[News] With the 32nd OA pick, the Flames select C Cullen Potter

[SeanCharles]

Out of the realistic options I figured we could get I think we absolutely nailed these two picks. They are two players I really wanted and didn't expect to get both.

If we can somehow trade up for Zharovsky and/or Prokhorov I will be over the moon.

[D as in David]

Having a ginger-haired keeper all makes sense now.

[DJones]

5'10 feels so much better than 5'9

Here's hoping for a late teen growth spurt

[FlamesDraftPrognosticator]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Who’s the bigger swing that was left? Potter is the swing based on draft rankings.

Trust me, I want to be there with you and excited about the pick but we went with the guy who in my opinion is the safe 3rd line 40+ point guy. I think that’s what other scouts saw and passed on him as a result.

[Sandman]

Here's my write-up from January 8th:

Draft Thoughts, American Edition Vol. 1:

LW Cullen Potter (5'9",168lbs)
Arizona State (NCAA): 18gp/ 6g/ 4a/ 10pts, -1, 6 PIM.

In any scouting report on Cullen Potter that you may come across, you will undoubtedly identify 5 key words: Speed, Speed, Speed, Speed, and Transition. The diminutive winger is an electrifying speedster who can flat-out fly, and is one of the best skaters in the 2025 draft class. He's light, with a low center of gravity, which might be why he's so agile and displays such effortless edgework- he can stop or change speeds on a dime. In open ice, he can easily separate from pursuing defenders, and control the pace of the game. His hands are fast enough to keep up with his feet and his quickness, when combined with his skillful puck-handling, make him instrumental in Arizona State's transition, which seems to have become an area of specialty of his at the tender age of 17 (he turns 18 on January 10th). Cullen can achieve exits and entries via carry or pass, exhibiting uncommon poise and confidence with the puck that belies his age, along with pinpoint accuracy and timing in his neutral zone distribution. Though he can back defenses up, or engage his opponents with deft 1-on-1 moves, he also has a patient delay game to draw pressure, or hit the trailer with a pass.

Potter may be small, but he's not afraid to cut inside or drive through traffic, and he has several tricks up his sleeve to get to the net- including dekes, fakes, and dazzling footwork. He displays soft hands around the net, and also has an above-average shot with some power, including a slick catch-and-release wrister that can catch goalies off guard. His numbers this season in his freshman year are quite impressive, especially given his age and size limitations, but he's still trying to figure out how to work within the dimensions of the offensive zone against men, with less time and space to operate. Right now, he shows that he has sound ideas, but the execution isn't quite going to plan, with a lot of his passes being blocked or flubbed- he's keeping things fairly simple, which has led to some unfounded questions about his hockey sense. When he gets properly acclimated though, his vision and smarts will shine through in his playmaking ability- and when he learns to distribute as well in the offensive zone as he does in transition, he'll be a top playmaker. ASU Coach Greg Powers said, "I think from a raw ability and skill set, he's the best player that's ever played here, and it's probably not even close." Potter's compete, motor, and work-ethic are high in every area of the ice, and he can be deployed in any situation, and both sides of special teams. He works hard in the defensive zone, and uses his speed to close time and space- once the puck touches his stick, it's going the other way in a hurry.

Size will always be a limiting factor for Potter, as he can be knocked off the puck and is at a disadvantage when it comes to winning physical battles, which hurts his overall projection. He's still trying to figure out how to be effective on the forecheck, and he's much less potent on the cycle than he is off the rush. In 2023-24, Potter put up 17 goals and 46 points in 54 games in the NTDP, excellent numbers for a player in their D-minus-1 year, showing why Central Scouting gave him an "A" rating in their preliminary rankings. My bet is that he's picked in the second round, especially with how smaller players are falling in recent drafts, and that he makes a fine top-6 player in the NHL someday.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by FlamesDraftPrognosticator

Trust me, I want to be there with you and excited about the pick but we went with the guy who in my opinion is the safe 3rd line 40+ point guy. I think that’s what other scouts saw and passed on him as a result.

Funny. I think he is top six or bust but who knows. We will find out.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1938813112364523561

[dino7c]

Ranked as high as 7 this seems like a good pick at 32...give me high risk high reward all day long. Third and Fourth liners grow on trees.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by FlamesDraftPrognosticator

Feels like we drafted Trevor Moore, Paul Ranheim or Jason Blake…

Three players who would easily go in the top 32 of their draft years (although Blake and Moore weren't drafted). I'd be happy if he amounted to any of them..

[FacePaint]

I feel like this type of player would be amazing for points and entertainment 3 vs 3? Love the pick!

[Psytic]

I don’t know anything about him but this was interesting.

https://neutralzone.com/nhl-scouting...-cullen-potter

Underwhelming Offensive Efficiency
Despite generating chances, Potter struggles to finish. His 8% conversion rate on Grade “A” chances is well below average, and he too often misses the net (1.59 misses/game) or has shots blocked (1.29/game), especially on odd-man rushes. His current offensive value is driven more by volume than efficiency. For a player receiving top-six minutes and power play time, his 22 points (13G, 9A) is modest.

Puck Management and Decision-Making Need Work
Potter’s 6 giveaways per game is among the highest in his peer group and is a red flag considering he completes only 84% of his passes. Many of his turnovers are a result of trying to do too much, skating into pressure, or forcing lateral plays into coverage. His 1.03 passes per game that lead to Grade “A” teammate chances is solid but suggests he’s not yet elevating linemates the way top NHL center prospects often do.

Lack of Strength is Still an Issue
Potter’s 43% face-off win rate, low penalty-drawing rate (0.26/game), and the 1.10 hard hits he absorbs per game tells us he’s still developing overall body strength, and being on the receiving end of that many hard hits per-game tells us he has not learned to change pace and is unfortunately very predictable. He plays fearlessly, but until he gets stronger, he will continue to lose physical battles, especially at the NHL level.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

The first 20 times you listed this, I didn't understand.
Got it now though.
Thanks

[FlamesDraftPrognosticator]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Funny. I think he is top six or bust but who knows. We will find out.

Absolutely - And as a die hard Flames Fan, I definitely hope I am wrong.

[dieHARDflameZ]

I mean he was a 17 year old playing against 21/22 year olds.

[MissTeeks]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1938812632091562064

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by FlamesDraftPrognosticator

Sorry gotta be real guys—I’m not loving the pick. I was hoping the Flames would take a bigger swing here. Sure, he’s one of the fastest skaters in the class, no doubt about it but I just don’t see the high-end skill others are raving about. I see him as a valuable 3rd line 40+ point penalty killer. The hands aren’t there. Feels like we drafted Trevor Moore, Paul Ranheim or Jason Blake…

Who did you want with this pick?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by FlamesDraftPrognosticator

Sorry gotta be real guys—I’m not loving the pick. I was hoping the Flames would take a bigger swing here. Sure, he’s one of the fastest skaters in the class, no doubt about it but I just don’t see the high-end skill others are raving about. I see him as a valuable 3rd line 40+ point penalty killer. The hands aren’t there. Feels like we drafted Trevor Moore, Paul Ranheim or Jason Blake…

If you get a guy like that at this spot it’s a home run.
As a draft prognosticator I suspect you know that

[FireInTheHole]

Weird side note... did anyone else notice that he was the only one who didn't "meet with team leadership" on the video screen after his selection?

[Brodie66]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Underwhelming Offensive Efficiency
Despite generating chances, Potter struggles to finish. His 8% conversion rate on Grade “A” chances is well below average, and he too often misses the net (1.59 misses/game) or has shots blocked (1.29/game), especially on odd-man rushes. His current offensive value is driven more by volume than efficiency. For a player receiving top-six minutes and power play time, his 22 points (13G, 9A) is modest.

Puck Management and Decision-Making Need Work
Potter’s 6 giveaways per game is among the highest in his peer group and is a red flag considering he completes only 84% of his passes. Many of his turnovers are a result of trying to do too much, skating into pressure, or forcing lateral plays into coverage. His 1.03 passes per game that lead to Grade “A” teammate chances is solid but suggests he’s not yet elevating linemates the way top NHL center prospects often do.

Based on that summary he was destined to be a flame

[Tacoman]

Carter played against Potter four times last year, two of which I saw live. No question about his skill level. High end. Also no question that he’s a longer term project. Very slight build. So difficult to judge given how young he was. The NCHC is the closest thing to the AHL there is in hockey so to produce the way he did at 17 is damn impressive. Excited to watch his progress.