Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall is on pace for a historic season.

Andrew Cristall has been on a tear to start the season. The Washington Capitals prospect is already up to 18 points on the season in just eight games and is on pace for the first 100-assist campaign since Ray Whitney and Brian Sakic achieved the feat back in 1990-91. Arguably one of the most talented players from the 2023 NHL Draft class, the Kelowna Rockets star is showing NHL teams they may have made a mistake letting him drop down to 40th overall. 

While the odds are he won't hit 100 assists, there is a very good he could eclipse the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. He already has five multi-point games, including a four-assist effort in his last outing against the Swift Current Broncos. Surrounded by an improved roster that features high-end talent in Caden Price, Tij Iginla and Gabriel Szturc, posting multi-point nights may become a common theme for him this season. 

What makes Cristall's start so impressive is not just the point total but how involved he is in the play. Of his 12 assists so far, only three are secondary assists, meaning he has either the goal or primary helper on 15 of his 18 points. He loves to have the puck on his stick and is always looking for a way to be engaged in the play. This style of play also makes him extremely hard to defend, as teams must be cautious of not just a potential shot on the net but also his ability to set up teammates for scoring chances. He is one of those players who makes everyone on the ice around him better, showing how valuable he is to the Rockets and the Capitals organization. 

One thing that may derail Cristall's 100-assist campaign is the World Juniors later this year. While he didn't attend the National Junior Team summer meetings, his play so far this season should put him in at least the conversation to make the team. While him making the team would mean missing around ten WHL games, putting the milestone potentially out of reach, it is a trade-off one would think the Rockets' forward wouldn't mind if it meant leaving Sweden with a Gold Medal around his neck. 

While it is still early in the season, Cristall has a good shot at becoming the first-ever Kelowna Rocket to take home the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy given to the WHL's Player of the Year. It is clear that he has taken his game to the next level, which is bad news for the rest of the WHL. Fans better take the opportunity to see him this year because if he continues to play like he has over the first eight games of the season, he could be ready to make the jump to the NHL as early as next year.