FIVE MANITOBANS LISTED IN 2024 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING'S FINAL RANKINGS.
NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft on April 16 with five Manitobans making an appearance.
This is a weaker class when it comes to Manitobans, but there are some intriguing prospects. This year, the centralized draft will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada over the familiar two-day period: Friday June 28 to Saturday June 29.
Game On's Jackson Bachewich has put together a scouting report on each of the five Manitobans listed, with each set having been revealed over the past few weeks as a five-part series leading up to the draft.
No. 77. Clarke Caswell (Swift Current Broncos, WHL), Brandon, MB.
5’11”
170 lbs
Left Wing
Mid Term Rankings: 68
Final Rankings: 77
Regular Season Stats: GP:68 G:26 A:51 PTS:77 - Playoffs: GP:9 G:2 A:7 PTS:9
Former Teams: Pursuit of Excellence U15 Prep, Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep, U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings.
Clarke Caswell Scouting report:
Strengths:
- Quick thinking
- Gritty
- Playmaking
- Hockey Sense
Weaknesses:
- Speed
- Size
Clarke Caswell is the highest ranked Manitoban amongst North American skaters going into June’s entry draft and it isn't a surprise.
Caswell has excelled at every level of his Minor and Junior hockey career. From playing for the Winnipeg Jr. Jets at the Brick Invitational in 2015 to putting up 24 points in just five games at RHA Kelowna in his second year of bantam hockey, to putting up 88 points in just 38 games with the U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings and being selected sixth overall in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft by the Swift Current Broncos.
Caswell is a smaller winger, which in past years may have hurt his stock, but we have seen even smaller players like Johnny Gaudreau, Seth Jarvis, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat thrive in the “new NHL” and Caswell could as well.
He is not necessarily fast, but he is quick. He is quick with his mind, feet and body and seems to always be in the right place at the right time. He can generate offensive chances by being sneaky and deceptive with the puck, not giving any hints to what his next move may be.
Caswell had a strong season that has kind of flown under the radar. He led his strong Swift Current Broncos team in assists and points.
He is a born playmaker with an elite ability to dish the puck wherever he wants it to go. He creates golden chances off the rush. When it comes to playmakers, he may be the best in the class. Although he isn't the fastest, he has the ability to slow defenders down to his level and play the game at his pace when he is on the ice.
The Brandon born forward is also great at the other end of the ice. He is strong on puck battles and despite his size he is gritty and gets into the dirty areas of the ice.
Caswell thrived on a team filled with Manitobans this year - Josh Filmon (Winnipeg), Rylan Gould (Headingley), Luke Mistelbacher (Steinbach), Conor Geekie (Strathclair), Zach Turner (Boissevain), Owen Pickering (St. Adolphe), Peyton Kettles (Winnipeg), Reid Dyck (Winkler) and Josh Fluker (Boissevain) - and has the upside of a middle-six NHL player.
Caswell fell nine spots in the NHL Central Scouting’s draft rankings during the course of the year, but he hasn't shown anything to make him fall. He is still projected to go in the third round, but scouts and draft rankings have him all over the board heading into the June 28/29 spectacle.
Stay tuned for the final player to be revealed on Game On's Manitoba Draft Spotlight.
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