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Big Hype Prospects: Fowler, McKenna, Lardis, Frondell

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Mid-March is rolling around and hockey seasons are entering their waning point. Many college seasons are already concluded, while plenty of players in junior hockey are beginning to prepare for long playoff runs or springtime international hockey. It’s the final wave of action before the season comes to an end, so let’s take the chance to once again borrow from MLB Trade Rumors’ Big Hype Prospect series to bring you four of the hottest U21 players in hockey.

Four Big Hype Prospects

Jacob Fowler, G, Boston College (NCAA Hockey East, ’23 Montreal Canadiens)
32 GP – 24-5-2 – 0.941 Sv% – 1.62 GAA

Another season is coming to its end, which means it’s time for Jacob Fowler to receive his annual flowers. He’s won MVP awards and (or) championship rings in every single season of his junior hockey journey, and this year proved no exception. Fowler posted an incredibly .941 save percentage this season, the second highest in all of college behind 24-year-old junior Alex Tracy (.944). That masterclass performance was recognized on Thursday when Fowler unanimously won the Hockey East goalie of the year award. He beat out fantastic competition, namely Maine’s brick wall Albin Boija. The 20-year-old Fowler took a major stride forward from his 32-6-1 record and .926 Sv% last season – which was itself a continuation of the pair of above-.920 seasons he posted in the USHL. Fowler now holds the record for U17 save percentage in the USHL, won the USHL playoff MVP in a 2023 championship run, and now just matched Connor Hellebuyck’s save percentage in his age-20 season. Fowler is cool, calm, collected – and above all else – amazingly consistent. He’s proven to be a star at Boston College, and likely won’t be long from trying to do the same in the NHL.

Gavin McKenna, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL, 2026 NHL Draft)
53 GP – 34 G – 80 A – 114 TP – 17 PIM – +51

This is now Gavin McKenna’s third mention in our big hype prospects series – but there is simply no other player worth such acclaim. McKenna has continued to show his superstardom, dazzling even without standout centerman and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom and Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha. He extended his active scoring streak to 37 games on Friday, tying thee Sidney Crosby for the second-longest point streak among CHL players since 2000-01. He’s only behind Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, who stretched his streak to 65 games. McKenna has taken to a more prominent center role this season, to great effect. It’s pushed him to be more physical, or find even niftier ways to beat defenders. He’s slick on the puck and makes incredibly intelligent plays – capable of beating defenders with some of the simplest, but most effective, punch stops and quick cuts. There’s been no doubt that McKenna was going to be the first-overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft – but his performance this season, and namely this calendar year, have cemented that fact in a way that hasn’t been rivaled since Rasmus Dahlin, Auston Matthews, and Connor McDavid. McKenna is thee clear-cut star of his age group – and still has a year of junior (or collegiate) hockey to find yet another gear to his game.

Nick Lardis, LW/C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL, ’23 Chicago Blackhawks)
63 GP – 71 G – 44 A – 115 TP – 16 PIM – +20

Continuing the conversation of record-setting seasons is Blackhawks wing prospect Nick Lardis, who sits just one goal back from all-time heights. His 71 goals this season are the second-highest in the OHL since 2000 – and just one back from what former exceptional status superstar John Tavares managed in the 2006-07 season. Lardis has taken an incredible stride forward after potting 29 goals and 50 points in 37 games last year; and 25 goals and 46 points in 33 games of 2022-23. He’s developed a knack for the scoring imbalance, finding more goals than assists on the back of great positioning around the net, hard-nosed puck battles, and a killer wrist shot. Lardis simply can’t be left alone in the lower two-thirds of the offensive zone – which has proven a major challenge considering defenders also have to monitor teammate and fellow Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker. The mix of Vanacker’s nifty hands and ability to control space, and Lardis’ hot-shot scoring, has been simply too much to bear for OHL defenses. With both players in their pipeline, Chicago has a real chance to ensure that their chemistry remains overwhelming for NHL opponents as well.

Anton Frondell, RW/C, Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan, 2025 NHL Draft)
29 GP – 11 G – 14 A – 25 TP – 16 PIM – +11

Health has been the obstacle for star 2025 NHL Draft prospect Anton Frondell. He’s missed big chunks of games in October, November, December, and February of this season – intercut with spot starts. But when he’s healthy, there may be no international talent that rivals Frondell in this draft class. He has a simply jaw-dropping 14 points in his last eight games in the HA – Sweden’s second-tier pros. That scoring includes a four-point night and a three-point night in what is a very competitive, and often low-scoring, pro league. Finally, with his feet and his health under him, Frondell’s offense is exploding. He may be dancing a little too late for the crowd, but his ability to control the puck and work through space on the boards is incredible. Frondell has a powerful frame and drives hard to the slot – or steps back for hard wrist shots when defenders block his lanes. He’s a lethal threat north of the red line, with the positioning and grit to stay effective on the defensive side as well. Frondell will – or, should – be a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. If he keeps up this recent performance, that number could rise north of top-five. The World U18 Championships will be his best chance to prove his worth to NHL brass. That tournament begins on April 23rd.

Matthew Schaefer Likely Out Two to Three Months With Broken Collarbone

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Last night’s World Junior matchup between Team Canada and Team Latvia had severe implications beyond a round-robin matchup. Hockey Canada announced top defenseman and prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, Matthew Schaefer will miss the remainder of the World Junior Championships due to an injury suffered yesterday evening.

TSN draft analyst, Bob McKenzie added more context to the injury this morning sharing that Schaefer suffered a broken collarbone and will likely miss the next two to three months of action. Hockey Canada has replaced Shaefer with Vancouver Canucks’ prospect Sawyer Mynio and could still add Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf to secure a full 25-man roster.

Schaefer was already a top-five prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft heading into the season but his play to start the year had some mock drafts moving him up to the first overall selection. He’s scored five goals and 22 points in 17 games for the OHL’s Erie Otters while managing a +21 rating. He’s a solid skating defenseman with size and has displayed an exceptional hockey IQ this season in Erie.

Given his maturity and responsibility on both sides of the puck, there’s no question why Schaefer was considered a top prospect for the upcoming draft. Unfortunately, given that he’ll miss time on the world stage with Team Canada and a few months in the OHL, this injury likely nixes any chance for Schaefer to be selected with the first overall pick.

The injury shouldn’t move him too far down the draft board as there’s recent precedent for teams selecting players after injury-riddled draft years. The St. Louis Blues selected defenseman Adam Jiříček with the 16th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft after missing most of the season due to a knee injury. Given that Schaefer has a much higher ceiling than Jiříček it’s safe to say he’ll still be a top-five selection.

Big Hype Prospects: Hagens, McKenna, Reber, Hynninen

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The top flight of the World Junior Championships kicks off on Thursday. This year brings a wealth of strong international teams to Ottawa, Canada to face off against a loaded Team Canada roster. The last two tournaments hosted in Canada have both ended in a Canadian gold medal. The red-and-white will look to repeat those results this year, adding to their record-setting 20 titles. Team USA will look to curb that by becoming the first country other than Canada to win back-to-back golds since Russia in 2002 and 2003. With so much on the line, we’ll borrow a page from MLB Trade Rumors’ Big Hype Prospect series to bring you four must-watch players this tournament.

Four Big Hype Prospects

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA Hockey East, 2025 NHL Draft)
16 GP – 5 G – 15 A – 20 P – 4 PIM – +15 +/-

This year’s World Juniors will be headlined by 2025 NHL Draft talent. Nearly every team has a top prospect to showcase. Canada seems set to award Matthew Schaefer and Porter Martone – strong candidates for first-overall – with strong lineup roles. Sweden is bringing electric scorer Victor Eklund, younger brother of 2021 seventh-overall pick William Eklund. Even Slovakia is joining in, bringing Tomas Pobezal after a dazzling start to his second pro season. But of the many draft prospects looking to stake their claim, it seems Team USA star James Hagens has the most to prove.

Hagens has been electric for the BC Eagles this season. He’s seamlessly filled the hole between Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard that William Smith vacated in his move to the NHL. It took Hagens a small while to find his footing, but he’s fired on all cylinders as of late – with four goals and nine points in his last seven games. He’s been dynamic in all regards, but now faces the battle of proving his case for first-overall against a loaded Canadian offense. Hagens ended his last international stint – last season’s World U18 Championships – with a record-breaking 22 points in just seven games. But the wind seems against him, especially after the dazzling showing that Schaefer and Martone had at the CHL/NTDP matchup. Hagens may need to bring generational offense to this tournament as well if he wants to hang onto the top-of-the-draft hype he’s built over the last few seasons.

Gavin McKenna, F, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL, 2026 NHL Draft)
30 GP – 19 G – 41 A – 60 P – 8 PIM – +24 +/-

It’s not every year that looming draft talents make up so much of the World Juniors’ starring cast. This year, hockey fans get an even richer scene, with superstar 2026-prospect Gavin McKenna set to support the host city. Where Hagens set the U18-Championship scoring record last Spring, McKenna set the tournament record for players playing up a year – with 20 points in seven games. He’s another truly dynamic star, with an incredible ability to create space and beat goalies with speed and poise. McKenna, who turned 17 last week, has had to earn his way into Canada’s lineup during pre-tournament action. He started as the extra forward, then went without any scoring in back-to-back games when he received hardy minutes. But with a goal in Canada’s final pre-tourney matchup against Czechia, McKenna made it clear that he’s ready for a productive tournament. Canada features a lot of exciting offensive ability this year. Calum Ritchie brings near-pro-level playmaking, while Berkly Catton, Bradly Nadeau, and Easton Cowan have earned  plenty of NHL hype. But it will be McKenna that paves his road ahead with this tournament – as he looks to join the ranks of Canadian legends Connor Bedard, John Tavares, and Sidney Crosby with a dazzling World Junior showing in his age-17 season.

Jamiro Reber, C/LW, HV71 (SHL, 2025 NHL Draft Overager)
25 GP – 7 G – 7 A – 14 P – 2 PIM – -5 +/-

Representing central Europe in the upcoming NHL Draft will be a shared task, but 18-year-old Jamiro Reber should carry plenty of attention early on. He’s been a surprise showing in Sweden’s SHL, working his way into HV71’s middle-six after starting the year in the U20 league. He’s a stout, two-way forward who’s earned his keep with his ability to work with his linemates and finish plays in front. But now, he’ll join Team Switzerland in an uphill battle at this tournament. Reber has just one point in seven international friendlies with Switzerland’s U20 team this season – matching his scoring in five World Junior games last season. The pair of showings line up with Reber’s tendency to score less internationally – when he’s leaned on as a star play-driver. This tournament will be the chance to buck that trend on the heels of a red-hot start to his pro career – and how he takes to the role could be a big sway in Switzerland’s success.

Topian Hynninen, C/LW, Jukurit (Liiga, 2025 NHL Draft Overager)
32 GP – 7 G – 17 A – 24 P – 2 PIM – 0 +/-

While Reber represents central Europe, Topias Hynninen will look to bring the attention of NHL scouts back to Scandinavia. The flashy forward was also overlooked in last year’s draft after netting a measly nine points in 43 games as a Liiga rookie. That lack of scoring landed him off of the World Junior roster, despite three points in five World U-18 games in 2023. But Hynninen has taken to the year of learning well. He’s launched himself into Jukurit’s top-six and scored 24 points in 32 games along the way – tied for second-most on the team. He’s shown talent all over the ice, using fast and tireless skating, gritty hitting, and heads-up offense to gel with his linemates at even-strength and on the man-advantage. Hynninen has already scored six points in seven games with Team Finland this season, and could be set for a smash tournament after a year-long absence from any notable tournaments. He’s shown an ability to either drive play himself from the middle-lane, or support his linemates from the flanks – and could be called upon for both as Finland fights for their place in a crowded top-end. He’ll be heavy-utilized, and a strong tournament could land him a high selection at next year’s Draft.

LeBrun’s Latest: Swayman, Kessel, Shattenkirk, Ullmark, Draft

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The Bruins and RFA netminder Jeremy Swayman are only discussing long-term contract options at this late stage in negotiations, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic wrote Tuesday. But beyond that, there’s still a sizeable gap between the two sides in desired AAV/cap hit, and there’s no sign of movement with under two weeks to go until Boston’s regular-season opener.

If it gets done before the season, it’ll likely be with little time to spare before Oct. 8, LeBrun writes. Swayman isn’t expected to participate in the remainder of the preseason at all.

That leaves plenty of opportunity in the run-up for Joonas Korpisalo, who’s looked decent early on in camp after struggling to the tune of a .890 SV% in 55 appearances with the Senators last season. Acquired in the Linus Ullmark swap to be Swayman’s backup, he’ll be thrust back into a No. 1 role if the contract stalemate extends into the regular season.

There’s more from LeBrun:

  • Over a week into training camps and two weeks after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated he was still hoping to catch on, free agent winger Phil Kessel still isn’t considering retirement, LeBrun said. Teams can still sign players to professional tryouts, and while it’s rare to do so after the start of camp, it does happen. “A couple of teams” have stayed in contact with Kessel’s camp while waiting to see how some early training camp battles played out, so there could be some movement there in the coming days. “He’s also not begging for a job, but he genuinely believes he can still help someone,” LeBrun wrote.
  • Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk finds himself in a similar situation, LeBrun said, although he at least logged NHL minutes last year. In fact, he did fairly well with the Bruins, posting 24 points and a -2 rating in 64 contests while averaging 15:47 per game. “I would imagine Shattenkirk will land somewhere on the cheap over the next few weeks,” LeBrun said, indicating Shattenkirk could remain unsigned past opening night but sign somewhere quickly if an early-season injury arises.
  • It’s also status quo between Ullmark and his new home in Ottawa on a lack of extension talks, LeBrun relays from colleague Chris Johnston on Tuesday’s edition of Insider Trading. “GM Steve Staios wants to give Ullmark time to get as excited about the team and city as the organization is already about having him in the fold,” wrote LeBrun.
  • There were some slight rumblings that the NHL’s general managers would reverse their October 2023 vote to decentralize the league’s entry draft starting in 2025 after the success of the 2024 event in Vegas at Sphere. Those rumblings will go unfulfilled; as the league told LeBrun, “At the request of a large majority of clubs, it is moving forward with plans for a decentralized draft for June 2025.” Prospects will still attend an event, but team staff won’t be traveling.

Prospect Notes: Heidt, Dumais, Dach, Frondell

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Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin didn’t rule out the chances of top prospect Riley Heidt making the opening night roster in an interview with The Athletic’s Joe Smith. Guerin said, “We have guys that still don’t need waivers… If Riley plays so well that he pushes himself on the team, then great. That’s what it’s about. It’s about competition.” Smith went on to acknowledge the hefty jump Heidt would need to leapfrog other prospects like Liam Ohgren and Marat Khusnutdinov – with Guerin acknowledging the former as someone Minnesota expects to make the NHL roster.

Heidt is coming off a dazzling season with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, ranking third in league scoring with 117 points in 66 games. He also ranked eighth with 711 faceoff wins, winning at an effective 51.8 percent. Heidt set career highs across the board but still seems a step behind the NHL lineup. He’d otherwise be bound for a fourth WHL season, though Minnesota could award him up to nine regular-season games to help inform their decision.

Other notes from across the prospect world:

  • Top Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Jordan Dumais won’t be taking part in this weekend’s NHL Prospects Challenge, per The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, who shares the winger has been designated with a lower-body injury. Dumais isn’t expected to participate in the start of training camp, either. It isn’t clear if this is related to the lower abdominal surgery Dumais underwent in January, which held him out of the entire second half of the season. He’s been as productive as they come in the QMJHL, recording 325 points across 193 games and four seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads. He’ll get a chance to translate that scoring to the pro level this season – that is, when he’s healed from that’s delaying his pre-season start.
  • Chicago Blackhawks prospect Colton Dach shared that he has his sights set on earning an NHL roster spot, telling The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus that he feels he could’ve earned one by now had he not been injured. Dach notably missed extended time with a concussion this season, after a sucker punch from Milwaukee’s Zachary L’Heureux. Small absences cut into Dach’s first pro season, though he still impressed with 27 points in 48 AHL games. Dach has now been heavily limited by injuries in the last two seasons, making a spot on the Opening Day roster a longshot – though Dach could earn his way into an NHL call-up later this year if he continues to stand strong in the minors.
  • Top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Anton Frondell is set to undergo knee surgery, shares Djugardens IF insider Robin Fredriksson. No timeline for a return has been revealed. It’s Frondell’s second major lower-body injury in as many years, after a separate injury limited his 2023-24 campaign to just 42 league games. Frondell impressed when he did play, notably scoring 39 points in 29 U20 games, and adding seven points in seven games at the World U17 Hockey Challenge. His name has appeared near the very top of early 2025 Draft rankings, though another significant injury could make him an early faller.

Top NHL Draft Prospects To Again Headline College Hockey

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For the third time in four years, college hockey produced three first-round picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. That’s incredibly impressive for a league that usually only boasts a handful of draft-year prospects. The trio continued what’s the growing trend of draft-year prospects opting for the hard-nosed college setting, picking things up from top 2023 prospects Adam Fantilli, Matthew Wood, and Charlie Stramel. And while Celebrini’s performance as the youngest Hobey Baker Award winner in history will be hard to follow up, there are still plenty of top names in the 2025 draft class ready to continue proving U18 players can thrive at the collegiate level. Five college athletes are entering their first year of draft eligibility this season. With puck drop just over one month away, let’s break down each of them.

James Hagens, C, Boston College (from USA, NTDP)

All of the focus entering the season will be on James Hagens, the early favorite to go #1 in the 2025 Draft after a dazzling season with last year’s U18 NTDP. Hagens was the confident and consistent star-power behind players like Cole Eiserman and Teddy Stiga – offering the stout two-way play, nifty puck skills, and hard play-driving needed to elevate both players into record-breaking scorers. Hagens recorded 102 points in 58 games for his efforts and proved his worth against peers at the World U18 Championship, where he managed an incomprehensible 22 points in just seven games. He broke Nikita Kucherov’s scoring record at that tournament, and is now headed to a picture-perfect role at Boston College. The Eagles just lost their premier top-line center Will Smith to the NHL, but maintained his long-time wingers Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. Both wings are star NHL prospects in their own right, respectively offering the hard-nosed forechecking and heavy shooting needed to elevate a high-skill and fast-paced centerman. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for Hagens as he looks to compete with star Canadians like Porter Martone and Matthew Schaefer for first overall.

Logan Hensler, LD, University of Wisconsin (from USA, NTDP)

While Hagens offered the all-around stardom to lift up his more one-dimensional linemates on offense, Logan Hensler was providing the same value on defense – supporting both the all-out-offense of Cole Hutson and the reserved-defense of EJ Emery. He handled upwards of 20 minutes a night at points through the year, excelling thanks to a natual ability to dominate control of the neutral zone. He’s strong on the puck even at top speeds, and keeps his head up for passing options through transition. He keeps an active stick and drives opponents into the boards well off of the puck, helping Hensler put up 31 points and strong defensive outings through 61 games. Now, after two seasons of tough competition for ice time, Hensler is bound for a Wisconsin blue-line that’s wide open. He faced top-line competition through parts of the last two seasons – and could now be the unrivaled top Badgers defender, commanding a D-corps with plenty of new faces. Hensler’s well-rounded toolkit should be enough to take that assignment in stride, but will it be enough to earn the spot of top defender in the 2025 class?

Sascha Boumedienne, LD, Boston Univeristy (from Youngstown, USHL)

Rivaling Hensler for the spot of top defender will be Sascha Boumedienne, the son of Josef Boumedienne, a near-300-game veteran of the AHL and long-time (and recently departed) scouting director for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sascha carries Swedish nationality, and has represented the country internationally in each of the last three years, but this season will mark his first time playing a full season outside of Ohio. But he’s nevertheless grown to prominence, largely thanks to his 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame. Boumedienne knows how to use that size to full effect, showing little fear in engaging physically and a strong understanding for how to use his body to protect the puck. That’s great news, because Boumedienne is on the puck more often than not – boasting impressive puckhandling and explosivity for a defender his size. He’s a hard-passing, hard-shooting, and hard-hitting prospect, who should get a chance to hone each of those traits behind a retooled Boston University. The Terriers are adding a number of strong defenders this season, including Cole Hutson, but Boumedienne’s high-energy, in-your-face style could make him the favorite for top-pair minutes early on. He’s considered the favorite of the many top 2025 defenders playing in America next year – though that title will hinge on Boumedienne’s ability to earn ice time on a talented blue-line.

Cullen Potter, LW, Arizona State University (from USA, NTDP)

The list of NTDP players headed to college isn’t done yet – but Cullen Potter adds an interesting spin, having bought his way out of the NTDP a year early to pursue what should be a starring role at Arizona State University. Potter was the scoring leader on last year’s U17 NTDP squad, showing impeccable individual skill to the tune of 46 points in 54 games – continuing the all-out-offense he showed in youth hockey. But that was just two years ago, and while Potter has shown plenty of scoring upside, he’s also struggled to play through really physical games. Thankfully, Cullen is the son of true USA Hockey legend Jenny Potter – a former Olympic gold medalist (among many, many other accolades) who excelled at playing through contact and using a smaller frame to her advantage. Cullen carries many of the on-puck traits of his mother, and will now look to discover her ability to play against stronger competition. He’ll certainly face plenty of it as ASU prepares for their first year in the NCHC.

Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, LD, University of Michigan (from USA, NTDP)

Continuing the list of hockey families is Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, the son of Manon Rheaume – the only woman to suit up for an NHL team and a goalie consultant for the Los Angeles Kings. Dakoda didn’t follow in the goaltending path, but he has shown a clear respect for protecting his netminder and starting play from his own end. Rheaume-Mullen is aggressive and hard-nosed, seeking out the puck even if it means driving through opponents. He’s stronger than his frame suggests, and uses that to force his way into action every single shift. He did struggle to find space on the offensive side of the red line as the year went on, ultimately posting no goals and 18 points in 61 games, but his hard-nosed drive made Rheaume-Mullen hard to deny. Michigan is bringing in a cohort of new defenders this season, putting Rheaume-Mullen into competition with players like Tyler Duke, Will Felicio, Hunter Hady, and Tim Lovell. But if he can carve out a spot among that group, he’s almost assured to built NHL Draft stock, behind a Wolverines team with their sights on another run to the Frozen Four.

Shane Vansaghi, RW/C, Michigan State University (from USA NTDP)

The final NTDP alum headed to college is power-forward Shane Vansaghi, who didn’t achieve much scoring with the National Team but won the hearts of many USA Hockey staff with the energy and heft he brought to every single shift. Vansaghi is flat-out strong, and looked undermatched against USHL competition that struggled to take him down. But much of his ice time was typically spent filling roles, whether it be using his strong strides to be the first-man-in on the forecheck, or strong board-play to help rotate the puck around to flashier linemates. That lack of independence capped Vansaghi at 41 points in 113 games with the NTDP, though he started to show more individual effort near the tail end of the year. He’ll look to continue that momentum into his freshman season, where he’ll play under the diligent watch of former NTDP head coach Adam Nightingale, who’s built a track record of bringing the most out of his high-potential prospects. That fact alone makes Vansaghi one of this year’s top draft sleepers.

CHL Notes: Ritchie, Mrsic, Gardiner, Ekberg

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A blockbuster trade in the Western Hockey League got across the finish line today involving a pair of prospects taken in this year’s draft. The Medicine Hat Tigers have picked up Wild second-rounder Ryder Ritchie from the Prince Albert Raiders, per a team announcement, sending Blues fourth-rounder Tomas Mrsic and draft picks the other way.

Ritchie, who just turned 18 earlier this month, was a consensus late first/early second-round prospect but fell to Minnesota at No. 45. The 6’1″, 176-lb right-winger was the WHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 and continued to perform well last season without much of a supporting cast in Prince Albert. Injuries limited him to 47 games on the season, but he still showed out with 19 goals, 25 assists, 44 points, and a -1 rating. He closed out the campaign on a high note, scoring four goals and four assists in seven games while winning gold with Canada at the U18 World Juniors. In Medicine Hat, the Calgary native will likely star on a first line centered by 2024 fourth-overall pick Cayden Lindstrom and projected 2026 first-overall selection Gavin McKenna at left wing.

Mrsic isn’t an afterthought in this deal, though. The 6’0″, 170-lb sniper can play all three forward positions and went within his expected range to the Blues at No. 113. He fell just short of a point per game on a strong Tigers team last season, posting 23 goals and 39 assists for 62 points in 63 games – fourth on the team. Both players are likely due for another pair of seasons in juniors before turning pro with their respective NHL clubs in 2026-27.

Some other notable Canadian Hockey League moves today:

  • The Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts continue to be a popular destination for Stars prospects this summer, today acquiring center Brad Gardiner from the Ottawa 67’s for a quartet of draft picks. Gardiner, 19, was a Dallas third-rounder in 2023 and had 49 points in 67 games with the 67’s last season. Barrie selected 2024 Stars first-round pick Emil Hemming in this year’s CHL Import Draft and got him inked to an agreement last month, bringing him over to juniors from his native Finland. A strong season with the Colts will be crucial for Gardiner, who risks becoming a free agent if the Stars don’t sign him by June 1, 2025.
  • The 67’s will replace some of Gardiner’s roles with top 2025 draft-eligible prospect Filip Ekberg, who the team confirmed today has signed a Scholarship and Development Agreement. Ekberg, 17, is a likely late first-round selection in next year’s draft after posting 29 points in 33 games last year in his native Sweden with Almtuna IS’ U20 club. The left winger stands at 5’10” and 168 lbs and won a bronze medal with Sweden at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup earlier this month.

Blues Offer Sheet Philip Broberg, Dylan Holloway

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The Blues are tendering offer sheets to Oilers RFAs Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway, the team announced (via Matthew DeFranks of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch). In a separate transaction, they’ve reacquired their own 2025 second-round pick from the Penguins to have the appropriate compensation should Edmonton not match one or both of the offer sheets.

St. Louis’ offer sheet for Broberg is a two-year, $9.16MM deal, while Holloway’s is a two-year, $4.58MM deal, per DeFranks. The deals carry AAVs of $4.58MM and $2.29MM, respectively.

Both are at the maximum of their respective categories in the offer sheet compensation thresholds, which the league updated this offseason. Should Edmonton fail to match, the Blues would owe the Oilers their 2025 third-round pick for Holloway and the aforementioned 2025 second-round pick for Broberg.

The preceding pick swap with the Penguins saw the Blues acquire Pittsburgh’s 2026 fifth-round pick and next year’s second-rounder, sending their 2026 second-round pick and the Senators’ 2025 third-round pick in return. St. Louis had sent its 2025 second-rounder to the Penguins in June to get Kevin Hayes’ $3.57MM cap hit off the books, while they acquired Ottawa’s pick as compensation for taking on the final two seasons of Mathieu Joseph’s contract at a $2.95MM cap hit.

New Oilers general manager Stan Bowman now has seven days to decide whether to match the offer sheets or accept the draft-pick compensation. But given Edmonton’s financial situation, matching the bloated short-term deals will be a tough ask.

The second year attached to both deals may be the deciding factor. Not only are the Oilers already over the salary cap today, paying out nearly $7MM in cap hits in 2025-26 for Broberg and Holloway would significantly inhibit their ability to sign pending UFA Leon Draisaitl to what will likely be the richest deal in franchise history.

But if the Oilers decide to match one or both the offer sheets, they wouldn’t need to make any corresponding transactions immediately. Edmonton is only roughly $350K over the $88MM salary cap, per PuckPedia, and teams can exceed that upper limit by up to 10% during the offseason. That’s enough wiggle room to add $6.87MM worth of Broberg and Holloway to the books, but they would need to shed more salary than previously anticipated to become cap-compliant by the time opening-night rosters are due.

Edmonton’s short-term crunch could be helped out by Evander Kane, who’s expected to need surgery and will likely start the season on long-term injured reserve. But if Kane and his $5.125MM cap hit aren’t expected to miss the entire season, they’ll still need space to activate him at some point.

On St. Louis’ end, it’s now clear why GM Doug Armstrong was intent on keeping his options open financially this summer, shedding some bad deals for slightly more cost-effective ones. The Blues have $7.34MM in projected cap space, per PuckPedia, ninth-most in the league. It’s enough to take on the AAVs for Broberg and Holloway without any corresponding moves, and they could end up with even more flexibility should defenseman Torey Krug require surgery to address pre-arthritic conditions in his left ankle. That would cost him the entire 2024-25 season and make him eligible for LTIR, allowing them to use his $6.5MM cap hit for relief.

Failing to match either would be a tough proposition for the Oilers, who selected Broberg eighth overall in 2019 and Holloway at 14th overall in 2020. Both are on their way to becoming everyday NHL contributors, with Holloway appearing in all 25 playoff games for Edmonton and Broberg pushing for more NHL minutes after excelling with the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, last season.

Traded First-Round Picks For 2025 NHL Draft

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Last updated 8/26/24, 8:25 a.m.

The 2025 NHL Draft may still be nearly a year away, but multiple teams have already traded away their first-round picks, and even more will change hands before the March 6, 2025 trade deadline.

This article will be used to monitor each team’s 2025 first-round pick, updating it as necessary throughout the year.

We’ve listed all 32 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first-round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on the protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2026 if it doesn’t change hands in 2025.

Here’s the full breakdown of the status of each 2025 first-round pick:

Atlantic

  • Boston Bruins: Own pick.
  • Buffalo Sabres: Own pick.
  • Detroit Red Wings: Own pick.
  • Florida Panthers: Traded to Flames or Canadiens (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Panthers would owe the Flames their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected). 
    • Flames/Panthers details are outlined below.
  • Montreal Canadiens: Own pick.
  • Ottawa Senators: Own pick.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning: Traded to Predators (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Lightning would owe the Predators their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected).
  • Toronto Maple Leafs: Traded to Blackhawks (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Maple Leafs would owe the Blackhawks their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected).

Metropolitan

  • Carolina Hurricanes: Own pick.
  • Columbus Blue Jackets: Own pick.
  • New Jersey Devils: Traded to Flames (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Devils would owe the Flames their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected).
  • New York Islanders: Own pick.
  • New York Rangers: Own pick.
  • Philadelphia Flyers: Own pick.
  • Pittsburgh Penguins: Own pick.
  • Washington Capitals: Own pick.

Central

  • Chicago Blackhawks: Own pick.
  • Colorado Avalanche: Traded to Flyers (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Avalanche would owe the Flyers their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected).
  • Dallas Stars: Own pick.
  • Minnesota Wild: Own pick.
  • Nashville Predators: Own pick.
  • St. Louis Blues: Own pick.
  • Utah Hockey Club: Own pick.
  • Winnipeg Jets: Own pick.

Pacific

  • Anaheim Ducks: Own pick.
  • Calgary Flames: Traded to Canadiens or own pick.
    • Flames/Canadiens details are outlined below.
  • Edmonton Oilers: Traded to Flyers (top-12 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Oilers would owe the Flyers their 2026 first-round pick (unprotected).
  • Los Angeles Kings: Own pick.
  • San Jose Sharks: Own pick or traded to Predators.
    • Details are outlined under the Golden Knights’ pick.
  • Seattle Kraken: Own pick.
  • Vancouver Canucks: Own pick.
  • Vegas Golden Knights: Traded to Predators or Sharks. (unprotected).
    • This pick was initially traded to the Sharks without protection. The Sharks later dealt this pick to the Predators, but San Jose can opt to retain Vegas’ pick and send their own 2025 first-rounder to Nashville if Vegas’ pick falls inside the top 10.

Details on Flames’ picks:

Remember all those complex conditions attached to the first-round pick the Flames sent to the Canadiens to take on the final season of Sean Monahan’s contract in 2022? Those will come back to bite draft-watchers this season. A full explanation of all the possible conditions can be found in this write-up from two years ago, but we’ll outline them briefly here.

In 2025, the Flames control three first-rounders:

  • Their own.
  • The Panthers’ first-round pick (top-10 protected).
  • The Devils’ first-round pick (top-10 protected).

Luckily for those trying to parse through the conditions of the trade, the Devils’ pick, which Calgary acquired in this offseason’s Jacob Markstrom trade, isn’t a factor here.

At the time of the Monahan deal, there were three possible scenarios to determine which first-round pick the Habs would receive. One of them can already be crossed off, as it involved the Canadiens opting to receive Calgary’s 2024 first-rounder if it fell between 20th and 32nd overall. It didn’t, so we moved on to the other scenarios.

With Calgary likely to be a bottom-feeder this season and Florida coming off a Stanley Cup championship, the most likely scenario is that the Flames’ first-rounder falls inside the top 10 and the Panthers’ does not. In that case, the Canadiens will receive Florida’s pick. The opposite would be true if the situation was reversed. If neither pick falls in the top 10, the Canadiens will receive the better of the two picks.

The write-up linked above details the third scenario, which involves both picks falling inside the top 10.

Information from PuckPedia was used in the creation of this post.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

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