Anthony Cristoforo
2023-24 Workforce: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Date of Delivery: Feb. 23, 2006
Place of Delivery: Vaughan, ON, Canada
Ht: 5-foot-11 Wt: 180-pounds
Shoots: Proper
Place: Defenceman
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2024 first-year eligible
Rankings
The Windsor Spitfires drafted Anthony Cristoforo twenty second general within the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Precedence Choice. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder got here marketed as an offensive defenceman, dwelling as much as his billing straight away and ending second on the crew in defensive scoring in 2022-23 with 41 factors in 63 video games. Whereas he was thrown into the fireplace, he was in a position to make use of his skating, intelligence, and creativity to seek out open holes and construct offence for his crew. Defensively, it was a rising course of as he wasn’t bodily however confirmed stick and persistence in his personal zone. He completed sixth amongst Spitfires’ defencemen with a plus-10 score.
With a number of defencemen graduating in the summertime, the torch was handed to him in 2023-24 and he remained a little bit of a work-in-progress. Offensively, he continued his creativity, including 38 factors in 67 video games. He didn’t have the identical assist system to spice up his numbers past the rookie totals, however he was in a position to preserve related offensive totals and seemed to be extra comfy within the opponent’s zone.
Associated: THW 2024 NHL Draft Information
Defensively, Cristoforo could be hit-or-miss. He’s greater than prepared to dam each shot he can get in entrance of and, if opponents attempt to get round him, he’s good at conserving them to the perimeter along with his stick work. Regardless of the positives, there are many areas for him to work on. He hardly ever takes the physique and, when he’s guarding the online, his positioning permits gamers to get behind him. These performed an element in him having the fourth-worst plus/minus within the OHL at minus-43 (second worst on the Spitfires).
Cristoforo nonetheless has a excessive ceiling nevertheless it’s going to take numerous work and dedication to each zones to succeed in that. The offence is growing and a vivid gentle on the crew. Nonetheless, his defensive recreation has important room for enchancment. He performs a really simplistic defensive recreation however, with the correct methods and placing him into spots the place he can succeed, it might develop to the place he wants it to be.
Different THW Draft Profiles
Anthony Cristoforo – NHL Draft Projection
Final October, Cristoforo was given a B-rating by NHL Central Scouting, placing him within the second or third spherical of the draft. In the course of the mid-term rankings, he was listed a hundred and first amongst North American skaters. Within the closing rankings, he fell to 194th amongst North American skaters. Whereas he has rather a lot to work on in his personal finish, there’s sufficient potential a crew might take an opportunity on him as a diamond within the tough within the later rounds. Don’t depend him out simply but.
Quotables
“Cristoforo doesn’t possess the easy skating stride that made (Jamie) Drysdale a top-10 decide or the daring play-creating that made (Brandt) Clarke one, however he’s a well-rounded offensive defenseman who boasts sturdy edges and good skating in his personal proper, performs and defends actually laborious shift to shift, and has talent however at all times appears to make the correct choices. He performs a contemporary fashion and has what you need from a 5-foot-11 defenseman.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
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“Cristoforo is a clean skater and puckhandler from the again finish, displaying some good imaginative and prescient and confidence with the puck. He makes use of his agility and tenacity to defend in-zone, however his physicality and defensive positioning wants enchancment to defend at increased ranges. He might have the puck expertise to play on the facility play as a professional and has the potential to develop into a depth defender within the NHL.” – Ontario-based FC Hockey Scout Joseph Aleong
“…Given his talent, poise, and imaginative and prescient, I need him to command the puck. Total, Cristoforo remains to be a stable prospect due to his IQ. This can be a very good participant. Nonetheless, I do imagine that there’s some concern that he’s a kind of heady, jack-of-all-trades sorts who can have problem transitioning. I simply need to see him taking the bull by the horns to assist lead this Windsor crew out of their funk. Till I see extra “dynamic” play from him, I really feel extra assured with him ranked on this vary, reasonably than pushing for the primary spherical as I had him preseason.” – Brock Otten – Director of Scouting for McKeen’s Hockey
Strengths
- Offensive consciousness
- Intelligence
- Competitiveness
Below Development – Enhancements to Make
- Defensive consciousness
- Physicality
- Motor
NHL Potential
Cristoforo is an offensive defenceman who had a excessive ceiling when he was drafted into the OHL. Sadly, getting thrown into the highlight straight away was tough for him and it might have harm his growth. Whereas he exhibits intelligence and creativity in his offensive recreation, his defensive recreation is passive with room for enchancment. He seemingly has two extra seasons with the Spitfires to work on every little thing. If he can proceed to develop his offensive recreation whereas turning into extra aggressive and commanding in his personal zone, there’s an opportunity he might develop into a depth defenceman within the execs down the highway.
Threat-Reward Evaluation
Threat: 3.5/5, Reward: 3.5/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offence: 6/10, Defence: 5/10
Awards/Achievements
- OHL Second All-Rookie Workforce 2022-23
- U17 World Hockey Championships Silver Medal 2022-23
- Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal 2023-24