Big Hype Prospects: Fowler, McKenna, Lardis, Frondell
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.
Big Hype Prospects: Hagens, McKenna, Reber, Hynninen
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.
Three Questions Ahead Of The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup is set to kick off in Edmonton on August 5th. The event will feature the top U18 players from eight countries – Canada, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. It’s the first chance for many of the top names in the 2025 NHL Draft to earn their keep, sparking plenty of storylines worth following closely. We’ll break down three top storylines entering the unofficial start of the NHL scouting season.
The Top Storylines At The 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Can Team Canada Achieve Yet Another Three-Peat?
Team Canada sits unrivaled atop the Hlinka leaderboards, having medaled in 28 of the 32 tournaments since 1991 – including a seven-year Gold streak from 1994 to 2002 and an eight-year streak from 2008 to 2015. Moreover, Canada has won Gold at every Hlinka hosted in Canada – and they seem poised to uphold that prophecy this year. The Canadian roster is full of top-end NHL Draft talent, including the perennial Gavin McKenna – who recently broke Alex Ovechkin‘s U17 scoring record at the World U18 Championship with 10 goals and 20 points in just seven games. McKenna is among the best prospects in hockey right now – and isn’t draft-eligible until 2026. He’ll be well flanked by defenseman Matthew Schaefer – potentially this year’s top defenseman – and backed on the depth chart by Jake O’Brien – a flashy, two-way centerman vying for his own first round love.
And while Canada’s top-end offense extends well beyond the trio – it’s their depth that pushes them to the top once again. The competition for the team’s fourth line could feature some mix of Emile Guite, Ethan Czata, Braeden Cootes, and Liam Kilfoil – a quartet of easy picks for this year’s top breakout candidate: Guite for his shot, Czata for his grit, and Cootes and Kilfoil for their high-speed playmaking. The whole group is backed by Jack Ivankovic, who proved his worth with a .915 save percentage in 25 OHL games last year, though some still remain skeptical about his 5’11” frame. Still, his athleticism should be the perfect flashy backdrop to a Team Canada team gearing up for another big tournament.
Who Will Emerge As Team USA’s Star?
Team USA is intentionally pigeon-holed at every Hlinka, opting not to roster any members of their U.S. National Team Development and instead picking the top options out of the USHL, NAHL, and youth hockey. That decision inspires the reoccurring question of who will emerge as the leaders of a hodgepodge group. It’s a prestigious role, previously held by top prospects like Trevor Connelly, Quentin Musty, and Arthur Kaliyev – who each went on to be picked in their respective draft’s top 35.
This year’s top option seems to be Benjamin Kevan – who led all U17 skaters in the USHL in scoring last season with 57 points in 59 games, over 20 points more than Lev Katzin, who ranked second. In fact, Kevan joined Macklin Celebrini as the league’s only U17 skaters to break 50 points since 2018. That’s lofty company, and while Kevan isn’t on Celebrini’s tier of generational prospect, the power and drive behind his all-offense style could be enough to command first round attention this year. Jesse Orlowsky and Sam Kappell seem like strong secondary candidates – both boasting similar heft and playmaking to Kevan – though the undersized Sam Spehar could end up the one to stand out after a fantastic U17 Selects camp to earn a roster spot.
Whichever forward emerges on top will have to bring the drive to make up for a defense and goalie group a bit weaker than Team USA typically brings – adding to the challenge of the top spot.
Does Team Sweden Have Enough Firepower?
Team Sweden enters this year’s Hlinka with a significantly improved roster, after managing a measly 2-1-0 record and fifth place finish last year. Their lineup is bolstered by top-of-the-draft prospects in Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Filip Ekberg, and Ivar Stenberg. The trio led Sweden in a much more fruitful 2023 World U17 Challenge, largely thanks to Stenberg’s seven goals and 10 points in seven games. Players like Viktor Klingsell and Eric Nilsson stretch the high-impact offense down Sweden’s lineup, though it’s premiere defenseman Sascha Boumedienne that could be the X-factor. Boumedienne is the dark horse candidate for the 2025 draft’s top defenseman, after scoring 27 points in 49 USHL games and 11 points in 18 games with Sweden’s U17 team last year. He boasts a hefty, built-out frame and all of the strength that comes with it – showing a strong ability to carry the puck downhill with power and awareness. To what extent he’s able to again blend with Sweden’s high-scoring forwards could prove one of this year’s most exciting storylines to follow.
San Jose Sharks Win 2024 NHL Draft Lottery
The 2024 NHL Draft Lottery has finally rolled around, giving solace to the 16 teams that missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks lead the odds race, with the Sharks boasting a hardy 18.5 percent chance of winning the first-overall pick. The list of runner-ups is rounded out by fringe playoff contenders in the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings, who share 0.5 percent odds at the top slot.
The 2024 NHL Draft is certainly one to be excited for. It features strong talent throughout the first round, including hotly-debated talents like Finnish standout pro Konsta Helenius and Russian big man Anton Silayev. It’s a contentious draft that kicks off a string of strong classes, with James Hagens and Gavin McKenna headlining the next two drafts.
This year’s deciding order is as follows:
1. San Jose Sharks
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Utah Hockey Club
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Calgary Flames
10. New Jersey Devils
11. Buffalo Sabres
12. Philadelphia Flyers
13. Minnesota Wild
14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins)
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. St. Louis Blues
The Sharks have officially won the race for superstar prospect Macklin Celebrini – the consensus top prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini recently became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award as college’s MVP, adding to a trophy case that’s incredibly full for his age. He’s a dynamic and incredibly intelligent centerman capable of finding and making plays in all three zones.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets will be left to sift through a rich list of top defense prospects, including Artyom Levshunov, Sam Dickinson, Zeev Buium, and Zayne Parekh. Forwards like Cole Eiserman or Cayden Lindstrom could fight their way into the top spots as well, giving teams plenty of options with their lottery winnings.
Big Hype Prospects: Eiserman, McKenna, Hemming, Beaudoin
The 2024 World U18 Championships have ended with a bang, with Team Canada scoring four goals in the final 10 minutes of the Gold Medal game against Team USA. The charge was led by the incredible pairing of star prospects Tij Iginla and Gavin McKenna, who combined for four of Canada’s six goals. The duo headlined what was a historic U18 tournament worth breaking down. So we’ll once again borrow the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors and take the time to break down some of the top performers from one of the best pre-draft tournaments of the season.
Four Big Hype Prospects
Cole Eiserman, RW, USA U18 (NTDP)
56 GP – 57 G – 31 A – 88 TP – 6 PIM – 6 +/-
There were some amazing records broken during this year’s U18s. Cole Hutson (2024) became
the highest-scoring defenseman in National Team Development Program history, James Hagens (2025) broke Nikita Kucherov‘s tournament scoring record, and Gavin McKenna (2026) became the highest-scoring Canadian in the event’s history. But it’s Cole Eiserman‘s shattering of the NTDP’s goal-scoring record that sticks out as the most pertinent. Eiserman has totaled 127 goals in 119 games with the U.S. NTDP, breaking Cole Caufield‘s record of 126 goals in 123 games. Eiserman now sits atop a highly decorated list, after scoring at a dazzling 1.07 goals-per-game pace. And yet, he faces undoubted questions ahead of the 2024 Draft – with many doubting Eiserman’s consistency and energy off the puck. Eiserman certainly showed the intensity he can bring at U18s, looking like America’s most effective forechecker in their semi-finals matchup with Team Slovakia. But he struggled to bring the same north-to-south pressure consistently, and was even held without a goal during USA’s bouts with Switzerland and Finland – a rarity for Eiserman. He’s been a star since he was nine-years-old, looking like the standout in a Brick Invite that featured multiple members of Team USA and Team Canada’s lineup. Having the spotlight for that long places a heavy weight on draft-year prospects – made evident by Oliver Wahlstrom‘s continued growth. Eiserman will face similar challenges, as he tries to build out the rest of his skillset around a goal-scoring ability that’s historically-great.
Gavin McKenna, LW/RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
61 GP – 34 G – 63 A – 97 TP – 21 PIM – -4 +/-
The U18s skyrocketed the draft stock of many of 2024’s top prospects. But it was the 2025 and 2026 classes that had the strongest showings – with Hagens and McKenna fighting to one-up each other every single game. And while Hagens took home the tournament’s MVP award, it was McKenna’s hat-trick that sealed Canada’s Gold Medal win. The performance was a perfect close to what’s been an amazing season for McKenna, who came just three points shy of cousin Connor Bedard‘s WHL U17 scoring record. McKenna is an incredible prospect who simply sees the game quicker than anyone else. He’s able to work the puck through the smallest of gaps and make hockey moves in the tightest of spaces, helping him cut around defenders and score from anywhere. McKenna never stops moving, either – making sure he makes a mark every single shift and standing up to the call for added minutes when his team needs him. He is simply a star – and one that isn’t draft-eligible for another two seasons. There’s no telling just how good he’ll be if this is where he’s at at 16. Medicine Hat may have had an early exit this season, but they’re undoubtedly eager for next year – and the prospects of reuniting McKenna with top 2024 prospects Cayden Lindstrom and Andrew Basha.
Emil Hemming, LW, TPS (Liiga)
40 GP – 7 G – 4 A – 11 TP – 0 PIM – 3 +/-
Looking away from the glitz-and-glamor of this year’s tournament, it was maybe Emil Hemming who showed the most pro-ready traits. He was incredibly smooth all tourney, making plays cleanly and confidently in the offensive zone and using slick skating to create space off of defenders. And he had plenty of chances to show off just how hard his shot was – with opponents giving him plenty of space at the tops of the circles. The tournament was an encouraging showing from Hemming, who’s looked prone to playing slow or unengaged in the Liiga. But that’s a pro league – and among his peers, Hemming made crisp plays and matched pace beautifully. He’s showed pro-ready traits all season, flexing strong positional awareness and working with teammates well, but Hemming’s newfound tempo could be a substantial boost to his hefty style. Hemming has been considered a first-round prospect for much of the season, but his responsible and reliable U18s could now push him into the high-20s for teams looking for impact players sooner rather than later.
Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL)
67 GP – 28 G – 34 A – 62 TP – 27 PIM – 2 +/-
If any player were to rival Hemming’s title as the U18’s most impactful power-forward, it’d be Cole Beaudoin – who looked absolutely locked-in in every one of Canada’s games. Beaudoin is another hefty forward, who made up for a lack of speed with an unmovable strength and frame. He’s powerful in every aspect of his style, driving down the boards hard and doing well at taking opponents out of play with big hits. Beaudoin was a dynamic penalty killer too, squaring up to opponents well and using a quick, long reach to break up plays. Combined with his heavy frame and sharp processing, Beaudoin was simply hard to beat at the U18s. He was a key matchup against Team USA’s Hagens and Eiserman, and shut both players down well. While his offense could certainly be more inspiring, Beaudoin’s ability to shut down play and win back possession in his own zone could be strong enough to get some NHL teams looking at him early.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports.