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CHL Vs USA Hockey Top Prospect Game 2

Tyler Ballesteros-WillardReports

Game Report – November 27, 2024
USANTDP 2 VS CHL 3
Venue: Tribute Communities Center (Oshawa)


#8 F, Justin Carbonneau
Team: CHL: Armada (QMJHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 190 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: November 25, 2006

Overview:

When discussing top forward prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft from the QMJHL, Justin Carbonneau is hard to overlook. Carbonneau’s game is best described as explosive—he’s constantly in motion, with a quick, powerful, but most importantly, an accurate release that makes him a dangerous goal-scorer. His hands are as quick his foot speed, creating opportunities for him and his teammates. Despite some areas for improvement in defensive positioning, inconsistent physicality in his own zone and his lateral movement, his in-game intensity and electrifying shot make him one of the most exciting prospects to watch from the QMJHL as he makes you stand up because of the unpredictability that he brings to every game. There is no mistake about it that Justin Carbonneau in my eyes is going to be a top 15 pick in the 1st round and may rise similarly to what happened with Beckett Sennecke as Carbonneau is absolutely destined to be a top 6 sniper with 35 goal potential in a weaker draft class.

Strengths:

  • Shot Release: Carbonneau’s shot is fast and powerful, with a near-instant release.
  • In-game example: A very quick and heavy one-timer that was used in the mid to late portions of the 1st period which forced the US netminder to make a strong save.
  • Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet.
  • In-game example: He uses a lot of quick cuts/stride dekes when driving up the rush (seen a lot in the 3rd period).
  • Compete Level and Offensive Awareness: Carbonneau displays relentless effort each shift and understands deeply where he needs to position himself to retrieve the puck via a pass or broken play.
  • In-game example: In the third period, he chased down an opposing forward on the backcheck and fights for the puck very hard during board battles, especially in the later stages of the 2nd.
  • In-game example: Even though he didn’t score on the resulting play, not only he created enough separation for an open cross crease pass which translated into an A scoring chance, he stayed at the front of the net creating a screen on the Cole Reschny wrist shot goal with a minute and 12 seconds left in the game.

Weaknesses:

  • Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
  • In-game example: Majority of it seen in the 2nd period, in his own end, he plays a little too low in the defensive zone, which freed up a lot of space that the US defense take advantage of to walk in with an open shooting lane.
  • Lateral Skating: Although he has a strong stride, his transitions and crossovers occasionally lack smoothness.
  • In-game example: This was apparent when he attempted a lateral pivot with the puck and was beaten by an opposing forward entering the zone as he tried to use his explosiveness but wasn’t flexible enough to do so in the earlier stages of the 3rd.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 7
  • Scoring Ability: 8
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
  • Character: 7
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 4

#19 D, Charlie Trethewey

Team: USA (USNTDP, USHL)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 190 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: August 2, 2007

Overview:

Charlie Trethewey is a well-rounded defenseman for the USNTDP, known for his strong skating, stick positioning, and defensive awareness. His standout skills include excellent puck control, actively defensive stickwork defending the rush, and displaying excellent one-on-one defense, particularly in rush situations. While his backward skating and stride offer power, he needs to improve acceleration. His passing, especially on breakouts, is truly a key asset to offensive game due to how great the transition of play it becomes; however, his shooting accuracy needs quite a bit of work in order for decently offensive chances to come his way due to the fact he shoots high. He is physically pretty solid, Trethewey plays responsibly but could improve his physicality in some areas, like boxing out opponents in-front of the net. Projected as a late 1st round pick to early 2nd round in the 2025 NHL Draft, he has the potential to be a top-pairing or elite 3-4 mobile shutdown defenseman with high end penalty-killing traits with a straight hockey mind playing the game in a simple way, but the right.

Strengths:

  • Defensive Play: Extremely strong in positioning, stickwork, and defending the rush, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations.
    • Example: Neutralized opponents with smooth, gradual positioning while defending the rushes generated by CHL in most of his shifts that he was on during the game (A lot of the rushes coming in the 3rd).
  • Passing: A strong passer, particularly on breakouts, with the ability to make accurate and quick passes under pressure.
    • Example: Connected on a long breakout pass to Moore early in the later stages of the 1st, leading to smoother offensive zone entry.
  • Skating: Smooth backward skating and solid stride extensions, giving him the ability to transition effectively on the ice.
    • Example: Used a lot of his transitional lateral movement to stay square in position on the opposing rushes created by team CHL.

Weaknesses:

  • Shooting: Needs to improve accuracy and intelligence on his shots, particularly from long-range.
    • Example: His shots tend to go way too high and wide, missing the net, which can be improved by shooting lower for deflections which was seen during the times he was trying to create havoc in-front of the net which then avoids waisted chances.
  • Physicality: Could be more consistent in using his body to box out opponents and prevent screens.
    • Example: Needs to be a little more aggressive when positioning in front of the net and boxing out the opposition to prevent crucial screens for his goaltender.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 5
  • Scoring Ability: 3
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 5
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 8

#94 F, Porter Martone

Team: CHL: Brampton Steelheads (OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 196Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB October 26th, 2006

Overview:

Porter Martone is the definition of an offensive dynamo for the Steelheads—a player who’s hard to stop and a true leader on the ice. When Martone has the puck, it stays on his stick until he’s ready to let it fly or make a pinpoint pass. He’s an agile, dynamic centerman with a full arsenal of moves, playing with poise and a nearly unmatched awareness, like he’s got eyes in the back of his head. His passing is elite, with each one flat and crisp, and up the ice, he maneuvers with the puck as if he’s surfing through defenders. He’s not the fastest skater, but his stride mechanics and agility shine through, allowing him to fend off opponents with strong edgework—impressive for someone at 6’3. While known as a playmaker with great anticipation, his powerful wrist shot makes him a serious dual threat. Defensively, he’s solid too, strong at intercepting passes and protecting the puck, making it tough for opponents to regain control. By improving his consistency however at throwing the body, with the skill set that he has with the size that he brings, Martone is absolutely destined to become top-three NHL draft pick in the making and a future superstar playmaking/power forward.

Strengths:

  • Offensive Tactics: Highly versatile in offensive zones; quick, smooth stick handling with excellent passing accuracy.
    • In-game example: On the very first play of the game, after chasing down the puck in the offensive zone and retrieving it, he confidently controls it and displays the right instinct of throwing one on net with a screen in-front which led to Desnoyers easily deflecting it.
  • Shooting: Accurate and quick wrist shot; intelligent shot selection to create rebounds and catch goalies off guard.
    • In-game example: In the early parts of the 3rd period, he let a rocket go after walking in with a simple toe-drag which created some confusion.
    • His toe-drags on the powerplay allow him to easily walk in and put his shot short side which causes the goaltender to make some difficult saves.
  • Skating Agility: Agile, able to pivot quickly to create space in the offensive zone.
    • In-game example: On the powerplay in the 3rd period, he made an in-tight adjustment with his footwork which allowed him to position himself a between the legs shot which made it quite difficult for the goaltender to react, similarly to how Matthew Tkachuk does it.

Weaknesses:

  • Physicality: Shows grit in battles and improvement in physicality due to his great leadership but sometimes does not fully use his size to his advantage as his body is still maturing.
    • In-game example: Mid-to late portions in the 2nd period, where there was a scrum in the boards for a puck battle, Martone gets outmuscled by an opposing player while trying to protect the puck.
  • Skating Explosiveness: Quick feet and acceleration involving his strides.
    • In-game example: When there were 2-on-1s generated by the US players in the 3rd, period, he looks like a slug as he can’t keep up with the play very well due to his short stride mechanics.
  • Defensive Awareness: Sometimes overcommits on defense, losing position.
    • In-game example: His latest shifts in the 1st period, he got a little too engaged in board battles and played really up on the defense when he should have played a little higher by covering the point from a respective distance, which would have allowed him to control the play a little more effectively.

Skater Category Summarization:

  • Skating: 5
  • Puck Skill: 8
  • Scoring Ability: 7
  • Playmaking Ability: 6
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 7
  • Physicality: 5
  • Defensive Play: 5

#77 D, Kashawn Aitcheson

Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 200

Shoots: Left

DOB September 21th, 2006

Overview:

Kashawn Aitcheson is easily one of Barrie’s most promising defensemen, thanks to his intense tenacity and aggression. On the ice, he’s a true physical force like non-other in the OHL—like a lion ready to strike to say the very least. A very tough, and reliable two-way defenseman, Aitcheson brings an underrated offensive game along with his trademark grit. When he lines up a hit, he’s like a freight train, often taking down opponents with powerful reverse hits. His strength shines when boxing out players in front of the net, delivering punishing blows to those who try to stir up trouble in-front of his goaltender, and he does it in a manner that does not cross the lines of the rulebook. While he’s not known for being a proficient puck handler at high speeds, he controls the puck well, keeping it steady and protected. His passing can be a quite a hit-or-miss situation, but he has a heavy wrist shot from the point that’s effective at getting through traffic for rebounds. Though his straight-line speed is good, his edgework and quick starts in reverse need some refining, especially which will help him defend the rush better. Overall, Aitcheson has the makings of a solid shutdown defenseman who can unleash his shot from the second pairing—projected to be a middle second-round pick.

Strengths:

  • Defensive Play: Very active stick against the rush and does not fall for fakes very easily.
    • In-game example: In the 16-minute mark of the 2nd period, Team USA had a 2-on-1 chance involving McKinney in the play with Aitchesion defending the rush in the offensive zone. He successfully managed to use his stick efficiently and caused McKinney to miss high in the slot.
  • Physicality: Aggressive and effective at hitting, consistently finishing checks.
    • In-game example: Used reverse hits to maintain puck control mainly in the 3rd period and wears down opposition players very easily in every scrum that he enters which in over 85% of the scrums in-front of the net, the US players did not get very close due to his strong presence at playing a fine-line in the game.
  • Shooting: Very heavy wrist shot from far out that creates rebounds and far wrist shots that are hitting the net.
    • In-game example: Late in the 1st, he generated a wrist shot from far out which the goaltender had to make a tough save due to the amount of power he generated which could have led to strong rebound chances.

Weaknesses:

  • Lateral Mobility: Lateral movements and pivots are choppy, impacting his edgework.
    • In-game example: In the 3rd period, there are moments where he is defending from far out around the net and with faster players around him, he has difficulty of using his pivots to adjust back, and he displays a little bit of discomfort turning towards his forehand side in a reverse position so he could make himself open for an easier pass.
    • In-game example: On occasion he sometimes would have difficulty skating reverse as well regarding to defending 2-on-1 rushes that were seen throughout the 2nd and 3rd period.
  • Passing Consistency:
    • In-game example: Good cases where he would make a decent breakout pass over 70% of the time but there are stretches, he misses badly. When he’d miss a stretch pass in the 3rd period, his passes are so hard that one of the occasions, was called icing.

Skater Category Summarization:

  • Skating: 5
  • Puck Skill: 4
  • Scoring Ability: 5
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 7
  • Defensive Play: 7

#19 F, Cameron Schmidt

Team: Vancouver Giants (WHL, Canada)

Height/Weight 5’8”, 152Ibs

Shoots: Right

DOB: January 19th, 2007

Overview:

Cameron Schmidt is no questioned to be one of Canada’s fast and agile marksmen. When Cameron is on the ice, he looks like he is a race car due his agility. Schmidt is the definition of a fast and electrifying winger who seems to never miss a scoring chance whether it’s a goal or an assist while maintaining a grit portion of his game. His shot is just a laser beam locked on to one target from anywhere on the ice. His agility seems to give him a huge advantage over the opponent as he is one of the best at maneuvering with the puck in tight. He has tremendous offensive awareness as he seems to always be at the right place at the right time to either stop a player from making a play, or if its even creating his own scoring chance. He is considered average defensively as he will make a good poke check, however, he plays a little too high up. He is really good at making the close quarter passing plays, but he does need to work on the accuracy of his long passing. He has very smooth hands and can use his reach to even deke over a player. One thing to be admired is that he is quite fisty in puck battles. That being said, he is no tank as he is only 5’8 and only 150 pounds. If all pans out, Cameron Schmidt no doubt about it can become a crucial pick for a team who could just pan out to be an underrated top line forward with crucial powerplay minutes picked in the 10-20 range of the 1st round similar to a Cam Atkinson who displays a grittier game and has a more deceptive shot to become a consistent 35-40+ goal scorer.

Strengths:

  • Versatile Shot Release: Schmidt’s shot is fast and powerful, with a near-instant release, both forehand and backhand.
  • In-game example: On one occasion, he was given a pass wide open in the 2nd, even though he didn’t score, he let a shot go so quick to the point where if you didn’t even look for a second, you wouldn’t have known he had it for a second.
  • Puck Handling: His quick hands are as agile as his feet.
  • In-game example: A play in the 3rd he demonstrated his elite puck skills was when he dangled out 2 plays and then one final cut on the rush to the outside which allowed him to get off a very powerful backhand shot which ultimately was on goal.
  • Compete Level and Offensive Awareness: For a player only 5’8, displays relentless effort each shift and understands where he needs to be to force the opposition to make a mistake.
  • In-game example: Throughout the whole game, he demonstrated his tenacity and his engine by always digging in as hard as he could in board battles in the offensive zone and being as responsible as he could be in his own end at playing his defenseman at a respective distance.
  • In-game example: A play in the 2nd period in his own end, he was aware enough that there was a shot that was going to be blocked and he launched himself open with his tremendous speed which then Jake O’Brien sprung him the puck on a breakaway.

Weaknesses:

  • Lack of Size: Even though he engages very well physically, he really needs to build on muscle.
  • In-game example: Even though he displays the heart of a lion by playing like he’s 5’11 and not 5’8, at the end of the day, he’s still 5’8 and 150 pounds and when he is in the board battles against the bigger players, he does get muscled off the puck more often.
  • Defensive Positioning: He can sometimes get out of position defensively, creating openings for the opposition.
  • In-game example: Overall does a good job on the penalty kill, but with Schmidt, he doesn’t play as reserved as he should be and sometimes can get caught out of position, he needs to become more consistent at playing his side of the ice.

Skater Category Summarization: 

  • Skating: 7 
  • Puck Skill: 7
  • Scoring Ability: 8
  • Playmaking Ability: 5 
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6 
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 4 
  • Defensive Play: 5 

#66 F, Michael Misa
Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 16, 2007

Overview:

Michael Misa undeniably an incredible talent and the main offensive engine for the Saginaw Spirit. With his elite hands, tremendous hockey IQ, and exceptional poise in the offensive zone, he consistently finds ways to make an impact on both ends of the ice. His passing ability is his biggest stand out, with quick, accurate, and soft feeds that often thread the needle under pressure. Though not the fastest skater when it comes to using his full strides, Misa uses his agility and edgework to remain elusive which then allows himself to open up opportunities that were not available prior. His shot is quite accurate, and he knows how to manipulate goalies with deceptive timing which in-fact, he’s been using more often which is a positive sign which allows himself to become less predictable. Defensively, Misa excels at disrupting plays, particularly on the penalty kill, where his “patient aggression” forces turnovers. However, he could improve his faceoff timing and physical engagement in board battles. Misa’s durability, vision, and offensive creativity make him a surefire top-5 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the potential to be a first-line center who displays great reliability.

Strengths:

  • Playmaking Ability/Offensive Awareness: Elite-level passing and vision make him an offensive catalyst.
    • Example: Generated an amazing cycle/give and go play with Martone and Schaefer on the powerplay which demonstrates his high-end ability to cycle the puck.
    • Parked himself in the perfect position for Desnoyers to absolutely thread the needle to him for a wide-open tap-in goal in the 2nd period.
  • Agility and Edgework: Exceptional mobility helps him evade defenders and create space.
    • Example: Used his tomahawk like edges to make him a little more effective with his puck-handling ability in the 1st period to separate himself from the opposition and begin cycles.
  • Defensive Awareness: Consistently disrupts plays.
    • Example: Forced turnovers and shut down the Americans chances in the offensive zone by forcing them to use a lot of their time on the outside, not allowing them to have a strong scoring chance from in-tight.

Weaknesses:

  • Faceoffs: Needs to refine timing and technique for consistent success in the draw.
    • Example: Lost some critical defensive-zone draws in the third period, leading to sustained offensive pressure from the US.
  • Physicality: Avoids board battles at times, limiting his impact in tighter situations. (Note: HUGE IMPROVEMENT)
    • In-game example of improvement: He became a lot more engaged physically as he threw a lot of heavy hits, especially one of them in the 2nd period where he dropped an US in open ice.
    • In-game example of improvements needed: He however becomes less engaged in the board battles as Desnoyers takes in charge while he plays center when it should be Misa getting the puck for Desnoyers and act as an active winger when he plays wing.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 8
  • Scoring Ability: 6
  • Playmaking Ability: 8
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 4
  • Defensive Play: 6

#44 F, Brady Martin
Team: Soo Greyhounds (OHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 175 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 16, 2007

Overview:

Brady Martin no doubt about it is the most skilled two-way forward for the Greyhounds who combines great grit with unique creativity to contribute at both ends of the ice. He excels in board battles for the puck, using his strong puck-handling and awareness to maintain possession and create opportunities for his teammates. Where it was seen was around the 13-minute mark of second period, where he made a small chop on the puck into open space under pressure, which really enabled a teammate of his to extend the offensive cycle with the puck to generate more pressure. While Martin’s elite passing is his greatest asset, he occasionally tries to force plays that aren’t there, leading to key turnovers which in these cases, he needs to become a little more precautionary with the puck by becoming a little simpler. For example, that was seen was in the first period, where he overcomplicated a solo rush, losing possession when a simpler play would have been more effective by example, dumping the puck for his wingers. His quick-release shot is very accurate and effective in close quarters, but he needs to shoot the puck a little more from far out. He demonstrated this in the third period, scoring a goal with a snap shot from the slot. Martin’s balanced playstyle and strong work ethic make him a middle 1st round prospect, with the potential to develop into a top-six reliable yet creative centerman who can be slotted in any situation acting as a mega Swiss-army knife.

Strengths:

  • Board Play and Puck Handling: Maintains possession under pressure and creates opportunities.
    • Example: Chipped the puck into open space during a second-period cycle, leading to sustained offensive pressure, especially when he got pinned in the boards as he demonstrates great footwork with the puck.
  • Passing and offensive creativity: Keeps plays alive with smart, accurate passes.
    • Example: In the 1st period, he kept the play alive after making a drop pass in the o-zone to keep sustained pressure after drawing two players to him in the boards.
  • Defensive Contributions and instant physicality:
    • Example: Early portions of the 2nd, due to his excellent core strength, absolutely belted a US player with not a lot of difficulty, especially around the US net after his shot.
    • Example: Even though there is not a pure example, he was so consistent at being in the right place at the right time for his defensemen to easily distribute him the puck to begin easier breakouts for his wingers.

Weaknesses:

  • Shot: His shot can become quite predictable and needs to be much quicker and slightly needs to improve his accuracy for it to be effective.
    • Example: On that same play regarding to when he made that huge hit, the shot he displayed, he did not display a lot of energy into his shot as his shooting mechanics seemed a little short which does not allow him to generate as high of a velocity as he would have liked.
  • Acceleration: Needs quicker first steps to be in better position
    • Example: Brady lost position on one of the opposing players which Jack Ivankovic was forced to make a great save a early-mid second-period shift due to a little loss of explosiveness in him which could have propelled Brady in tighter positioning to get a stick on the A+ scoring chance

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 4
  • Puck Skill: 7
  • Scoring Ability: 4
  • Playmaking Ability: 7
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
  • Character: 7
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 5

#18 F, Caleb Desnoyers

Team: Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL, Canada)

Height/Weight: 6’2”, 180Ibs

Shoots: Left

DOB April 11th, 2007

Overview:

Caleb Desnoyers is a dynamic two-way/playmaking centerman with a complete game that blends offensive creativity, physicality, and defensive awareness. His exceptional playmaking and vision on the ice when it comes to understanding the positioning of his teammates is one of, if not his strongest attribute. He demonstrates solid puck skills and persistence, maintaining control under pressure due to him understanding how to use his frame very well. While his shot is powerful but less consistent than his passing, Desnoyers forces goaltenders to stay sharp with his strong pass-to-shot ratio. Defensively, he excels in positioning, faceoffs, and as mentioned, using his size effectively. However, his edgework needs improvement, as slow pivots and transitioning in tight spaces provides him some difficulty when it comes to generating explosiveness. With refinement in his skating and shooting mechanics whether its about being square to where he wants to shoot the puck, or even finding techniques that allows himself to be smoother in transition, he projects as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a potential top-six forward with a 65-70-point ceiling who can be slotted in any situation given.

Strengths:

  • Playmaking and Offensive Awareness:Exceptional vision and anticipation make him a key offensive facilitator.
    • Example: Made an unbelievable thread-the-needle pass to Michael Misa through 3 US players on the powerplay for an easy tap in goal in the 2nd period.
    • Example: On the 1st period goal, he was aware enough with the use of his body to position himself in-front of the net for him to properly deflect that puck in the net which Boettiger had no chance of stopping.
  • Defensive Awareness:Consistently positions himself well and disrupts plays with interceptions and shot blocks.
    • Example: Blocked a cross-ice pass in the 1st period and immediately transitioned play effectively into the offensive zone which allowed his wingers (Martone/Misa) to generate more speed.
  • Puck Protection and Physicality: Uses his size effectively to shield the puck and deliver impactful checks.
    • Example: Protected the puck along the boards in the first period, then delivered a hit to force a turnover to startle the opposition.

Weaknesses:

  • Edgework and Agility:Struggles with quick turns and maintaining momentum, providing himself no assistance in creating himself more space in shorter time periods.
    • Example: When he gets in-front of the net to try to act as a screen, he doesn’t generate enough quickness in his “tomahawk” edges to get a stronger in-tight position when there’s a defenseman like Maceo Phillips or Charlie Trethewey boxing him out.
  • Shooting Consistency: While powerful, his shot can miss the net at times and lacks the precision of his passing.
    • Example: Missed a key shot in the slot in the second period, failing to capitalize on an open look which Boettiger made an easier save than expected.

Skater Category Summarization:

  • Skating: 4
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 5
  • Playmaking Ability: 7
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 7

#48 D, Matthew Schaefer
Team: Erie Otters (OHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 175 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 5, 2007

Overview:

Matthew Schaefer is one of the most complete defensemen in the 2025 NHL Draft class and is regarded as Canada’s top blue-liner. His game is defined by elite skating, exceptional hockey IQ, and a calm, poised demeanor in all situations. Schaefer excels at reading plays, positioning himself perfectly to neutralize threats, and consistently making the right decisions under pressure. His ability to simplify the game while maintaining a high impact is reminiscent of Jaccob Slavin’s defensive mastery. Offensively, Schaefer is a reliable puck mover with precise passing ability. His shot, while not overly powerful, is accurate and well-timed, making him a threat from the point. Schaefer’s skating is his greatest asset, blending agility and explosiveness with fluid transitions that allow him to evade forecheckers and maintain control. Defensively, Schaefer’s awareness and stickwork make him a formidable opponent. He consistently squashes offensive space and forces turnovers with timely poke checks and interceptions. One notable moment came in the first period when he broke up a cross-ice pass in his zone and quickly turned the play into a counterattack. While not overly physical, Schaefer’s core strength and stability allow him to deliver effective hits when necessary. His poise under pressure and ability to maintain composure make him an invaluable presence on the ice. Schaefer projects as a top-three pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and has the potential to develop into an elite, all-around NHL defenseman, capable of excelling in any situation.

Strengths:

  • Elite Skating: Combines smooth agility and explosive edgework to dictate pace and evade pressure.
    • Example: At the 14-minute mark of the 1st period, with confidence in his skating ability, he joined the rush at a high speed due to great extension in his cross overs which allowed him to really drive the play in the offensive zone off an unorganized rush.
  • Hockey IQ and Poise: Exceptional awareness and calm decision-making in all zones.
    • Example: In the 3rd period, he saw Martone about to stride outside of the defensive zone and noticed as well that Misa was gaining tons of speed which he had the cognisant mind of starting a simple short pass to Martone which Martone then redirected the pass out to Misa for a decent chance off the rush on that breakout.  
  • Passing Ability: Delivers crisp, accurate passes that spark offensive transitions.
    • Example: Schaefer all game on the powerplay displayed he’s been the best at bouncing the puck to his wingers on the umbrella formation of the powerplay by redirecting the puck to them smoothly which generated great momentum.

Weaknesses:

  • Shot Power: While accurate, his shot lacks the velocity to consistently beat goaltenders from the point.
    • Example: Fired well-placed wrist shot from the blue line early in the second period that was easily saved due to its lack of power behind the shot (Needs to get a bit stronger).
  • Physicality: Not overly imposing physically, though he holds his own in battles.
    • Example: Delivered a few solid checks in the corner during the first and third periods but avoided consistent physical engagement when it comes to boxing out players (With time by getting stronger, he’ll be stronger at boxing out).

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 8
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 4
  • Playmaking Ability: 6
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 7
  • Physicality: 5
  • Defensive Play: 8

#17 F, Malcolm Spence
Team: CHL: Erie Otters (OHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 200 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: September 22, 2006

Overview:

Malcolm Spence is one of the most dynamic and physically imposing skaters in the OHL, with a blend of speed, strength, and lateral agility that makes him a consistent offensive threat. He is a very fast and powerful playmaking winger who uses his NHL like skating to deeply pressure opponents and create underrated scoring opportunities from out of nowhere. Spence’s puck skills are refined, with soft hands that allow him to make plays at top speed. His passing is sharp, especially on short plays, but he’s also capable of threading the needle in crowded areas. His anticipation and hockey IQ shine on the penalty kill, where he disrupts passes on the powerplay and uses his speed to transition quickly into odd-man rushes. Offensively, Spence’s shot is accurate with a quick release, though it lacks the power to be a true weapon. Defensively, he’s effective at pickpocketing pucks during rushes and forcing turnovers. However, his overall defensive awareness can improve, as he sometimes plays too high in his zone, allowing opponents to exploit gaps. Spence also has the frame to dominate physically but doesn’t yet consistently throw his body around to disrupt plays. With his elite skating, strong puck skills, and ability to read the game, Spence projects as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. If he continues to develop his physicality and defensive game, he could become a high-end, top-six winger capable of scoring 60+ points per season.

Strengths:

  • Elite Skating: Combines high-end speed, balance, and lateral agility to dominate in transition.
    • Example: Showcased his tremendous edgework and balance when he shoots the puck, especially in the 3rd period where there was a situation where he wasn’t facing the front of the net, and with his flexible lateral ability, he was able to pivot himself facing the net in a nick of time which allowed him to let one go while maintaining great stability.
  • Puck Skills and Passing: Soft hands at top speed and crisp short-area passes make him a playmaking threat.
    • Example: Noticed a lot on the powerplay when he plays down low, he is very good at following through on his passes which the majority of the time, his passes come smoothly on the tape which helps regrouping the play for the PP quarterback.
  • Offensive Awareness: Great positional awareness in the offensive zone and is effective at becoming a center of attention.
    • Example: On the Michael Misa goal from the Desnoyers pass, he drove to the net in a way that the defensemen forgot he was there, placed himself, and when Desnoyers made that pass, Spence jumped up in-front of Boettiger acting as a screen as if a shot was taken which made Boettiger clueless of where the puck was.
    • Example: On the Cole Reschny wrist shot goal, he acted as a pylon for a split second which made separation between Reschny and the US forward chasing him which then equaled to more time for Reschny to absolutely let it fly.

Weaknesses:

  • Defensive Awareness: Plays too high in his own zone at times, on occasion cheating for offensive
    • Example: On the powerplay, he played too high up behind and did not anticipate quickly enough that a shot was going to be blocked which led to Jack Murtagh using his rockets, noticing that behind the play, Malcom was the last guy back which he should have put a little more effort to getting back.
  • Physical Engagement: Needs to use his size more consistently to impose himself on opponents.
    • Example: In the 3rd period, after a nice shot he did which was saved, it rebounded to the corner which instead of using his size by powering by the opponent, he instead just tried gaining position by using his great feet to his advantage which ultimately, the puck was distributed out with no punishment.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 8
  • Puck Skill: 7
  • Scoring Ability: 5
  • Playmaking Ability: 6
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 6
  • Character: 5
  • Physicality: 5
  • Defensive Play: 5

#7 D, Jackson Smith
Team: CHL: Tri-City Americans (WHL, Canada)
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: May 13, 2007

Overview:

Jackson Smith is one of the most versatile defensemen in the 2025 NHL Draft, excelling with his mobile skating, high hockey IQ, and calm presence on the ice. He thrives as a puck-moving defenseman, with precise passing and strong playmaking ability, making him a reliable threat from the point. While his shot lacks power, it is accurate and used effectively to create scoring opportunities. Smith’s greatest strength lies in his passing, whether initiating breakouts from his own zone or quarterbacking the power play with creative setups. Defensively, Smith is adept at reading plays, using his stick effectively to disrupt opponents, particularly in two-on-one situations. However, he can struggle in one-on-one matchups against quicker players due to overextension. His smooth lateral skating is a strength, but his acceleration needs vast improvement, as he often loses footraces. Enhancing his lower-body strength would improve his explosiveness and overall skating efficiency. At 6’3”, Smith has a solid frame but tends to rely on his range rather than physicality. Increasing his use of core strength to deliver checks would elevate his defensive presence. Despite these areas for improvement, his composure under pressure and offensive reliability which makes him a standout prospect. Projected as a top-15 pick, Smith has the potential to become an all-around, puck-moving defenseman capable of excelling as a second or third defenseman on an NHL team.

Strengths:

  • Lateral Skating Mechanics: Allows him to transition with/without the puck very smoothly
    • Example: In the 13–14-minute mark of the 1st period, Smith used his smooth back skating mechanics to his advantage and lined himself up perfectly to make a clean hit on a US player to create separation with the puck so he could then transition to chipping the puck out of harm’s way.
  • Hockey IQ and Poise: Great offensive awareness and calm decision-making.
    • Example: Great offensive activation consistently throughout the game as he created himself a lot of separation from the opposition to generate great scoring chances. (Early in the 1st period notably crossing over to a side that had nothing covered and let go a quick shot up high which was difficult to stop).
    • Example: In the 11-minute mark of the 2nd period, Smith had the puck in the offensive zone which a US forward came slowly chasing towards Smith, which then he used a small head fake to then cut to the outside which generated great separation which led to a wide-open shooting lane for a great shot in tight. (More offensive activation).
  • Passing Ability: Delivers crisp, and very accurate passes that spark offensive transitions.
    • Example: Jackson displayed a lot of great breakouts passes throughout the game and in great portions of the 2nd in the offensive zone, he made a lot of hard accurate passes which generated great momentum in the offensive zone.

Weaknesses:

  • One-on-one defending: While great at reading 2-on-1s, he has some difficulty with fast players on 1-on-1s.
    • Example: When defending the rush, he sometimes commits too much on one side instead of trying to stay square with the player with his stickwork and following through with the player with physicality.
  • Skating Acceleration: While good mechanics, does not generate a lot of power/explosiveness in his strides due to lack of lower-body strength. (Note*: CAN be fixed by building muscle)
    • Example: When he was behind the 2-on-1s with Cameron Reid defending it, even though showed good intent to get back, the lack of muscle did not allow him to generate strong acceleration to get back into the play and interfere with any stick actions.
  • Physicality: Although good size, he does not use it enough to his advantage by throwing impactful hits (In this game, displayed great improvement by getting involved physically).
    • Example of Improvement: Mainly getting active in board battles at trying to power through the forwards holding the puck on the boards, but especially lining up very well with that hit generated early in the 1st.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 5
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 5
  • Playmaking Ability: 7
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 5
  • Defensive Play: 5

#11 F, Cole McKinney

Team: USNTDP (USHL, USA)
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 190 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 16, 2007

Overview:

Cole McKinney is a versatile two-way forward for the USNTDP, excelling on both ends of the ice. At 6 feet and 190 pounds, his solid frame and agility make him highly effective in puck protection, board battles, and transitions. McKinney’s physicality and positional awareness are key strengths, as seen in the first period when he outmuscled a defender to set up a high-quality scoring chance with a quick bump pass. Offensively, he shows strong positional awareness and playmaking ability, thriving in give-and-go situations. However, he can overcomplicate plays with excessive deking, and his shot, while accurate, lacks power, limiting his scoring impact. Defensively, McKinney is a true 200-foot player with an active stick and excellent faceoff ability, making him a reliable presence in his own zone. His grit and commitment on the forecheck further enhance his all-around game. With continued refinement of his offensive instincts, McKinney projects as a later 1st to early 2nd round NHL Draft pick, with the potential to become an elite second-line center and a great penalty killer.

Strengths:

  • Defensive Awareness: Exceptional understanding of positioning and active stick work.
    • Example: After overhandling the puck and getting knocked off with ease in his own zone early in the 1st, he still somehow got back up rapidly and stayed square where he needed to be and blocked an “A” scoring chance by kneeing down to block the shot.
    • Example: When he plays the box on the penalty kill, he is very good at being square with the puck handler which forces them to play to the outside and he supports his defenseman in puck retrieval only when he needs to which he then knows where to get the puck out.
  • Playmaking Ability: Strong give-and-go plays create dynamic offensive rushes.
    • Example: Quite diverse on the powerplay down low which he’s very good at not being predictable with his passing from down low, but even on the Jack Murtagh goal, if he didn’t score, McKinney was ready to slide a rebound in the net with ease which displays improvement in his positional awareness.
  • Faceoffs: Dominates in the circle, providing his team with critical possession opportunities.
    • Example: Wins many key defensive-zone faceoffs, especially late in the third period to help secure a lead on the puck to easily help the USA defenders to try to break out.

Weaknesses:

  • Shot Power: He lacks heaviness in his shot, limiting his scoring potential, making it easier for the goaltender to read.
    • Example: Missed a scoring chance in the second period due to insufficient shot velocity even though the shot was on goal.
  • Overcomplicated Plays: Occasionally tries to do too much with the puck, leading to turnovers.
    • Example: Early in the 1st period on that amazing recovery by blocking an “A” scoring chance, to get to that, he overhandled the puck trying to make the perfect play which he should have regrouped it back to his defenseman behind the goal-line for a regroup.
  • Offensive Consistency: Needs to increase offensive engagement to add depth scoring. (Improvements in this game)
    • Example: With more engagement on the forecheck that was well done on Blake Fiddler which forced him to perform a weak backhand clear which was easily intercepted, McKinney used that to his advantage and separated himself clear on a breakaway which he made a backhand forehand goal through the 5-hole to tie the game at 1s.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 5
  • Scoring Ability: 5
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 6
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 7

#14 F, William Moore

Team: USA (USNTDP, USHL)
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 160 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: March 24, 2007

Overview:

William Moore is a forward with a high offensive ceiling, defined by his powerful shot and playmaking ability. His quick, accurate release is a hallmark of his game, consistently creating scoring opportunities. In the second period, he demonstrated his marksmanship by unleashing a deceptive shot on the power play that generated multiple rebounds, disrupting the opposing defense. While Moore’s shooting stands out, his passing is an underrated strength, enabled by his reach and creativity. However, his puck handling and passing accuracy need greater consistency, as seen in the first period when he overhandled the puck and missed an opportunity to capitalize on a rush. Moore’s offensive awareness and skating are key assets, with his efficient north-south movement and powerful crossovers enabling him to break through defensive coverage with pace. His skating style, reminiscent of Jack Eichel, drives his offensive game but would benefit from improved explosiveness in tight turns to enhance agility. Physically, Moore is embracing a power-forward role, actively contributing on the forecheck, but he needs to build more muscle to increase his effectiveness in puck battles and checks. Defensively, Moore’s awareness is an area for growth. He often lacks focus in his own zone, failing to consistently cover his man or engage with intensity. With improvements to his defensive mindset and agility, Moore’s combination of offensive skill and physicality positions him as a middle-of-the-first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, with the potential to become a dynamic scorer and power forward at the NHL level.

Strengths:

  • Scoring Ability: Powerful and accurate shot with quick release, capable of creating high-dangerous scoring chances.
    • Example: Created multiple rebound opportunities on the power play with his quick, deceptive shot (I’d argue its NHL ready due to the way he uses it in multiple ways).
  • Offensive Awareness: Strong understanding of zone coverage, allowing him to navigate through the neutral zone with ease.
    • Example: Easily walked through the neutral zone, makes himself as a ghost on occasion on purpose so he can gain position in-tight with some ease.
  • Skating: Strong, north/south skating ability with powerful crossovers to generate speed up the ice.
    • Example: Attacked the offensive zone at full speed involving full strides and great extensions on his crossovers, leading a rush that put major pressure on the defense which somehow used his speed to then cut a short backhand shot off.

Weaknesses:

  • Puck Handling Consistency: Needs to work on handling the puck and passing with greater accuracy.
    • Example: Improvements throughout the game, there are moments where he needs to improvements in receiving passes more smoothly from his defensemen during breakouts.
  • Defensive Awareness: Needs to show more effort and attention to detail in his defensive game.
    • Example: Showed lack of focus on covering his man at the point, and skates around too much as he chases a lot even when he plays center when he should play more reserved as a zone coverage type player. (Note: Surprisingly underrated in the faceoff dot).
  • Physicality/Strength: Will need to build more muscle to make his hits more effective and utilize his speed better.
    • Example: Failed to deliver a strong hit along the boards due to his lack of strength and size even though displaying great intensity. (Worse enough, not strong at all in any scrum which shows his lack of balance “lack of lower body/core strength”.)

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 7
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 8
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
  • Character: 5
  • Physicality: 5
  • Defensive Play: 3

#44 C, Jake O’Brien
Team: Team CHL (Brantford Bulldogs (OHL, Canada))
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 170 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: September 25, 2007

Overview:

Jake O’Brien is the definition of a cerebral playmaker with elite vision and on-ice awareness. As the first-line center for the Brantford Bulldogs, his ability to anticipate plays and deliver precise passes under pressure sets him apart from the group. O’Brien’s offense revolves around his high-end passing, though he needs to better balance his pass-to-shoot ratio (currently 8/2) to become less predictable (Which he’s been shooting the puck much more this season). His smooth stickhandling and his ability to protect the puck under pressure allows him to become a reliable play-driver and someone who can be relied upon for his teammates. His skating features strong speed and acceleration in transitions but lacks the agility and explosiveness to consistently threaten the o-zone when it comes with battles in-front of the net. Physically, O’Brien is effective but would benefit from added strength to improve his durability and impact in board battles. Defensively, he excels in a 200-foot game, demonstrating frequent support for his defensemen and forcing turnovers with an active stick, kind of like acting as a sponge for his teammates. His faceoff skills further bolster his value as a dependable two-way center. Projected as mid to late 1st round selection, Jake O’Brien has the tools to develop into a key second-line center at the NHL level who can be key in any situation given, kind of a Swiss-army knife once he full fills into his size.

Strengths:

  • Vision and Playmaking: Exceptional awareness allows him to anticipate plays and deliver precise passes.
    • Example: After blocking a shot, he immediately noticed Cameron Schmidt letting his rocket like speed take off and just absolutely sprung him on a breakaway with a feather of a pass.
    • Example: In the 6 minute mark of the 3rd period, where it looked like O’Brien was caught at the blue line, made a very hard and flat pass to Ben Kindel which led to a tic-tac-toe type play which resulted in a dangerous scoring chance from the top of the circles.
  • Puck Protection and Patience: Uses his size and poise to make smart offensive plays.
    • Example: On that same play after Schmidt missed his breakaway, O’Brien got the puck back and displayed great body positioning as he drew two US players in to chase him, only for O’Brien to position himself to chip the puck into the corner to provide continuity in offensive pressure.
  • Defensive Support: Effective in a 200-foot game, providing solid backchecking and defensive-zone coverage.
    • Example: Even though McKinney scored his breakaway goal, O’Brien was the second guy back, closely behind Fiddler so that if Fiddler was able to retrieve the puck after the breakaway, with O’Brien’s support, they could have began a breakout or at the very least, dump the puck back out.

Weaknesses:

  • Skating Agility: Needs to improve edgework and explosiveness to be more effective in tight spaces.
    • Example: Struggled to generate separation in offensive-zone cycles during the third period as even though he draws himself well and creates puck separation from his teammates, he isn’t the most agile in tight when somewhat pinned due to lack of explosiveness in his feet.
  • Physicality: Lacks strength and full intention to consistently win board battles and impose himself physically. Note: This will improve with time as his body matures by developing more muscle.
    • Example: Was outmuscled along the boards in the third period, losing puck possession. Displays lack of consistency in being intentional physically as instead of just bouncing off the opposition, he should use his size to his advantage and power through on occasion.  
  • Shot Utilization: Relies too heavily on playmaking ability, which makes his offense utilization more predictable. Note: Throughout the season, he has shown more intention of shooting the puck balancing his shot/pass ratio, which for shooting more, more goals are coming.
    • Example: Passed up several shot opportunities during great offensive situation as he favored setting up teammates which shows that he can become too passive on situations where he just needs to let his shots fly.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 5
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 4
  • Playmaking Ability: 7
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 7
  • Character: 5
  • Physicality: 4
  • Defensive Play: 6

#13 D, Quinn Beauchesne

Nationality: Canada
Team: Guelph Storm, OHL
Height/Weight: 6’0″, 183 lbs
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 1, 2007

Overview:
Beauchesne is a confident two-way defenseman with strong puck-handling under pressure. He showcases poise in challenging situations in his own zone with the puck and has a solid passing game, though decision-making consistency needs improvement. He’s not overly physical but is willing to sacrifice his body for the team which shows his leadership. Where he needs to truly improve is his lackluster defensive awareness as he doesn’t pay attention very easily. By improving on his focus regarding his defensive awareness by letting the game come to him and shot precision would enhance his NHL potential. Beauchesne is projected as a reliable likely 3rd pairing (sheltered role) defenseman, likely a mid-late 3rd-round pick.

Strengths:

  • Poise Under Pressure: Very calm and precise in high-stress situations with the puck, freezing defenders to open up plays.
    • In-game example: In the early part of the 3rd period, calmly handled pressure with the puck in his own zone, allowing him to execute a controlled breakout set up which was key.
  • Passing Skills: Flat and hard passes, adding pace to the game.
    • In-game example: Good breakout passes throughout the game which led to decent offensive transition for his wingers to become more active.

Weaknesses:

  • Decision-Making Consistency: Tendency to dump pucks prematurely or overcomplicate plays.
    • In-game example: Not one concrete example but sometimes, where he positions himself defensively on the ice, it seems confusing, because there are occasions where he plays too high up, but the majority of the time, he plays quite low which leaves his forwards a little more open around the net with ease this game.
  • Defensive Awareness: Not focused defensively as he could get caught defensively whether it is not knowing where the puck is. Note: Minor improvements are showing.
    • In-game Improvement but still improvements needed: In a 1st period chase where Aitcheson was going to lose a race for the puck in his own zone, Beauchesne used his great strides to win the race and getting the puck out of harms way which instead of the Americans attacking with a lot of speed, they had to enter the zone at a slower pace which even then, Quinn should even run back to cover the slot instead of being stale focusing on a US player in front of him.

Skater Category Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 5
  • Scoring Ability: 4
  • Playmaking Ability: 6
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 4
  • Character: 7
  • Physicality: 4
  • Defensive Play: 5

#9 F, Jack Murtagh

Team: USA (USNTDP, USHL)
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
DOB: August 22, 2007

Overview:

Jack Murtagh is an underrated forward in this draft class, known for his subtle but effective goal-scoring ability. His skating, while occasionally choppy, is deceptively fast due to his high pace and excellent lateral movement. Murtagh’s crossovers generate significant speed, though improving his stride length would enhance his overall skating efficiency. His balance and lateral agility make him an effective rover on the ice. A natural sniper, Murtagh possesses a quick and deceptive shot that challenges the goaltender, complemented by strong offensive awareness and anticipation, allowing him to find scoring opportunities. While his passing is solid, his long-range passes can lack consistency. Murtagh’s smooth hands and reach allow him to protect the puck and maneuver through defenders effectively. Defensively, Murtagh has areas to improve. He tends to play too high in the defensive zone, leaving coverage gaps, and needs to engage more consistently in board battles to support breakouts. Despite his modest size, Murtagh brings energy to the forecheck, using his intensity to force turnovers and sustain offensive pressure. With improvements to his defensive play and consistency in his passing, Murtagh projects as a solid second-round pick. He has the potential to develop into a versatile middle- or top-six forward, capable of contributing on the power play and penalty kill with great grit which may be valued as 1st round potential.

Strengths:

  • Scoring Ability: Quick, deceptive shot with a high release; a constant goal-scoring threat.
    • Example: Scored a heavy one-timer which muscled through Ivankovic in the halfway mark of the 3rd period, but what was key was that he only did a third to a half of a windup, and he still got that puck off rapidly.
    • Example: On an odd break that he created off a board pass, he intentional shot five-hole on Jack Ivankovic which he is quite intelligent of where he shoots the puck and it almost went in as Ivankovic somewhat froze.
  • Offensive Awareness: Strong anticipation and ability to create space with his hands but most importantly his quick feet, leading to scoring opportunities.
    • Example: In the 9-minute mark of the 1st period, he saw an open lane which he became quite opportunistic about it as he displayed great intention and quick feet to generate a lot of momentum off the rush which led to him getting the puck at high speed and get a shot off.
  • Physicality: High intensity on the forecheck, generating turnovers and creating pressure.
    • Example: No concrete example as he displayed great consistency physically in the offensive zone as he was quite hard on the forecheck which created some decent pressure to handle from Team CHL’s end.

Weaknesses:

  • Defensive Awareness: Plays too high in the defensive zone at times, leaving gaps and missing key defensive responsibilities.
    • Example: He left a Jackson Smith wide open to generate a decent shot by failing to cover his side of the ice and play a zone coverage type of defense as he instead decided to somewhat look/chase after the puck in the first minute and a half of the 2nd.
  • Consistency in Effort: Needs to put a lot more effort into defensive play and board battles in his own zone, but most importantly, be a support guy for his defenders who get him the puck. Note: Character off-the-ice is quite the positive as he’s decently optimistic.  
    • Example: Just as the Cameron Schmidt breakaway was happening in the 2nd period, behind the play, Jack basically showed very little intention to somewhat get back into the play so that he can act as somewhat of a support system for his defensemen which in Murtagh’s case, cheats a lot for offense.

Skater Ratings:

  • Skating: 6
  • Puck Skill: 6
  • Scoring Ability: 6
  • Playmaking Ability: 5
  • Hockey Sense/IQ: 5
  • Character: 5
  • Physicality: 6
  • Defensive Play: 4

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