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Rachel Doerrie, ESPNAug 16, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
- Rachel Doerrie is a professional data consultant specializing in data communication and modelling. She’s worked in the NHL and consulted for professional teams across North American and Europe. She hosts the Staff & Graph Podcast and discusses sports from a data-driven perspective.
The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup ended last week with Canada winning the tournament, marking the beginning of draft season. While it is far too early to run models or have rankings, there are certainly players worth watching heading into this season.
The list of intriguing prospects begins with James Hagens. Michael Misa, a former exceptional-status player in the OHL; Roger McQueen, a mammoth center in the WHL; and Adam Benak, a Czech dynamo, are a few other players about whom much ink will be spilled.
Here are 10 of the most intriguing players to watch this season, and those who are likely to dominate the discourse for one reason or another. Note that players are arranged in alphabetical order by last name, not ranked.
Adam Benak
C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
One of the more intriguing players in the draft, Benak is an undersized center — listed at 5-foot-7, 157 pounds — who has been impressive in every viewing. Breaking scoring records for Czechia at seemingly every international tournament, the diminutive center is impossible to overlook. With elite skating and skill, Benak is an offensive catalyst with great vision and ability to execute on plays.
Defensively, Benak is more well-rounded than many of his peers. He reads spacing well, supports his teammates off the puck and keeps his stick in good positions.
If Benak can get to 5-10 and continue to round out his game, he will be one of the most talked-about players in June. There is real potential to be a top-20 pick, and his blend of talent makes him an exciting player to track heading into this season.
Anton Frondell
C/W, Djurgarden (Allsvenskan)
As the top European prospect in the draft class, the 6-2 forward plays wing for Djurgarden but has also excelled as a center against his peers. Frondell boasts excellent numbers in the Swedish J20 league and international play, showcasing elite puckhandling skills and playmaking ability.
Consistently impactful on both sides of the puck, he displays good habits off the puck, with defensive awareness and engagement that are more advanced than his peers. He drives offensive play with power, forcing opponents to play at his pace.
If teams project him as a center, he could easily become a lottery pick.
James Hagens
C, Boston College (NCAA)
As the consensus top prospect, Hagens stands out as a dynamic skater and playmaker who consistently elevates the performance of his linemates. His understanding of spacing and ability to make plays in tight areas set him apart, while his excellent transition game is fueled by his skating and vision.
His gameplay is remarkably consistent from shift to shift, and he is more physically competitive and engaged than other players with similar skill sets at his age. He is expected to play significant roles at Boston College and on the U.S. World Junior team.
Hagens projects to be a top-line, playmaking center in the NHL.
Logan Hensler
D, USNTDP
Hensler is a 6-2, right-handed defenseman with pro-caliber skating, a good stick and instincts. He plays a balanced game, doesn’t take unnecessary risks and goes unnoticed for all the right reasons on most nights. He has shown an ability to jump in the play, create offensively and assert himself, but that facet is inconsistent.
Defensively, he has good gap control, closes players down without much physicality and transitions the play effectively.
To be a top-10 pick, he’ll need to assert himself on both sides of the puck, dictate the play and demonstrate he can set the pace of the game with his play on the blue line. He has all the tools to be an effective top-four defenseman in the NHL if he can consistently dictate pace from the back end.
Porter Martone
RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
With a late October birthday, Martone is one of the older players in the draft class and possesses a more physically mature build at 6-3 and 200 pounds. A potential top-line power forward with some Tkachuk-like jam, his style is most effective when direct.
He has shown an ability to play a finesse game and has the tools to dominate the cycle game as well as to play in tight areas. Finding a balance of finesse and adding more power to his net drives will allow him to take advantage of his frame and tenacity.
He has a pro-level shot and release, capable of beating goalies clean from range. However, he needs to develop more maturity in his play off the puck and improve his discipline to avoid ill-timed penalties. If he finds consistency, he is likely to be a top-three pick, with some even speculating that he could challenge Hagens for the top spot.
Roger McQueen
C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Right-handed and standing at 6-6, McQueen is an intriguing center with a late October birthday. He effectively uses crossovers in transition to push defenders back and change gears, but he must consistently assert himself as a dominant player and learn to fully leverage his frame.
He physically engages with tenacity to win pucks and set up his linemates. His unique ability to control the puck and make excellent reads in tight areas is impressive for a player of his size.
As he becomes more comfortable with his frame, there’s a real chance he could become that rare 6-6 player with elite hands. Scouts are keen to see how he uses his size to physically impose himself and control games. If McQueen can continue to make plays in tight areas while dominating physically, teams will take him early given how rare that combination is.
Michael Misa
C/LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Granted exceptional status to play a year early in the OHL, Misa has yet to dominate as expected, despite showcasing a well-rounded offensive game. He finished second in team scoring and led all forwards for the Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Spirit.
An elusive skater with excellent edge work, smooth gear shifts and fluidity, he can separate from defenders all over the ice. His vision enables him to elevate his teammates’ play with crafty passes in scoring areas.
Misa makes youthful mistakes with the puck, but his defensive awareness is noteworthy. He positions his stick well in passing lanes, tracks back effectively in transition and shows strong potential to be an impactful two-way player. If Misa can increase his production and ability to take over games more consistently, he has top-five pick potential.
Ivan Ryabkin
C, MHL Dynamo Moskva (MHL)
The best Russian in the draft class, Ryabkin’s statistics pop because he broke Matvei Michkov’s under-17 MHL scoring record.
He’s strong on his skates with solid edge work and good balance. Ryabkin’s offensive instincts allow him to find open pockets of space to get his lightning-quick release off and beat goaltenders with ease. He has a good sense of spatial awareness and uses his puck skill to maneuver in tight spaces.
Scouts are concerned with an inconsistent effort off the puck, but when he’s engaged, Ryabkin wins 50-50 pucks, makes his linemates better and can create chances out of nothing. He’s likely to be a skilled winger in the NHL and will be a fun player to track over the course of the season, especially if he gets in some KHL games.
Matthew Schaefer
D, Erie Otters (OHL)
Schaefer is one of the youngest players in the draft and is likely to be a lottery pick. The former first overall 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 takes on top matchup roles and is trusted in critical game situations. An excellent skater with four-way mobility and good edge work, he is rarely off balance. As a two-way, well-rounded defenseman, he impacts both sides of the puck and plays a mature, efficient game by managing gaps, anticipating plays and using a good stick to disrupt threats.
Scouts admire his mature reads, decision-making and ability to execute in tight areas, and they believe he has the potential to become a top-pairing defenseman in the NHL.
Charlie Trethewey
D, USNTDP
One of the youngest players in the draft class, the right-handed defenseman possesses one of the best slap shots among the 2025 class and a knack for getting his wrist shot through on goal.
Tretheway has pro size — listed at 6-1, 190 pounds — and has shown an ability to dictate the pace of play from the blue line. He defends with bite, and the mean streak is enticing to scouts. He’s a very raw prospect with balanced skating and lots of room to grow on both sides of the puck.
Trethewey’s reads and decision-making are raw, and he will benefit from playing a leading role with the program this season before heading to Boston University. He has the tools to be a quality two-way defender and the potential to significantly improve his defensive game and be a top-four defenseman in the NHL.
