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Time of India
an hour ago
- Sport
- Time of India
2025 NHL Draft: Late-round gems ready to shake up the game
NHL (via Getty Images) Each NHL Draft unearths hidden gems in the later rounds who surprise and become vital contributors. Even with analytics diminishing the chances of gems, the past indicates that players taken beyond the third round still have a chance to turn into impact performers. Indeed, less than 1.5 % of those selections turn into true NHL-impact players. NHL teams may discover talent in deep draft rounds Every NHL team looks for value in players late in the draft, those who get overlooked because of their size, skating or limited exposure but have what it takes to go to the next level. Whether it's blazing speed, punishing physicality, or high-end hockey sense, these are the traits that help late-round picks beat the odds. In a draft where upside and potential come with risk, these prospects offer compelling reasons for teams to take a swing after the third round. Here are some fascinating late-round prospects in the 2025 crop—players who have that exceptional 'skill' and can develop into building blocks in the future. Final 2025 NHL Mock Draft Cameron Schmidt, right wing ( Vancouver Giants , WHL): Cameron Schmidt's size may deter early selection, yet his elite speed and goal-scoring touch resemble a potential Alex DeBrincat-style scorer. With 40 goals in 61 games, he excels on the rush, in one-timers, and around the net. If he adds a bit of height and strength, Schmidt could rival traditional goal-getters—exactly the type of talent that can pay off late in the draft. Jacob Rombach, defense (Lincoln Stars, USHL): Rombach possesses shutdown ability with his size, gap control, and passing savvy. Not a puck-moving sensation, but his ability to gain pucks back and shut down plays makes him a future No. 4/5 defenseman—a steady asset for any NHL organization looking for depth on the blue line. David Bedkowski, defense (Oshawa Generals, OHL): A throwback enforcer, David Bedkowski excels in physical punishment and shutting down zone entries. He might not become an elite-pair defenseman, but as a bottom-pair enforcer who plays the body and kills plays, he can be a prized playoff asset, like recent physical icons in the league. Aidan Lane, right wing (Brampton Steelheads, OHL/NCAA): Aidan Lane was impressive late in the OHL with a point-per-game run. A physical, engine-driven winger, he mixes strength and maturing offense. Expected to keep developing at Harvard, he possesses the skills to be a power-wing bottom-six forward with finishing skills and tenacity. Also read: Brad Marchand's Instagram stories turn Panthers' Stanley Cup party into NHL shoutout fest Through the 2025 Draft, these players will emerge as sources of attention for a valid reason: when the timing of breakthrough meets unpolished talent, stars are made in the late rounds. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Ottawa Citizen
20 hours ago
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
Sudbury Wolves receive OHL business award for world's largest goal light
Nathan Villeneuve's goal on Nov. 29 lit up the world's largest goal light for the very first time — an event that was recognized by the OHL at its 2024-25 business awards. Article content Sudbury Wolves owner and SWSE CEO Dario Zulich attended the league's annual business meetings this week at Hockley Valley Resort, where he accepted the Creative Investment Award for turning the former downtown water tower into a 120-foot-tall dynamic LED display that lights up whenever the home team scores a goal. Article content The light has also been put to use for other community events, including the Sudbury Santa Claus Parade and other local celebrations. Article content 'This goal light isn't just awesome for the sake of it (when) lighting up in red when the Wolves score, but it has now become a landmark even more so than what the water tower may have been before,' OHL commissioner Bryan Crawford said in a media release. 'It lit up in Oilers colours during the Stanley Cup Final, it will light up on special occasions (holidays, awareness days, etc.), and really is an unbelievable example of that connection between our clubs and our communities.' Article content Villy just became the answer to the trivia question "Who lit The World's Biggest Goal Light first?" — Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) November 30, 2024 Article content New this season, the OHL expanded its list of annual business awards from two up to 10, covering a range of different categories. Article content Article content 'The players and coaches are always working hard to bring about results on the ice, but there's a large group of dedicated employees across the league seeking to enhance the OHL experience for players and fans alike,' the league added in its release. Article content Other winners included: Article content – Game Night Theme Award: Windsor Spitfires
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The top 10 offensive players available in the 2025 NHL Draft
Michael Misa, Saginaw, Ontario Hockey League Scouts have raved about the 6-foot-1-inch, 182-pound Misa's complete game. He plays with physicality and creativity, allowing him to separate from defenders and open opportunities for himself and his teammates. Misa is a strong skater with a quick release and his production this season was ridiculous as he collected 62 goals and 134 points in just 65 games. Gaudy junior numbers don't guarantee NHL success, of course, but it would be a surprise if Misa didn't make an impact as early as next season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Saginaw's Michael Misa lit up the Ontario Hockey League for 62 goals and 134 points in just 65 games. Kevin Sousa/Getty Advertisement James Hagens, Boston College, Hockey East Hagens seamlessly stepped right into a talented and veteran Eagles lineup and showed he belonged on the top line, collecting 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games. He added another five goals and 9 points in seven games for the United States at the World Junior Championship. A deceptively powerful skater, the 5-11, 185-pounder has worked to put on muscle since the season ended. Hagens has excellent vision and passing skills, and will snap off accurate shots in the blink of an eye. Advertisement Jake O'Brien, Brantford, OHL Perhaps the best vision in the class, the 6-2, 177-pounder (he'll be in some franchise's weight room tout suite) often appears to see the game a stride or two ahead of others. In 66 games, he solidified his rep as a scorer (32 goals) and a facilitator (66 assists). Ran the power play for Brantford and could develop into that same role in the NHL. Porter Martone, Brampton, OHL After putting up 37 goals and 98 points in 57 games, Martone got the call from Team Canada to play in the IIHF World Championship alongside many NHL stars, giving him somewhat of a head start on what life in the big leagues will be like. Martone (6-3, 210) has the requisite size and snarl to become an impactful power forward at the next level. He's not shy about crashing the net and/or camping out in the blue ice. Yes, he'll take some punishment, but he'll give as good as he gets. Porter Martone Martone got the call from Team Canada to play in the IIHF World Championship. Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Anton Frondell, Djurgarden, Swedish Hockey League The No. 1-ranked international skater by CSB, Frondell has solid size (6-1, 203) and hockey sense. He gets up and down the ice with purpose and will not shirk his defensive responsibilities. Frondell, who battled injuries over the first part of last season, has a quick, heavy, and accurate shot. Bruins director of scouting Brad Nadeau said of Frondell: 'He plays a mature game. He can shoot the puck; he'll go to the net.' Advertisement Victor Eklund, Djurgarden, SHL Frondell's teammate (and late-season linemate) was ranked No. 2 by CSB. He has a high-end motor, a high hockey IQ, and great bloodlines (his brother William is a Sharks standout). Like a lot of teens, Eklund will need to add some bulk to his 5-11, 169-pound frame to withstand the rigors of the NHL. Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton, Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Desnoyers is a crafty playmaker with excellent vision and gifted passing skills. He leads his teammates well, delivering crisp passes right on the tape. Desnoyers (35 goals, 84 points in 56 games) has room to grow physically (6-1, 170), is sound in all three zones, and has drawn comparisons to Patrice Bergeron. Roger McQueen, Brandon, Western Hockey League The strapping McQueen (6-5, 198) likely would be ranked higher if not for a spine fracture that limited him to 17 games (10 goals, 20 points). McQueen declared himself 100 percent at the recent NHL Scouting Combine. A powerful skater, McQueen has excellent instincts and physicality. He will go to the hard areas (puck digging in the corner and parking himself in the blue) and will win his share of battles. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Lulea, SHL Ihs-Wozniak has desirable size (6-2, 184) and a wicked shot. A strong skater, Ihs-Wozniak, ranked No. 8 on CSB's international list, will flash physicality, though scouts would like to see that part of his game on a more consistent basis. Malcolm Spence, Erie, OHL A speedy and strong player with a sizzling shot, the 6-1, 203-pound Spence put up nice numbers, collecting 32 goals and 73 points in 65 games. Similar to Ihs-Wozniak, Spence needs to develop consistency in order to be counted on at the high levels. Advertisement Jim McBride can be reached at
Ottawa Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Kohyn Eshkawkogan reflects on adjustment to OHL, cultural sharing
Kohyn Eshkawkogan's rookie season in the OHL was very much an education, both for the Manitoulin Island product and for the Ottawa 67's. Article content A skilled defenceman and a proud member of M'Chigeeng First Nation, Eshkawkogan not only proved to be a stellar student of the junior game, but also took on the role of teacher by introducing his coaches and teammates to his Anishinabek culture and history. Article content Article content Eshkawkogan was named recently as a member of the OHL First All-Rookie Team, as chosen by general managers across the 20-team league. Article content Article content 'It was an honour,' said the 16-year-old rearguard, reached earlier this week at his residence in Vaughan. Article content 'It was good recognition, but I've still got lots of work to do to get to the end goal I want to, which playing in the NHL.' Article content He's certainly off to a strong start. A standout for the Manitoulin Panthers and the Nickel City Sons minor hockey organizations before making the move south to suit up for the Mississauga Reps and the North York Rangers AAA rep squads, the son of Kevin Eshkawkogan and Melissa Biedermann was Ottawa's first-round pick, 21st overall, in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection — the first player from Manitoulin to hear his name called in the opening round of the long-running draft. Article content One of the youngest players in his draft class with a mid-November birth date, the right-shooting 5-foot-11, 180-pounder was undaunted by the step up in competition. He suited up for 52 games in 2024-25, recording four goals and 16 assists. Article content Article content 'I would say one of the steps I took was the speed of my game, getting faster with the league, and also understanding where guys are going to be and reading the play to make plays,' Eshkawkogan told The Sudbury Star. Article content 'It took me about two weeks to feel comfortable, to get used to the speed of the game and after that, I felt that I was able to play there.' Article content He credited the Ottawa staff, led by decorated veteran Dave Cameron, and his older teammates for helping him adjust to the pace and physicality of major-junior play. Article content 'The coaching staff and the group valued me as a player and as a person,' Eshkawkogan added. 'Once they're comfortable with you and they trust you, you should have no problem.' Article content Among several highlights were his naming to the Canada Red roster for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November, during which he recorded two assists in four games to help secure a silver medal, as well as his recognition as the OHL's East Division Scholastic Player of the Month for December. A two-week road trip around Christmastime allowed for some additional bonding time with teammates.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
"A lot to prove to myself and the world": Michael Misa redefines what dominance looks like as 2025 NHL Draft's best forward prospect
Michael Misa (via Getty Images) Michael Misa, the dynamic Oakville, Ontario, forward, has become the most well-rounded offensive tool on the board going into the 2025 NHL Draft. Following a franchise-defying year with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, in which he collected 134 points in only 65 games, Michael Misa is the top guy to take off the board as a forward. Saginaw Spirit's Michael Misa solidifies himself as 2025's most exciting NHL draft prospect Since the day Michael Misa received exceptional status to play in the OHL at only 15 years old, direct comparisons to legendary players Connor McDavid and John Tavares were made to him. That added pressure, though, hasn't slowed him down—it's just sped him up. His entry into the OHL was record-breaking. Michael Misa tallied 56 points in 45 games as a rookie, surpassing the points-per-game mark he posted as an underage player last season behind John Tavares. But it's his 2024-25 season that put him atop the scouting board. Posting 62 goals and 134 points—numbers no other draft-eligible OHL skater came within sight of—Michael Misa is being compared to the likes of Patrick Kane, whose draft season is the gold standard for junior offense. Is Michael Misa an obvious pick for Sharks at No. 2 overall? In contrast to most young stars, Misa's scoring outburst was not the product of flashy remodeling of his game. Rather, he doubled down on polish, developing shot control at the expense of raw power, returning to his natural center position, and enhancing his defensive effort. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo The end product? A 59-point jump from the year before and an obvious maturation into a two-way player. 2025 OHL Awards Ceremony: Michael Misa (Saginaw Spirit) 'Coming into this year, I think I had a lot to prove to myself and to the world,' Misa said at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo earlier in June. 'I really just tried to leave everything on the ice and walk out of here with no regrets.' Also read: Chicago Blackhawks trying to steal No. 1 pick in Michael Misa draft bombshell Whether through his deceptive shot release, dynamic skating mechanics, or capacity to dictate tempo, Misa's game is constructed for sustained NHL impact, and he's well on his way to being a top-line NHL center before too long. Whether or not the New York Islanders make him the No. 1 overall pick, Misa's NHL debut seems less of an if and more of a when.
