Let’s take a closer look at some of the top North American prospects to watch this season
With training camps kicking off around hockey and pre-season games getting underway, hockey is just around the corner. That means the NHL draft coverage kicks into gear after a brief break post-Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Let’s look at some of the top North American talent heading into the season and what the year may hold for them ahead of next summer’s NHL draft. Candidly, Hagens has been the best player for his age group at the NTDP in each of the last two years.
Hagens is a playmaker who is constantly pushing the pace . His dirty dangles and slippery movement all over the ice always give opponents problems.
Hagens heads to Boston College, where he will be yet another premier prospect looking to go near the top of the draft class as a college freshman. He follows the footsteps of Owen Power, Matty Beniers, Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini, who came from the NCAA in the last few seasons as top three picks.
Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL), 6-foot-3, 196 pounds
If Martone were a center, there would be more conversation about him challenging Hagens for the top spot.
He finished third in scoring at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship last spring with 17 points, trailing Hagens and 16-year-old phenom and teammate Gavin McKenna. Martone was the captain of that Canadian team despite being one of the youngest players.
The 17-year-old plays with power and skill, attacking defenders head-on and showcasing his blend of strength and skill. The Brampton Steelheads’ winger is a handful for defenders.
Martone plays a brand of hockey that NHL teams love. If he can tear the OHL up the way many expect, he could challenge for first overall by the end of the year.
Matthew Schaefer, D, Erie Otters (OHL), 6-foot-1, 174 pounds
Schaefer is an incredibly agile and smooth skater who often looks effortless as he makes his way around the ice. He has the instant burst to win short races and the top speed to make up for any mistake. His game is far more well-rounded than one would expect from a smooth-skating offensive-leaning blueliner with excellent defensive reads and a fantastic defensive stick.
Logan Hensler, D, Univ. of Wisconsin (NCAA), 6-foot-2, 196 pounds
Playing for the NTDP’s U-18 squad last year, Hensler didn’t get nearly as much love because of Cole Hutson putting up some impressive numbers in his draft year.
Hensler has all the tools you could ask for from a defender. He has size, mobility, intelligence and skill. He has the ability to play an offensive role, pushing the puck up ice or a defensive role by stepping up and killing a rush attack before it even gets a chance to develop. How he defines his game and establishes a role for himself in college this upcoming season will be integral to supplanting Schaefer as the top defender in the draft class.
Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State Univ. (NCAA), 5-foot-9, 161 pounds
Although he is an undersized forward, Potter plays bigger than he is, bringing some solid two-way play. He uses his speed and agility effectively to affect the game at both ends of the ice.
Potter is a dual-threat offensive player who was often seen as the play-driver and catalyst for the U-17 group at the NTDP last year. If he can show his size isn’t an issue in college and he can wreak havoc with his speed, Potter could end up pretty high on draft boards.
William Moore, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL), 6-foot-2, 161 pounds
Moore leads his team in goals, draws pressure, works around defenders with his passing game and then looks to get himself into pockets of space. His shot is quite good, and it often comes from excellent scoring positions around the slot or faceoff dot
Moore is slender but strong and looked more than capable against older USHL competition last year. With Cullen Potter gone to the NCAA, Moore will be one of the lead dogs heading into the upcoming NTDP season and will look to lead a solid U-18 squad.
Malcolm Spence, LW, Erie Otters (OHL), 6-foot-2, 192 pounds
With a couple of big moments in a Team Canada sweater under his belt, including the gold medal-winning goal in overtime at the Hlinka a year ago as a 16-year-old, Malcolm Spence has been on the radar for a couple of years now.
His speed is immediately noticeable when you watch him, blazing up and down the ice. He is a very good playmaker who is always looking to advance play and then move up ice. Adding a bit of a goal-scoring touch and weaponizing his speed even more could make him a very high draft pick next June.
Alex Huang, D, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL), 6-foot, 170 pounds
Playing alongside Schaefer for Canada at the Hlinka, Alex Huang showed off just how effective he can be by playing the role of safety blanket on the back end. He consistently made excellent defensive reads, using his mobility to get into position.
Huang is a capable puck-mover as well, consistently looking to hit teammates on the breakout with passes. His puck skill isn’t overly impressive, and his game lacks a dynamism that top-of-the-draft defenders have, but as a mid-first-round pick, Huang could fill a need for quite a few teams.
Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 6-foot-2, 179 pounds
After a strong Hlinka, Desnoyers put his name near the top of draft boards with impressive complementary play.
Huang is a capable puck-mover as well, consistently looking to hit teammates on the breakout with passes. His puck skill isn’t overly impressive, and his game lacks a dynamism that top-of-the-draft defenders have, but as a mid-first-round pick, Huang could fill a need for quite a few teams.
Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 6-foot-2, 179 pounds
Desnoyers has been rising up draft boards thanks to his strong play at the Hlinka tournament. He’s a versatile center with size and skill, capable of playing a complementary role alongside top talent. Desnoyers will look to build on his impressive international performances as he heads into a pivotal season with the Moncton Wildcats.
With the 2025 NHL Draft still months away, these prospects have plenty of time to further develop their games and make their case to NHL scouts. Keep an eye on these players as they take the next steps in their promising careers.
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