Kieren Dervin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #22 Vancouver Canucks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:37 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Last Year - 20th)
GM: TBD
COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025

Things went from bad to worse for the Vancouver Canucks in 2025–26, as the organization finally committed to a full-scale rebuild. With franchise cornerstone and captain Quinn Hughes no longer in the picture, a new era has begun in Vancouver — one centred on rising young players such as Zeev Buium. Complicating matters is a prospect system that currently lacks the kind of elite, high-end talent typically associated with rebuilding teams. That outlook could begin to change at the upcoming draft, where Vancouver holds an impressive 10 selections, including a top-3 pick. Still, it may take several draft cycles before those additions significantly reshape the organization’s pipeline.

There are, however, some encouraging signs within the system. Young defensemen Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson have already established themselves as full-time NHL contributors, while Sawyer Mynio (167th) and Kirill Kudryavtsev (174th) have become reliable presences on the blue line for the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. Meanwhile, Braeden Cootes (29th) currently sits atop the organization’s prospect rankings and has already appeared in three NHL games. While the AHL may be the most appropriate next step for the 2026–27 season under the league’s updated eligibility rules, he should remain firmly on Vancouver’s NHL radar. Jonathan Lekkerimäki (33rd) has also shown promising offensive instincts in the AHL, emerging as one of Abbotsford’s most dangerous goal scorers. However, injuries have slowed his development and prevented him from fully translating that scoring touch at the NHL level.

A rebuild is now firmly underway in Vancouver, and the road ahead may involve some difficult seasons in the standings. Yet, with the possibility of selecting near the top of the draft this June, the Canucks could take an important first step toward reshaping their future.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Van	1	Braeden Cootes	C	19	6-0/185	Sea-PA (WHL)	45	24	39	63	8
Van	1	Braeden Cootes	C	19	6-0/185	Vancouver (NHL)	3	0	0	0	0
Van	2	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	21	5-11/170	Abbotsford (AHL)	21	13	7	20	8
Van	2	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	21	5-11/170	Vancouver (NHL)	13	2	1	3	0
Van	3	Sawyer Mynio	D	21	6-1/175	Abbotsford (AHL)	58	3	18	21	42
Van	4	Kirill Kudryavtsev	D	22	5-11/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	44	2	18	20	4
Van	4	Kirill Kudryavtsev	D	22	5-11/200	Vancouver (NHL)	3	0	2	2	0
Van	5	Aleksei Medvedev	G	18	6-3/180	London (OHL)	36	16	15	3.26	0.891
Van	6	Victor Mancini	D	24	6-3/215	Abbotsford (AHL)	33	4	8	12	16
Van	6	Victor Mancini	D	24	6-3/215	Vancouver (NHL)	24	0	3	3	7
Van	7	Ty Mueller	C	23	5-11/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	61	16	21	37	30
Van	7	Ty Mueller	C	23	5-11/185	Vancouver (NHL)	6	1	0	1	2
Van	8	Wilson Bjorck	C	20	6-0/165	Colorado College (NCAA)	31	5	10	15	16
Van	9	Anthony Romani	D	20	6-0/185	Michigan State (NCAA)	37	14	14	28	12
Van	10	Riley Patterson	C	20	6-0/190	Niagara (OHL)	60	40	44	84	16
Van	10	Riley Patterson	C	20	6-0/190	Abbotsford (AHL)	4	1	1	2	4
Van	11	Nikita Tolopilo	G	25	6-6/230	Abbotsford (AHL)	19	8	8	3.07	0.897
Van	12	Danila Klimovich	RW	23	6-1/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	63	18	16	34	62
Van	13	Vilmer Alriksson	LW	21	6-6/215	Abbotsford (AHL)	43	6	3	9	56
Van	14	Kieren Dervin	C	19	6-1/180	Kingston (OHL)	53	17	25	42	20
Van	15	Matthew Lansing	C	19	6-1/185	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	40	8	10	18	20

Braeden Cootes, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Braeden Cootes surprised everyone when he made the Vancouver Canucks coming out of training camp. While that may have spoken as much to the Canucks depth (or lack thereof) at centre, it also spoke to Cootes’s pro-ready game. He averaged just under 11 minutes per game in three contests with the Canucks before being reassigned to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Cootes was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he helped the team win a bronze medal. After the tournament, he was traded to the Prince Albert Raiders. Cootes is a high energy, high motor forward who plays a 200-foot, detail-oriented game. His skating is a calling card and is already pro ready. He plays on both the power play and penalty kill at the junior level, but there’s some question as to how much of a scorer he’ll be as a pro. His forechecking and defensive play puts his floor as a third line center, but if his offensive skills and play driving continue to improve, he could be a dynamic second line player.
Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki is a talented offensive forward who has a great release that should net him a significant number of goals once he graduates to full-time status at the NHL level. Lekkerimaki can rip pucks home from the top of the circle, but he’s also got an extremely capable one-timer that can beat goalies cleanly on the power play. Lekkerimaki isn’t just a one-dimensional shooter, however; he also has a nice pair of hands to go along with a cerebral hockey sense that suggests he will pile up assists at the next level. Defensively, Lekkerimaki has gotten better at playing against men in his own zone, and while he isn’t the most physical of players, he competes well enough for pucks that Canucks fans shouldn’t be too worried about his lack of physicality. Lekkerimaki will definitely need to play with linemates that are willing to go grind to help him retrieve the puck, but once he finds those linemates, look out. This player is a 60+ point player in the making, and it’s only a matter of time before we see him break out with the Canucks.
Sawyer Mynio, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Sawyer Mynio has come along nicely as a defensive prospect within the Vancouver Canucks’ system, where he has been tasked with playing tough minutes this year for a post-championship (but depleted) Abbotsford Canucks team. Mynio’s game starts with solid play in his own zone. He’s as reliable as they come defensively, and at times this season with Abbotsford, he has looked like a player beyond his years in his own zone, exhibiting poise with the puck while facing extreme pressure from opposing players. Mynio is also a capable defender who can move the puck well in transition, which won’t harm his deployment at the NHL level. Mynio won’t become a power play option at the NHL level, but he should be able to carve out a nice career as a top four defender who can play reliable minutes on both sides of the puck. Expect Mynio to spend another season in Abbotsford building experience and confidence in his game, but once he gets his NHL opportunity, lookout. He won’t be in the AHL for too long.
Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Kirill Kudryavtsev is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Vancouver Canucks’ system; he is a sturdy defender who also has good offensive ability, and this combination of attributes is becoming more and more of a rarity in today’s NHL. When Kudryavtsev is in the offensive zone, he’s exceptional at using tight space along the wall to create give-and-go plays with his teammates. He’s also good at creating passing lanes using his deceptive stickhandling, and he has a nice release from the point that can beat goalies through screens. Kudryavtsev is also a capable defender in his own zone, but he still has room to improve the level of physicality and mean streak he displays in his own end. He can also be too passive at times with his gap control, which gives opposing forwards more time and space to make plays. Kudryavtsev ultimately projects as a bottom-pairing defender who can play on both sides of the puck and may develop into a second-unit penalty killer at the NHL level.
Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights (OHL)

Numbers-wise, Medvedev has seen a large dip in save percentage, but such is to be expected on a retooling London squad that lost loads of integral parts from their back-to-back championship runs. Medvedev has remained calm and composed in the Knights’ crease, with strong positioning and technical movement. His athleticism is very good, allowing him to get cross-crease quickly and deny one-timers. The key weakness to his game this year has been his tracking through traffic, and occasionally, he’s gotten beaten trying to lean off-center and peek through bodies. The Canucks did not hesitate to select Alexei in the top 50 in the 2025 draft, clearly seeing him as a potential successor to Demko. In terms of NHL projection, Medvedev projects as more of a 1B goalie in a tandem, as he’s been far more effective splitting time in the crease and rarely has faced a high work rate.
Victor Mancini, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) (Currently on Vancouver Canucks, NHL)

Victor Mancini is a strong defender with good size who competes extremely hard in his own end. Mancini is never going to wow you offensively, but he has a good first pass for a player of his size (6-foot-3, 229 pounds), and he can make simple plays in the offensive zone to keep the pressure alive for his forwards. Mancini’s bread and butter ultimately comes with his play in his own zone, where he’s excellent at using his frame to angle opposing players away from his own net. He’s also very good at using his stick to get into shooting lanes, which forces pucks away from his own goal and out of trouble. The Abbotsford Canucks have struggled this year in their own zone after their Calder Cup championship last season, but when Mancini is on the ice, their play in their own zone has vastly improved and it’s due in part to Mancini’s calming presence. Mancini ultimately projects as a bottom-pairing defenceman who can be counted upon to kill penalties at the NHL level.
Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Ty Mueller has really come a long way as a prospect since his freshman year at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the NCAA. Drafted as an older forward, Mueller is a dependable player at both ends of the ice. He does not have any one standout offensive attribute that screams high-end NHL skill, but he is good at everything and can be a very good complementary piece to players that are more skilled on his line. Defensively, Mueller tracks pucks well and always puts himself into good positioning, which allows him to break up plays in his own zone before they happen with his impressive reads. Projecting Mueller to the NHL level is difficult, however, because he is not talented enough offensively to play in an NHL top six, but also not strong enough defensively to really occupy a checking role at the NHL level. Nevertheless, Mueller has continued to grind away at his game, particularly on the defensive side of the puck, and there’s a chance he could become a fourth line forward at the NHL level.
Wilson Bjorck, RW, Colorado College (NCAA)

Bjorck dominated in the Swedish J20 bracket last season. His motor was on full display, showcasing an unrelenting energy on the ice. His feet were always moving, either on the forecheck, on the back check, or to get into good spots for his teammates. Bjorck had a good feel for where to be, when to be there, and the proper angles to take to maximize what his end goal was. His skating was only above average, and some questions remained about his game translating to the smaller ice surfaces of North America. Bjorck would make the move overseas for this season, joining Colorado College. Despite the questions, his game did translate quite well to the college scene. Despite his production being only modest, his underlying stats show that he was an important piece of the team. His transitional game has been a bright spot, where he has been leaned on heavily by his peers. There are definitely still moments where he struggles with time and space with the puck on his stick, thanks to the smaller ice surface, but with another two seasons in the NCAA, he will almost certainly be adjusted and able to produce more offence. He projects as a potential middle six energy winger with center capabilities.
Anthony Romani, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Romani, a sixth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks, was drafted out of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion. His selection comes after he produced 111 points in 68 games, including 58 goals, after previously going undrafted in 2023. His shooting ability, as evidenced by his OHL-leading goal totals, was on display consistently. Romani’s playmaking ability was also evident at times, though it was overshadowed by his goal-scoring traits. The very next season, he would play just six games with North Bay, before being dealt to the Barrie Colts. In total, he played 35 games and registered 35 points, including 21 goals. While his regular season was nowhere near the same level as the previous season, it was in the playoffs where he shined. In 16 postseason games with Barrie, he posted 24 points. The following season, he made the jump to the NCAA, joining Michigan State. In 35 games this season he has produced 27 points. His shot is still a weapon, though he hasn’t been a dominant goalscorer just yet. With another year or two in the NCAA, as his role expands and he becomes more comfortable at the collegiate level, Romani has the skillset to shine. He projects as a middle six goal-scoring winger with power play upside.
Riley Patterson, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently on Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Patterson was traded over the offseason from Barrie to Niagara after wanting a fresh start, and he made his mark on a floundering Ice Dogs group. The Etobicoke native’s production has taken a massive step in 2025-26, bringing him within striking distance of the league lead in points. His shot is a great asset. He shoots low, rarely misses the net, and forces goaltenders to make difficult saves when coming across the crease. He gets power and a quick release from his wrister, and his one-timer is extremely consistent in forcing rebounds if not scoring. His wheels give him added depth, allowing him to contribute on the rush, and while he doesn’t throw hard hits, he uses his body effectively in battles to separate the puck from opponents. It’s clear the Vancouver Canucks made a savvy selection at 125th with Riley, and this past fall, they signed him to an entry-level contract. Most likely, expect Patterson to return to the OHL for the 2026-27 season, but with the dreadful outlook of the Canucks over the next 24 months, spots could open up if he puts on a masterclass at training camp.
Nikita Tolopilo, G, Vancouver Canucks (NHL)

Just barely still eligible for our list due to his age, Tolopilo has strung together back-to-back solid AHL seasons and has been largely excellent in limited NHL action this year too. The big Belarussian goaltender may not be a future starter, but he does look like someone who could work in a platoon or back-up role moving forward.
Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

It seems like we’ve been waiting forever for a breakout from Klimovich, a big Belarussian winger. Instead, we’ve seen regression this year and that may mean that his time in the organization is drawing close to the end.
Vilmer Alriksson, LW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

While Alriksson does seem to have his fans in the Canucks’ fan base, having modest expectations for him is important. The big winger can bang bodies and he’s athletic for his size, but he’s not likely to develop into more than a fourth line option for the Canucks in the future.
Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston Frotencas (OHL)

Drafted out of the storied St. Andrew’s College program, Dervin has the skill and creativity to be a pro player. But, the physical tools need time to catch up. He’s been OK with the Frontenacs this year in the OHL, but the Canucks won’t know what they have in Dervin until he’s played a few years at Penn State.
Matthew Lansing, C, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Best described as a lunch pail type. Lansing is a hard working pivot who projects as a bottom six, penalty killer. However, he has had an impressive freshman season with Quinnipiac.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #20

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:31:46 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 20th (May 2025 - 18th)
GM: Patrik Allvin Hired: January 2022
COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025

After riding the highs of a strong 2023-24 campaign, the Canucks stumbled in 2024-25, weighed down by off-ice drama and inconsistent play.

There are, however, reasons for optimism. Vancouver added Braeden Cootes – a heart and soul type – with the 15th overall pick and landed a potential goaltender of the future in second-rounder Aleksei Medvedev. Behind the bench, Rick Tocchet’s departure paved the way for Adam Foote to take over as head coach, ushering in a new era in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite late-season stalls in contract negotiations, Tom Willander (11th overall, 2023) was ultimately signed to his entry-level deal. Fresh off a run to the NCAA Championship game and another standout World Juniors performance, Willander is now ready to push for a full-time NHL role as early as this season.

Meanwhile, the rest of the pipeline has shown encouraging progress. Jonathan Lekkerimäki made a dazzling North American debut, lighting up the AHL with his scoring touch and earning multiple NHL call-ups. While his production dipped during a Calder Cup championship run, he remains highly regarded within the organization. Fellow Swede Elias Pettersson seized a full-time spot on Vancouver’s blue line, playing with poise well beyond expectations and is already nearing graduation. In the AHL, Aatu Räty’s two-way play and steady output have him firmly in the conversation for a 2025-26 roster spot.

Fresh off the organization’s first championship in its history, Vancouver’s pipeline is pulling its weight. The challenge now is translating that success to the NHL level.

The Canucks’ prospect system may not yet rank among the league’s elite, but it’s clearly trending upward. If management can balance addressing immediate roster needs with nurturing its emerging talent, the franchise’s future could arrive sooner than expected.

Vancouver Canucks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Following his breakout season in the SHL with Orebro, Lekkerimaki’s first year in North America had to be considered a mild success. He split the year between Vancouver and Abbotsford and has shown considerable flashes of greatness at the NHL level. At the AHL level consistency was a bit of an issue but again there were great flashes. Obviously, his shot and shot generation ability thanks to his terrific hands and creativity are his standout traits. His ceiling as an offensive player in the NHL is extremely high. The former first rounder has the ability to be a perennial 30 goal…even 40 goal scorer in the NHL. So, what are the next steps? Lekkerimaki has to get stronger. He’s been too easily separated from the puck at the NHL level, and he’s had trouble seeking out scoring opportunities through the middle of the ice. The expectation is that Lekkerimaki should crack Vancouver full time next year and be a potential impact player on their power play.

2 - Tom Willander

Tom Willander needed some time to get comfortable on the smaller North American ice, but his growth over two seasons at Boston University has been steady and noticeable. The Terriers relied on the 2023 first-round pick in all situations last year, and he did not look out of place. Willander is a reliable workhorse that has the ability to control the pace of the game when he’s on the ice, largely thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s a weapon in transition, where he couples his skating ability with smart, quick passes. When defending, he closes gaps quickly, is steady positionally, and defends well with his stick. He is also competitive and unafraid to get involved physically. Willander will likely spend this year in Abbotsford but will make his way to Vancouver before too long, he has the potential to be a high-end shutdown defender with above-average puck moving ability.

3 - Braeden Cootes

Vancouver can be a tough hockey market to play in, so the Canucks have an enhanced need to find prospects with resilient mental fortitude. Cootes more than proved that he's that type of player throughout his 2024-25 season, leading the rebuilding Seattle Thunderbirds as their captain and most trusted forward, and then captaining Canada to a gold medal at this past spring's IIHF U18 tournament. He's a smart, consistent and dedicated center who is easy for any coach to heavily rely on. At first glance his recent scoring totals could seem underwhelming for a prospect who was drafted so high, but he's actually pretty dangerous as both a shooter and a playmaker, traits that he hasn't always been able to display because there hasn't been enough depth around him to properly share offensive responsibilities. Bo Horvat became a fan favourite in Vancouver because of his leadership and all the little things he contributed outside of his points, and Cootes is cut from a very similar kind of cloth.

4 - Elias Pettersson

The “other” Elias Pettersson was an absolute revelation for the Canucks this past year in his first professional season in North America. He started the season in Abbotsford, but after a very strong start, he was up with the Canucks, playing a steady third pairing role. He kept things simple with the puck, executing breakouts/chip outs, while limiting turnovers. But defensively, he was a standout. His mobility and length make him very difficult to beat off the rush; he’s a beast transitionally. He’s also been very effective in tight corners, showing the confidence already to play aggressively and physically. It remains to be seen how much offensive upside Pettersson possesses, however, there is no doubt that he can be a defensive stalwart and a penalty killing anchor. Expect him to play an even larger role for the Canucks next year, especially after another off season of training.

5 - Aatu Raty

The Canucks have to be really happy with the play of Raty last year, who was originally acquired as part of the Bo Horvat trade with the Islanders. The big pivot was consistently strong as an AHL player for Abbotsford, but with so many injuries to their bottom six, he was thrust into an NHL role later in the year and closed the season on a real high note. He was getting to the net. He was playing both ends. He was bringing a physical element. He was active in puck pursuit. Raty is never likely to be a top end offensive player at the NHL level. However, what he showed to end last season is that he can develop into the ideal third line center for the Canucks in the near future. One would have to believe that the expectation for Raty would be for him to grab a permanent NHL role next year.

6 - Alexei Medvedev

Medvedev is a phenomenal skater with excellent positioning and an ideal stance, maximizing efficiency for movement and filling the net. He also boasts some quick hands. Balancing that Canadian-developed technique, he still has the raw athletic nature of the Russian goalie. His agility and quickness are elite, while also having impressive joint mobility and flexibility. Where all of these attributes culminate is in his poise and decision making. Having such refined control of this level of athleticism is exceedingly difficult. But this is exactly where Medvedev shines. Skill set-wise, he lacks a true weakness. The problem with Medvedev as a prospect is his situation in London. Playing as a tandem on the best junior team in the world lightens the load on the goalie. Practically every game he played, he had adequate rest, along with having the far superior team in front of him. This has created a low-stress environment and has left him untested. How he adapts to a starter role facing adversity will dictate his future, but when looking at raw talent, one can believe he could be an NHL starter one day.

7 - Kirill Kudryavtsev

Much like Elias Pettersson, Kudryavtsev was a pleasant surprise for the Canucks in his first professional season. He stepped into an immediate top four role with Abbotsford and firmly put himself on the Canucks’ radar for a roster spot moving forward. He’s been highly effective at both ends and has worked really hard to refine his game in the last few years. Most impressive might be the transformation of his decision making with the puck, which was a weakness as a draft eligible player, but has now become a strength of his at the pro level. His four mobility also makes him an excellent transitional defender, and he’s aggressive with his gaps to make up for a lack of length. Kudryavtsev’s NHL upside may not be extremely significant, but there’s definitely a chance that he could be a long-time number-four-or-five defender for the Canucks; someone who can provide a steady two-way influence in a depth role.

8 - Sawyer Mynio

A member of the 2023 WHL championship-winning Seattle Thunderbirds, Mynio was exactly the type of defenceman that the Hitmen wanted for their own big playoff push this spring: experienced, tough, smart, reliable and versatile. Fast forward a few months post-trade and it's clear that the team received exactly what they paid for, with a torrid winning pace being compelling evidence of that, though their big playoff push was halted in the second round. You could go so far as to call him a "duct tape" kind of defender: maybe never the ideal tool for a certain job or situation, but he can almost always make it work in a pinch, and good coaches fully understand that kind of value in a player. Mynio has made a lot of progress during his tenure in the WHL, more than anyone probably expected, which is a very encouraging sign for his career moving forward. Canucks fans will appreciate what he brings to the table.

9 - Linus Karlsson

It was another good year in North America for Karlsson, as he finally broke through to play about a third of the year with the Canucks. When he wasn’t with Vancouver, he was operating at well over a point per game in the AHL, proving to be ready for that next challenge. Karlsson excels playing through the middle of the ice and near the net. He really embraced that net front presence role this year in his limited time with Vancouver; head coach Rick Tocchet even compared him to former Red Wings great Tomas Holmstrom. However, at the AHL level Karlsson has shown a few more levels to his game, as a lethal scoring option on the power play and as a strong, detail oriented two-way player. Next year will be a big one for Karlsson. He already earned a new contract, but he’ll try to establish himself as an everyday NHL player in the Canucks’ bottom six. Otherwise, he’ll require waivers to be sent down to the AHL and may find himself on the outside looking in long term in the organization.

10 - Arshdeep Bains

Originally a free agent signing by the Canucks out of Red Deer after Bains captured a WHL scoring crown, he’s been a standout at the AHL level the last two seasons. As such, he’s also seen a few cups of coffee with Vancouver. At the AHL level, he’s excelled as a playmaker who can create coming off the wall and bring a physical element. At the NHL level, the physical element has been there, but he’s struggled with the pace and making skilled plays against bigger defenders. This will be a big offseason for him, as he will no longer be exempt from waivers next year. It could be one final chance for him to crack Vancouver’s roster full time, likely in a bottom six role. Is Bains more of a conventional tweener or AAAA player? We may get the answer to that soon.

11 - Ty Mueller

Mueller has long looked like that kind of nice player who contributes in all three zones but was hard to get a read on with respect to upside. Over three years of college play, there was promise but no explosion offensively. However, his rookie season in the AHL was highly successful, seeing him contribute from beginning to end and add another 12 points in his team’s Calder Cup victory. In line for another cup of coffee in Vancouver this season?

12 - Danila Klimovich

Drafted off the strength of six goals in five U18 Worlds contests, Klimovich is a solidly built player who likes to rip pucks between the faceoff dots. Once quickly thrown into life in a new country while playing against pro men as an 18-year-old, the culmination of his first four seasons in North America was 25 goals and an AHL Calder Cup last season. His mere four points (all goals) in 16 playoff games is another matter. He should get an NHL look this season.

13 - Anthony Romani

Drafted in his DY+1 after exploding for 111 regular season points, Romani entered last season with some big hopes, but a broken clavicle bone in early October led to him missing almost 100 days of action. Before playing another game, he was traded to the Barrie Colts for whom he piled on the post-season points going 12-12-24 in 16 playoff games. He’ll be a freshman at Michigan State this fall, coming in to take on a scoring role right off the bat.

14 - Riley Patterson

Featuring good size and speed, Patterson often displays a shot and level of talent that makes one wonder why he’s not producing more. His draft season was just fine but his DY+1 was little more than a repeat performance of the prior season, albeit he certainly contributed nicely with 12 points in 16 playoff games. Still fairly young (turns 20 next March), he’s in line for a big season in Barrie, should he return.

15 - Kieren Dervin

Heading to Penn State as of the 2026-27 season, Dervin jumped from a strong showing as a go-to scorer at St. Andrew’s College to Kingston of the OHL to conclude the season as a depth player. Still lacking in strength and conditioning, a full season of OHL play should be exactly what the development coach orders. It’ll also be important to find consistency in applying his strong transition game as well as skating and passing skills. Long-term project.

2025 NHL DRAFT: TIER TWO LEAGUES PROSPECTS – BCHL, OJHL, NAHL, USHS, etc – FORWARDS

Brock Otten — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 19:34:39 +0000

Part one of my annual look at the top Tier 2 (BCHL, OJHL, NAHL, USHS, etc) players available for the 2025 NHL Draft. These are the top forwards.

Jeremy Loranger

Jeremy Loranger - Wing/Center - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

5-foot-9, 161 pounds, Shoots: Right

It's certainly hard to compare, given that the BCHL has been slightly decimated thanks to the NCAA's ruling, but Loranger's production does compare favorably to some of the other high end draft picks to come out of the league in the last few decades. He's not quite at Tyson Jost, Jeff Tambellini, Kyle Turris, and Bradly Nadeau, who were all above two points per game, but he's right on par with the likes of Kent Johnson and Alex Newhook. He has played some center this year but mostly lines up on the wing with fellow draft eligible Crusader Kale Dach as his pivot. Loranger also routinely quarterbacks Sherwood Park's powerplay.

Overall, Loranger is an exciting player to watch and it's easy to see why he's been as successful as he has been this year. Tons of skill. Very good shot with a lightning quick release. Gets to the middle of the ice consistently even though he lacks size/strength. While there are some bad junior habits in his game, like overhandling, for example, he largely shows as an intelligent player who really has a clear understanding of how to vary pace and control the tempo of the game. He skates well enough in straight lines and routinely builds in stops/starts to freeze defenders, but his edgework and pushes aren't the cleanest and lack power. I do question whether he'll have the same elusiveness at the higher levels. However, the hands do work perfectly in sync with the feet, giving him full control when he has the puck; the old adage of keeping the puck on a string. Equal parts goal scorer and playmaker, he routinely finds seams and space to play the puck into.

From a physicality perspective, it's obvious that he needs to bulk up. He does kill penalties and is active on the forecheck. Additionally, he's not a perimeter player. However, he can get bullied off the puck and he will occasionally give up possession under pressure in a panic or passively make a pass during 50/50 battles. As an undersized winger, his pro future will be tied to his ability to improve his skating further. The rest is there. He's slated to go to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, but one would guess he spends a year elsewhere first, perhaps with Dubuque of the USHL. Loranger is the kind of player scouts make their money on in the mid rounds.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/jeremy_loranger_-_2nd_period_13_49_-_14_1.mp4

A great example of Lorganger's quick strike ability as he roofs one short side.

Grades:

Skating: 50

Shot: 55

Skills: 57.5

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.75

Kale Dach - Center - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

5'11, 165 pounds, Shoots: Left

Loranger's pivot in Sherwood Park. The two of them have ripped up the BCHL this year and it has both of them firmly on the draft radar. In what I would call one of the strangest coincidences ever, Kale is not related to Kirby and Colton, despite also being from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, a town with just over 25,000 people in it. Unlike Loranger, Dach has signed in the CHL with the Calgary Hitmen, intending to play there next year (or for two years), before attending Penn State.

As you might expect from someone leading the BCHL in assists, Dach excels as a pass first, playmaker. He's a really intelligent player. His game, unlike Loranger, is predicated by quick touches. From time to time he'll look to beat a defender one on one to create some extra time and space, or to help him get to the middle, but he mostly operates by getting the puck off his stick quickly in the offensive zone. He receives a pass and he already knows where he's going with the puck, then he'll find open space to drive or settle in to, becoming an option for a return. He's not a dynamic skater; there's a need to improve the power of his strides to be more explosive, but he does operate well in transition because of his quick hands and quick thinking.

Dach also excels away from the puck in all three zones. His stick placement and anticipation in the defensive zone and on the backcheck are impressive. Dach also flashes a physical game, especially on the forecheck, however, there's a need to get stronger for that to be an above average attribute moving up the levels. His shot and shooting ability are inconsistent, perhaps what you'd expect from a pass first player. He shows upside as a scorer on the right flank with a one timer, but his wrist shot doesn't have a ton of zip and often finds the goaltender. While the lack of elite physical tools scares me a bit, I do certainly appreciate Dach's IQ and play creation ability. With the right physical development, he could easily play his way into some kind of NHL role in the distant future.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-kale_dach_-_1st_overtime_1_32_-_1_44.mp4

Dach showing off his ability to get to the net to finish off plays.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-kale_dach_-_3rd_period_0_43_-_0_55.mp4

A great example of Dach's IQ as a passer as he sets up the goal in this beautiful passing play.

Grades:

Skating: 50

Shot: 47.5

Skills: 55

Smarts: 57.5

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.75

Poul Andersen - Wing - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

6'1, 200 pounds, Shoots: Right

The third wheel on that strong Sherwood Park team, playing alongside Loranger and Dach. It's interesting to note the different paths all three players took to find each other. Loranger from Quebec, Dach from Alberta, and Andersen from Minnesota. Andersen is a different player than his two linemates. His game revolves around power and using his size. The University of Maine commit excels in straight lines. Most of his goals are scored near the blue paint or on odd man rushes, where he's the one finishing off a play in tight. Like Loranger and Dach, Andersen can work up to a solid top speed, but his first steps need work to create better and more consistent separation.

He's the perfect complement to Loranger and Dach because he's also a smart player. He does the dirty work on the forecheck or to win possession along the wall. And he shows good vision and playmaking ability coming off the wall or working in transition. Even though he attacks in straight lines, he's not a head down, barrel through you kind of winger. He'll play the puck into space and he finds passing options before driving head on and turning the puck over. Andersen is also a good offensive support player, finding gaps and timing cuts well to become a passing option, especially on the powerplay, where he cycles between the left flank and the bumper position. He's also a fairly consistent physical player, especially in puck pursuit. Andersen's upside may not be as high as Loranger or Dach's, but the small details in his game, combined with his pro frame make him a potential pro down the line. It'll be about the continued development of his skating and small area skill, of which he'll do with Edmonton of the WHL next season before heading to Maine.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/poul_andersen_-_2nd_period_11_53_-_12_5.mp4

A good example of Anderson's ability to work as a complementary goal scorer as he drives wide and creates a two on one that he finishes.

Grades:

Skating: 50

Shot: 50

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 52.5

OFP: 51.375

Rasmus Svartström - Wing - Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL)

6-foot-5, 200 pounds, Shoots: Left

Svartström came to the BCHL from Finland to try to acclimate to the North American game before heading to St. Lawrence University. It's not too often that a BCHL player in their final year of draft eligibility is on the draft radar, but it's also not common for a 6'5 import winger to be leading the BCHL in goal scoring (as of writing this). A massive human, I actually expected Svartström to be a different kind of player. I mean, I expected the physical element to be prominent and it is; he's a very aggressive physical player. He runs over opponents in pursuit of the puck. However, I figured that he'd be purely capitalizing near the net front and just dominating in the bumper spot on the powerplay. Instead, Svartström is actually creating his own scoring chances as much as he's finishing off those created for him. He's not nearly as bad of a skater as I was anticipating. He actually can build decent linear speed, which helps him drive the net and put defenders on his back. There's a ton of room for him to become more explosive and more agile but given that his game is mostly North/South, it doesn't hinder him. He also shows well off the puck in the offensive end, working to make himself a passing option; timing cuts well to get scoring looks. Lastly, his shot is a major weapon. He's scoring in a lot of different ways in the BCHL. With a big one timer on the flank. With a heavy wrister in transition. On the backhand as he drives the net. As he moves up to higher levels, he'll likely be pushed to more of the Tomas Holmstrom role, but this is someone NHL teams will be taking a long look at.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-rasmus_svartstrom_-_3rd_period_23_20_-_23_32.mp4

Well placed shot as Svartström capitalizes on the slot pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-rasmus_svartstrom_-_2nd_period_25_37_-_25_52.mp4

Svartström drives wide and beats the defender to the net, showing off his finishing his ability in tight.

Grades:

Skating: 47.5

Shot: 55

Skills: 47.5

Smarts: 52.5

Physicality/Compete: 57.5

OFP: 51.5

Shaan Kingwell - Wing - Navan Grads (CCHL)/Ottawa 67's (OHL)

5-foot-11, 160 pounds, Shoots: Left

Kingwell was a player who caught my eye while playing for Canada East at the WJAC's. He was one of the lone bright spots for the team at the event. Since then, he has spent some time with the Ottawa 67's, signing with them shortly after the event. Shuttling between Navan and Ottawa this calendar year, Kingwell has played well for both. He's currently without an NCAA commitment, so perhaps his intention is to play full time with Ottawa next year and beyond. In Navan of the CCHL, he looks the part of a dominant offensive player. He escapes pressure consistently, pushes pace, and shows high end scoring upside with a plus shot. Playing at a higher level, such as the OHL and at the WJAC, Kingwell has been more of a support player. Get pucks in deep, work the forecheck, bring some tenacity. At either level, I think he has shown well as a boards player; he has quick feet that allow him to evade pressure and keep plays alive. He has a good skating base, but it's obvious that he needs to get stronger to improve his speed and quickness. He can be knocked off stride too easily. However, I'd expect his skating to improve a lot over the next few years. For me, Kingwell's upside is going to be tied to his scoring ability. The release on his wrister is lightning quick, so as he gets stronger and is able to get himself more chances at the higher levels, he could be a valuable complementary piece. The added strength will make him a more consistent physical threat too, a required element if he wants to take his game to another level.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-shaan_kingwell_-_3rd_period_0_43_-_0_56.mp4

Great shot placement here from Kingwell.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-shaan_kingwell_-_3rd_period_0_43_-_0_56.mp4

Outstanding individual effort from the World Junior A Challenge that sees him turn a defender inside out, then roof it.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 52.5

Skills: 50

Smarts: 52.5

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.625

Ellis Mieyette - Wing - Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)

6-foot-0, 160 pounds, Shoots: Left

Originally mentioned by NHL Central Scouting on their preliminary watch list, Mieyette was not listed as one of the top 224 in North America on their midseason list. He largely struggled at the World Junior A Challenge for Canada West in December and his AJHL production has been fairly inconsistent this calendar year. It's important to note that Mieyette is a late bloomer. He was playing AA only a few years ago and wasn't even a WHL bantam selection. Yet, now he finds himself as one of the leading scorers in the AJHL and with a scholarship to Lindenwood University. That's a pretty impressive turnaround. Watching Mieyette, it's obvious that he has skill. He's a very creative player. He's also a pretty good skater, building to a solid top speed. That combination gives him upside as he moves through the levels. That's why NHL Central Scouting listed him originally. However, the inconsistency can be explained by a lack of strength and a lack of sense, which in turn can be explained by a lack of experience playing at higher levels and at a greater pace. This was very obvious watching him play against Sweden at the WJAC, where he was easily neutralized and kept to the perimeter. That's not to say that he was playing “soft,” he will play the body and compete for pucks. But, he's just not strong enough to be consistent. If an NHL team is using a pick on Mieyette, it's because they see him developing into a point producer as he matures physically down the road. He's a long, long term project.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ellis_mieyette_-_2nd_period_21_9_-_21_21.mp4

Mieyette makes no mistake from the low slot.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 50

Skills: 55

Smarts: 47.5

Physicality/Compete: 47.5

OFP: 50.75

Frantisek Netusil - Center/Wing - Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)/Green Bay (USHL)

5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Shoots: Right

Czech born pest like player who has played the last two seasons in North America; last year with the New Jersey Rockets AAA program and this year in the NAHL with Minnesota. The Western Michigan commit is a real pain in the butt to play against. He consistently finishes his checks, gets under the skin of opponents, and occasionally crosses the line of safety. He's also a committed and versatile two-way player who shows great awareness and commitment in all three zones. He's played both center and the wing over the last few seasons in North America, and given his skill set, I believe he's a more natural fit for the wing long term. Netusil isn't the kind of dynamic skater that you normally look for in undersized forwards, but he does build to a solid top speed that can catch defenders flat footed. With greater focus on conditioning, and the elongation of his strides, I believe it shows promise to be an above average area for him, helping him play a high energy game. From a skill perspective, Netusil's shot is his bread and butter. He's got a quick release on his wrist shot but can also one time pucks from the slot or half wall, giving him upside as a scorer as he moves through the levels. In his cup of coffee at the USHL level this year, he had a bit of a tough time maintaining possession through traffic or making skilled plays with the puck; the creativity and overall skill are somewhat limited. Yet, there are enough pieces to the puzzle here to suggest that Netusil could end up being a pesky bottom six option down the line. NHL Scouts are going to wish he were bigger for the kind of role he plays, but the tenacity in his game will endear him to them.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/frantisek_netusil_-_1st_period_25_47_-_25_59.mp4

An example of Netusil's physicality, as he plasters an opponent near the bench.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 52.5

Skills: 47.5

Smarts: 50

Physicality/Compete: 57.5

OFP: 51.75

Grayden Robertson Palmer - Center - Phillips Andover Academy (USHS-Prep)

5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Shoots: Left

High octane playmaking center who consistently skates circles around lower-level prep players. His speed is a major factor to his success, especially when you combine it with his tenacity. This is a pivot who is physically engaged in all three zones and who makes himself difficult to play against, despite lacking size. He forces a ton of turnovers with both his speed and his strength. He plays down low and wins battles along the wall and then he's off on the breakout, transitioning quickly. Or he's winning races to loose pucks or retrievals easily and establishing possession for Phillips Andover. The captain of Andover Academy is also an excellent play creator because of his vision and passing ability. He pushes pace and routinely finds open linemates at full speed, showing excellent anticipation and awareness. He also operates well behind the goal line, keeping his feet moving to keep plays alive until he can find a passing option in the slot. A Dartmouth commit, we'd probably be talking about Robertson Palmer as a potential top two round selection out of prep if he were bigger. However, he's only a few weeks shy of being first time eligible in 2026, so there could be a lot of physical development left for him. Patience will be key, but if his skating ability holds up at the higher levels, he's going to be someone who could develop into a versatile middle of the lineup piece at the NHL level. NHL scouts should be all over him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/grayden_robertson-palmer_-_1st_period_17_41_-_17_58.mp4

Great example of Robertson Palmer's speed and playmaking ability as he goes coast to coast to set up the goal.

Grades:

Skating: 55

Shot: 47.5

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.625

Graham Jones - Center - Shattuck St. Mary's (USHS-Prep)

5-foot-8, 150 pounds, Shoots: Left

A former first round selection of the Portland Winterhawks (WHL), Jones instead opted to join the Shattuck's program and has since committed to Boston College. He's a high end skater who loves to attack defenders head on. He plays the game at a blistering pace. He routinely beats defenders on the outside and cuts to the middle or drives the middle lane and gets to the net, proving that he's not a perimeter player despite his lack of size. Jones' skill as a playmaker is evident too. He gets pucks to the middle of the ice and can maintain possession while operating at full speed, keeping the puck in his hip pocket to shield it from bigger defenders. His hands and feet work in sync, and he varies pace to keep defenders guessing. His shot isn't a major weapon; he's a pass first pivot. He's also not likely to be much of a factor physically at higher levels, even if he's not a perimeter player at the prep level. However, he does show well in the defensive end, a testament to his three-zone awareness. He anticipates passing lanes well and forces turnovers on the backcheck and forecheck, then it's off to the races as he storms up the ice in transition. The lack of size is obviously a concern, and it's going to make him a late round selection (if at all). However, he has the speed, smarts, and tenacity that you like to see from smaller players.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/graham_jones_-_1st_period_19_29_-_19_41.mp4

Jones intercepts a pass and then it's off to the races as he drives wide and cuts in for the scoring chance.

Grades:

Skating: 57.5

Shot: 45

Skills: 55

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.5

Alexander Donovan - Wing - Shattuck St. Mary's (USHS-Prep)

5-foot-10, 170 pounds, Shoots: Right

Donovan is a unique player with a few really intriguing and projectable skills. He started the year playing for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, but outside of a dominant performance against Germany, he was largely a non-factor. Then he returned to Shattuck St. Mary's for a fourth season. A Denver University commit, Donovan's best skill is unquestionably his shot. He can absolutely rifle the puck. It's possibly a top ten shot in this entire draft class. His wrist shot is quick, explosive, deceptive, and accurate. He can also one time pucks cleanly from the flank or slot. Donovan is also a fairly physical player, especially in puck pursuit. He looks to get after it on the forecheck and he, largely, plays bigger than his size. But the rest of his game needs major refinement. Consistency has been an issue for him and there appear to be a few reasons why; things he'll need to work on to be a solid NCAA player, let alone an NHL player. For one, his skating isn't dynamic enough given his size. His first few steps lack power, and he can be slow to pucks or spots because of it. It also can limit his effectiveness in transition. Secondly, his decision making leaves some to be desired, both with and without the puck. He can force plays with the puck and turnovers have been an issue. Without the puck, he isn't finding those soft spots as consistently as you would like given his shooting ability. Lastly, while he's a fairly physical player, his defensive zone commitment and ability to work between the hash marks are questionable. If you're drafting Donovan, you're hoping that he can gain a step at Denver and learn to take better advantage of his shot as a strong complementary piece. His upside is high, but the downside is quite low.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/alexander_donovan_-_1st_period_12_9_-_12_21.mp4

Look at that release. Blink and you'll miss that one.

Grades:

Skating: 47.5

Shot: 60

Skills: 55

Smarts: 45

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.375

Connor Davis - Wing - Salisbury School (USHS-Prep)

6-foot-0, 183 pounds, Shoots: Right

The Northeastern commit is a competitive two-way winger with the potential to develop into a solid middle six, complementary piece at the NHL level. It's pretty rare to say that a prep player plays a very mature, pro style game, but that's Davis. He skates hard North/South and gets to the net. His stride isn't the most efficient and there's room for more power, but he builds to a solid top speed and can beat prep defenders to the net, to spots, and to the puck pretty consistently. His compete level would definitely be classified as solid. Seems to be more physical in the defensive end and neutral zone than he is in the offensive zone, a testament to his will and desire to force takeaways and be hard to play against. Offensively, he shows well as a playmaker with excellent vision, especially for the kind of North/South game he likes to play. Is particularly dangerous on the man advantage, working the half wall. Davis flashes some creativity with the puck too, but he's probably best suited to be more of a work horse alongside a more skilled pivot at the higher levels. Evaluating later born prep players can sometimes be difficult (Davis has a November 2006 birthday) because of the physical advantages they hold over other prep players. However, Davis impresses with his attention to detail and well rounded skill package. I feel like Northeastern has done really well with these types of players in recent years and that makes me more confident about his development. I'd have a lot of time for Davis in the later rounds.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-connor_davis_-_1st_period_27_21_-_27_33.mp4

Davis regroups along the wall and threads a cross ice pass to set up a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-connor_davis_-_1st_period_10_41_-_10_53.mp4

Davis showing off his skill as he turns a defender inside out and buries one.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 50

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.375

William Schneid - Wing - Northwood School (USHS-Prep)

6-foot-0, 195 pounds, Shoots: Right

Schneid recently signed with the OHL's Barrie Colts, but won't be suiting up for them next year. The intention here is to play a year or two in the OHL before honoring his commitment to the University of Connecticut. Schneid is a well rounded, complementary winger with a goal scorer's touch. He's strong on the puck and gets to the net consistently. His shot shows major promise as being an above average weapon for him. Sometimes me misses the mark, fails to corral pucks, or whiffs, but when he gets himself square, he can really pick corners with a whip-like release. I suppose the concern here would be that outside of his shot, the rest of his game is fairly vanilla. Schneid isn't really a dynamic skater. He can build to a decent top speed North/South, but he's not the most agile or balanced and his first few strides lack power. Schneid also isn't a flashy or creative player with the puck. He already operates best as a complementary piece at the prep level and that can be a bit concerning. His compete level and physical play are solid, but somewhat inconsistent. When he joins the OHL next season, it'll be interesting to see how he fits in and performs.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/william_schneid_-_3rd_period_5_28_-_5_40.mp4

Schneid joins the play as a trailer and roofs one.

Grades:

Skating: 50

Shot: 55

Skills: 50

Smarts: 50

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51

Brent Solomon - Wing - Champlin Park High (USHS-MN)

6-foot-0, 173 pounds, Shoots: Right

Solomon is an exciting and dynamic offensive star who has become Champlin Park's first ever Mr. Hockey finalist. He's best classified as a shoot first kind of player, at least at the high school level where he regularly finishes games with well over 20 shots. Shot selection will definitely be a focal point for development as he moves up to the higher levels, as a lot of these each game are lower percentage shots from the perimeter. Solomon also routinely beats high school defenders one on one, turning them into swiss cheese, with the way that his hands work in sync with his feet. He's not an explosive North/South player, but he can play through defenders, catching them flat footed with his ability to cut to the inside quickly. In fact, he does a great job of varying pace as an attacker, knowing when to attack at full speed and when not to. It's tough to truly evaluate his “IQ” at this level because of the way he plays and leads the Champlin Park attack. He flashes high end passing and playmaking ability, but then also forces shots, forces dekes and gets caught with his head down. As mentioned, his game does not lack skill or touch, but it will need refinement. Additionally, at this stage, he's not a consistently committed two-way player or physical player. He'll get to the net for scoring opportunities, but he's not strong along the wall or a high impact forechecker. Defensively, he can cheat for offense. As a skater, Solomon shows very good edge work and agility, which he uses to work more on a lateral plane, than North/South. His first step quickness and overall top speed could use some improvement as he moves up the higher levels, but he does project as an above average skater. Headed to the University of Wisconsin, look for Solomon to make a stop in the USHL for a year or two first. He possesses significant offensive upside that can be unlocked with the right coaching and development.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/brent_solomon_-_2nd_period_13_23_-_13_35.mp4

Solomon accepts a breakout pass and turns a simple two on two into a goal with his quick wrister.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 55

Skills: 55

Smarts: 50

Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.875

Mason West - Wing - Edina High (USHS-MN)

6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Shoots: Right

Elite three sport athlete who is still determining his future path in sport. One of the top quarterback recruits out of the state and there could be a chance that he tries to play collegiately in both football and hockey…thus why he has yet to commit to an NCAA program yet. His high-end athleticism is visible on the ice. Big kid who moves very impressively. Builds to a solid top speed moving North/South but has refined balance and edgework that allows him to put defenders on his back to protect the puck in motion. For that reason, he's a tough check for high school defenders right now; near impossible for them to separate him from the puck. West also shows strong vision with the puck and a clear understanding of how to use his size to be a factor away from the puck. He gets to the net. He forechecks. I wouldn't call him an overly physical player (perhaps shocking given his football background), but maybe that's something he grows into. His shot shows promise if he can work on his release; it's heavy, but he can have a tendency to whiff under pressure. From a skill perspective, again, there's upside. He handles impressively well at full speed for a big man, although he can keep the puck too far out, leaving him susceptible to stick checks. He needs to operate more in his hip pocket, using his size to his advantage in transition. What West ultimately ends up becoming…if he even chooses hockey, remains to be seen. My guess is that NHL teams will be monitoring his situation closely leading up to the draft. Will he commit to a program in either sport? How will he respond to questions at the combine (he seems like a very safe bet to be invited given the information teams will want to acquire). A pick of the Fargo Force, it will also be interesting to see if he closes the year in the USHL. It would be great to see how much of his dominance at the high school level comes from his size and skating advantage.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-mason_west_-_2nd_period_5_18_-_5_31.mp4

We see West's quick strike ability as he jumps on a loose puck and generates a high end scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2-mason_west_-_2nd_period_6_37_-_6_50.mp4

West's frame and reach at work as he plays through a defender to make a pass to the slot that results in a goal.

Grades:

Skating: 55

Shot: 50

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 52.5

OFP: 52.625

Cooper Simpson - Wing - Shakopee High (USHS-MN)

6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Shoots: Left

Simpson came into the year as a potential top two round pick after a strong draft minus one year split between Shakopee High (Minnesota high school) and Tri-City of the USHL. His pro frame, combined with his scoring ability and skill gave him significant upside. However, his draft year has been somewhat tumultuous. He played a key role for the United States at the Hlinka/Gretzky in the summer, and even though he didn't find the scoresheet much, he did enough to impress with his play creation ability. However, rather than spend time with Tri-City again to start the year, he has played all season in Minnesota, which has some scouts confused. He's the odds-on favourite to be Mr. Hockey in Minnesota this year, so his play at the high school level hasn't been the issue, more the fact that he didn't challenge himself to play at the USHL level again. There's no doubting Simpson's skill and scoring ability. He has a rocket of a shot. He gets himself in good scoring positions and earns open looks all over the ice. He can beat defenders one on one and creates time and space for himself with strong edgework and puck protection skill. However, there also hasn't been a ton of growth or progression in his game from a year ago. There's still a need for him to improve his explosiveness. He's also the kind of player who's faster without the puck than with it; there's a tendency for his strides to become shorter and choppier when he carries. Additionally, Simpson's decision making continues to be inconsistent. He flashes high end vision and playmaking ability. But also operates as a high-volume shooter who can force plays under pressure resulting in low percentage shots or turnovers. His compete and physicality are equally inconsistent. I saw a quote recently that suggested NHL scouts were concerned that Simpson's game would need major refinement at the junior level before becoming an NCAA player, let alone an NHL one. He's going to be seen as a major project pick for that reason. The upside is still significant and how he closes out the year (maybe at the USHL level or in the Minnesota HS tournament) will go a long way as to determining his draft fate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1-cooper_simpson_-_1st_period_25_34_-_25_47.mp4

Simpson's skill on display at the Hlinka/Gretzky, as he goes coast to coast for the great chance against Finland.

Grades:

Skating: 50

Shot: 55

Skills: 57.5

Smarts: 47.5

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52

Brooks Cullen - Center - Moorhead High (USHS-MN)

6-foot-0, 185 pounds, Shoots: Left

It's pretty rare for high school players to be on the draft radar in their second year of eligibility, but Cullen is a rare case. For one, he's the son of former NHL standout Matt Cullen. For two, he missed the September cutoff to be first time eligible in 2025 by only a couple of days. The captain of Moorhead has improved a ton as an offensive player this year as he matures physically and that has him firmly on the radar. A Michigan State commit, Cullen is a very intelligent two-way pivot. He shows good vision with the puck and operates well with the puck whether he's pushing the pace or slowing things down. He's also highly effective off the puck in all three zones, with an active stick and the work ethic to match. As a skater, Cullen shows quick bursts of speed that allow him to create separation from high school defenders. He doesn't project as more than an average skater moving up the levels, however, it will be interesting to see how improved conditioning at the NCAA impacts that. Cullen's offensive toolkit also includes a heavy wrist shot, which he uses effectively in the slot. The overall offensive upside may not be extremely significant, but the pedigree and IQ are enough to make me extremely curious about the type of player he could be five years from now. Maybe NHL teams look to see how he performs in the USHL first, or even wait to see how he does at Michigan State, however, don't count him out as a potential pick.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/brooks_cullen_-_1st_period_16_7_-_16_20.mp4

Cullen buries one, showing off his deceptive release, picking the corner far side.

Grades:

Skating: 52.5

Shot: 52.5

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.125

Kieren Dervin - Center - St. Andrew's College (PHC)/Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Shoots: Left

The St. Andrews College program has been an NHL draft selection factory the last decade and this year they have a few quality prospects for the mid rounds. Dervin, a Penn State commit, is someone who has greatly benefited from the ruling that opened up the NCAA route for CHL players. He's played most of this year with SAC, but will join Kingston full time when the prep season is over, allowing Dervin to be along for the ride during Kingston's playoff run. He probably spends all of next year (perhaps more) with the Fronts before joining Penn State. Now, this is great because Dervin's biggest weakness is a lack of strength and conditioning; he'll have a ton of time to work on that. This has been most obvious at the OHL level with Kingston where he's had trouble keeping possession of the puck and playing through traffic. There's a will there, and that's obvious when he's playing with SAC. He competes for space and pucks and he's an improving three zone pivot. However, consistency has been a huge issue for him this year. The basic foundation of a quality middle six center is there. He skates well. He has good vision as a passer and, as mentioned, shows promise as a two-way threat. However, is he skilled enough? Again, his on puck play and production have been wildly inconsistent. For that reason, Dervin looks more like a mid round selection than a top 75 one, as might have been the case early on this season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/kieren_dervin_-_2nd_period_15_9_-_15_22.mp4

Great feed from Dervin as he secures the puck off the face, draws in pressure and feathers a perfect pass to set up the goal.

Grades:

Skating: 55

Shot: 50

Skills: 50

Smarts: 55

Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.25

Aiden Lane - Wing - St. Andrew's College (PHC)/Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

6-foot-2, 192 pounds, Shoots: Right

Lane is another player who has greatly benefitted from the NCAA ruling. A Harvard commit, Lane has signed with the Brampton Steelheads and intends to play with them for at least another season before heading to the NCAA. This year, like Dervin, he's spent some time in the OHL in between breaks with St. Andrew's College. He'll also finish out the year in the OHL, arriving in time for Brampton's hopeful playoff run. If we're describing Lane's game, the best thing I can say is that if he were a better skater, he'd be in strong consideration for the first two rounds. He's got a pro frame. His game is extremely detail oriented. He gets to the net. He is hard on pucks in all three zones. He has great offensive zone anticipation. He's not the most skilled player and for that reason, his upside as a pro is likely limited to the bottom six. However, he understands that he's not the most skilled or creative player on the ice and for that reason, he operates perfectly as a complement to other more dynamic playmakers. The real issue is that skating. Lane lacks power and speed in straight lines, relying on his IQ at the junior and prep level to be a step ahead of the competition. But as he moves up the levels, those gaps will close and he won't have that advantage to lean on. That's why the newly available OHL/NCAA route is a perfect one for him. He's going to have a ton of time to become a more explosive player and that will improve his odds of being a long time pro.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/aidan_lane_-_1st_period_9_58_-_10_11.mp4

Lane's game in a nutshell. Get to the net, make things happen.

Grades:

Skating: 47.5

Shot: 52.5

Skills: 50

Smarts: 57.5

Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.125

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

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

Kieren Dervin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #22 Vancouver Canucks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Last Year - 20th) GM: TBD COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025

Braeden Cootes, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Sawyer Mynio, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Kirill Kudryavtsev, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Alexei Medvedev, G, London Knights (OHL)

Victor Mancini, D, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) (Currently on Vancouver Canucks, NHL)

Ty Mueller, C, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Wilson Bjorck, RW, Colorado College (NCAA)

Anthony Romani, RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Riley Patterson, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently on Abbotsford Canucks, AHL)

Nikita Tolopilo, G, Vancouver Canucks (NHL)

Danila Klimovich, RW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Vilmer Alriksson, LW, Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

Kieren Dervin, C, Kingston Frotencas (OHL)

Matthew Lansing, C, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #20

Vancouver Canucks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Jonathan Lekkerimäki

2 - Tom Willander

3 - Braeden Cootes

4 - Elias Pettersson

5 - Aatu Raty

6 - Alexei Medvedev

7 - Kirill Kudryavtsev

8 - Sawyer Mynio

9 - Linus Karlsson

10 - Arshdeep Bains

11 - Ty Mueller

12 - Danila Klimovich

13 - Anthony Romani

14 - Riley Patterson

15 - Kieren Dervin

2025 NHL DRAFT: TIER TWO LEAGUES PROSPECTS – BCHL, OJHL, NAHL, USHS, etc – FORWARDS

Jeremy Loranger - Wing/Center - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

Kale Dach - Center - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

Poul Andersen - Wing - Sherwood Park (BCHL)

Rasmus Svartström - Wing - Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL)

Shaan Kingwell - Wing - Navan Grads (CCHL)/Ottawa 67's (OHL)

Ellis Mieyette - Wing - Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)

Frantisek Netusil - Center/Wing - Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)/Green Bay (USHL)

Grayden Robertson Palmer - Center - Phillips Andover Academy (USHS-Prep)

Graham Jones - Center - Shattuck St. Mary's (USHS-Prep)

Alexander Donovan - Wing - Shattuck St. Mary's (USHS-Prep)

Connor Davis - Wing - Salisbury School (USHS-Prep)

William Schneid - Wing - Northwood School (USHS-Prep)

Brent Solomon - Wing - Champlin Park High (USHS-MN)

Mason West - Wing - Edina High (USHS-MN)

Cooper Simpson - Wing - Shakopee High (USHS-MN)

Brooks Cullen - Center - Moorhead High (USHS-MN)

Kieren Dervin - Center - St. Andrew's College (PHC)/Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Aiden Lane - Wing - St. Andrew's College (PHC)/Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

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

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

Prospect System Ranking – 22nd (Last Year - 20th)
GM: TBD
COACH: Adam Foote Hired: May 2025