Why Johnny Beecher was always a 1st rounder.

Johnny Beecher (2019 1^st Rounder, 30^th Overall to The Bruins) Center 4.75 Star – For me Johnny Beecher was going to be a 1^st rounder as soon as I saw him play in last year’s 2018 USHL Fall Classic. It was just a matter of how late he was going to go. The U18 USNT had a team full of offensive studs & he wasn’t getting much love. He’s a 6’3 (or larger) center who weighs 210lbs… and that 210 is pre-University of Michigan strength training. So, we know he’s a massive human…. We know he can absolutely fly…. AND we know he’s had good coaching growing up. All of those are incredibly important. And it became obvious that he could accept playing a role. Johnny was the 3^rd center and arguably the 7^th best forward on a historically talented US National Team. So sitting at number 30 The Bruins drafted a 6’3 210lb center who had spent the year playing against older players (43 points) and competing in practice against TWO CENTERS who went 1^st and 5^th overall.  That’s some serious on the job training on how to be a shut down center and big shut down centers will always be in demand. And that is why Johnny was going to be a 1^st rounder. He is a commodity that every General Manager will always be looking for. He is an asset. A massive asset who can fly. A team drafting him at the end of the 1^st round is close to making a run at winning The Cup, so they have options.  He could develop quickly into a player who will help that season and he is the asset that will be in demand. Imagine the Bruins are having another solid year, but they seem to be one player away. Johnny is going to be in demand. It doesn’t matter how he’s playing at Michigan or in the AHL because NHL teams will always think they can help him reach his full potential. If he’s struggling in college… a team will still be interested & think they’re the development group that can help him. And the same will always be true for years to come. Even if he turns pro and is struggling in the minors another team will always think they’re the ones who can get him to play. The first time I saw Johnny play I told other scouts that I thought he’d be a 10 year NHL player and I still do. It just might not be with the team that drafted him.