Fantasy Summary
September 2026 – Cooper Williams is a smart, responsibl […]
Observations
September 2026 – Cooper Williams is a smart, responsible two-way center the Toronto Maple Leafs selected 158th overall, a genuine value given that Craig Button of TSN ranked him around 30th. The catch is why he slid. After a 57-point rookie season with the Saskatoon Blades that made him a Western Hockey League Rookie of the Year finalist, he posted the exact same 57 points the following year and did not take the step scouts wanted. Everything the Blades trust about him held up: he plays a reliable 200-foot game, stays above the puck, wins high-leverage faceoffs on both special teams, and has soft hands and a knack for stealing pucks. What he did not show was progression, and at a thin 163 pounds he needs strength and a gear he has not yet found. He returns to Saskatoon for 2026-27 before the University of North Dakota in 2027, where the college schedule and gym time could be the shake-up his game needs. For fantasy he is a deep-league monitor whose value hinges entirely on the delayed breakout arriving, so hold off and watch whether his scoring finally climbs at North Dakota. Andrew Epps
| Attributes | |
|---|---|
| Fantasy Upside | 6.5 |
| NHL Certainty | 4.5 |
| Country | CAN |
| Position | C |
| Roster Type | WHL |
| Shoot/Glove | Left |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 2008 |
| Height | 6‘1” |
| Weight | 163 lbs |
| Drafted | 2026 Round 5; Overall: 158 |
Stats – Frozen Tools – Profile on FT
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 | WHL | Saskatoon Blades | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| 2025-2026 | WHL | Saskatoon Blades | 66 | 23 | 34 | 57 | 35 | -7 |
| 2025-2026 | Hlinka Gretzky Cup | Canada U18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024-2025 | WHL | Saskatoon Blades | 68 | 21 | 36 | 57 | 24 | 19 |
| 2023-2024 | Telus Cup | Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 0 |
| 2023-2024 | Circle K Classic | Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023-2024 | AEHL U18 | Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA | 30 | 29 | 22 | 51 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | Alberta Cup | Team Alberta Green | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | AEHL U17 | Calgary Bulls U17 AAA | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022-2023 | AEHL U15 | Calgary Bisons U15 AAA | 33 | 32 | 37 | 69 | 20 | 0 |
| 2021-2022 | HCAA U15 | CBHA Rangers U15 AA | 28 | 53 | 25 | 78 | 32 | 0 |
| 2021-2022 | AEHL U15 | Calgary Bisons U15 AAA | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
I understand he was disappointing… but he was ranked between 50 and 80 on several lists, including 31st on Craig Button’s final ranking. Your ratings are very harsh compared to those of other prospects. He should be at least a 6.5 in “Fantasy” and a 4 or 5 in “Certainty.”
Appreciate that feedback! Will work to give a more up to date profile now!