the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL amateur draft. For other players, it is more difficult to come to a consensus. This is the case for Bedard's childhood friend, Andrew Cristall.
The 17-year-old left winger, who is playing this season for the Kelowna Rockets, has done very well in the WHL despite his young age. He finished the 2022-2023 season with the third best points-per-game average in his league (1.759) with 95 points, including 39 goals, in 54 games. These numbers could suggest that he will be picked in the top 5 in the upcoming draft.
However, Cristall is currently projected to be selected between the 6th and 10th positions. The reason: his 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound frame does not make him a unanimous choice among scouts. Some even see him being picked after the 20th selection in the draft.
Nevertheless, Cristall himself seems to be unconcerned about these projections and knows his own worth.
There will always be people to criticize you. It will never stop! I'm trying to build armor against all that. I have confidence in my abilities and I know my strengths. I've always produced in my life, no matter what level I played at. So the criticism doesn't really worry me." - Andrew Cristall
Another negative aspect of his game is his defensive play. Many criticize him for his lack of vigor and commitment when he doesn't have the puck.
Regarding this, in a wonderful article on Cristall for the TVA Sports website, Anthony Martineau states that this aspect of his game has improved recently.
Cristall does indeed cheat much less than in his first junior season and positions himself better in his territory. He is also more involved and effective in his battles for the puck." - Anthony Martineau
The young forward also claims to be working hard on his defensive play and penalty killing. He is proud of his progress in this area since arriving in the WHL two seasons ago.
Only time will tell who will be right about his draft position. In the meantime, here is a video showcasing his skills. You be the judge!
Another young player in the sights of Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens!
| POLL | ||
Which one would you prefer to see in Montreal if the logical top 4 is no longer available for the Habs' pick? (Bedard, Michkov, Fantilli, Carlsson)? | ||
| Will Smith | 60 | 64.5 % |
| Benson | 17 | 18.3 % |
| Cristall | 11 | 11.8 % |
| Dvorsky | 5 | 5.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
