A deep dive into 2024 NHL Draft prospect and Calgary Hitmen forward Carson Wetsch.

The WHL is set to play a significant role in this year's 2024 NHL Draft. 57 players were included on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, with a handful expected to be drafted in the first round. Today's draft profile is of Calgary Hitmen's Carson Wetsch, who enters the draft as the 50th-ranked North American Skater.

If NHL GMs are looking for a future power forward, Wetsch might be their guy. A physical winger, Wetsch is a solid combination of speed and strength who is very difficult to knock off the puck. A Gold Medal winner for Team Canada at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and U18s, he has all the tools needed to be an impactful player at the pro level. 

Listed at 6'0", 203 pounds, Wetsch loves to play a physical brand of hockey. He never misses an opportunity to finish his check and often delivers board-rattling hits. Whether in front of the net or along the wall, Wetsch understands how to use his size to his advantage, making life difficult for defenders across the WHL. 

As the season progressed, one area of Wetsch's game that continued to improve was his defensive game. His positioning took a massive step forward this year, and he was able to showcase his speed by getting to lose pucks and clearing them down the ice. Wetsch has also developed into a strong penalty killer, which didn't go unnoticed as he was part of Team Canada's penalty kill unit at the U18s. 

One area to keep an eye on for Wetsch during the 2024-25 campaign is his work in the offensive zone. Wetsch already has a great shot, but now it is about what other elements he can add to his offensive game. If he can become a more consistent playmaker and improve his puckhandling, he could become one of the most dangerous power forwards in the WHL. 

Wetsch should hear his name called in either the second or third round of the draft. He is a prospect with a ton of potential and, with the right development path, could become a bottom-six forward and penalty-killer at the NHL level. Ultimately, he has the tools to have a successful career and would be a great addition to any team's prospect pool.

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