Scout's Analysis: Re-thinking the top of the NHL Draft rankings

The first ever CHL-USA Prospects Challenge concluded Thursday night in Oshawa, Ont. The two-game set ended in a sweep for Team CHL after a 6-1 win in London, Ont., on Tuesday, followed up by a 3-2 win on Wednesday. Both games featured playoff intensity, skillful playmaking and after-the-whistle scrums. Most importantly, the series provided NHL scouts, and fans of the game, a unique opportunity to view many of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft in high leverage competition outside of regular-season contests. 

I'm working away on my draft rankings, which will be updated next week, and these two games confirmed my early season observations about some of the prospects. James Hagens has long been identified as the top prospect for this draft cycle, but the winds of change are on the horizon. 

Here are some of my player observations from the two games between Team CHL and the USNTDP U18 program:

TEAM CHL
Matthew Schaefer, six-foot-two, 183 pounds, D, Erie Otters (OHL)
Schaefer was outstanding. He was deployed in all situations, pushed the play with his pace and skill, blocked shots, and didn’t shy away from sticking up for his teammates. He didn’t leave a stone unturned with his performance. Schaefer is a complete player. He’s a defenceman who can play well over 25 minutes per game and never seems to run out of fuel. He’s charging towards number one overall status in my books. Schaefer was held off the scoresheet in Oshawa, but contributed a goal and an assist in the first game. His goal was scored on an end-to-end rush. 

Porter Martone, six-foot-three, 209 pounds, F, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Martone played right wing on a line with Caleb Desnoyers (Moncton Wildcats) and Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit) and the threesome was Team CHL’s most prolific line. They were first over the boards on the power play and drove play in both games. Martone was involved every shift. He was “around” the play and battled for pucks along the wall and out front of the net. I would have liked to see him rip a few more shots on goal, but there’s no doubt his combination of size, skill, and will project him as a first-line NHL player. Martone had one assist in two games. 

Michael Misa, six-foot-one, 185 pounds, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
These two games confirmed for me that Misa is much more dynamic when playing the middle compared to the wing. He plays centre in Saginaw, but was deployed at left wing for Team CHL. Misa still ended up with a goal and two assists in the series and played a responsible game overall, but cutting the ice in half doesn’t agree with his defensive zone exits and his ability to lead the rush more often through the neutral zone. When he plays centre his skating and vision allow him to roam more freely in open ice. Misa returns to Saginaw as the leading scorer in the OHL (23 goals and 23 assists), riding a wave of momentum and trending up in the draft.

Lynden Lakovic, six-foot-four, 190 pounds, F, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Lakovic had one goal and two assists in the first game, but was held off the score sheet in the second. I’m intrigued by his size and skill. Lakovic skates very well, especially in straight lines, for a big man. Part of the reason he didn’t produce offence in Game 2 was due to the fact he failed to take the puck to the hard areas and use his frame to his advantage. Lakovic has tons of upside. I’m monitoring his interior game. He has top-six NHL forward potential. 

Caleb Desnoyers, six-foot-two, 173 pounds, C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
Desnoyers sat down with Sam Cosentino and I for an interview on Monday. He’s a gregarious kid with confidence and swagger that is evident on and off the ice. Desnoyers had one goal and one assist in the two games. He seemed to have the puck on his stick every shift. I’m impressed with his overall puck touch and vision. He sees the ice and makes plays. I was equally satisfied with his battle game. Desnoyers was in the middle of everything in both contests. He leads by example with a huge grin on his face.

Justin Carbonneau, six-foot-one, 191 pounds, F, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
Carbonneau is an intriguing prospect who contributed two assists in the series. His small-area game is crafty and elusive. Carbonneau, arguably, had the best set of mitts on Team CHL. He has to be watched closely in traffic because he makes puck plays under, and over, sticks and through opponents' skates. Carbonneau is a “wide-track” skater in open ice. It doesn’t hold him back on straight lines, but when he gets the edge he has to work on bringing his stride closer together to open up more of a “cut and drive” to the net. 

Cameron Schmidt, five-foot-seven, 161 pounds, F, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Schmidt is an elite shooter and he didn’t hold back against Team USA. He is undersized, but he plays the game fast on straight lines and wastes no time directing the play to the net. I’m not sure anyone in the draft class has a harder, more accurate, snap shot than Schmidt does. Sweden’s Anton Frondell has the top weak side one-timer on the power play, but Schmidt snaps pucks bar down from both sides of the ice. Schmidt ended up with a goal and an assist in the two showcase games. In the second game he directed 12 shots towards the net, connecting on six. There’s at least one NHL team that believes he is at worst "Cole Caufield light” for comparison. 

TEAM USNTDP
Jack Murtagh, six-foot, 200 pounds, F 
Murtagh scored from nearly the exact same spot in both games — the weak side flank — on the power play. He one-timed both of his goals before defenders could get in the shooting lane. In my opinion Murtagh was the most consistent and impactful player for Team USA. He plays fast, has better than secondary scoring upside, and was engaged in the hard areas. Murtagh works to extend plays in the trenches. He’s hard to play against and never goes away. This series elevated my interest in Murtagh as a prospect. 

Drew Shock, six-feet, 175 pounds, D 
Shock had two assists in the second game of this series. He was deployed in all situations for Team USA. He’s not the biggest body, but his compete level is undeniable. Shock was consistently involved. He doesn’t have a single elite element, but his detail is reliable. When game two was on the line Shock went the extra mile blocking shots and doing whatever he could to will his team to victory. He’s earned a follow up from me. I’m interested to monitor his next segment of games. 

Charlie Trethewey, six-foot-one, 200 pounds, D
Trethewey was steady in the second game after having an average performance in the first. The right-shot defender has historically produced more offence than he is so far this season so I’m mining down on his defensive detail and engagement. Trethewey is a work in progress, but I felt he leveraged much better in Game 2 and worked to kill plays along the wall. He’s a solid skater who can direct pucks on net from range with authority. For now, at least, he has some proving to do over his next segment of games. 

Will Moore, six-foot-two, 175 pounds, F
Team USA was generally overmatched in these two games so I’m not going to be overly critical about Moore’s performance. However, I did expect more impact than he provided. He attacked off the rush a couple times and made a few plays in traffic, but his pace and physical engagement needed to be better. Moore has been projected as a first-round talent, but he’s going to have to prove to me he is worthy in the coming months. 

SHOUT OUTS
Events like these involve a lot of foot soldiers behind the scenes who do a ton of heavy lifting to deliver these games. With that in mind I want to thank Nikki deCarle, Chris Seguin and Carla Graansma from the CHL and Jon Edwards from USA Hockey for their professionalism and hard work. They’re always available to assist Cosentino and I. We appreciate their dedication.