Zachary Morin – McKeen's Hockey

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

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

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

There were definitely some interesting trends.

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

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

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

Here were our top ten undrafted players:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025 NHL DRAFT: Early Season Favourites – QMJHL – Carbonneau, Morin, Huang & Conrad

Jérémy Tremblay — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:00:45 +0000

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

Jérémy Tremblay - Regional Quebec Scout

Justin Carbonneau – Right Wing – Blainville-Boisbriand

6'1, 192lbs - 2006-11-25

Unknown to many at the start of the season, Carbonneau is climbing higher and higher in the rankings as the season goes on, competing for the top spot with Caleb Desnoyers for the best QMJHL prospect. He might be the most eye-catching prospect in the QMJHL with all the skills and energy he brings to the game, but many aspects of his game are well-projectable to the NHL too. He does have a little uncertainty in his game, but the potential here is very high.

Simply put, Charbonneau has a vast and crafty skill set offensively. He is one of the best in the entire draft in one-on-one situations. He has this level of creativity, where he can create plays from absolutely nowhere and get a solid scoring chance. He likes to create from the rush, using his explosiveness and puck control to generate chaos offensively. Sometimes, even his teammates struggle to follow the speed he is thinking the game. However, he tends to overcomplicate plays, making difficult passes instead of slowing down the pace and finding a better option. He could use this change of speed to create space and use his dangerous wrist shot more often. Carbonneau is shooting a lot in a game, averaging nearly nine shots attempted per game, but he struggles to find the back of the net as often as he can.

But Carbonneau’s game is not only about the offensive. He works very hard on the forecheck, creating many turnovers. He will go into the corner and fight relentlessly to win the puck. It always surprises me the amount of energy Carbonneau has. He will backcheck even if it’s not necessary and will use his body to separate the puck from his adversary and gain possession of the puck. The hard work pays off offensively, and he also works pretty hard defensively. He is not afraid to jump in front of a shot, battles hard to win the puck, and he consistently keeps his feet moving.

If there is a thing to understand about Carbonneau, it is that he is improving really fast. Already this season, he is cheating less and less offensively. He tries to slow down the pace more. He is smart and understands that he has to polish certain aspects of his game where things are messy. There is still a lot of room for improvement, and that shows that he is not even the player he will become. If you have not seen him play yet, these clips will give you an idea of how terrific Carbonneau is.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauCrazyShift1-1.mp4

If there is a shift that can show it all… here it is! Best shift I have seen from the Armada, and Carbonneau was a big reason why it was this good. Mobility, shooting, quick hands, smart plays, what else do we need?

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauPuckControlAndPlaymaking1.mp4

Carbonneau’s quick changes of direction are so fun to watch. He sees a path where there is not much space and executes. What makes this pass even greater is the sneaky move of faking the shot just to freeze the defender before passing, all of this while skating toward the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauDragShot1.mp4

Carbonneau possesses a strong shot with great mechanics. His drag shot is fun to watch, as he can change the direction of his shot so quickly.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauInterceptAndScore1.mp4

We can’t really see how Carbonneau intercepts the puck here, but once he has it, his feet are already moving, creating a two-on-one. Great goal here by Carbonneau.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CarbonneauNiceGoal1-1.mp4

This clip was the highlight of the first week of the season. Carbonneau was unstoppable in this game, and he finished it in style with a great goal. Carbonneau is so good at finding open space on the ice, and often, it pays off!

Zachary Morin – Left Wing – Saint John

6'1, 181lbs - 2007-01-25

When he was drafted into the QMJHL in 2023, in Morin’s mind, there were no doubts that he would stay in the USA to continue his development in the USHL. After playing a full season with the Youngstown Phantoms in 2023-2024, no one thought he would come back to Quebec to play hockey. But after only four games this season, where he was given less and less ice time, he decided that that was enough and as a surprise to many, he was now a member of the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Some may have thought that he was not good enough in the USHL, but after a few games of seeing what Morin is capable of, there is no doubt he is a top prospect in the QMJHL. Morin’s main flaw last year was the combativeness and intensity he was bringing to the game. There is still work to be done in the matter, but he is showing more diligence in the forecheck and more desire to take back the puck. However, it is when he has the puck on his stick that you start seeing the real Morin. His mind is quick, processing the play as fast as it happens, and that shows in his passing ability. The playmaking in his game is the mainstay of his offensive skill set, sometimes unbeknownst to his scoring ability. It is not that Morin has a bad shot, but he seems to lack confidence in it, as he prefers passing instead of shooting.

Morin is not the most active player defensively. He lacks intensity and tends to drag his feet. Despite that, Morin is given penalty kill minutes and that could help him develop his defensive sense. Already after a few games, he looks better defensively, keeping a good positioning and his stick active. As the season progresses, his coach is giving him more responsibilities and ice time. It seems the decision to come to the QMJHL was the right one for him. It will be interesting to see what he will look like at the end of the season with what he has shown so far.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinPlaymaking1.mp4

Morin is a playmaker. He has a nice creativity in his passing as shown in this clip. It is not everyone that can pull passing plays like this.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinNoShotPlaymakingOnly1.mp4

And sometimes, he forgets that he can shoot. It was not a bad play to pass here, but the shooting lane was very good and the defender was trying his best to block the potential pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinSkating1.mp4

Morin’s effort on the forecheck is way better than before. Here, there is no way he gets the puck, but he decided to skate hard to put pressure on the defenders. That is the type of play that we are looking for.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinBadCompete2.mp4

On the other hand, when the play becomes more physical, Morin struggles to put in the necessary effort to win the battle. In this clip, once he is pinned to the board, he just stops playing instead of pushing away his opponent and fighting for the puck. This part of his game must improve if he wants to play professionally.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MorinGreatMoveAndSC1.mp4

This last clip for Morin, with this nice move on the defender creates a dangerous scoring chance. Morin has quick hands, and he can pull off a move like that!

Alex Huang – Defense – Chicoutimi

6'0, 161lbs - 2007-07-30

Even before the 2024-2025 season started, Huang was already one of the favourites for the QMJHL for this year’s draft. The expectations for Huang’s season may have been a little too high, thinking he would score plenty of points, but the quality of his game goes beyond the point total. I would not be surprised if Huang gets drafted first among all the defenders of the QMJHL, with the high-level abilities that he has shown that are well translatable for pro hockey.

To state the obvious, Huang has an amazing skating ability. His four-way mobility is at another level; he has great edge control and can fly with the puck out of nowhere. He shows it in abundance on the breakout, carrying the puck with composure even with great pressure on him. In the offensive zone, he can walk the blue line so easily, head-faking opponents like it’s a common thing for him. However, we would like to see him create more dangerous scoring chances with those moves. He tends to do these moves just to throw the puck on the boards after. Where things get a little more complicated for Huang is on the defensive side of the game. He has difficulties holding the stick of his opponent, he isn’t active with his stick to poke-check or intercept passes and he is not the most physical player.

Huang is a very smart defender, and it shows in his passing. He is quick and effective with the puck. He knows what to do and where his teammates are. He should be able to create more offensively. Away from the puck, he knows how to sneak past the defender and be open in the slot, but nothing happens most of the time. Maybe it is a little bit of bad luck for him, but his points total doesn’t display how great he is playing. As one of the youngest prospects for this year’s draft, Huang has plenty of room to improve all his abilities and hopefully, get more points by the end of the season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangMobilityAndTransition.mp4

A little example of how his four-way mobility can be effective when he uses it for the right purpose. On the powerplay, he has plenty of space to move and as shown here, he can be deceptive and find an opening in the defensive barrier.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangDirectionChangeAndShoot1.mp4

Another clip where Huang uses his deceptiveness to freeze the defender and get a good shot to the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangGoalFromPoint1.mp4

Huang’s shot is decent enough, he is great at placing himself in the right place and should use it more often. He can find a small spot between the fight in front of the net to place the puck behind the goaltender.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/HuangEvadeDefByPassing1.mp4

I really like this clip. Huang read the complete play perfectly, knowing that he would be able to evade pressure with the pass to his teammates and get alone in the slot. Sadly for him, his teammate did not see him at all.

Owen Conrad – Defense – Charlottetown

6'2, 214lbs - 2007-03-10

It is not always the most impressive defender that gets a job in the NHL. Sometimes the one who keeps the play simple and safe, who can make effective plays, and who has the physique to play hard is what a team is looking for. Conrad could become this exact defender if his development goes as expected, as he is already showing plenty of mature decision-making in his game.

It might not look like it at first glance, but Conrad is a big defender of 6’2” and well over 200 pounds. For a defender like this, he can really activate his feet and has surprising agility. He can turn on a dime and change direction quickly. Conrad is a reliable defender in his own zone, he can pin the puck carrier to the board easily and can use his range to poke-check the puck or intercept a pass. And once he intercepts the puck, watch out for a breakout because he is really effective. He is a great puck carrier and he can bring the puck from one end to the other. Conrad doesn’t possess the best mobility, but he relies more on his hockey sense than his skills. The smart defender likes to support the attack, and you can see in his game that he is trying hard offensively. The problem is that he struggles to generate offense by himself. He takes plenty of shots from the blue line, but it often lacks power and gets blocked on the way to the net.

Conrad could certainly play in the NHL in his career, with how he can shut down plays defensively and because of the physical side of the game he brings. If his offensive skill continues to improve, he will become an even more interesting prospect for the draft. He does show flashes offensively, and even with limited skills, he could be a safe bet at the NHL draft if you want a player who will play in a simple but effective way each night.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradBrMove1.mp4

For a 6’2” defender, he can really move on the breakout. He doesn’t use his hands often, but he can surprise more than one player with them.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradPPShot1.mp4

Here is an example of Conrad’s skills. He fakes passing on his right, getting his adversary out of position to create his own shooting lane.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradPlaymaking1.mp4

Conrad can also pass the puck pretty well, but the passing lane has to be there. That was also a great effort along the board.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ConradBadPinching.mp4

This is a bad habit that Conrad has. He miscalculated his pinching, missing the puck and allowing a two-on-one. Those plays were happening often last season, but so far this year, it seems to happen less, so there is improvement!