Sascha Boumedienne (D, L, 6’1″, 175, Boston University, 01/17/2007, Boston University)
Sascha Boumedienne, a 6’1″, 175-pound left-shot defenseman, is a potential top ten selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. Heading into his freshman year at Boston University for the 2024/25 season, Boumedienne has already garnered significant attention with his combination of size, mobility, confidence and offensive potential. His performance at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he represented Sweden, showcased both his strengths and areas for improvement, making him a player who will be watched very closely this year.
Skating and Mobility:
Boumedienne is characterized by his fluid effortless glide and long stride, which allow him to move around the ice looking as if he is playing shinny hockey with his buddies. While his mobility is a clear asset, he is still in the process of developing the power, quickness, and explosiveness necessary to fully utilize his size. His ability to keep tight gaps and maintain defensive positioning through his skating is a notable strength, though there is room for improvement in terms of his overall explosiveness.
Puck Handling and Offensive Potential:
Boumedienne’s soft first touch and offensive instincts are among his most intriguing qualities. He is adept at joining the rush and creating offensive opportunities, often displaying creativity in the way he attacks the offensive zone through the royal road and then passing the puck to an open teammate in the dot-lane. His stick-handling in tight spaces and ability to attack off the boards while he’s along the offensive blueline make him a constant threat when he’s on the ice. Despite these strengths, Boumedienne has a tendency to overcomplicate plays at the offensive blue line, leading to turnovers or shots being blocked, as seen in a couple of key instances during the Hlinka Gretzky Cup which led to Boumedienne having 1.6 shots blocked per game.
Defensive Play and Physicality:
Defensively, Boumedienne is a work in progress and still learning how to defend away from the puck. His extended reach and stick work allow him to disrupt plays, but he needs to develop a more assertive physical presence in his own zone so he can shut plays down quickly. Currently, he tends to be passive in physical confrontations, relying more on his stick placement rather than on body positioning and physical engagement. This passivity can lead to scoring opportunities, particularly when closing gaps and boxing out opponents. Enhancing his physical game and becoming more assertive in one-on-one situations will be crucial for his development into a potential top pairing NHL defenseman.
Performance at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup:
At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Boumedienne averaged 17:56 per game, which ranked him third among Swedish defensemen. He finished the tournament without registering a point, averaged 0.2 hits per game, won 57% of his 50/50 puck battles, completed 84% of his passes. His shooting metrics, including five shot attempts per game with 2.2 hitting the net, and as noted above Boumedienne will need to refine his shot selection if he is to be an NHL power play #1 option.
Summary:
Sascha Boumedienne is a defenseman with significant upside due to his combination of size, mobility, and offensive instincts. While there are areas of his game, particularly his defensive play and physicality, his potential to impact the game at both ends of the ice makes him a compelling candidate for the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images