[Sandman]

More Draft Thoughts:

One forward that stuck out for me in a good way while watching the Hlinka besides Catton, Ritchie, and Beaudoin, was big RW Carson Wetsch. He seemed to be everywhere, in the thick of all the action, hounding puck-carriers, while crashing and banging. The 3 points he put up in the 5 games in that tournament came in a 14-4 win over Slovakia (2 points), and a 5-0 win over Switzerland, but he made his presence felt every game. For the currently 15th-place Hitmen this season, the 6'2"187lb power-forward has 14 goals and 32 points in 41 games, to go with 45 PIM. Wetsch was selected 12th overall by the Hitmen in 2021.
Wetsch skates very well, especially for a player of his size, and is quite shifty, making him hard to read for opposing defensemen. In the on-ice testing leading up to the Top Prospects Game, Wetsch finished 3rd best of all the CHL players who participated, showing just how underrated his speed is by some. He is able to beat defensemen to pucks, and is a load to handle on the forecheck. Though he is not devoid of skill, he plays a more simple, meat-and-potatoes style, patrolling the wing, engaging in puck battles in the greasy areas, and dominating down low. When he's on, he's quite physical and intimidating, wearing opponents down with his heavy game, but he's not consistent in doing so- some games he's much more dialed-in physically than others. Don't poke the bear though- Wetsch will drop the gloves, and he's a capable fighter, even though he doesn't do it too often. His shot is hard and heavy, but he does get more credit for his crisp passing and playmaking. He doesn't create as much as the more elite offensive players can, but he has good vision and IQ. He doesn't mind driving the net to cause havok, get tips, or to pounce on rebounds.
Wetsch's best quality may be the fact that he's an excellent defensive forward. He shows keen awareness and positioning in the defensive zone, and has the speed and tenacity to take away time and space from attackers. He will use body or stick to separate man from puck, and is a sharp penalty-killer. These abilities might turn out to be his bread-and-butter in the pros, as he might be better suited to bottom-6 duties in the future. Look for him to be taken in the 2nd round.