Three WHL skaters were given updated ‘A’ ratings on NHL Central Scouting’s Players to Watch list Monday, bringing the total number of projected first-round picks from the WHL to 10 ahead of next June’s 2023 NHL Draft.
Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall, Tri-City Americans defenceman Lukas Dragicevic and Prince George Cougars forward Koehn Ziemmer were all bumped from their original ‘B’ rating on NHL Central Scouting’s list, released last month.
Cristall, from Burnaby, B.C., leads Kelowna in scoring with 35 points (15G-20A) and is in a third-place tie among WHL scoring leaders.
“Andrew has been an offensive catalyst in Kelowna this year. He’s very gifted offensively, good on the power play, has great vision and knows how to score,” John Williams of NHL Central Scouting told NHL.com Monday.
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Three WHL skaters have earned updated 'A' ratings by NHL Central Scouting, bringing the total number of 'A' rated WHLers for the #NHLDraft to 10.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 21, 2022
• Andrew Cristall (@Kelowna_Rockets)
• Lukas Dragicevic (@TCAmericans)
• Koehn Ziemmer (@PGCougars)
📰 | https://t.co/67c9YmhIDM pic.twitter.com/MhBkl7VMCb
"I think it made me a little more motivated, that I had something more to prove."
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) November 22, 2022
After being rated a 'B' prospect by Central Scouting in late October Andrew Cristall used it to propel himself to another level. We caught up with him to chat about being boosted an 'A' rank today.