Okay, so get this: Cooper Williams, the guy Toronto drafted way back in the fifth round this past summer at 158th overall, is absolutely on fire right now. We’re only seven games into his draft+1 season in the WHL, and he has points in *every single one* of them. Yeah, you heard that right, points in all seven games. It’s an absolute heater, and honestly, who saw this coming?
From “Whelmed” to Blown Away: Williams’ Explosive Start
Williams is not just putting up points, he’s stacking them. He’s got more games with multiple points than he does with just one. We’re talking 4 goals and a ridiculous 12 total points in just 7 games. That pace? It’s double what he put up last season, and it’s got him tied for third in the entire WHL. If he could keep this up all season, it would be a major offensive breakout. I mean, the writer doesn’t think he’ll maintain *this* exact pace, but expects him to finish higher than last year. Why the sudden surge? Part of it is playing time, big time. He’s rocking it as Saskatoon’s top-line center at even strength, surrounded by other offensive leaders. His wingers alone have 12 points, so he’s clearly in a prime spot to produce.
The Fifth-Round Pick Who Almost Was A First-Rounder
So why is this so wild? Because when Williams was drafted, it wasn’t exactly earth-shattering news. Honestly, the initial vibe was “whelmed,” maybe leaning a little positive, but nothing crazy. The dude actually had late first-round consideration at the *start* of his draft year. But then his draft stock just kept slipping all season. He didn’t seem to improve much from the previous year, when he looked like a higher-tier prospect in the WHL. So he fell, all the way to the fifth round, despite entering the season as a consensus first-rounder in some circles.
What did scouts see before the draft? Good defensive details, sweet playmaking vision, and surprisingly effective around the net, both generating and finishing chances. Solid stuff, right? But then there were the red flags: concerns about his size, whether he could handle physical pressure, and issues with both his skating and his overall pace of play. It made sense why his stock took a hit. It took a bit for firm impressions to form this season, too. The writer even waited an extra two weeks on Williams compared to another prospect, Pepoy, just to make sure he was seeing the real deal, not just a player feasting on younger, less-talented competition before NHL training camp cuts returned. But seven games in, and it’s clear Williams is making us all sit up and pay attention.
The big question now is if Williams can keep anywhere near this pace. Will the numbers slow down, or is this the real Cooper Williams finally breaking out? It’s going to be wild to watch how this season unfolds for him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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