Cody McNaughton

[impact]

Is Cody going to get drafted and if so what round is he projected to go.I like Cody and think he is capable of a lot more offence than he has in his first 2 years.

[stormtrackerguy]

As a late-1992 birthdate, Cody is not NHL draft-eligible until next year (2011). He does not turn 18 by September 15, 2010, which is the requirement.

[impact]

Thanks i did not know that

[Storm Watching]

This is a big year for Cody. When he was drafted there were some comparisons made to Paille as far as potential. To date he hasn't lived up to it. Here's hoping he has a big year.

[hitek]

Can't help but weigh in here..

When Cody was drafted, he arrived right behind a draft class (or 17 year old group) that turned out to be quite a draft class, and if you looked at how many NHL drafted players we had last year, it is a tough situation to follow right behind. When Danny Paille was drafted, he was part of the draft class that I will call is equiv to Beck, Holland, Latta, Chariot.. etc..

But that being said, and having seen Cody play before he arrived here, I didn't see the Paille comparisons. Just two different players. Paille is a up and down the wing, power forward, who when teamed up with a dominant center (see Marty St Pierre) can be a great asset on the wing.

Cody is much more an overall player, more a center than a winger, can be a force on the penalty kill, and has not
really had the opportunity on the Power Play, so hard to say. What Cody is, is a player that gives you absolutely everything
he has, every shift. He is a guy, who is under 6 feet, but plays like he is 6 foot 6. If I was picking an NHL type player to say, he is more like this guy.. It would be Wendle Clark, as apposed to Danny Paille.

Cody is a what I call a full throttle hockey player. You put him on the ice, and put the gas peddle to floor and away he goes..

In many ways I think it is good that Cody has a late birthday and gets another year before getting exposed to the NHL daft.
Look at the guys last year, and again this year that got that extra year to develop. I will give you a good example, had Taylor Beck had the late birthday and then had the year he just had and was entering the draft, would be be around to be picked in the 3rd round. Answer, not a chance. He would have went in the 1st round.

I also think that kids drafted in their 2nd last year of OHL eligibility, get that last year of junior under their belt before
turning pro, and in the long term really helps their development. Jumping in to the AHL, or ECHL or Europe at
20 years old, if a big step up. Your suddenly playing with Men that are a few years older than you are. Some make the
adjustment, but most have a tough time.

So for me, I think you will see Cody have a breakout year this year, he will be in a better position to be drafted next year
and given the crop of players just ahead of him, I think he is developing quite nicely. But I do not see him ever being a Danny Paille type player, and honestly, never have.

[hockeydog]

I agree with you Hitek, however, if Cody is to blossom, he has to be allowed more freedom to use his strengths. I certainly agree with your comparison to Wendel Clarke and if he's allowed to be himself, you will see all kinds of clean and hard hitting forechecking, something the team lacked this past season. I also think he will be a much more disciplined player if he is given more latitude and ice time. I was actually told by an informed source he was instructed not to use the body as much.