2024 NHL Draft Profile: Berkly Catton

The performance

• Finish the season with impressive stats in the WHL, with 54 goals and 62 assists for 116 points and a plus-15 rating in 68 games.
• Ranked third in goals in the WHL behind draftees Jagger Firkus and Zac Funk and fourth in points.
• Had 14 multi-goal games and 14 games with three or more points with Spokane this past season, including six four-point games and one five-point game.
• Posted 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points in 63 games in his first full season with Spokane in 2022-23.
• Served as captain for Team Canada Red at both the 2022-2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (3-9-12 in seven games), and the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where his eight goals led the tournament.
• Also played for Canada at the 2023 World Under-18 Championship (1-3-4 in seven games).
• Is the No. 8 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

What’s next

NHL projection: Catton could be a top player in the NHL and a dangerous player with a quick rush thanks to his elite offensive skills and skating skills, but whether that will happen at center or on the wing remains to be seen.

Why CBJ should draft him: Few players scored as many points as Catton in junior hockey last season, and he would bring a new burst of elite offense to a team that has amassed a stockpile of creative forwards over the past few drafts.

Why they shouldn’t: Catton’s size could keep him from being a full-time center in the NHL, and his defensive play remains a work in progress, though you could say that about many players his age.

In Catton’s words

“I’ve grown my game a lot this year, maybe with that goalscoring aspect to my game, which has contributed massively to that points total. That’s me, growing my game.

“I see myself as a leader. When I went back to the Hlinka, I was appointed captain of that team. I’m probably more of a leader by example, I would say, but if my coaches see me as that kind of person, it means a lot.

“To be honest, I was living in my backyard shooting pucks (last summer). I knew as a 16-year-old I thought I had a good season, but I didn’t score as much as I would like. I think that was because maybe my shot wasn’t where it should be. I knew I had to work on that over the summer, and I finally did and it paid off. I built a goalie there out of wood and stuff. There’s a cage that covers the net with a made-up goal, and I just practiced in all kinds of places that I found myself in games.

The experts say

While browsing the internet, prospect experts have offered their thoughts on Catton’s game. Here’s what a few of them have to say.

Chris Peters, FloHockey: There are many players who share similar traits to Catton and who excel in the modern NHL because of their ability to create in transition and get behind the defense. He is one of those players who has a speed with his hands and feet that makes him such a difficult player to defend. He has good one-on-one skills, and while he can beat players to the outside, he isn’t afraid to move up the middle and into a higher leverage scoring area. Additionally, he has some tenacity to compete away from the puck and win pucks back. There are very few holes in Catton’s game.

Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News: Catton is perhaps the smartest player in the NHL draft class, constantly looking for small advantages, chaining them together and ultimately creating a big advantage. Catton makes life easy for his teammates, allowing them to play to their strengths while he fills their gaps. He’s a playmaker through and through, but he’s shown this season that he can make goalies pay for disrespecting his shot, especially when he gets into the home plate area.

Luke Sweeney, Dobber Prospects: There is no one in this class with his ability to move laterally through the neutral zone. Combined with his slick, highly calculated puck handling and Catton, it’s almost impossible to contain the rush. The rest of Catton’s offensive weapons are also well developed. His turnover is quick and accurate and can beat goalkeepers from distance, while his vision and play are also of a high standard. He reads the game well and places the puck in areas where the most points can be scored, even if his teammates are a little slow to catch up to him at times. Catton is also quite adept at dodging and fighting under pressure, allowing him to make many of these plays in the middle of the ice.