Wyatt Cullen (Ranked #24 on my list):
Projection: Middle 6 Winger
Strengths: Edge work, Release, Stick skills, Very young
Weaknesses: Size and physicality, Absence of engagement, Defensive attributes
Analysis:
Wyatt Cullen is a high-octane offensive play driver. When he has the
puck, he utilizes confidence, strong edge control, and impressive
stick skills to outmaneuver defenders and generate offense. He has a
special ability to use his edges to deke around defenders, protect the
puck, or grant him enough mobility to get open in the offensive zone.
He has a snappy release and a strong one-timer that make him even more
threatening on the power play. With the puck on his stick, Cullen can
be the most dangerous player in the game and completely take over.
However, when he doesn’t have the puck on his stick, I think he can be
completely absent from the game. I find him waiting for the game to
come to him, puck watching, and floating around until his teammates
can get him the puck. He lacks a sense of urgency without the puck,
which is the best way I could describe it. I don’t think he is the
best in the defensive zone either. Along the wall, he doesn’t have
enough strength to push opponents off pucks and retrieve them cleanly.
The bright side about his weaknesses is that he is such a late
birthday, he is only a week from being eligible next year. That gives
him up to an extra few months to grow and develop over some other
players in this class, which could be a huge advantage for his draft
stock.