Breakdown - NHL CS North American Rankings
A breakdown of NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings of North American skaters and goalies.
CHL Dominates Top Prospects
The CHL consisted of 66% of the top 50 skaters, led by the OHL with 15, and WHL with 14. Produced 80% of the top 10, 78% of top 32, and 63% of top 100.
Top Prospect - Matthew Schaefer
The hockey world was robbed of watching Scheafer lead Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors, after sustaining a broken clavicle early in round robin play vs Latvia. Mobile yet lengthy, with skill and the brains to be an elite pro, Schaefer had 7G 15A in 17 games before his injury. That production rate of 1.29 is 4th best amongst OHL Defenseman.
Ranked Prospects By League
Watch For McQueen
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Roger McQueen was on a roll before being bit with the injury bug again, an upper body injury keeping him to just 8 games this season in the WHL, a casual 8G 3A. At 6’5”, NHL teams will have all eyes on the power forward center, one of the tallest forwards in the rankings along with Mason West of Edina HS in Minnesota. A potential top 10 pick who could creep up before the final rankings.
Quick Hits
7 of the 15 USNTDP prospects are ranked in the top 50, led by Jack Murtagh at #25
50% of NCAA skaters ranked in the top 40, led by James Hagens of Boston College at #2
Top NCAA Conferences: Big 10 with 5 ranked prospects, Hockey East with 4
No prospects from Canadian Jr A in the top 100 skaters
Sherwood Park’s trio of Jeremy Loranger, Kale Dach and Poul Andersen make up 3 of the 4 prospects from the BCHL
Top 50 Skaters
Despite a somewhat quiet end of 2024, Frantisek Netusil is the only skater ranked out of the NAHL, with 3 goaltenders led by Austin’s Carl Axelsson at #13
U18 / HS - 8 of 18 prospects out of Prep Hockey Conference, led by Shattuck St Mary’s with 4, St. Andrews with 3.
Fargo (USHL) draft pick and Edina forward Mason West leads all high school skaters, followed by Shakopee’s (USHS MN) Cooper Simpson.
Providence commit Ethan Phillips leads all U18/Prep goaltenders at #18, a 2024 Sioux City (USHL) and 2023 Flint (OHL) draft pick.
U18 / HS Prospects
9 of top 10 goaltenders from the CHL, led by Prince George’s(WHL) Joshua Ravensbergen
31 of 32 goaltenders over 6’0”, just 22% 6’3” and taller
After not listed on prelim rankings, Kemptville’s (CCHL) Trenten Bennett has made a splash, ranked #9 for goaltenders.
Ranked Goalies By League
NCAA Prospects
Top USHL Prospects
CHL Top 50 Skaters
USNTDP
Goaltender Rankings
