Tomas Poletin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 New York Islanders – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:09 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: Boston University Terriers forward Cole Eiserman (34) looks on during the Hockey East semifinal game between the Boston University Terriers and the UConn Huskies on March 20, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 14th (Last Year - 11th)
GM: Mathieu Darche Hired: May 2025
COACH: Patrick Roy Hired: January 2024

It has been a roller coaster for the New York Islanders in our McKeens rankings. After climbing an impressive 10 spots last year, the organization slides back three positions to 14th. That volatility can be tied to one player: Matthew Schaefer. After winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, the Islanders wasted no time selecting the dynamic Canadian defenceman first overall. Schaefer has exceeded even the highest expectations, making an immediate impact and graduating from prospect status the moment he took his rookie lap. In doing so, he has already begun to reshape the franchise's long-term outlook overnight.

With Schaefer no longer part of the “system”, the Islanders’ prospect pool is now headlined by two players selected shortly after him in the same draft: Victor Eklund (32nd) and Kashawn Aitcheson (35th). Eklund, taken 11th overall in 2025, has impressed during his rookie season in the SHL, showing strong offensive instincts against professional competition. Aitcheson, selected one pick later, led all OHL defencemen in scoring as captain of the Barrie Colts in 2025-26 and has since signed his entry-level contract. Cole Eiserman (45th), the Islanders’ first-round pick from 2024, has officially begun his professional journey. Following a 43-goals-in-71-game NCAA career, the sharpshooting winger has signed his papers and turned pro after his collegiate season concluded with a Hockey East quarterfinal exit.

With Schaefer accelerating the organization’s timeline, the Islanders have already begun to push their chips forward. The acquisition of veteran center Brayden Schenn — which cost the team its 2026 first-round and third-round picks — signals a clear commitment to competing now. As this new wave of young talent begins to integrate with the NHL roster, the Islanders appear to be transitioning into a new phase and one that could see a promising core quickly evolve into something far more impactful on Long Island.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
NYI	1	Victor Eklund	RW	19	5-11/170	Djurgardens (SHL)	43	6	18	24	22
NYI	1	Victor Eklund	RW	19	5-11/170	Bridgeport (AHL)	9	3	7	10	2
NYI	1	Victor Eklund	RW	19	5-11/170	NY Islanders (NHL)	1	0	1	1	0
NYI	2	Kashawn Aitcheson	D	19	6-2/200	Barrie (OHL)	56	28	42	70	97
NYI	3	Cole Eiserman	LW	19	6-0/195	Boston University (NCAA)	32	18	10	28	14
NYI	3	Cole Eiserman	LW	19	6-0/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	12	2	7	9	2
NYI	4	Danny Nelson	C	20	6-3/200	Notre Dame (NCAA)	36	13	16	29	32
NYI	5	Daniil Prokhorov	RW	19	6-6/220	Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)	25	9	9	18	14
NYI	5	Daniil Prokhorov	RW	19	6-6/220	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	23	1	0	1	2
NYI	6	Dmitry Gamzin	G	23	6-3/175	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	40	22	10	1.49	0.938
NYI	7	Tomas Poletin	LW	19	6-2/205	Kelowna (WHL)	43	20	15	35	38
NYI	8	Isaiah George	D	22	6-0/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	47	2	16	18	20
NYI	8	Isaiah George	D	22	6-0/195	NY Islanders (NHL)	4	0	1	1	0
NYI	9	Xavier Veilleux	D	20	6-0/190	Cornell (NCAA)	34	6	20	26	12
NYI	10	Marshall Warren	D	25	5-11/170	Bridgeport (AHL)	56	6	26	32	30
NYI	10	Marshall Warren	D	25	5-11/170	NY Islanders (NHL)	8	0	3	3	4
NYI	11	Jacob Kvasnicka	RW	18	6-0/175	Penticton (WHL)	65	35	50	85	21
NYI	12	Alex Jefferies	LW	24	6-0/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	60	9	20	29	46
NYI	13	Matt Maggio	RW	23	5-10/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	56	6	26	32	30
NYI	14	Quinn Finley	LW	21	6-0/180	Wisconsin (NCAA)	37	17	16	33	22
NYI	15	Luca Romano	C	18	6-0/175	Kitchener (OHL)	55	14	19	33	22

Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL) (Currently with Bridgeport Islanders, AHL)

Eklund’s season so far has largely met expectations, and the New York Islanders organization is certainly pleased with his progress since the 2025 Draft. Eklund continues to trend upward this season, taking the next step in competition with Djurgården following their promotion from Allsvenskan to the SHL. He’s showing improved pace and growing confidence attacking high traffic areas. Playing against heavier competition, he has adjusted well, displaying stronger puck poise and an increased willingness to dictate play rather than play it safe. His offensive skillset remains his biggest asset, highlighted by quick decision making, soft hands in tight spaces, and a consistent ability to find space through coverage. Eklund elevated his stock further during the WJC, playing a meaningful role in Sweden’s gold-medal performance. He handled top line matchups effectively, showing composure in pressure moments while contributing steady offensive support. His play-driving habits and transitional awareness were noticeable throughout the tournament. His strengths are built around strong on-ice awareness, puck skill, and offensive anticipation. Eklund regularly identifies open space and supports possession sequences with quick, efficient decision making. Physical maturity remains the primary developmental challenge, as he can lose battles against bigger, stronger defenders. His projection leans toward a middle six scoring winger with power play value, with added strength potentially unlocking top six offensive upside.
Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Selected 17th overall in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Aitcheson is in his fourth season in the OHL and shares the captaincy with Utah Mammoth prospect Cole Beaudoin. He led all OHL defencemen with 28 goals and in points with 70. Aitcheson set the new franchise record for most career points by a defenceman in Barrie Colts history surpassing former Colt, Brandt Clarke’s record of 158 career points. Aitcheson has continued to take meaningful steps forward with his five-on-five offensive play. His physicality remains a strong suit, averaging roughly a hit per game while keeping his penalty minutes low. An area of improvement is limiting mistakes in the defensive zone; his skating has improved and moves well in all directions for his physique but recognizing when to close out quicker and making more consistent reads with the puck. Barrie has their sights on another deep playoff run so expect Aitcheson to log heavy minutes matched up against top heavy forwards.
Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (NCAA) (Currently with Bridgeport Islanders, AHL)

The enigmatic goal scoring machine, Cole Eiserman continued firing on all cylinders with Boston U. this year, registering 18 goals in 32 games. He brings elite shooting tools and a nose for the net to the Islanders club. The sophomore’s shot is elite, and he possesses a release that can fool goalies from any area on the ice when in scoring range. He is also not averse to the physical component of the game and is willing to sacrifice his body to set himself up into prime scoring locations. A 20th overall selection in the 2024 NHL draft, Eiserman will always be known for scoring goals, but it would be nice to see him evolve his game into more of a playmaker and look for opportunities to dish the puck when the time is right. This would make him a dual threat and help elevate his game to the next level. Set up with a good playmaker, Eiserman could easily be a top scorer for the Islanders down the road.
Danny Nelson, C, University of Notre Dame (NCAA)

A leader on Notre Dame, as is evidenced by the certification of team Captain, Nelson brings a hard nose and no-nonsense style game to the team. He also displayed his offensive chops by putting up 28 points in 35 games this past season. The third year player has increased his NCAA totals each of the season’s he’s played for the Fighting Irish, which is something you like to see in a prospect. What you get with Nelson is an endless motor with high compete and physicality in his game. He is always noticeable during games and is in the mix more times than not. The Islanders' second rounder is a reliable two-way forward with some offensive upside. He has a relatively high floor thanks to his size, skating, and high IQ combination. At the very least, he could develop into an excellent defensive forward and penalty killer. Expect him to make the jump to the pro ranks very soon and he could move quickly through the Islanders’ system.
Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (KHL)

The 6-foot-6 second round draft pick had a chaotic start to this season, getting 1-5 shifts a game in the KHL before bouncing around between all three Russian leagues. He has finally settled into the VHL and has since played well, scoring 18 points in 25 games, some of those games with extremely limited ice time. The most consistent thing about Prokhorov is his inconsistency. Not even shift to shift, but moment to moment he can go from a high paced, physical, net driven monster to being completely checked out, not moving his feet and letting pucks go past him. At his best, he can take over possession. The size and skating combination is a beautiful thing to watch as he drives wide to blow by defenders before cutting to the crease. His shot is strong and can throw high danger passes to the slot through pressure. He is violent along the boards, always looking for big hits and to regain possession. But more often than you'd like, he floats around and is completely disengaged from play with negative awareness. He’s also quite poor defensively, out of position and looking to fly the zone for offence. There is potential to be special if he can work on his determination and decision making. A change of scenery could be the answer, as North American coaching could help round out the rest of his game and reach the heights of his full potential, but for now he looks like a bottom six heavy hitting instigator.
Tomas Poletin, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Tomas Poletin’s first season in North America has gone largely as expected. The Czech winger was selected by the New York Islanders with the 106th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (not far off our ranking at McKeen’s, where we had him 103rd overall) following a strong season in Finland splitting time between the Lahti Pelicans’ junior and professional teams, which included 15 games in the Liiga, Finland’s top professional league. Poletin joined the Kelowna Rockets this season after the Memorial Cup hosts selected him first overall in the CHL Import Draft, and he has slotted into a top six role. He also captured silver with Czechia at the most recent World Junior Championship, recording four goals and two assists in seven games. His game remains largely unchanged from his draft-eligible season. Poletin is not known for flashy or highly creative plays, operating with a direct, north-south approach that can limit his offensive ceiling from a projection standpoint. What he lacks in dynamism, however, he makes up for with his motor and work ethic. He consistently attacks the hard areas, competes for pucks, and plays with energy. His approach is simple but effective. If he can add another gear to his skating and continue to build strength, he could become a more dangerous player at higher levels. For now, his play style fits the mould of an energetic, bottom six checking role.
Isaiah George, D, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

After finding himself having surprisingly gotten into 33 NHL games in his rookie pro season, displaying plenty of potential as a future puck-moving defender with above average mobility, George has spent the bulk of this season in the AHL refining and improving his game all over the ice. A slight injury cost him roughly a month’s worth of action between November and December, but it didn’t take long to get to full speed before the holidays. And although his statistical output in the form of goals and assists has been fine and very akin to what he generated in his rookie AHL season, his +/- has improved drastically. He’s displayed a newfound calm in his game and confidence in his actions, both with and without the puck. By late January, he got a two-game call-up to the Island, where he averaged just over 13 minutes of ice time and collected an assist in a 4-1 win over the Flyers. Overall, he’s shown an ever-improving ability to outskate his opponents, regain lost space, and apply an active stick to his defensive play that allows for a higher propensity of transitional play. An NHL future is clearly in the cards and another stay on the Island this season would surprise no-one in the organization.
Dmitry Gamzin, G, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Gamzin has been on a tear this season. He currently leads the KHL in SV%, GAA, and second in shutouts, leading him to an all-star game appearance at 22 years old. He has all the tools you look for in goalies; 6-foot-3, athletic, strong skater, and effectively reads the ice in front of him. Rarely do you see opponents beat him when he has a clean look. His pads are strong; he controls rebounds and can track the puck through traffic. He recently signed an extension through the 2027-28 season, which gives him more time to dominate the KHL, and continues to develop his game. Despite the great success, he is still a bit raw. Some slight refinement to his technique, angles/positioning, and side to side mobility would bode well for him. It isn’t difficult to envision him as an NHL caliber goaltender. As of right now, there are no real elite standout traits, but he is an extremely well-rounded goalie playing at a very high level. If he takes another step over these next few years, he could very well be next in the line of elite Russian goalies that have taken over the NHL.
Xavier Veilleux, D, Cornell University (NCAA)

An Islander defensive prospect with Cornell, Veilleux has shown some real promising point producing acumen, being one of the top-scoring rookie D in the NCAA with 26 points in 33 games. He has adapted well as a freshman and the progression in his game could reveal him to be a late round steal for Long Island who drafted him in the sixth round in 2024. Veilleux projects as a decent two-way, puck moving defenceman with some nice play-driving ability. He can manipulate oncoming pressure and has decent patience when the puck is on his stick. Based on his NCAA results this year, it would appear that repeating the USHL level was the correct decision as it helped a seamless transition to a higher level. Veilleux is best described as a high IQ player, with his defensive game showing great growth last year. Cornell is a great program for him to continue to develop defensively. A mobile defender, the question marks surrounding Veilleux would be around projection. Could he be a Calvin de Haan type for the Islanders in the future?
Marshall Warren, D, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

It’s been a very positive year for Warren, who wasn’t seen as one of the Islanders’ top 15 prospects heading into the season. Signed to an ELC as an unrestricted free agent in 2024 after having gone unsigned by the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft, the Long Island native has since slowly but surely endeared himself to the fanbase and new management alike. He showed promise in his initial season with the organization, which was spent entirely with a very downtrodden Bridgeport Islanders outfit, but has seen his play jump in leaps and bounds in all three zones this season, having blown away last season’s statistical totals already by his 30th appearance of the season. This also led to him getting his first taste of NHL hockey, where he tallied three assists in eight games by the Olympic break, showing a strong ability to keep up with the pace of the NHL game while facing his challenges from a defensive standpoint. He’ll be an RFA this summer but it’s hard to imagine him not being re-upped as sound defensive depth for the organization.
Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, Penticton Vees (WHL)

Talk about a breakout year. A depth piece on the NTDP last year, Kvasnicka joined Penticton of the WHL this year and has been one of the league’s best players. He plays at a blistering pace and is a prospect on the rise.
Alex Jefferies, LW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

A strong skating, playmaking winger, Jefferies has had a solid sophomore pro season with Bridgeport. He’s put himself in the conversation for an NHL opportunity and could end up a solid middle six, complementary piece.
Matthew Maggio, RW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

The former Red Tilson winner as the OHL’s top player was a disappointment through his first two pro seasons, but Maggio has been much better this year for Bridgeport. Much like Jefferies, he has likely put himself in the Islanders plans moving forward.
Quinn Finley, LW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Finley has some pro level attributes as a goal scoring winger. He can play with pace and shows good offensive instincts off the puck. Look for him to turn pro after his junior season with Wisconsin is over.
Luca Romano, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

As the Kitchener Rangers have added to their lineup to push for a Western Conference championship, Romano has found himself further down the lineup this year in his draft plus one year. However, he’s still been effective in a depth role, showing greater consistency in all three zones. Expect a big offensive jump next year.

NHL: Affiliated prospects who have made rapid progress this season – North America Part Two

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:32:40 +0000

Early on in the season talent evaluators are often hyper focused on draft eligible players as they try to determine early rankings and watch lists. But what about the prospects already affiliated with NHL teams? Previously drafted (or signed) players often show off remarkable progression early in the year that is worth discussing as it elevates their projection as NHL players. This piece aims to highlight some of those players; players who have impressed our scouting staff with their improved play this season.

Here are the North American based prospects Part Two:

Derek Neumeier - Associate Director of Scouting

Jaxon Fuder - Left Wing - Red Deer Rebels, WHL (Dallas Stars)

Fuder is currently writing one of the best feel-good stories in the WHL right now.

He was a fairly unknown commodity heading into his 2024-25 season, having never been drafted into the WHL, playing the prior campaign in the BCHL, and going unselected in his first year of NHL draft eligibility. He did, however, catch Red Deer’s eye, who eventually brought him into their fold in October of 2024. Playing like his future in hockey was on the line (which it might have been), he became a heart-and-soul member of the Rebels and started to get the attention of NHL scouts. Even though he went unselected again in his second year of NHL draft eligibility, he still did enough to earn an invite to join the Dallas Stars for their summer development camp and a pair of prospect exhibition games, which turned into his invite being extended into the team’s full training camp. By that point he had left such a strong impression on the Stars that they signed him straightaway to an entry-level contract.

What the Red Deer winger and alternate captain might lack in terms of pure skill he more than makes up for in tenacity and competitiveness. He’s a heat-seeking missile on the forecheck, he’s a devoted penalty killer, and he’s never afraid to get his hands dirty when it comes to sticking up for a teammate. While his chances of ever becoming a top-of-the-lineup player in the NHL are slim to none, it’s simultaneously not that difficult to envision him playing in the league in a depth capacity one day after fighting and scraping and grinding his way up through the ranks.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-jaxon_fuder_-_2nd_period_14_24_-_14_42.mp4

Opposing defenders always need to know when Fuder is on the ice, because he’s coming for them every single time they go back to retrieve a puck. He might not have the size and strength to truly crush anybody, but it’s rare to see him not finish a check.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2-Fuder-fight-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Just like with his forechecking, opposing players need to always realize that they won’t be able to take any liberties with Fuder’s teammates without having to hear from him as well.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-jaxon_fuder_-_3rd_period_30_55_-_31_8.mp4

Going beyond his physical play, Fuder is also able to chip in offensively from time to time, and he might be able to do it at higher levels of hockey too. That’s because his hockey sense is actually pretty sharp, allowing him to correctly identify offensive opportunities when they appear.

Kaeden Ireland - Ontario Regional Scout

Adam Benak - Center/Wing, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL (Minnesota Wild)

Last year Adam Benak put up 59 points through 56 USHL contests and showed the hockey world his elite creativity and skill. In his draft year, Benak regularly showed off his silky mitts and quick reads to finish the year as Youngstown’s first option on offense. The end result was a tumble down the draft board that was eventually stopped by the Minnesota Wild at 102nd overall.

Adam Benak is simply making himself undeniable. For whatever criticisms he faced in his draft year regarding size, Benak accepted them and doubled down on his strengths: top-end talent, tenacity, and the ability to find passes that others cannot. It’s improbable Benak will bring above-average impact on defense playing against grown men, so the question becomes, can he outscore his weaknesses? While previously I was doubtful, Benak has made me a believer this year. Playing with higher calibre players on perhaps this generation’s greatest OHL team, Benak’s consistency and adaptability have surged.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-BenakFindingWindow.mp4

Benak’s offensive style fits with any archetype of player. He never looks out of place on a line, and while last year I felt Benak was often not on the same page as his teammates, leading to turnovers, a more skilled supporting cast has allowed Benak to showcase just how easy he is to play with. As seen in this clip, Benak will find the pass, one way or another.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2-BenakPKSkatingandDisruption.mp4

Benak lessens the negative impact of his below-average stature with his motor, bouncing around the ice to threaten the puck carrier. While it’s clear his shorter stick lessens his potential for blocking lanes, his skating and motor bridge the gap to make him a competent junior defender. This won’t exactly be a “B game” for him at the next level, but it could endear coaches to his style and earn him a neutral defensive impact on the game.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-BenakThrownAside.mp4

Benak still remains outmatched in many puck battles, but it’s hard to keep doubting him when he keeps showing new levels offensively.

Mika Burns - Western Canada Regional Scout

Tomas Poletin - W/C, Kelowna Rockets, WHL (New York Islanders)

A fourth-round pick of the Islanders in 2025, Tomas Poletin is a player who has definitely exceeded expectations upon his arrival in Kelowna this season. Although he was viewed fairly highly coming to Kelowna given that they selected him first overall in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, the surprise has come with what he brings to the table night in and night out.

Prior to this season, Poletin was viewed more as a straight line, checking forward who goes to the hard areas and plays a physical brand of hockey. What we have seen from Poletin this season is a player who has developed a skill element to his game which has led to an increase in offence. Early on in the WHL season while the NHL preseason was still underway, Poletin was the offensive driver for the Kelowna Rockets, and he showed that he can generate offence on his own by using his speed, skill and his electric shot. With players like Tij Iginla returning to Kelowna, Poeltin’s offensive role has changed slightly but he has shown an ability to remain very effective.

Poletin has very quick hands and a good ability to beat players one-on-one which has led to many offensive chances for himself and his teammates. One of the most impressive things about Poletin this season is while adding that level of skill and offence, he has kept his straight line, checking game that made him so effective before. He still forechecks very well and has a physical element to his game which allows him to start the rest of his offence. He has transitioned primarily into a bumper role on the powerplay where he has the opportunity to show off his quick release and accurate shot that has led to him scoring 12 goals in the first 20 games this season.

This clip really highlights the improvement to Poeltin’s skill in tight situations. He recollects the puck with all five opposing players around him and is able to pull the puck in tight around a defender and then immediately get it into a position where he is able to shoot the puck and beat the goalie.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-Poletin-toe-drag-goal.mp4

What I like about this goal is it shows Poletin’s wicked release as well as his offensive IQ. He is able to slowly drift away from the defender and get into a quiet spot where he can receive the pass and immediately get it on net and get it past the goalie.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2-Poletin-PP-goal-vs-Portland.mp4

This goal is a great example, not only of Poletin’s skill, but his confidence in offensive situations. Instead of just taking the puck wide and trying to either feather a pass over to his teammate or trying to shoot for a rebound, he takes on his defender and beats him with a beautiful through-the-legs move. After beating the first defender, he holds on to the puck and pulls it across to his forehand and beats the goalie with a very accurate shot to the top corner.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-Poletin-through-the-legs-goal.mp4

Joey Fortin Boulay - Quebec Regional Scout

Noah Laberge - Defense - Newfoundland Regiment, QMJHL (Buffalo Sabres)

The QMJHL hasn’t produced many dramatic post-draft risers this season, but Noah Laberge has quietly taken a significant step forward. After a solid draft year with 35 points and flashes of two-way assertiveness, his game still felt unrefined though. Decision-making wavered, he occasionally overhandled the puck and a lack of strength left him vulnerable in battles. More importantly, he didn’t yet have a clear identity, making his long-term projection difficult to gauge.

This year, that picture is much sharper. He has emerged as one of the league’s top defensemen, playing like a steady on-ice general. His game is more calculated and consistent, and he now thrives in all situations, deployed on both special teams, logging heavy minutes—often around 26 per night—while showing comfort on both sides of the ice. His value as a future pro lies in this growing versatility.

A smooth four-way skater with excellent edgework, he uses his flowing mobility for quick support and efficient transitions. He’s poised on retrievals, escapes pressure cleanly and delivers successful exit passes. In the offensive zone, he’s constantly involved, rotates fluidly with teammates and makes smart plays from the blue line. Defensively, his strong gap and reach steers opponents wide. He’s not overly physical and lacks high-end dynamism, but his identity is now more defined and his rawness refined.

As a 19-year-old, his development is impressive and his progression to the pro level will be a fascinating one to follow.

Videos:

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-Noah-Laberge-offensive_production.mp4

Here’s some of Laberge’s (#8) offensive production: jumping into offense to score, using shot fakes to open lanes and draw pressure and unleashing heavy clappers that find the back of the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-Noah-Laberge-1stpasses_breakouts.mp4

Here are a few examples of Laberge’s clean first passes and controlled breakouts, showcasing his keen patience, vision and play-reading abilities.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-Noah-Laberge-retrievals.mp4

Laberge also handles puck retrievals in his own end with poise.

Mark Dube - US Regional Scout

Max Plante - Center - University Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA (Detroit Red Wings)

In his second season with Minnesota-Duluth, Max Plante has made some tremendous progress in his development and currently leads the entire NCAA in scoring with 26 points in 16 games played. He has been a focal point in the offense for the Bulldogs all season long.

What Plante lacks in size, listed at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, he makes up for in tenacity and determination. His motor is always going, and he pursues the puck with reckless abandon. Obviously there is an element of scoring touch to Plante’s game where he sees the ice really well and is able to find open ice to produce scoring chances. In addition, he shows some nice hands and a decent shot to go alongside all of that. It will be interesting to see if he can continue with this point pace for the entirety of the season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-max_plante_-_1st_period_4_19_-_4_33.mp4

In this clip, we see that ‘dog’ in Plante, where he battles for position to try and win a board battle.

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Here we witness the scoring touch, where Plante directs one home from the bumper position on the power-play.

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Plante shows off the hands in this sequence, where he dekes out a defender, then makes a really nice pace for the easy redirect from his teammate.

Felix Sicard - North American Video Scout

Emile Guite, Wing, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, QMJHL (Anaheim Ducks)

Guite was a highly touted prospect going into his draft year, having been nearly a point per game player in his draft minus one season. However, a disappointing offensive draft campaign saw him end up as a fifth-round pick to Anaheim. Now, Guite is making good on the faith the Ducks showed in him, posting 26 points in 25 games for Chicoutimi. To put that into perspective, his 15 goals are just one goal shy of his goal output for all of last season.

Points are nice, but it’s the overall package that will determine Guite’s NHL outlook. His skating was a limiting factor in his draft year, with a short stride. Fixing mechanical issues doesn’t happen overnight, but Guite does look like he has added some quickness and power in his stride this season, helping him chase down puck carriers on the forecheck. He’s also added a physical dimension to his game, finishing hits while also using his body to shield the puck. In addition, he’s looking to get to the net more often, both with and without the puck. The skating remains something to monitor, but Guite is already diversifying his game in a way that should help his chances of making the NHL.

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Here, Guite quickly closes the gap on the Mooseheads puck carrier, then takes a good angle to steer his opponent into the next wave of Sagueenens pressure. This leads to a turnover, and Guite bangs home the 2 on 0 pass. The way he created the goal here – through responsible forechecking pressure, solid fundamentals, and added skating quickness – is encouraging.

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Here, Guite catches the puck in motion in the neutral zone, but seeing pressure ahead, quickly moves the puck to a teammate with more space. He then drives hard to the net, taking a defender along with him. He provides some traffic as his teammate gets a shot on net. He then sets up below the goal line, and proactively carves out some space for himself by initiating contact against his man. That allows him the space to cleanly receive the puck on his forehand, fake to his left, before going back to the middle with a centering feed. This play shows that Guite is beginning to blend physical details with his offensive sense.

Jeremi Plourde - Eastern Canada Regional Scout

Justin Poirier - Wing, Maine, NCAA (Carolina Hurricanes)

The skill level has never been an issue in Poirier’s game. Throughout his junior career, Poirier filled nets, scoring 122 goals in 181 career games in the QMJHL, and even recording a 51-goal season in his draft year in 2024. This season, Poirier made an important decision, as he committed to play for the University of Maine in the NCAA. This is a big jump from his previous level of competition, and many thought this could be too big of a challenge for the 5-foot-8 forward who turned 19 just a few months ago in September.

That being said, Poirier has exceeded many expectations early on. He has been nothing short of remarkable for Maine, leading the team in goals with 11, and points with 17, in only 14 games. Additionally, Poirier is tied for fifth in goal scoring among all NCAA players. His goal scoring instincts and confidence have shown to translate with ease to this next step in his career, which is extremely promising regarding a potential role in the NHL one day. He remains one of the hardest players to cover, thanks to his tactical positioning, his slippery hands, and his lethal finishing skills. It’s also promising to see that Poirier’s tenacity and physical intensity has remained a big part of his game in the NCAA as well.

Here are some clips displaying how ridiculous Poirier’s goal scoring skills are (Righty, #93).

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Liam Crouse - Goaltending Scout

Adam Gajan - G, Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks)

Since being the first goalie taken in a class consisting of Augustine and Fowler, Gajan’s projection to the NHL has been questionable to say the least. The Slovakian goalie was picked due to his hyper athleticism, an elite trait that could not be developed to the level that Gajan possesses. However, he had significant drawbacks in playing too erratically and relied too much upon his athleticism to make his saves, often choosing to go in much lower and wider stances and fully extending his limbs because he could, not because he had to. Now, in his second year as an NCAA starter, he has completely overhauled his game. Gajan looks like a completely different goalie with how he plays. He’s adopted an efficient, narrower stance and plays calmer and smoother in the crease. He hasn’t discarded his athleticism; he just plays with much more intent, using his athleticism as a last-ditch option or to give him an edge in certain situations. His tracking has improved immensely, and he is anticipating play much better, focusing on getting to his destination efficiently, on his feet in a controlled manner, where before, he would have a tendency to move excessively. Combining his world-class athleticism with a much more refined and technical game is a cheat code amongst goalies and makes him one of the most intriguing goalie prospects in the world.

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Because he gets to the pass on his feet by taking a deeper route, it enables him to explode and use his athleticism to stretch out the opposite direction to rob the shooter.

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Here, he calmly shuffles over, fully in control, staying on his feet because he chose a smart route instead of excessively moving.

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He doesn’t overreact in the first scramble, which allows him to calmly get to his feet. From there, he makes a controlled slide and can recover the other way after a rebound. Before this year, he might’ve sprawled at any point, which clearly he didn’t have to.

Jamison Derksen - North American Video Scout

Lyndon Lakovic - W, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (Washington Capitals)

Lyndon Lakovic is a very interesting prospect for the Washington Capitals because he was a first round pick last season after putting up 58 points in 47 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors, but he still had some pretty big question marks as a draft eligible. Despite his obvious skill, the 6-foot-4, 200 poundwinger was previously seen as a perimeter player and would avoid contact. This season, Lakovic has added that size that he has into a powerful tool in his game. This improves his outlook as a pro immensely, as his size is a massive factor that he was not tapping into previously, and it is part of the reason he was ranked so high by McKeen’s (13th) for the 2025 NHL Draft. Through 22 games this season, the Moose Jaw Warriors’ captain has 18 goals and 29 points this season. He is winning puck battles at a much higher rate than he ever has and is a serious problem on the forecheck. If he continues to grow in his physical habits, Lakovic will be a key middle-six forward in the Capitals’ lineup before long.

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This is exactly what Lakovic needs to do to get to the next level. There’s no questioning the forward’s skill but competing in battles is the most important thing for Lakovic to develop right now.

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Here, again it is not a remarkable clip, but the details are what is important here. Lakovic gets high in the defensive zone pressuring the defender but doesn’t fly by when the opposing blueliner moves the puck. He stays in position but still has the acceleration to clear the zone and create separation for the breakaway.

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Lakovic runs out of time on a negative rush here, but tracks back really well and finishes the check. This may not seem like a remarkable clip but it shows growth in his defensive effort and willingness to engage physically.

Adam Tate - Western Canada Regional Scout

Shea Busch - Wing, Everett Silvertips, WHL (Florida Panthers)

Shea Busch is a Forward with the Everett Silvertips in the WHL. He was selected 128th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2025 NHL Draft. He made the switch from the BCHL to the WHL mid-season last year under the new NCAA eligibility agreement and it helped his development. Busch ended last season with 19 points (11G, 8A) in 39 games with the Silvertips and had already surpassed that number of goals in just 12 games this season before getting injured.

Busch is a shoot first, pass later power forward whose biggest weakness is his skating. His mechanics have improved this season, and his skating is better as a result. It’s clear he also spent time working on his shot over the summer as it’s become an important part of his game. During the 2024-25 season, Busch was used as a net-front presence on the power play, but this year he’s being deployed as one of the primary shooters on the right-wing half wall with the man advantage. The skating and shot improvements have allowed him to carve out a bigger role with Everett. He has regularly suited up at right wing on a line with 2024 NHL Draft second rounder Julius Miettinen and second year draft eligible import Matias Vanhanen. Busch was averaging 1.5 points per game with the Silvertips when he left the lineup with an injury.

While he will never be mistaken for a speedster, his shot and willingness to play a physical game should allow him to carve out a pro career. His ceiling looks to be a middle six winger in the NHL if his skating can continue to improve.

Let’s take a look at a couple of clips from Busch’s 2025-2026 season so far:

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This first clip shows off both Busch’s improved skating and goal scoring ability. While the skating is still a work in progress, it’s developed to the point where he is able to get up the ice fast enough to create a 2 on 1 shorthanded. The way in which he receives the pass allows him to shield the puck from the defender and he’s able to put the puck into the net.

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This clip demonstrates Busch’s new role on Everett’s power play. He spent last season as the net front forward, shielding the goaltender’s eyes and looking to tip in shots for goals (which he excelled at). But this season, he’s become one of the primary shooters on the power play, and this one-timer into the top corner shows why.

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

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

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

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

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

Czechia

Adam Benak

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

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

Players to watch

Adam Benak - F

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

Vojtech Cihar - F

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

Simon Katolicky - F

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

Radim Mrtka - D

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

Matej Pekar - F

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

Tomas Poletin - F

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

Max Psenicka - D

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

Ondrej Stebetak - G

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

Germany

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

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

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

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

Players to watch

David Lewandowski - F

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

Carlos Händel - D

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

Maxim Penkin - F

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

Maxim Schäfer - W

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

Dustin Willhöft - W

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

Sweden

Djurgårdens Anton Frondell.
Photo: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

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

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

Players to watch

Viggo Björck - F

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

Sascha Boumedienne - D

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

Anton Frondell - F

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

Milton Gästrin - F

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

Eddie Genborg - F

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

Theodor Hallquisth - D

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

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - F

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

Ivar Stenberg - F

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

Switzerland

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

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

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

Players to watch

Guus Van der Kaaij - D

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

Jeremiah Mundy - F

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

Jonah Neuenschwander - F

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

USA

Cole McKinney

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

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

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

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

Players to watch

Blake Fiddler - D

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

Cole McKinney - F

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

L.J. Mooney - F

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

Will Moore - F

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

Jack Murtagh - F

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

Cullen Potter - F

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

Charlie Trethewey - D

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

2025 NHL DRAFT: Tomáš Poletín, LW/RW, Pelicans (Liiga – Finland) – Detailed Scouting Report (Video + Grades)

Jeremi Rivet — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 12:41:40 +0000

2025 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: LW, Shoots: L

H/W: 6-foot-1, 196 pounds

Date of Birth: 2007-04-30

Tomáš Poletín was seen as a potential second round pick at the beginning of the season, but his stock has dropped since then mainly because of his underwhelming production in the U20 in Finland. He is a 6-foot-1 power forward type of player that plays on the wing. Poletin was the captain of the team during the Hlinka Gretzky tournament and was one of the best players on the Czech side that went all the way to the final before losing the gold medal game against Canada. He spent the last season in Finland in the Pelicans’ program, sharing his time between the U18 and the U20 teams. Before going to Finland, Poletin was playing in Czechia for HC Slavia Praha U17 where he dominated the league by averaging more than a point per game (53 pts in 36 games). This year, Poletin had a bit of a rough start to the season coming back from Hlinka Gretzky with only five points in the first 13 games, then picked up a minor injury. However, since the middle of February, he has played full-time in the Liiga, which is impressive even if he has not been producing offensively.

The parts of Poletin’s game that really stand out are his ability to protect the puck using his strength and that he is always around the net. He has a strong presence around the crease and that’s where he scores most of his goals. He is tenacious in front of the net and he is always fighting for rebounds. His strength makes him hard to contain for the opponent. At the Hlinka/Gretzky, Poletin impressed with his playmaking ability. Even if he looked more like a complement on a line than the one driving it, he was good at creating space for his teammates and distributing the puck in the offensive zone. Another admirable quality is that he is always looking to attack the middle of the ice and drive the net whenever he has a chance. On the physical side, Poletin competes at a high level along the boards, he is tenacious on the forecheck, and he completes most of his checks.

Something to not underestimate about Tomáš Poletín is that he can be versatile and be used in all situations. That is what he showed at the Hlinka-Gretzky with Czechia and with his club in Finland by being the man his coach trusted for defensive missions including on the penalty kill and when protecting a lead at the end of a game.

However, he is far from a polished product, which is why he finds himself outside of our first two rounds currently; there are some areas in Poletin’s game that will need to improve for him to take another step next season. One of them is his agility and explosiveness. He possesses quite good speed once he gets going but his first few steps will need to improve for him to be able to translate his game at the pro level. He will also need to improve his capacity to execute plays at a higher pace.

Tomas Poletin has all the tools (the size, the skating, the hands, and the versatility) to be a good player in the NHL and especially the type of player that will help a team to win in the playoffs. Whether or not he will reach his potential will be decided by how he can translate his offensive game at the pro level in future years.

Skating

Poletin’s skating is an area of his game that needs some work, but does have some positive qualities. His top speed is fast enough to be able to beat average skaters but it is his first few steps that will need improvement. When he played games in the Liiga, he had good enough speed to follow the pace of the pro level. When his feet are moving, it is hard to take the puck away from him and he can be dangerous off the rush as he likes to use his big body to cut to the inside and drive the net. Poletin has a good basis for his skating mechanics but if there is one thing that could make him faster, it is the length of his strides that are too short at the moment. If he can elongate his strides, it should make him more explosive from a standstill. Also, his agility and four-way mobility definitely have room to improve which will help him to become more dangerous offensively.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKATING-1-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_7_39_-_8_14.mp4

(#44) Here we can see that when Poletin is moving his feet, he is not slow and can beat opponents. He likes to drive the net when he has a chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKATING-2-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_9_58_-_10_24.mp4

(#15) A good pressure on the puck carrier to take the puck away and create enough separation using his body to break away and score.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKATING-3-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_4_57_-_5_23.mp4

(#44) Another example of him getting his feet moving on the transition and driving the net after beating the opponent that was caught flat footed.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKATING-4-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_1_11_-_1_37.mp4

(#15) Here Poletin takes the puck and starts the counter-attack. Instead of using a few long strides, he tries to attack with several shorter crossovers, never allowing him to build speed, which allows the back tracker to get to him very easily.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKATING-5-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_27_2_-_27_15.mp4

(#15) Starting from a standing still position, Poletin receives the puck on the breakout but we can see how slow his first few steps can be. The opponent is able to easily cut time and space from Poletin which forces him to get rid of the puck and it leads to a turnover.

Grade: 52.5

Shot

Poletin scored almost all of his goals from the slot either by driving the net or by taking rebounds. He did not score a lot of goals with a medium to long range shot which makes it hard to evaluate the quality of his shot. He doesn’t have a very hard and heavy shot but he is precise and he can release quickly. The good thing for him, is that around 80% of the goals that are scored in the NHL are scored from the slot or close to the net which is where Poletin is most of his time in the offensive zone. It is also where most goals are scored in the playoffs.

But overall, to become a greater offensive threat, Poletin will have to work on his shot because goaltenders are bigger and better at pro level so he will have to find new ways to beat them. The biggest aspect of his shot that he will need to work on is his finishing touch especially considering the number of close range chances he has by being constantly around the net. In addition to that, working on the speed of his release on long range shots is also something that will help him produce more and it will minimize the number of shots that are blocked or deflected by a defenseman.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-1-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_4_52_-_5_18.mp4

(#44) Poletin cuts inside, attacks the middle of the ice, and executes a precise shot in the corner.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-2-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_15_33_-_15_59.mp4

(#44) First of all, great backcheck from him by cutting space for the opponent which forced a turnover. Poletin is a threat around the net and he will not hesitate to take a quick shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-3-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_4_14_-_4_27.mp4

(#15) Another example of him receiving the puck on the half wall and beating the opponent with a great dangle to allow him to cut to the inside and change the angle of his shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-4-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_10_36_-_11_2.mp4

(#44) This sequence is to show that Poletin will not hesitate to take a shot when he has a chance even if his shot is not the most powerful. We can certainly argue here that the goalie should have made that save. This type of shot will be saved by NHL goalies 98% of the time so Poletin will need to work on his shot if he wants to produce more at a higher level.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-5-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_22_50_-_23_16.mp4

(#15) Toward the end of the clip, Poletin takes control of the puck at the blue line and takes a shot that is blocked. He could have been more patient to find the shooting lane or shoot a bit quicker.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-6-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_22_40_-_23_6.mp4

(#15) Again in this clip, at the end, Poletin carries the puck in the neutral zone and once he enters the zone, he tries a long range shot that is deflected. First, this is a good example that shows that he takes too much time to release his shot, because in that case, he telegraphs his shot and the defenseman has all the time to put his stick on the puck. Second, this sequence also illustrates that Poletin is sometimes taking a bad shot selection or precipitating a shot from a low danger area. In this case, he should have seen that he had space to get closer to the net and get a better scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-7-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_21_8_-_21_34.mp4

(#15) Another example of a shot that took too long which allowed the defenseman to put his body in front of the shooting lane.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-8-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_24_7_-_24_33.mp4

(#15) Poletin is good at finding open space in the slot to receive a pass and shoot quickly with a one-timer.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-9-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_0_40_-_1_6.mp4

(#15) In the sequence, Poletin is positioned in the middle of the slot and retrieves a loose puck and quickly releases the puck from a high danger area. This is the type of play that happens often for him but most of the time he has difficulty finishing. The positive thing is that he gets lots of chances from that area even in the Liiga. He only needs to convert more of those chances and his production will go up.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-10-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_10_46_-_11_12.mp4

(#15) Another great example of Poletin getting a high danger chance right in front of the goaltender but not able to convert.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SHOT-11-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_10_31_-_10_57.mp4

(#15) One last example of a great scoring chance missed from the slot.

Grade: 50

Skills

His puck handling skill is average and you will not see him challenge defenders one on one very often. However, Poletin can surprise with his hands by creating more time and space for himself with creative stickwork. He showed great playmaking ability especially in lower level games like in the U20 in Finland and in international games. However, he had more difficulty demonstrating that during his time in the Liiga where the pace is higher. But, it is probably because he is trying to adapt to the speed of play in the Liiga and, eventually, with more confidence and ice time, he will be able to showcase that part of his game more often.

With that said, the main skill that Poletin possesses that is above average is his play close to the net. He uses his body really well to be better positioned to fight for rebounds and win lose pucks. He can be very disturbing for a goaltender because he is always around the net and making screens in front of them. He finishes well in tight and executes under pressure; the mark of a skilled player.

Puck protection is another of his main attributes that stands out in Poletin’s game. He is really strong on his skates and he plays hard on pucks which makes it difficult for opponents to take the puck away from him. Also, when he decides to attack the net, it is difficult to stop him. He might not do it in the most elegant way but he will find a way to get the puck to the front of the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-1-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_12_20_-_13_7.mp4

(#44) A great demonstration of puck handling skill here from Poletin. This is the kind of play that he is able to do from time to time.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-2-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_8_14_-_8_55.mp4

(#15) This sequence is to demonstrate Poletin’s play around the net which is his main ability and it is where he scores most of his goals.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-3-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_5_47_-_6_4.mp4

(#15) Another video that shows Poletin’s tenacity around the net and his ability to find rebounds.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-4-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_28_33_-_29_24.mp4

(#44) In this longer clip, we see a good engagement from Poletin on the backcheck and in the defensive zone. However, the part towards the end of it where we see him mishandle the puck is an example of an aspect of his game that happens sometimes with or without pressure, leading one to believe that his skill potential could have limitations.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-5-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_14_53_-_15_6.mp4

(#44) A nice zone entry from Poletin with good puck protection to keep control of the puck while going around the net to give time to his teammates to get open. He completes that sequence with a great pass in the slot through traffic which shows that he has good playmaking ability in him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-6-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_6_50_-_7_2.mp4

(#44) Here, Poletin receives the puck in the corner and quickly identifies his teammates alone close to the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SKILLS-7-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_26_28_-_26_38.mp4

(#15) Another good zone entry from Poletin and we can see that he keeps his head up and makes a great crossover pass that leads to a scoring chance.

Grade: 52.5

Smarts

Tomas Poletin’s hockey IQ is relatively good in the sense that he is reliable at both ends of the ice and he rarely makes bad decisions with the puck. He is not a super creative player but he has good offensive awareness and he can make plays that create scoring chances. He anticipates plays quite well which allows him to compensate for his lack of explosivity. Poletin knows where to be on the ice in all three zones, either with or without the puck. There is nothing flashy in his game but he is the type of player that can be put on the ice and he will not hurt his team.

In the lower levels (like U20), he doesn’t commit a lot of turnovers by getting rid of the puck under pressure. Poletin’s decision making with the puck is good and he manages it well. Most of the time, when there is no play at the blue line, he will play it safe by putting the puck being the defensemen and start the forecheck. However, in Liiga action, his workhorse mentality hasn’t been nearly as effective, leading to turnovers and plays dying on his stick. You hope that this is a matter of him getting used to the pace of the pro level. There has been some flashes of him in the Liiga executing plays at a high speed and in movement, so, again, you hope that with time and confidence that part of his game will improve.

Throughout the season, and up until now, Poletin has been used in multiple situations with his club in Finland and with Czechia in international games. He saw ice time on the powerplay where he plays net front, on the penalty kill, when it’s time to defend a lead late in a game, and in overtime at 3-on-3. On the penalty kill, he is efficient with good positioning, a good stick and he knows when he can apply pressure and when to stay more passive.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-1-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_12_50_-_13_22.mp4

(#15) This is an example of the good defensive reads that he makes. Here he sees that his defenseman is going to put pressure in the corner which leaves an opponent all alone in front of the net. Poletin reacted quickly to mark the player and to take his stick.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-2-Tomas-Poletin-Playmaking.mp4

(#15) Poletin can make some great plays in the offensive zone and this video shows it. He sees his teammate getting open in the slot and makes a great pass to him to create a scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-3-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_24_45_-_26_14.mp4

(#15) Here we can see that Poletin has decent offensive awareness. He carries the puck toward the corner but instead of jamming the puck along the board and killing the play, he turns, beating the pressure and allowing his teammates to position themselves, then makes a great short pass in tight which ultimately leads to a high danger chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-4-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_23_57_-_24_32.mp4

(#44) Poletin is a good penalty killer and here is an example of that. He uses his stick well to close passing lanes and knows when it is a good time to apply pressure on the puck carrier to limit his time and space.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-5-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_6_18_-_6_44.mp4

(#15) This sequence is an example of Poletin being able to play at a high pace in the Liiga. At the end of the clip, he receives the puck in movement on the breakout on the left wing and with his head up, he completes a nice pass across the neutral zone while under pressure.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SMARTS-6-tomas_poletin_-_2nd_period_3_55_-_4_9.mp4

(#15) Here we can see that Poletin will at times rush plays in the Liiga because he doesn’t have the confidence yet to play at that level. He receives the puck on the breakout and makes a bad read by chipping the puck on the board but he did not realise that he had time to execute a better play by being more patient to escape the pressure by carrying the puck toward the middle of the ice where there was open space.

Grade: 55

Physicality/Compete

Poletin’s compete level is one of his main traits and it is consistent. He is tenacious on the forecheck and can create turnovers because of it that often lead to scoring chances. Poletin fits the definition of a power forward as he plays a simple north-south type of game and he is always trying to drive the net or to make a screen in front of the goalie. As described earlier, he fights for every rebound and he is hard to box out for a defenseman.

On the defensive side, Poletin is engaged and executes all the little details that will help his team defend. He completes his backchecks, he identifies and marks quickly opponents in the defensive zone coverage, he is not afraid to put his body in front of shots, and he gives support to his defensemen to help get the puck out as quickly as possible.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-1-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_16_27_-_16_48.mp4

(#44) Excellent sequence here from Poletin where he makes a great back check by staying with the puck carrier and applying backpressure. After that, he keeps his feet moving and takes away the puck with a good stick. This is a great example that shows how Poletin is engaged and tenacious in all three zones.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-2-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_5_46_-_6_7.mp4

(#15) Again, he is tenacious on the puck carrier and makes a good back check which denies the zone entry by the opponent.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-3-Tomas-Poletin-Physical-and-Driving-the-net-goal.mp4

(#15) In this clip, Poletin shows how effective he can be on the forecheck. He anticipates that the Finnish defenseman wanted to make the pass behind the net for a D to D, so Poletin quickly cuts this option and completes his check which creates a turnover that leads to him scoring a goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-4-Tomas-Poletin-Net-Presence.mp4

(#15) Poletin is always finding a way to be in front of the goalie and he fights hard for rebounds like we can see in this video.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-5-tomas_poletin_-_1st_period_22_15_-_22_56.mp4

(#44) Here Poletin finishes his check on the forecheck which creates a turnover and a great scoring chance for him.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-6-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_23_43_-_23_56.mp4

(#15) A good solid hit from Poletin here in the Liiga.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PHYSICAL-7-tomas_poletin_-_3rd_period_19_21_-_19_34.mp4

(#15) Another example that shows he is not afraid to finish his checks even against men.

Grade: 55

OFP: 52.875

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: 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 Finland

Brock Otten, Steven Graves, Josh Bell, Jeremy Rivet — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 15:31:56 +0000

Rasmus Kämäräinen, Lasse Boelius, Atte Joki
Photo: Michael Campanella / BILDBYRÅN

It has only been a month or so 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.

Next up is the region of Finland. For this, we have included some non Finnish players who played out of Finland last season (including two Czechs and a Slovak). Overall, this is looking like a major down year for the region. This ‘07 group of Finns finished last at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and then second last at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky. If not for the included imports, this list would appear even weaker. But, as mentioned, it is still extremely early.

#1 - Jesper Kotajarvi - Defenseman - Tappara - Liiga (profile by Steven Graves)

Jesper Kotajarvi is as of now, the best prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft out of Finland. Kotajarvi, a left-shot defenseman, played with Tappara's U20 team last season and has several promising facets to his game that could get NHL teams excited come draft day. Kotajarvi has consistently played up age groups - at 15 he played in the Finnish second tier men’s league where he got in 5 games. Although not the biggest in stature, he makes up for it with his offensive game.

Kotajarvi's offensive skills are what really impresses in his game. He demonstrates a modern approach to defense, employing pace, tempo, and deception effectively in the offensive zone. Kotajarvi loves to activate from the blue line - it reflects a proactive mindset rather than a passive one at the blue line. This approach can sometimes result in mistakes, but Kotajarvi’s resilience and ability to quickly recover from errors are of note.

Kotajarvi's skating and puck-handling skills are the two attributes I think best highlight his potential. As of late, we are seeing more defenders focus on these attributes with their games growing up and Kotajarvi is no exception. He effectively leads breakouts, drives the puck up the ice, and uses his edgework to maneuver through opponents. His agility and footwork allow him to maintain speed and handle the puck smoothly under pressure. Kotajarvi’s puck skills at the blue line are modern and fluid. He uses head fakes, deception, and lateral movements to create opportunities, showing a high level of creativity and awareness. His stats reflect consistent production at various levels, which is a good indicator of future success. Although he might not be an immediate top producer in Liiga, his offensive and defensive skills offer a solid foundation

While Kotajarvi’s defensive game still has areas for growth, particularly in box-outs and stickwork, his lateral agility and ability to close gaps using his feet are promising. His ability to sidestep and catch up to opponents with his skating is a significant asset in the defensive zone. As Kotajarvi matures, there is hope for not only physical growth, but the continued improvement of his defensive game.

Overall, Kotajarvi has the potential to become a top-four NHL defender. Although it looks to be a weaker crop from Finland, and their performance at the Hlinka is a testament to that - Kotajarvi is one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723907161.mp4

This shows Kotajarvi’s abilities in transition and how he can single handedly get zone entries even when he is pressured. He makes a few stick moves as he is skating up ice and the US defender bites and it allows him to attack open ice for the clean zone entry.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934243.mp4

Here is Kotajarvi making a smart play in the offensive zone. The puck pops out to him at the point after a scramble in front of the net - everyone on the ice including the goalie is expecting a shot because of how the goalie is out of posituion, but Kotajarvi defies expectations and moves the puck over to his winger on the left sidewall for an easy goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723932867.mp4

Here is Kotajarvi doing something he doesn’t do very often - He lays his body on a forward not expecting it and gets the best of him. If he can continue his physical growth and we see more of this in the future, I like Kotajarvi’s potential!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934696.mp4

Here shows Kotajarvi’s understanding in the offensive zone, he sees a lane for a shot, and gets a good chance as his teammate is screening the goalie, barely missing wide. He then repositions himself and sees a turnover is taking place - he pivots and lurks his way behind the defence for a quick release after a nice cross ice pass from his teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/5-Jesper-Kotajarvi-RPReplay_Final1723934186.mp4

This play really shows off Kotajarvi’s speed, and transitional ability. The goalie does a terrible job in tracking this puck, but Kotajarvi was smart with how he shoves the puck in the feet of the defender so the goalie would have difficulty tracking it.

#2 - Lasse Boelius - Defenseman - Ässät U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Lasse Boelius is a 6-foot, two-way puck moving defenseman that has played in the Ässät program since he was 14 years old. He graduated from Ässät’s U18 team to their U20 team last year and he might be able to play some games in Liiga for them this year. His progression through Ässät’s different junior teams has been consistent as he has pushed through the different levels. As of now, his production level has always risen from about 0.5 points per game in the first year to about a point per game season in the second season, which shows that he is able to adapt quickly to the higher level. Recently, he was playing top three defenseman minutes for Finland in the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, and he was probably their most effective defenseman.

Boelius is the type of player that is not exceptional at anything but quite good in a lot of areas. His biggest strengths are his mobility and his ability to escape the pressure from the back of his net to start the breakout or the transition. His first passes are generally good and his vision as a powerplay general could be something to watch this year as the year goes on and his confidence increases. When he has a chance, he likes to support the attack in transition or by pinching at the right time in the offensive zone to keep the attack alive. Lasse Boelius is not the most physical guy, if not physical at all, but he is intelligent with his stick to take pucks away or to cut passing lanes. Even though he is not a punishing defenseman, he is not afraid to use his body to win battles along the boards or to close the blue line.

The main thing that he needs to improve is his positioning in the defensive zone. We can see that he thinks a lot more about offense and sometimes he gets caught out of position or puck watching which causes him to lose his check. He will also need to clean up the precision of his passes and to be less risky in his play. Sometimes he makes sloppy passes or imprecise passes that lead to interceptions and counter attacks from the opponent. So, he will have to be careful with his puck management and be more conscious of the context of the game. Another area of his game that he should improve is his gap control. I mainly think that this is a part of his game that will get better by getting more used to the pace of the game at a higher level.

This season, Lasse’s goal will be to show that he can continue his offensive progression by raising his production, while also improving the different areas of his defensive game. Additionally, it would be great for him to play some games in Liiga to gain valuable experience at pro level.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Lasse-Boelius-Mobility-and-Transition.mp4

Here we can see a good example of Boelius’ mobility and capacity to break the pressure to start the transition. He used his speed and his hands to beat three Czech players followed by a pass that led to an odd man rush. Yes, dangling the puck in front of the net against three opponents is not the best thing to do usually, but in that case it worked.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-Lasse-Boelius-Powerplay.mp4

Being the general on the powerplay might be what he likes the most. We can see in this sequence the confidence he has distributing the puck and directing pucks to the net from the point. A great no look pass also which is something he does often.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Lasse-Boelius-Defensive-Play.mp4

A couple defensive miscues are highlighted here. First of all, he decided to pinch for no reason, which almost led to a 2 on 1 on the other side. Additionally, in the defensive zone, he looks soft in the battles along the boards, and he is caught watching the puck instead of quickly identifying the player he needs to mark.

#3 - Eetu Orpana - Centre - Tappara U20 (Profile by Josh Bell)

Eetu Orpana is a centreman who has drawn attention with his well-rounded game and impressive hockey IQ. Standing at 6-foot, 194 pounds, Orpana has a solid frame that he uses effectively in all three zones. His skating is fluid and powerful, allowing him to keep up with the pace of the game and make quick transitions from defence to offense.

Offensively, Orpana is a playmaker first and foremost. He has excellent vision and the ability to find open teammates in tight spaces. His passing is crisp and accurate, often threading the needle through defenders to set up high-danger scoring chances. While not primarily a goal-scorer, Orpana is quick on rebounds and does well at getting to the net front to jump on pucks. How this will transition to higher levels may be a question mark though. His ability to read the play and anticipate the movement of both his teammates and opponents makes him a constant threat in the offensive zone.

Defensively, Orpana is reliable and responsible. He understands the importance of positioning and is often seen supporting his defencemen down low. His active stick and ability to disrupt passing lanes make him effective on the penalty kill, and he’s not afraid to engage physically when necessary. Orpana’s two-way game is complemented by his work ethic; he’s a player who consistently puts in the effort on both ends of the ice.

One area for improvement is Orpana’s consistency in using his physicality. While he has the size to be more dominant in puck battles, he sometimes relies too much on his stick rather than using his body to separate opponents from the puck. Developing a more aggressive edge could make him an even more dominant player.

Overall, Orpana is a smart, versatile forward with the potential to develop into a reliable middle-six forward at the professional level. His combination of playmaking, hockey sense, and defensive responsibility makes him a valuable asset in any lineup. Unfortunately, rather mysteriously, he never played at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky, despite making Finland’s roster with the expectation that he would be a go-to player for them. Thus, we haven’t gotten a glimpse of his progression this season like we have others on this list.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Eetu-Orpana-Assist.mp4

Here, you can see Orpana’s playmaking ability as he works below the red line on the Finnish power play. Despite his teammate being between three defenders, he one-touches the pass perfectly to set up the one-time, go-ahead goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-Eetu-Orpana-Puck-Protection-and-Goal.mp4

This clip gives a good example of both Orpana’s strengths and weaknesses in puck protection. Passing the first defender, he cuts in front to take away their access to the puck, using his stick to create separation. After circling the net though, you can see he’s too reliant on his stick and doesn’t position his body between the defender and puck. On this play, it works out though as he dishes the puck to a teammate and then hunts down the rebound for the goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-Eetu-Orpana-Backcheck.mp4

Orpana shows off his commitment to defence here, racing back to disrupt the transition, and rubbing the opponent off the puck. Seeing him do this more would go a long way in improving his draft stock. This clip also shows his skating stride, which isn’t perfect as he doesn’t get full extensions.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Eetu-Orpana-Goal.mp4

The Finn’s goals seem to come in very similar ways: rebounds or from standing in front of the net. While the quick adjustment here to find open net is good, it does beg the question of whether he’ll be able to do this at the next level against tougher competition. This season will be very telling.

#4 - Tomas Poletin - Left Winger - Pelicans U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Tomas Poletin is a 6-foot-1 power forward type of player that plays on the wing, but he was also taking some faceoffs, mainly on the penalty kill and on the power play, during the most recent Hlinka-Gretzky tournament for Czechia. Poletin was the captain of the team during the tournament and was one of the best players of the Czech side that went all the way to the final before losing the gold medal game against Canada. He spent the last season in Finland in the Pelicans’ program, sharing his time between the U18 and the U20 teams. Before going to Finland, the Czech was playing in Czechia for HC Slavia Praha U17 where he dominated the league by averaging more than a point per game (53 pts in 36 games).

The parts of Poletin’s game that really stand out are his ability to protect the puck using his strength and his penchant for finding his way to the net. He really has a presence around the crease and that’s where he has scored most of his goals. He is tenacious in front of the net, and he is always fighting for rebounds. His strength makes him hard to contain for the opponent. Another area of his game that Poletin was able to show during the tournament was his decent playmaking ability. Even if he looked more like a complement on a line than the one driving it, he was good at creating space for his teammates and distributing the puck in the offensive zone. Even then, after dishing off, he finds a way to take the middle lane to the net; he has a clear understanding of his strengths. On the physical side, he competes at a high level along the boards, he is tenacious on the forecheck, and he completes most of his checks. I said “most” because it’s true that he could be more consistent physically given his size.

Something to not underestimate about Tomas Poletin is that he can be versatile and be used in all situations. That is what he showed at the Hlinka-Gretzky by being the man his coach trusted for defensive missions like on the penalty kill and when protecting a lead at the end of a game.

With all the positive stuff being said, there are some areas in Poletin’s game that will need to improve for him to take another step next season. One of them is his agility and explosivity. He possesses quite good speed once he gets going but his first few steps will need to be better for him to be able to translate his game at the pro level. He will also need to improve his capacity to execute plays at a higher pace. It is not bad, but I think all of that is linked with his ability to get quicker and being used to higher game pace at the upper levels.

From what I have seen from him, I do think that Tomas Poletin has all the tools (the size, the skating, the hands and the versatility) to be a good player in the NHL and especially the type of player that will help a team to win in the playoffs. Whether or not he will reach his potential will be decided by how he can translate his offensive game at the pro level this year with hopefully some games in the Liiga.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/1-Tomas-Poletin-Net-Presence.mp4

This sequence highlights the presence he has in front of the net and his intensity to retrieve rebounds.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2-Tomas-Poletin-Physical-and-Driving-the-net-goal.mp4

Excellent forecheck here from Poletin. He makes his run to cut the D-to-D pass behind the net, completes his check to create a turnover, then drives the net to receive the pass and scores in an open net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/3-Tomas-Poletin-Playmaking.mp4

We can see here that he has decent playmaking ability, and he is able to read the play and locate his teammates. He receives the puck from the blue line, attacks the net and makes a great backhand pass to his teammates in front of the net for a great scoring chance.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/4-Tomas-Poletin-Agility.mp4

As mentioned, even if he has good straight-line speed, his agility and explosivity need to improve. Here we see Poletin on the forecheck getting beat twice by a quick change of direction that put Poletin completely out of play.

#5 - Dominik Pavlik - Center - Kärpät U20 (profile by Brock Otten)

One of Czechia’s top players at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup (where the Czechs captured silver), Pavlik is composed, two-way power center. While he was technically the team’s third line center, he anchored both special teams’ units and was one of the team’s most utilized forwards overall. Last season, Pavlik made the move to Finland in the Karpat program, playing out most of the year as part of their U18 team, finishing as their leading scorer by a significant margin. This year, Pavlik was drafted by Moose Jaw (of the WHL) in the CHL Import draft, but he is apparently going to return to Finland instead and try to earn a significant role with the Karpat U20 team, or even the main club.

The major allure here is Pavlik’s mature, complete game. He’s a player without any real deficiencies in his game. He plays that power center game to a tee. Pavlik competes hard at both ends and shows an advanced understanding of off puck positioning, which is why he’s so versatile. He is most successful offensively deep in the offensive zone, winning battles below the goal line to earn/maintain possession or getting to the net front to screen or earn second chance opportunities. With possession of the puck, he drives the center lane and looks to get to the net. Pavlik also flashes a high end shot and scoring potential. He has quick hands and is able to finish on a large portion of the chances that his hard work and determination earn him.

As he begins his draft year, the focus for scouts will be on determining his offensive upside as a pro. A good skater who shows power on net drives, Pavlik protects the puck well and is strong along the wall, but in open ice, he can lack the creativity or agility to consistently evade pressure. Additionally, I have questions about his overall playmaking ability as a pivot, as he can skate himself into trouble. That can definitely be improved, but he currently looks more like a quality third line option ala Lars Eller, Brandon Sutter, or Radek Faksa, than a future scoring line player.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Pavlik this season. Can he earn time with Karpat in Liiga or will he play out most of the year in the U20 league? Will he decide to come over to play in the WHL with Moose Jaw? His game would translate really well to the WHL and he would likely get top six ice time with some talented players (even if Moose Jaw doesn’t project to be quite as good as they were last season).

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A beautiful goal scored by Pavlik against Germany at the Hlinka/Gretzky. Great power and finish here as he cuts to the net and buries it.

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As mentioned, Pavlik is so effective driving the net and for that reason, he has been able to draw a ton of penalties during his international appearances for Czechia over the last year or so.

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One of those situations where Pavlik skates himself into trouble, he commits a terrible turnover at the opposing blueline. But the hustle on the backcheck to neutralize the scoring chance was impressive. Pavlik was extremely effective in his own end at the Hlinka/Gretzky.

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Another tough offensive zone turnover high in the zone. These seem to be too commonplace in his game currently.

#6 - Patrik Kerkola - Goaltender - KalPa (Profile by Josh Bell)

Patrik Kerkola is a young goaltender who has shown significant promise with his athleticism and composure in the crease, earning one call up to the Liiga already and two games in the Mestis playoffs. Standing at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds, Kerkola has a prototypical goalie frame that allows him to cover a lot of the net, but it’s his quick reflexes and lateral movement that truly set him apart.

Kerkola’s athleticism is one of his standout qualities. He has excellent footwork, which enables him to move quickly across the crease and make difficult saves look routine. His ability to track the puck is impressive, and he rarely seems out of position, even during chaotic sequences in front of the net. Kerkola’s glove hand is particularly strong, often snatching pucks out of the air with ease, and he’s adept at controlling rebounds, directing them to safe areas or covering them up to prevent second-chance opportunities.

In terms of technique, Kerkola plays a hybrid style, effectively combining the butterfly and stand-up approaches depending on the situation. He is calm under pressure and rarely overcommits, which helps him maintain his positioning and make smart decisions, even when facing high-danger scoring chances. His ability to stay square to the shooter and his patience in not biting on dekes or fakes make him tough to beat one-on-one.

However, like many young goaltenders, Kerkola has areas that could benefit from further development. One aspect is his puck-handling skills. While not a significant weakness, becoming more confident and effective with the puck would enhance his overall game and help his team transition quickly from defence to offense. Additionally, knowing when to stand tall and protect the top of the net would be beneficial, as would extra work on the blocker side, just above the pad. These areas are where he seems to let more pucks in so far in his career.

Overall, Patrik Kerkola has the tools to develop into a reliable starting goaltender at the professional level. His combination of size, athleticism, and composure in the net makes him a player with significant upside, and with continued development, he could become a key piece for any team looking for stability between the pipes. It would appear that Kerkola will be joining the Barrie Colts of the OHL this season, where he will have a chance to backstop a potentially solid junior team.

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After his defender turns it over at his own blue line, Kerkola does an excellent job of challenging the shooter, cutting down the angle, while sticking with the shooter as he cuts across, making an excellent pad stop.

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Here, Kerkola makes this save look easy. But, he needs to find the puck through traffic and then react to the deflection in front of the net. You can notice his quick adjustment to ensure he not only stops the puck but swallows up the rebound.

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Kerkola tracks this puck very well, especially considering his team left the attacker wide-open in front of the net. The netminder needs to push to the left and then quickly to the right to stick with the puck carrier and then needs to reach out with that quick glove to bail his defence out. This shows off some precision in his footwork, his positioning, and his glove.

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This is an example of a high goal that Kerkola likely should have had. He crouches down too far, not preparing himself for a potentially high backhand shot.

#7 - Jasu Mensonen - Center - Lukko U20 (profile by Jeremy Rivet)

Jasu Mensonen is an average size two-way player that played on the wing last season (at times) in Finland but played center in the last Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. Even though he ended the tournament with only one point in the four games Finland played, he was one of the most heavily utilized forwards. Mensonen is the property of the Lukko team in Finland and he spent the last three seasons in their junior program. He graduated from the U16 to the U18 after he registered an over point per game season in the U16, and at his first season at the U18 level, he was able to once again produce at a point per game pace at 16 years old. Last year, he split his time between the U18 and U20 levels and continued to produce at a high rate.

Mensonen is a player that has a very complete game already at a young age. He competes hard despite his smaller size; he likes to go into traffic, he possesses a good vision to make plays that often leads to scoring chances, and he is very responsible with his play without the puck. One of the things we can notice in Mensonen’s play is that he is always in movement to be an option to his teammates, and he is well aware of his surroundings. His capacity to process what is happening on the ice is excellent and he often knows what play he is going to do before getting the puck. Also, a skill that is important in today’s hockey is skating and Jasu Mensonen possesses that skill. He is fast and he has excellent edge work which helps him to beat opponents when he carries the puck or plays down low in the offensive zone.

The defensive part of the game of Jasu Mensonen was impressive for a 17-year-old during the Hlinka-Gretzky. He was very responsible in all three zones, and he had great positioning all over the ice. He used his speed to backcheck and take away the puck from the opponent a couple of times. He had an active stick to cut passing lanes and intercept the puck in the defensive zone. On the forecheck, he is tenacious and intense, and he is not afraid to finish checks, although he is not a physical guy. During the tournament, he did not play a lot of penalty kill minutes but given the quality of his play without the puck, I could see him as a good penalty killer in the future.

There are not a lot of holes in Mensonen’s game, but it will be interesting to see if he will be able to translate the offensive production he had in the last few years to the U20 level and eventually at the pro level. He looks to still have room to grow to become stronger and even taller by a couple of inches maybe. If all those things go well, I think he can be a useful player that can play up and down the lineup and that can be trusted by his coach on the defensive side.

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On this shift, we can see the speed and the agility of Mensonen. He retrieves the puck in the neutral zone, quickly dangles to beat the opponent and attacks the offensive zone. A bit later, he fights for the puck behind the net and protects the puck well as he keeps moving.

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This sequence shows his good playmaking ability. He seems to be everywhere on that shift because he keeps his feet moving, controls the puck, and uses his vision to find his teammates in open spaces for scoring chances.

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In this video, we see Mensonen completing his check on the forecheck, then backcheck, block the shot, before starting to transition the other way. Later, he makes a good backcheck to deny a potential 2-on-1 situation by using his speed and by properly identifying the player to mark and cutting the passing lane. Those are all small details that make a difference in a game.

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One thing that he needs to be careful of is not trying to do too much and having better puck management. Here, he turns the puck over twice because he tries to dangle an opponent in the defensive zone and because he tries to precipitate a pass when he has two players on him.

#8 - Jan Chovan - Center - Tappara U20 (profile by Brock Otten)

Unlike Czechia center Dominik Pavlik, who only came to Finland a year ago as an import, Slovak center Jan Chovan has been playing out of Finland for several years now as part of the Tappara program. The son of former national team netminder Jan Chovan (of the same name), junior has been a fixture of the Slovak U17 and U18 teams the last few seasons, leading Slovakia in scoring at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. Interestingly enough, Jan was drafted by Sudbury (OHL) in this year’s Import Draft, but it remains to be seen whether he will be staying in Finland, rather than playing in the Ontario Hockey League as his father did back in the day (with Belleville and London).

Chovan commands attention in the offensive zone. He’s difficult to separate from the puck and he has the skill to evade pressure and keep plays alive down low. His line with Andreas Straka and Michal Svrcek dominated the Hlinka/Gretzky at times and were easily Slovakia’s most consistent unit at the event. He shows strong vision and anticipation in the offensive zone; his patience and poise with the puck makes him an effective playmaker. However, he also shows strong instincts away from the puck, using his size to play near the net and impact the game as a forechecker/backchecker. There’s definitely a strong two-way upside here.

For Chovan, it’s all about consistency. Consistency in his two-way play. Consistency in his physical assertiveness and engagement. Being more driven to earn puck touches, rather than float as a passing option. If that improves, he could be a dominant two-way center and someone who could find himself a top two round pick in June. Additionally, there’s room for him to improve his explosiveness and overall skating profile to help him create time and space for himself more consistently.

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Tremendous pass by Chovan as he sets up Slovakia’s second goal in the 5th place game at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky.

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There are times where Chovan seems to struggle playing with pace. He’s at his best working as a complement, but when tasked with gaining the zone or leading the charge, he can struggle to maintain possession at full speed.

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This is a poor defensive play by Chovan as he fails to tie up his man as he cuts to the net front, allowing him to score.

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Conversely, here’s a great defensive play by Chovan that leads to a turnover and the eventual game winner in overtime against Switzerland. This is the physical intensity he needs to bring to every shift/game.

#9 - Atte Joki - Center - Lukko U20 (Profile by Steven Graves)

Joki - like the rest of his Finnish teammates was having himself a forgettable tournament at the Hlinka, that was until the game against Switzerland for 7th place where Joki exploded for four points in the game. Joki, a center out of Lukko’s development system is a guy that may lack high end upside, but is someone who can be valuable as a role player for the teams he plays on. He isn’t the most fleet of foot and has trouble creating offense for himself but he loves going to battle for pucks in corners and in front of the net. Players like this, NHL teams love, so although he has some warts to his game, NHL scouts will be paying attention to Joki this year.

Joki’s skating lacks the explosiveness and agility that NHL teams drool over nowadays. His strides are somewhat labored, and his top-end speed is not particularly impressive. This limitation affects his ability to create by himself in transition and he can struggle with zone entries because of it. Joki’s skating issues can be especially apparent when he's pressured by quicker opponents or when he needs to chase down pucks in the defensive zone. His mobility, while it gets the job done, doesn’t allow him to consistently create separation or cover ground as effectively as other players.

Joki loves to use his physical presence to his advantage, particularly in front of the net. Joki’s ability to establish and maintain position in the crease is a key element of his game and one that will bring him the most attention from scouts. His strength and body positioning make him a challenging opponent for defenders and goalies alike. Joki is not shy about using his size to his advantage, and his willingness to battle for space in the high-traffic areas of the ice often results in scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Joki has a keen sense for where pucks are likely to land after a save - his ability to position himself effectively allows him to capitalize on these second-chance opportunities. Joki’s size and strength play a role here, as he can use his frame to shield the puck and fend off defenders while maintaining control while fighting for pucks.

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In this clip, Joki quickly picks the puck up with momentum on an odd man rush, and before the defender has a chance to close off his shooting lane, Joki gets off a quick, well placed snap shot for the goal.

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This clip showcases two things - it shows how poor of a skater Joki is and it shows his tenacity and determination. He has all the open ice in the world and has a massive head start on the breakaway after stripping the puck, but the defender on the opposite side of the ice is able to close the gap quick after being multiple strides behind Joki, and catches up to him by the time they’re at the faceoff dots. Joki falls and scores a real nice goal while sliding along the ice, showcasing how he doesn’t give up on plays and how he has a knack of sneaking pucks past the goalie in front of the net.

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Here is a nice assist from Joki from the Hlinka - he attacks 4 defenders head on, and is able to leverage his size and balance to get through contact. He makes his way past the defense and makes a nice pass over to his teammate for a nice cross ice pass that leads to a goal. I love his physicality here and his ability to use it to his advantage.

#10 - Jooa Sammalniemi - Goaltender - Lukko U20

Finland’s back-up internationally at the U18 level right now (behind Kerkola), Sammalniemi looks like a decent prospect in his own right. Over the last decade or so, Finland has been averaging 2-3 netminders selected in the NHL draft per class, so it’s likely he ends up receiving draft attention with a strong year in the U20 league (and internationally).

As you might expect given his lack of ideal size (listed at 6’0 currently), Jooa Sammalniemi is a traditional butterfly netminder who relies on quickness and reaction time to make saves. He shows well covering his posts and can be aggressive in challenging shooters to make up for his lack of stature. While he wasn’t really able to show a lot at the recent Hlinka/Gretzky Cup (due to Kerkola starting most games), Sammalniemi has shown a great compete level at previous international tournaments, like the U17’s, battling to make second and third chance saves. In 2023, he was named the best goaltender in the FInnish U16 league and that accolade has been bestowed upon some pretty good goalies in the past, such as Juuse Saros Kaapo Kahkonen.

However, Sammalniemi has a lot to work on. He can struggle to save shots to the upper part of the net, given his lack of size. His glove hand needs to improve, and he needs to get even quicker to get to the top of the blue paint to challenge shooters so that he doesn’t get caught too deep. Additionally, he needs to do a better job of fighting through screens/traffic to find sight lines, again, pointing to a need to be more aggressive in his movement. Sammalniemi can also struggle positionally. He drops down to the butterfly too early and does not always have his angles covered, again giving up too much of the upper portion of the net. At times, it seems like his play tracking ability is a tad slow, leaving him late to react.

How he performs full time at the U20 level in Finland will dictate whether he ends up being a serious draft prospect this season. With Kerkola in Barrie this year (unconfirmed, but…a done deal), Sammalniemi should also get the bulk of playing time at tournaments like the Four and Five Nations, ahead of another likely role at the IIHF U18’s to end the year. Interestingly enough, he was a draft pick of the Fargo Force of the USHL, which leads me to believe that Sammalniemi is leaning towards taking the NCAA route, something several Finnish netminders have been doing recently with success.

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We see Sammalniemi’s athleticism on display here in his only Hlinka/Gretzky start. Gets out quick to challenge the Czech shooter and makes a great save.

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Great push and body control from Sammalniemi here as he gets across to make the save at last year’s World Under 17’s.

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Look at how deep Sammalniemi gets trapped in his net here, when he should be out at the top of the blue paint to get a better sight line and to cut down the angle. Instead, it’s in the back of the net.

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A goal against in that Hlinka start. Lots of similar goals against across his highlight package, calling attention to the need for Sammalniemi to improve his glove hand.

2024 HLINKA GRETZKY CUP PREVIEW: Team overview and players to watch

Brock Otten — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:49:54 +0000

The Hlinka/Gretzky Cup returns to Edmonton next week, after the 2023 version was played in Czechia and Slovakia. Canada will aim to secure its third straight gold medal at the event. For those unfamiliar, the Hlinka/Gretzky is an annual summer U18 event that serves as the unofficial kickoff to the scouting season for the year’s NHL draft, in this case 2025.

Let’s preview each team and give you some of the players to watch!

Group A

Canada

As mentioned, Canada will be attempting to complete the three-peat after winning last year and in 2022. They enter the tournament as the odds-on favourite, even without the services of two of their top players in Michael Misa and Ryan Roobroeck. Misa was a key piece of last year’s gold medal winning team and is taking the time to heal and train following last year’s deep Memorial Cup run with Saginaw. Roobroeck is missing the event due to an injury. Regardless, Canada will have the tournament’s top player in top 2026 draft eligible Gavin McKenna, who is coming off a dominant performance at the recent U18’s as an underager. Safe to say, Canada will go as far as McKenna can carry them.

Five Players to Watch:

Gavin McKenna

The odds-on favourite to be the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, McKenna is also the top player at this tournament. He’s dynamic in every sense of the word and if his performance at the recent U18’s (as an underager) is any indication, he’s going to be dominant in this event.

Cameron Schmidt

Schmidt really opened some eyes at last year’s U17’s, helping Canada White capture gold. He may be small, but the speedy winger is effective because he plays such an aggressive, up-tempo game.

Caleb Desnoyers

Due to Canada’s lack of center depth at the recent U18’s, Desnoyers was thrust into a fairly large role as an underager and he handled it pretty well. The competitive two-way center is going to be a go-to offensive player for Canada and this could serve as a coming out party for him.

Matthew Schaefer

Not only does Schaefer enter this tournament as Canada’s top defender, but he should be one of the best defensemen at the event. He will unquestionably be a big part of Canada’s leadership group and his heady two-way play will be integral.

Jack Ivankovic

Ivankovic is such a calm, cool, and collected young netminder. His play tracking and technical abilities are so advanced for his age. While NHL scouts are bound to criticize his lack of size (under 6’), there’s no doubting his talent level.

Sweden

The 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup was a bit of a nightmare for the Swedes as they failed to make the semifinals for the first time in eight years. They’ll be looking to bounce back in a big way, hoping to capture their first gold since 2007. The only issue is that the team will be missing its best player in potential 2025 top five pick Anton Frondell, as he recovers from an injury that occurred late last season. Additionally, Karl Annborn is mysteriously absent from the final roster, after it was believed that he would be a top defender for the team thanks to his experience internationally. One of the keys for Sweden will be the play of goaltender Love Harenstam, who has a ton of experience for Sweden already, as the team’s starter as an underager at the recent U18’s.

Five Players to Watch:

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak

With Frondell out, eyes will be on Ihs-Wozniak to really step up and drive play. He already has experience at the U18 level and the big winger is considered a potential lottery selection in 2025.

Sascha Boumedienne

Yes, that is former NHL defender Josef Boumedienne’s son. The Boston University commit already plays in North America with Youngstown of the USHL; he was a member of the USHL All-Rookie team last year. He’s a heady, two-way puck mover who should be one of the tournament’s top defenders.

Filip Ekberg

One of the key performers for Sweden at last year’s U17’s, Ekberg is a creative and skilled playmaker. He’s not the biggest or the quickest, but he’s highly effective because of his cerebral advantage. There are heavy rumours that he will be playing for the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL this coming season.

Viggo Bjorck

Thought to be one of the top 2008 born players on the planet, it will be interesting to see how Bjorck performs in his first U18 test internationally. The dynamic forward has a chance to be a special player.

Love Harenstam

As mentioned, Harenstam may just be the key for Sweden should they want to medal at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He should be one of the top netminders at the event after already performing well at the recent U18’s, backstopping Sweden to bronze.

Slovakia

The Slovaks will look to get back to the semifinals for the first time since 2021, when Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Slafkovsky led them to a silver medal. Unfortunately, the team’s chances took a big hit when it was announced that two of their top defenders would be skipping the event for different reasons. Potential lottery pick Luka Radivojevic is choosing to prepare for his upcoming SHL season instead, after playing in last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky (much like Canada’s Michael Misa). Whereas Vladimir Dravecky has decided to switch allegiances and play for Czechia. The Slovaks should still be able to score; they have some solid talent up front. But preventing goals could be an issue. Either way, they shouldn’t finish last again like they did last year.

Five Players to Watch:

Tomas Chrenko

Not eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026 due to a later birthday, Chrenko was already one of Slovakia’s top performers at the recent U18’s as an underager. He’s lightning quick and is a highly creative playmaker.

Adam Nemec

The younger brother of New Jersey Devils defender Simon Nemec, Adam is a winger, and is another of the late birthdays not eligible until 2026. He’s a skilled goal scorer who should be a large part of Slovakia’s powerplay at the event.

Tobias Tomik

You guessed it, another high end late 2007 born player who is not eligible until 2026. Like Chrenko, Tomik was already one of Slovakia’s best players at the recent U18’s despite his age. He scored a couple of goals at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky as an underager too.

Jan Chovan

What? A high-end Slovak forward without a later birthday? Chovan is eligible for this year’s NHL draft and should be one of the team’s top centers. He’s a versatile player because of his power game and two-way ability.

Andreas Straka

Another forward with significant experience at the U18 level internationally already. Straka, like the other four mentioned above, will be a critical component of the team’s top two scoring lines. The competitive two-way forward is slated to play with Quebec of the QMJHL this season.

Switzerland

The Swiss have never medaled at this event and haven’t made the semifinals in over two decades. Are they overdue? You could probably make that argument, but realistically Switzerland doesn’t have the depth to compete with the other teams in their division. They do have some talented and interesting prospects eligible for this year’s NHL draft, but they might be more likely to finish last than medal. Somewhat surprisingly, the team did not opt to take any of their talented 2008’s to play as underagers, just like how few of these players have U18 experience either. It’s a recent shift in philosophy for the Swiss, who used to bring many underagers to help with elevating the depth of their rosters.

Three Players to Watch:

Florian Schenk

At this point, Schenk should be considered Switzerland’s top prospect for the 2025 NHL draft. The big forward may not be the fleetest of foot, but he’s strong and skilled, capable of playing the heavier game needed to outperform the other top nations in this division.

Jeremiah Mundy

Another big forward, Mundy is a power winger who played well for Switzerland at the U17 level internationally last season. He has a strong scorer’s touch in tight and probably enters this event as Switzerland’s second best draft prospect this year.

Lars Steiner

Not eligible for the NHL draft until 2026 due to a late birthday, Steiner may just be the most talented player on this Swiss roster. He has already played a game for HC Davos of the NL and should be the team’s top play driver.

Group B

Finland

Despite some decent recent success at the event, the Finns haven’t won a semifinal matchup at the Hlinka/Gretzky in over a decade. They’ve also never won a gold medal, a somewhat shocking revelation considering their success at the year-end IIHF U18’s. Maybe this is the year that they break through and get through to play for a gold medal. That said, this group is coming off of a last place finish at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and it’s largely considered a down birth year for Finland. With a strong Czech team, an underrated German team, and a US team that’s always a wild card in this division, could Finland be headed for another poor performance?

Five Players to Watch:

Jasu Mensonen

One of the top centers on this Finnish team, Mensonen is a high end, cerebral playmaker who makes those around him better. He missed last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge and will look to be a difference maker now.

Jesper Kotajarvi

Possibly the top Finnish player eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, Kotajarvi is a mobile, two-way defender who was one of the few standouts for Finland at last year’s U17’s. Look for him to anchor the top powerplay unit and to log a ton of minutes.

Eetu Orpana

Along with Mensonen, Orpana should be the Finns other top six center, giving them a solid one/two punch down the middle. Orpana is sort of the classic center mold out of Finland, in that he’s got good size, competes at both ends, and makes smart plays with the puck.

Max Westergard

He’s got a Swedish name, and he plays out of Sweden (in the Frolunda program), but Westergard is very Finnish. He’s a solid complementary winger who can put the puck in the net and play a heavy game.

Patrik Kerkola

The likely starting netminder for this Finnish team, Kerkola is one of the early favourites to be one of the top goaltenders chosen in the 2025 NHL Draft. Look for him to join the Barrie Colts of the OHL for the upcoming season.

Czechia

At this point, the Czechs would probably be considered the favourites to win this group. They suffered a devastating OT loss in the gold medal game at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky and will be hungry to avenge that. Additionally, this talented group of 2007’s lost a heartbreaking semi-final in OT to the United States at last year’s World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. Make no mistake, this group of Czechs could yield double digit NHL draft picks and will be a formidable opponent. Their group of forwards is very deep, and they’ll be a difficult team to outscore, led by the ultra-talented Adam Benak.

Five Players to Watch:

Adam Benak

The diminutive playmaking center was a star at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager and he returns this year in hopes of avenging that tough OT loss. He’s so slippery in the offensive zone and despite his lack of size, has a chance to be a high pick in 2025. He’ll play this season with Youngstown of the USHL.

Matej Pekar

Not to be confused with the former Buffalo Sabres prospect of the same name, Pekar actually led this Czech group in scoring at last year’s U17’s, not Benak. He plays in Switzerland and is a very talented offensive player. He could be a potential breakout star at this event.

Tomas Poletin

Another Czech player who has left Czechia to play, Poletin is a skilled, scoring winger who made the move to Finland. He played at the most recent U18’s, and already has significant experience playing internationally at the U18 level. He will be a go to player.

Adam Novotny

Not NHL eligible until 2026 due to a late birthday, Novotny is another talented forward on this team. He made waves recently as the youngest player to score in the Czech men’s league. He is a dynamic skater and attacker.

Vladimir Dravecky

As mentioned earlier, Dravecky, a mobile puck moving defender, switched allegiances from Slovakia to Czechia for this event. A late birthday, he’s considered one of the better defenders available for the 2026 NHL draft and he should be a minute eater for the Czechs.

United States

You truly never know what you’re going to get from a U.S. team at this event because it’s largely a collection of less hyped prospects outside of the NTDP. Last year they earned their first medal since 2016, a bronze, on the back of strong play from Trevor Connelly. But in 2022 and 2021, they failed to make the medal round. On paper, this year’s roster should be able to score thanks to some talented offensive players, but do they have the depth to compete for a medal for the second straight year?

Five Players to Watch:

Ben Kevan

Coming off a fantastic rookie season in the USHL where Kevan was a near point per game player for Des Moines, all eyes will be on him to be an offensive leader for the U.S. squad. He’s the complete package offensively and this event could be an opportunity for him to prove that he’s a potential first round selection in 2025.

Cooper Simpson

Along with Kevan, Simpson should be the straw that stirs the drink for the U.S.’ offensive attack. He’s a dynamic offensive player who oozes creativity and confidence with the puck. The North Dakota commit will look to have the same kind of impact Trevor Connelly did at last year’s tournament.

Travis Hayes

The only OHL player on this roster, Hayes is the younger brother of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes. He’s a tenacious winger who was a member of the OHL’s all-rookie team last year after a strong season with the Soo Greyhounds.

Blake Fiddler

One of a few players on the roster with former NHL bloodlines, Blake is the son of Vern Fiddler. Like Hayes, he plays in the CHL, but in the WHL with Edmonton. The big defender is a solid two-way player, and he should be a minute eater at the event. Interestingly enough, he played for Canada at the World Under 17’s last year but has switched to the U.S. for this event.

Jacob Rombach

Another top defender for the United States, Rombach is a massive, but athletic rearguard. He plays for Lincoln of the USHL and is a University of Minnesota commit. His combination of mobility, reach, and physicality is going to intrigue NHL scouts the same way that Adam Kleber did on last year’s team.

Germany

The Germans have never made the semi finals at this event since the commencement of their participation, but that has the potential to change. It’s not a stretch to say that this could be the best team that Germany has ever sent to the Hlinka/Gretzky, with as many as a half dozen potential 2025 NHL Draft selections. They’ve had some strong individual performances, but not the kind of depth that this roster has. I know longtime McKeen’s scout Chapin Landvogt is extremely excited about covering his region this season! Many of these players, as underagers, helped Germany qualify for the main group in the U18’s in 2025, by capturing gold at the Division A tournament this past year. That kind of experience can only help.

Five Players to Watch:

Carlos Handel

While Handel may not be the same quality of defensive prospect as Moritz Seider, he’s still a highly touted player after a few solid seasons in Sweden and some strong International performances. He’s strong at both ends and is going to play a ton for Germany. Interestingly enough, it sounds like Handel will be coming over to play with Halifax in the QMJHL this year.

Max Bleicher

The other minute eater on the German blueline, Bleicher is equally strong at both ends and plays a bit of a meaner game than Handel. He’s also not the same quality of skater, something he’ll need to work on. He’s definitely on the NHL draft radar.

David Lewandowski

Along with Handel, Lewandowski is Germany’s best chance at having a first rounder in 2025. His game improved dramatically last year and he’s the kind of power center that NHL teams are drawn to. Look for him to be a difference maker at the tournament.

Dustin Willhoft

A much different player than Lewandowski, but one that is equally important to the offense of this team. Willhoft is definitely on the small side, but he’s extremely skilled and creative. He’s consistently been the leading scorer of this age group internationally.

Mateu Spath

Spath has been receiving hype from Germany ever since he broke the U17 league scoring record as an underager a few years ago. The talented offensive winger brings speed and finishing ability to the German lineup and could be part of the top powerplay unit along with Lewandowski and Willhoft.

Tomas Poletin – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 New York Islanders – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 14th (Last Year - 11th) GM: Mathieu Darche Hired: May 2025 COACH: Patrick Roy Hired: January 2024

Victor Eklund, RW, Djurgårdens IF (SHL) (Currently with Bridgeport Islanders, AHL)

Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie Colts (OHL)

Cole Eiserman, LW, Boston University (NCAA) (Currently with Bridgeport Islanders, AHL)

Danny Nelson, C, University of Notre Dame (NCAA)

Daniil Prokhorov, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (KHL)

Tomas Poletin, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Isaiah George, D, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

Dmitry Gamzin, G, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Xavier Veilleux, D, Cornell University (NCAA)

Marshall Warren, D, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, Penticton Vees (WHL)

Alex Jefferies, LW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

Matthew Maggio, RW, Bridgeport Islanders (AHL)

Quinn Finley, LW, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

Luca Romano, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

NHL: Affiliated prospects who have made rapid progress this season – North America Part Two

Derek Neumeier - Associate Director of Scouting

Jaxon Fuder - Left Wing - Red Deer Rebels, WHL (Dallas Stars)

Kaeden Ireland - Ontario Regional Scout

Adam Benak - Center/Wing, Brantford Bulldogs, OHL (Minnesota Wild)

Mika Burns - Western Canada Regional Scout

Tomas Poletin - W/C, Kelowna Rockets, WHL (New York Islanders)

Joey Fortin Boulay - Quebec Regional Scout

Noah Laberge - Defense - Newfoundland Regiment, QMJHL (Buffalo Sabres)

Mark Dube - US Regional Scout

Max Plante - Center - University Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA (Detroit Red Wings)

Felix Sicard - North American Video Scout

Emile Guite, Wing, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, QMJHL (Anaheim Ducks)

Jeremi Plourde - Eastern Canada Regional Scout

Justin Poirier - Wing, Maine, NCAA (Carolina Hurricanes)

Liam Crouse - Goaltending Scout

Adam Gajan - G, Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks)

Jamison Derksen - North American Video Scout

Lyndon Lakovic - W, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (Washington Capitals)

Adam Tate - Western Canada Regional Scout

Shea Busch - Wing, Everett Silvertips, WHL (Florida Panthers)

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

Czechia

Players to watch

Adam Benak - F

Vojtech Cihar - F

Simon Katolicky - F

Radim Mrtka - D

Matej Pekar - F

Tomas Poletin - F

Max Psenicka - D

Ondrej Stebetak - G

Germany

Players to watch

David Lewandowski - F

Carlos Händel - D

Maxim Penkin - F

Maxim Schäfer - W

Dustin Willhöft - W

Sweden

Players to watch

Viggo Björck - F

Sascha Boumedienne - D

Anton Frondell - F

Milton Gästrin - F

Eddie Genborg - F

Theodor Hallquisth - D

Jakob Ihs-Wozniak - F

Ivar Stenberg - F

Switzerland

Players to watch

Guus Van der Kaaij - D

Jeremiah Mundy - F

Jonah Neuenschwander - F

USA

Players to watch

Blake Fiddler - D

Cole McKinney - F

L.J. Mooney - F

Will Moore - F

Jack Murtagh - F

Cullen Potter - F

Prospect System Ranking – 14th (Last Year - 11th)
GM: Mathieu Darche Hired: May 2025
COACH: Patrick Roy Hired: January 2024