Carlos Handel – McKeen's Hockey

2026 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Recap- December 27th, 2025- Game Summaries – Standout Performances – Notable Draft Eligible Prospects

Kyle Pereira and Linc Zdancewicz — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:45:29 +0000

The second day of the 2026 World Juniors was another fun day here in Minnesota, with a loaded schedule.

SLOVAKIA v GERMANY

To kick off the day in Grand Casino Arena, Slovakia took on Germany as both teams look to bounce back from losses on day one. In the first period, Slovakia absolutely dominated. Tomas Chrenko opened the day with a seeing eye shot amidst chaos. Then, on their second power play of the day, Chrenko snagged another goal off a brilliant feed from Adam Nemec, who would record his second assist of the game. Going into the second, the Germans had an uphill battle to climb. They played much better, with Timo Kose standing out the most. However, Slovakia would get another powerplay off a really bad high stick, and Chrenko would strike yet again, recording a hat trick in his second career World Juniors game. Germany kept the momentum going into the third period, striking just past the halfway point. Dustin Willhoft, off an indirect feed, had a strong net drive that he put five hole on Michal Pradel. But Slovakia put the nail in the coffin, as Adam Belusko scored from deep in his own end on the empty net, short-handed.

MVP’s

GERMANY: Fabio Kose, Timo Kose, Carlos Handel

SLOVAKIA: Tomas Chrenko, Michal Pradel, Adam Belusko

LATVIA v CANADA

Day Two in Mariucci Arena began in a similar way to last year's matchup, and Latvia played their patented annoying and grinding style of play against the Canadians. Getting knees and sticks on lanes worked well for Latvia as they outshot the Canadians after period one as the score remained locked at zero. Canada got their first goal of the game soon after a five-minute major from Martins Klaucans, Cole Reschny converted off of a McKenna feed. The Canadians were only able to generate one goal on the five-minute advantage. As the second wound down the game went back and forth as both teams got quality chances on the rush. The Latvians and Czechs have seemed to expose a grave weakness of Canada’s on rushes as they have struggled to defend them in their first two games. The game stayed close to the wire until with just under two minutes, Rudolfs Berzkalns ties it late, bringing up bad memories for Canadians everywhere. However, crucially, the Canadians were bailed out by a delay of game penalty by Latvia’s, Roberts Naudins. The penalty carried over to OT, where McKenna found Michael Hage for the clincher. Latvia, for the second year in a row, took Canada to their absolute limit. However, the talent of the Canadians won the day in this nailbiter.

MVP’s

Canada: Michael Hage, Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone

Latvia: Nils Maurins, Rudolfs Berzkalns, Alberts Smits

USA v SWITZERLAND

The Swiss open their tournament against the back-to-back Gold medalists. Early on, Switzerland took it to the US, who were playing pretty sloppy. But when the US started getting their chances, especially on their powerplay, Christian Kirsch stood on his head. He stonewalled Cole Eiserman several times and made several stops in tight after the powerplay ended. Unfortunately for Switzerland, the US started the second with a bang, as Brodie Ziemer ripped one that was tipped off a Swiss defender and over the blocker. It was started by a great play along the boards by Will Horcoff, then a nifty drop pass by James Hagens. About halfway through the second, the US lost Cole Hutson to a scary injury, when he took a puck to the back of the neck and had to be stretchered off. Soon after, the Swiss would score off a beautiful point shot from Basile Sansonnens. A few minutes later, Will Zellers would roof a shot top corner on the short side, giving the US the lead back.

MVPs

USA: Chase Reid, Cole Eiserman, Teddy Stiga

Switzerland: Lars Steiner, Christian Krisch, Basile Sansonnens

DENMARK v CZECHIA

The final matchup on day two got underway with much fanfare at the beginning. The Czechs went up first off of a weird bounce off Vojtech Cihar’s stick. However, that momentum would be quashed after Tristan Petersen banged home a wild puck. That goal was the result of some dangerous Danish pressure that really challenged the Czechs for the majority of the first period. The Czechs would buck that early pressure by taking the lead on an amazing shot by Matej Kubiesa on a five-minute power play that was drawn by Denmark’s Jesper Olesen, who was ejected for a high hit. That Czech momentum would carry over to the second period as Vaclav Nestrasil sunk a pretty no-look snipe for the 3-1 lead on yet another power play. Though the Czechs were more talented throughout, the Danes played heavy and took advantage of many chances, creating breakaways, shutting down opposing offensive attacks. That opportunistic style of play came in handy when Oliver Larsen ripped home a quick snipe off a face off to bring the game within one score. The Czechs started to close the door at the end of the second, scoring two off the sticks off Adam Jiricek and Stepan Hoch, giving them a 5-2 lead. Starting in the third, the Czechs continued dominating with two more even strength goals from Tomas Galvas and Richard Zemlicka respectively. That was all she wrote as Czechia would fail to score on the two other power play chances given to them by Denmark, closing it out in dominant fashion, 7-2.

MVPS

Czechia: Vaclav Nestrasil, Matyas Marik, Adam Jiricek

Denmark: Oliver Green, Emil Jakobsen

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 27: Czechia's Vaclav Nestrasil #14 celebrates his second period goal against Denmark during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena at Mariucci on December 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Tim Austen/IIHF)

VACLAV NESTRASIL (CZE) 1G 2A

Probably the most dangerous offensive threat for Czechia on a day where their entire offense was buzzing. I am routinely impressed with the swiftness and ease that Nestrasil can skate with the puck at his mammoth 6-foot-6 frame. His skating has been very solid and noticeably better from his draft year, that’s been evident throughout his first two games. Nestrasil was also able to showcase his blistering shot, wiring a no-look snipe past Denmark early in the second. Though both of his assists were secondary, they both showed off his adept ability to set up chances in the offensive zone and on the rush respectively. Away from the puck, Nestrasil displayed energy and truculence against a Danish team that was certainly giving it back to the Czechs earlier on. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he now leads the Czech team in points. If he can carry over this monster start to this tournament to the rest of his season, he could be with the Blackhawks much sooner than previously thought.

CHRISTIAN KIRSCH (SUI) 0.900 SV%, 18/20

Kirsch was a massive reason behind just how close the Swiss came to winning this game. From the jump, he made several massive saves on breakaways, while also standing tall against several US powerplay attempts. While he did give up two goals in the end, if it wasn’t for Kirsch’s outstanding performance, especially in the first, the US could have pulled away fast.

COLE EISERMAN (USA)

Eiserman, while he was held off the score sheet, was one of the standouts in this game for the US. The Americans, like in their game against Germany, played sloppy, especially in the neutral zone. Eiserman was one of the few who were able to move the puck efficiently. Once in the offensive zone, especially on the powerplay, Eiserman was seemingly getting constant scoring chances. He could’ve had at least two goals in this game, if not for Kirsch.

DRAFT ELIGIBLES

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 27: Switzerland's Kimi Koerbler #89 and USAÕs Chase Reid #25 battle for the puck during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at Grand Casino Arena on December 27, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

CHASE REID (USA)

As he was a standout on day one, it was very difficult to not include him again on day two. He was arguably the best defenseman on the US blueline. He is so steady on the back end, getting in the right spots to prevent scoring chances against. When it comes to transporting the puck, Reid is one of the best in the tournament. He is so quick at reading the space and finding teammates moving up ice. He can connect consistently on some difficult stretch passes as well, that can really break open a shift. If he continues to stand out like this, he could really push his way into the top of the 2026 draft.

TOMAS CHRENKO (SVK) 3G

The speedy center came alive for the Slovaks on Day Two of this tournament, netting a hat trick in his second ever World Juniors game. Chrenko was a standout for the Slovaks due to his excellent play with HK Nitra so far this season. His first two goals were very crafty, greasy goals around the net as he showed that fight that has been so characteristic of his individual game and his national team's game. Though, Chrenko’s third goal was a lucky bounce off of a defender's stick, it was on track to hitting his fellow countryman Adam Nemec’s stick for a deflection. Chrenko has given Slovakia a serious boost in speed and energy throughout their two games this tournament. He was blazing past defenders in space against Germany today and was unrecoverable in the offensive zone.

Interview with Chase Reid

McKeens: Chase, you’re a draft-eligible of course, and these tournaments are usually dominated by older players. What is it like playing with these older guys and having such a big impact already?

CR: My teammates and coaches make it very easy to go out there and play my game every night, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have the opportunity to be here.

McKeens: What can you learn from these older guys at a tournament like this?

CR: Cole Hutson does some things with the puck that you’d want to do yourself, but I think just playing my game and making sure I’m making the easy plays that the other guys do and simplifying like they do.

McKeens: Going back a couple of years ago, you played with Waterloo in the USHL, things didn’t work out there and you moved to the NAHL. What’s changed from then to now, and what’s allowed you to be such an impact player?

CR: I’d say just my mindset going into everything. If you’re not first you’re last, so I think just going in with the mindset that I want to be the best in every situation I’m in, it all trends in the right direction from there.

McKeens: Going back to the tournament here, it’s important to have a tight group. Who are some of the guys in that locker room who keep everything light-hearted and fun behind the scenes?

CR: Yeah, Brodie Ziemer for sure. Hagens, Hutty [Hutson], Eiserman, everybody pulls their strings, and everybody does what they have to do to make sure the room’s an enjoyable place to come every day. I think we have a really tight group.

McKeens: Is there anyone who stands out as a trash-talker, on the ice to the other team or even behind the scenes?

CR: No, I wouldn’t say anyone chirps too much. Obviously, you give it to guys here and there but, nothing that overdoes it.

2026 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – GERMANY – Team Preview, Key Players and Draft Eligible Profiles

Chapin Landvogt — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:13:38 +0000

Last winter’s tournament was all about survival for Team Germany. Coach Tobias Abstreiter’s team got blown out by the USA in the tournament opener but kept things tight against both Finland and Canada before dropping a tough OT loss to recent nemesis Latvia. That placed them in the relegation round where they overcame a 3-1 second period deficit to defeat Kazakhstan 4-3 thanks to three straight power play goals including the game winner by captain and soon-to-be Chicago Blackhawks pick Julius Sumpf.

This year, Group A action will pit Team Germany against powerhouses Sweden and host USA while also seeing it face Slovakia and Switzerland, two opponents the team is very, very familiar with. And judging by the number of players either playing in North America (mostly in the CHL) or professionally in Germany, even the loss of Draft 2027 top prospect Max Penkin (leg injury) shouldn’t prevent the team from duking things out with both the Slovaks and Swiss for thirrd place in the group. Of course, one of these teams is going to end up in the relegation round and that’s not something the quality of this forward group should be content with. The team has its best goaltending in years, but the blueline will be somewhat unproven internationally. Will it be the Achilles heel? Coach Abstreiter felt it strong enough to leave a healthy and hulking Rio Kaiser off the roster, a former OHLer who is currently getting solid playing time in Germany’s top 2 pro divisions.

One way or another, if Team Germany goes down, it’ll not be without a considerable fight.

Key Players to Watch

FRISCO, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Germany's Carlos Handel #7 passes the puck during Preliminary Round - Group B action against Czechia at 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on April 24, 2025 in Frisco, Texas, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

Carlos Händel – Defense (Montreal Canadiens)

Although the 2025 Montreal Canadians draft pick is, statistically, simply repeating his somewhat below-average season of yesterday for the Moncton Wildcats, he’s always picked up the pace when donning a German jersey. For this team, he’ll be the ne plus ultra on the blueline and likely the biggest minute-muncher on the team. It’s a role he’s always thrived in internationally. Furthermore, he’s the one defenseman who can constantly lug the puck up the ice for what looks like a very defensively oriented blueline.

241230 David Lewandowski of Germany looks dejected during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Germany and Latvia on December 30, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN / kod MB / MB1036

David Lewandowski – Center (Edmonton Oilers)

Fittingly for a German player whose style has somewhat emulated that of Leon Draisaitl in several aspects, Lewandowski was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in last summer’s draft and has only taken steps since. At the moment, he’s scoring at a PPG pace for the Saskatoon Blades, meaning he’ll be one of Germany’s absolute go-to players for this tournament. He has highs and lows, but if Coach Abstreiter can tickle those highs out of him for roughly 10 days this holiday season, then Lewandowski will be the closest thing this team has to a one-man wrecking crew up front.

FRISCO, TEXAS - APRIL 27: Switzerland's Manuel Von Rohr #13 pokes the puck away from Germany's Maxim Schafer #10 during Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on April 27, 2025 in Frisco, Texas, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

Maxim Schäfer – Wing (Washington Capitals)

Having arrived on the scene somewhat unexpectedly for DEL champ Eisbären Berlin last season, the 6-foot-3 Schäfer became a 3rd rounder for the Washington Capitals on the heels of a three-goal performance at the U18 Worlds. Now he’s putting up almost a point per game in the QMJHL while adjusting better than expected to life in North America. He’ll be in a top six role in Minnesota and there’s plenty of that cherished je ne sais quoi moxy in his somewhat uncoordinated game, so teams will have to have him on their radar. His netfront presence can be profound.

Elias Schneider – Center (2026 Draft, second year eligible)

No matter how much he produced in Germany’s junior leagues, the choppiness in his skating always worked against his status as a prospect. Enter the 2025 U18 Worlds, where Schneider put up six points in five games. It only led to him getting drafted by a CHL team, but he’s now playing a solid offensive role for the Shawinigan Cataractes and raising eyebrows. He’ll also be Germany’s #1 center this holiday season.

Linus Vieillard – Goaltender (2026 Draft, third year eligible)

Perhaps the most important factor a team like Germany could possibly have at the WJC is an above-average goaltender. Vieillard had little more than DNL service on his resume last year, but his 2.66 GAA and .916 SV% in three WJC games last winter were tourney-saving numbers. Now he’s currently taking over the #1 job for the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL. If any one player can lead Germany to a playoff spot, look no further than Vieillard.

Other Draft eligible players to watch

Gustavs Griva – Center/Wing (2026 Draft, second year eligible)

Eighteen until next June, Griva was one of the top three scorers - and perhaps the top playmaker - in Germany’s top junior league (DNL) last season. He then put up five points in five games at the U18 Worlds last spring. That tickled some USHL teams’ fancy and now he’s clipping at just about a PPG pace for the Madison Capitols. We’re thinking he’ll be slipping into a third line centering role with Penkin out of the fray and have a hunch that if Germany has a joker up its sleeve in Minnesota, Griva is going to be that guy.

Lenny Boos – Center (2026 Draft, second year eligible)

A lightweight allround waterbug player, Lenny is the son of a long-time German pro and national team player - and strong hockey IQ seems to run in the family. Sure, he had a lousy +/- at last year’s event, but that he was there as a 17-year-old says a lot for a team whose coach tends to take the oldest players available. He’s off to a strong start in the DEL2 this season and has points in the Champions Hockey League to boos, uh, boot.

Timo Kose – Wing (2026 Draft, second year eligible)

At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Kose already has solid NHL size and build, and is coming off an unexpectedly promising 24-25 season featuring 11 points as a mostly 4th line center in Germany’s DEL2, a league no-one expected him in. The raising of eyebrows ceased with a disappointingly pedestrian 2025 U18 Worlds showing. This season, Kose has mostly stuck in the DEL, having contributed 3 goals to date. The team could really use a strong showing in Minnesota, which would certainly boost the 18-year-old’s draft status. However, he is coming in straight off an injury.

2025 NHL DRAFT: Best value picks by round

Derek Neumeier — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:16:33 +0000

Round 1

Victor Eklund, RW — New York Islanders, 16th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 8th Overall

You'd be hard-pressed to find a single NHL scout who isn't a big fan of Eklund and what he brings, so it's through no fault of his own that he wasn't picked until 16th overall, as teams went in other directions beforehand to fill certain needs or select prospects who play more desirable positions. The Islanders surely aren't complaining, though, as they got to leave Los Angeles with the consensus top prize of the draft (Matthew Schaefer), a blue-chip young forward in Eklund, and a big bag of other goodies. From the moment they won the 2025 draft lottery a couple of months ago until now, they have completely rebuilt the foundation of the organization's future. That's tidy business.

Cullen Potter, C — Calgary Flames, 32nd Overall

Mckeen's Final Ranking: 14th Overall

Not only did the Flames get to select a player at 32nd overall who was much higher on our final board, they also landed someone who is a hand-to-glove fit for what they needed in their prospect pipeline coming into the weekend. Potter is a center with electrifying speed and has enough skill to single-handedly open things up offensively, so those are three big boxes that Calgary can check off at once. Mix in 18th overall pick Cole Reschny, who is a different flavor of talented center, and Craig Conroy must be thrilled with how the first round worked out for him and his club.

Honorable Mention: Lynden Lakovic — Washington Capitals, 27th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 13th Overall

Round 2

Blake Fiddler, D — Seattle Kraken, 36th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 22nd Overall

Seattle's drafting has been forward-heavy ever since the franchise came into existence, and that trend continued into the opening round this year when they chose center Jake O'Brien at 8th overall. Their need to add a high-end defenseman remained glaring, so it made all kinds of sense that they picked Fiddler at 36th, since he was arguably the best one still available at the time. Even better for the Kraken, he's a well-rounded blueliner who can play a big role and handle different kinds of responsibilities, so that's helpful for the team considering their overall shortage of options.

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, RW— Vegas Golden Knights, 55th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 24th Overall

Nobody doubts the talents that Ihs-Wozniak possesses or the desirability of what's in his toolbox, and his production over the past two seasons is undeniably pretty impressive. So then why did he almost slide entirely out of the draft's first two rounds? It's because his actual usage of those talents and tools wavers quite a bit, with questions that arose about his intensity, work rate and hockey sense. The reason why I really like this pick by Vegas, however, is because the Golden Knights have such a strong and established team culture, led by players like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone (Alex Pietrangelo did a great job with this as well, but his NHL future currently looks uncertain). In other words, I believe that they're the kind of organization that is capable of getting the most out of Ihs-Wozniak and maximizing his potential. Of course, only time will tell if they actually succeed.

Honorable Mention: Will Moore — Boston Bruins, 51st Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 35th Overall

Round 3

Kurban Limatov, D — Carolina Hurricanes, 67th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 31st Overall

No other team in the NHL has drafted Russian prospects as much as Carolina has in recent years. In fact, the numbers aren't even remotely close between them and the next-closest franchise. Do the Hurricanes consider this to be some kind of market inefficiency, where prospects from that nation are undervalued or under-scouted because of various challenges stemming from the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War? The effectiveness of this strategy won't be fully known for a while, but there are some early signs that are encouraging, like their selection of Limatov this year. In terms of raw talent and upside, Limatov probably should have gone a lot higher, as a defender with an impressive package of size, skating ability, athleticism and puck skills. It's not hard to imagine him getting picked a full round earlier if he had spent his entire season somewhere in the CHL or USHL, which is a thought that Carolina likely had as well.

Cameron Schmidt, RW — Dallas Stars, 94th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 38th Overall

It's safe to say at this point that the Florida Panthers have rewritten, or at least revised, the book on how to construct a successful NHL roster after just winning back-to-back championships. That was evident at this year's draft, as teams prioritized size even more than they normally do. However, Florida's success this spring was also due in large part to a revitalized Brad Marchand, who has been one of the shortest players in the NHL throughout his entire career. He is evidence that smaller guys can still thrive when they're skilled and tenacious enough. For Schmidt, there are elements of his game that he shares with Marchand, even though that's not an apples-to-apples comparison between them. And while it's understandable how he slipped out of the first two rounds, the Stars look like they made quite a value pick by landing him at 94th. After all, they took a similar kind of risk a few years ago on a different short forward by the name of Logan Stankoven, and that turned out to be a homerun for the organization.

Honorable Mention: Hayden Paupanekis — Montreal Canadiens, 69th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 56th Overall

Round 4

Adam Benak, C — Minnesota Wild, 102nd Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 52nd Overall

Like Schmidt above, Benak is a prospect who possesses traits that are definitely appealing, yet they're tied up in a small frame that raises questions and concerns. But the early 100s is an ideal spot to take a chance on a prospect like this, and the Wild were the right kind of team to do it, considering they were only able to make one selection (late in the second, defenseman Theodor Hallquisth) throughout the first three rounds. If they wanted to come out of this draft with a prospect who could turn into a top six forward for them one day after a successful development process, they probably couldn't have done better at 102nd overall than Benak.

Gustav Hillstrom, C — New Jersey Devils, 114th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 58th Overall

Hillström checks off some boxes that teams are frequently looking for in players these days: size, mobility, versatility, two-way effectiveness. There were even times this season where he looked like one of the best options for that type of player in the entire draft, though they were fleeting. Still, this is a quietly clever pickup for New Jersey in this spot. Their NHL roster already sports a couple of fantastic pivots in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, and it's not difficult to imagine Hillström potentially slotting in behind them in the not-too-distant future to give them a different kind of element down the middle of the ice.

Honorable Mention: Jimmy Lombardi — Los Angeles Kings, 125th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 59th Overall

Round 5

Atte Joki, C — Dallas Stars, 146th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 116th Overall

In today's salary cap NHL, every single dollar matters for the league's top contenders. Those teams need players who can take on depth jobs on their rosters and provide as much positive value as possible. This kind of logic is why I love this pick so much for the Stars. Joki is a good prospect, and at times was even Finland’s best forward at international tournaments throughout the season. He’ll become a professional level in player in Finland soon, and if everything goes according to plan he’ll sign his entry-level contract in a few years next, then make the jump to North America, and shortly after that slide affordably into a Bottom 6 support role in Dallas, where he’ll get to play to his strengths behind the team’s big-ticket forwards. An incredible opportunity lies in front of him, he’ll just need to seize it

Everett Baldwin, D — Tampa Bay Lightning, 151st Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 63rd Overall

Trying to separate the wheat from the chaff with American prep school and high school prospects is no easy task, given the massive geography involved, the variety of different leagues and circuits, and the wildly inconsistent distribution of talent. Some of the players drafted under these circumstances go on to become superstars, while others simply flop as disappointing busts. That being said, Baldwin is someone that we found and liked at McKeen’s Hockey this season, so we were thrilled to see him eventually get selected, even though it was nearly 100 spots later than where we had him ranked. One of the smallest defenseman drafted this year, he plays with a ton of speed and loves to press the attack offensively.

Honorable Mention: Petteri Rimpinen — Los Angeles Kings, 152nd Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 79th Overall

Round 6

Burke Hood, G — New York Islanders, 170th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 53rd Overall

I scouted Hood pretty heavily this season, and there were multiple times when I was watching him where I thought to myself “This guy really reminds me of how Ilya Sorokin looks and plays.” And wouldn’t you know it, now he is a member of the Islanders as well, where he will slowly be groomed to be a potential understudy for Sorokin before the Russian netminder’s big NHL contract expires. Hood unexpectedly won the starter’s net with the Vancouver Giants this season and became one of the best goalies in all of Canadian junior hockey from February until his 18th birthday in April, even after accounting for a brief and disappointing playoffs.

Carlos Händel, D — Montreal Canadiens, 177th overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 67th Overall

Händel is a very interesting case study. At his best, the young German defender is a highly dynamic offensive threat who can make highlight-reel plays with the puck. The problem is that those kinds of outbursts don’t happen consistently, while his defending without the puck needs some serious work. Luckily for him, however, the Canadiens seem like the perfect organization for appreciating his upside and getting the most out of his development, which they will be able to pursue steadily and carefully.

Honorable Mention: Jan Chovan — Los Angeles Kings, 184th overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 66th Overall

Round 7

Jeremy Loranger, C — Columbus Blue Jackets, 198th Overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 129th Overall

Once considered a reliable source for finding draft-eligible talent, the BCHL has fallen on hard times in recent years and just saw a major exodus of players midseason when the changes to the CHL-NCAA transfer rules were formalized. Loranger was the cream of that crop this season, and even led the entire league in scoring as a 17-year-old, but his success rang a bit hollow considering he played on one of the few teams that actually manage to recruit and retain serious talent, and many of their opponents were so hollowed out that they barely put up a fight. Nevertheless, he’s a slick, slippery winger who owns a deep bag of puck tricks, and he’s heading off to face better competition in the fall in the NCAA ranks.

Filip Ekberg, RW — Carolina Hurricanes, 221st overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 84th Overall

Ekberg was the breakout star of this spring’s IIHF U18 tournament, leading it in scoring with 18 points in just seven games. All scouts know that you shouldn’t put too much weight into a player’s performance in a single tournament, but his play there also sparked the idea among our scouts that maybe he had a lot more to offer than what was seen with Ottawa in the OHL this season, where he never seemed totally comfortable and the team as a whole struggled. In contrast, NHL scouts remained skeptical about his overall upside, and he nearly slid all the way out of the draft. His hands are good, his shot is good, and he has quick-strike ability in dangerous ice, and that’s more than a lot of other prospects taken around him can boast.

Honorable Mention: Grayden Robertson-Palmer — Detroit Red Wings, 204th overall

McKeen's Hockey Final Ranking: 126th Overall

2025 IIHF U18 World Championships – Division B – Team Preview – Players to Watch

Chapin Landvogt — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:52:40 +0000

It’s been a few years since we saw the U18 Worlds hosted by USA hockey in Frisco and Allen, Texas, back in the spring of 2021. At the time, the pandemic still played a considerable role in shaping schedules throughout the hockey world, but the tournament proved very special in that the names Bedard and Michkov were already all the rage. Double underagers, they each made heavy offensive contributions (usually of a highlight variety) and then faced off in the tournament final, one decided by a Team Canada that would eventually see 22 players drafted in the following years.

Sure, the tournament was filled with many other talented and highly sought players, but it wasn’t one to remember for Team USA, which bowed out in the quarterfinals. This year’s edition feels somewhat similar to the host back in 2021 in that it lacks the all-out star power of recent years and will include a handful of outside additions from Canadian junior ranks and the NCAA. We nonetheless are terribly excited about seeing this year’s US squad duke it out in Group B action against annual contender Sweden, a loaded Czech program, the most impressive German ensemble in quite some time, and eternal quarterfinal participants Switzerland. Viewing things from the outset, this group could potentially present three of the four teams that will end up playing for a medal. Each of the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the USA feature numerous players of NHL interest for the next two drafts. At the same time, it’s anybody's call as to which of Germany or Switzerland is most likely to be heading to the relegation round and either could be good for a surprise along the way.

Here’s what to expect from each of the Group B contestants from April 23rd through May 3rd.

Czechia

Adam Benak

We keep getting excited about the progress the Czech program has made over the past 5-8 years but there’s no denying that they’ve simply reached a point where contention for a medal should be expected at both the U18 and U20 levels year after year. The nation keeps generating talents that are desired in junior leagues across North America and northern Europe while others manage to play pro at home already at this young age. Once all of this year’s nominees have arrived in Texas, Coach David Cermak will be able to dish out a ton of ice time to a handful of specific players who have everything required to make this team a gold medalist.

Alas, therein lies the problem as a number of the top nominees are still busy in primarily North American league playoffs. In some cases, they might not make it whatsoever. This could lead to the scouting world getting to see some special aspects like 15-year old defensive phenom Lukas Kachlir and Liberec product David Roszival, who had a sneaky good year at the perhaps underscouted Czech U20 level, not to mention hulking underage forward Simon Katolicky. But we’re going to assume that most of the big guns will be there at some point and then this Czech outfit will be one we expect to see battling for a medal on May 3rd.

Players to watch

Adam Benak - F

It feels like we've been gushing about Benak forever thanks to many dazzling performances at no less than the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. However, he finally brought his show to the USHL this season and it was magical. As he continues to get quicker on his feet and with the puck, we watched him create magic all season long for the Youngstown Phantoms, where his silky hands led to what seemed like unending offensive creation. Worries about size are still legitimate, but his 59 points in 56 games indicate he has no plans on letting it hold him back. He’s still involved in the USHL playoffs, so the Czechs will have to wait for his services, but when he arrives, he’ll likely become the tournament’s top powerplay producer.

Vojtech Cihar - F

A well-built winger with good speed and the knack of regularly making his way to the goal, Cihar already took a regular shift at the WJC and is coming off an entire season at the pro level (4 goals, 9 points) in the Czech Republic’s top league. He should be a key player in the top six for this team while adding a physical dimension to the attack.

Simon Katolicky - F

Only 16, Katolicky is already 6-foot-4 and inching towards 190 pounds. He’s been playing his junior hockey in Finland and has suited up for Czechia internationally 46 times over the past two seasons, for whom he regularly occupies the Ovechkin spot on the powerplay, albeit from the right side faceoff circle. Long story short, he brings size, skating, and a heck of a shot. He’ll be a hot topic for the 2026 draft and truth be told, if his playing style is any indication, Jaromir Jagr is definitely his idol.

Radim Mrtka - D

If a 6-foot-6, 200-pound righty shot defenseman who skates well, checks like a bull, and can lead your attack with a solid first pass is your idea of a unicorn, then Mrtka is your unicorn du jour for this year’s tournament. He possesses everything necessary to take over a game. He’ll without a doubt be the go-to man for coach Cermak on the blueline and is one of the key reasons the Czechs are expected to be a medal contender.

Matej Pekar - F

One of the youngest players in this summer’s draft, Pekar’s rookie season in the WHL was decent but nothing to get all too excited about. Having gone the Swiss juniors route in recent years, Pekar is your classic puck-rusher who’ll shake ‘n bake his way into scoring positions if you give him the time and space. This should allow him to eat some teams apart if they’re busy giving other forwards on this Czech side most of their attention. Both passer and shooter, he won’t hesitate to rip off wristers when he sees the net.

Tomas Poletin - F

A returnee from last year’s squad, the 6-foot-1, 196 pound power forward has spent several years in Finland’s U20 junior circuit and even got into 20 Liiga games this season, including playoffs. As for friendly matches and various test games with the nation’s U17 and U18 teams in recent years, he’s always been at the top of the scoring lists. He’s hard on the forecheck and makes his way to the net regularly.

Max Psenicka - D

Vladimir Dravecky may have to step up to the plate a bit until Psenicka arrives, but once (or if) the steady 6-foot-4, 190-pound defenseman arrives from the WHL playoffs, he’ll be a go-to player on the blueline and will give the Czechs the kind of size and righty-shot combo that few teams possess. A player not too different from Mrtka, Psenicka joined the Portland Winterhawks later in the season but immediately became a defensive mainstay with a solid eye for his teammates. Could be literally and figuratively a huge boost to this team’s blueline.

Ondrej Stebetak - G

As we write this, Stebetak is still battling it out for his Portland Winterhawks in a grueling seven-game series against the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Should his side lose the next game, he’ll be on his way to Texas. And truth is, the Czechs have a vested interest here because Stebetak is talented enough to be the end all, say all, difference at the U18 Worlds. Still, he’s played 13 playoff games over the past 22 days, so we don’t know what’ll be in the tank if he makes it down!

Germany

David Lewandowski of Germany lduring the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Germany and Latvia on December 30, 2024 in Ottawa.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN

Coach Patrick Reimer is entering this tournament knowing that he’s going to be coaching at the pro level next season. Thus, this is his last hoorah at the U18 level for now and what he’s got is essentially the most anticipated German side in recent years. Having only just regained a spot at the top level again with a flawless D1A U18 Worlds in Denmark last spring, Reimer will be making use of a handful of players who were keys to that promotion, several of whom were already key contributors to Germany’s WJC efforts this past winter.

Particularly the forward group is chock full of players who have taken excellent strides (many at the pro level) in recent years and bring a much higher rate of offensive acumen than just about any German outfit in recent memory. Nonetheless, it’s uncertain how solid this goaltending group can be and if we’re honest, the blueline is currently looking like it’s only one very solid pairing deep. There’s potential within the remaining six defenders, but it’s definitely going to require at least three of them to step up to the plate and show there’s more in them than they’ve indicated internationally to date, even if we were very excited about Max Bleicher this time last year.

With all that in mind, the team is here to stave off relegation. This realistic goal will be plenty hard to achieve and even if the squad believes it can duke it out with anyone it faces, the fact is that the preliminary bout against archrival Switzerland on April 27th will likely be all-decisive in determining if the team heads to the quarterfinals or once again has to decide its fate in a relegation round. On paper, their chances against Switzerland are clearly better than they otherwise have been in recent years.

Players to watch

David Lewandowski - F

As we enter this tournament, Lewandowski is far and away Germany’s top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft. Already talked about heavily throughout Germany’s hockey scene in recent years, it took him all of seven DEL games this season to decide that he’s best suited strutting his stuff in North America. A jump to the Saskatoon Blades, and the ensuing 41 points in 56 total games, gave the hockey world a clear sample of his possibilities and even if his scoring abilities were anything but dominant, his quick and successful adaption to the rough-n-tumble ways of the WHL answered some of the key questions we’ve had in recent years. More importantly, he’s gotten a taste of the North American scene, and you can be certain that he knows all too well what this tournament can mean for his draft chances this summer. Key first line and powerplay roles await him.

Carlos Händel - D

It’s been a long time since a German defenseman was able to head to a Canadian junior league and make an impact, much less at age 17, but righty shot Händel did just that this season for the Halifax Mooseheads. Having just turned 18, Händel is an extremely confident player who wants the puck on his stick and won’t let a few bad bounces get him off his game. Expect him to be on the ice for every important situation Team Germany faces seeing as how he already averaged over 22 minutes of TOI at last winter’s WJC.

Maxim Penkin - F

The 15-year-old gained “exceptional status” to play in Germany’s top U20 league (DNL) this past winter and proceeded to score at more than a PPG pace while then becoming the league’s playoff MVP for the champion Adler Mannheim. Not a shabby start! Likely possessing the strongest offensive skillset since Tim Stützle, Penkin will already be a top nine player at the upcoming tournament and scored in the test game against Canada. He may not make a lot of music in Texas, but just getting to see him at this early stage should be a real treat for the whole hockey world.

Maxim Schäfer - W

A behemoth of a 17-year-old, Schäfer is already 6-foot-4 and moves around the ice with the coordination and purpose of an older player. He’s also coming off what was almost an entire season of top league DEL play, but his 44 points in 18 U20 league games showed that he can dominate teenagers his age and older. three points in five WJC games - played in Canada no less - indicate that he’s ready to make an impact in Texas. However, he’s currently still playing for Berlin in the DEL finals with his team two wins away from the title. Would be a boon if he’s in Texas by April 27th!

Dustin Willhöft - W

A spit in the bucket weightwise, the 5-foot-8 mini might is coming off a dominant year in Germany’s top junior circuit (104 points in 43 games) and was already Germany’s top performer at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where hardly any offensive opportunities were created without him being right in the middle of them. He has a motor and a heck of a shot, but it’s his vision and set-up abilities that will have you (and his teammates) smiling.

Sweden

Djurgårdens Anton Frondell.
Photo: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Coach Tommy Paananen has nominated a team that has every scout’s mouth watering. Especially when it comes to the forward group, the team is more than “locked and loaded” for a medal in Texas, if not gold itself. An 8-3 romping of Team Canada in a pre-tournament test game verified that. About the only player missing from this dream team attack is Victor Eklund, but that’s because he’s aged out. The group is three scoring lines deep and that’s even considering that the main man up front, Anton Frondell, is still busy vying for promotion for his Djurgarden club, so he’s bound to miss two, if not three of the preliminary round games.

The team will nonetheless have to see one of the goaltenders stand tall at times, with Love Härenstam being the expected frontrunner despite being statistically behind his two netminding colleagues, and the defensive group will need to prove itself capable in the transition and puck-moving game because the bulk of them are of the defense-oriented variety. How Paananen makes it all work will be interesting to see but it’s clear that he has many pieces to work with once everyone is on board. Anything less than a medal would be a terrible disappointment, with all eyes clearly focused on gold.

Players to watch

Viggo Björck - F

An absolutely dynamic offensive dynamo who excels in puck possession (and protection), Björck is entering this tournament as one of the top three prospects for the 2026 draft. A wonderkid in many respects, his strong strides and tricky righty shot release have led to a gawd awful number of points in Sweden’s junior ranks in recent years. He got into one game of pro play this winter and sure enough, he scored his first pro goal. Having led Sweden’s U20 circuit in regular season scoring (then finishing second in the playoffs), we’ve got every reason to believe that Björck could already be Sweden’s go-to offensive force over the next two weeks. He’s that good.

Sascha Boumedienne - D

If there’s one player on this team that the scouting community hasn’t seen too little of, it’s Boumedienne. The son of a former part-time NHL defenseman, Boumedienne headed to the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL last season and excelled as a two-way defenseman with a strong understanding of the defensive side of the game. He’s now completed his first season of college hockey with the BU Terriers and just missed out on a national championship, having logged no less than 22 minutes of TOI over the final six games. He understands tournament play very well, knows what it’s like to live under a microscope, and in Texas, he’ll have one last shot at rounding out his profile as that of a late first rounder. Expect this staff to give him plenty of ice time along the way.

Anton Frondell - F

The ride continues for one of the most exciting offensive juggernauts in the 2025 draft. Frondell brings a variety of weapons to the table but impresses most through his incredible maturity and solid decision making for a player his age. And, well, he just loves to generate offense. Having spent the bulk of the season putting up 25 points in 29 HockeyAllsvenskan games, he’s shown he’s able to play with some of the best players Sweden has to offer. Alas, he and his team have been so good that they’re now in the midst of the championship series and he’s sure to miss the tournament’s beginning, as he continues to hold a top nine role for his team. He’ll be a key once he arrives, and we just hope he won’t be too worn out when the time comes.

Milton Gästrin - F

A bit of a power forward with solid size and both playmaking and finishing abilities, Gästrin got into eight SHL games this season and has been absolutely incredible for Sweden in international friendlies the past two years. The captain of the U17 national team last winter and the assistant captain of his MoDo U20 squad, we’re not doubting that his word weighs heavy in this locker room. The tournament will also be an opportunity for him to entrench himself as a first-round option for a team this summer.

Eddie Genborg - F

Like Gästrin, Genborg is another big, solidly built power forward winger with a strong drive to the net. His production for his club’s U20 team as a 17-year-old was fantastic and his development was at a point where he got into 28 SHL games this season, albeit with little tangible results (2 goals, -1 rating). Nonetheless, some view him as worthy of a 1st round pick this summer, so this tournament will be his final opportunity to convince the scouting community that that’s where he belongs.

Theodor Hallquisth - D

Tall and gangly, Hallquisth is a righty shot defenseman who has a knack for blocking shots while he defends with a long stick that he aptly uses to master the pokecheck. A player who forwards smashed their teeth against trying to get by this winter, Hallquisth has also gotten into 12 SHL games and loves to push up the middle to the slot, adept at carrying the puck himself. We can expect him in a top four role in Texas, but we are curious to see how he’ll match up with some of the smaller skill forwards that teams like the USA and Czech Republic will be throwing out on the ice.

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - F

A tournament returnee, Ihs-Wozniak is one of this year’s draft prospects who has seen his stock drop a bit, having not been selected to the WJC squad, yet who brings many key attributes to the table, not the least of which being a 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame that doesn’t prevent him from getting around the ice somewhat smoothly. A righty shot, Ihs-Wozniak dressed for 13 games for Lulea, which is currently battling for the SHL championship. Internationally, all he’s done is regularly produce for Sweden’s junior teams, so he’s got an offensive role in the bag at this tournament.

Ivar Stenberg - F

What a winter it’s been for Otto Stenberg’s little brother Ivar, who - as a 17-year-old - got into 25 regular season (3 points) and 12 postseason (6 points) contests for Frölunda. His trajectory has been up and up all season, as his combination of speed, hockey sense, and quick hands already allowed him to dominate the U20 circuit offensively (53 points in 27 games). He’s not eligible to be drafted until 2026, but we fully expect him to use this tournament to continue building on his profile and are hearing that he’s planning on spending the next two springs gunning for his older brother’s statistical U18 Worlds records.

Switzerland

We’re going to be generous by stating that coach Schumacher and his staff will have their work cut out for them in Texas. Despite being able to almost always stave off an appearance in the relegation round, Switzerland hasn’t had a lot of success in recent years and this tournament may not be any different. With the first game against Sweden not even 48 hours away, the world is still waiting for the Swiss to announce the final roster.

Still, there really won’t be any surprises as the team will consist almost entirely of players who spent this past season playing in the nation’s top U20 league, some of whom not getting beyond a middle six role. Sure, the team will be interesting in some respects, like with Lian Bichsel’s little brother Finn expected to make the cut while underagers Clemens Troxler and Jonah Neuenschwander will probably slot into top nine roles.

One way or another, there’s simply no star power for this year’s class and international events have given us little reason to believe this rather nameless group is going to be able to do much more than keep the results close. Critical will be the game against archrival Germany on April 27th. That’ll be the most important game of the tournament for both teams and the Swiss are well aware that Germany is bringing one of the most anticipated waves of players it’s been able to throw onto the ice in recent years. Expect that game to decide if this team will once again have the honor of facing the uphill battle posed by quarterfinals or instead have to duke it out for class retention.

Players to watch

Guus Van der Kaaij - D

The likely captain for this year’s outfit, Van der Kaaij is dual Swiss Dutch citizen and is a solidly built athlete who has seen his star rise this past season more than any other Swiss prospect. Although his U20 stats were just average (better in the playoffs), it’s his all-round game and defensive wherewithal that has raised eyebrows while he’s been lauded for his leadership capabilities. Moreover, his 11 SL games in which he collected two assists, and a +6 rating showed a high level of maturity and a knack for picking up the pace with the higher level. He then got into seven NL games, six of which were in the playoffs. Rest assured that he’ll be made heavy use of in Texas.

Jeremiah Mundy - F

Entering the season, the 6-foot-3, 196-pound forward who is half Canadian was seen as perhaps Switzerland’s top prospect for the upcoming draft. Having flipped over to the Davos program before the season, he proceeded to see that status go lost while always being a top six forward to the tune of 16 goals and 30 total points in 54 games. In addition, he was never called up or loaned out to a pro team, so his good but average stats are only applicable for a league that isn’t an international measuring stick. Is he as good as he was advertised before this season? His performance as a top six forward in Texas will be his last chance to show he is in time for this summer’s draft.

Jonah Neuenschwander - F

First eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, Neuenschwander just turned 16 not even a month ago and already measures in at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. In addition, Swiss Hockey even brought him along to the WJC this past winter as a 15-year-old and gave him three games of experience, so he should be a top nine forward during this event. All that pales in comparison to the fact that the burly forward got into 15 games of top league NL action this past season while putting up 45 points in 48 total games for his U20 squad, something that saw him finish fourth overall in playoff scoring. He’s a star on the rise in a time where the Swiss program is in desperate need of one.

USA

Cole McKinney

If you’ve been following us all winter long, you’ll know that this hasn’t been the best season for the famed USNTD program, one that experienced a whole lot of losing against USHL clubs and less than inspiring results in some of the international bouts throughout. That the team recently dropped a 4-3 OT decision against Norway in a test game surely had some in the hockey community rolling their eyes but we’re viewing this team with the belief that it can get things together in time for the quarterfinals and then push for a medal when all is said and done.

The reason for this is that by adding WHL defenseman Blake Fiddler, OHL defenseman (and underager) Chase Reid, NCAAers Cullen Potter and William Horcoff, and USHLers Casey Mutryn and Benjamin Kevan, the team will be getting some considerable reinforcements from the outside, all of whom have past ties to USA Hockey in some capacity. From a scouting perspective, we won’t be disappointed if we get to see any of underagers Mikey Berchild, Sammy Nelson, or Teddy Mutryn either, but that’ll likely mean that someone else isn’t carrying his weight.

There are enough tournament-built requisites throughout the line-up for coach Moore to play any type of game that comes but it’d be a big advantage if this US team doesn’t find itself having to chase the scoreboard much. Goaltending and the blueline have proven to be shaky to date, but both Germany and Switzerland should be gimmes in the preliminary round and as long as the outside additions can gel with the core by the time the games start to really count, this team should be in medal contention. Of course, we all thought that back in 20-21, when the team couldn’t get over the oh so deadly hill that is the quarterfinals, where four teams always see their tournaments end.

If that should be the USA’s fate, the program may want to find a different venue the next time it’ll be hosting this vaunted event. The dominant U18 program the past decade plus, the story this team will write over the next 10 days is one of the most anticipated of the tournament.

Players to watch

Blake Fiddler - D

A huge 6-foot-4, 210-pound righty shot defenseman with NHL pedigree, the Nashville-born Blake Fiddler was a do-it-all mechanic for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL this season and already starred for Team USA at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Widely considered a first-round talent, Fiddler may be the best US defenseman in this class and the team will need him to bring his A-game all tournament long. If he solidifies things, this should have an impact on the other talented, but inconsistent blueliners dotting the line-up.

Cole McKinney - F

Probably the biggest riser within the program this past winter, McKinney has a prime opportunity to use this tournament to make a major jump up draft lists. The University of Michigan commit has been one of the program’s more productive players in recent months and is a weapon of all trades. He’s got moves, he’s got deadly wristers and snapshots, he possesses a playmaker’s vision, and he’s proving himself opportunistic on the ice, showing a strong read of where the puck is going to be. He’s a given as an offensive catalyst for a team who’ll need him to step up to the plate in order to play for a medal.

L.J. Mooney - F

Incredibly small, Mooney moves around on the ice like few on this team can. Flashing electric edgework and slick directional changes, Mooney’s hands keep up with his feet and also deliver the best playmaking on the team. Naturally limited in the physical department, he’s an energetic waterbug who’ll look to create space by beating one opponent before finding the next open teammate. Enthusiastic and hungry to create opportunities, his 5-foot-7 height won’t play much of a role at this tournament, so we expect him to be making a serious impact off the rush.

Will Moore - F

A tall forward with a back-n-forth game, Moore has spent the past two seasons clipping at just under a PPG average but could at any time take the bull by the horns and be this team’s offensive catalyst. Is that time now? The Boston College commit has added a bit of playmaking side to his previous profile as an adept sniper and as things stand, he could very well line up with center Potter and left wing Horcoff for a new trio entering tournament play. We’d like to see him use this platform to suggest himself as a surefire 1st round draft pick this summer. His prospect standing is still in flux.

Jack Murtagh - F

Solidly built and consistently a producer, Murtagh looked like a bonafide 1st rounder heading into this season, having shone at the World Hockey Challenge last year. There were ups and downs this winter and as much as the Boston University commit looks like a solid pro in the making, there’s no telling whether we'll see him be all he can be in Texas. If he is, then this team will be getting a player who looks for his teammates but adores picking corners as much as anything else. Look for him to make his presence known.

Cullen Potter - F

Originally a member of the USNTDP, Potter decided to head to college early and pretty much thrived while being one of the youngest players in the NCAA. Having just turned 18 in January, his quick and deceptive game built off of great acceleration and the readiness to shoot with aplomb had Potter’s inclusion on this team being a no-brainer. And it may perhaps prove to be just the jumpstart the US needs, seeing as his natural talent combined with his experience against much older and stronger competition should have him ahead of the game in Texas. To be noted is that Potter is just 5-foot-9 and not even 170 pounds, thus fast but can be pushed around.

Charlie Trethewey - D

Off to Boston University next fall, Trethewey feels like one of the players on this team who most needs to clarify his identity in this event. In general, he has most of the prerequisites of a defensive defenseman with just enough offensive acumen to get rushes started or contain pucks in the offensive zone in a positive manner, but for all the big hits we’ve seen him throw, there have been misses and positioning problems. For the long term, there’s much to build on here, but for the U18 Worlds, he needs to bring an A-game, if he’s got it in him at this juncture.

2025 NHL DRAFT: TOP 100 PLUS HONOURABLE MENTIONS – March edition – FOR SUBSCRIBERS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 14:34:18 +0000

Porter Mantone of the Brampton Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

It’s time for an update to our 2025 NHL draft rankings. Back in December, prior to the World Junior Championships, we released our top 64. Now, not only are we updating, but we’re expanding to a Top 100 (plus honorable mentions). This will be our final draft ranking prior to the release of our Top 300 (along with our annual draft guide).

Erie Otters defender Matthew Schaefer remains on top, despite not playing since our last release due to a collarbone injury suffered at the World Juniors. However, we have no doubt that Schaefer will return stronger than ever. He has been skating recently and is gearing up for a return for the OHL playoffs. At this point, Schaefer is our clear number one and we don’t expect that to change.

The other players in our top ten are all the same, with some minor shuffling. Michael Misa moves ahead of James Hagens based on his strong production with Saginaw, mixed with Hagen’s drop in production with Boston College post World Juniors. We feel that both players have similar projections as top six pivots, but we feel Misa’s frame gives him a greater opportunity to be a more complete pro. Caleb Desnoyers is the other big riser. While, admittedly, we do have some minimal concerns about his offensive upside, we appreciate his pro style of play and safe floor, in combination with the improvement he has shown offensively over the course of this season. Roger McQueen is the big “faller” inside our top ten due to injury and durability concerns. He has recently returned to action and we’re eager to see how he performs down the stretch.

Among the biggest risers, Bill Zonnon, Cole McKinney, and Jake O’Brien standout. O’Brien is knocking on the door of the top ten, moving from 23 to 13 thanks to his elite playmaking ability and three zone awareness. McKinney elevated his play in the second half to become the top pivot on the US NTDP, giving our scouts a better indication of his offensive upside. Zonnon is an energetic forward with a pro frame who has been a favourite of our Eastern scouts thanks to consistent production.

Among the biggest fallers are Malcolm Spence (from 13 to 23, switching with O’Brien), Luca Romano (24 to 44), Ivan Ryabkin (26 to 39), and Tomas Pobezal (from 39 to 81).

You may have caught our recent, and annual second chances series that outlined the top “re-entries” available for 2025. Kristian Epperson (49), Francesco Dell’Elce (82), Petteri Rimpinen (84), and Sam Laurila (98) cracked our Top 100. Additionally, Jamiro Reber is listed as an honorable mention.

Overall, the picture is becoming more and more clear regarding this draft class. Simply put, the majority of our scouts are not enamored with the depth of this group. “In a normal year, when we put together our March list, the debate for the first round is often charged, with the regional scouts all fighting to have their personal, regional favourites included in the top 32,” said Director of Scouting Brock Otten. “But this year, the debate was more about who actually deserved to be ranked in the first round…there was significantly less table pounding.”

“The way I see it” continues Otten, “there is a clear drop off after about the 20th position. There are unquestionably some solid players available outside this range, but few high upside players. Potential role players are the name of the game this year. As a staff, we’re really hoping some players step up in their respective league playoffs and at the U18’s to help give this draft class a little more excitement.”

You can expect our final draft ranking to be released in late May, coinciding with the release of our annual draft guide.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS
1	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-2/180	5-Sep-07	17	7	15	22
2	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	6-1/185	16-Feb-07	62	59	67	126
3	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/175	3-Nov-06	35	10	25	35
4	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-06	54	32	60	92
5	Jackson Smith	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-3/195	13-May-07	65	7	41	48
6	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/180	11-Apr-07	56	35	49	84
7	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	42	19	12	31
8	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	6-1/195	7-May-07	29	11	14	25
9	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/195	2-Oct-06	14	9	9	18
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/190	12-Dec-06	45	24	31	55
11	Radim Mrtka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-6/205	9-Jun-07	41	3	31	34
12	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-0/175	16-Mar-07	55	30	37	67
13	Jake O'Brien	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-2/170	16-Jun-07	64	32	64	96
14	Cullen Potter	C	Arizona State (NCAA)	5-10/170	10-Jan-07	34	13	9	22
15	Justin Carbonneau	RW	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-06	61	46	43	89
16	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/195	21-Sep-06	63	25	33	58
17	Cameron Reid	D	Kitchener (OHL)	6-0/190	8-Apr-07	66	14	39	53
18	Ben Kindel	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-10/175	19-Apr-07	62	34	64	98
19	Braeden Cootes	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/180	9-Feb-07	58	25	36	61
20	Carter Bear	LW	Everett (WHL)	6-0/180	4-Nov-06	56	40	42	82
21	Jack Murtagh	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/200	22-Aug-07	42	20	24	44
22	Cameron Schmidt	RW	Vancouver (WHL)	5-7/160	19-Jan-07	59	39	37	76
23	Malcolm Spence	LW	Erie (OHL)	6-1/200	22-Sep-06	62	32	38	70
24	Joshua Ravensbergen	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-5/190	27-Nov-06	50	33	12	2.93
25	Jack Nesbitt	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-4/185	12-Jan-07	63	24	39	63
26	Cole McKinney	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/200	16-Mar-07	45	21	29	50
27	Eric Nilson	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	5-11/155	11-May-07	37	12	26	38
28	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/190	14-Oct-06	32	2	10	12
29	Henry Brzustewicz	D	London (OHL)	6-2/200	9-Feb-07	65	10	29	39
30	Blake Fiddler	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-4/210	9-Jul-07	62	9	22	31
31	Shane Vansaghi	RW	Michigan State (NCAA)	6-2/210	11-Oct-06	35	6	10	16
32	Bill Zonnon	C	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	3-Oct-06	62	28	53	81
33	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	RW	Lulea (Swe J20)	6-2/185	1-Feb-07	40	23	34	57
34	Nathan Behm	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-1/190	18-Apr-07	57	31	35	66
35	Adam Benak	C	Youngstown (USHL)	5-7/160	10-Apr-07	53	16	38	54
36	Kurban Limatov	D	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-3/195	20-Mar-07	45	8	15	23
37	Carter Amico	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/225	15-Mar-07	13	0	3	3
38	Cole Reschny	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-10/180	6-Apr-07	60	23	63	86
39	Ivan Ryabkin	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Apr-07	18	11	8	19
40	Milton Gastrin	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	6-1/185	2-Jun-07	40	18	24	42
41	Will Moore	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	24-Mar-07	49	21	22	43
42	Sascha Boumedienne	D	Boston University (NCAA)	6-1/175	17-Jan-07	35	3	9	12
43	Conrad Fondrk	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/190	1-Jun-07	40	13	14	27
44	Luca Romano	C	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/175	25-Jun-07	65	25	26	51
45	Alexander Zharovsky	RW	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-1/165	22-Feb-07	45	24	26	50
46	Max Psenicka	D	Portland (WHL)	6-4/175	18-Jan-07	22	1	5	6
47	Jack Ivankovic	G	Brampton (OHL)	5-11/180	22-May-07	41	23	12	3.13
48	Maxim Agafonov	D	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-2/195	10-Apr-07	33	6	7	13
49	Kristian Epperson	LW	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/180	7-May-06	55	26	51	77
50	Vaclav Nestrasil	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/185	6-Apr-07	51	14	19	33
51	Jimmy Lombardi	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/180	16-Feb-07	61	13	28	41
52	Gustav Hillstrom	C	Brynas (Swe J20)	6-1/175	20-Jan-07	43	16	22	38
53	Pyotr Andreyanov	G	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	6-0/205	22-Jan-07	37	23	6	1.75
54	Arvid Drott	RW	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-0/180	11-Aug-07	40	18	18	36
55	Matthew Gard	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-5/190	7-Apr-07	63	18	17	35
56	Ethan Czata	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-1/175	29-May-07	65	20	33	53
57	Hayden Paupanekis	C	Spokane-Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/195	4-Feb-07	68	22	19	41
58	Charlie Trethewey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/200	2-Aug-07	51	6	12	18
59	Aleksei Medvedev	G	London (OHL)	6-2/180	10-Sep-07	33	22	7	2.72
60	Daniil Prokhorov	RW	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-5/210	27-Apr-07	41	19	7	26
61	William Horcoff	C	Michigan (NCAA)	6-5/190	23-Jan-07	18	4	6	10
62	Tyler Hopkins	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/180	23-Jan-07	64	19	31	50
63	Lasse Boelius	D	Assat (Fin-U20)	6-0/180	16-Mar-07	34	4	14	18
64	Eddie Genborg	RW	Linkopings (SHL)	6-1/180	20-Apr-07	28	2	0	2
65	Semyon Frolov	G	MHK Krylia Sovetov (MHL)	6-3/200	17-Jan-07	5	2	2	2.75
66	Ben Kevan	RW	Des Moines (USHL)	6-0/180	3-Jan-07	46	12	29	41
67	Peyton Kettles	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-5/195	1-Sep-07	51	5	9	14
68	Zeb Lindgren	D	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	6-1/195	14-Apr-07	38	4	15	19
69	Everett Baldwin	D	St. George's School (USHS-RI)	5-11/175	15-Jan-07	22	10	10	20
70	Ryker Lee	RW	Madison (USHL)	5-11/180	8-Nov-06	48	27	33	60
71	Michal Svrcek	LW	Brynas (Swe J20)	5-10/175	26-Jan-07	30	14	16	30
72	Zachary Morin	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	25-Jan-07	54	16	20	36
73	Jacob Rombach	D	Lincoln (USHL)	6-6/200	1-Apr-07	50	3	15	18
74	Alex Huang	D	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-0/170	30-Jul-07	62	6	33	39
75	Tommy Lafreniere	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-11/170	16-Jan-07	66	24	32	56
76	Haoxi (Simon) Wang	D	Oshawa (OHL)	6-6/210	27-Jul-07	29	0	2	2
77	William Belle	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/220	14-Jan-07	50	4	11	15
78	Jan Chovan	RW	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-3/185	9-Jan-07	39	11	12	23
79	Luka Radivojevic	D	Muskegon (USHL)	5-9/165	3-Jan-07	28	1	16	17
80	Shamar Moses	RW	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/200	6-May-07	58	12	35	47
81	Tomas Pobezal	C	HK Nitra (Svk)	5-10/180	18-Sep-06	42	15	8	23
82	Francesco Dell'Elce	D	Massachusetts (NCAA)	6-0/170	23-Jun-05	38	6	16	22
83	Vojtech Cihar	LW	Karlovy Vary (Czechia)	6-0/175	29-Mar-07	43	4	5	9
84	Petteri Rimpinen	G	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin)	6-0/175	25-Apr-06	40	16	9	2.36
85	Carlos Handel	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/170	31-Mar-07	50	3	23	26
86	Burke Hood	G	Vancouver (WHL)	6-3/195	30-Apr-07	41	18	13	3.21
87	Melvin Novotny	LW	Leksands (Swe J20)	6-1/185	3-Apr-07	41	12	26	38
88	Sean Barnhill	D	Dubuque (USHL)	6-5/205	8-Jan-07	46	4	4	8
89	Tomas Poletin	LW	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-1/200	30-Apr-07	25	13	7	20
90	Roman Bausov	D	MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)	6-5/180	28-Apr-07	39	2	9	11
91	Mason Moe	C	Madison (USHL)	6-1/185	26-Mar-07	41	13	24	37
92	Reese Hamilton	D	Calgary-Regina (WHL)	6-0/170	26-Mar-07	59	4	10	14
93	Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen	D	Michigan (NCAA)	6-0/180	18-Dec-06	35	3	6	9
94	Nathan Quinn	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-11/170	29-Aug-07	52	17	29	46
95	Samuel Meloche	G	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/190	22-Jul-07	49	29	13	2.96
96	Maceo Phillips	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-6/225	25-Feb-07	47	2	4	6
97	Eduard Bondar	D	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	6-5/195	31-Jan-07	52	3	9	12
98	Sam Laurila	D	Fargo (USHL)	6-1/185	2-Sep-06	50	7	28	35
99	Owen Conrad	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/210	10-Mar-07	62	7	19	26
100	Malte Vass	D	Farjestads (Swe J20)	6-2/185	28-Mar-07	40	2	9	11
HM	Karl Annborn	D	HV 71 (Swe J20)	6-1/185	6-Mar-07	39	3	21	24
HM	Lucas Beckman	G	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-1/180	23-Aug-07	51	30	18	2.68
HM	Carson Cameron	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/190	27-Jun-07	60	7	16	23
HM	Hayden Harsanyi	C	Medicine Hat-Saskatoon (WHL)	5-10/175	10-Jan-07	34	11	12	23
HM	Dmitri Isayev	LW	Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)	5-9/150	26-Jun-07	43	22	23	45
HM	Atte Joki	C	Lukko (Fin-U20)	6-1/190	21-Jul-07	40	15	17	32
HM	Viktor Klingsell	RW	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	5-10/185	10-Feb-07	43	17	22	39
HM	Nathan Lecompte	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	5-10/165	19-Jan-07	56	14	35	49
HM	Jeremy Loranger	C	Sherwood Park (BCHL)	5-9/160	15-Jun-07	50	37	57	94
HM	Jamiro Reber	C	HV 71 (SHL)	5-10/170	4-Sep-06	47	8	7	15
HM	Grayden Robertson-Palmer	C	Phillips Academy (USHS-MA)	5-11/195	29-Aug-07	30	16	23	39
HM	David Rozsival	RW	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20)	6-0/185	1-Jun-07	30	17	20	37
HM	Lukas Sawchyn	LW	Edmonton (WHL)	5-10/175	27-Feb-07	64	15	38	53
HM	Theo Stockselius	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-2/180	24-Jul-07	40	22	29	51
HM	Mason West	RW	Edina (USHS-MN)	6-5/205	3-Aug-07	31	27	22	49
HM	Max Westergard	RW	Frolunda (Swe J20)	5-11/160	3-Sep-07	41	19	31	50

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Draft-Eligible Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:00:55 +0000

There is a general rule when watching first-time draft-eligible players at the World Junior Championships; a good performance should help raise a player’s stock, but a poor tournament should not considerably lower a player’s stock. Historically, this is a tough tournament for underagers to excel at. Not everyone is ready for the limelight like Connor Bedard was in 2023 when he set the new scoring record for a U18 player, or like Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi were when they led Finland to a gold medal in 2016, combining for 30 points. Auston Matthews had a single goal when he played for the US as a U18 player. Sergei Fedorov, Scott Niedermayer, David Legwand, Brian Leetch, and Sebastian Aho are among the many who were held pointless. Bottom line, there are more failures than success stories and it’s important to keep that in perspective when evaluating draft-eligible players at this tournament.

That said, we’d be lying to you if we said we weren’t keeping tabs on certain players to see how they perform. This year, there are several players to keep an eye on and we’ve got you covered with that list.

Matthew Schaefer - Defense - Canada

Our new top-ranked player for the 2025 NHL Draft (as per our recent update), there wasn’t a lot of skepticism about Schaefer making this team. However, there was no guarantee, given his age, that he would receive a prominent role. After the exhibition schedule, it certainly appears that Schaefer is going to receive significant ice time and responsibility for Canada. He was one of the team’s top defenders in the tune-up games and he is poised to have a big tournament. The Canadian scoring record for a U18 defender at this event is held by Ryan Ellis with seven and Schaefer could challenge that.

Porter Martone - Wing - Canada

The power winger is likely to be a bottom-six player on this Canadian team, perhaps even a victim of the numbers game in the press box. The key for him will be providing physicality without crossing the thin line that exists in IIHF hockey.

Jack Ivankovic - Goaltender - Canada

Unlikely to see significant time ahead of Carter George or Carson Bjarnason, but stranger things have happened at this tournament. Realistically, Ivankovic is here to gain experience for future events. If anything, this serves as a great break from the OHL for Ivankovic, who has struggled the last month for the reeling Brampton Steelheads.

James Hagens - Center - USA

Hagens enters the tournament as the first-line center for the United States as part of an all-Boston College unit with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault. Their chemistry should really help them in a short tournament and all three could be right up near the top of the tournament scoring leaders. As we approach this tournament, Hagens is finding himself off the top spot on several current 2025 lists (including ours). A dominating performance here could go a long way to proving to scouts that he is still the top player this year.

Logan Hensler - Defense - USA

It hasn’t been an easy freshman year for Hensler at Wisconsin, who entered the year neck and neck with Schaefer as the top defender available, but now finds himself firmly behind the talented Canadian. However, Hensler has a chance to be a pretty versatile defender for the U.S. at this event and that could really help him gain a hold of the second-best defender title.

Vojtech Cihar - Wing - Czechia

There’s no guarantee that Cihar plays much of a role for a Czech team with serious medal aspirations, however, the talented winger has had a terrific year in the Czech league and is firmly on the draft radar as a top two-round candidate. Can he find a way to carve out a role?

Carlos Handel - Defense - Germany

Handel hasn’t had the kind of offensive impact, especially of late, as many had hoped he would when he joined Halifax of the QMJHL for his draft year. However, he’s still a pretty highly regarded prospect and he’s going to likely get top-four ice time for Germany at this event; an excellent opportunity for him to shine on the big stage.

David Lewandowski - Center - Germany

Another German standout who has crossed the pond to play in the CHL, Lewandowski has excelled for Saskatoon of the WHL. The big pivot plays a power game that should help him match up well against some of the other big powers in Germany’s division. Look for him to play a top-three-line role.

Rio Kaiser - Defense - Germany

A lesser-known prospect eligible for this year, Kaiser is still someone on the draft radar because of his size and intriguing athleticism on the backend. He hasn’t received a ton of ice time in the DEL this year, but he could play a prominent defensive role at this tournament and open up some eyes.

Bruno Osmanis - Wing - Latvia

Playing a good chunk of the year in the Allsvenskan (Swedish second-tier pro league), Osmanis has actually produced well playing against men in a limited role. This sets him up well for success at this event, where he’s going to be counted on by Latvia to be one of their go-to offensive players.

Luka Radivojevic - Defense - Slovakia

Our scouting team has been pretty divided on Radivojevic this year, so the fact that he should get decent ice time for Slovakia could help with that division. He’s been playing better lately after the move to Muskegon of the USHL, but how impactful can he be at the higher levels given his lack of size? We’re curious to see how he defends at this event, against the world’s best.

Jan Chovan - Center - Slovakia

Chovan came into the year with a fair amount of hype after a good U17 year and a strong Hlinka/Gretzky Cup performance, but his production in the Finnish U20 league has been underwhelming. The big pivot can play a heavy, two-way game and that should make him an ideal bottom-six player for the Slovaks. Would Chovan consider a post-WJC move to the OHL, where Sudbury owns his rights?

Tomas Pobezal - Center - Slovakia

Pobezal is on pace for a legendary season in the Slovak men’s league, right on par with the likes of Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik. That has him right in the conversation as a top 50 selection this year. He may not be flashy, but Pobezal is gritty, intelligent, and versatile. Look for him to play a middle-six role for the Slovaks.

Victor Eklund - Wing - Sweden

Another potential top-five selection playing in this year’s tournament (along with Schaefer, Martone, and Hagens). There’s no guarantee that Eklund receives a lot of ice time for the Swedes, but he’s the kind of dynamic offensive player who can have an eventual impact in the tournament.

2025 NHL DRAFT: DECEMBER RANKING – TOP 64 + Honourable Mentions – PRE-WJC

Brock Otten — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:10:07 +0000

Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

Ahead of the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, we are updating our draft ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft. For this update, we’re expanding our list to a top 64.

Now sitting atop our list is Erie Otters (and Team Canada) defender Matthew Schaefer, supplanting Boston College (and Team USA) pivot James Hagens. In reality, we like both players and the decision to move Schaefer ahead was not unanimously supported by our scouting team. However, we believe that Schaefer is the complete package as a potential number one defender. Not only does he project as an all-situations minute eater, but he is a natural born leader who could captain and be the face of an NHL franchise too.

While the World Juniors are not always the best showcase for draft eligible talent; it can be tough for underagers to be impactful players. It will be interesting, nonetheless, to see Schaefer (and Porter Martone) square off against Hagens. All three should be playing key roles for potential medal favourites.

Not at the World Juniors is Saginaw center Michael Misa, our third ranked prospect. Misa’s transition back to the middle of the ice has allowed him to become one of the CHL’s most dynamic and highest scoring players. His skating ability, tenacity, and creativity allow him to impact the game in so many different ways and we see him as a potential franchise center.

The previously mentioned Porter Martone rounds out our top four, a group that we consider to have separated themselves from the pack to create a clear grouping of potential first overall candidates. Martone is a pesky power forward who is likely to develop into a first line winger who can play in all situations for his future NHL team. It’s rare to find a winger who can be on the ice whether his team is down a goal or up a goal with a minute to go.

Filling up the rest of our top ten are Brandon center Roger McQueen, Swedish winger Victor Eklund, Tri-City (WHL) defenseman Jackson Smith, Swedish forward Anton Frondell, Moncton pivot Caleb Desnoyers, and Moose Jaw power winger Lynden Lakovic. McQueen is the prototype of the modern-day top NHL pivot, with size and skill, however, injuries have disrupted his development and that is cause for concern. He is slated to return to action around February and will need a huge finish to his WHL season in order to push his way back into top four consideration. Anton Frondell is another player worth discussing as the previously hyped forward has also struggled with injuries and consistency. He has the kind of well-rounded game that makes him a potentially valuable pro player, but have we previously over projected his potential upside?

Among the highest risers on this list are Kitchener defender Cameron Reid, Barrie defender Kashawn Aitcheson, NTDP winger Jack Murtagh, Swedish pivot Eric Nilson, and Kamloops winger Nathan Behm. Reid has been one of the highest scoring defenders in the OHL this year with the surprising Kitchener Rangers; his mobility and two-way sense are very impressive. Aitcheson has really impressed us with the improvements made to his decision making and puck play, helping to elevate his potential upside as a top four, throwback defender. Murtagh has been the best player on the U.S. NTDP U18 team this year and projects as a Ryan Leonard type of top six complementary piece at the NHL level. Eric Nilson, the son of former Calgary Flame and Florida Panther pivot Marcus Nilson, is the same kind of determined two-way player that his father was, however, he’s shown positive progression offensively that has us reevaluating his upside. Lastly, Behm is the kind of intriguing athlete on the wing that NHL teams have been focusing on developing in recent years. There’s room for improvement in a lot of areas, but when he puts everything together and grows into his frame, he could be a real solid top six asset.

One of the biggest fallers on our list is Russian forward Ivan Ryabkin. He remains in our first round for now, but we would be lying if we weren’t concerned about the kind of season he has had and the lack of progression he has shown. As is, his game needs to mature a lot in order for him to be a successful NHL player. The upside is still incredibly tantalizing, but at some point, his lack of production and development needs to be held against him.

You can expect our next ranking sometime early in the new year as we expand our midseason list to a top 100, with honorable mentions.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-2/180	5-Sep-07	17	7	15	22	8
2	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/170	3-Nov-06	16	5	15	20	4
3	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/160	16-Feb-07	30	30	31	61	21
4	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/195	26-Oct-06	26	21	33	54	41
5	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/190	2-Oct-06	8	8	3	11	18
6	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	24	8	7	15	31
7	Jackson Smith	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-3/190	13-May-07	30	2	22	24	26
8	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	6-0/195	7-May-07	7	1	2	3	6
9	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/190	11-Apr-07	26	17	25	42	14
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/190	12-Dec-06	29	16	22	38	4
11	Radim Mrtka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-6/200	9-Jun-07	9	2	5	7	10
12	Justin Carbonneau	RW	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-06	31	22	23	45	26
13	Malcolm Spence	LW	Erie (OHL)	6-2/200	22-Sep-06	29	15	22	37	20
14	Cameron Schmidt	RW	Vancouver (WHL)	5-8/150	19-Jan-07	26	24	14	38	16
15	Cullen Potter	C	Arizona State (NCAA)	5-9/160	10-Jan-07	16	4	4	8	6
16	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-0/175	16-Mar-07	28	15	14	29	42
17	Cameron Reid	D	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/160	8-Apr-07	33	6	23	29	20
18	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/190	21-Sep-06	29	10	13	23	48
19	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/185	14-Oct-06	17	0	7	7	19
20	Jack Murtagh	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/180	22-Aug-07	20	10	12	22	10
21	Joshua Ravensbergen	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-4/180	27-Nov-06	24	16	4	3.06	0.899
22	Carter Bear	C	Everett (WHL)	6-0/175	4-Nov-06	26	22	24	46	22
23	Jake O'Brien	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-2/170	16-Jun-07	33	18	23	41	8
24	Luca Romano	RW	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/170	25-Jun-07	32	14	15	29	8
25	Blake Fiddler	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-3/195	9-Jul-07	27	4	8	12	18
26	Ivan Ryabkin	C	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-0/170	25-Apr-07	15	1	11	12	26
27	Ben Kindel	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-10/165	19-Apr-07	29	19	27	46	18
28	Eric Nilson	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	5-11/155	11-May-07	23	8	20	28	14
29	Braeden Cootes	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/170	9-Feb-07	29	13	17	30	10
30	Nathan Behm	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-2/185	18-Apr-07	31	18	19	37	10
31	Kurban Limatov	D	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-4/185	20-Mar-07	26	5	11	16	16
32	Will Moore	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/160	24-Mar-07	29	11	11	22	2
33	Henry Brzustewicz	D	London (OHL)	6-1/195	9-Feb-07	32	5	15	20	45
34	Jack Nesbitt	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-4/175	12-Jan-07	33	13	16	29	30
35	Cole Reschny	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-9/160	6-Apr-07	29	11	27	38	28
36	Shane Vansaghi	RW	Michigan State (NCAA)	6-1/190	11-Oct-06	16	2	9	11	16
37	Arvid Drott	RW	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	6-1/180	11-Aug-07	24	13	12	25	10
38	Adam Benak	C	Youngstown (USHL)	5-7/160	10-Apr-07	26	8	16	24	20
39	Tomas Pobezal	C	HK Nitra (Svk)	5-10/170	18-Sep-06	26	12	5	17	14
40	Milton Gastrin	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	6-2/180	2-Jun-07	20	7	12	19	12
41	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	LW	Lulea (Swe J20)	6-3/180	1-Feb-07	22	7	21	28	6
42	Carter Amico	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/205	15-Mar-07	13	0	3	3	10
43	Cole McKinney	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/190	16-Mar-07	26	8	15	23	21
44	Ben Kevan	RW	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/165	3-Jan-07	16	6	10	16	23
45	Conrad Fondrk	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	1-Jun-07	28	6	12	18	2
46	Vojtech Cihar	LW	Karlovy Vary (Czechia)	6-1/170	29-Mar-07	25	3	4	7	6
47	Luka Radivojevic	D	Muskegon (USHL)	5-10/155	3-Jan-07	19	0	10	10	8
48	Alex Huang	D	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-0/160	30-Jul-07	31	1	13	14	8
49	Charlie Trethewey	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-1/190	2-Aug-07	29	4	6	10	16
50	Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen	D	Michigan (NCAA)	6-0/170	18-Dec-06	18	1	4	5	2
51	Pyotr Andreyanov	G	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	6-0/205	22-Jan-07	17	10	3	1.83	0.942
52	Zeb Lindgren	D	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	6-2/175	14-Apr-07	22	2	9	11	20
53	Haoxi (Simon) Wang	D	King Rebellion (OJHL)	6-6/210	27-Jul-07	35	3	15	18	69
54	Maxim Agafonov	D	Tolpar Ufa (MHL)	6-0/180	10-Apr-07	20	4	3	7	16
55	Bill Zonnon	LW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/180	3-Oct-06	31	16	29	45	18
56	Ethan Czata	C	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/160	29-May-07	33	15	20	35	35
57	Sascha Boumedienne	D	Boston University (NCAA)	6-1/170	17-Jan-07	16	0	3	3	23
58	Peyton Kettles	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-4/185	1-Sep-07	20	2	3	5	34
59	Eddie Genborg	LW	Linkopings (Swe J20)	6-2/185	20-Apr-07	22	16	13	29	22
60	Zachary Morin	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	25-Jan-07	25	10	14	24	2
61	Jimmy Lombardi	C	Flint (OHL)	6-0/180	16-Feb-07	32	5	13	18	17
62	Jack Ivankovic	G	Brampton (OHL)	5-11/180	22-May-07	21	12	7	3.49	0.898
63	Carlos Handel	D	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-0/160	31-Mar-07	28	2	9	11	8
64	Jan Chovan	C	Tappara (Fin-U20)	6-2/180	9-Jan-07	25	9	8	17	4
HM	William Belle	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-4/215	14-Jan-07	28	2	5	7	18
HM	Lasse Boelius	D	Assat (Fin-U20)	6-0/180	16-Mar-07	23	3	8	11	6
HM	Donny Bracco	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	26-Jul-07	29	0	9	9	6
HM	Carson Cameron	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/175	27-Jun-07	33	5	9	14	14
HM	Kieren Dervin	C	Kingston (OHL)	6-1/170	31-Mar-07	1	0	0	0	0
HM	Semyon Frolov	G	MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)	6-3/170	17-Jan-07	4	2	1	1.48	0.945
HM	Matthew Gard	C	Red Deer (WHL)	6-4/190	7-Apr-07	31	8	11	19	36
HM	Emile Guite	LW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-1/165	31-May-07	30	6	5	11	8
HM	Love Harenstam	G	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	6-1/185	18-Jan-07	8	3	5	3.52	0.899
HM	Lev Katzin	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-8/170	13-May-07	8	5	10	15	0
HM	Viktor Klingsell	LW	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	5-10/170	10-Feb-07	24	7	10	17	0
HM	Ryker Lee	RW	Madison (USHL)	5-9/150	8-Nov-06	20	10	14	24	4
HM	Samuel Meloche	G	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-3/195	22-Jul-07	27	14	6	2.75	0.898
HM	L.J. Mooney	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-7/150	8-Mar-07	14	1	9	10	4
HM	Tomas Poletin	C	Pelicans (Fin-U20)	6-1/195	30-Apr-07	15	11	3	14	6
HM	Max Psenicka	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-4/175	18-Jan-07	13	1	0	1	0
HM	Nathan Quinn	C	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-11/160	29-Aug-07	30	11	21	32	13
HM	Sam Spehar	C	Sioux Falls (USHL)	5-10/170	20-Apr-07	20	8	8	16	2

2025 NHL DRAFT: DECEMBER RANKING – TOP 32 – PRE-WJC

Brock Otten — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:10:01 +0000

Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

Ahead of the 2025 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, we are updating our draft ranking for the 2025 NHL Draft. For this update, we’re expanding our list to a top 64.

You can expect our next ranking sometime early in the new year as we expand our midseason list to a top 100, with honorable mentions. The top 32 are available to all in this article. Subscribers can access the top 64 plus honourable mentions by linking here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1	Matthew Schaefer	D	Erie (OHL)	6-2/180	5-Sep-07	17	7	15	22	8
2	James Hagens	C	Boston College (NCAA)	5-10/170	3-Nov-06	16	5	15	20	4
3	Michael Misa	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/160	16-Feb-07	30	30	31	61	21
4	Porter Martone	RW	Brampton (OHL)	6-3/195	26-Oct-06	26	21	33	54	41
5	Roger McQueen	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-5/190	2-Oct-06	8	8	3	11	18
6	Victor Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	5-11/160	3-Oct-06	24	8	7	15	31
7	Jackson Smith	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-3/190	13-May-07	30	2	22	24	26
8	Anton Frondell	C	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	6-0/195	7-May-07	7	1	2	3	6
9	Caleb Desnoyers	C	Moncton (QMJHL)	6-2/190	11-Apr-07	26	17	25	42	14
10	Lynden Lakovic	LW	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-4/190	12-Dec-06	29	16	22	38	4
11	Radim Mrtka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-6/200	9-Jun-07	9	2	5	7	10
12	Justin Carbonneau	RW	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-1/190	25-Nov-06	31	22	23	45	26
13	Malcolm Spence	LW	Erie (OHL)	6-2/200	22-Sep-06	29	15	22	37	20
14	Cameron Schmidt	RW	Vancouver (WHL)	5-8/150	19-Jan-07	26	24	14	38	16
15	Cullen Potter	C	Arizona State (NCAA)	5-9/160	10-Jan-07	16	4	4	8	6
16	Brady Martin	C	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	6-0/175	16-Mar-07	28	15	14	29	42
17	Cameron Reid	D	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/160	8-Apr-07	33	6	23	29	20
18	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-1/190	21-Sep-06	29	10	13	23	48
19	Logan Hensler	D	Wisconsin (NCAA)	6-2/185	14-Oct-06	17	0	7	7	19
20	Jack Murtagh	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/180	22-Aug-07	20	10	12	22	10
21	Joshua Ravensbergen	G	Prince George (WHL)	6-4/180	27-Nov-06	24	16	4	3.06	0.899
22	Carter Bear	C	Everett (WHL)	6-0/175	4-Nov-06	26	22	24	46	22
23	Jake O'Brien	C	Brantford (OHL)	6-2/170	16-Jun-07	33	18	23	41	8
24	Luca Romano	RW	Kitchener (OHL)	5-11/170	25-Jun-07	32	14	15	29	8
25	Blake Fiddler	D	Edmonton (WHL)	6-3/195	9-Jul-07	27	4	8	12	18
26	Ivan Ryabkin	C	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-0/170	25-Apr-07	15	1	11	12	26
27	Ben Kindel	C	Calgary (WHL)	5-10/165	19-Apr-07	29	19	27	46	18
28	Eric Nilson	C	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	5-11/155	11-May-07	23	8	20	28	14
29	Braeden Cootes	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/170	9-Feb-07	29	13	17	30	10
30	Nathan Behm	RW	Kamloops (WHL)	6-2/185	18-Apr-07	31	18	19	37	10
31	Kurban Limatov	D	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-4/185	20-Mar-07	26	5	11	16	16
32	Will Moore	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/160	24-Mar-07	29	11	11	22	2

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Preview – Team Germany

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:00:08 +0000

_{Julius Sumpf}

What a wild ride the 2024 WJC was for Team Germany. After upsetting clear-cut favorite Finland 4-3 to kick off their tournament, the Germans dropped three straight, including a 6-2 stinker against key group rival Latvia. That had Germany eyeing a spot in the relegation round where the new post-pandemic modus now called for a one-and-done face-off. Norway was the head-on-head opponent and was sporting a team featuring upcoming 1st rounders Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Stian Solberg as well as a plethora of players honing their craft in Sweden, some in the pro ranks.

Despite a 4-2 lead after roughly 55 minutes of play thanks in part to 2-point performances from Kevin Bicker (DET) and Veit Oswald, the Norwegians managed to tie things up in the 57th minute of play. What ensued was a back-and-forth overtime thrill show which concluded when tiny tot Moritz Elias circled the Norwegian zone for what felt like forever before lacing a wrister in the far upper left corner. The joy of victory was topped only by the collective sigh of relief for Germany’s program, which has had to do all it could in recent years to stay in the top group.

Germany is now returning to action with precious few returnees, the biggest loss being that of Detroit’s 2023 5th-rounder, the aforementioned Bicker. The speedster had already topped his 23-24 season DEL production with 4 points over 18 games this fall before suffering what may end up being a season-ending injury in November. That leaves Moncton center - an assistant captain - Julius Sumpf and Green Bay Gamblers defenseman Norwin Panocha as the only returning players of note and they’ll certainly have their work cut out for them if this team is going to retain their spot among the world’s elite, which remains the priority.

What Coach Abstreiter’s team will feature is a swath of youngsters who are currently playing in one of Germany’s three pro leagues, with two coming straight out of the topflight DEL. Also of note is the rather large number of players born in 2006 or even 2007, a bit of a novelty for a German team that almost always consists entirely of players who’ll be aging out shortly after the tournament. This isn’t all that surprising for insiders though as the U18 team had a wonderful D1A Worlds last spring and features a few of the more talented players to make their way through the pipelines in recent years. In fact, this team could feature up to four forwards who are first eligible for next summer’s draft, David Lewandowski of the Saskatoon Blades being the most notable.

Once again in a group featuring Canada and the USA, with a bout against Finland smack dab between the North American giants, little is expected of the Germans in the way of points until they face off against Latvia on December 30th. This obvious key match of the preliminary round is probably already giving Coach Abstreiter ulcers as few even-keeled opponents have had the Germans’ number as handedly and regularly in the past decade as Latvia has. If that bout doesn’t see Germany advance to the quarterfinals, chances are pretty strong that one of Kazakhstan or archrival Switzerland will be the opponent for the all-decisive game on January 2nd.

Key Players

Carlos Händel, D

We’ve been big fans of Händel’s for three seasons now, having initially gotten very curious when he jumped from Mannheim to Frölunda back in 2022. Strong international play and an overly positive season with Malmö’s U18 squad throughout last season made him a rather desirable item for CHL teams. Sure enough, he’s plying his trade in Halifax nowadays. That’s not without its growing pains though, as Händel has some physical development to go through and is facing a level of competition in the Q that he’s never known before. But a defenseman who collects 11 points in 28 QMJHL games (on North American ice, no less) is not a player Germany has the luxury of leaving home, his current -15 be damned. The fact is, Händel is a smooth-skating defender who loves to have the puck on his stick and is adept at warding off attackers. These kinds of players don’t grow on trees in Germany. There’s a smooth skill and skating package here, and his club might be best served to force-feed him highlights of Axel Sandin-Pellikka. You can expect him to man the point on one of the team’s power play units as well as lead his fair share of rushes - if Abstreiter chooses to unleash him.

David Lewandowski, C/W

Coming in with 15 points in 20 WHL games, Lewandowski will be the youngest German player to participate in a WJC since the days of Tim Stützle. At the moment, Lewandowski is the nation’s top prospect in next summer’s draft, and he brings size, skill, and a bit of flash ‘n dash to the table. He can really get himself moving in an east-west fashion and it’d be a boon to the team if he’s ready for 2nd line and power play duties, which we feel he certainly is. Alas, his international play to date has been marred by inconsistency, overhandling of the puck, and disappearing acts. When he’s comfortable and doing his thing, there’s a powerful forward here with the kind of hockey sense that sets him apart from most of his peers. It would be huge if that’s the Lewandowski we get to see here on this platform.

Lua Niehus, D

Getting knocked out right away in Germany’s first game last winter, Niehus wasn’t able to show the international hockey world why, at 18, he was already playing DEL hockey. Things are looking good this time around. Granted, the 5’9”, 160-pound Niehus certainly will have his hands full with the bigger bodies that line the other rosters, but it’s not something he isn’t already used to in the DEL. A bit of a speedy player with a low center of gravity, Niehus’ strength lies in his positioning and breakout pass. He also likes to edge out players along the boards, but he can be tossed around and has problems with net-front coverage. He can also be guilty of holding onto the puck too long. He is a trusted presence for Abstreiter, so he’s going to get plenty of opportunities to sink or swim.

Norwin Panocha, D

When Panocha was drafted in 2023, we felt he was an excellent pick as a 7th-rounder. He had just come off a dominating DNL performance and was highly regarded by his Eisbären Berlin organization. He also was one of the very few bright spots on Germany’s disappointing U18 team that spring. In light of exceptional 4-way mobility, we saw him as a guy you chance it on in the later stages of the draft, limited viewings be damned. He then looked great in Buffalo’s rookie prospect camp before heading to the Q, getting off to a good start with Chicoutimi. But something happened and we don’t know what it is. Last season didn’t end well, and he transferred to the WHL this summer, a move that - after just 3 pointless games - led to him flipping down to Green Bay of the USHL. He’s been quiet there ever since as well. Now he comes in as a go-to first pairing defenseman and Germany needs him to brush off whatever has held him back over the past 12 months because his 2024 WJC showing was nothing to write home about either. This is an important time for Panocha to prove his metal.

Nico Pertuch, G

Very big in the crease and deceptively mobile, Pertuch’s pro experience in the DEL2 has him looking like the starter, even if his being part of last year’s WJC squad was about little more than being along for the ride. And even though he spent all of last season as a backup at the pro level, Pertuch has been getting into more action this time around and his 1.91 GAA and .906 save percentage in 8 contests are rather eye-opening in a league that has its fair share of high-scoring bouts. He’s cool and collected. Abstreiter likes to split duties according to the opponents, but you can expect Pertuch to be in net against Finland and Latvia - and whatever comes after the preliminary round.

Elias Pul, C/W

Pul headed into the 23-24 season as Germany’s top prospect for the 2024 draft. He had lost that position by the time US Thanksgiving rolled around in 2023. All in all, it was a year full of learning and facing adversity. Then he signed with a DEL2 club this offseason and has been taking flight ever since. With 8 goals and 11 points in 24 games, he’s way ahead of the pack among U21 players in that respective league, where a number of his teammates on this national team are taking shifts. What’s been really nice is seeing how elated he is with each and every goal his team scores. He not only brings skill and some sweet anticipation to the table but a joie de vivre that has been the surprise of the league. Moreover, he’s showing why we were so excited about him several summers ago. He could be the 2nd line center; he could be the first-line left wing. We’ll see.

Timo Ruckdäschel, LW

There was a time when the husky winger with a long reach looked like he could be a special offensive player. Now in his 3rd year of DEL action (his first as a regular), he’s making his mark by being a physical player who is rough ‘n tumble along the boards. So much so that we’re thinking he’s here to provide the muscle while being a plus player in the puck-possession department. At 6’1”, 201 pounds, he makes an even bigger impression on the ice and has been playing with and against men for three whole seasons now. He could also be a difference-maker in those tight games. We see Abstreiter leaning on his size and experience on one of the top two lines.

Julius Sumpf, C

It’s a breakout year for Sumpf, who we’ve eyed as one of Germany’s few above-average offensive prospects in recent years. Much of what he does isn’t flashy but can be highly effective. At the moment, the half-Canadian is spending his DY-2 year as one of Moncton’s motors in the QMJHL, having put up 37 points and a league-best +31 in 29 games. This comes on the heels of a 55-point rookie campaign last year, one that didn’t lead to him getting drafted. Sumpf also excels in the face-off circle and has added some defensive acumen to his game. This is all good and fine, but the fact is, Sumpf is going to have to be the main man in any success Germany is going to experience here. It’s not a role he’s taken to well in years past. We’d like to see him be the top player when Germany faces Latvia. That’ll be his biggest and most doable challenge.

Edwin Tropmann, RHD

Imagine being 16 and not only making your nation’s U18 Worlds team for a tournament your nation was hosting but finding yourself in the Ovechkin spot on the team’s first power play unit by Game 3 of the tournament. That was Tropmann’s fate, and it effectively put him on the map for the 2023 draft, one he didn’t get selected in after a quiet season was followed by just being “meh” for a German side that got relegated that spring. His DY-1 season was actually quite promising, but he didn’t really suit up internationally. Now he’s taking a regular shift in the DEL2 and has been called upon for six DEL contests. His sound overall play has been so notable, both at the pro level and in national team meet-ups, that he’ll be captaining this year’s WJC edition and likely racking up 20+ minutes of TOI a night. More importantly, this is a chance for him to show the scouting community that there’s a go-getter in this 5’10”, righty-shot player whose playing style is akin to that of a MacKenzie Weegar.

Paul Vinzens, RW

In his DY-1 season, Vinzens comes in as one of the team’s motors and quite a plugger of a winger. He’s tough to defend against and takes on all challenges, even if he is guilty of disappearing acts. Every once in a while, he unpacks some real treats for the fans, not hesitating to do the unexpected. He’s been a strong player for the Red Bull Juniors for two seasons now and we felt he’d be a sleeper draft topic last summer, but some injuries kept him from strutting everything he’s got. With 15 points in 14 AlpsHL games, Vinzenz has been called up to the Munich Red Bulls of the DEL for six outings and isn’t looking out of place. We think he’ll be Sumpf’s right winger and that means, it’s time for him to arrive internationally.

Sleeper

Lenny Boos, C/RW

A water bug who has been a big-time scorer in Germany’s junior ranks, Lenny is the son of a long time German-league pro and has already seen 5 games of DEL action this season while spending most of the young season taking a regular shift for 3rd leaguist Essen, chipping in 10 points in 18 games. Moreover, he’s basically the ying to Lewandowski’s yang. The two have played together for years in Düsseldorf and often team up internationally as well. What we like is that he shows no knowledge of being smaller than most other guys on the ice. He gets his nose dirty and comes out of tight spaces with plenty of pucks. He’s smart and knows how to survive. Should he make the cut, he’ll have a unique opportunity to become a draft topic, especially if he finds himself back on the line with Lewandowski.

2025 NHL DRAFT: Early Season Favourites – QMJHL – Desnoyers, Guité, Händel & Quinn

Jérémi Plourde — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 14:00:43 +0000

_{Carlos Händel}

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2025 NHL Draft season is well underway and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Jérémi Plourde – Regional Québec Scout

Caleb Desnoyers - C - Moncton Wildcats

6’2, 179lbs - 2007-04-11

As people around the scouting world have started slowly getting familiar with the top names of this upcoming NHL draft this summer during the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, one of the names that stood out of the bunch was Caleb Desnoyers. He was talked about finally being a potential top 15 NHL prospect to come out of the QMJHL, which has not happened since Alexis Lafrenière back in 2020. He intrigued and impressed all of us, but not in the same way as Adam Benak, Gavin McKenna, Matthew Schaefer, or the other very skilled and dominant players in the tournament. Desnoyers played a very translatable, two-way, intense and intelligent game. An “NHL-like” game as one might say. He played a key role with Team Canada allowing them to win the gold medal. With this performance, Desnoyers had a lot of eyes on him as the 2024-2025 QMJHL season began.

So far, Desnoyers has been as expected. 26 points in only 17 games, while maintaining this very mature and translatable game that all the NHL scouts adore. The details in his game, and how well-rounded of a player he is, are what makes him a consensus top-15 prospect, and even though we are currently only in November, I am extremely confident when I say that Desnoyers is going to be at least a top 25 pick in the NHL draft in June.

That being said, it is important to add a nuance. Desnoyers brings a flawless profile in the sense that he does not have any major weaknesses, but the biggest thing that holds him back is the true upside in his game. Does he have the likely top 6, maybe top-line upside that a consensus top 15 pick would suggest? Is he more likely, at the end of the day, to be a player who scores at a point-per-game pace in the big league than a guy like Victor Eklund, Roger McQueen or even Ivan Ryabkin? Right now, it would be safe to say that it’s maybe not the case.

In conclusion, see Desnoyers as a typical high floor, limited ceiling type of center. A lot of people in the scouting world have been suspect of drafting players in the QMJHL for many reasons, but Desnoyers is not one of those players who just demolish a lower-level league in ways that are not really “NHL-like” and who have big holes in their game, he is the complete opposite. Everything he does is calculated and super translatable, as I will break down in the videos right under.

Here's Desnoyers finishing a number of checks. He’s a beast, NHL general managers will love him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/desnoyers-hit.mp4

In this clip, you see Desnoyers’ puck handling skills, but more importantly how he intelligently chooses the optimal path between opponents to maintain the control of the puck.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/desnoyers-hands.mp4

Here is one of the millions of examples of one of Desnoyers’ best attributes, his passing vision. For him, noticing situations where space is being created and where he can make a great pass is like an automatism, and he never misses the optimal pass. He does it all the time, in every situation.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/desnoyers-vision-1.mp4

Desnoyers also has good finishing in tight, as I said he’s very well-rounded and can do it all.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/desnoyers-finishing.mp4

Lastly, Desnoyers is always supporting his team defensively. Here is a two-on-two chance incoming. Not a super dangerous scenario, most forwards would choose not to back-check super hard, but Desnoyers hustles back, breaks up the play, and initiates the breakout. It’s those details that make him such a highly regarded player.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/desnoyers-defense-1.mp4

Émile Guité - LW - Chicoutimi Saguenéens

6’1, 174lbs - 2007-05-31

Speaking of QMJHL prospects who put their name out there this summer during the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Émile Guité outscored Caleb Desnoyers with 7 points in 5 games, tied for first out of everyone on Canada’s squad. In that tournament, he displayed how dangerous of a player he could be, especially with his shot. Most people had him as a first-rounder coming into this season.

So far, Guité has been disappointing. Many parts of his offensive game have not been as good as expected. From a statistical standpoint, as of Sunday, November 18th, he has only registered a single point in his last nine games and has 9 points in 21 games. With these kinds of numbers out of the CHL for a forward who doesn’t really bring another role than an offensive forward, you would expect that player to go undrafted.

Just a few months ago he was seen as a first-rounder, now he plays like a junior player who goes undrafted. So the question is, which Émile Guité will we get forward, and which version of Émile Guité is seen as the right one by NHL teams? In my opinion, the answer is a version somewhere in the middle. The risk is growing the longer he is unable to produce in the Q, but with what he has shown this summer at the Hlinka or even last year in the Q scoring at a point-per-game pace, the upside will always be there.

Therefore, Guité is a boom or bust type of player, as he has a chance at becoming a top-6 goal-scoring winger with good overall offensive tools, but not only is this upside less and less likely to hit, but he also doesn’t have a secondary game, for example, a strong defensive presence, a hard-hitting forward, or even an effective forechecker.

Here is the play that made Guité popular at the Hlinka. Ridiculous puck control on that toe drag, and the release and accuracy were pretty impressive as well.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/guite-hands.mp4

It is rare that I put much thought into a shootout attempt but this one was too nasty not to include. The hands are very impressive with Guité.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emile_guite_-_shootouts_0_36_-_0_44.mp4

In this clip, you can see that Guité is not just a guy who shoots all the time. He can also dish passes around defencemen, which makes him pretty dangerous. Nota super important fact, but he also loves to open his hips and do a “tomahawk” skating move when entering the zone, he does it all the time.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emile_guite_-_3rd_period_0_57_-_1_6.mp4

Lastly, here’s a nice hustling play by Guité. He chips the puck, skates hard to corral it while entering the O zone, and while driving to the net he pushes off-balance the player who tries to take the puck away while managing to get a shot on the net. The effort level might not always be there, but when he puts it all together, Guité can have some promising potential.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/emile_guite_-_3rd_period_21_44_-_21_54.mp4

Carlos Händel - D - Halifax Mooseheads

6’1, 168lbs - 2007-03-31

Once again, here is a defenceman who got his name talked about at the Hlinka this summer, but this time not from team Canada. Carlos Händel is a German who came to North America this season to play for the Halifax Mooseheads. He was one of Germany’s best players, on both sides of the ice.

This year with Halifax, as most European import players, Händel took some time to adjust to the new style of play. The CHL has a smaller ice and plays a tighter, more physical game, which caused Händel to be more passive, and more careful with his plays, therefore preventing him from truly playing his game.

That being said, already after a few games, he looks more and more like the version of him we saw this summer. He maybe doesn’t dance at the blue line like Alex Huang does, but he joins the rush all the time, he can fly down the perimeter and go low in the offensive zone, he gets shots through the net and distributes the pass well. There might be some execution problems in terms of difficult puck-handling plays, I have to admit that the puck control is not always where you would want it to be, but he’s a stable defenseman who is pleasingly very involved in the play. At 168 lbs he also has room to grow and fill out his frame. In the NHL he would really thrive in a system that relies on rush chances and that allows their defencemen to jump in the play, a bit like the Vegas Golden Knights. If he improves his skating, gets stronger and continues to grow in confidence, he could absolutely be a second-pairing defenceman, two-way and strong at 5-on-5.

This was a very impressive play from Händel. He jumps in to contribute to the zone entry like he always does, avoids a hit while passing the puck gets it back, shoots, misses but gets it back again and scores. He is looking like a forward out there.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carlos_handel_-_3rd_period_23_19_-_23_37.mp4

Händel is a great transitional passer. You always have to watch out for those because he will make you pay.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carlos_handel_-_2nd_period_36_59_-_37_8.mp4

Here’s another example of that.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carlos_handel_-_1st_period_23_17_-_23_26.mp4

Here’s his most impressive play from the Hlinka. No need to describe it, just watch it and enjoy it.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carlos_handel_-_3rd_period_21_47_-_21_59.mp4

Defensively, he is super solid. Here, he scans, notices the perfect opportunity to aggressively intervene, uses his body to separate the puck from his opponent, and quickly makes the first pass for the breakout.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carlos_handel_-_2nd_period_5_38_-_5_46.mp4

Nathan Quinn - C - Québec Remparts

5’11, 161lbs - 2007-08-29

Lastly, we finally have a player who kind of came out of nowhere. Nathan Quinn was unknown to most but thanks to a point-per-game campaign so far in 23 games, he has been seen more and more as a potential top-two-round pick. It is also worth noting that he is producing that much with the Québec Remparts, a team that is overall pretty bad.

A bit like Desnoyers, Quinn plays a certain game that resembles a lot of what NHL scouts look for. Quinn has a precise role and plays it to perfection. He is basically last year’s Terik Parascak for those who scouted him as well. He plays with a highly skilled player in Justin Côté and plays an off-puck role on that line. He is gritty and gets good opportunities thanks to his smart positioning, often near the net. Quinn is also able to show some nice hands in tight, he can pull off toe drags are shots between his legs and can protect the puck decently well even given his smaller frame. He is not much of a play driver at all and he’s not particularly quick, which is something he could look to develop to round out his game in the future.

Again, I could see him being drafted in the second round if a team really likes him. For now, it is maybe safer to say he will be a middle-round pick.

Quinn’s shot map is identical to Zach Hyman’s. This year, every goal except one has been scored right in front of the net super close to the goaltender. Here’s how he does it: spots an opening, attacks it, and releases it immediately.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan_quinn_-_2nd_period_11_19_-_11_26.mp4

Remember how I said every goal but one was right in front of the net? This one is the odd one out, and it was a pretty sweet goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan_quinn_-_3rd_period_7_26_-_7_33.mp4

Quinn also executes saucer passes super well and very often. Here’s a nice play from him where he goes from one zone to the other and dishes a nice pass over the defenceman for a scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan_quinn_-_2nd_period_26_11_-_26_23.mp4

Here's another one.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan_quinn_-_2nd_period_21_24_-_21_30.mp4

Quinn is a heads-up player. When he has the puck on his stick, he usually doesn’t keep it for that long. His scanning game is always on point, and you can see that here.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan_quinn_-_3rd_period_32_39_-_32_48.mp4