The Scouting Report:
Carson Wetsch, 17, is a rugged physical player standing at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. He packs a lot of punch within his frame and has a strong playmaking ability and soft hands. During his rookie 2022-23 campaign in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Calgary Hitmen, he provided ten goals, 11 assists and 21 points through 45 games as a 16-year-old.
Wetsch doubled his stats across the board during his second year, splitting an even 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points through 67 games. Despite the mass production spike, he could benefit greatly from expanding his offensive approach.
Ranked #67 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #50 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters
Ranked #75 by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked #49 by Sportsnet
Diving Deeper:
Wetsch is an adaptable player, morphing into a true power forward. He is an overwhelming pressure all over the ice, taking the extra stride to skate through the hands of the opponent instead of reaching. The North Vancouver, BC, native has noticeably improved over the last year and shows a lot of consistency throughout his game.
Attribute One
Consistence
Wetsch is rarely off his game, there is never a dull moment when he is on the ice. The 17-year-old has an immense hockey mind for his age and makes unthinkable plays in seconds. He is consistent in all areas on a nightly basis, he is not afraid to make a mistake or call a play. Most noticeably he utilizes his shot effectively and carries an impressive shooting percentage game-to-game.
Attribute Two
Diamond In The Rough
Along with Oliver Tulk and 2024 top-eligible prospect Carter Yakemchuk, Wetsch has carried his weight offensively over the last three seasons for the Hitmen, with a pretty plain product being put out through a rough patch in the organization.
Wetsch has found a way to improve his production, skill level and those around him while his team declines in the standings. Despite having a lower-end team, Wetsch scored 25 goals and 25 asssits for 50 points through 67 games. He will look to improve those stats, even more, come next season while bolstering his line, creating offense and scoring chances on a team starved for talent.
On-Ice Abilities:
Wetsch is an aggressive skater who can cover lots of ground in short bursts. However, he will need to improve his overall stride to compete at the pro level. Nonetheless, his compete edge is second to none and he is not afraid to get into the dirty areas or make plays while barreling down in the attack zone, feeding off big hits, driving the net, or using his impressive shot to find the back of the net.
Prospect Potential:
Wetsch is one of the most undervalued players in his class despite his production on a young, underachieving team. He is projected to be more of a prototypical middle-bottom six-forward with tons of character and grit. There is room for growth, and at most, his ceiling can fill a high-end middle-six role as a reliable power forward in any position.
Teams on the board to keep an eye on in the late second, early third and fourth rounds: St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes.
*All player statistics and draft rankings courtesy of eliteprospects.com
ITR 35: Round One – Inside The Rink
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