2025 NHL Draft: More than 25 top prospects scout each other

Jun 10, 2025, 09:00 EDT

Credit: 2025 NHL Draft Combine (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

With the NHL Draft Combine in the rearview mirror, it’s finally time for the top prospects to relax and prepare for the main event later this month in Los Angeles.

There’s no more game action left on the docket. Now, teams will catch up to have their final scouting meetings prior to the selection process in Los Angeles from June 27-28.

Between the combine and other events throughout the year, I asked some of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft to give scouting reports on their peers. Some talked about teammates, friends or the opponents they felt were the toughest to play against over the past few years.

So, today, get to know what some of the best young players have to say about each other:

Kashawn Aitcheson, LHD (Barrie Colts, OHL)

Michael Misa: “I played against him a couple of times this year. He’s a big D looking to hit you. He got me pretty good in the (OHL) prospect game (in January). He’s a tough D to play against.”

Anonymous Forward: “He’s the scariest guy to play against in the league. He’ll hit you and score on you. You hate playing against him.”

Sascha Boumedienne, LHD (Boston Univ., NCAA)

Viktor Klingsell: “He works hard with his stick. He’s a really aggressive player. He isn’t the biggest one and isn’t the toughest one but he’s very tough to play against. He always has good positioning. He’s such a good skater. He’s always poking me out all the time. It’s very boring to play against him.”

Vojtěch Čihař, LW (HC Energie Karlovy Vary, Czechia)

Radim Mrtka: “He always competes so hard and doing everything to win the puck back for himself. It’s really hard to play a game against him.”

Braeden Cootes, C (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Cameron Schmidt: “He plays a great game overall. He’s got speed, smarts and plays a 200-foot game. I really like his game.”

Filip Ekberg, RW (Ottawa 67’s, OHL)

Sascha Boumedienne: “At the (U-18s), he had a golden stick. Every time he was down below the top of the circles, he had a nice play for an assist or put the puck in the back of the net. Nothing but good things to say about him.”

Victor Eklund, RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

Anton Frondell: “Victor is easy to play with. He plays with so much energy. He wins every battle, even when we play against men. Victor wins all the puck battles, and it’s easy for me to find an open spot.”

Conrad Fondrk, C/LW (USNTDP)

Asher Barnett: “I think he’s such an offensive threat every time the puck is on his stick. As a defender, you never know what he’s going to do. He’s got a great shot, you never know if he’s going to use his shot on you or if he’s going to pull it through your stick. He’s definitely someone that’s hard to keep in front of you.”

Anton Frondell, C/RW (Djurgardens, Allsvenskan)

Mans Goos: “He’s going to get around because he’s so good. He shoots so hard and the shot is precise. He hides (his shot) well. He’s so skilled all around.”

Viktor Klingsell: “He has every tool in his game. Anton has size. He’s got puck control. He’s got the off-ice skills. He goes around the hotel playing floorball and is juggling. He’s such a crazy guy, He’s going to be a star in the NHL.”

Zeb Lindgren: “He can really shoot. He’s big, he can skate really well and he’s a really good player.”

Milton Gastrin, C (Modo, Sweden U-20)

Anton Frondell: “He has such a high compete level. He’s a beast having to play against him. He never has a bad game. You know what you get from him and I really trust him.”

James Hagens, C (Boston College, NCAA)

Logan Hensler: “You see him out on the ice. He’s something special. The way he slows the game down when he has the puck, it’s cool to watch. When you’re on the ice, you know he’s going to get you the puck.”

Jack Ivankovic, G (Brampton Steelheads, OHL)

Matthew Schaefer: “When we battle in practice, he’s always fun to shoot on. This could be biased, but I think he’s one of the best goalies that I have ever played against. It’s awesome going up against him because he makes you better and it makes him better.”

Jack Nesbitt: “I got to know him a bit on Team Ontario (back at the 2023 Canada Winter Games). He’s an unbelievable goalie. We were in double overtime in the finals there and he kept us in it. There were a few breakaways going back, and I was busting as hard as I could to get to that puck. And he was so smooth and made a great glove save, a nice little windmill. He’s just a very reliable goalie. Going to Michigan will be good for him. I think he’ll do well at the next level.

Ryker Lee, RW (Madison Capitols, USHL)

Asher Barnett: “(Adding size) adds a whole other element to his game. He has always been a skilled forward that can do crazy things with the puck. But I think the size now gives him the ability to be physical and use his frame to get to the net.”

Brady Martin, C (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)

Matthew Schaefer: “He’s a character for sure. He has a lot of tips and tricks that he kind of puts on the boys. But he’s a great guy.”

Jack Nesbitt: “He’s a workhorse. He goes around smashing guys. But he’s got a great shot as well. He’s got that scoring ability, and he can put the puck into the net when he needs to.”

Cole McKinney, C (USNTDP)

Conrad Fondrk: “He’s such a strong player on his skates. He goes to the places where goal-scorers go. You go there, you’re going to put the puck in the back of the net.”

Michael Misa, C (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)

Malcolm Spence: “He’s special, man. You see how he shoots and how he competes. He’s been so good from a young age and it’s easy to understand why he’s so dangerous.”

Porter Martone: “He’s a tremendous player. He plays with pace, can see the ice very well and I love getting to line up with him when we can.”

L.J. Mooney, C (USNTDP)

Carter Amico: “When he’s in the corner, I try to contain him. But if you go at him, he’ll go right around you. He’s a super-talented player.”

William Moore, C (USNTDP)

Conrad Fondrk: “He’s such a technical hockey player. I mean, he’s he’s so strong with the puck. It’s pretty hard to take it from him. He’s so good down low and in the zone and he has such a good scoring touch in close.”

Radim Mrtka, RHD (Seattle Thunderbirds)

Max Psenicka: “Mertka is really hard to play against. He’s very strong, tall guy He’s strong on the puck and really good at defense.”

Carter Bear: “He has a big body with a long reach. He’s tough to get around sometimes.”

Jack Nesbitt, C (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Brady Martin: “He’s a tough customer. He plays hard. He’s bigger than me, and he kind of plays me hard on the faceoffs. He’s really tough to go up against.”

Eric Nilson, C (Djurgardens, Sweden U-20)

Eddie Genborg: “He’s a fast skater. He’s really good with the puck and can hold the puck for a long time.”

Arvid Drott: “He’s a smooth skater and an amazing playmaker. I played a lot with him this year and he’s very shifty.”

Cullen Potter, C (Arizona State University, NCAA)

William Horcoff: “He’s an incredible player. I think he can skate at any level – he’s a really good skater. I think he uses that to create space and open ice for himself. He also has good hockey sense and makes plays and uses his hockey sense with his skating to find (teammates).

Jacob Rombach, LHD (Lincoln Stars, USHL)

Ryker Lee: “He’s just so big and can skate well for his size. He closes the space on you really quickly and gets you pinned up on the wall, so I think he’s a really good player.”

Matthew Schaefer, LHD (Erie Otters, OHL)

Jackson Smith: “He’s an unbelievable skater. Great 200-foot guy. He can move the puck so well. He’s great offensively, great edges. In the D-zone, he plays hard and he knows how to use his skating to get in the offensive zone and he can get back and be a solid 200-foot defenseman.

Cameron Schmidt, RW (Vancouver Giants, WHL)

Joshua Ravensbergen: “He’s very competitive. Off the wall, off the power play, he has a really good shot. He has a quick release.”

Malcolm Spence, LW (Erie Otters, OHL)

Michael Misa: “I think he’s a little underrated. If I’m some teams, I’m taking him a little higher. It’s not for me to say, but whenever we play him, he’s usually getting a goal.”

Charlie Trethewey, RHD (USNTDP)

Carter Amico: “He’s an unreal player. He’s a super good kid. Really offensive, plays both sides of the puck, and he can get the puck on net.”

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