L’Italien is a big, rangy defenceman who was one of Halifax’s brighter spots in a difficult 6–0 loss. Playing nearly 25 minutes, he handled a heavy workload at even strength, on the penalty kill and on Halifax’s second power-play unit. He retrieved pucks effectively in the defensive zone and consistently moved them out with ease. He showed good composure under pressure, rarely appearing rushed, and generally made smart, simple decisions rather than forcing plays that were not available.
For his size, L’Italien moves well. His pivots were smooth, and his mobility allowed him to defend effectively in space. He used his length particularly well against the rush, extending his stick to disrupt attacks and take away passing or shooting options before they could develop. Offensively, his game was relatively simple but effective, moving pucks quickly and taking what the defence gave him.
Despite the blowout, L’Italien made very few noticeable mistakes. His most significant came following a defensive-zone faceoff, where he was slow to identify and stay with his assignment, allowing his man to get open at the back door for an uncontested tap-in. Moving forward, L’Italien should continue to handle major minutes for Halifax. His combination of size, mobility, reach, composure and defensive reliability gives him an intriguing foundation, and based on this viewing, he looks like a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
#4 Wenatchee Wild. Left shot defenseman, 6.02 / 197
DOB: April 13, 2009
Boston Tait is a good-sized defensive defenseman who uses his frame effectively to win puck battles, establish possession, and protect the puck during transitions. He displays a good first pass, allowing him to move the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone and help initiate the attack. Defensively, he does a good job closing the gap early, limiting opponents’ time and space to generate offense.
Tait also brings some offensive ability to his game, possessing a good shot with a nice release. He can get pucks through traffic and toward the net, creating opportunities for rebounds and deflections. His combination of size, defensive awareness, puck protection, and ability to move the puck makes him an intriguing prospect with top-four potential at the professional level.
Projection: Early second round. Projects as a top-four defenseman at the professional level.
#17 Tri-City Americans. Right-shot right wing. 5.10 / 184
DOB: January 19, 2009
McKamey is a skilled two-way forward who keeps his feet moving, draws penalties, and shows strong offensive instincts. He has excellent vision as a playmaker, moves the puck efficiently, and can find teammates in scoring positions. When given the opportunity to shoot, he has the release and accuracy to beat goaltenders. He also sees time playing the point on the power play, where his puck distribution and offensive awareness can be valuable assets.
Defensively, McKamey needs to make better decisions when operating at the point on the power play, as mistakes in that position can lead to short-handed opportunities for the opposition. Adding more physicality to his game would also help him become a more complete player.
His point production is beginning to trend upward, and he is showing signs of growing confidence. As he matures and continues to develop, I believe he has the potential to become a productive offensive contributor.
Projection: Middle of the fourth round in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. Despite standing 5’10”, McKamey’s playmaking ability, offensive vision, and scoring touch give him the potential to develop into a top-six forward at the professional level. His size may be a consideration for some NHL teams, but continued production and improvement could strengthen his draft stock.
The Rangers started this one off with a goal very late into the 1st period; Tanner Lam made a quick pass to Luca Romano for a short one-timer to make it 1-0 going into the 2nd. The game was end-to-end action, but neither team could capitalize on any opportunities, and it would remain 1-0 going into the 3rd. Kitchener opened the 3rd perfectly as top 2027 NHL prospect Luca Santala fired a shot from the circle; it deflected more than once but found its way past Vermirovsky for a 2-0 lead. Brady Smith would bring the hounds within one with a beautiful one-handed tuck five-hole, and with 2 minutes remaining, Rangers goaltender Jason Schaubel would make his first mistake all game: a bad puck bounce off the boards, and he ended up dropping his stick before swatting it away, where Ryan Kaczynski would tap it in the empty net. Jakub Winklehofer would win it for the Greyhounds a minute into overtime.
The Standouts
Luca Santala – Luca had a slower start to the game, but looked great in the 2nd and 3rd. An ability of his that really stood out to me was his puck protection; he was very strong on his skates and used his body to distance the puck from defenders while keeping his head up, looking to make plays. He showed very good vision and made many slick passes, especially on the power play; he thinks ahead of the play and is able to put himself in scoring opportunities before they develop.
Trevor Daley Jr – Daley was on the best line for the hounds again; he, along with his line, were punishing on the forecheck, not only hitting but his relentless work ethic and pace; he is extremely effective along the boards as well, often won’t just crash and bang in the battles but will sneak in, lift a stick and take it with perfect timing.
Jason Schaubel – Schaubel was incredible, stopping 33/36 with one of them being an unlucky bounce off the boards; the Greyhounds had plenty of high-danger chances, and he kept the Rangers in it all night. He has extremely fast lateral movement, is very quick down low, and showed great positioning throughout the game, especially while on the penalty kill.
Entering Friday night’s matchup, the Brampton Steelheads were still searching for their first win of the season, having dropped their opening seven games and remaining the OHL’s only winless team. Standing in their way were the Kingston Frontenacs, who arrived in Brampton with a 4-4 record. With home-ice advantage and Kingston playing the second half of a back-to-back, this presented a great opportunity for Brampton to end its slump.
Adam Goljer made an immediate impression with his strength on the puck, particularly when carrying it in stride. Brampton’s defenders struggled to separate him from the puck, allowing him to dictate play in the offensive zone.
Kingston controlled much of the play through the opening 10 minutes, generating the majority of scoring opportunities. Despite the pressure, Brampton remained disciplined defensively, keeping Kingston to the perimeter and limiting high-danger chances.
Despite Kingston’s early pressure, Brampton struck first when 2027 NHL Draft-eligible forward Keaton Ardagh flew through the neutral zone, finding a gap between three Kingston defenders to create a breakaway. Ardagh made no mistake, finishing glove side to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.
Brampton’s lead nearly evaporated moments later when Adam Goljer found Aleks Kulemin with a dangerous cross-crease pass. Kulemin had positioned himself for a potential tap-in but was unable to corral the puck.
Kingston wasted little time finding the equalizer. On the following shift, André Mondoux sent a wrist shot from the point through traffic that found the back of the net. It was a shot Brampton goaltender Oskari Ahmajärvi likely should have stopped, tying the game at 1-1.
While Matthew Henderson didn’t have a particularly flashy first period, his steady defensive play provided Goljer with the freedom to take risks offensively. Goljer frequently joined the attack, often finding himself below the faceoff dots in the offensive zone, trusting Henderson to provide defensive coverage.
Kingston picked up right where it left off, applying immediate pressure to start the second period. Nolan Snyder delivered a perfectly placed pass from the slot onto Aleks Kulemin’s tape, creating a golden opportunity to take the lead, but Kulemin was unable to convert. Although he had yet to find the back of the net, Kulemin was consistently finding ways to get open in dangerous areas. For the second time in the game, he slipped behind Brampton’s defenders to put himself in prime scoring position.
Kulemin’s persistence paid off on the very next shift when Matthew Henderson sent a shot toward the net from the point. Kulemin got his stick on the puck, redirecting it past Ahmajärvi to give Kingston its first lead of the night, 2-1.
While Kingston continued to generate offense, Brampton defenseman Peter Green stood out for his ability to stretch the ice with long, tape-to-tape passes. Whenever the puck found its way onto his stick, Green demonstrated an ability to facilitate clean zone exits and quickly transition play up ice.
Continuing an impressive night for both Kingston players, Kulemin led a two-on-one rush, finding Goljer with a pass that the defenseman converted to extend the Frontenacs’ lead to 3-1.
Brampton cut the deficit to one thanks to an impressive individual effort from Nathan Amidovski. Battling multiple Kingston defenders in the high slot, Amidovski managed to maintain possession before firing a shot glove-side to make it a 3-2 game. Throughout the night, Amidovski had been Brampton’s best offensive facilitator, creating opportunities with a number of creative and dangerous passes. His goal was a well-deserved reward for his efforts.
In the dying seconds of the second period, Ardagh once again showcased his high-end speed, squeezing between a Kingston defender and the boards to create open ice ahead of him. He followed up with a pass to a teammate in a scoring position, but the teammate was unable to convert.
Kingston came out strong to start the third period, with Landon Wright generating two scoring opportunities in quick succession. After his first attempt was blocked, Wright made the most of his second chance, beating Ahmajärvi high to restore Kingston’s two-goal advantage at 4-2.
Wright’s goal appeared to spark a response from Brampton, as the Steelheads spent the next several shifts hemming Kingston in its own zone and applying sustained offensive pressure.
With approximately 10 minutes remaining, a frightening moment unfolded when Brampton’s Stepan Kuryachenkov delivered a hit from behind on Matthew Henderson, leaving the Kingston defenseman down on the ice for an extended period. Kuryachenkov was assessed a five-minute major, leaving the Steelheads facing a lengthy penalty kill while trailing by two goals. Fortunately, Henderson was able to return to the game.
Despite being shorthanded, Brampton nearly found a way back into the game when Kingston’s Landon Wright tripped in the offensive zone, creating a two-on-one rush in the opposite direction. The Steelheads were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the score at 4-2.
Brampton successfully killed off the entire five-minute major, keeping its hopes of a late comeback alive. With two minutes remaining, the Steelheads pulled Ahmajärvi for an extra attacker in a final attempt to erase the deficit. Despite sustaining offensive pressure with the empty net, Brampton was unable to find the back of the net, falling 4-2 to Kingston and suffering its eighth consecutive loss to open the season.
Naudins is a big center in his first year in the WHL. He is very responsible and trustworthy in the D-zone, getting down low and covering in front of the net to support the defenceman. When he is F2 or F3, he stays high, covers the high slot, and gets in shooting and passing lanes to stop cross-ice passes and point shots. In the offensive zone, he does well when he goes to the net, using his size to protect the puck and bang in rebounds.
He needs to use his size more and play bigger and more physically. Drive to the net more than taking shots from low-danger areas from the outside. Naudins should utilize his size more effectively and play a more physical game. He can improve his faceoff skills and work on leaning into opposing players to create turnovers. He can do this by playing more aggressively and using his strength to gain an advantage on the ice.
With his size and as he continues to mature on the ice, I think he can be a solid two-way bottom-six forward with enough offensive skill to produce as a depth forward. I see him as a 2nd- to 4th-round pick.
#4 Victoria Royals. Left shot defenseman. 6.02/189
DOB: September 16, 2008
Odin Vauhkonen projects as a dependable defensive defenseman with the tools to develop into an NHL second- or third-pairing contributor. He plays a mature, structured game and consistently makes smart decisions with the puck. While his primary value comes from his defensive reliability, he also shows solid playmaking ability and can contribute to the power play. Vauhkonen moves the puck effectively, distributes with confidence, and helps maintain possession through clean exits and simple, efficient plays.
Defensively, he is an engaged shot blocker who willingly sacrifices his body to protect the net. One of his better habits is closing gaps early and using body positioning to separate opponents from the puck before dangerous plays can develop. His awareness and willingness to compete make him a difficult defender to play against.
To maximize his potential, Vauhkonen would benefit from adding strength and becoming more powerful on his skates. Improving the speed of his puck movement will help reduce turnovers under pressure, while better anticipation and preparation for opponent transitions out of the offensive zone will strengthen his overall defensive game.
At this stage, I project Vauhkonen as a middle second-round selection with the upside to become a reliable NHL second- or third-pairing defenseman.
#11 Medicine Hat Tigers. Right shot centre. 6.00 / 193
DOB: November 26, 2008
Gordon-Carroll projects as a hard-nosed power forward who consistently impacts the game in all three zones. His defining qualities are his pro-level puck movement, excellent one-timer execution, and quick, accurate release. He displays soft hands in tight areas and has the skill to create offense while playing through contact.
A highly competitive player, Gordon-Carroll, applies relentless pressure in the offensive zone and forces defenders into mistakes through his tenacity and work ethic. He is willing to establish position in the blue paint, absorb punishment, and create traffic to generate scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. His effectiveness around the net is a significant asset.
He is also a dependable penalty killer and a strong face-off performer, providing value in key defensive situations and late-game scenarios. His combination of skill, compete level, and willingness to play a physical, hard-driving style makes him a difficult player to defend against.
At this stage, I project Gordon-Carroll as a late first-round selection with the upside to develop into a reliable second- or third-line NHL centre who can contribute to both special teams roles.
This matchup between the high-octane offense of the Saginaw Spirit and the winless Brampton Steelheads had the potential to be quite lopsided. However, Saginaw entered the game without a pair of draft-eligible defensemen: leading point scorer on the back end Levi Harper and 6-foot-7 shutdown defenseman Drew Roscoe.
From the moment the puck dropped, Dima Zhilkin was all over Brampton, whether it was dancing around a defender in the offensive zone or running someone over with a massive hit in the neutral zone. Brampton was having a hard time getting set up at even strength, but then Saginaw took a penalty. On the ensuing power play, Keaton Ardagh slapped home a one-timer off a pass from Nathan Amidovski down low at the goal line, beating the goaltender far side to give Brampton the lead.
The second period was much of the same, with Saginaw controlling possession. Halfway through the period, Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn got a 2-on-1 rush and, as the duo has done so well to start the season, made no mistake. They threaded passes back and forth before Wassilyn finished the play to tie the game.
The Saginaw dynamic duo was not done there. Shortly after, on the power play, Wassilyn sent a pass through the slot to Zhilkin, who scored with a perfectly placed one-timer to give Saginaw the lead.
With the clock winding down in the third period, Brampton pulled its goaltender. With a minute remaining in the game, Geno Carcone corralled a rebound and tied it, sending the game to overtime.
Zhilkin continued creating scoring chance after scoring chance and eventually, with 30 seconds left in overtime, he scored. Once again, the goal came off a pass from Wassilyn, giving both players three points on the night. On the highlight-reel overtime winner, Zhilkin received the puck at the left faceoff dot, skated high into open ice, froze the defender with a head fake and scored from the high slot.
The first line of the Saginaw Spirit completely dominated the game. The chemistry between Dima Zhilkin and Braidy Wassilyn has been incredible to watch early in the season, and that continued against Brampton.
Zhilkin had a great game, affecting play in all three zones. Apart from scoring, he was very aggressive on the forecheck and relentless with his stick lifts, giving Brampton players all kinds of trouble. He also landed three or four massive hits in the neutral zone. His motor is one of the first things you notice when watching him. He is never standing still and is always attacking.
In this game in particular, his edges stood out. Multiple times, Zhilkin would be against the boards with a defender on him, and the next thing you knew, he would spin off, leave the defender behind and have open ice in front of him as he barreled toward the opposing net looking to score.
By the end of the game, Zhilkin had 12 points in six games, while Wassilyn had a staggering 13 points in six games. While the pair has received plenty of attention for their incredible start to the season, the third member of Saginaw’s top line, Dmitry Savin, deserves some recognition as well.
Savin is an underrated part of Saginaw’s top line. He is always firing shots on net through traffic to create rebounds and has the vision to find the high-end players he plays with in stride. It might seem easy to play with such dynamic players, but Savin has been a stabilizing force on the line. If his season keeps going this way, he should hear his name called in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Mares is a massive forward who was at his best in board and corner battles, where his 6’6”, 231-pound frame and long reach made him difficult to separate from the puck. He protected possession well along the walls and played a responsible defensive-zone game, using his reach effectively to take away space and disrupt opposing players.
Mares lined up on the wing and had a relatively limited offensive impact. His feet looked heavy, particularly on his first few steps, and he lacked acceleration when trying to separate from defenders or close space. He struggled to create high-danger opportunities and, despite possessing a major size advantage, did not use it consistently to work off the walls or drive into the middle of the ice and net-front areas. At this stage, I also do not see much natural playmaking in his game, as he rarely created offense for himself or his linemates.
Moving forward, Mares should continue to push for a larger role in Rimouski’s top six. His combination of size, reach and strength gives him intriguing upside, but becoming more assertive offensively and improving his pace will be important if he is going to establish himself as a legitimate early-round NHL Draft prospect.
