Brayden Yager
Former CHL Rookie of the Year with a high-end shot
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 166 lbs.
Shoots: Right
Position: Center
Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Nationality: Canada
The Draft Prospectus Ranking: #8
During his rookie season in the WHL, Brayden Yager burst onto the scene to become one of the top prospects for the 2023 NHL Draft.
Tallying 59 points (34 goals, 25 assists) in 63 games during his rookie campaign, Yager was named WHL and CHL Rookie of the Year following the 2021-22 season. His rise to prominence was quick, as extremely high expectations were set for him following his first season.
Yager had a strong draft year, though his numbers may not have been what he hoped for. In his 2023 NHL Draft Diary with NHL.com, Yager mentions he was aiming to top the 50-goal, 100-point mark in his second season with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
“Brayden Yager. The Moose Jaw Warrior center has all the tools to be a well-rounded No. 1, at worst high-end No. 2, NHL center who can impact the game in every way — offensively, defensively, goal scoring and playmaking.” - Bob McKenzie, TSN
Coming up short of his expectations, Yager has dropped in many rankings and remains a challenging prospect to assess thoroughly.
While he isn't considered small, Yager has an especially slender stature and needs to pack on muscle to compete at a higher level. But unlike other prospects considered undersized in some way, like Zach Benson, Yager’s speed and edge work is much more efficient.
Following his impressive rookie campaign with Moose Jaw, Yager was one of the top players at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup for Team Canada. Racking up nine points (five goals, four assists) in five games for the Great White North, Yager fortified his position as a likely first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
🥅 Yager has struggled moderately this season but has the toolbox to be a top-6 forward at the next level.
Yager has one of the best shots in this year's draft class. Whether on the rush or from a standstill, he can beat the goaltender from spots across the ice. He uses all his weight to lean on his stick to generate maximum power in his shot.
With the power produced by Yager's shot, he doesn’t load his shot for long but instead has a quick release. He finds ways to avoid defenders in the shooting lane, whether a quick feint to gain extra space or changing his shooting angle.
To find open space, Yager likes to trail the play when his teammates enter the puck in the offensive zone. As the puck carrier heads towards the goal line, Yager will read the defense to determine his next move and where he believes he can put himself in the best position to receive a pass.
While not lightning fast, Yager is an above-average skater. He’s powerful in the transition game and has a shoot-first mentality.
When Yager can’t create his own shot, he tends to force the pass too much. He’s a shooter well before a playmaker, and you can sense a bit of panic when he has to make a difficult pass.
This year, Yager has been incredibly inconsistent. He’s flashed his elite offensive capabilities at times and has been dormant at others. Between December 13th and February 5th, he managed only two goals in a 21-game span. For a player known for his goal-scoring prowess, this trend is extremely concerning
Yager’s slight frame is a significant disadvantage for him. He gets knocked off the puck easily, especially while battling for pucks in the corners. Adding some weight would help with his puck protection and could add even more power to his shot.
🏒 Though Yager has had his offensive struggles throughout the season, he has not abandoned his defensive responsibilities in favor of attempting to create more offense.
He’s a strong two-way forward finishing with a +6 rating this season. He plays the center position well, not abandoning defense for offense, which may be why he is so good at finding space entering the offensive zone trailing the play.
He has an active stick and uses his speed to his advantage. He’s a dangerous penalty killer, always posing a threat to throw a poke check on a pass along the blue line and head in on a short-handed breakaway.
📊 Yager has shown all the tools to be considered a potential top-10 pick. His NHL-ready shot is a difficult attribute to pass on, but the inconsistencies have been difficult to go unnoticed.
Looking at his rookie season or his hot start to his draft year, you would believe this is a can’t-miss prospect. But then you look at the middle part of his season, where he just fell off the map. A goalscorer who goes on a goalless drought like Yager has this year is inexcusable. The rest of his game doesn’t round out enough to warrant him top-10 status - it’s his shot and goal-scoring that puts him over the edge.
We may find out at some point that Yager has been battling injury all season or some off-ice issue that caused his play to diminish in his most important year. But otherwise, he’ll be questioned endlessly at pre-draft interviews.
That said, Yager has produced over a point per game. Even during his goalless streak, he managed to rack up the assists.
Yager may be more well-suited to play the wing in the NHL. From there, he can utilize his shot more and not concentrate as much on what needs to be done in the defensive zone.
I see Yager landing somewhere between the 10-15 range come draft night. He could still land in the top ten if one GM thinks he can refind that goal-scoring touch, but many front offices that high in the draft may want to take the safer player.
📈 📉 Rankings by Top Publications and Insiders
Sportsnet: 15
TSN/Craig Button: 11
EliteProspects: 20
The Hockey News: 10