NHLentrydraft.com:
NHL Central Scouting’s Blair MacDonald:
Strengths: “Kyle Beach is one of the top forwards in this year’s draft and is probably the most competitive – from the blue line in there is no one that competes like him. He’s feisty, he’s got a reputation for being physical and agitating a little bit, but he definitely ranks in there as a power forward and is the power forward in this year’s draft. He has good scoring skills and a very accurate shot, and from the blue line in, once he gets the puck, he almost owns it.”
Areas to improve:
“The team he is playing on is very defensive minded and he has to learn to skate and read transition a little better in his position and needs to learn to focus a little better on the ice to make it to the next level.”
Everett head coach John Becanic:
“Kyle is a really unique player, probably the most unique player in the draft this year in the fact that he plays a difficult game and is a difficult player to play against. He’s physical, he’s strong, he has skill, he has every dimension needed to be a power forward in the National Hockey League.”
Habster:
Kyle Beach is rated the # 7 North American skater by CSS and ISS has him ranked #13 overall. He was ranked in the top five at the mid-term period of the season but dropped because of stronger performances by other prospects.
There is no questioning his skill set. He is a good, effective skater with good hands and a very physical game. He also plays well at both ends of the ice and is willing to drop the gloves in defense of his teammates.
Beach is a big (6’3″ 205lbs), prototypical power forward with an edge to go with it. His game has been compared to Jarome Iginla (though he doesn’t quite have the same skating ability of Iginla) with the attitude of Darcy Tucker/ Sean Avery thrown into the mix.
As much as the scouts love his rare mix of size and skill, there are some scouts who are understandably concerned about his hot headed/undisciplined disposition during games.
“He is worth the risk at some point,” one NHL scout said. “I’d be a little surprised if he doesn’t go in the first round. Every team is afraid to pick him, but they’re also afraid of passing up what could be the home run of the draft”
It’s one thing to be competitive, it’s another to be out of control and taking stupid penalties which Kyle Beach has done periodically.
There are no off ice issues to speak of and by all accounts he is a very likable kid whose on ice issues have unfairly dogged him throughout his junior career.
We’ll find out soon enough if Kyle Beach gets selected in the first round or drops into the second round like Chicago Blackhawks prospect, Akim Aliu did at last year’s draft because of on and off ice issues.
If I were Bob Gainey and Trevor Timmins, I would think long and hard if Kyle Beach is still available when walking up to the podium for their first round selection. The ever elusive power forward/center the Canadiens have been coveting for years (sorry Guillaume but you’re not the guy!!) could be staring at them from the stands of the Scotiabank Place.
