C/RW Wyatt Johnston, 6'1"176lbs (Windsor, OHL): I like Wyatt for many of the reasons I like Winterton-both are great skaters and 200ft players. Like Winterton, he had 4pts through 7 games in the U-18s, playing a mostly defensive role, but both were a pleasure to watch. Johnston was a first-round pick of Windsor, and in 2019-20 he put up 30 pts in 53 games on a veteran Spitfires squad, where he didn't see a whole lot of ice. His production wasn't too far off of 2020 Draft picks Will Cuylle (42 pts in 62 games), or JL Foudy (43 pts in 59 games). His plus 14 was tied for 3rd on the team.
Johnston is known for his details-oriented, intelligent 200ft game, that shows imagination and creativity. He's a pass-first C, but he has a nice wrister that he could use more often. He sees the ice well, and can dish at full speed. He plays with pace, and I would say from watching him at the U-18s that he's one of the best skaters in this draft. Very agile, can accelerate in a broom closet. His four directional speed helps him pick off passes, and thwart plays in the neutral zone. His defensive awareness is well-developed. Many of the things I could say about Winterton, I could say about Johnston-except the former is more of a goal-scorer, and the latter is more of a play-maker.
Not a lot of holes to discuss here, except the unknowns about his offensive game, but the sky's the limit. Look for Johnston to go in the 2nd/3rd round.
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