Despite suffering a brutal injury that ended his season, Matthew Schaefer is the definition of adversity. The number of things he has battled through is remarkable and has made him a better person on and off the ice. Schaefer has all the makings of becoming a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. He has a ridiculously high ceiling and a floor that isn’t far below. He has that true game-breaker ability. The left-handed defenseman can be effective in all situations and will provide 20+ minutes a night, paired with a quick release, deceptive skating, good vision, and always being engaged in all three zones.
LD, Erie Otters
When Anton Frondell is at his best, he looks unstoppable and a no-doubt first-line center, but…when he isn’t? He can force plays and be a middle-six winger. The Swedish forward has the tools but doesn’t always execute them. He is an undercut center who is better suited as a winger. To his credit, he has the strength against older competition with strong puck protection and scoring upside. Frondell’s shot and pace are miles ahead of those in his class. If he can sustain consistency, with a longer leash, the way he did while setting records and producing at a considerable clip, he will be a high-octane scoring threat in the NHL.
Djurgårdens IF
Michael Misa has very few weaknesses in his game. He is the most NHL-ready forward in his class but could benefit from more seasoning, likely in college. Everything jumps off the page when evaluating Misa. He is an elite two-way center with impeccable vision who will contribute consistently on both sides of the puck. He is an effective passer and transition player with pinpoint accuracy and reliability on special teams.
Saginaw Spirit
Brady Martin may not be the biggest customer, but he certainly plays like it. He is a heavy-hitting, relentless checking center who is running at 100%. He generates offense and is a reliable presence in the defensive end. He is constantly surveying for that next big hit or scoring opportunity. His high motor, energy, scoring touch, two-way dynamic and overall potential upside made Martin a late riser.
Soo Greyhounds
Roger McQueen, when putting aside his injury setbacks, has top-three upside, and at 6-foot-5 playing down the middle, he is hard to ignore. McQueen is a fluid, overpowering skater with heavy hits, a high motor, an exceptional release and hands for his stature. He isn’t afraid to mix things up and loves competing with strong north-south play. It is hard to stop the 18-year-old once he moves, and he can create havoc in all three zones. McQueen will gain a good reputation, not for his lightning quickness (“Ka-Chow!”), but in other departments, attacking and executing with the puck.
Brandon Wheat Kings
Caleb Desnoyers is a true facilitator with translatable qualities within his game, and he appears to get better every single day. His compete level and hockey sense are outstanding, making him a unicorn on both sides of the puck and arguably the best natural center in his class. The French Canadian can be a flashy power forward and a responsible two-way center who will block shots, battle net-front, dig in the corners, drive play, and lead his teammates. If Desnoyers can sustain consistency as he progresses through the ranks, he can be a high-octane first-line scoring threat in the NHL with two-way attributes.
Moncton Wildcats
Porter Martone isn’t overly physical but has a strong work ethic, more than credited for. Any team would like to see those areas more developed, but for the style of game he plays, it works. Martone can change direction on a dime with a solid base, skating, and edge work, albeit not at an elite level, to maneuver opponents and create space. Martone possesses good puck control in tight and in open ice. The board work in all three zones is admirable, making for a strong 200-foot presence. He has leadership qualities and a never-say-die attitude. He can be a difference maker in meaningful games as a first or second-line winger, depending on the role, in the NHL.
Brampton Steelheads
Radim Mrtka towers over almost anyone he comes up against. Standing at 6-foot-6, 218 pounds, the right-shot defenseman has above-average mobility and tons of runway with development and age on his side. He will provide an NHL team with reliability, averaging 24+ minutes a night while operating on special teams and showcasing some offensive flashes. Mrtka is an anchor on the backend. It is hard to get around him, and players most definitely can’t go through him. He smothers attackers with his demanding presence and closes lanes to kill scoring opportunities. He covers tons of ice in short bursts with powerful strides, a long reach and solid edge work, which he can do while staying positionally aware and recovering quickly.
Seattle Thunderbirds
Jake O’Brien processes the game at an extremely high level, especially when under pressure. The 17-year-old sees the ice at a higher level than most 18 to 20-year-olds. He has a keen sense and ability in space. The Bulldogs centerman can control the pace and create off-broken plays. When the Brantford Bulldogs forward is in tight situations or under heavy pressure, he has little to no panic with vision and spatial awareness to get the puck through with his decision-making. O’Brien has all the tools necessary to be a top-six center with 1C upside in the NHL and be a more complete high-end player than some centers who may or will go before him.
Brantford Bulldogs
James Hagens is a sensational talent with the puck on his stick. The Boston College forward was seen as the first overall pick, but dropped in rankings with some glaring concerns that make it hard to push him over the threshold. He is an elite talent with tons of high-end offensive sense. His elusiveness and smooth hands make him a dynamic playmaker with a deceptive high-volume shot. Hagen’s offensive zone presence and puck-driving ability to create high-danger scoring chances and smooth transition plays up the ice are some of his best work. The 18-year-old takes after Jack Hughes with a lot of inspiration from Patrick Kane. The skating, phenomenal transition play, vision, agility and playmaking abilities stem from the three.
Boston College
Kashawn Aitcheson is a shutdown defenseman with scoring upside. His aggressive gap control and relentless forechecking are at an NHL level, and a hard point shot complements his sharp defensive play. At 6-foot-1, 198 pounds, he has an explosive first step, strong backward skating, good puck management and hockey sense.
Barrie Colts
Victor Eklund is a small package with sheer firepower and a high-octane motor. The Swedish forward has great speed, acceleration and mechanics that make him an evasive above-average skater. He will hunt from below the goal line, is a hound in the corners and on the forecheck with strong body positioning, making him a nightmare for opponents. Eklund’s side-to-side mobility to carve through the zone, paired with his quick release point that is locked and loaded in the pocket on the hip. He is always surveying, making him a great playmaker and puck protector who will creep into high-danger scoring areas and create space to the slot, sliding pucks over or under traffic.
Djurgårdens IF
Lynden Lakovic has a ton of raw talent that hasn’t been unleashed yet. He is built like a truck but is a phenomenal, versatile forward who drives play. He has a fluid, long stride with his length, making for a player with tons of mobility and range. Lakovic protects the puck with his strong positioning, ability to out-muscle opponents, and reads the game at a high pace. He has set himself apart from other players, is a character in the locker room and would be a perfect balance of size and skill in Motor City.
Moose Jaw Warriors
Jackson Smith is one of the most sought-after defensemen in this class, and rightfully so. The 18-year-old defenseman out of the Western Hockey League (WHL) turned a lot of heads during his draft year with electrifying skating, showcasing himself as a phenomenal mobile defenseman with great acceleration and creativity from anywhere on the ice. He kick-starts rushes from behind the net, will be up in plays more often than not and rarely finds himself in situations where he is uncomfortable or can’t get out. Smith can use his surroundings to steer away from trouble, whether it is off the wall, around the net or using teammates as a pick. His wide shooting stance with fluid and deceptive footwork opens up shooting and passing lanes and forces opponents into mistakes. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-handed defenseman gets into positions to succeed, so he isn’t backtracking or getting caught flat-footed. Smith has first-pairing upside with flashes of two-way abilities in his toolbox if this strong development path continues.
Tri-City Americans
Braeden Cootes is an elite, feisty, high motor playmaker with silky hands, pace and awareness. He can find the smallest openings to get pucks through, whether for a high-danger pass or shot. It doesn’t take long before the puck has left his stick with quick bursts of speed to mix. He thinks the game at 100 miles per hour. It is easy to lose sight of Cootes when he is flying on all cylinders. One shift feels like 10 seconds when watching the Sherwood Park native. He never runs out of gas, is a constant, relentless threat and will not stop trucking until the puck is in the net or the whistle blows. Following stoppages of play, he will attend extracurriculars with anyone ready and willing. When the puck is not on the 18-year-old’s stick, he is looking for ways it can be, charging to the net, bouncing off checks, battling along the boards and in front for separation to gain that inside edge. He shapes out as a pivot 2C as a versatile middle-six forward.
Seattle Thunderbirds
Carter Bear is a versatile offensive threat who can play up and down the lineup in any position. He has an incredible first step and agility. Bear’s hockey sense and vision are his best qualities, making for a well-rounded, complete player. He loves creating offensive opportunities, and without injury concerns, he is a top-ten pick. The Everett Silvertips forward generates a lot of high-danger scoring chances with a quick release and has smooth hands. He is a reliable presence in all situations.
Everett Silvertips
Justin Carbonneau is a strong offensive presence with a shot-first mentality. He possesses great vision, smooth hands and feather-light touches. The 18-year-old uses his size to battle opponents and holds his own in puck battles. He can score dirty goals by capitalizing on rebounds. Carbonneau creates traffic with tons of deception and hockey sense to hold on to the puck for those few extra steps into the slot.
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Cole Reschny plays way above his weight class. Similar to Travis Konecny—both under 5-foot-11—with pivotal movements, the ability to change directions quickly to open up lanes and holding their own using the dasher to create or the net as a screen. Players like Reschny know they lack size, so they can go undetected while opening up the ice, making subtle plays or cutting into the slot. The soon-to-be University of North Dakota forward is an elite presence with outstanding hockey sense. He rarely looks down at the puck, with his head up and eyes constantly tracking his surroundings, waiting to pounce. If Reschny is looking straight, look elsewhere because he already has three passing and one shooting lane lined up. He is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, whether it is open-ice, down-low, finding a teammate for a high-danger scoring opportunity or mixing it up after the whistle. The 18-year-old is always ready to go.
Victoria Royals
Cameron Reid, although a left-shot defenseman, the offense runs through him. He will create off the wing, cut down to the slot when necessary, jump up on the rush or in a play and know when to pinch if necessary. The 6-foot, 174-pound prospect is an aggressive presence on the blue line. He has superb positional awareness, charisma and ability to quarterback a power play. His long reach, paired with smooth, powerful strides, makes for a solid mobile defender with edge control and lateral agility. Reid is always a step ahead of his competition. He can close gaps, transition smoothly and is reliable in all situations.
Kitchener Rangers
Logan Hensler has great mechanics on the back end, and when carrying the puck up ice with great foray mobility. He is a calm presence, especially under pressure and rarely panics. The 18-year-old will charge up ice with the puck but also knows when to cut in with his edges and turn back. He can retrieve pucks from his zone and kick-start offensive rushes while contributing on his own from time to time. Hensler has a deep bag of tricks and a solid release off the hip with a willingness to create offensively.
University of Wisconsin
Bill Zonnon is a huge supporting cast from anywhere on the ice. His skating is scarce, but expected, with a large frame. He is a constant threat while attacking, looking to throw the body, tie up attackers or hard press on the forecheck. The former Huskie, now Armada, forward is a playmaking wizard. He would rather free up teammates or provide a clean pass before helping himself. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a tool shed full of tricks when he has the puck on his stick. When Zonnon starts speeding down the ice, it is best to get out of the way because he isn’t stopping for anyone. He creates by battling in front and out-muscling his competition to gain possession.
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Jack Nesbitt can be found hunting and lurking around the net at all times in the offensive zone. Standing at 6-foot-4, 183 pounds, he takes away the goaltender's vision and battles in front. He has great hand-eye coordination, knocking down pucks in front and being able to dig for them in the crease. Nesbitt has defensive responsibilities away from the puck with a long reach and smart hockey sense. His size is his biggest asset to NHL teams, along with his two-way abilities. Not only that, but he knows how to use it.
Windsor Spitfires
Boumedienne is quick, agile, and clean in transition in backward motion. He uses his feet well in all three zones, especially to create separation. His stats at the collegiate level may not showcase it, but he carries offensive instincts. The contribution he makes is typically further back during breakouts, making that initial first pass or picking up retrievals from behind the net to kick-start the offense. Standing at 6-foot-2, 183 pounds, it is hard to knock him out of position, and he is rarely caught off guard. Boumedienne is effective up-and-down the lineup, will eat big minutes and can support while on the power play or penalty kill. He draws a lot of attention to himself with his speed and rush defense, which creates a lot of space elsewhere, especially with how deceptive a puck carrier he is.
Boston University
The 17-year-old right-hand defenseman is a developmental, aggressive, yet responsible, burly blue liner. He can play in all situations and is often in battles. Blake Fiddler is confident in the offensive end when walking the blue line and is a strong leader on and off the ice. He carries explosive crossovers when skating backward and is positionally sound. The Nashville, Tennessee dual citizen can be a big piece to a backend with a 6-foot-4, 183-pound stature, with 3-4 years of development. He is best suited in a shutdown role, with a good hockey mind and offensive upside. His pace and skating ability match up to his frame and won’t slow him down. He can throw hits and block shots with good transitional tools and quick anticipation, making for a high-end first or second-pairing defenseman.
Edmonton Oil Kings
What can’t Václav Nestrašil do? Big body presence with good legs under him, a demanding presence in and around the net and has pinpoint accuracy with the puck on his stick. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound winger draws a crowd and will attack when an opponent least expects it. He feeds off give-and-gos, loves to battle, crashes the net and forces turnovers with a long reach. Nestrašil will take it to anyone, anywhere. The Czechia forward will pick corners but also take opponents into them, dig in on the back check, hunker down in front of the net to create traffic at 5-on-5 and will hold the line on the power play. His elusiveness and edge work are admirable for his stature, which helps him avoid or cause contact. Nestrašil commands like Wayne Simmonds—both right-shot wingers—with how he controls the front of the net, battles endlessly and doesn’t stop driving until the play is dead.
Muskegon Lumberjacks
Milton Gästrin is a strong, versatile player who will play anywhere in the lineup. The 17-year-old can slot in critical faceoffs and crash off the wing well. He is impactful from anywhere on the ice, with explosive movements and powerful strides. Gästrin makes a killing on drop passes to create separation and traffic in front of the shooter. He doesn’t hold the puck for long, with quick shot selection and passes as a true one-touch shooter.
MoDo Hockey
Cullen Potter is a true stop-and-start type of player. He can slow down and consider options, but also turn things up to another level and blow by defenders. His transition play from the neutral zone to the offensive zone is elite. He drives play and goes end-to-end in a heartbeat. He flows through ice and has a speedy release with a strong kick point. It is hard to stop him when he cuts into the zone and has an unlimited number of tricks up his sleeve. Potter is as deceptive as they come, between foot movements, silky hands, and a wide, deep stance, with mobility providing an edge over defenders.
Arizona State Univ
Malcolm Spence is a dynamic offensive player who excels from the perimeter to the slot and rushes up ice. He will force defenders to step back off the wall, isn't afraid to throw a reverse hit and will swing passes when necessary. The University of Michigan recruit draws attention with his elusive movements and high motor. One moment, his back is away from the play with the puck on his stick, the next, it is in the slot to a teammate. When Spence doesn’t have possession, which isn’t for very long, the puck always seems to find him. It is full throttle in the offensive zone, always on the move, surveying the offensive end, looking for openings and pacing around the high slot. The 18-year-old left winger can take over games and be a difference-maker. It doesn’t matter how he scores, and there is no question he will. It’s a matter of how and when. His quick release paired with his solid frame, wide stance and big base allows him to make a living off one-timers in the high slot. Spence holds his own away from the puck in the defensive end with the ability to strip pucks and be reliable on special teams. If the offensive charm continues to grow, 60-point seasons are a possibility for the two-way forward with top-six upside.
Erie Otters
William Horcoff is primarily a defensive forward who showcases occasional offensive flashes. He possesses strong playmaking abilities, along with a solid frame that allows him to gain an advantage over opponents. The 18-year-old generates turnovers through relentless pressure, directing players toward the outside while maintaining strong positional awareness. Enhancing his acceleration and footwork could improve his ability to control the pace of play and enhance his projection. He understands when to deliver a big hit or get aggressive, often expecting and reading plays before they develop. With a long reach and the strength to disrupt puck carriers or protect the puck on his own. His outlook is a middle-six forward with the potential to evolve into a considerable two-way center.
Univ. of Michigan
Brzustewicz is a capable two-way defenseman with high-calibre instincts and drive. He is a mobile skater who covers a lot of ground in short bursts and is difficult to beat in one-on-one situations. The Washington, Missouri defenseman has all the makings of a second-pairing with first-pairing upside, with the likelihood of being a versatile body up-and-down the lineup. He showcases a mature sense and a 200-foot pace, allowing him to shut down and disconnect offenses while remaining reliable during critical times of the game.
London Knights
Alexander Zharovsky is a lengthy 6-foot-1, 163-pound Russian with arguably some of the best hands in the entire class. The 18-year-old’s pace is rather slow, but with his tight-to-body stick handling, he can glide by defenders. He shows flashes of quick drives and can change direction on a dime, making for a smart decision-maker on both sides of the puck. He is an efficient, offensive-driven player with a high drive and aggressive forechecking. Zharovsky's only knock is the division he is in. Tolpar Ufa plays in the East division of the MHL, which is considered weaker than the West. Scouts expect his production to be at a higher rate when playing against lesser competition, despite being over a point per game with 24 goals in 45 games of his rookie season.
Tolpar Ufa
The St. Louis, Missouri native is the most diverse prospect in the class, away from the puck with his ability to outweigh opponents along the boards, hard forechecking, having physicality around the net, and gaining momentum through the neutral zone. He can be a dangerous presence when he gets going, and he excels against the best of the best. He is a very mature player with tons of grit and athleticism. Vansaghi possesses tools that make for a strong and reliable player who knows the impact he could have on any team. He may not be the most exciting player in the offensive zone and doesn’t have an overly high floor, but he gets to the dirty areas and can add energy to any line.
Michigan State Univ
