“Just wait until you see next year’s crop of players.”
“It’s a strong birth year.”
“The 2008’s are really strong.”
Over the last few weeks of the 2024-25 Canadian Hockey League regular season, whispers of the aforementioned phrases have been heard around the scouting fraternity. Scouts are always projecting and have to stay in the present when it comes to this year’s NHL draft, but they become very intrigued by their “advanced recon” on “next year’s crop” of promising talent.
All of the best underagers have the innate ability to catch the eye of scouts with their instincts and natural talents. So many of these future stars lean into their hockey sense and processing skills as an initial beacon for success. These players never force things out there and perhaps their strongest attributes are their ability to stay within themselves which truly jumps off the page during the scouting process.
In some cases, given their team’s position within junior hockey’s dreaded cycle these prospects operate in the shadows. They might not log big minutes or play in all of the key situations just yet, but they still find a way to impact the game.
Ups and downs are commonplace in the CHL, especially for high profile young players that often are confronted with high expectations and extreme pressure. It’s incredibly difficult to gain traction given all of the variables these young players face.
From the shadows to the spotlight, many of these players have been patiently waiting for their time to shine while others have already become budding superstars.
The next wave of highly touted 2026 NHL draft prospects are well on their way to accomplish their dream of getting drafted and that process has already started for those in the shadows or spotlight.
It’s rare to see an elite level talent or “special players,” but obviously, Gavin McKenna is a front runner for first overall in next year’s draft class. Here are several other underagers that have caught Neutral Zone scouts’ eyes across the CHL.
WHL
Gavin McKenna (LW, Medicine Hat Tigers – 6’0, 165, Late 2007 DOB) 56 GP, 41G, 88A, 129 pts
Daxon Rudolph (RD, Prince Albert Raiders – 6’1, 195, 2008) 64 GP, 7G, 34A, 41 pts
Keaton Verhoeff (RD, Victoria Royals – 6’4, 212, 2008) 61 GP, 20G, 24A, 44 pts
Ryan Lin (RD, Vancouver Giants – 5’11, 172, 2008) 59 GP, 5G, 47A, 52 pts
Mathis Preston (RW, Spokane Chiefs – 5’11, 170, 2008) 52 GP, 22G, 22A, 44 pts
Carson Carels (LD, Prince George Cougars – 6’1, 175, 2008) 58 GP, 5G, 29A, 34 pts
OHL
Ryan Roobroeck (LW, Niagara IceDogs – 6’4, 190, 2008) 64 GP, 41G, 46A, 87 pts
Ethan Belchetz (LW, Windsor Spitfires – 6’5, 226, 2008) 56 GP, 17G, 21A, 38 pts
Beckham Edwards (C, Sarnia Sting – 6’1, 170, 2008) 62 GP, 25G, 20A, 45 pts
QMJHL
Lars Steiner (RW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – 5’10, 177, late 2007) 57 GP, 23G, 37A, 60 pts
Thomas Rousseau (RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix – 5’10, 158, 2008) 58 GP, 17G, 23A, 40 pts
Dylan Rozzi (LW, Saint John Sea Dogs – 5’11, 151, 2008) 62 GP, 14G, 20A, 34 pts
Maddox Dagenais (C, Québec Remparts – 6’2, 181, 2008) 43 GP, 12G, 14A, 26 pts
Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte (RD, Val d’Or Foreurs – 6’1, 171, 2008) 56 GP, 4G, 20A, 24 pts
by Craig Eagles