Peat
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2016
- 29,653
- 25,463
IMO Yager is a worse skater than Daniel Sprong and a similar skill set. Sprong has never hit 3 mil.
Pickering has the type of physical traits that could make him a unicorn.
Well there's two answers to that
The first is this is Schrodinger's Yager in effect. There are scouting profiles that absolutely agree with you. There are scouting profiles that think you're on crack. I don't have any huge personal input here as I'm lousy on judging skating and the parts of his game where people will disagree with you aren't on highlights videos - I'm thinking the profiles that talk about Yager as one of the draft's best two-way players.
The second is that was Sprong has achieved is not his pre-draft ceiling and to no small extent, on him. People talked about him as one of the most skillful players in the draft, a top 10 pick on talent alone. He has to an extent started to show that in Washington and Seattle, but neither team can bring themselves to trust him above 4th line minutes at 5v5 or, as a result, bother to hang onto him. A version of Sprong that can earn the trust to get a chance of replicating his stupidly high p/60 numbers with actual minutes absolutely has a chance of getting 3m and well above.
As a result, I have no problems with continuing to make high predictions of what he could be based off of a Sprong comparable. It's a good reminder of the volatility and possible low end, but I think it still leaves considerable ceiling. Draft Sprong potential on a guy who is thought of as good two ways for his age and wants to get better there is exciting.
And Pickering's physical traits are currently attached to a hope and a prayer of him putting together the rest to become a fill blown elite unicorn. I do like what he can become more as a result of those unicorn traits, I just don't think it's as likely as Yager that he hits the jackpot.
One final point on the Yager - Sprong comparable - draft year Sprong was considerably more built. Twenty-four to fourteen lbs heavier depending on which profile you believe, at either the same height or two inches taller, depending on which profile you believe. I think Yager has more runway to improve as an athlete, which should help with his skating.
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