The 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup featured a mix of players who could be considered goal scorers, playmakers and possession drivers, but the top five scorers all found different paths to success. Using InStat data Neutral Zone scouts looked beyond the point totals to understand how each player generated offense, drove play and separated themselves from their peers.
#1 Marcus Nordmark (RW, L, 6’1″, 183, Djurgardens J20, 05/04/2008) Nordmark led the tournament with 12 points, scoring 7 goals while generating chances through cycle play and quick recoveries. He combined efficiency (64.9% of shots on net) with disruption and tenacity, averaging 5.8 takeaways per game, and maximized his touches with consistent power play production.
Stats: 5 GP | 7G | 5A | 12 PTS | 515 touches
- Shot efficiency: 64.9% on net
- Takeaways: 5.8 per game
- Clean entries: 4.8 per game (4 as carrier)
Why He Scored: Relentless volume shooter with strong anticipation who capitalized on cycle play and power-play opportunities.
#2 Elton Hermansson (LW, R, 6’1″, 177, Orebro HK J20, 02/05/2008) Hermansson’s 11 points came from volume possession and playmaking. He logged the most puck touches (590), averaged nearly 8 clean zone entries per game and completed passes at an 87.4% clip, making him a constant driver of Sweden’s puck possession offense.
Stats: 5 GP | 6G | 5A | 11 PTS | 590 touches
- Pass attempts: 30.2 per game (87.4%)
- Zone entries: 7.8 per game (5.6 as carrier)
- Shot efficiency: 67.7% on net
Why He Scored: Possession driver who created consistent clean zone entries and sustained offense with smart passing and high-volume clean touches.
#3 Axel Elofsson (D, R, 5’11”, 166, Orebro HK J20, 06/03/2008) The only defenseman in the top five, Elofsson posted 11 points by dominating possession, transition and distribution. He attempted 40 passes per game at a 90.5% completion rate, while winning 70.4% of his puck battles. His anticipation and retrieval numbers 3.4 rebound recoveries per game highlighted his ability to control games and dictate from the back end.
Stats: 5 GP | 2G | 9A | 11 PTS | 633 touches
- Pass attempts: 40 per game (90.5%)
- 50/50 battles: 70.4% win rate
- Takeaways: 8.2 per game
Why He Scored: Elite puck distributor and possession defender; dictated tempo from the blue line with anticipation, recovery, and efficient zone entries.
#4 Blake Zielinski (RW, R, 6’0″, 192, Des Moines Buccaneers, 03/05/2008, Providence) Zielinski scored 9 points with a shoot-first mentality, leading the group in cycle shots (5.5 per game). His willingness to fire pucks and battle for rebounds (2.25 rebound recoveries per game) made him a dangerous finisher despite fewer puck touches than the others.
Stats: 5 GP | 5G | 4A | 9 PTS | 264 touches
- Shot attempts: 8.3 per game
- Cycle shots: 5.5 per game
- 50/50 battles: 52.6% win rate
Why He Scored: North-south forward with a shoot-first mentality, consistently generating offense off the cycle and recovering rebounds.
#5 Ethan Belchetz (LW, L, 6’5″, 227, Windsor Spitfires, 03/30/2008) Belchetz finished with 4 goals and 8 points built on efficiency, body positioning and patience. He recorded the highest grade “A” scoring opportunities in the tournament with 2.5 per game, supported by the highest expected goals per shot with 0.77 xGPS. Though not a high-volume shooter (4.5 per game), his smart zone entries and net-side positioning ensured he made the most of his touches.
Stats: 5 GP | 4G | 4A | 8 PTS | 270 touches
- Puck battles: 65.4% on 12.5 attempts
- Takeaways: 3.2 per game
- Zone entries: 3.75 per game (2.4 as carrier)
Why He Scored: Efficient, high-IQ player who maximized limited puck control with elite shooting accuracy and smart transition play.
Each of the top five scorers reached the same outcome, consistent offensive production, but arrived there through different strengths. Nordmark thrived as a volume shooter, Hermansson as a possession driver, Elofsson as a playmaking defenseman, Zielinski as a cycle shooter and Belchetz as an elite net-front presence. Together, they highlight the variety of skill sets that can drive scoring at the international level.
Neutral Zone’s approach provides NHL organizations with a clearer lens to evaluate how players create offense, not just how much.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images