[Sandman]

Thoughts from the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge:

-4 players were tied for the scoring lead in the event, with 3 points apiece: RW Mathis Preston of the CHL, and NTDP players C Wyatt Cullen, RW Sammy Nelson, and D AJ Francisco.

-RW Mathis Preston looked every bit like a top-10 talent for the 2026 Draft, as he did in the Hlinka (7 points in 5 games). Unfortunately, he's spinning his tires on a low-scoring Spokane Chiefs squad in league play, with only 17 points in 21 games- after putting up 45 in 54 last season. Top-tier speed and skill, exhibits both shooting and playmaking, as well as play-driving ability.

-C Wyatt Cullen (Matt Cullen's kid) was a driver for the US team, and a pace-pusher. He was ranked "C" by Central Scouting, but I would bet he's a riser as the year progresses. The commentators mentioned that he's grown a lot in the last few years (he's now 6'0" tall), but he needs to continue filling out and getting stronger to win more battles- though he seems to be a gamer, and wins his fair share of 50/50 contests already with his intensity and motor. He was injured to start the current season, but has since put up 7 points in 6 games for the NTDP.

-D Xavier Villeneuve was anointed by Craig Button as the CHL's best D through the first 5 periods, and it's hard to argue. I like this kid more and more- he's plucky and competitive (despite being only 5'11'', and 157lbs), fights hard in puck-battles, and is more than willing to throw the body, even drawing the ire of the Americans in a few post-whistle scrums. He's an unbelievable skater, has the hands to match, and seemed to be all over the ice in both games.

-D Ryan Lin says he models his game after Drew Doughty, and I saw some of his style here. Like Villeneuve, Lin is undersized (5'11",176lbs), but scrappy, and surprisingly physical in these two games. No points in this event, but one can appreciate his speed, handling, smarts, and attention to playing a detailed defensive game.

-No points for LW Ethan Belchetz, who was one of Team Canada's best forwards at the Hlinka (7 points in 5 games), but he was also noticeable in this event every time he was on the ice for his mobility, skill, and physicality. Not a whole lot of cohesiveness with his linemates, unfortunately.

-C Caleb Malhotra wore the "C" for the Canadians, and picked up 2 points. I really like this kid, and I thought he was one of the best players in this event. Excellent two-way conscience, nicely skilled, and competitive.

-There's been plenty of talk of how C JP Hurlbert's game will translate, but he's still sitting atop the WHL scoring race with 18 goals (tied for 1st) and 44 points in just 25 games for the 11th-paced Kamloops Blazers (out of 23 teams). He's not the best skater, but his game looked more complete in these contests, and I even spotted him on the PK in game #1. He needs to play with more pace, but he's highly opportunistic without the puck and an expert in finding open ice in traffic to be there at the right place, at the right time- very high IQ.

-No points for LW Adam Novotny, but I love his game. He is just now catching fire in league play for the OHL's Peterborough Petes, with 13 points in his last 9 games, for 26 in 24 (14 goals) on the season. He plays with power, has a nose for the net, and a sniper's mentality that helps him find soft spots on the ice to unleash his shot. He's a powerful skater, and employs a sound two-way game that will translate well to the NHL.

-LW Victor Plante was rated "B" by Central Scouting to start the season, and he showed a little of why in this event, scoring the series-clinching goal in "Super-Overtime". Derek Plante's son, and brother to NHL-draftees Max and Zam, tallied with a laser of a wrister from the high slot after winning a puck along the boards. Though only 5'10", and 157lbs, he's competitive, energetic, and works hard- like his Father. He's not afraid to engage physically, or play through contact, and backchecks hard with his speed and high motor. VP has piled up 19 points in 22 NTDP games, with an impressive 5 goals and 8 points coming in 7 contests against USHL competition.

-It's hard to project D AJ Francisco, but he was the top-scoring D in this event, with 3 points. Only 5'11",174lbs, he was given a "C" rating by Central Scouting in their preliminary rankings, and fits the mold of a highly active, offensive-defenseman who can run the point on the PP, and isn't at all afraid to join the rush or pinch in to the play with his speed and offensive skill. He's obviously smart and skilled, but needs better details in his defensive play, and an upgrade in his strength and physical engagement.

-C Maddox Dagenais didn't set the world on fire in these games, with only 1 assist, but he really impressed with his speed and agility (he's 6'4"), as well as his puck-skill- at one point in Game #1, he stick-handled past a defender for a close-in shot on net, but couldn't finish. He's a "B" rated skater, and has posted 18 points in 23 games for the Remparts- a pace that would put him at 50 points in 63 games at season's end.

-Believe it or not, D Luke Schairer (who is 6'3",195lbs) was rated an "A" by Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings, despite putting up only 6 points in 22 NTDP games this season- and there are some who indeed have Schairer (evidently pronounced SHY-er) late in the first-round. His allure is definitely not his point-production, but the fact he exudes NHL tools (including amazing skating abilities and uncanny range) and hockey sense- he plays the role of puck-mover and offensive supporter/ facilitator right now, and would no doubt have more points on a better squad, but that's not really his game. He's a stalwart defensively, nicely physical, kills rushes, drives play through transition, and seems very poised and confident with the puck. I'm now a fan. 2 assists in this event, and I thought he was the best D for the NTDP.

-Villenueve was excellent, but my pick for best D would be Carson Carels. Though the CHL had trouble keeping the puck out of their net, and looked largely disjointed, Carels flashed his play-stopping abilities, as well as his intelligent puck-movement, aggressive offense, and commanding transition game- while putting up 2 points. He does everything well, and can play in any situation. He has really come into his own this season, putting up 24 points in 23 games for Prince George of the WHL, leading the team's backend by 8 points. He was "A" rated by Central Scouting, and deserves it- he will anchor an NHL team's top-pairing one day.

-D Daxon Rudolph was very noticeable as well, and also put up 2 points in this event- he has a lot of similarities to CHL teammates Carson Carels and Chase Reid, with all three possessing NHL-caliber tools. Rudolph is skilled, intelligent, and plays a sound game all over the ice, but didn't look as active, pacey, or aggressive as Reid or Carels. He is poised and calm with the puck, plays a solid shutdown game, and is quite mobile. He's disappointed a bit on the offensive side of the puck this year, with 17 points in 21 games for Prince Albert (WHL), after a nearly-historic U-17 year where he posted 41 points in 64 games- the 17th-best season by a defenseman of that age bracket, and only 4 behind Verhoeff.

-D Chase Reid has been rocketing up draft lists, and though he is similar in profile to both Rudolph and Carels, he is more offensively inclined; some are now saying that he may be the second-best defender in the draft behind Verhoeff, and he may even go top-5. Though it's hard to let any of the CHL's defensemen off the hook for their performance in this event (Reid had 1 goal) , Reid showed that he now plays a fast-paced, responsible game in all three zones, and the A-rated defender uses his size (6'2.25",188lbs) well to separate man from puck. He has a hard, heavy shot that he uses a ton, as well. Reid had an unbelievable D-minus-1 season, where he registered 40 points in 39 games for a poor Soo Greyhounds squad, and has so far reached 28 points in 25 games this season. Very impressed with this kid.

-C Alessandro Di Iorio impressed in a background role at the Hlinka (2 points in 5 Games), and I thought he was one of the best forwards at this event (1 goal in 3 games). Di Iorio does everything well, and owns a very well-balanced skill-set- he skates well, exerts good puck-skill to deke and dangle, and can unleash an NHL-caliber shot. He can push pace with his high motor, pays attention to his defensive duties, and doesn't shy away from the physical game (he's 6'1",190lbs). He just came back from injury in the OHL, and has 6 points in 6 games, although he has also put up an ugly -5 for the Sarnia Sting- who are currently one of the worst teams in the OHL.

-Apparently, LW Ryan Roobreck was used sparingly in the second game (only 4 shifts), and sat in the third-period- I guess that's one reason as to why he seemed invisible. Roobreck's stock is plummeting, and this event did nothing to help his case. When I did see him, he looked either lost or disinterested.

-I was hoping to see more from LW Nikita Klepov and C Yegor Shilov, but they were also a bit inconspicuous; each had no points, and a -3. Shilov is a high-end stickhandler who plays a sound 200-ft game, and currently has 31 points in 23 games for the Victoriaville Tigres- who are the second-worst team in the Q. Klepov is an American with a Russian background playing in Canada for the Saginaw Spirit (OHL), who are currently sitting in 16th-place, out of 20 teams- and he leads the team in scoring, with 33 points in 24 games. He's a hard-nosed player who battles hard in the trenches, attacks the net, and plays a physical brand of hockey. He's also superbly skilled and fast on his feet. He was one of Team USA's best players at the Hlinka this past summer, with 6 points in 5 games. Both players should be risers IMO, and are both first-round talents.

-B-rated RW Casey Mutryn (6'3",200lbs) was his usual self in these games, flying in his opponents' faces, playing mean and physical, and drawing the ire of the CHL team in post-whistle scrums. I like his older brother Teddy, and I'm also a fan of his; he didn't put up any points, but was nevertheless a part of the NTDP's identity with his hard-nosed, edgy play, and his proficiency in winning puck battles. Mutryn is not just a meathead though, as he's fairly skilled, and can really skate.

-G Brady Knowling was the star of Game #1, stopping 42 shots, and posting a 2.00 GAA, and a .955 SV%. I guess there's a reason why this 6'5",202lb netminder was rated a "B" by Central Scouting, and why he looks to be the first goalie taken in the draft.

-At the other end of the ice, CHL netminders Harrison Boettiger (3.07 GAA, .880 SV%) and Zach Jovanovski (no relation to Ed, 3.00 GAA, .889 SV%), had similar stats. Boettiger (6'3",194lbs) is the more highly regarded prospect, but both were rated "B" by Central Scouting in their Preliminary Rankings. Strangely enough, Boettiger played in last year's edition of the Prospects Challenge for Team NTDP. He is currently 5-2-2, with a 2.37 GAA, and a .921 SV% for Kelowna of the WHL, while Jovanovski (6'3", 157lbs) is 10-7-1, with a 3.83 GAA, and an .882 SV% for the 12th-place Guelph Storm of the OHL.

-Where was C/RW Blake Zielinski for Team NTDP? I was expecting more from him, especially after seeing him in the summer's Hlinka, where he was arguably Team USA's best player- leading the team in scoring, with 9 points in 7 games (2 points more than Jack Hextall). This time around, no points and a -2 for the NTDP in the Prospects Challenge, though he has played this season for the Des Moines Bucaneers of the USHL, posting 15 points in 18 games- after an impressive 32 points in 42 games last season. Though he is able to dictate pace using his outstanding motor, his skating needs work- as does his consistency shift-to-shift, as well as game-to-game. He is well-rounded, with an NHL-shot and underrated playmaking ability, but his attention to his defensive responsibilities has ebbs and flows. He'll go in the second-round.