The NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its preliminary players to watch list on Wednesday. This list serves as an early assessment of 2025 draft-eligible prospects, providing graded evaluations from all major development leagues. 

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As the season progresses, mid-term rankings will be issued shortly after the 2025 World Juniors in January, followed by the final rankings in April, just before the NHL Draft.

The initial installment on NHL Central Scouting’s list features 64 current USHL players, including 19 from the National Team Development Program, grouped by rankings

These numbers exclude draft-eligible collegiate players with USHL ties. For instance, James Hagens, considered the top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft by most media outlets, is currently a freshman at Boston College but previously played for the NTDP U-18 Team.

Additionally, more than a dozen players who play in FloHockey partner leagues were also included on the list.

Players have been identified using the following criteria:

• A Rating - 1st round candidate
• B Rating - 2nd/3rd round candidate
• C Rating - 4th/5th round candidate
• W Rating - 6th/7th round candidate

A Rating Players

James Hagens, C, Boston College (USA NTDP)

Hagens firmly established himself as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft after putting up big numbers with the NTDP U-18 Team last season. The 17-year-old amassed 102 points on 39 goals and 63 assists in 58 games, which includes his record-setting performance at the 2024 Under-18 World Championship. There, Hagens established a new tournament record with 22 points, breaking the previous single-tournament record held by Nikita Kucherov. In three games with Boston College, Hagens already has one goal and five points.

Logan Hensler, D, Wisconsin (USA NTDP)

A big, puck-moving defenseman, Hensler is a terrific skater who plays a strong two-way game. With the NTDP U-18 Team last season, he posted 32 points on four goals and 28 assists in 61 games. Hensler is currently a freshman at Wisconsin where he has one point (an assist) through his first four games.

William Moore, C, NTDP U-18 Team

At 6-foot-2 and 161 pounds, Moore has plenty of size and room to grow. The 17-year-old plays a strong game down the middle and plays with good pace. After recording 43 points with the NTDP U-17 team in 2023-24, the Boston College commit already has eight points on three goals and five assists through his first 12 games with the U-18 Team this season.

Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State (USA NTDP)

Potter made the jump to the NCAA a year sooner than expected, which speaks volumes about his talent level. A freshman at Arizona State, the 17-year-old forward is a marvelous skater and uses his quick hands to make plays in tight quarters. Potter has two goals and four points in six games with the Sun Devils thus far.

Cullen Potter was supposed to be a senior in high school this year. Instead, the 17-year-old #NHLDraft just scored his first @NCAAIceHockey goal for @SunDevilHockey!

TUNE IN FOR THE END OF ASU at @AF_HKY!
📺: https://t.co/Des4G31CEL#CollegeHockey #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/907B4ZiVca

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) October 5, 2024

Charlie Trethewey, D, NTDP U-18 Team

Trethewey established himself as a potential first-round pick last season with the NTDP U-17 Team, where he potted 35 points in 52 games. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner plays a great two-way game and has one of the hardest shots among defensemen in this class. With the U-18s so far this year, Trethewey has four points on two goals and two assists in 12 games.

B Rating Players

The NTDP is well-represented in this tier, with seven players to be second or third-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, including Shane Vansaghi, who is currently a freshman at Michigan State. Carto Amico, Conrad Fondrk, and Cole McKinney are certainly candidates who could work their way into the first round as the year progresses.

For the non-NTDP players, Adam Benak is becoming must-watch television for the Youngstown Phantoms. The 17-year-old, although smaller in stature, is an offensive speedster. Benak pairs that with excellent patience to find teammates. He is a player that could easily work his way into first-round conversation in the final rankings.

Ben Kevan put himself on the map last year, leading all rookie skaters with 57 points in 59 games. While the Buccaneers are off to a slow start, Kevan is not, having accumulated eight points on three goals and five assists through his first seven games.

🚨 Ben Kevan (2025) nets his first of the season for the Des Moines Buccaneers in their first game here at the #USHL Fall Classic 🏒🍁#FallClassic #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/H0lAvsvEm5

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) September 19, 2024

Full B List From USHL:

• Carter Amico, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Adam Benak, C, Youngstown Phantoms
• Sacha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (Youngstown)
• Conrad Fondrk, C, NTDP U-18 Team
• William Horcoff, C, NTDP  U-18 Team
• Ben Kevan, RW, Des Moines Buccaneers
• Ryker Lee, RW, Madison Capitols
• Cole McKinney, C, NTDP U-18 Team
• Mason Moe, C, Madison Capitols
• L.J. Mooney, C, NTDP U-18 Team
• Zachary Morin, LW, Saint John Sea Dogs (Youngstown)
• Jack Murtagh, LW, NTDP U-18 Team
• Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln Stars
• Shane Vansaghi, RW, Michigan State (USA NTDP)

C Rating

• Anthony Allain Samake, D, Sioux City Musketeers
• Carl Axelsson, G, Sioux Falls Stampede
• Richard Baran, D, Des Moines Buccaneers
• Asher Barnett, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Sean Barnhill, D, Dubuque Fighting Saints
• William Belle, RW, NTDP U-18 Team
• Bjorn Bronas, G, Sioux City Musketeers
• Yaroslav Bryzgalov, C, Des Moines Buccaneers
• Ritter Coombs, LW, Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Alexander Donovan, RW, Shattuck St. Mary’s (Sioux Falls)
• Edison Engle, D, Des Moines Buccaneers
• Jakub Hes, C, Youngstown Phantoms
• Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, NTDP U-18 Team
• Matthew Lansing, C, Waterloo Black Hawks
• Teddy Mutryn, C, Chicago Steel
• Andrew O’Neill, C, NTDP U-18 Team
• Maceo Phillips, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Luka Radivojevic, D, Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Dakoda Rheaume-Mulleon, Michigan (USA NTDP)
• Ashton Schultz, C, Chicago Steel
• Gleb Semenov, C, Omaha Lancers
• Cooper Simpson, LW, Shakopee High (Tri-City)
• Nicholas Sykora, LW, Omaha Lancers

W Rating

• Cameron Aucoin, D, Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Donato Bracco, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Gavin Cornforth, RW, Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Jackson Crowder, C, Sioux City Musketeers
• Richard Gallant, LW, NTDP U-18 Team
• David Green, D, Green Bay Gamblers
• Matthew Grimes, D, Sioux Falls Stampede
• Caleb Heil, G, Sioux Falls Stampede
• Kam Hendrickson, G, Omaha Lancers
• David Hruby, C, Omaha Lancers
• Sam Kappell, C, Madison Capitols
• Mikhail Katin, D, Omaha Lancers
• Lev Katzin, C, Green Bay Gamblers
• Nick Koering, D, Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Sam Laurila, D, Fargo Force
• Garrett Lindberg, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Cullen McCrate, D, Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Brendan McMorrow, LW, Waterloo Black Hawks
• Vaclav Nestrasil, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Jesse Orlowsky, C, Waterloo Black Hawks
• Aidan Park, C, Green Bay Gamblers
• Jack Parsons, G, Chicago Steel
• Brady Peddle, D, Waterloo Black Hawks
• Patrick Quinlan, G, NTDP U-18 Team
• Drew Schock, D, NTDP U-18 Team
• Brecken Smith, C, Youngstown Phantoms
• Jake Stuart, C, NTDP U-18 Team
• William Tomko, C, Chicago Steel
• Cole Tuminaro, D, Sioux City Musketeers
• Kuzma Voronin, LW, Youngstown Phantoms
• Ethan Weber, D, Lincoln Stars

Canadian Junior A Players Listed By Central Scouting

While the USHL led the way for junior leagues on FloHockey in terms of players listed by NHL Central Scouting, there was a large number of players from CJHL-affiliated leagues as well as the BCHL that also got the nod from Central Scouting.

Beijing-born Haoxi Wang is currently the highest-rated player in Canadian Junior A hockey as a B. The Boston University commit has drawn a lot of interest from scouts due to his 6-foot-6 frame and ability to move pucks productively. Seventeen players from leagues such as the BCHL, AJHL, OJHL, GOJHL and MJHL were also listed among those to watch.

B Rating

• Haoxi Wang, D, King Rebellion (OJHL)

W List

• Poul Andersen, RW, Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL)
• Shea Busch, LW, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
• Jaden Cholette, G, Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL)
• Cooper Cleaves, D, Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
• Kale Dach, C, Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL)
• Samuel DiBlasi, Chatham Maroons (GOJHL)
• Max Heise, C, Penticton Vees (BCHL)
• Drew Hockley, D, Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
• Callum Hughes, C, West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)
• Jonathan Kapageridis, D, Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)
• Avery Laliberte, D, Niverville Nighthawks (MJHL)
• Jeremy Loranger, C, Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL)
• Ellis Mieyette, LW, Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)
• Michael Newlove, G, Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)
• Noah Tegelaar, G, Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
• Owen Warnick, RW, Selkirk Steelers (MJHL)
• Mikhail Zakharov, C, King Rebellion (OJHL)

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