-
Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup concluded last week with Canada winning the tournament, marking the start of draft season. While it’s far too early to build models or create rankings, there are certainly players worth keeping an eye on this season.
The list of promising talents starts with James Hagens. Michael Misa, a former exceptional player in the OHL, Roger McQueen, a huge center in the WHL, and Adam Benak, a Czech Dynamo, are just a few other players that will have a lot of ink spilled on them.
Here are 10 of the most interesting players to keep an eye on this season, and the ones who are likely to dominate the discussion for one reason or another. Note that the players are sorted alphabetically by last name, not by ranking.
Adam Benak
C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Benak is one of the more interesting players in the draft. A below-average center – 5’7″ and 165 pounds – he has impressed every time he’s looked at him. The small center has broken points records for the Czech Republic at seemingly every international tournament and is impossible to ignore. With his outstanding skating and skill, Benak is an offensive catalyst with great vision and the ability to execute plays.
Benak is more versatile on defense than many of his colleagues. He reads distances well, supports his teammates without the puck and keeps his stick in good positions.
If Benak can get to 5-10 and continue to improve his game, he will be one of the most talked about players come June. He has real potential to be a top 20 pick and his mix of talent makes him an exciting player to keep an eye on this season.
Anton Frondell
C/W, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan)
The top European prospect in the draft, the 6’2″ forward plays on the wing for Djurgarden but has also excelled as a center against his peers. Frondell has put up excellent numbers in the Swedish J20 league and international play, showing excellent puck-handling and playmaking skills.
He is consistently effective on both sides of the puck and displays good habits away from the puck as well, displaying greater defensive awareness and commitment than his peers. He drives the offensive game with power and forces opponents to play at his tempo.
If teams view him as a center, he could easily become a lottery pick.
James Hagens
C, Boston College (NCAA)
Widely regarded as a top talent, Hagens stands out as a dynamic skater and playmaker who consistently elevates the performance of his teammates. His understanding of spacing and ability to play in tight areas set him apart, while his excellent transition game is fueled by his skating and vision.
His style of play is remarkably consistent from shift to shift, and he is more physically competitive and committed than other players of similar skill level his age. He is expected to play a major role at Boston College and on the U.S. World Junior Team.
Hagens is expected to become a top-notch playmaker center in the NHL.
Logan Hensler
D, USNTDP
Hensler is a 6’2″ right-handed defenseman with pro-level skating, a good stick and instincts. He plays a balanced game, doesn’t take unnecessary risks and goes unnoticed most nights for the right reasons. He has shown the ability to enter the game, create offense and assert himself, but that aspect is inconsistent.
In defence, he controls the gaps well, puts the players under pressure without much physical effort and ensures effective changes in play.
To be selected in the top 10, he will need to assert himself on both sides of the puck, dictate play and show that he can dictate the tempo of the game with his play on the blue line. He has all the tools to be an effective top-4 defenseman in the NHL if he can consistently dictate the tempo from the back.
Porter Martone
RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Martone’s birthday is at the end of October and he is one of the older players in the draft class. At 6’3″ and 200 lbs, he is physically more mature. He is a potential top-line power forward with Tkachuk-like passing, and his style is most effective when he is direct.
He has shown he can play a finesse game and has what it takes to dominate cycle play and play in tight areas. If he can find a balance between finesse and more power in his net shots, he can take advantage of his frame and tenacity.
He has a professional shot and delivery and can beat goalies from distance. However, he needs to mature in his game without the puck and improve his discipline to avoid taking untimely penalties. If he shows his consistency, he will likely be in the top three, and some even speculate that he could challenge Hagens for the top spot.
Roger McQueen
C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Right-handed and 6’6″, McQueen is an interesting center born in late October. He uses crossovers effectively in transition to push defenders back and change gears, but he needs to consistently assert himself as a dominant player and learn to take full advantage of his frame.
He physically battles with tenacity to win pucks and get his teammates in position. His unique ability to control the puck and react excellently in tight areas is impressive for a player his size.
As he becomes more comfortable with his frame, there’s a real chance he can become a rare 6-6 player with elite hands. Scouts are excited to see how he uses his size to impose himself physically and control games. If McQueen can continue to play in tight areas while also dominating physically, teams will take him early since that combination is so rare.
Michael Misa
C/LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Although Misa was allowed to play in the OHL a year earlier, he was not able to show the expected dominance despite his versatile offensive game. He finished second in the team scoring and was the best forward for the Memorial Cup winner Saginaw Spirit.
An elusive skater with excellent edgework, smooth transitions and fluidity, he can break away from defenders anywhere on the ice. His vision allows him to enhance his teammates’ play with nifty passes into scoring zones.
Misa makes childish mistakes with the puck, but his defensive sense is remarkable. He positions his stick well in passing lanes, skates back effectively in transition, and shows great potential to become an impactful two-way player. If Misa can increase his productivity and increase his ability to take over games more consistently, he has the potential to be a top-five pick.
Ivan Ryabkin
C, MHL Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
Ryabkin is the best Russian in the draft class and his statistics are impressive, as he broke Matvei Michkov’s U17 MHL points record.
He is strong on his skates, has solid edgework and good balance. Ryabkin’s offensive instincts allow him to find open spaces to execute his lightning-quick release and beat goalies with ease. He has good spatial awareness and uses his puck skills to maneuver in tight spaces.
Scouts are concerned about his inconsistent performance without the puck, but when he is active, Ryabkin wins pucks 50-50, makes his teammates better, and can create chances out of nothing. He will likely be a talented winger in the NHL and will be an interesting player to keep an eye on as the season progresses, especially if he gets to play in some KHL games.
Matthew Schaefer
D, Erie Otters (OHL)
Schaefer is one of the youngest players in the draft and will likely be a lottery pick. The former first-round pick in the OHL stands out as the best defensive prospect in the class.
He has been particularly impressive in international play, where he regularly fills top matchup roles and is trusted in critical game situations. An excellent skater with multi-directional mobility and good edgework, he rarely loses his balance. A versatile two-way defender, he impacts both sides of the puck and plays a mature, efficient game by managing gaps, anticipating plays and using a good stick to shut down threats.
Scouts admire his mature game analysis, decision making and ability to execute in tight spaces and believe he has the potential to become one of the best defensemen in the NHL.
Charlie Trethewey
D, USNTDP
The right-handed defenseman is one of the youngest players in the draft class, has one of the best slap shots of the 2025 class and has a talent for getting his wrist shot on goal.
Tretheway has pro-level size – 6’1″, 195 pounds – and has shown the ability to dictate the tempo of the game from the blue line. He defends with grit and his ferocious style is enticing to talent scouts. He is a very raw prospect with balanced skating and plenty of room to develop on both sides of the puck.
Trethewey’s reading and decision-making skills are not perfect yet, and he will benefit from playing a leading role in the program this season before transferring to Boston University. He has the makings of a good two-way defenseman and the potential to significantly improve his defensive game and become one of the top four defensemen in the NHL.
