A big body from Barrie is the penultimate member of our first round rankings, and is here to shake things up, literally, Cole Beaudoin has a 1.00 DAWG/60, is a relentless competitor, and profiles as a steady three zone option at the next level.
Pre-Draft Rankings
No. 30 by TSN/Bob McKenzie
No. 29 by Elite Prospects
No. 25 by The Athletic/Scott Wheeler
No. 36 by Sportsnet/Jason Bukala
Statistics
What’s to like?
Beaudoin is a titanic force on the ice. He is a classic one man wrecking crew who can just simply outcompete and outmuscle opponents all over the ice. He is a coach’s dream in more ways than one, and while he may not take over games with his outright skill, he has the ability to throttle the opposition by causing chaos and playing on the front foot. At 6 foot 2, 201 pounds, he has a formidable frame already at only 17 years old, and he uses his strength as size as a pillar of a truculent game.
In 67 games with Barrie in the OHL, Beaudoin mustered 28 goals and 62 points, tied for second on his team with fellow draft eligible forward Riley Patterson. But where as Beaudoin may not have the same gaudy numbers as some of his contemporaries, the way he scores projects to be much more repeatable in the future. He works extremely hard, and it usually pays off with a collection of won puck battles, extended cycles, and scoring chances created by unrelenting pressure. He is effective in all three zones, and should be somebody who can be an asset killing penalties or late in games.
But beyond just being fundementally sound, Beaudoin also possesses a decent bit of playmaking chops, and while his skating isn’t elite, he can make plays with the puck at speed, and his decision making is sound.
In the clip above, Beaudoin scans the ice for teammates on either side of him and initiates the give-and-go, keeping his feet moving to open himself up for the return feed, before squeezing his shot under the goalie’s arm. Beaudoin is a handful off the rush, partially due to him being a freight tran, and partially because he actually has some touch and ability to finish around the net. And of course, he gets to the net front for tips and rebounds, too.
What’s not to like?
There are some deficiencies, mainly the skating, which is simply not NHL-caliber right now. He is choppy and inefficient with his strides, and if he really wants to be a difference-maker for years to come at the pro level, he will need to make some improvements there.
His skating also can prevent him from really making moves at speed, he isn’t able to make those quick cuts smoothly that would allow him to manuver around defenders, and as a result a lot of his offense relies on beating defenders in a straight line or catching them flat footed.
The other concern with Beaudoin is that he projects ideally as more of a bottom-six center than anything else, and while drafting someone at the end of round one who ultimately becomes a bottom-sixer isn’t the end of the world, he doesn’t have the same “pop” potential skill-wise as some of the players around him. Of course he could overachieve, but teams shouldn’t be counting on him to be a potential top line star, he is just not that guy.
How would he fit in the Flyers system?
Cole Beaudoin would be a Philly fan favorite. Banging and crashing, scoring greasy goals, blocking shots on the penalty kill, would possess the full package. But maybe the only person who would love Beaudoin more than the fanbase is John Tortorella. If the Flyers picked him up once Beaudoin turned 30, Torts would never let him leave the ice. He is the sort of jack of all trades workhorse that Tortorella’s system needs to truly thrive, and he has the motor to keep up.
Can the Flyers actually get him?
It is possible, and one could argue that it is likely if Beaudoin falls to the low-20s. He doesn’t have the flashy potential, but if the Flyers are able to secure someone with a high-ceiling like Berkly Catton with their first pick, it could make sense to take a look at Beaudoin later on in the first. If you can unlock his skating, he could be a menace, and the type of player teams clamor for come playoff time.
If teams start reaching for more boom/bust options, Beaudoin might be the selection later on in the first round. The fit makes sense, especially with the Flyers in need of young center options.
What the scouts are saying
“Beaudoin is a hulking forward who provides a mix of power and finesse. His skating will be scrutinized, and certainly has room to improve, but he arrives on time in all three zones. Beaudoin has the hockey sense to be used in all situations.” Jason Bukala – Sportsnet
“His offensive game is not particularly exciting, but he plays a brand of hockey that helps teams win games. Beaudoin is an extremely aggressive, physical forward whose relentlessness in puck pursuit is truly remarkable. He’s a dogged competitor who never quits on plays, wins a lot of battles and has the physical strength to outmatch many of his age peers currently.” Chris Peters, Flo Hockey
Welcome to the poll….
The next prospect added to the pool is Jett Luchanko, a sturdy two-way centerman from the Guelph Storm. Here’s what the scouts are saying.
“Luchanko’s an average-sized player with above-average skill and impressive skating ability, but it’s his on-ice intelligence and knowhow that defines him. He’s also a superb athlete (one of the better in the draft), who performed exceedingly well at the combine. He understands timing, spacing and puck movement at a very advanced level, always finding his way into good spots.” – Scott Wheeler – The Athletic
“Luchanko (5-11, 187) is an explosive skater who can contribute on the power play and penalty kill. When injuries and graduations to pro hockey forced the 17-year-old into a larger role this season, Luchanko responded with a team-high 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 68 games; he had 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 46 games last season.” – Adam Kimelman – NHL.com
Previously on the 2024 BSH Community Draft Board
- Macklin Celebrini
- Ivan Demidov
- Artyom Levshunov
- Anton Silayev
- Cayden Lindstrom
- Sam Dickinson
- Zeev Buium
- Berkly Catton
- Zayne Parekh
- Konsta Helenius
- Tij Iginla
- Cole Eiserman
- Carter Yakemchuk
- Adam Jiricek
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
- Beckett Sennecke
- Liam Greentree
- Igor Chernyshov
- Sacha Boisvert
- Michael Hage
- Aron Kiviharju
- Andrew Basha
- Trevor Connelly
- Nikita Artamonov
- Ryder Ritchie
- Emil Hemming
- Cole Hutson
- Terik Parascak
- EJ Emery
- Charlie Elick
- Cole Beaudoin
- ????
