The 2024-25 season is well over halfway through, giving the Recruit Scouting team plenty of time to build a substantial list of 2025 NHL Draft-eligible players to watch. It’s a surprisingly shallow class, headlined by three fantastic star prospects leading a first-round that quickly tames down. Teams in need of depth forwards or projectable, but one-dimensional, defense will have a heyday – while those in need of a breakaway star might need to take longshots in the middle rounds.
In this year’s first iteration of my draft guide, we’ll take the focus away from ranking players one-by-one – and instead assign each player a Grade and projected Draft Range. There’s a certain contrivance behind rankings that puts comparing players into a binary – a left-winger two spots higher than a right-defense has to be better, because he’s higher ranked, right? Using a grade system will help us undercut that binary, with the idea that each “grade tier” represents a range of players all on, about, the same level – and that deciding between players in the same tier comes down to personal preference and stylistic choice.
These grades are rooted in a database spanning the last six draft classes, meaning the ranges aren’t entirely precise in this year. Here’s the full distribution, to provide a clearer visual of where everyone lands:
One final contingency – these grades are not a predictor of where each player will hear their name called, but rather where their draft value lies based on my assessment. Players are also not listed in order in their tiers, so don’t focus on who’s above who. For more in-depth player breakdowns, league coverage, and extensions of these grades – follow me on Twitter/X (@NHLFoley). With all of that out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff!
Click here to jump straight to a full-table view!
2025 NHL Draft Player Grades and Scouting Reports
| S (Top 3) |
| Michael Misa, C SAGINAW (OHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: S, Range: Top 3 | Michael Misa is this year’s quintessential superstar. He’s a big, bulky forward who thrives in all regards. His skating is powerful and fundamentally great. His stickhandling is sharp and fast, and he’s impossible to knock off the puck when he’s gained possession. If there is a play on the puck, Misa is going to be involved – and very often, going to be the one coming out with the puck on his stick. Misa is physical and determined, and wears his heart on his sleeve with every shift. The physical presence and drive he brings to every shift are infectious. He can change the pace of a game with a big hit, hard battle win, or dazzling goal… or can suck out the energy with dumb penalties or by overcommitting to plays. Either way, you’re getting an extreme player in Misa. This is a player who can drive downhill, who hits hard and has an edge to his physical game, who brings an unprecedented energy to the lineup – and he’s been a generational juniors league scorer to boot. I have very, very little doubt that Misa has superstardom ahead of him. |
| James Hagens, C BOSTON COLLEGE (H-EAST) Style: Playmaker | Grade: S, Range: Top 3 | No player defines cerebral hockey more than James Hagens. His awareness is in another stratosphere. He is acutely aware of his own positioning, the location of all of his linemates, and the lanes through opponents at all time. That wouldn’t say much, if Hagens didn’t also have elite puck skills and drive to compliment it. Watch him close – he never puts his head down, and is able to weave through the tightest spaces between defenders and find incredible passing lanes because of it. Hagens is also tireless in attacking the net, and very quick to recover from any plays that he can’t make work on the first try. I have a distinct memory of watching a 16-year-old Hagens outplay an entire Chicago Steel development camp (while joining brother Michael for summer skating), largely thanks to his willingness and ability to play through contact, even in the low-slot. That determination, and his skill around it, has grown exponentially in the years since. Hagens is a beautifully well-rounded, incredibly capable center. He should play NHL games next season. And, unless the top team is desperate for defense, there’s no reason he shouldn’t go #1. |
| Matthew Schaefer, LHD ERIE (OHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: S, Range: Top 3 | Very few defenders look as consistent and complete as Schaefer has at the age of 18. He is an incredibly active and engaged defender who holds closely to his spot, relying on strong positioning and to lead him to plays on the puck. Schaefer never falters when he gets a chance to make a play, keeping his stick out and taking full advantage of his long reach to wrap up defenders and steal pucks away. You can trust him fully when he gets the puck on his stick, not only to control possession and find his teammates – but to carry it end-to-end, using strong, long strides and heads-up stickhandling to break down lanes and fight his way to the net. He’s a capable playmaker when he doesn’t have a clear lane, but Schaefer’s shot feels like his real X-factor. There’s no distance or angle in the offensive end that Schaefer can’t score from with how strong and accurate his wrister is. He looks every bit the prototype of a Makar, Carlson, or Theodore – with the defensive accumen to back his offensive jump. Schaefer broke his collar bone at the World Juniors, but should return this season. He’ll make a serious run for #1 when he does. |
| A+ (Top 10) |
| Victor Eklund, RW DJURGARDEN (SWEDEN-2) Style: Sniper | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Eklund entered this year as a star, but he’s still winning the title of biggest riser. He’s strong across the board. Not the biggest frame, but he doesn’t hesitate to engage physically at all. He throws hits and cuts into defenders to gain space – both helped out by a strong posture and fundamentally great skating. He’s true to his position while knowing how to push the boundaries. And his on-puck play is second-to-none. Eklund is sharp and elusive. He shows a very keen understanding of where the open space is, and how to slink his way there with the puck at his hip. His shot rips, and has far more oomph than you’d expect from a player his size. There are reasonable concerns about his size or skill translating – but Eklund has looked fantastic in hard pro minutes this season. He’s a personal favorite – and if he falls out of the top echelon of this draft, he’ll be a steal. |
| Porter Martone, RW BRAMPTON (OHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Porter Martone works as hard as you can ask a prospect to at this age. He packs a ton of power and grit into his playing style, while still having the light-foot agility and nifty puck-control that you’d expect from a player in his frame. Martone fills his role in every area of the ice and thrives at corraling possession from puck battles. He uses his teammates to good effect and doesn’t often try to force plays or do things on his own – even despite his stickhandling and stocky frame giving him the ability to do so. When Martone does drive play on his own, he always finds a way into the low-slot and has the awareness to make strong plays and score goals in tight. But for all of the drive and direction that Martone brings, he doesn’t overwhelm plays in the same way as this year’s top grades. He’s subject to falling out of play, or just filling a role, when he’s too far away from the puck. Martone is talented enough to make a big impact when he makes any impact, but that’s not always guaranteed – bumping him into perhaps a lower category than some other scouts would prefer. |
| Anton Frondell, C DJURGARDEN (SWEDEN-2) Style: Sniper | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Anton Frondell is among the most physically gifted in the class. I have no doubt that he has the willingness and ability to engage physically at a pro level, which is a proud statement given just how smooth his skating and puckhandling are. Perhaps no player in this class – sans Misa – have a better understanding of how to create and utilize open space on the puck. Frondell doesn’t dive into plays in the defensive end, but holds his role just enough to win possession – and doesn’t give up the puck once he has it north of the blue line. He breaks down the wings with pace and does a fantastic job of recognizing and exploiting open lanes – or cutting up and using the blue-line to wait for support – when he gains the offensive zone. He has the dekes needed to beat opponents head-on, both in full stride and with flat feet, and an absolutely killer shot that he uses to good effect even from the flanks. The issue? Injuries. Frondell has been totally derailed because he can’t stay on the ice. A strong, healthy draft year could’ve pushed him into the convo for #1 – he’s truly that dominant on the puck – but an inability to stay on the ice long enough to find consistency is really hurting him. |
| Jake O’Brien, C BRANTFORD (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | A great playmaker. Steps up to the puck and engages opponents well defensively, knows how to fill his role on the breakout, and generally gets the puck up ice well. Comes to life in the O-zone, where O’Brien really excels at controlling play on the outside and finding nifty lanes into the middle. He’s a passer, and often needs support from his teammates to finish plays – but few players in this class make more high-danger passes. Getting the puck to the middle of the ice is everything, and O’Brien does that well. If you can give him a bit more jump, and teach him to stop conserving so much energy away from the puck, he has a strong projection as a middle-six center. |
| Brady Martin, C SAULT STE. MARIE (OHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Martin is everything he’s made out to be. He is a dilligent, smart, high-impact forward who makes good plays on the back of a keen understanding of where to go and how to get there. He drives hard into the ice in sprints and hits through plays, even in indirect contact. He’s stronger than he looks, and has the ability to fill roles from aggressive forechecker to the third-man-high with grace and control. Neither Martin’s on-puck ability nor his offensive creation are particularly exciting, and he can look a bit slow or unengaged when he’s too far away from play. But he’s processing, and I expect he’ll only keep up with play better as his mental gets sharper. It’s hard not to see Martin on a clear path to pro games. That’ll warrant a high pick, even if his scoring ceiling or flash are as high as his peers. |
| Shane Vansaghi, RW MICHIGAN STATE (BIG10) Style: Power Forward | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Vansaghi is a workhorse. He barrels around the ice with powerful strides and heavy shoulders, and uses that ability to plow through opponents on his way to the low-slot. He isn’t going to seek out possession or plays like some players, but Vansaghi is strong on and off the puck. He dominates the slot. He’s always down and ready, and is capable of making an impact in from the blue line to the corner. There’s a ton to say about Vansaghi’s ability to both head coaching, and lead his lineup. He’s a utility player at its finest – with great size and well-rounded skills; and the ability to make a noticeable impact even if it’s not on the scoresheet. I’ve been a major fan of Vansaghi’s since he led the STL Blues 18U club as an underaged center. He’s only continued that lead ever since, and I have little doubt he’ll be a fine pro one day. |
| Caleb Desnoyers, C MONCTON (QMJHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A+, Range: Top 10 | Desnoyers is cool, calm, and collected in all three zones. He scans play incredibly well and knows when and how to insert himself without overcommitting or getting caught up. That leaves him a bit inactive, or observing, at times – but when Desnoyers gets involved, he’s hard to beat. He’s a physical and strong centerman with a great stick and strong instinct for using his body to protect the puck. He has great wheels and gets to a good-not-great top speed quickly. He never puts his head down, and makes strong passes and hard shots because of it. Desnoyers is far from the overwhelming scorer that many of his peers at the top of this class are – and many have docked him because of it. But he’s shown the responsibility and instinct to make good plays, every shift, in all three zones. He’s a facilitator at its truest – and deserves a high selection because of it. |
| A (Top 30) |
| Jack Nesbitt, C WINDSOR (OHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | A sturdy forward who stays down and ready to jump at any moment. He disrupts opponents and moves the puck quickly, making him a great release valve at the top of the forecheck. He gets himself into a spot to make a difference, keeps a clear head in traffic, and makes the small, dirty plays very well. His passes are hard enough to beat defenders’ sticks, and clean to the tape. But his creativity and playdriving on the puck hasn’t been the most inspiring. He makes enough of a tangible impact, and brings enough size, to make a spark despite that – but I could see it limiting his upside down the road. |
| Bill Zonnon, RW ROUYN-NORANDA (QMJHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Zonnon is a very prototypical playmaking center. He fills the middle-lane beautifully from slot-to-slot. He stays an open and active option in the middle of the ice, and has the quick stickhandling to beat opponents one-on-one and, when he can’t, the quick passing to find a teammate. Zonnon makes strong decisions quickly and cuts out a lot of open space around opponents. He’s smart, fundamental, and effective. While many players with his style may struggle to translate that into a pronounced style, Zonnon’s ability to instill pace and fill all three roles on the forecheck make versatility his best asset. He looks every bit like a reliable, middle-of-the-lineup, special-teams commander at the pro level. |
| Henry Brzustewicz, RHD LONDON (OHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Brzstuweicz has a sure-built frame. He’s stocky and strong, with good skating under him. He’s a great defensive mind, and knows how to position himself strategically to limit access to the slot. His physicality is great and he’s got a strong stick. Those traits alone hook me, but Brzstuweicz adds to them with a great jump and puckhandling ability. He gets to loose pucks quick and makes strong passes. When he can’t, Brzstuweicz is completely capable of driving the puck downhill fast. He has an eye for making strong first-passes in the offensive end and patrols the blue-line well enough. A boomer slapshot too. He’s a bit old guard, but Brzustewicz’s projection is strong. |
| Malcolm Spence, LW ERIE (OHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | No player in this class gets as involved as Spence does. He’s a stout but strong winger with the skating, heft, and keen positional awareness to force his way into any play. He makes strong plays in-tight, has a laser shot when he’s left too open, and plays a great physical game for his size. He racks up incredible scoring on the back of hard work and dirty plays. It’s commendable. To boot, I’ve always felt like Spence has a hidden offensive gear that could really make him pop. Spence hasn’t developed into any one style, to a bit of a fault. But he’s a tireless worker, with above-average skills nearly across the board. |
| Roger McQueen, C BRANDON (WHL) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | McQueen is a star propsect. He’s dazzling on the puck, with great elusiveness that lets him beat defenders both in-stride and flat-footed. His shot is as hard as you could want – and he unleashes it from all over the offensive end. When it comes to puck control and scoring, Mcquene is hard to second-guess. But he’s faced constant injury issues, roams positionless around the ice, and is generally a bit of a firecracker. There are some really phenomenal traits here, but a drafting team would need to know how to really challenge him – and hope for an upswing in health. The star will be McQueen’s limit if he gets strong development – but that’s what’ll be required. |
| Carter Amico, RHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Amico is a fantastic shutdown defender. He patrols the blue line, slot, and corners with confidence – using a strong stick, great physicality, and a clear strength advantage to beat players in all three spots. Amico is great on the puck after he knocks it loose, with not only the puckhandling and passing to make clean breakouts but also the calm poise to do it under pressure. Amico suffered a leg injury that required surgery early into the season – unfortunately. He’s in line to return before his freshman year at Boston University. I’ll be watching close when he does. This is a first-round talent who had his most important development year cut short – but he seems to have the mindset to perservere through it. |
| Cullen Potter, C ARIZONA STATE (NCHC) Style: Sniper | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Potter is among the most skilled on the puck in this draft class. He is incredibly dynamic, sees the ice well, and has the sharp stickhandling and skating needed to make flashy plays around opponents. His shot is superb and pinpoint accurate, and he does well at finding the space to unleash it in the circles. Potter was a top scorer at the juniors flight because of his puck-skills, but he’s struggled to get into the middle lane or finish in the low-slot in college. That’s largely thanks to a very slight and small frame – but I’ll emphasize that he’s improved in both regards as the year has gone on. That growth is enough for me to stay high on one of the best raw toolsets in the class. Gold medal legacy doesn’t hurt either. |
| William Horcoff, C MICHIGAN (BIG10) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Horcoff, like everyone else on his team, had a slow start to the season. But he’s come alive in college, fully returning to his knack for hunting down plays. He’s a stocky forward with the long stride and heft to force his way into position on the back post or in the low slot. He sees the ice very well and makes hard, confident passes – though he’s found himself sticking to the boards and blue-lines a bit more in college. Horcoff’s size and long reach also help him plenty on defense, and he hasn’t shied away from any physicality despite a tough, mid-season jump to college. Horcoff was a dazzling playmaker in youth hockey… part of that was his size advantage, but I’m sure he has more mid-slot playmaking in store. That could give him great upside and power-forward style, but even without it his frame and style lend themselves to great upside. |
| Braeden Cootes, C SEATTLE (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Cootes is a smooth-moving playmaker who fills the middle-lane diligently. He picks up his legs and skates hard. He’s incredibly smart, too – with a keen understanding of how to position himself to jam up the lanes and get in the way of opponents. He’s not particularly physical but doesn’t shy away from contact. He makes up for it by always seeking out chances to make a play, and keeping an active stick. Cootes moves fast when his team gains possession. His stickhandling is smooth and strong, even at top speeds, and he makes quick and controlled passes. Cootes’ smarts keep up in the offensive end. He can fill all three layers, works into the cycle, crashes the net, makes quick shots. Cootes is not an overwhelming talent, and his lack of a real physical edge will make growing into pros an uphill battle. But he’s hard-headed and seeks out impacts. A fine prospect to leave day one with. |
| Cameron Reid, LHD KITCHENER (OHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Reid reads the ice beautifully. He very clearly thinks a few steps in advance and has the tools to generally impact any sort of play. He has a built out frame and is improving his ability to engage physically every game. He seeks out the puck and takes the time to create separation before making decisions or breaking up the wing. But he’s absolutely capable of both – with strong passing, a quick first-step, and the shiftiness to play against defending opponents. He’s very cerebral in an impressive way. But always thinking can hold Reid back from jumping into play, or leave him susceptible to being caught off-guard. He also still plays a bit undersized, even if his frame is catching up to the rest of his peers. Reid has a hard drive, is a leader in the locker room, and does well at gathering the puck and doing something with it. Needs to work out of some young habits but his upside is seriously, seriously good. |
| Cole Reschny, C VICTORIA (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Reschny is among the fastest players in this class. He’s got light feet and great edges, and uses ’em to apply constant pressure on defense. He’s got a slim frame that keeps him from getting too physical, but he makes up for it with a great ability to check sticks and strip the puck. He makes plays lightning fast after knocking the puck loose – always aware of where teammates are and how to get them the puck. Strong stickhandling, a great ability to work into space, acceptable finishing. Reschny is sharp when he gets a chance to make a play – but he sit as the third-man-in more often than I’d like. It’s in the name of responsibility and diligent two-way, but it can leave Reschny a bit unengaged. That’ll have to go before he can adapt to pros. If Reschny can become a bit more physical, and find a ramp in his development as he matures his style… he could have serious upside as a top-six playmaker. |
| Radim Mrtka, RHD SEATTLE (WHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Mrtka has had an interesting year. He’s first and foremost a practical and strong puck-moving defender. He gets to loose pucks quick and shows off impressive stickhandling and passing to push possession up the ice. Even in a tall and lanky frame, Mrtka has the full strides and quick first step to keep up with his forwards. But – perhaps thanks to some awkward edgework and agility – he holds to his position well, really serving the role of back-end quarterback to good success. But for all of his positives on the offensive side of the puck, I’ve been a bit let down by how Mrtka engages on the defensive side. He’s struggled at stopping opponents at the blue-line in the WHL, and doesn’t pick up opponents in the slot or engage physically nearly enough. He’ll need a good boost of size and weight to reach a pro frame, but his on-puck ability, support of the rush, and offensive instinct are all strong enough to support his path to pro hockey. |
| Lynden Lakovic, LW MOOSE JAW (WHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Lakovic is a stocky winger who fills his position and has a sneaky ability to pull the ripcord, and quickly get up to speed when everything lines up. He’s a smooth, powerful skater with a sharp physical edge with and without the puck, helping him drive through opponents and get into the slot with control. He supports the breakout and break-in well from the flanks and finds his teammates with clean passes. I think it’s important to emphasize that Lakovic never seems like a negative on the ice. He can be prone to floating around the zone when play slows down, but he gets to his spots and makes plays when he needs to. But his overall explosivity could use some work. He has great moments, but they can be few and far between. But he has a strong shot and finishing ability that helps him get through the lulls. I’d say that “never bad, sometimes great” speaks to great future upside, but every scout will have their own thought on his chances of getting there. |
| Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD BARRIE (OHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Aitcheson is the firecracker of this year’s draft. He’s bulky and physical, but also incredibly explosive and instinctive. He jumps at opportunity and has the smarts to make a big impact play anywhere on the ice. He lays big hits, he makes hard passes, he can break down the wing in a flash, and his slapshot is a howitzer. Those traits alongside Aitcheson’s physical edge are really exciting, even if he doesn’t look as strong as his frame would suggest just yet. But his hot moments, he can cool down just as much – and it’s noticeable when he does. He needs to lock into games more consistently… find that hard drive 24/7. That’s absolutely a trait that comes with time – and thus irrelevant to gauge at this age. Aitcheson looks like a star when he’s at his very best – if you think he can find a way to do it all the time, he’d be hard not to take early. But that’s a personal bet, and there’s no denying his path to a pro role could be longer than others. |
| Logan Hensler, RHD WISCONSIN (BIG10) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Few defenders in this class can get the puck up the ice as well as Logan Hensler. He’s smart away from the puck and strong on it, making good plays to close the gap with opponents and force turnovers – then using a great jump, quick stickhandling, and a high top speed to burst up the ice quick. But he’s not the north-south driver that you’d expect with that backing. Hensler is deliberate with his rushes, and knows how to gain the blue then cut into space in the middle, or dip low to create extra time. That patience makes him a great playmaker, but he has the drive to the net and in-tight finishing to expose opponents that over-respect the pass. Hensler is still clearly a young prospect. He’s improving his ability to hold the blue line, and can still get noticeably rattled after a string of bad shifts. But his talent is up there with the best, and his offensive burst is rooted in fundamental defense. He’s a raw, young package with a whole lot of upside. One knock – his size and physicality could certainly use a boost. |
| Carter Bear, LW EVERETT (WHL) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | The ice is tilted towards the net for Carter Bear. He’s a strong, physical forward who drives downhil hard, despite what his athletic frame might suggest. He protects the puck well and maintains his possession and speed through contact. His nose for the net is relentless. But Bear’s drive makes it hard for him to slow down and play a comprehensive side-to-side game, or engage him teammates with consistency. He’s talented enough to play through those weaknesses, but he’ll need to learn to control his pace before they become glaring. A lot praise his tenacity and drive towards the net – and there’s a lot to be said when those are the traits leading you to great points. He’s seemed a bit too north-south to me, but he’s a fan favorite elsewhere. |
| Bruno Idzan, LW LINCOLN (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Idzan has been a revelation in the USHL. He’s become an absolute workhorse. He is fast, skates hard, and works tirelessly. Idzan routinely puts himself in great spots to make a play, and sparks the breakout and drive downhill as well as any. He makes smart decisions with the puck and has a nose for finishing in the low-slot. Engages physically very well to boot, though he’s not the strongest in the bunch. Still, Idzan makes things happen in all three zones. I’d have a hard time moving him off my top line if I were his coach. |
| Blake Fiddler, RHD EDMONTON (WHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Fiddler is a heavy, smooth-moving defender. He’s at his best in the upper-third of the defensive end, where he uses strong hands and clear vision to push the puck up the ice – or quick bursts of speed to get by pressuring opponents and join the rush. Fiddler’s instinctive and effective, sees lanes to and in the offensive zone very well, makes hard passes, and works with his linemates well. He’s also a great physical presence, helping support him in the low-slot and corners where his instinct lacks a bit. But he turns like a tugboat, and allows opponents behind him far more than you’d want from a high-end pick. His physicality, skating, and puck-handling create a great, very complimentary package – but he’s still learning to pull it all together. Fiddler’s a leader and a learner – and I’d have a tough time letting him slide too far down the draft board – but a hopeful team will need to have a development plan in place to get most out of what is a very projectable, but very fragile, style. |
| Tomas Pobezal, C NITRA (SLOVAKIA) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Pobezal is a stocky forward who is always in the right spot. He fills a lot of different roles, holds true to his position no matter where he’s assigned, and gets under opponents’ skin. Pobezal doesn’t move with much quickness, but he’s persistent. His stickhandling is strong and he fills his lane on the rush. I also love his grit – Pobezal may not be the quickest, but he gets under skin well. That overall responsibility leads him to a lot of natural scoring, even in a pro setting. Pobezal lacks the jump and creativity to do it all himself, but he’s a smart player who is already making an impact in all three zones of a top league. I expect he’ll be a draft day steal with how low he may fall. |
| Semyon Frolov, G LADA (RUSSIA) Style: Athlete | Grade: A, Range: Top 30 | Frolov is a crisp and athletic goaltender. His movements are sharp and clean. His legs and hands both move quick. He’s a more controlled and athletic mover than nearly all in his age class – but Frolov’s eye is his best asset. He stays incredibly focused on the puck, tracking through traffic with ease up close and at a distance. It gives him a clear mind when handling rebounds, which he allows a bit more frequently than I’d like. You can trust Frolov to make the first, second, and third save – his movements are too sharp, clean, and inteentional – but allowing bounces can make him weak to flurry shots in the low-slot. That’s the only negative I’d point out, and it’s one I feel he can overcome. Once he does, he’ll be a special athlete and sharp mind with high-end pro upside. |
| A- (Top 50) |
| Benjamin Kindel, C CALGARY (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Kindel is among the most compelling players in the draft class. He’s shown above-average talent across the board, with a sturdy frame and smooth skating helping him fill every responsibility of the center role. He’s engaged in the defensive end and steps up to opponents well. He gets on the puck and – on top of just filling his role on the breakout – can really drive play quick with a seriously great passing ability. Kindel is prone to being the third-man-in on a rush thanks to a lacking top speed, but he still makes sure to make an impact – getting into open space or supporting puck battles with great diligence. Kindel is a strong playmaker with a knack for getting involved – but his toolset is more silver than platinum. He’s missing a defining piece, or clear path to the top echelon. That isn’t a problem – he’s clearly well-rounded enough to be a great player – but it may require a longer development path and more muscle to get him into an everyday pro role. |
| Vaclav Nestrasil, RW MUSKEGON (USHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | A powerful winger who has the heavy shoulders to plow into his spot, with or without the puck. His shot is hard, and he keeps his head up to find teammates with the puck and respond to shifts in play. He can be caught flat-footed, especially weak-side, quite often – but his direction and power are both great traits to buy. A player whose biggest growth is well ahead of him. |
| Topias Hynninen, LW KALPA (FINLAND) Style: Grinder | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Hynninen was on the fringe of my First Round last year. He’s returned to that spot with a smash season in Finland’s Liiga. A great, great role player – who excels at stepping up on opponents, getting to and exploiting open ice, and cohesively working with his linemates. All thanks to some great skating, an always-ready style, and a strong drive through traffic. Hynninen ain’t gonna be the player to carry the team on his back – but he is absolutely an all-situations workhorse with the right linemates. His ability to make an impact every shift makes him an early pick. |
| Luca Romano, C KITCHENER (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Of the many high-energy, downhill centermen in this class – Romano does it best. He picks his legs up and drives down the ice hard. His ability to receive and control the puck in stride is great, and he does well at working with his wingers to get downhill. Romano is true to his position, and fills the role of a center on the breakout and any role on the forecheck. He’s certainly not the player to pick if you’re looking for board-to-board control, but Romano controls the middle lane as well as anyone – and looks to be on a great development track because of it. |
| Joshua Ravensbergen, G PRINCE GEORGE (WHL) Style: Commander | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Ravensbergen has the size and fundamentals to develop well into a pro opportunity. He’s mroe stand up than many defenders in this class, but gets to each point of the crease quickly – and takes in shots cleanly. He covers his corners and handles rebounds well, so long as he’s not beaten with a stretching cross-crease. Ravensbergen isn’t the flashiest, though. Many of his movements and saves feel just a bit unrefined – and he can fall victim to getting beat by strong shots or flashy dekes because of it. Perhaps that’ll be his Achille’s heel one day, but it’s hard to not see the projectability in Ravensbergen’s frame. |
| Eddie Genborg, LW LINKOPING JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Grinder | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Grenborg is a sharp, hard-working forward. He has an eye for where the play is and drives hard to get there. Sometimes that means winding out of position, and sometimes his bets are wrong – but his drive to get engaged is impressive. He gets to the slot, he fights to hold space, he’s strong on the puck and finds space on the boards, his passing is clean. None of his style is overly strong, sharp, or fine – but Grenborg works to make a difference every shift. He seems to have the drive, fundmentals, and IQ to really make an impact. I may even consider him late on Day One. |
| Cole Mckinney, C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | McKinney is a tireless forward. He patrols the neutral zone very well. Gets to loose pucks quick and controls them easily, thanks to some solid heads-up stickhandling. His ability to drive down the lane and rip dangerous shots has always been his hallmark, but he’s added a strong ability to control play east-to-west play during his time with the NTDP. That’s perhaps taken away from his offensive upside a bit, but McKinney is far from boring. He fills his role and makes plays all over the ice. And his dedication to training and practice are commendable. He’ll be an exciting bet for a team looking to give their development team a moldable talent. |
| Max Westergard, LW FROLUNDA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Sniper | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Westergard’s a fun one. He’s a relentless sniper, but skates like he’s trudging through quicksand. He attacks sticks well, and has generally excelled at forcing turnovers and gaining possession from them. He controls the puck and utilizes teammates well, but can get left behind in quick rushes up the ice b/c of his lacking speed. Still, few prospects this year are as dominant in the offensive end. Westergard finds space and doesn’t miss his chances. Has a fantastic, very accurate shot. And he’s physical… not enough to seek out big hits, but enough to play through contact in the slot. Could be a seriously good scorer if he finds a bit more jump in the pros. |
| Sascha Boumedienne, LHD BOSTON UNIVERSITY (H-EAST) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Boumedienne is a crafty and technical defenders. He keeps his knees bent and jumps quickly at any chance to poke a puck loose or cut into opponents’ space. He’s confident on the puck and makes quick passes. He makes creative plays off the blue line and finds teammates in the slot very well. But his movements aren’t particularly refined, and he can get caught pulled out of position or beat by sharper thinking. He had a slow start in college, but has looked a bit quicker and a bit sharper since the year turned over. He’ll need to continue growing to hit, but has a great ceiling as a snappy and effective defender in all three zones. |
| Aleksei Medvedev, G LONDON (OHL) Style: Technician | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Medvedev makes every single save the same way. From the first shot to the last, far out or in tight, he approaches every save with poise and very deliberate movements. He’s not overwhelmingly quick, but he’s not overwhlemingly sharp. He fits well into that technician style, clearly aware of the tools he has and how to make strong saves with them. He doesn’t try to hard, or push out too far – and is able to maintain his mental very well because of it. When it comes to cool, calm, and collected – Medvedev is the guy this year. He’s been a stunning addition to a strong London lineup. So long as he stays tempered, I can’t wait to see how he handles the pros. |
| Justin Carbonneau, RW BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND (QMJHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Carbonneau is a possession hog with a great frame. He’s strong and fluid, with long strides and clean movements in-tight. He seeks out the puck, makes strong stick plays to win it, and thrives at breaking up the ice with speed. But he can struggle to do much with the fast breaks he creates, especially if it requires breaking into the slot through a wall of defenders. For a player his size, Carbonneau isn’t confidently physical – though he does seem to have the strength to take on those traits. His defensive positioning and ability to gain space off the puck also both need some major honing. But he’s an instinctive centerman and great play-driver. In a frame this stout, those are great traits to buy. |
| Charlie Trethewey, RHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Trethewey has struggled to bring his game-breaking transition from AAA to juniors hockey, but he still excels at working the puck from blue-to-blue. He’s a diligent, pass-heavy defender who controls the outer flanks very well, but struggles to create when play slows down in either in. That lack of creativity has left many wanting more, but Trethewey’s control over transition has done a lot to boost his stock. He still supports the break-out, break-in, and regroup with precision – and he knows how to let his forwards do the heavy lifting in moving up the ice. He’s lost some aggression over the last two years, but still seems to have clear upside as a diligent puck-mover who partners with his linemates and keeps hold of possession for his side. |
| Cameron Schmidt, RW VANCOUVER (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | There are very few players in this class with the game-breaking ability of Cam Schmidt. He fills his role and holds his spot fine enough – no better or worse than any average player – but Schmidt sits off of the puck like a snake in the weeds. When he sees a chance to drive through the stick and steal possession, or jump on a loose puck, Schmidt explodes. His first step is great. The type of player to be past the red-line before defenders have a chance to turn around. He sets up tons of scoring chances because of it – and he’s got enough burst, puck-handling, and awareness to translate it to the pros. The question will be if that one layer is enough to build a top prospect. |
| Conrad Fondrk, C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | A smooth-moving centerman that’s always facing the puck and ready to jump in. Fondrk wins possession and makes plays in-tight. His hands are great and he finds teammates and passes incredibly quickly. Fondrk has also always been a stellar play-driver. He doesn’t get knocked off the puck easily, and can fight for space to drive down any of the three lanes. He’s responsible and impactful in both ends, but has slowly lost a spark for high-level offense that was there in AAA. He just doesn’t get many chances to make creative plays. I have a deep sense that Fondrk is diligent enough in-tight to really be a great slot-patroller one day, but I’ll admit it’s shaky ground to bet on – though his floor still looks like an impactful bottom-of-the-lineup role guy. |
| Jackson Smith, LHD TRI-CITY (WHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Smith is a very active defender. He constantly looks for a play to make and seeks out ways to get on the puck. His stickhandling is strong, he drives down the ice with pace, and he keeps his head up to find teammates well. He has good size and very quick skating, helping him get around both zones quick – or get back into spot after an aggressive push. But he has a bad tendency for forcing plays at both blue lines, and getting beat with small things when he tries to defend entry into the slot. Smith is an exciting and impactful offensive defenseman, with the accumen to find ways onto the puck in the defensive end. But he’ll need to be brought back to earth and rooted in more fundamentals to keep that excitement through the next step. |
| Luka Radivojevic, RHD MUSKEGON (USHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Luka Radivojevic is an incredibly impressive play-driver on the back-end. He has fundamentally strong and naturally very quick skating. That matches with fantastic stickhandling and puck control (even at top speeds) and a keen instinct for how to drive into open space on the flanks. He’s a one-man transition and tracks his teammates in the middle lane very well to make sure he actually does something with the pace he creates. Radivojevic will face some tough uphill battles in improving his ability to defend the slot and holding true to the blue-line or high-deployment in the offensive end. But he plays through phsyicality well, has a sharp shot, and generally creates offense as well as anyone his age. It’s a sharp package that should stand out enoguh to develop into a strong pro – so long as he can ovrecome a small frame. |
| Ryker Lee, RW MADISON (USHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Lee is a bruting sniper. He’s hefty and carries his weight in his shoulders, giving him a great downhill drive and ability to plow his way into space. He receives passes well and gets the puck off of his stick quickly. Absolutely great shot too – tons of power… a shot that’s accurate because it’s hard. He’s a bit disengaged outside of the offensive zone, but jumps quick on loose pucks and has formed a fantastic relationship with puck-moving center Mason Moe to establish a strong ability to get the puck out of the zone when it comes up to him. Lee is a bit one-note – or, two-note if you count his physical presence – but his ability to sense pressure and utilize his linemates has made him dangerous. I’m confident his style will project, and his frame should lend itself well to pro upside. |
| Kirill Yemelyanov, C YAROSLAVL JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Yemelyanov is a diligent playmaker with a great eye for lanes in the offensive end. He controls the bottom third – behind the net and in the low-slot – incredibly well for a player as skinny as he is. That’s thanks to a lanky frame, long reach, and very quick feet. Yemelyanov jumps towards play and engages the body quick. He’s feisty and gets under opponents’ skin – and makes decisions with the puck quick. That doesn’t always mean quick passes, though – Yemelyanov is also a practician of patience, and makes very creative and unexpected plays well. He’s far from inspiring away from the puck, but how well he gets to and holds his position, and how feisty he is away from the puck, command a lot of respect. He seems to have the nose for dirty plays that he’ll need to adjust to NA ice. |
| Anthony Allain Samake, LHD SIOUX CITY (USHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Allain-Samake is a tremendous puckhandler, with a sharp understanding of how to use his handles and physicality to create space on the perimeter of the offensive zone. He’s energetic on the puck, and always seems one powerful step away from a big play or fast break. But Allain-Samake is missing that real explosive step, and he doesn’t have the gritty strength to cut into opponents to force into space where he can’t win it outright. Allain-Samake is responsible enough away from the puck. He pressures opponents well – good stick and true positioning. That gives you a player capable of holding his own every shift, and breaking things open with his energetic stickhandling – but also one that can’t get inside enough to yet score his first juniors goal. He’s flashy and exciting, and stands as a serious home run shot who could go as high as early day-two. |
| Jack Murtagh, LW USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Murtagh is a power forward in every sense. He’s burly and physical, uses his body to protect the puck and create space, and wins his battles with confidence. But on an NTDP squad in desperate need of someone to step up, Murtagh has spent the year adding an impressive step to his hefty package. He’s been the first to jump at loose pucks and power the puck up the ice. He’s taken on far more play-driving, and knows how to get the puck across the blue line and into the slot routinely. His style needs more fleshing out, but the extent to which Murtagh has challenged himself and grown this season is impressive. As one of the youngest in the class, the sky is his limit. He’s a powerful play-driver who excels at maintaining possessoin, but if he can continue to get shots on net and independently drive the puck, he could become a dangerous playmaker at the pro level. Of note, his positioning is fine – needs work to get into dangerous spots before plays happen. |
| Ben Kevan, RW DES MOINES (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: A-, Range: Top 50 | Kevan is an electric, do-it-all forward. He’s gets to his spots quick and opens up for the puck, eager to support plays or quickly turn up ice. He’s fast in small spaces and full sprints, and feisty enough to keep up with opponents on defense, work the breakout, or turn downhill on a fastbreak. Kevan’s direction and eye for lanes aren’t as sharp as some of his peers, but he has good positioning and reacts quickly to changes in play. That helps him keep up enough – and Kevan is the type of kid to soak up all the knowledge he can once he’s in the pros. But among everything he brings, you remember his shot. He’s not the flashiest stickhandler, but has a sniper for a wristshot and can beat goalies form any distance. He’s improving in his ability to find space off the boards, and gaining confidence in cutting to the middle. Those are all great traits, and while Kevan looks a bit younger than his company – his upside is worth a high draft pick. |
| B+ (Top 75) |
| Kam Hendrickson, G WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Athlete | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Kam Hendrickson has been my choice goalie prospect in America for many years. He is continuing to dominate hockey at all levels, on the back of the ability of some great athleticism. Hendrickson presents well, rarely overcommitting and covering the net well. His glove and pads are quick, and his rebound control is fantastic. At the same time, Hendrickson is really aggressive. He follows the puck well and knows how to pressure opponents. He can make the spectacular save, his blocker makes a difference… I could go on. This is a great goalie. |
| Sean Barnhill, RHD DUBUQUE (USHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | A defender high in energy, explosivity, strength, and instinct. Where a play needs made, Barnhill is there – fighting along the boards, squaring up opponents on the rush, or setting up teammates with hard passes. Barnhill is a great lineup piece, though his style isn’t abundantly strong in any one way. He’ll need to hone just about every aspect to stay strong through the next levels – but Barnhill’s energy and awareness behind the red line would be hard not to get excited over in the mid-rounds. Oh, he’s also 6’5″. Tough to second-guess. |
| Lev Katzin, C GUELPH (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Katzin is a shifty and effective puck-moving winger. He moves with agility and control on and off the puck. Positions himself well to get into space and stay in line with his teammates. Very strong passing and a strong eye across the ice. He doesn’t drive downhill as well as his peers, but does work with teammates cohesively and shows a ton of finesse in his skillset. He needs to improve his physicality and find more effect in the D-zone, but his snappy and smart play lends itself to some reasonable upside at the least. |
| Carlos Handel, RHD HALIFAX (QMJHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Handel is a diligently responsible defender who covers goal line to offensive blue line with ease. He stays active and keeps his eyes open, picking up open opponents and guarding the slot well. His stick is strong and he uses it to fundamentally guide into board battles. His passing is strong, both in sparking the breakout and holding possession in the offensive end. Handel doesn’t have much spark, but he’s a player that can carry a lot of trust in all three zones. He’s a mature, projectable option that could go higher than his grade suggests. |
| Alex Huang, RHD CHICOUTIMI (QMJHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Huang is a very explosive, puck-moving defender. His puckhandling is fantastic, and he gets downhill fast with momentum. Great skating and quick agility that holds through when he’s carrying the puck. Sees through traffic well and excels at finding teammates in dangerous areas. His stick-checking is filled with finesse, but overall his defense is very unrefined. Huang struggles with getting chased out of position and engaging physically. Those weaknessses really hold back his pro projection, though his strengths are enough to build a flashy prospect with exciting upside. I think his chances of reaching it are higher than some credit. |
| Petteri Rimpinen, G KIEKKO-ESPOO (FINLAND) Style: Commander | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Rimpinen is impressively fundamental. He faces every shot with confidence and a proper stance. He makes small adjustments very well, and sees the puck all the way to his glove/pad. Those traits, and a strong ability to position himself just right to face each shot, gives Rimpinen fantastic rebound control to boot. You can trust him to stop every shot, and it’s clear getting beat fires him up. Rimpinen leads from the crease, and has managed a difficult pro role incredibly well because of it. His upside feels clear, so long as his fundamenteal approach is preserved through a move. |
| Kadon Mccann, C MEDICINE HAT (WHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | McCann is a wide-built, heavy winger who seems to be adjusting to his frame more and more every game. He’s always done well at getting himself to the heart of the action, or paving lanes open with his size. Now, he’s adding the control in-tight, nifty footwork, and balance to really take advantage of his size in the corners and tight to the net. He’s plenty fine defensively as well – though not overly energetic. There’s something to be said about players who can take such big strides in their draft year, and McCann seems headed for good things because of it. |
| Lasse Boelius, LHD ASSAT JR. (FINLAND-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Boelius is a puck-mover. He makes fine defensive plays, largely on the back of a fundamental ability to square up opponents and attack the stick, but ya gotta get him the puck to really bring out his strengths. When he’s got control, Boelius excels at supporting organized and efficient pushes up the ice. He sees the ice well, makes strong passes, and has the step to jump into an open lane. Needs a lot of honing to be more than a rush defenseman, but his ability to support possession up the ice and keep it in the O-zone is mature beyond its years. |
| Milton Gastrin, C MODO JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Gastrin is a diligent forward who, after a step, gets to a flying top speed and uses it to follow play well through all three zones. He’s a smart player and keeps an active stick. Stays quick on the puck, and orchestrates well when moments open up. When play comes his way, Gastrin undeniably has the smooth hands, quick passing, playmaking eye, and general heft to make an impact. But he doesn’t yet have a nose for the puck like his peers, and needs to improve at getting to the dirty areas and making plays under pressure to adjust to the NHL game. |
| Daniil Skvortsov, LHD GUELPH (OHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Skvortsov is a tall, hefty defender with clean movements and a strong stick. He holds the slot well and engages physically in the corners. Makes a strong first pass on the breakout and joins the rush well, with very responsible and mature movements and passes. Stronger offensive asset than he may seem – holds the blue line well and has a booming shot. Very little jump to speak of, but his edgework is strong enough (and strides long enough) to keep up with opponents in both directions. Really looks the part of someone with pro upside, but needs some honing before he’s there. |
| Gustav Hillstrom, C BRYNAS JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Hillstrom is an imposing slot-presence. He shadows play well off of the puck and reacts quickly to loose pucks or changes in play. His hands are quick and edges are sharp for a player his size, and he uses it to turn up ice quickly and find teammates with hard passes. He fights hard in corner or slot battles, but is still working on getting the strength to match his size. Even without it, he controls space in the slot well and makes hard plays when the puck comes his way. He’s a slot-to-slot center who makes an impact in both corners, but would need more jump and finesse to work out of those areas. |
| Jan Chovan, RW TAPPARA JR. (FINLAND-JR.) Style: Grinder | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Chovan is a bulky and energetic forward. He’s constantly shadowing play, and doesn’t fail to make things happen when the puck comes his way. He uses his big frame to jam up lanes and force paths to the slot. He uses it to protect the puck and force open enough space to make a play and maintain possession. He has impressively quick feet for his size, a sharp edge to his physical game, and a good instinct for where to be that all suggest pro upside. But he’s yet to add a true jump and independent drive that’d take his game to the next level. If a team can add that, he could be a big add. |
| Jakob Ihs Wozniak, C LULEA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Ihs Wozniak has a lot of attractive features. His frame is lanky and athletic, but strong enough to fight through space. He receives pucks well and has clean stickhandling and passing. His shot is fundamental, smooth, and accurate. He controls the middle lane with persistence and works with teammates to make plays. But for as technically strong as he is, Ihs Wozniak lacks sharpness. He floats in his position, misses chances to defend opponents, and fails to make second efforts to save a play. Where the fates align and lanes open up, Ihs Wozniak absolutely has the ability to take advantage – or set up his teammates to. But he struggles to create those chances on his own. |
| Ivan Ryabkin, C DYNAMO MOSCOW JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Sniper | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Ryabkin’s draft year has turned into a saga. He and Dynamo had disagreements about ice time and training from the start of training camp, giving him a shaky platform to start the year. He opted for a move to the USHL over a trade in the MHL, and has since been racking up the goals and PIMs in Muskegon. Ryabkin is a short and stout winger with nifty hands and a heavy shot. He’s dangerous in open space but needs some help getting it. Keeping a level head and making patient plays have both been issues, but Ryabkin could nonetheless stand as an untapped gold mine of offensive talent for teams willing to invest time into his development. |
| William Moore, C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Will Moore is the most dynamic offensive asset on this year’s NTDP. He has an athletic build, strong puck skills, and a great downhill drive. His shot is a slingshot with great accuracy – and he can use it confidently anywhere inside the offensive end. But Moore tends to funnel to the low-slot, and while he certainly has the ability to beat defenders one-on-one, his offense seems to be missing a boost of explosivity or creativity that’d really take him to the next level many thought he’d reach after his youth hockey years. Moore is just above average across the board. He’s a package that’s moldable, and screams upside, but one that doesn’t inspire me as much as some others right now. |
| Ethan Czata, C NIAGARA (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Czata is an energetic and exciting forward who knows how to create a play starting with winning a puck battle. When play comes his way, Czata jumps. His skating is clean and nifty. He uses his stick to check opponents. He’s strong when he wins the puck, with quick stickhandling and quick reads. That helps him beat opponents to control possession and find something to do real quick. But Czata can look entirely disengaged away from the play… he’s always quick to make an impact, but he’ll need to carry that energy from start to end of the shift to succeed at the pro level. If he can, his talent and ability to set up teammates is impressive enough to make a lasting impact. |
| Bryce Pickford, RHD MEDICINE HAT (WHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Pickford makes the list as an overager because – with a change of scenery – he is finally adding in the elements of strong and jagged offense that he seemed bound for in youth puck. Pickford is a beefy and powerful defender. He has a strong first step, and uses it to both jump to loose pucks and push into hits with power. In recent years, he struggled with the ripcord to get his feet going after that step – but he’s getting it now, and showing that he has the puck-skills to drive up the ice to boot. Pickford has the traits of a reliable, albeit aggressive, defensive defender – with the jump and drive to potentially fold in more offense down the line. |
| Tomas Poletin, LW PELICANS JR. (FINLAND-JR.) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Poletin really looks the part. He’s got a great frame and sharp, powerful, smooth skating. He gets on his horse and pursues the puck well. He’s sharp in-tight, and engages opponents well with his stick and body. Knows how to win the puck out of a tight spot and make quick plays to lock in possession. And he’s strong on the puck. But for all of his strengths, he’s struggled signficantly to generate chances with his decisions on the puck. Needs a better instinct for creative plays and a better drive towards the net. But still, it’s hard to dislike him as a prospect. He works hard and looks slick. A hot coffee and early selection of Poletin would be a fine start to day two. |
| Jacob Rombach, LHD LINCOLN (USHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Rombach is interesting. He’s clearly talented. He has size, weight, athleticism, strong puck-control, and the instinct to jump into play. He knows how to use his size advantage to protect the slot or presuure the corners, and generally shows a fundamental understanding of how to shutdown opponents. But Rombach’s development has been a lot of two steps forward, one step back. His puck-decisions can crater under pressure, or he can look deactivated in a fast-moving play. When Rombach sees a play and makes a move, he brings a very unique and well-rounded impact. But when he’s flustered, he’s hard to play. Rombach’s size and physical advantage should lend itself to a nice pro future regardless, but he’ll need to round out his poise to play NHL. |
| Aidan Park, C GREEN BAY (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | It took a year of adjustment but Park has hit his stride on the juniors level. He’s fallen nicely into the role of safety net, monitoring the high-zone and using a great jump and strong balance to get into plays quick. Park keeps his eyes open and controls the puck well in-tight, giving him the ability to make and finish plays through traffic and in the low-slot. Those attributes keep up on the defensive side of the puck well. Park checks sticks and is growing in his ability to play physically. Park is very impactful when he gets involved, but how often that happens is continuing to grow. Still, his growth this year has been impressive – and has me back to betting high on a former AAA star. |
| Adam Benak, C YOUNGSTOWN (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Benak is a high-energy and gritty forward who earns the chances he gets. He doesn’t shy away from playing hard, physical hockey – even in the corners or low-slot – but his bread-and-butter is as a puck-mover in the second layer. Benak finds his teammates and sees lanes to the net well, and acts quick to either find the open man or create space on his own. He can struggle with getting tunnel-visioned while driving downhill, and when he gets cold he gets COLD. But his energy and short-but-stout frame have gotten him far – and his puck-skills round him out into a pretty effective play-creator when he’s on his game. Benak will need a lot of coaching to get to the point you’d want him to be, but he has the skillset, the heft, and the mindset to get there. |
| Vincent Desjardins, C/RW BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND (QMJHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Desjardins is a persistent forward. He’s glued to opponents when he’s not on the puck, checking sticks and applying tons of pressure everywhere below the red-line. He wins possession and works well with his linemates to maintain it, and has the nifty puckhandling needed to beat defenders at the blue line and push the puck up the ice. His frame is fairly lanky but he engages physically well enough, defending his slot well and driving into the offensive slot better. Desjardins gets involved, makes strong plays, and is reaching a new level of scoring largely thanks to some added poise in the mid-layer of the O-zone. But his defense is worth noting – needs to be better at engaging opponents from the inside-out and getting back on the backcheck. Still, he’s got a good shot and earns everything he gets – that fact will push him high up my board. |
| Pyotr Andreyanov, G KRASNAYA ARMIYA (RUSSIA) Style: Technician | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Andreyanov controls his crease incredibly well. He knows where his posts are, knows how far he can push out, and knows how to play aggressive without giving up angles. That’s helped along by a great stretch and lots of speed in moving from side-to-side. He also sees the puck fantastically well, getting an eye on shots from anwyhere in the offensive end. He’s almost perfect when he’s challenged on his glove-side or from far out this season – that’s impressive. But Andreyanov’s aggression is still a bit overzealous. He struggles to stay composed in when action picks up in the low slot, and he can be prone to poor decisions. His eye, speed, and control of the crease is really something special. He’s a flashy option who can completely shut out the opposing team when he’s red hot – and his upside is very high. But I fear he may be a little too much for the NHL, slipping the rug from under him in these grades despite his skill being clear. |
| Maxim Agafonov, RHD UFA JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B+, Range: Top 75 | Agafgonov is a personal favorite in this class, but his recent stints have made that opinion a tough one to uphold. He’s a beefy, smooth-moving two-way defender with great instinct on both sides of the puck. Agafonov knows how to start plays in his own zone, and use strong stick-checks and positioning to cut off defenders and regain possession. He’s confident on the puck, with smooth stickhandling, clean strides, and strong passing helping him quarterback movement out of the defensive end and past the red line well. He’s not aggressive offensively unless he catches a fast rush, but still finds ways to dip below the circles to find shooting lanes from the perimeter – and his shot is strong enough to score. But he’s recently stood out as flat-footed and a step behind. That could be the result of a menagerie of factors, and the specific reason doesn’t particularly matter – but it’s starting to look like it’ll be a bit of a project to translate every ounce of Agafonov’s all-three-zones ability to North American pros. |
| B (Top 100) |
| Matej Pekar, C/LW SEATTLE (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Pekar is a stud. He’s a hefty, relentless forward with a fantastic nose for where plays are and how to make them happen. He’s not the fastest or the flashiest, but he’s got a good frame and knows how to use it to make tough plays along the boards. He makes smart choices and follows his chances up. Gets to the low slot, holds true on the breakout, makes lateral plays in the neutral zone. He needs a lot of refining, and to add probably 15 pounds at least. But he knows how to use his frame and doesn’t shy away from plays anywhere on the ice. He looks to project as a low-floor pro at the minimum. |
| Evan Passmore, RHD BARRIE (OHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Passmore is a sturdy built, very physical defender. He’s great at stepping into big hits at the blue line, and uses that strength to win battles in the corners and in front. He moves smooth for a defender this size. His hands are stone, but he controls the puck enough to make simple plays and hard passes. Passmore doesn’t scream upside, but he’s a very sturdy build in a boring draft class. |
| Teddy Mutryn, C CHICAGO (USHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | A bowling ball of a centerman who drives downhill hard and clears tons of space in the low-slot. One of those players who lets you throw the puck into the slot and hope for the best. He clears out the defensive end as well, and gets through the neutral zone cleanly. Mutryn is gritty and engaged, but doesn’t yet have the technical skills to orchestrate play entirely on his own. If he has a facilitating winger, he’s a fantastic net-front and forechecking option. |
| Charlie Cerrato, LW/C PENN STATE (BIG10) Style: Grinder | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | A high-energy and feisty forward who gets under opponents’ skin and wins out possession very well in all three zones. He’s quick-moving and quick-thinking on the puck, working with his teammates and taking advantage of space on the perimeter/behind the net well. Absolutely ferocious in the low-slot, even despite his size. And he’s growing in his ability to slow play down and use strong shots to beat goalies. Cerrato has earned it at every level he’s played – he’s defiantly worth a draft pick, for energy and effort if nothing else. |
| Everett Baldwin, RHD ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL (HIGH-RI) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Baldwin is fast, shifty, and incredibly agile on and off of the puck. He reaches a high top speed and makes small adjustments well. He attacks across the neutral zone and knows how to finish a fast-rush with strong passing and a good drive to the slot. It’s impressive stuff for a defender, though his ability to hold either blue line does need some work. That weakness, and a general lack of rigid positioning makes him easy to exploit in the games where he’s off. But when Baldwin’s on, he’s an icnredibly exciting creator. |
| Vojtech Cihar, LW KARLOVY VARY (CZECHIA) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Cihar is an intelligent forward who is always down and ready to make a play. He fills his position well and doesn’t take big risks, and doesn’t blow chances because of it. His stick is quick off puck and helps him strip opponents; his hands are quick on-puck and help him get beat opponents donwhill. But while he’s fairly agile, he lacks a very explosive step, and is still learning how to beat pro opponents with his body. He’s a blend of a lot of good traits, and is always in his spot, but he’s not abundantly exciting. |
| Theo Stockselius, LW/C DJURGARDEN JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Stockselius is a lanky forward with lanky skating, but he keeps up with opponents well on the back of quick edges and smart positioning. He knows how to keep the pressure on and supports possession well. His shot is quick and accurate, and he makes good passes though he struggles to find lanes into the middle. He’s a thin frame with some bambi skating, and will need to really hone both his technical and mental skills to be a North American pro. But his tenacity and ability to quickly react to plays make him a strong player worth draft attention. |
| Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LHD MICHIGAN (BIG10) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Rheaume-Mullen is a high-energy, high-finesse defender with good heft. He has beautiful skating and fantastic puck skills. His passes are hard and he shows a clear understanding of time and space with how he creates off the blue-line. There are moments where he looks like a top prospect by pure skill. But Rheaume-Mullen gets beat physically, and struggles to make clean decisions under pressure. He has the fundamentals, he has the skill, and he even has the keen offensive instinct to be a step above the rest. He just needs the confident step and physical edge to glue it all together. |
| William Belle, RW USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Belle is a smooth, powerful skater. He gets into a good stance and drives into play well. Blows through opponents and knows how to ward off pressure with great puck protection and physicality. He’s got a nose for making plays along the boards and some solid finesse in finding teammates with chances in the middle. Gets into battles in the slot too, and fights hard even if he doesn’t always win his battles. His instinctive and sharp. He’s supporting cast to the best degree, and plays with the right mix of physicality, grit, and tenacity to make an impact in all three zones. |
| Michal Svrcek, LW BRYNAS JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Grinder | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Svrcek is a feisty and aggressive forward. His skating is snappy and agile… sharp edges, moves laterally very well on and off the puck, and crosses over quick. Pursues the puck well with that skating, and has a sharp physical edge to cut into puck battles. But his high-energy style gets the best of him, and he’s hardly ever in position because of it. Svrcek has a great nose for winning battles in the dirty areas of the ice – and it’s proved well enough to earn pro points already. He’s a good frame too. But needs a lot of refining to work in the NHL. |
| Ryan Miller, LW PORTLAND (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Miller is a nimble and smart playmaker. He’s always in a good position, and makes calm, controlled, and smart plays to support the breakout, move through the neutral-zone, and set up the attack. He’s got smooth and quick passing, and doesn’t get caught lacking often. He’s well rounded in all regards – a fine frame, fine skating, fine passing – but he pulls it together with high IQ to be a responsible and reliable wing. Could use some more jump in creating plays on offense, but he makes smart and effective plays and handles the simple plays well. Makes him a comfortable bet to make on draft day. |
| Mateo Nobert, C BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND (QMJHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Nobert is a stocky centerman with a good set of wheels. He moves smooth and has fundamental (albeit not flashy) stickhandling that he uses to good effect in moving down the neutral zone. He has a good eye for plays on and off of the puck, and uses strong passing and smart positioning to control possession well. He engages physically, but needs to win his battles more often. But Nobert lacks a jump that’d elevate his game. He’s diligent and responsible, but seems one step shy of a translatable pro. Some teams love those kinds of upside bets in the later rounds – and his playmaking knack certainly warrants a selection. |
| Andrei Trofimov, G STALNYE LISY (RUSSIA) Style: Athlete | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Trofimov is a very technically sound goaltender. All of his movements are correct. His angles are great. He makes saves confidently and doesn’t allow rebounds. And he’s generally pretty athletic, though he’s not overwhelmingly quick. That’s really his biggest knock. He’s missing an overwhleming ability to pull together a very well-rounded package. But that’s not an inherent flaw in goalies – and Trofimov seems to have every ounce of sharp mental, smooth athletics, and genuine size to fill a strong role in net. He has a ton of upside, and I imagine would be a very exciting player for one of the league’s top goalie rooms to get a chance to develop. |
| Zachary Morin, LW SAINT JOHN (QMJHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Morin is the pinnical power-forward. Skates hard downhill, throws the body every chance he gets, and has the size to bully his way into the low-slot. He’s reminiscent of Zach L’Heureux, in style and temperament. That might be an issue for some teams – and I’ll say I have had times where I’ve wanted Morin to plan more for five years ahead than the current season at hand. But he called his bet in moving to the QMJHL for more minutes, and he’s now showing the scoring ability that made him a top youth prospect. If he adds control, poise, and a bit more technical skill – Morin could be ferocious for many years. |
| Zeb Lindgren, LHD SKELLEFTEA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | A heavy, snappy defender who really enjoys plays around either blue line. He jumps at a chance to step into opponents, or support the break-in, whenever he can, and his size helps him force through opponents well. His frame really is great, and he hits hard. But he doesn’t get down and win hard battles as well as you’d think, leaving him a bit vulnerable in the corners and slots. Great at holding the offensive blue-line, and has a booming shot. His passes are hard and smart, he handles the rush well, and his size is great – those are fantastic traits to buy, even if I question his instinct and upside a bit. |
| Max Psenicka, LHD PLZEN (CZECHIA) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Psenicka is a hefty and powerful defender who controls blue-to-blue very well. He carries a lot of heft in his skating and knows how to use it to create space on the boards or push the puck up the ice. He has great passing both in-tight and long-range, and connects well with his forwards to create fast breaks and long stretches of possession. Holds the blue line well and takes hard shots. Strong control in the defensive end too, and great physicality in the corners and low-slot. But he’s slow as snot, and when he gets beat in the neutral zone it’s hard for him to catch up. That doesn’t happen often though, and his physical game is enough to suggest pro upside. |
| Theodor Hallquisth, RHD OREBRO JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Hallquisth is an incredibly mobile and effective defender, who approaches plays with an active stick, great skating stance, and physical edge. He wins puck battles in the corners and supports the rush well. Reliable on the puck, smart passing, good shot. But he’s struggled to hold his position throughout the year, and can get caught wandering. He’s shown nerves and technical miscues at the pro flight, but looks like a strong and effective defender among his peers. And his edges are absolutely fantastic – a great skater for sure. He’ll be an interesting call on draft day. He has lapses that’ll be crucial to iron out, but his energy, ability to get involved, and ability to move the puck all give him high upside. |
| Francesco Dell’Elce, LHD UMASS (H-EAST) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Dell’Elce has taken a big step forward this season, largely on the back of how well he’s adjusted to collegiate physicality and systems. He makes smooth plays in the defensive end, squaring up to opponents and overpowering them on the rush – and forcing loose pucks in the corners. Strong breakout passes, good hands to win space, great under pressure. Those traits really come out when he pushes the puck through the neutral zone, and he holds the blue-line incredibly well. Keeps the puck deep – exactly what you want. He’s impactful, but doesn’t jump off the page in any one way. That’ll push him down the board as a re-entry pick – but it’s not often teams get a chance to buy a prospect already established at the collegiate flight. |
| Filip Ekberg, RW OTTAWA (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Ekberg is a high-finesse, poised winger who holds his position well. He’s at his best on the puck, with very light and quick hands and a firm, accurate shot. You can tell he’s honed his puck skills and eye for creating plays to good effect. He’s diligent away from the puck as well, holding his spot in all three zones and improving in his ability to fill all three layers of the O-zone. But he lacks an initiative that’d take him game to the next level, and tends to follow plays more than he dives in. He’s a skilled player who fills his role and, for the most part, plays through contact well – but a lack of mental sharpness holds him back from the big plays or high impact he could have. |
| Simon (Haoxi) Wang, LHD OSHAWA (OHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Simon (Haoxi) Wang is this year’s unicorn. He’s one of the tallest defenders in the class – but is missing a lot of weight. His skating is awkward but sharp, and he’s able to both reach an impressive top speed and beat opponents in-tight with his edgework. Wang’s stickhandling is his starring ability, and he uses it to really control play north of the blue-line. Wang had a pretty storied path to the OHL, and hasn’t done much in top juniors yet – but his jump, puck-control, and heads-up offense look like they’ll shine through sooner rather than later. A very boom/bust player – if you draft him, you’re banking on him maintaining his overabundance of skill as he matures his style. That’s a tough bill for some kids, light work for others. |
| Carson Cameron, RHD PETERBOROUGH (OHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Cameron is a slow, heavy, and physical defender. He patrols south of the red line very well. He has a great reach and pulls opponents in with good physicality. Knows how to jam up a lane or win high-traffic puck battles along the boards with his size and strength alone. He reacts quick to loose pucks and makes quick, hard passes to push the puck out of the D-zone. And heavy+slow doesn’t mean bad skating for Cameron – you can tell he feels his movements and edges well. Doesn’t make much impact at all north of the red line, but he holds the blue line and has a heavy slapshot in space. A good, shutdown option that looks like he can translate to pros – so long as he can keep up with play. |
| Mason West, C EDINA (HIGH-MN) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | West is a muscular and athletic forward. He has a heavy stance and smooth skating that doesn’t dip a bit when he has the puck on his stick. He drives through defenders like a spearhead on the rush, really excelling at using strong dekes and good physicality to force his way into the slot. He’s much less energetic off of the puck, but makes an impact with a strong stick and fine positioning. West has clearly outgrown his competition – at a size and skill level – and not all of his strong impact seems like it’ll translate to the next flight. But he’s a strong kid, hard-worker, and a solid bet to win Mr. Hockey this year. That’ll be worth investing into despite his question marks. And for some trivia, West is a multi-sport athlete – also serving as Edina’s starting QB. |
| Brendan McMorrow, C/LW WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | A very high-energy, high-skill forward who fills his roles well. Knows how to pressure opponents and keep the puck to the outside, but McMorrow’s strengths really shine through when his team has the puck. He explodes up the ice with fast, powerful skating and sharp hands. He shows a clearly strong understanding of space in the offensive end, and has the talent to use strong punch stops and quick cuts to work into open ice. Passes hard and gets the puck on net. Good understanding of how to use his teammates. But he needs to slow down significantly. He’s orchestrating too fast – and his decisions look clunky and teammates get confused because of it. Still, McMorrow has had very high upside for a very long time. He seems to be coming into his own this season, and could make a scout look ingenious one day. |
| Mason Moe, C MADISON (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Moe is a lanky commander in the middle lane. He’s great as the second or third man in – when he has a chance to survey the ice and determine where he needs to slot in. He has a quick first step and strong skills to make things happen when he gets to his spot. Active and strong stick, good physical engagement, and quick reactions on loose pucks. Moe is all about making plays, and excels at making decisions quickly and with precision. Strong passes. But his commanding presence seems to build up as his team approaches the offensive blue, and it can feel much less impactful closer to his own net. His skating stance may need some tinkering to help him physically as well. He’s an impactful, smart, pass-first center with upside as a playmaker and special teams player. His next few years will be exciting, and I think telling. |
| Sam Laurila, LHD FARGO (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Laurila is a firecracker on the puck, with an explosive first step, quick hands, and a great ability to find passing lanes. He breaks down the wings quick and knows how to either set up teammates in the middle or use his rifle of a shot to beat goalies from low-chance angles. The moments Laurila gets to show those skills are by far his best – but he’s needed to improve in how he fills time between them. He’s certainly taken a big step forward in defending the rush, and using his stocky frame to get in the way of opponents, but he’s still adjusting to a real physical style. He holds down the blue-line well, but can struggle to create chances where his quick feet don’t give him an advantage. He’s a player with a very clear, defining trait – and the tools to build a strong style around it. He’s worth housing in your prospect pool, but certainly has development ahead of him. |
| Lukas Sawchyn, LW EDMONTON (WHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: B, Range: Top 100 | Sawchyn is a slick, stocky winger. His movements are incredibly smooth, and his hands are lightning quick. He sees and gets into open space in well, and looks right in place in very high-skill, high-tempo setups. He’s a quick processor and strong finisher in tight. But he doesn’t jump until he’s on the puck, and can quickly disappear away from the puck. He is also improving his ability to operate under pressure. He’s got a hard shot, and finishes very well in the slot. Reacts to quick give-and-go passing well. Lots to refine, but his stocky, hard-to-knock over frame and dynamic hands aren’t a bad package to bet on – and he’s a great power-play specialist. |
| B- (Top 125) |
| Nolan Roed, LW TRI-CITY (USHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | A smooth-moving forward who fills his lane well, connects with teammates, and supports strong possession numbers. Needs some major sharpening to get him to the next level, though his frame, eye for passing lanes, and ability to play through contact are strong. |
| Alexander Donovan, RW SHATTUCK – ST.MARY’S PREP (HIGH-MN) Style: Sniper | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | A bulky forward with a ripper for a shot. Very explosive, gets down the boards fast and carries a ton of heft. Really knows how to plow through opponents to get into space. Gets a bit tunnel visioned with chances, needs to work with his teammates better, needs to keep his energy on the defensive side of the puck. But his heft, shot, and instinct for creating dangerous plays is alluring. |
| Brady Peddle, LHD WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | A stout defender who holds the blue-line well and shows a clear understanding of how to jam up lanes and shutdown opponents. Plays physical and engaged, but isn’t ferocious enough to come out of traffic with possession. Still, he carries the puck and finds teammates well. A projectable spark on the backend, though he might need more jump and edge to adapt seamlessly. Booming shot too – helps him make a strong impact from the blue-line. |
| Jett Lajoie, C/RW PRINCE GEORGE (WHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Patrols play well in all three zones and absolutely relentless in the lower third of the offensive zone. He makes plays in and around the slot better than most, on the back of a strong shot, quick hands, and very heads-up passing. He’s strong enough to win space and tracks down the puck quick. Needs to be much more engaged evrywhere else on the ice, but he’s effective and physically strong enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. |
| David Bedkowski, RHD OWEN SOUND (OHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Bedkowski is a heavy defender who doesn’t have much git’up but handles the rush extremely well. He’s a great physical asset and uses a great reach to shut down entry into the slot. He wins his battles in the corners and clears out space in the slot. Makes quick, smart passes. Doesn’t contribute much north of the blue-line, but he’s a diligent safety net when opponents get possession. Will need to add a bigger spark and sharper puck-skills, but his frame and physicality lend themselves to solid upside. |
| Liam Kilfoil, C HALIFAX (QMJHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Kilfoil is a fantastically well-rounded playmaker. He has a solid frame and smooth, controlled movements. He seeks out the puck and engages opponents well. Puts himself where he needs to be, is always ready for the puck, makes quick plays, and has some flashy hands one-on-one. I certainly think he has pro upside, but he lacks a drive into the slot, or pursuit in the corners, that’d bring his game to the NHL level. If he can add a layer of explosive driving, or offensive instinct, to back his quick and responsible style – he’ll break out. |
| Jacob Kvasnicka, RW USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Grinder | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Kvasnicka is a ball of energy. He moves around like a jackrabbit, really getting under opponents’ skin and forcing possession for his side. He’s quick to dish away pucks, but doesn’t excel at calmly controlling space and finding options. That makes him a forchecker first and foremost, though Kvasnicka’s stickhandling does give him the ability to cut into the slot when he’s not overpowered. To that end, his physicality needs some work. But Kvasnicka has a nose for making plays, works with his teammates well, and has tons of energy. That can often build a late-round steal. |
| Jamiro Reber, LW HV71 (SWEDEN) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | A very dynamic support-winger. Fills his lane perfectly in all three zones and searches out ways to get engaged. He’s a bit undersized but gets under opponents skin to make plays on the breakout, cut through lanes in transition, and work into space offensively. Makes short, quick passes well. Great eye for where to be on offense. But struggles when play calls on him to really lead a line. Physical for his size, but needs work there too. Upside of a diligent third-line wing who does the dirty work and makes plays – but it’ll take the right path to get him there. |
| Nathan Behm, RW KAMLOOPS (WHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Behm has had some really exciting flashes this season. He’s a beefy power-forward who, at his best, gets to the low spot and fights for space better than almost all his age. He can even do it with the puck on his stick, though he opts for brute force over any fancy dekes. His finishing is great when he builds up momentum or boxes out opponents. But those moments are few and far between for Behm, and he’s not engaged enough away from the puck to inspire much. His best is an impactful and translatable pro style – he just needs to find it more consistently. |
| Matous Jan Kucharcik, C SLAVIA JR. (CZECHIA-JR.) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Kucharcik is a lanky and persistent forward. He keeps up with play extremely well and uses a great reach, quick reactions, and confident physicality to get involved and win possession. He’s not the strongest or the fastest, but he’s a smooth-moving and diligent forward who’s constantly noticeable on the ice. But his puck-skills and creativity leave a lot to be desired, and he can rely on teammate support to make things happen in the offensive end. He’s missing a layer of sharpness and keen decision making that’s holding his game back. If he adds those, and gets a better offensive jump, he’d be an all-three-zones impact with serious pro upside. |
| Jesper Kotajarvi, LHD TAPPARA (FINLAND) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Kotavarji is a very heavy defender who fills all the roles you’d want a heavy defender in. He’s a wall in the slot, battles in the corners, and holds the blue-line well. He’s well-rounded enough to make plays when the puck comes his way, but struggles to engage away from it. Kotajarvi doesn’t engage opponents physically and really struggles to pick up his feet. Both of those flaws make him hard to trust, especially in games where his mental isn’t sharp. Still, he’s a body that will play pro hockey – and a player worth betting on in the mid rounds if you’re a team missing size on the back end. |
| Aaron Obobaifo, LW VANCOUVER (WHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Obobaifo is a diligent playmaker. He’s fast and gets to a top speed quickly. Really knows how to drive down lanes with tempo. Cuts through lanes and pursues the puck well. Has a great instinct for getting into the slot – even though he’s not the most physical forward. Sees passing lanes and makes hard passes. But he hasn’t gotten on the puck much in juniors hockey – a big difference from his youth days. He showed upside as a play-creator and effective perimeter scorer in the past. If he can add those traits back into his aggressive, donwhill style – and get stronger through contact – he’ll be a fun prospect. |
| Karl Annborn, RHD HV71 JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Annborn is slick. He’s got a great skating stance and very snappy skills. Quick poke checks and keeps his head up to find his spot and get there fast. He makes quick decisions well and has smooth stickhandling+passing in space, but those falter a bit under pressure. Not very physical, but he’s enough of a dynamo skater to get under opponents on and off of the puck. He’s missing some sharpness, even though he makes smart choices – but nothing that you wouldn’t expect at this age. He needs to grow and mature, but the foundation of a slick, puck-moving defender are there – and I think his style has NHL translatability. |
| Alex Misiak, LW/C ZVOLEN (SLOVAKIA) Style: Sniper | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Misiak is an energetic winger. His first step is explosive and he gets into the corners and along the boards quickly. He engages opponents physically – but could use a bit more fundamentals in doing so. Either way, Misiak has the rat-y-ness to force turnovers and win possession – and stands as a great spot-shooter when he’s away from the puck. I love a player with a nose for the puck, and Misiak has that gritty, offensive-leaning style in full. He’s now facing the challenge of adjusting to North American ice. If he does it well, he’ll be a utility player to bet on – though maybe not one with tons of upside. |
| Matthew Lansing, C WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | A persistent centerman in all three zones. Lansing moves smooth, he moves quick, and he stays in an athletic stance to pressure opponents off-puck and stay strong on-puck. He gets down lanes quick and is fully capable of breaking out crazy dekes to beat goalies in-tight. Could do better at finding teammates in the rush, though. And while he has plenty of defensive awareness, he’s missing a step to being a real shutdown center. Many two-way players need a spark to stand out. Lansing’s spark is how well he pursues the puck. If he adds a boost to that and grows into a pro style, he could offer some interesting upside late in the draft. |
| Will Felicio, LHD MICHIGAN (BIG10) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Felicio makes fantastic plays north of the blue line. He has a great jump and quick feet. He has a sharp eye and hard, creative passes. His hands are strong and he’s improved significantly in his ability to control the puck through contact and down the boards. Felicio needed some time to round out his skillset and get more comfortable working into the middle. But he looks far sharper this year. Still needs to improve at getting his stick on the puck when defending opponents, though his positioning and control of the rush is stout. Could be better under pressure too. He’s grown a lot this season, and could hit high ceilings if that keeps going. |
| Andrew O’Neill, C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Power Forward | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | O’Neill is a hard working power-forward with a great eye for the puck. He patrols the zone and jumps quick at chances to make a play. Very sharp edge to his physicality – he’s strong and forces his way to and through dirty areas well. Hard-nosed player with a hard shot. But doesn’t initiate play, or drive the puck independently as much as I’d like. Very impactful in the lower-third of the ice – wins corner battles and earns space in the slot very well. And he’s an impactful second-man-in on the forecheck. But needs to find something to make him stand out… a bit more explosivity, a bit more finesse, or a bit more creativity. Something to get over the hump of the climb to pros. |
| Matthew Gard, C RED DEER (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Gard is a great facilitator. He moves through the middle lane well, always staying open to the puck and very quick to react when it comes his way. He’s makes quick, smart passes and keeps plays alive. Pressures opponents well with a good reach and good physicality. He doesn’t stay on the puck long, but his stickhandling is smooth and he uses his body to push through opponents well. He gets on his edges and picks up his feet – even though his top speed isn’t anything incredible. There are a lot of very promising traits here – the question becomes how well he’ll be able to make plays at the pro level. But even if you’re a pessimist, he shouldn’t fall far down the draft board at all. |
| Viktor Klingsell, RW SKELLEFTEA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Klingsell is a very nifty forward. He beats opponents one-on-one with consistency. His hands are very smooth and deliberate and his edges match with them very well. He gets off the board and into space well, and has great finishing ability in-tight. But Klingsell lacks a layer of speed and jump on and off of the puck. He has a great eye for where the open space is, and doesn’t shy away from playing throguh contact to get there – but his overall explosivity isn’t what you’d expect from his build. He’s not physical off of the puck, and looks to need a bit more direction in the defensive end. He’s a talented, and again – nifty – forward but one that’ll need to fold his strong puckskills in with more fundamentals and drive. |
| Kristian Epperson, LW SAGINAW (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Epperson is a spearhead. He’s quick to play in either end, and has a great instinct for when and how to jump into puck battles to ultimatley win possession. He pushes the boundary of his position on the boards, but always to great effect – either supporting his defenders on the breakout or fighting to disrupt the opponents’. Plays through contact very well for a player his size – he’s a bulky kid. But Epperson has struggled to find paths into either slot this year, and he’s mechanisms and movements need a major overhaul. He’s an extremely hard-working, intelligent winger who makes plays on either flank. But he can grow in how he strikes inside, and his uncomfortable movements seem to be capping him. Fix that and you’ve got pro games to some end – his edge and IQ will see to that. |
| Kurban Limatov, LHD DYNAMO MOSCOW JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Limatov is a hefty but quick defender. He stickhandles like a pro, and keeps his head up to find lanes to attack and passes to make. When he has time and space, Limatov makes good plays. He’s got an instinct for how to get downhill in the right way, and controls possession well. Booming slapshot too, holds the blue well. But he reaches a lot off of the puck, and gets pulled far out of position without springing back to spot. He also doesn’t engage physically in the corners or low slot nearly as much as you’d expect – with a player this size, with this skating, I’d expect him to love the open ice hit. He needs to fold in a lot of poised fundamentals to adjust to the NHL game – though his puck skills and eyes for plays are imrpessive. |
| Anders Miller, G CALGARY (WHL) Style: Athlete | Grade: B-, Range: Top 125 | Miller is among the best movers in his class. Stays on his edges enough to move in all directions effortlessly, flexible enough to get up and down fast. He tracks the puck well and his pads are quick, but you can tell his eye is catching up to how well his athleticism has adjusted to the top flight. He’s still new to this level, and has already handled it incredibly well. Out of Sioux Falls Power, I wouldn’t second guess clear talent. Just fun to watch. |
| C+ (Top 150) |
| Owen Conrad, LHD CHARLOTTETOWN (QMJHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Conrad is a pillar of a defender. He’s tall, sturdy, physical, and strong. Controls the slot and corners well, makes hard passes, and opponents can’t drive through him. He’s feisty for his size, too – hits hard and has a great stick. But he’s seemed a rare factor north of his own blue line, and isn’t particularly creative on the puck. Good defensive upside but size and strength are the selling points here. |
| Richard Gallant, LW/C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Grinder | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Gallant has shown a consistent ability to force his way into play and make something happen. He has strong hands in-tight and a strong instinct for finding teammates. But he doesn’t lean into playing aggressive, rather waiting for play to come to him and not messing up when he gets a chance. He’s a natural scorer, but is already facing an uphill to match opponents’ physicality. That’ll be, by far, his biggest challenge moving forward. |
| Linus Funck, RHD LULEA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Funck is a chippy, lanky defender who uses his stick and body to great effect in shutting down lanes to the net. He picks up opponents in the slot and in the circle, and shuts down entry over the blue-line better than most. But Funck isn’t particularly strong, and while his first pass is strong, he struggles to meaningfully join the rush. He has a limited ceiling, but a great control over his own zone. |
| Ryan Rucinski, C YOUNGSTOWN (USHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: C+, Range: Top 175 | Rucinski is a diligent forward who stays reserved on plays and jumps at the right time. He’s not the fastest or the stronges,t but engages physically and uses his stick to disrupt lanes. He’s got a great eye for where plays are and how he can position himself on or away from the puck to make an impact, though his forward thinking can put him out of position if any when his linemates falter. He’s continuing to learn how to incorporate his size and well-rounded style into a breakaway package, but undoubtedly has the positioning, work ethic, and grit to emerge as a serious pro. |
| Matthew Soto, C KINGSTON (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Soto is a dunamic and physical forward with a nost for the puck. He’s physical and active, throwing hits off-puck and protecting the puck with his body very well. He keeps his head up to find plays, though he has a habit for forcing the puck through traffic. Still, Soto makes an impact every shift. He plays the breakout well, he gets downhill quick, and he beats opponents on the puck. With some coaching, he could develop into an impactful pro. |
| Melvin Novotny, RW LEKSAND JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Grinder | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Novotny is a feisty winger with a great frame. He’s incredibly energetic and gets under opponents’ skin when he drives down the boards. Seeks out play well and makes the extra effort to make a play happen. A quick passer and fierce finisher in-tight, and his puck control has seemed consistent. He’s sharp-edged and impactful. Knows how to make plays in the corners and on the boards. Not a flashy play-creator, but Novotny has been the one to do the dirty work for his line this year. |
| Luke Mistelbacher, LW/RW SWIFT CURRENT (WHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Mistelbacher fills his role well, and has the active stick, puck skills, heads-up vision, and stout frame to make plays when action comes his way. He doesn’t mess up often, and jumps in to fill the backcheck, throw hits, or facilitate transition. Those well-rounded styles are great to pick up, but Mistelbacher is missing a jump or particular quickness that’d take his game to a strong, projectable level. If he adds that layer, he could be a great role player at a pro level – but I’d hesitate to bet on him too quickly. |
| Caeden Herrington, RHD LINCOLN (USHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | A stout defender who checks a lot of boxes. Great stick, makes quick decisions with the puck, jumps into the rush well, hard shot, stays open for passes, fills gaps. He’s really developed into a strong puck-mover who supports transition up the ice very well. Herrington’s physicality helps him a lot in the corners and low slot, but he struggles to stop opponents at the blue line. Needs more grit, gumption, and fundamental defense – but his size and quick skating make that growth achievable, and his jump on offense and goal-scoring ability are exciting. |
| Shamar Moses, RW NORTH BAY (OHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Moses is nifty on both sides of the puck. He makes smart poke checks, gains possession cleanly, and makes quick plays to teammates. He fills a fine role along the boards and controls the defensive blue-line better than many wingers his age. But he lacks much of an explosive step, or agility – making it hard for him to quickly react to changes in direction or pace. He’s got the size to engage physically and makes an impact – but will need more juniors years to bring his game to the level it needs to be. |
| Asher Barnett, LHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Barnett is an intelligent two-way defender. He knows the fundamentals well and applies them every single shift. He’s technical and controls the puck well in both directions – closing opponents off with his stick-checks and driving up ice with strong stickhandling. He finds passes up the ice well, but doesn’t create through traffic as much as you’d like. In that way, he’s shy of a lot of creative pieces that’d really takeover his game. He’ll enter college looking for a groove that’ll define him – after honing his technical talent and ability to lead a locker room in juniors. |
| Mason Kraft, C CEDAR RAPIDS (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | A hefty forward who drives downhill incredibly well. He sees passing lanes from a distance and puts oomph behind everything he does. But struggles to change directions or get back on turnovers. Needs some more finesse in making the small plays too. Plays through contact very well, great nose for the slot, hard shot, good offensive instinct. He’s just gotta get out of some very young traits. If he improves his positioning, gets a stronger jump, and stops trying to force big plays – he’s got a pretty clean path to being an effective prospect. All the pieces are there. |
| Owen Martin, C SPOKANE (WHL) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Martin is a very fundamental forward. He’s responsible in his positioning, how he pressures opponents, and how he moves up the ice with possession. Not the quickest skater, but he’s nimble in his stickhandling and finds quick passes easily. Works well in systems and a special teams specialist. Good instinct for where to be, but doesn’t engage opponents with his stick or body enough to make a huge impact. He needs something more – a jump, more strength, more confident driving – that could bring his game to a top level, but as it stands he’s a responsible all-three-zones forward with great PK upside. |
| Mans Goos, G FARJESTAD (SWEDEN) Style: Technician | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Goos has a great frame and gets it to the puck well. His movements are more efficient than they are quick, but he gets powerful push-offs and stops on his spot. And his up-downs – or getting in-and-out of his butterfly – are very fast and controlled for such a big goalie. And Goos’ coverage of his corners is simply fantastic. His hands move fast and he follows the puck all the way to the save. But his control of rebounds needs some serious honing, and Goos can be susceptible to being beat in-tight. That’s a big weakness in an otherwise pretty solid package. |
| Frantisek Netusil, C MN WILDERNESS (NAHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | A beefy centerman who pushes through traffic and applies strong pressure. He keeps a stick on opponents and controls both slots well. Strong on the puck when he gets it but slows down a tad. Has a great nose for the net and becomes a dangerous option anywhere below the tops of the circles. But he’s struggled to seek out the puck at tougher levels, and can struggle to keep his downhill drive through pressure. He’s great physically – really has an edge – but struggles with discipline. He’d rather throw the big hit. An exciting player with upside, but lots of areas to improve. |
| Hayden Paupanekis, C KELOWNA (WHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | A lanky forward in all regards. Keeps his hands in front of him, patrols the middle lane well, uses a long reach to disrupt opponents, and plays through contact. Has a great eye for how to stay open to play in the middle lane, and doesn’t get caught behind the puck very often. Makes quick plays well, but he’s missing a layer of jump and independent drive. Part of that is thanks to how often he’s in traffic – and he does well at making plays with bodies on him. But he’ll need another step to become a pro-level play-creator – though the pieces are there. |
| Reese Hamilton, LHD REGINA (WHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Hamilton is an active defender on his own side of the red. He squares up opponents well on the rush and uses an active stick and smart positioning to keep opponents out of the slot. He’s not the biggest or strongest, but engages physically to defend the slot or fight through corner battles. Does well at making the first pass on the breakout, then following it up to make sure the puck crosses the blue. But he’s fallen to utter silence on the offensive side of the puck, and can even look a bit lost with what to do at times. His defensive accumen has been underrated this year, but his quiet season is pulling him down the draft board. |
| Jooa Sammalniemi, G LUKKO (FINLAND) Style: Commander | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Sammalniemi has a great stance. He makes small movements very smoothly, floating between each angle and always well positioned to make a stop. He clutches the puck strong when holding in rebounds or handling flurries. But his pursuit to be down and engaged on every puck can leave his top a bit exposed – and leave Sammalniemi open to leaving just a bit too much space. It hasn’t been an issue that’s bit him so far, but I find it hard to think that top-level pros won’t pick his corners. With that said, few goaltenders at this age make saves so deliberately and consistently. Sammalniemi is a player you can trust for 60 minutes, more often than not. That’s valuable. |
| Tommy Lafreniere, RW KAMLOOPS (WHL) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Lafreniere is a nifty and nimble forward. He’s great in-tight and has very quick and controlled stickhandling. Makes small plays quickly, coordinates with his teammates well. Has a great eye for lanes working into space in the offensive end too. He gets pucks over both blue lines well, but wanders outside of the offensive end. Will need to build out his frame and get a jump away from the puck, but his ability to think and act quick is impressive and impactful. |
| Jonas Woo, RHD MEDICINE HAT (WHL) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Woo is fast and dynamic. His skating is fantastic, edges are sharp, moves laterally in small spaces extremely well and gets to his positions quick. His stickhandling is clean and controlled, passes are hard and confident, decisions are sharp. It’s hard to question a lot of his on-puck. But his lack of size glares through away from the puck. He’s not physical in the D-zone and get beats on the entry. This is a frame of fantastic raw offensive talent, but one that’ll need a good investment to bring to a top level. |
| Dmitri Isayev, RW YEKATERINBURG JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: C+, Range: Top 150 | Isayev is a nimble forward with quick hands. He seeks out the puck without pushing out of position too far, and reacts quick to chances to jump in for a loose puck or push the puck up the ice. He gets over lines well and generally finds space well. He also engages physically very well for his size. Not the strongest, not even strong enough to engage like he does – but he still throws hits, jumps into puck battles, throws his shoulders. If he adds strength he could be really enticing – the puckhandling and play-creation aspects are clear. But size will be an uphill battle. |
| C (Top 175) |
| Émile Guité, LW CHICOUTIMI (QMJHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Guite is a beefy, shoot-first forward who’s at his best in the middle layer of the offensive end. He controls the puck well but doesn’t stay down on it, which makes him easy to strip even though his size gives him clear advantage. He’s a bit directionless in his movements as well – and doesn’t seek out possession like his peers. Could use a boost of drive through the neutral zone too. But Guite is impactful in the offensive end. His shot is fantastic and he’s increasing his ability to fight for space in the low slot. Those are great traits to hone quickly if you’re working to be drafted into the NHL – the other layers of fundamentals and finesse can come with time. Good power skater too. |
| Elliot Dube, C SAINT JOHN (QMJHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Dube is a stocky forward who follows plays and gets his nose dirty. He’s physical and engaged enough to shut down opponents and win back possession. But he lacks a lot of overwhelming finesse, and struggles to create on the puck as a result. An impactful role player, but one that needs some sharpening to bring up the traits outside of his size and pursuit. |
| Tyler Hopkins, RW KINGSTON (OHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A stalwart in the offensive zone. Holds his position and gets into passing lanes well, gets to loose pucks and holds onto possession even better. He pursues the puck well on defense and supports the breakout, but needs some help getting the puck over the blue. Fine in transition. Needs to find a spark before he’s an impactful pro, but his style is cohesive enough to lend itself to solid upside. |
| Jack Ivankovic, G BRAMPTON (OHL) Style: Athlete | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Ivankovic is an extremely athletic goalie. He moves fast, clean, and fluid – in an impressive way. His glove is quick and he sees the puck all the way through. But he struggles to reach the second slot, and his small frame leaves big holes that he has to be super athletic to cover. He has an exciting style, but will be an upside bet in many different regards in this draft. |
| Richard Baran, LHD DES MOINES (USHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A tall, stocky defender with an active stick. Baran makes his best plays along the boards, and controls entry over his blue line very well. Knows how to shut down opponents’ drive to the middle, force them outside, and close out play on the walls. Good physicality in all zones, controls the slot well because of it. Not much of an offensive asset – but a strong passer who sits back on plays well. A mature, well-vetted safety net. |
| Bobby Cowan, RW MADISON (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A nifty winger who gets to his spots very, very quickly and knows how to support his teammates well. Cowan’s jumps like a bullet and has great edgework. His hands are quick and he finds passes fast. Doesn’t push out of his lane often, and can struggle to get into the low-slot, but he orchestrates well with his teammates to mitigate those weaknesses. Has upside as a special teams asset on the back of decent physicality and strong positioning. |
| Tomas Galvas, LHD LIBEREC (CZECHIA) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Galvas controls the puck fantastically well. He sees lanes through opponents clear and knows how to get through them with possession. He makes strong, quick passes and keeps moving after handing it off. But for as active as he is away from the puck, he doesn’t yet have much of an instinct of when to jump in – and doesn’t keep his stick or body active. He’s a bit one-dimensional – but that one dimension is great puck-movement and strong control of the neutral zone. |
| Nathan Quinn, RW QUEBEC (QMJHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Quinn is one of those wingers that always seems to be in the right spot. He puts himself in important areas on the breakout and break-in, and patrols the lower-third of the offensive zone well. His passing is strong, though he’s not always sharp with his decisions. Quinn can also get caught flat-footed, both on and off of the puck. He’ll have to learn to continue making impactful plays in stride to translate to the next step – but the pieces of an impactful role player are there. |
| Cooper Simpson, LW SHAKOPEE (HIGH-MN) Style: Sniper | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A hefty and explosive winger. Drives through opponents with power and fights his way into the low slot. Style is defined by a powerful shot. But can look disengaged when play isn’t headed his way. Simpson has strong hands and good offensive instinct, but he’ll need to formalize his attacking quite a bit to bring it to a point where he can work off the boards against juniors/college/pro competition. He’s a great upside bet but we’ll see what his true upside is when he moves to the next step. |
| Jimmy Lombardi, C FLINT (OHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A stocky forward who is always tilted downhill. Lombardi gains a lot of speed breaking out of the zone and continues it all the way through the endboards. He gets on opponents quick and knows how to harass them with his stick. But he struggles to get inside on opponets with the puck on his stick, and doesn’t yet have the physicality to really win onut space. He’ll be a player with a lot to add, but the energy he brings to a shift is really fun to watch. |
| Linards Feldbergs, G SHERBROOKE (QMJHL) Style: Technician | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Feldbergs is another technically sound netminder. He faces shots head-on and does very well at putting himself into the right position to make a stop, even on the rebound. He’s quick and athletic – but far from flashy. One of those goalies who can buy the defender some time no matter how bad they get beat, but he struggles to handle too much of a bombardment. That may not be a recipe for a clear-cut starter, but Feldbergs is responsible in an encouraging way. He looks like he could offer some very helpful flexibility one day. |
| Nicholas Sykora, RW SIOUX CITY (USHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Sykora is a heavy winger with a whip of a shot that he can launch in-stride or flat-footed. His puck-handling is strong enough to get around, but his skating stance and edgework don’t give him the jump to beat defenders on every rush. He can be a bit directionless away from the puck, even turning his attention away from play for the point of finding his position at times. It limits his impact, and he’ll need to fix his direction to adapt to pros. Still, his style, strength, and rounded-out skillset have been admired for years. |
| Alexander Pershakov, RW SIBIRSKIE (RUSSIA) Style: Sniper | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Pershakov is a lanky forward who sees the ice well. His puck control is fantastic, and he keeps his head up going down the ice. Uses it to circle the offensive zone to force lanes open and exploit them when they do. His shot is fantastic. Deceptive and whippy. But Pershakov has a tendency to float around zones, and little awareness for when he gets in the way. Doesn’t stop on plays. And very independent in his creating. He has a lot of strong traits, but would need to pull them together more for the NHL. |
| Will Sharpe, LHD KELOWNA (WHL) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Sharpe is a neutral zone defender. He controls blue-to-blue very well, with responsible stickhandling offensively and smart rush defense on the other side. He works with his forwards to move up the ice well, and does well at jumping up into the rush to exploit a weakness or keep pressure on. But he’s not particularly effective near either endboards, and without a super high top-speed he can struggle to get back when his aggression pushes him too far out. I like his framework, but he’ll need to stay a sharp and impactful defender into the next flight. |
| Matia Nico Birchler, G ZUG (SWISS) Style: Commander | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Birchler moves lightning quick with everything he does. He makes confident, sharp movements and adjusts very fast to juicy rebounds or second chances. He’s big, too – which makes all of those fast movements that much more meaningful. But Birchler struggles to see the puck through bodies, leaving him especially susceptible to dangerous shots from the slot – putting him on the backfoot on the power-play especially. He’s undoubtedly an athletic netminder. That’s a great package to build off of. But Birchler will need to grow in many ways to take that athleticism to the next level. |
| Ashton Schultz, C/LW CHICAGO (USHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Ashton Schultz has been a great addition for the Steel. He’s an exciting winger when the puck comes his way, with quick hands and strong skating giving him the ability to slice around opponents and get up the ice quick. He keeps his head up and finds his centerman well, which has proven a great tandem with Teddy Mutryn. Schultz provides the shot and up-zone control to match Mutryn’s low-zone control. Schultz has a slight frame and doesn’t engage physically particularly well, but he has a nose for the puck and makes things happen when he gets it. |
| Jake Merens, RW SIOUX FALLS (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Merens is a responsible and effective winger. He holds his positions well in all three zones, fills the lane, and steps up to make the small plays well. Smooth movements, smooth skating. His passing is his defining trait – he sees and makes quick plays well. But Merens doesn’t have the jump or initiative to takeover play, and doesn’t engage physically well. He has growth ahead of him – but there are clear pro-translatable traits here. Has some slick hands too … and a great head-fake when he attacks head on – or so the USHL’s finest say! |
| Artem Vilchinskiy, LHD SKA ST. PETERSBURG JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Two Way Defenseman | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | A nifty defender with great size. Seeks out plays on the puck and makes em well. That’s thanks to great edgework and strong puck-skills. Has an awesome eye for finding where to position himself to make an impact. But doesn’t generate many chances despite flashy play, and while he’s plenty physical he doesn’t often win his battles. Needs help to clear the slot or work out of the corners. Tries to stretch the breakout. He does defend the rush well enough, though – great reach and smooth skating. Has the framework of a flashy skillset but needs more backing it. |
| Love Harenstam, G SKELLEFTEA JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Technician | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Harenstram’s game is defined by an exemplary ability to get his chest to the puck. He jumps at shots with much more direction and control than it sometimes seems, and does well at controlling loose pucks. He’s agile and has a great eye for seeing the puck through traffic. But his corners are a bit weak, and while he doesn’t let up a lot of rebounds – he can get caught leaving open space on his sides when he does. I’ve found his game very determined and moldable, but he’ll have a lot of bumps to round out before he’s a pro goalie. |
| Eric Nilson, C DJURGARDEN JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Nilson is a lanky center who fills the high role well. He has good vision and a long reach that he uses to cover a lot of space. Knows how to use his wingers to get up the ice quick and orchestrates play with great passing. Has a laser shot when he gets the space. But Nilson’s skating leaves a lot to be desired. His movements take some extra effort, and he’s not yet quick enough to jump on opponents as they break out. He has strong, lanky traits – but without a step or much physicality, he’s not a bet I’d make too early. |
| Alexander Zharovsky, LW/C TOLPAR UFA (RUSSIA) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Zharovsky is a great puck-handler. He uses his body to protect possession and sees across the ice very well. He’s a playmaker at its finest, excelling at holding onto the puck and working through space until a chance opens up, then dishing quick passes into space to make something happen. He’s got a good jump when he bends his knees and drives – but that’s rare. Zharovsky doesn’t yet move his feet, and doesn’t jump towards play if doing so would mean pulling out of position. He’s quite moot off of the puck, but the build of a very smart play-creator is there in full. |
| Maceo Phillips, LHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Tall | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Phillips has a massive frame and impressive hands considering it. He controls space in the slot with an active stick and gets into the corners quickly. When he knocks the puck loose, Phillips has the edges and quick hands to quickly spark a breakout. But he’s still learning how to play in his frame. He’s surprisingly unphysical for his size – but has such a clear advantage that he’ll have time to add that edge in. That’ll be the challenge he faces in college – surviving through tougher physicality, maintain his impact, and speed up his decision making. If he does that, Phillips has the foundation to head towards pros. |
| Tanner Lam, RW KITCHENER (OHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Lam is a fantastically dynamic forward. He’s got tremendous skating, with hard punch stops and sharp edges. His stickhandling is calm and controlled – and he gets the puck into space with strength and precision. He makes plays through traffic and drives through lanes very well. Great nose for the net and for creating plays in the middle layer, especially given his size. But that’s the drawback. Lam has to beat opponents with his stick, both on and off of the puck. He doesn’t have the size or strength to push through contact, and gets knocked off of challenging opponents on defense. He has every bit of mental sharpness, and his tools are fantastic – but he won’t be a top prospect until that physical layer comes in. |
| Hayden Harsanyi, C SWIFT CURRENT (WHL) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Harsanyi is a dynamic forward. He gets up ice and into space incredibly quick on the puck, with crisp and smooth hands. He keeps his head up and drives through opponents well, and has a nose for taking advantage of gaps between the defense with quick plays. But his game quiets down away from the puck, and he doesn’t engage physically in the areas that matter. Those really hold back his projection – but if a team can find a way to leverage his on-puck ability, he’s an interesting upside bet. |
| Gavin Cornforth, LW DUBUQUE (USHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: C, Range: Top 175 | Cornforth is hard-nosed. He’s a smart, fundamental player who pushes downhill hard, and oeprates from his spot very well. He orchestrates with teammates well on the flank, and makes hard plays in the lower-third of the ice. He pursues opponents and engages physically. He’s got a sharp edge, but doesn’t have the size. If he can pad on the weight, stay driven and physical, and sharpen up his play under pressure – he could be a stout, hard-working, and projectable forward. |
| C- (Top 200) |
| Bruno Osmanis, C BJORKLOVEN (SWEDEN-2) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Osmanis is a beefy winger who holds space well. He works through lanes without sacrificing much positioning, and does very well at locking up opponents with his body. He’s got an eye for where play is headed and supports things well. Not scared to jump in and get involved either – and his strength is a noticeable plus. But while he’s definitely creative on the puck, and makes quick passes well, he’s missing a chunk of puck control and heads-up decision making that’d elevate his game. He’s a smart mind and big frame, but is still working on how to fold those traits into a translatable package. |
| Ethan Wyttenbach, RW SIOUX FALLS (USHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Wyttenbach is a hefty forward who hustles to every single play. He’s not the fastest, and he’s fairly positionless which leads to long routes to the puck. But he has a nose for getting involved and knows how to hit through opponents with his stick and body. His eye for moving the puck is something else – few players in the USHL have shown as much poise in orchestrating the rush up the ice or keeping the puck in space offensively. He also picks corners fantastically well, with a clean, hard shot. But how Wyttenbach floats around all three zones in distracting, and leads him into trouble more than it leads him to chances. He’s also missing an explosive step that leaves you wanting more. He’s a beefy, impactful winger – but he’s also very unrefined, and will need some solid development to reach the point of a solid pro. With that said, I think the pieces of an impactful bottom-six pro are there… but this isn’t a pick for the wary. |
| Artemii Nizameev, RW TRI-CITY (USHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | A shifty winger who gets on the puck a ton. Moves well on defense, follows the play, and jumps in quick. Can beat defenders head-on with his stickhandling, but losing some control at top speed. Makes good passes but doesn’t necessarily look in sync. Killer shot, stout build. A fine talent to leave the late draft with. |
| Nikita Tyurin, LHD SPARTAK (RUSSIA) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Tyurin is a silky-skating defender with a great ability to orchestrate play at the blue line. He’s strong on the puck and makes strong passes. Sees lanes well. But he lacks creativity and jump – and fails to play physical or assertive enough to overwhelm play. Has some desirable traits but needs to add a lot behind em. |
| Teddy Townsend, C WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | A slick-moving centerman with high defensive awareness and a great motor. He’s grown an impressive amount in his ability to fight through contact on and off the puck, but is still finding how to make the little plays on the boards and at the blue. Townsend is smart and gets to his spots, but got a late start to his juniors career and is still growing in his all-around ability. |
| Harry Nansi, RW OWEN SOUND (OHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Nansi is a great physical presence. He’s got a sharp edge and drives through opponents to get to his spot. Knows how to make plays in traffic, and use his shoulders to hold open space. Makes smart, hard passes in stride. But he doesn’t create much on or off the puck, and could improve his overall finesse. He’s got a pro frame and physicality, but will need the sharpness to match. |
| Roberto Leonardo Henriquez, G GREEN BAY (USHL) Style: Commander | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Henriquez is a robotic and sharp goaltender. He has an athletic stance and moves with a lot of impressive speed and control. Stops on a dime. Has great size but hsi stance is tucked… leaves the corners open because of it, but I think he’ll grow out of it. His composure and sharp movements are impressive. Henriquez has serious upside – and I think a strong chance to reach it as he matures his style and gets more opportunity. It’s hard to be a sure bet as a goalie, but I’d feel like I missed out if Henriquez went unclaimed on draft day. |
| Edison Engle, LHD DUBUQUE (USHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Engle is a responsible, defensive-defenseman who patrols the boards well. He squares up to opponents in the rush and does well at forcing them into the boards with his stick. He’s not necessarily strong, but is certainly physical enough to win battles on the boards and in the slot. He’s also added a dash more play-driving every single season, on the back of fine enough stickhandling. But Engle will need to fold in more athleticism and a stronger first step to keep that up at the next level. If he does, he could carve out a pro niche that’s led many others to solid careers. |
| Tinus Luc Koblar, C LEKSAND JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Koblar is a slot-to-slot centerman who stays glued to the middle lane. Shuts down cross-ice passes with a long reach, and has the frame to compete for space in either slot. He’s a dazzling puck-handler, with great control even at full reach – and very quick and effortless plays. Gets the puck into space and on teammates’ sticks well. But he’s not a creator, and needs play to drive through him to has his flashy moments. Seems to be missing a jump and whole-zone impact that’d flesh his game out – but the framework here is a lanky puck-specialist who adheres to his middle-lane role very well. |
| Elijah Neuenschwander, G FRIBOURG-GOTTERON (SWISS) Style: Commander | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Neuenschwander faces shots head-on incredibly well. He’s confident and connected with his body, seeing the puck well and getting his body to shots. He’s really quick, too – jumping from spot-to-spot and making small ajdustments fast. But Neuenschwander has to face shots directly to make a save, and he doesn’t adjust until the puck moves. That can put him one step behind the puck, or make him susceptible to hard and fast passes. But his speed and athleticism are hard to ignore – he’ll be a prospect to follow, and could develop a uniquely-strong style, capable of jumping between shots quickly, should he add a few more pieces to his game. |
| Luke Goukler, LW CHICAGO (USHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Smooth-moving forward who seeks plays out well. Stays in the right spot and makes good decisions with the puck. Knows how to step into an opponent and win the puck. Takes great paths when driving the puck, and knows how to play the puck into space to get around/through opponents. And a killer shot – you can’t leave him alone anywhere in the offensive end. Goukler is lacking an instinct and sharpness – and needs to bulk up – but the decisions he makes to make plays happen are interesting. He’s a keen and orchestrated forward, who – if he adds said instinct and bulk – could have some major upside. |
| Blake Arrowsmith, RW NIAGARA (OHL) Style: Sniper | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Arrowsmith is a lumbering forward who keeps up with play well. He’s smooth and generally faster than you’d expect with his heft. His puckhandling is strong, but his decision making under duress could use work. His shot is as hard as they come, but he has to be a bit slow-moving to use it best. He’s lacking a jump that’d really bring his game up, and skates with an unattractive hunch that’s gonna need some major refining at the next level. Even then, Arrowsmith’s creativity could pose a barrier. But with all of that said, I like his frame and how well he matches play. He’s a player I’d take late and hope he grows well deep in my prospect pool. |
| Brooks Cullen, C MOORHEAD (HIGH-MN) Style: Playmaker | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Cullen is a stocky, very fundamental playmaker. He’s got smooth skating, a strong stance, and smooth stickhandling – and the keen understanding of how to get through lanes off the entry. His passing is slick – he gets the puck under legs and into dangeorus areas well. But his level of competition is an obvious tag – and it does seem he’ll need to become a bit more adjusted to playing through contact and making dirty plays at the next level. He’s a high IQ, diligent player – and great leader. Where that’ll land him despite the question-marks is tough to predict. |
| Mikhail Fyodorov, C MAGNITOGORSK JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Fyodorov is a great facilitator. He receives the puck well and has long, lanky arms/skating that he uses to get the puck into open space. But he’s far from the most refined player. His plays, even the ones that work very well, are sloppy – and he could afford to be more engaged and physical on defense. He makes plays in open space and fights into the dirty areas with his size, and makes good plays, but will need time to turn that into pro capability. |
| Jakub Dubravik, LW ZILINA (SLOVAKIA) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: C-, Range: Top 200 | Dubravik is a beefy, physical forward that’s great at making small area plays. He’s physical in open ice and gritty along the boards. He’s generally quick to make a play but does get a bit rushed under pressure, and is far from the sharpest with any of his finesse. He’s also very easy to miss when play opens up, and doesn’t fight for space down lane like he’ll need at the next level. Certainly a lot to like here – his physicality is impressive – but he needs to find a jump. |
| D+ (Top 225) |
| Blake Vanek, RW STILLWATER (USHS-MN) Style: Power Forward | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | A beefy forward who blows through opponents with strong skating and heavy shoulders. He battles well along the boards and finds his way to clear space in the open. And his shot is fantastic. But he needs major honing to turn his talents into something that’ll translate to the junior, and the pro, flights. |
| Dominik Petr, LW BRANDON (WHL) Style: Power Forward | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | A diligent forward who finds plays around both slots well. He’s got a sharp eye and quick playmaking ability. Good height too, but needs to really build out his frame. Petr’s instincts and ability to fill the center role are strong, but he has work ahead of him to bring that to a pro level. |
| Chase Jette, RW WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | A quick-moving grinder who fills his roles but doesn’t jump out very often. He keeps an active stick and gets under opponents’ skin. Great at defending the slot and pushing the puck over the blue. Sharp-edged. Wins faceoffs, good defensive acumen, throws the body. But he needs some control to become the defense-first forward he seems set to be. |
| Rio Kaiser, LHD PETERBOROUGH (OHL) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | Kaiser is a towering defender who moves decently well given how lanky his huge frame is. He can make plays on the puck, but is also susceptible to being caught on his heels by opponents breaking downhill. He engages physically – though needs some more strength – but generally needs some more direction to really make an impact. That could, should come with more experience in juniors. |
| Ilyas Magomedsultanov, LHD YAROSLAVL JR. (RUSSIA-JR.) Style: Tall | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | A very tall and built out defender who engages opponents very well with his stick and his body. He’s strong and uses that to stop the rush at the blue-line and clear out the slot. But Magomedsultanov doesn’t spark the play moving forward particularly well, meaning a bet on him in the draft will be a bet on his defensive talents holding true over the next few years. |
| Peyton Kettles, RHD SWIFT CURRENT (WHL) Style: Tall | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | Kettles is still learning how to use what is a very tall and slim frame. He uses his stick well to both close off the rush and control space from the low-slot. His passing is hard, but his ability to stay down on the puck still needs some work. He’s a bit of a bambi in a lot of regards – but many clamor about the impact he makes despite that. |
| Drew Schock, LHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | A slick-moving, quick stickhandler with strong passes and a great ability to back the rush. But seems to only be able to move in one direction – forward. When he gets caught defending the rush, or trying to clear out the D-zone – he can struggle. He has plenty of raw talent that lends itself to upside, regardless of his role – the challenge of a drafting team will be fitting him into a mold. |
| Nolen Geerdes, LHD ROGERS (HIGH-MN) Style: Offensive Defenseman | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | Smooth skating defender who moves his feet quick and controls the puck extremely well. Has found a lot of space crashing down the boards, and works well with his teammates in the middle when he gets stopped up. Good shot from the blue-line and high scoring upside. But needs some major maturing to most aspects of his game… holding the blue, defending the lower-third, playing physically, playing through contact, creating space for his forwards. All things that’ll need to be added as he adjusts to juniors, college, and pros. |
| Lucas Beckman, G BAIE-COMEAU (QMJHL) Style: Technician | Grade: D+, Range: Top 225 | Beckman is a quick goalie on the back of very powerful movements. He’s agile and gets to his spots. Sees the puck all the way through to the save, even from distance. Doesn’t cough up loose pucks – really makes sure to swallow everything that comes in, and has the glove to support his corners. But still gets beat high more than I’d like, and is subject to losing focus in high-event situations. Upside is there, power movements are there, but he needs honing to get to a pro level. |
| D (Fringe) |
| Henry Lechner, LW/C HOLY ANGELS (USHS-MN) Style: Playmaker | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | Good frame. Good passing. Fills lanes well. Drives downhill. Great on the puck, quick hands. Needs better decision making, quicker pace, sharper processing. We’ll see what juniors brings – but he’s a prospect to keep an eye on. |
| Patrick Quinlan, G USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Commander | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | Quinlan is a lanky goaltender with great vision. Sees at a distance and through traffic well, and reacts quick with his hands. Movements are smooth and composed, but far from flashy or exciting. He’s well-rounded in every aspect, and has stood up to a hard role all year long. |
| Joey Slavick, G USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Athlete | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | Slavick is an athletic goalie who gets around the crease in a blink and has a great glove. But he’s really needed to learn to control his movements and square up to the puck. He still has a ways to go, but I’ve seen enough to think he’s a reasonable upside bet. |
| Oscar Westman, G BRYNAS JR. (SWEDEN-JR.) Style: Technician | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | A stout goalie who follows the puck well and moves smooth and quick in both his up-downs and side-to-side movements. Makes saves head on well. But doesn’t clinch the puck or control rebounds well by any means. Leaves a big weakness in an otherwise pretty well-rounded and effective style. Needs to round out his game, though the groundwork of a pro goalie is there. |
| Donato Bracco, LHD USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Defensive Defenseman | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | Don Bracco plays the defensive position well. He fills his lane, keeps an active stick, engages opponents, sparks breakouts with strong passes, and doesn’t get in the way. But he does it all from one step behind – and gets beat against top-level opponents because of it. His style is well-rounded, albeit not overwhelming. For teams looking to fill out their defensive depth, he’s a late-round bet that you can mold. |
| Jake Stuart, C USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Two Way Forward | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | Stuart is a diligent, defense-first center. He’s very fundamental in the middle lane, and knows how to transition from defense to supporting the breakout seamlessly. Makes quick passes well and serves as a reliable safety net for his line, but he doesn’t get downhill enough to inspire much excitement. He has great hockey IQ and strong fundamentals. Will need to add something to take those traits to the next level in college. |
| Nicholas Kosiba, RW WATERLOO (USHL) Style: Grinder | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | A hefty winger who finds the puck well. He never stops moving, to benefit and fault. He’s a smooth and fast skater, and handles the puck well when he gets it. But Kosiba needs to boost his physicality and stick checking to make an impact. His decision making on puck and ability to get into danger areas in the offensive end both need a boost, though. That’ll keep him low, but the pieces of a strong prospect seem there. |
| L.J. Mooney, LW USA U-18 (NTDP) Style: Puck Mover | Grade: D, Range: Fringe | There are few players in this age class that handle the puck as smoothly and precisely as Mooney. He’s careful and sharp – and makes great plays to beat opponents one-on-one. He drives to the net and has strong finishing in tight. But, frankly, he hasn’t shown the strength to push through juniors level contact – and it’s impacted his scoring and ability to routinely beat defenders. He’ll be a hard bet to make with more growth needed to get to this level, but his talent is so very clear – and he’s a great kid. |
Full list –
