Berkly Catton

April 2024 – We were more bullish with our projection of Berkly Catton at our last meeting, but his slip in our ranking should not indicate that we are less optimistic about his upside. Catton is one of the most dynamic players in the draft, with a well-rounded and versatile offensive toolkit, evidenced by the fact that he was the highest-scoring draft-eligible in the entire CHL this season. Catton’s most projectable skills lie in his transition game where he can be both an individual transporter and an entry target. Catton opens up the neutral zone, taking creative puck routes that frequently lead him laterally through the zone, using his combination of balance, agility and speed to slip around defenders, as well as a deft puckhandle to create highlight-reel rush chances. Though Catton has an effective three-level shooting arsenal with a dangerous snapper, wrister and one-timer (not to mention the fourth-most goals in the CHL), his most impactful skill is his playmaking.

Catton has the patience and headiness to slow down play to find seams, and the creativity and IQ to identify dangerous options, an area that he could find more success in with better support. Catton’s shooting and passing are complemented by his aforementioned puckhandling that he uses to get off the boards and turn defenders inside-out. While his defensive game lacks strength and awareness, Catton’s ceiling is a high-end transporter and offensive weapon with PP1 upside. (April Rankings: #6) Luke Sweeney

November 2023 – Berkly Catton has been flashing the electric skill that made him a former first-overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft all season long. What immediately jumps off the screen is Catton’s puck control. Catton has an effortless first touch, seamlessly blends puck receptions into movements without losing speed and can use his control to patiently protect the puck or to just dangle around his opponents at high speed. Catton’s offensive awareness and scanning habits are also highlights, which he uses as an asset to find time and space for himself or his teammates. Coupling this awareness with an excellent passing game makes Catton an elite passer in the WHL, completing highlight-reel passes with regularity. In fact, most of the other elements of Catton’s offensive game stand out as well. Catton’s snapshot is technically strong with a quick release that helps him beat goalies from short and middle distances. While not overly powerful, his strides are also quick and technically sound, which he partners with lateral crossovers to generate a ton of speed in the neutral zone (NZ). While he plays with enough pace and skill offensively to be worthy of a look in this year’s top ten, this pace doesn’t translate to the other side of the puck. Catton has shown an active stick and an understanding of passing lanes in the NZ, but Catton can often look lackadaisical in his own end, losing his checks and net battles. This is especially apparent on backchecks where he frequently shows little-to-no effort. While his speed, smarts, mobility and active stick show potential for Catton’s defensive game, his effort away from the puck is a big area of improvement for an otherwise uber-skilled forward. Luke Sweeney (November Rankings: 7th Overall)