Some of my favorite prospects in any given draft are ones who deserve to go in the top 10, but probably won’t for one reason or another. That’s the case with Cole Reschny, among other names. So much, that I’m lobbying for the Detroit Red Wings to give him serious consideration when the NHL Draft rolls around next Friday.
Why? Well, for one, Reschny has that ‘it’ factor. He’s a versatile forward with just enough size for one to say, “Yes, he can play in the NHL tomorrow based on size only.” Obviously, that won’t happen, since a ton of variables go into a player’s readiness, let alone an 18-year-old draft prospect. But you get my point.
Also, his playmaking ability is so off the charts, I’m comparing him to other high-end but not pure superstar forwards like Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues, to throw a name out there. He won’t look like Thomas at the NHL level for some time, but he’s one of those players I can see making his debut quicker than many projected to go in the second half of the first.
Cole Reschny’s size, versatility, and production are a rare blend
Often, NHL forwards boast one or two awesome traits, but not all of them at once. And while Cole Reschny’s not elite in any category, at least when compared to prospects like Michael Misa, he checks all the boxes.
He’s listed as a pure forward, meaning he has the potential to play center or wing. At 5’10, 187 lbs, his size passes all the tests, with a decent build that he’s not done growing into. Finally, his 92 points and 66 assists in 62 games were just unreal. That’s over one helper per contest if you’re doing the math.
But Reschny didn’t just look good with the Victoria Royals. At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Reschny logged seven points and three goals in five games. At the World Juniors, he finished with five goals and eight points in seven matchups. Yeah, his performance in that event shows he can be a scorer as opposed to a playmaker when needed.
Reschny’s path to the NHL if the Red Wings draft him
For Cole Reschny, he’ll play three seasons at the University of North Dakota, after which he may sign with his NHL team and maybe even make his debut. This doesn’t mean he won’t spend time in the AHL, but fast-forward three seasons, and you’ll see Reschny almost fully grown into his frame, while his productivity will only sail north.
Reschny will also have the luxury of battling opponents at different levels, taking advantage of migrating from the WHL to the NCAA. By playing college hockey, he’ll have a chance to play against a few players who are grown men, and that should only help his development.
Overall, I’m looking for him to stick around with the Fighting Hawks for three seasons, and make his NHL debut at some point in his age-20 campaign after he signs. He could spend another year or two developing at the AHL level, but Reschny might just be a hidden gem who someone will unearth either through a ‘reach,’ or later in the first if he falls that far.
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