Adam Valentini Scouting Report
#92 LW, Adam Valentini
Team: Michigan
Height/Weight: 5-9 177 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: April 1, 2008.
Overview: Adam Valentini was the tendered by the Chicago Steel and was the Chicago Steel’s second round pick in the 2024 USHL Draft. Adam Valentini ended up becoming the first line center on the Chicago Steel in his first season in 2024-2025. He was going to make the jump to the OHL, but turned that down once he got an NCAA scholarship to Michigan. Adam Valentini is a third line left winger on Michigan behind first round pick Will Horcoff and second round pick Malcolm Spence. He can play all three forward roles and has the floor of a first line AHL player and the ceiling of a first line NHL player. He will probably end up being a third line forward on an NHL team once he finishes developing at Michigan since one can argue a player with his size is too small to play on a fourth line in the NHL since playing on a fourth line requires you to be sharp and physical defensively.
A lot of readers reading this would have reservations about putting someone 5-9 177 on a fourth line where you need someone who can handle defensive responsibilities. His coach called him a pitbull puppy and he can fight back if he needs to. I saw him knock a Western Michigan player down when watching Adam Valentini film against Western Michigan.
Strengths:
Versatility: Adam Valentini has the versatility to play all three forward roles at left winger, center, and right winger. He is mainly a left winger. He has lined up to take face offs for the Chicago Steel at center. He also models his game after centers like Nate MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby. I believe he will project better as a winger in the NHL and left winger is the role he has transitioned to once arriving in the NCAA.
Passing: Adam Valentini has the playmaking you covet. Gets the puck open to teammates with ease.
Shooting: Adam Valentini has the wrist shot power, wrist shot accuracy, slap shot power, and slap shot accuracy you want. I saw him score on a variety of shots when watching his college tape. He is one of the more precise shooters in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Weaknesses:
Awareness: Adam Valentini tends to get too close to the glass at times. If Valentini is pinned down near the glass he has a hard time fighting back at times.
Skating: Adam Valentini has a very choppy stride when skating he also did not show the explosive burst that wows me when it comes to seeing a fast skater. His technique is effective at times, yet inconsistent. When I say his technique is inconsistent what I mean is sometimes he looks like a ballerina dancer and other times he looks like a hockey player because sometimes he has lapses where he will twirl in a spinning motion when skating near the net. I want to see him always look like a hockey player when skating if that makes sense.
Adam Valentini has a high ceiling, but I feel like there is way more risk in drafting someone like Adam Valentini in the first round versus Massachusetts defenseman Landon Nycz which is why Nycz was third and Valentini was fourth among my college skaters. I can see why people still have Valentini higher than Nycz and it is mainly due to his point producing at Michigan if you want to look past his flaws as a skater right now. Even after looking at the pros and cons of this young man, I still got Adam Valentini in the first round.
Skater Ratings:
Skating: 4
Puck Skill: 6
Scoring Ability: 7
Playmaking Ability: 8
Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
Character: 7
Physicality: 6
Defensive Play: 5