Carson Cameron – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL DRAFT: Top ten undrafted players as ranked by McKeen’s Hockey

Brock Otten — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:06:16 +0000

The 2025 NHL Draft has come and gone. 97 of our top 100 ranked players were drafted, as were 120 of our top 130.

There were definitely some interesting trends.

For one, no defenders under the height of 6 feet were selected. Conversely, the focus was clearly on adding size and more size to NHL lineups, as many of the draft’s “fallers” were undersized players. This is obviously in response to what the Florida Panthers have done in recent years; teams want to add more size and grit to their organizations.

Another trend was the increased selection of CHL players. 90 CHL players were selected, the most in almost a decade. Over 40% of all players were out of the Canadian Hockey League, and that number probably increases when you factor in the number of players who have officially (and unofficially) signed in the league for next year. This is obviously in response to the new NCAA eligibility rules and the pending changes coming to the CBA regarding the signing window. Teams felt more comfortable using mid to later round picks on players out of the CHL knowing that their signing window will likely increase and, subsequently, so will their development window.

As is usually the case, re-entry players were heavily targeted. Our top eight re-entries (or overagers) were selected and over 30 were taken league wide. Although, the number was a little lower than we’ve seen the last few years. However, it’s important to note that some of those re-entries taken were players previously ranked highly by us at McKeen’s Hockey like Francesco Dell’Elce and Nolan Roed. Odds are that a few of the players listed below will improve enough to earn a selection in the coming years.

Here were our top ten undrafted players:

Post Draft Outlook: Considering that so many other similar defenders were selected, from the QMJHL alone, it was shocking to see Conrad go unselected. NHL teams must have felt that his skating was not quite at the level it needed to be considering his likely low impact on the offensive side of things.

Post Draft Outlook: Obviously was a turbulent year for Morin as he left the USHL earlier in the year to sign in Saint John, then put up somewhat disappointing numbers. Consistency was the biggest issue for him, especially in terms of physical engagement. But he has the package of size and skill that NHL teams are looking for. At some point, it seems likely he puts it all together and becomes a high scoring junior player. Maybe it’s this year in the QMJHL. Maybe it’s in the future with Boston University.

Post Draft Outlook: Radivojevic was a highly divisive prospect for us this year as a staff. Some felt that he was a top two round prospect, while others felt he was a draft long shot deserving of a lower ranking. As mentioned above, it was not a good year to be an undersized defender. At the end of the day, Radivojevic just isn’t dynamic enough offensively at this current moment to be a big time point producer at higher levels. That makes his projection murky. He’ll be at Boston College next year and could easily be next year’s Francesco Dell’Elce if he produces at a good clip and shows that his game can translate.

Post Draft Outlook: It feels like Pobezal has been on the draft radar for several years thanks to some underage appearances for Slovakia internationally on the bigger stages. However, his game has seemed to plateau, and the physical tools just haven’t caught up. The IQ and compete level are great, but what’s the upside? He’ll play in Kingston next year and he could easily be back on the draft radar with a strong performance in the OHL.

Post Draft Outlook: Even though Rheume-Mullen isn’t technically undersized, it was a tough draft for “average” sized defenders too, especially ones with his profile. Like Radivojevic, DRM was a player that was highly debated by our scouting team. Ultimately, a lack of standout trait outside of skating clouded his upside in the eyes of NHL scouts. But he’ll return to Michigan as a sophomore, and he’ll earn more ice time over time. He’ll definitely be on the signing radar in a few years if he’s not drafted next year (in his final year of eligibility).

Post Draft Outlook: Given how well his brother Gracyn progressed over his years in the WHL, we expected Lukas to be selected because there are some similarities in their games. But his size/frame likely did him in this year, especially when coupled with only average production. We wish he had gotten more ice time at the U18’s to show what he’s made of, but that will have to wait. He’ll return to Edmonton next year and look to fill his big brother’s shoes as Gracyn turns pro in the Florida system.

Post Draft Outlook: We were big fans of Cameron coming into the year and we still believe that he’ll evolve into an NHL prospect down the line. But right now? A tough year for a rebuilding Peterborough Petes team was tough on him. He lost his identity and fell into the draft year trap by trying to do too much. He still has an intriguing two-way skill set and he’ll evolve with an improving Petes’ team over the next two years.

Post Draft Outlook: Again, what a tough year to be undersized. Veilleux was among the production leaders for draft eligible CHL players this year. However, his game lacks polish and maturity currently. He needs to get stronger and improve his off-puck play. If he can add some snarl to his game and continue to improve his skating, he’s going to keep producing offensively in the QMJHL and eventually get a sniff.

Post Draft Outlook: Did we mention that being undersized was a kiss of death this year? Carrier was a favourite sleeper of our QMJHL scouting team, but he just didn’t produce enough or get enough ice time to truly stand out. He is a hard worker with a well-rounded skill set, but perhaps a lack of standout trait, coupled with his size, made it difficult for NHL scouts to project him to a future NHL role.

Post Draft Outlook: Another QMJHL stay at home standout with size that we figured was a draft slam dunk. The heavy hitter might have fallen under the radar a bit this year, his first in the QMJHL as an import. Hopefully he returns to Val D’or next season and continues to improve his skating and puck management/puck skill to get himself back on the draft radar.

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 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 NHL DRAFT: Summer of 25′ – Introducing you to Ontario

Brock Otten — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:35:49 +0000

Porter Martone of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

It hasn’t even been a month since the 2024 NHL Draft in Vegas. However, that hasn’t stopped us from thinking about the 2025 Draft.

Welcome to a series at McKeen’s Hockey that aims to introduce you to some of the top prospects from each region for 2025. The disclaimer is that…it’s early. The names on these lists are not likely to be the exact same as the ones you see next June. However, we thought it was important for you to know some of the top players heading into the season.

First up is Ontario. It looks like it could be a really good year for the region. There are several high-end late born 2006 players, which has beefed up the talent pool. Additionally, many OHL teams took some highly rated 2025 prospects with their import selections. An early guess could put Ontario with double digit first round selections.

Porter Martone - Wing - Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

Martone heads into his draft season as a near unanimous top three ranked player thanks to his combination of size, skill, and truculence. The 6’3 winger captained Canada to the gold medal at the most recent IIHF U18’s and was named a tournament all-star in the process. Last year, he also led the Mississauga (now Brampton) Steelheads in goal scoring. Born in October of 2006, Martone is one of those aforementioned late birthdays that has really helped boost this crop from Ontario.

What makes Martone so unique is that he provides that physical spark, to go with his immense offensive skill and sense. He patterns his game after the Tkachuk brothers and it’s very easy to see how. Martone relishes the opportunity to play that pest-like role. He’s physical in puck pursuit. He crashes the net. He consistently involves himself in extracurricular activities; never one to shy away from a scrum. As such, he projects as someone we would classify as an NHL playoff performer.

From an offensive perspective, Martone has a very well-rounded profile. He can beat defenders wide, one on one; once he builds speed, he can be so difficult to stop with his ability to protect the puck. However, he’s also patient. He’ll look to take on defenders head on but has no qualms about having to work to extend possession. He doesn’t have tunnel vision like a lot of young players with his size and skill profile. He’ll curl and work the wall. He’ll dump and chase and beat you down low. He controls the pace the way you want your top offensive players to do.

Martone also has great scoring instincts. He has a lightning quick release that makes him very dangerous in the slot and near the crease. The combination of those two things makes him a potential perennial 30 goal scorer at the next level.

So, what’s the next step? How can he maintain his hold on a spot in the top five? Firstly, it’s a matter of consistency. When he’s put on the Canadian jersey, Martone has been an absolute beast and proven himself to be one of the better 2006 born players on the planet. However, in the OHL, that hasn’t always been the case. He’s gone through lulls of ineffectiveness. The power forward game that makes him such a dangerous player isn’t seen from shift to shift with the Steelheads. Another offseason of training and conditioning should give him the strength he needs to play with tenacity every shift. Secondly, if we’re nitpicking, there’s a need for Martone to improve his ability to play with pace. He’s currently faster without the puck than he is with it. Improving that would make him a near unstoppable force at the junior level.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-porter_martone_-_2nd_period_28_9_-_28_22.mp4

This is from the recent U18’s. Martone with a power move to the middle, then he fights through contact to maintain possession to execute a little touch pass to Matthew Schaefer for the goal. Martone is already difficult to separate from the puck and he’s highly skilled in protection scenarios.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-porter_martone_-_2nd_period_8_6_-_8_18.mp4

No one is stopping that shot from Martone. He can really rip it.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-porter_martone_-_2nd_period_8_6_-_8_18.mp4

This clip gives an idea of Martone’s need to improve his ability to play with pace. It’s certainly not his best shift. Early in the clip we see him fail to cleanly break into the offensive zone. Later in the clip, we see him get in Luke Misa’s way as he tries to drive the middle lane even though Misa is already occupying that space, causing him to get bottled up.

Michael Misa - Center/Wing - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The former exceptional status player had a pretty good sophomore year in the OHL; at least it started and ended extremely well. Misa helped Canada capture gold at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager then concluded the year by winning the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit.

The 2023 Emms Family Award winner (as the OHL’s top rookie) was solid yet again in 2024, finishing second in scoring behind Zayne Parekh on the Spirit. Did we maybe expect a bigger production jump from him? I would say yes, considering that previous exceptional status players had all pushed their way near the top of the scoring races of their respective leagues. However, there’s more to development than stat watching.

One component of Misa’s game that improved a ton as a sophomore was his off puck play. He doesn’t get enough credit for his defensive commitment and effectiveness. He is active in pursuit and has excellent instincts in his own end, showing attention to detail whether he’s playing center or the wing.

However, obviously, the big ticket for Misa will be his ability to produce offense. He’s the ultimate quick strike player with his combination of speed and skill. Misa is lightning quick in a straight line, but also dynamic on his edges. It makes him difficult to contain or box in. The hands keep pace too, as he maintains possession through quick cuts or pivots.

Another underrated component of Misa’s game is his shot. He can absolutely fire it. The scoring numbers haven’t exactly proven that thus far in his OHL and international career, but the upside as a scorer is immense.

Now it’s just about finding that next level offensively. At times when you watch Misa, you feel like he’s holding back or not being selfish enough, given his ability to create. There’s a need to get stronger on the puck in order to take that next step as a dominant offensive player. That would help him gain the confidence to be a true difference maker; someone who takes the bull by the horns every time he has the puck. In his first two OHL seasons, Misa was more of a solid complementary piece on strong Spirit teams. Now it’s time for him to be “the guy.” He’ll be skipping the Hlinka/Gretzky this year in an effort to heal up from a Memorial Cup run and to focus more attention on offseason training. A bold choice, but one he has earned.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-michael_misa_-_2nd_period_31_28_-_31_43.mp4

Such a great play by Misa here from this year’s Memorial Cup. We see his understanding of spacing and supporting the rush as he takes the drop pass from Haight, then makes a tremendous pass back to set up the goal.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-michael_misa_-_2nd_period_19_3_-_19_29.mp4

Much like Porter Martone, Misa can really rip it.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-michael_misa_-_3rd_period_27_57_-_28_10.mp4

Misa tries to attack the London defense with speed at this year’s Memorial Cup. He gets behind them, but then is easily separated from the puck by Sam Dickinson down low. There’s a need to get stronger to help him maintain possession.

Clip #4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-michael_misa_-_3rd_period_21_19_-_21_32.mp4

An example of Misa needing to play with more urgency offensively. He needs to attack the wing with speed and chip/chase there. That neutral zone turnover from a soft backhand pass just can’t happen, especially in the Memorial Cup.

Matthew Schaefer - Defense - Erie Otters (OHL)

A player that I’ve been asked about a lot because of the low offensive production last year for Erie. He was 10th overall in the CHL among U17 defender scoring last year, not the kind of production we typically associate with potential top ten selections. However, it’s important to note the difficult season Matthew had off the ice, losing both his mother and billet mother only a few months apart (please read this wonderful story from Ken Campbell on it). His play with the Erie Otters had its ups and downs and rightfully so.

What didn’t have any ups and downs was Matthew’s play with Canada internationally. He captained Canada White to a gold medal at the U17 World Hockey Challenge, Canada’s first gold at the event in six years. He was one of the best players at the event, regardless of position. Then, Matthew played a key role as an underager for Canada at the U18’s, helping them win gold. By the tournament’s conclusion, it could be argued that Schaefer was Canada’s best defender.

The offensive production will come at the OHL level, likely as early as this season. He’s too intelligent to not put up points. The skating ability combined with the vision makes him a terrific puck mover. Flash and dash isn’t his game and likely never will be. It’s about leveraging his mobility to help him make quick decisions. As he gains confidence, he’ll start to be more aggressive in jumping up or leading the rush, but until then, NHL scouts will appreciate his mechanical and methodical approach to the breakout.

Defensively, Schaefer just needs to get stronger. His positioning and reads are almost spot on. He went through a few growing pains early on in his rookie season in relation to when to be aggressive, but his gap control improved considerably over the year. He’s got an excellent stick in the defensive end and consistently forces turnovers with his anticipation. It’s just the need to bulk up to win those battles in high traffic areas with greater consistency, defending the crease and sealing the wall.

The question is, what if Schaefer’s offensive production doesn’t come around? It’s a logical question, but I’d argue that Schaefer’s intangibles could still make him a relatively high pick in 2025. He’s future captain material. He competes. He is intelligent. He should at the very least excel in the defensive end. It’s just a matter of what kind of projectable upside he possesses, and we should know more about that this season.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-matthew_schaefer_-_1st_period_17_25_-_17_42.mp4

Great play by Schaefer here at the U18’s. We see his ability to start and lead the breakout. Leads to a goal by Tij Iginla.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-matthew_schaefer_-_1st_period_14_45_-_14_58.mp4

Calm under pressure, Schaefer really has the potential to be a breakout machine. He always seems to be one step ahead of the competition.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-matthew_schaefer_-_2nd_period_11_6_-_11_21.mp4

This poor defensive play from this year’s playoffs highlights Schaefer’s need to get stronger and more physically intense. First he turns the puck over under pressure, then he can’t tie up Trent Swick near the crease, leading to a goal. However, it should be noted that Schaefer was playing nearly 30 minutes per game for Erie in the playoffs.

Malcolm Spence - Wing - Erie Otters (OHL)

Spence is best described as a player who people are still waiting to see if he can become the sum of all his parts. The concept of Malcolm Spence is better than the player Malcolm Spence is currently on a consistent basis. That sounds a little philosophical, but it’s the correct description of the state of his play and development through two OHL seasons (as a later September born 2006 player).

No question, he was a standout for Canada internationally last year. He played a critical checking line role at the Hlinka/Gretzky, excelling as a penalty killer and shutdown option. Then he played the same role to a tee at the year-end U18’s. He was physical. He was clutch. He was a complete pain in the butt for the opposition to play against. That Malcolm Spence is a lottery pick in 2025.

But through two seasons in the OHL with Erie, that version of Malcolm Spence hasn’t always been visible. His combination of size and explosiveness should make him a dominant player every time he steps on the ice. His first step quickness is so impressive for a power winger. He utilized his speed and power to his advantage consistently as a minor hockey player, helping the Mississauga Senators capture the OHL Cup (in U16). It made him a dominant player and a truly unstoppable force. However, with Erie, he seems to still be figuring out how to leverage his speed. He can fade to the background and be content as a complement, rather than the shining star. He should be dominating puck touches, rather than working as a shooting option from the flank or slot. When he does try to create with the puck, sometimes his decision making can be called into question. It’s about finding confidence. The dedication to off puck play and the tenacity just haven’t been as consistent in the OHL as they have been when he puts on a Canadian jersey. That fix is as simple as flipping that switch.

Part of why his game has worked so well for Canada, is that the Canadian coaching staffs have really simplified his game. Use your speed to drive wide. Dump and chase. Apply pressure in pursuit. Play physical. That’s worked so well. So why hasn’t it worked quite AS well at the OHL level? As mentioned, I would argue that the key is finding that consistent level of physical intensity. That’s the key.

If Malcolm Spence is a 30/50, 80-point guy for the Otters this year, he’s going to be a potential lottery pick. If the offensive game continues to show signs of plateauing, then it will depend on the consistency of his off puck play. Regardless, Spence has the potential to be a really unique player, and that kind of tantalizing upside makes him a real player to watch early on in the OHL season.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-malcolm_spence_-_1st_period_19_25_-_19_37.mp4

Hard on the puck, Spence forces the turnover then rips one past the Swedish netminder at the recent U18’s.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-malcolm-spence-canada_u18_-_1st_overtime_27_11_-_27_33.mp4

Spence, the OT hero in the gold medal game at the summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky. Another turnover forced and it’s off to the races.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-malcolm_spence_-_2nd_period_34_55_-_35_8.mp4

Through his OHL career thus far, unfortunately these types of turnovers have been too commonplace when he has the puck. Can his playmaking ability and overall decision making improve in his third year?

Brady Martin - Center - Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

Sometimes it just takes U17 players a little while to find the confidence to play at the OHL level. I put a ton of stock into how a player finishes the year. No question, Martin was a way better player in the final 20 or so games than he was in the first 20. The skating looked way better. The confidence with the puck greatly improved. He started to bring a more consistent physical element. If Martin can put it all together, he’s the prototypical power center NHL franchises are searching long and hard for.

One of the most under-appreciated components of Martin’s game is his skill/creativity. Yes, he can barrel through you with his strength (think Mason McTavish level of bullishness through the middle). However, he is highly skilled and consistently evades/escapes pressure with his ability to keep the puck on a string. When I saw some advanced stats for the OHL from the past year, I was actually shocked to see Martin near the top of “successful dekes completed.” He can prolong possession and has the creativity to be a true primary play driver and playmaker.

But that’s not where Martin’s skill set ends. He can really fire the puck, making him a true dual threat from an offensive perspective. He shows promise as a competitive two-way player. He flashes a power forward-esque game built around physicality.

The key for Martin is continuing to improve his skating. He needs to get more explosive. He needs to improve his agility and edge work. He needs to work on sustaining speed. I think significant growth was already shown as a rookie (from the start of the year to the end), but how much more he improves will likely dictate where he gets selected in 2025. Production will also be key too, given that the Greyhounds are going to need to replace a ton of scoring from a year ago and he’s going to be counted upon heavily to take that next step.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-brady_martin_-_1st_period_6_10_-_6_23.mp4

Exhibit A of Martin’s stickhandling ability. He turns Jackson Edward into swiss cheese (not an easy thing to do) and then sets up a scoring chance in the slot. You do get an idea about Martin’s inefficient stride from this clip too.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-brady_martin_-_3rd_period_9_5_-_9_18.mp4

Exhibit B of Martin’s stickhandling ability. This is from the same game against London. So many different clips I could have chosen to demonstrate his skill and creativity; as mentioned, he routinely makes moves like this.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-brady_martin_-_3rd_period_36_24_-_36_37.mp4

Martin loves to chip and chase, it’s part of his workhorse mentality. However, as you can see, a lot of the time he’s just not quick enough to get behind defenders.

Jake O’Brien - Center/Wing - Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

This past year’s Emms Family Award winner (OHL ROY), O’Brien was terrific as a rookie for Brantford. Given how good he was as a U16 player for JrC, there was hope that his mature game would translate immediately into being an impact player and that assumption was correct.

O’Brien, simply put, is a top-notch playmaker. The vision, touch, sense, and hands are all high end. He’s the kind of forward who makes his linemates better because he consistently finds them in open space. O’Brien is one of those guys who has eyes in the back of his head; his offensive zone anticipation is excellent. His 51 assists last year were no joke. O’Brien can pass the biscuit.

I think most people would probably have him 5th out of Ontario right now, at least that’s what I’ve consistently seen. That would be easy to argue too. However, I want to see how he can take his game to another level next year without high end physical tools. Given his average size, O’Brien isn’t someone that I would consider to be a high-end skater or a high end physical player. Just how projectable is O’Brien? We’ve seen a lot of players with a similar profile to O’Brien find success as U17 players, but then plateau as U18 players without improving those aforementioned physical tools. I think back to former Bulldog Logan Morrison as the perfect example of that. That said, Morrison should have been drafted into the NHL and based on his strong AHL play under Seattle’s umbrella, I’m sure many teams are kicking themselves for not taking that chance on him.

The point being, I want to see how O’Brien’s game improves next year. Can his skating become more dynamic? Can he improve his confidence as a goal scorer to become more of a dual threat? Can he play center all season and excel on both sides of the puck? Can he be stronger on the puck and improve his physical play, finding more success in the corners and near the crease? If the answer is yes to even a few of those, O’Brien will be a first-round pick.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-jake_o_brien_-_1st_period_2_38_-_2_50.mp4

Look at the patience, vision, and passing precision here from O’Brien to set up this goal.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-jake_o_brien_-_3rd_period_11_42_-_11_54.mp4

Eyes in the back of his head as he quickly finds a teammate in the slot to help create this goal.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-jake_o_brien_-_3rd_period_11_49_-_12_4.mp4

If there is a criticism of O’Brien’s terrific rookie year, it’s that plays like this were a little too commonplace. Pressured along the wall and O’Brien would not be able to sustain possession, or he would make a poor pass in anticipation of the pressure. It just points to a need to get stronger.

Carson Cameron - Defense - Peterborough Petes (OHL)

If you thought I loved Ben Danford, get ready for me to hype up Petes’ defender Carson Cameron. He’s cut from the same cloth as a competitive, two-way defender from the right side.

The Petes were on the losing end of things a fair amount last year, yet I found Cameron’s play to be remarkably consistent for a rookie defender. Better yet, I found his compete level and drive to be consistent. He’s not huge, but he’s already very strong down low. He takes good routes to retrievals and he’s excellent at getting inside leverage physically to win those 50/50 battles. As he gets stronger and gains confidence, I would expect him to develop into a very physical OHL player; we saw glimpses of that last season. NHL scouts are probably going to wish he were 6’3 with better reach; the prototype for the modern-day NHL shutdown guy, but let’s see how much Cameron grows this year.

Given that his size/reach isn’t going to impress a ton of folks, Cameron’s offensive production will probably need to be pretty solid. He showed flashes of being a capable puck mover and off puck shooting option as a rookie, so it will be interesting to see how much his confidence grows in those regards. He does have a big point shot that can be used as an offensive weapon. Additionally, Cameron is definitely a solid skater, so he should be able to leverage that. He’s fluid in all four directions. He can make a clean exit. Now it’s just about seeing how skilled Cameron is. This is definitely an aggressive ranking for a defender who may, or may not, have offensive upside. But, I love the player and I believe we’ll see more from him this coming year.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-carson_cameron_-_3rd_period_17_17_-_17_29.mp4

Cameron showed a penchant for finding space in the offensive zone in his rookie year, hunting scoring chances by slipping backdoor or joining the rush as a trailer. This is one such example.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-carson_cameron_-_2nd_period_16_15_-_16_27.mp4

Cameron lowers the boom. Colton Smith is listed at 6’3, 215lbs, FYI.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-carson_cameron_-_2nd_period_31_58_-_32_10.mp4

Cameron completely obliterates fellow 2025 prospect Adam Benak at the World Under 17’s.

Clip #4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-carson_cameron_-_1st_period_34_35_-_34_47.mp4

This clip proves a few things. One…that Cameron did struggle at times with processing as a rookie, be it quick decisions with the puck or reads in the defensive end. But two, it also shows how much of a mess Peterborough was late in the year. Where’s the support here? The Petes ended up losing this game 9-0 and it’s easy to see why with plays like this. As Peterborough’s young roster improves around Cameron, it will be interesting to see what he is capable of.

Cameron Reid - Defense - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

I’ve said this a few times, on social media and in written work; Cameron Reid might just have the highest upside of any defender available from Ontario in 2025, Matt Schaefer included. He’s not as consistent with the puck as Matt Schaefer currently. He’s not as strong defensively as Cameron currently. However, he has projectable skills at both ends that could make him the OHL’s top rated defender for the draft when all is said and done.

It all starts with Reid’s strong skating ability. He’s an effortless and fluid four-way mover. He builds speed quickly to help him escape the forecheck and lead the rush. But he’s also strong on his edges, allowing him to escape pressure on the point in the offensive zone. Reid’s strong mobility also makes him an excellent transitional defender. His gap control and stick improved a lot over the course of his rookie season. You’d like him to be a bit bigger/longer, but he shows well defending pace.

Reid is also a high skill guy who IMO does possess a higher offensive floor than Schaefer because he’s a more natural powerplay quarterback. It seems likely that we’ll get a chance to see Reid QB the Rangers top powerplay unit this year with Brzustewicz and Motew graduating. While there’s definitely a chance that Kitchener retools (trading guys like Rehkopf), there should still be a fair amount of talent surrounding him to help him put up points as a sophomore.

Similar to Schaefer, Reid needed to get stronger this offseason to be more difficult to play against. We saw his defensive reads improve a ton over his rookie year, but he still struggled at times defending those higher traffic areas. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles the increased workload on a team that might struggle at times.

Overall, what we’re looking at is a defender who showed tremendous growth as a U17 player, emerging as a top four defender on the Rangers in the second half and down the stretch. If that growth can continue into this season, I have no doubt that Reid will be a first-round selection.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-cameron_reid_-_1st_period_10_42_-_10_55.mp4

A glimpse of Reid’s rushing ability from the U17’s. His ability to protect the puck is very advanced for his age.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-cameron_reid_-_3rd_period_16_33_-_16_57.mp4

Bit of a blowout here, but still an impressive play by Reid as he works his way down low and makes a nice feed out front.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-cameron_reid_-_1st_period_1_11_-_1_26.mp4

As mentioned, Reid’s reads are not as advanced as Schaefer’s are and this is an example from the playoffs this past year.

Kashawn Aitcheson - Defense - Barrie Colts (OHL)

Even before Beau Akey went down with a season ending injury, I remember watching Barrie early on in the season and thinking, “wow, Aitcheson has improved a ton.” He consistently stood out for the right reasons and that carried through the year, after Akey’s injury and after Connor Punnett’s departure.

It was great to see Aitcheson rewarded with a spot on Canada’s U18 team and he ended up performing pretty well, helping Canada earn gold. I don’t think he has the upside of Schaefer or Reid, but as a strong two-way presence, he could end up developing into a very solid, long time NHL defender.

Defensively, Aitcheson is a mean customer. He’s a consistent physical presence, both in open ice and below the hash marks. He makes opposing players earn space against him. His compete level is just solid. Aitcheson is the kind of defender who can be trusted as a penalty kill anchor and as someone you want on the ice late in games because he blocks shots, brings consistent physicality, and has an active stick.

Offensively, Aitcheson is strong in the offensive end. He holds the line well. He has a good point shot. He’s not extremely creative, but he’s efficient and a quick thinker. His decision making in his own end with the puck could be cleaned up a bit, but that comes with the territory of playing more and handling tougher assignments.

The key for Aitcheson, as a later born 2006 entering his third OHL season, is to continue to progress. NHL scouts are going to want to see his skating (particularly his explosiveness in all four directions and the fluidity of his transitions) pick up. They will want to see his decision making become more consistent. They are going to want to see his production increase yet again, even with Akey returning.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-kashawn_aitcheson_-_1st_period_3_40_-_3_52.mp4

This is the type of big hit you can expect from Aitcheson. He’s one tough customer.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-kashawn_aitcheson_-_3rd_period_12_53_-_13_11.mp4

An example of how Aitcheson can have a positive impact on the game with the puck.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-kashawn_aitcheson_-_1st_period_29_27_-_29_40.mp4

As mentioned, Aitcheson’s four-way mobility does need to improve. Here we see him trip over himself trying to make a quick directional change to stay with the Ottawa player behind the net.

Aidan Lane - Wing - St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)

When we look at some of the great players to come through SAC in the last decade, Lane’s goal scoring numbers compare pretty favorably and that’s why he’s #10 on this list currently. Lane had 30 goals as a U17 in that loop last year. Dean Letourneau had 25 in his U17 year. Warren Foegele had 37 in 2013, but SAC played in a different loop at that time. What you’re looking at is a power winger with good size and a scorer’s touch and those don’t usually last long on NHL draft day.

A Harvard commit, Lane will likely spend this year with SAC the same way that Letourneau did last year. You can also expect him to get some games with Green Bay of the USHL at various points (holiday breaks and after SAC’s season, for example). Games against other top-notch programs like Shattuck St. Mary’s will be closely scrutinized, just as they were for Letourneau this past year.

Lane projects as a solid complementary goal scorer. He’s a high IQ winger; one of those players who seems to consistently find pucks in that home plate area. His offensive zone anticipation is excellent. He also possesses an excellent shot. He generates a lot of power on his wrister, and he can beat goalies clean from longer distances. Lane also has a good motor and plays a solid North/South game. He’s heavy on pucks. He plays with pace thanks to a solid top speed, although there’s room for him to get quicker from a standstill. There’s a lot to like.

Like any prep/high school/Tier 2 player, it’s going to be about whether Lane can produce at an elite clip much like teammate Dean Letourneau did last year. Can Lane begin to create his own scoring chances consistently? Can he dominate touches and offensive zone possession? Can he become a high-end two-way winger? Safe to assume he gets some USHL games in this year with Green Bay too, which will serve as a great measuring stick.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-aidan_lane_-_3rd_period_4_35_-_5_1.mp4

Classic Lane goal. Well timed cut and a solid finish as he heads to the net. A lot of his goals this year were scored within a few feet of the crease.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-aidan_lane_-_2nd_period_9_52_-_10_18.mp4

Great stick in the defensive zone, then persistence on the puck leads to Lane scoring from his office in tight.

CLIP #3

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-aidan_lane_-_1st_period_22_30_-_22_43.mp4

You can see the need here for Lane to become just that little bit more explosive, as his advance into the offensive zone is stopped pretty easily.

Honorable Mentions:

Tyler Hopkins - Center/Wing - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

The former fourth overall pick in the 2023 OHL priority selection, Hopkins didn’t have the kind of season many in Kingston would have liked or expected. The speed can play, but he really struggled physically and was largely ineffective trying to get to the middle of the ice. This is not uncommon for U17 players, but it does put him behind the eight-ball compared to some of his peers selected in that same draft.

I still have a ton of hope for Hopkins and the reason for that is two-fold. Firstly, Hopkins was great at the U17’s, helping Canada White capture gold (along with Schaefer, Cameron, Reid, and others from this Ontario class). This is a useful measuring stick to see how he does against similarly aged players, canceling out the size/strength issues. Secondly, Hopkins closed out last season on a high note, playing well in the last month and into the playoffs.

The key for him, outside of improving his conditioning, is finding that identity as an OHL player. He’s a terrific skater, but how can he use that to his advantage offensively at the OHL level? He’s also a high IQ player, which generally bodes well for the development of a two-way game. Can he become more tenacious? Lots of questions about how he projects moving forward, but the upside is still significant.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-tyler_hopkins_-_3rd_period_30_57_-_31_12.mp4

Typical Hopkins kind of play. Quick strike, using his anticipation and his quickness. He’s not able to score here, but it’s a strong play. We started to see more of this later in the OHL season.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-tyler_hopkins_-_1st_period_3_31_-_3_44.mp4

We see the speed, but he’s just not effective at trying to break into the middle at the OHL level yet.

Caden Taylor - Wing - Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Acquired by Peterborough in the Donovan McCoy trade with Sudbury, Taylor is a player who could move significantly up this list this season if he shows terrific progression and maturity. The reason? Taylor is a 6’3 winger with one of the best shots/releases in this Ontario class. He has a pro frame and a pro level shot; that combination rarely lasts long on NHL draft day if the production matches the potential.

The key for him is finding consistency in all other parts of his game. Can he improve his pace? Can he improve his off-puck play? Can he improve his decision making with the puck and overall effectiveness as a playmaker? Consistency was a knock on Taylor exiting U16 play and he needs to change that narrative.

The early returns after the trade from Sudbury were excellent. He had 11 goals in 31 games with Peterborough to end the year. That’s a near 25 goal pace which would have been third in the age group behind Misa and Ryan Roobroeck.

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-caden_taylor_-_2nd_period_21_8_-_21_20.mp4

This is what Taylor can do as a dangerous North/South attacker. Turns the defender inside out and rips one for the goal.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-caden_taylor_-_2nd_period_11_48_-_12_1.mp4

This is where Taylor is going to end up being a frustrating draft eligible to follow without some improvement. Not a ton of effort defensively here as he makes a soft pass at the North Bay player getting behind Peterborough’s defense. Can Taylor become a better off puck player and someone who can use his size to get to the middle consistently?

Travis Hayes - Wing - Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

I think the best way to describe Travis is that he’s the hybrid between his brothers Gavin and Avery; sidenote, there’s a fourth brother (Elijah) eligible for this year’s OHL draft. Travis has Gavin’s tenacity and bulldog mentality. However, he’s built more like Avery and also has his offensive touch and playmaking ability. That’s a pretty effective hockey player if you ask me.

Effective was exactly what Travis Hayes was last year for the Soo; an immediate impact player as a complementary piece on a solid Greyhounds team. He finished fourth in scoring among U17 players and was a member of the year end OHL all rookie team.

Much like Brady Martin, it will be interesting to see how Travis responds to more ice time and responsibility on a potentially retooling Soo team this year. As an “average” sized player, can the physical tools (speed, strength) continue to improve?

CLIP #1

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-travis_hayes_-_1st_period_12_20_-_12_32.mp4

Hayes bursts into the fray on the forecheck and helps force a turnover that allows SSM to sustain pressure.

CLIP #2

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-travis_hayes_-_3rd_period_5_20_-_5_42.mp4

Hayes’ hard work and tenaciousness in puck pursuit allows him to come away with the puck down low and he buries it.

Carson Cameron – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL DRAFT: Top ten undrafted players as ranked by McKeen’s Hockey

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

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

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

2025 NHL DRAFT: Summer of 25′ – Introducing you to Ontario

Porter Martone - Wing - Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

Michael Misa - Center/Wing - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Matthew Schaefer - Defense - Erie Otters (OHL)

Malcolm Spence - Wing - Erie Otters (OHL)

Brady Martin - Center - Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

Jake O’Brien - Center/Wing - Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Carson Cameron - Defense - Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Cameron Reid - Defense - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Kashawn Aitcheson - Defense - Barrie Colts (OHL)

Aidan Lane - Wing - St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)

Tyler Hopkins - Center/Wing - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Caden Taylor - Wing - Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Travis Hayes - Wing - Soo Greyhounds (OHL)