Caeden Herrington (D, R, 6’2″, 203, Lincoln Stars, 01/26/2006, Vermont)
Caeden Herrington is a right-shot defenseman who has taken significant steps forward in his second draft-eligible year. Now logging top-four minutes and running the top power play unit in Lincoln, Herrington has grown into a reliable two-way presence who combines structure and strength in his own end with a clear shoot-first mentality in the offensive zone. He has a heavy shot, defends with size and reach, and displays strong puck retrieval and transition habits. Still, there are questions about his upside, skating mechanics, and decision-making under pressure — factors that kept him undrafted in 2024 and still present hurdles for pro projection.
Why Caeden Herrington Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Pro Frame and Physical Maturity
Herrington stands 6’2″, 205 lbs, which immediately checks a box for NHL projectability. This year, he’s begun leveraging that size more effectively, averaging 1.09 hits/game, an uptick from his play in New England Prep hockey. He plays physically in the corners, angles well off the rush, and maintains a strong stick on puck. He’s not intimidating, but he is willing to engage and now finishes plays more consistently than he did a year ago.
2) Highly Efficient Puck Mover
His 90% pass completion rate and elite 60% puck battle win rate are strong indicators of his poise and ability to make impactful plays in all three zones. Herrington consistently gets pucks off the wall and onto his teammates’ sticks without panic. His 2.4 puck recoveries/game and 0.64 blocked shots/game reflect commitment to structure and detail, especially on the penalty kill.
3) Offensive Confidence and Shot Utility
Herrington averaged 3:06 of power play time/game, and his role as a primary shooter was evident. He recorded 4.6 shots/game, and his 1.07 Grade A chances/game and 16% SC% are exceptional marks for a defenseman — strong shot generation from the blue line in. His slap shot is heavy — although his 1.09 blocked shots/game and 1.28 misses/game show a bit of a “volume over quality” approach.
4) Positionally Sound and Trusted in All Situations
Herrington’s 18:47 TOI/game includes over a minute on the PK, and he consistently makes the right reads when defending the rush. He rarely chases plays and tends to maintain net-side positioning. While not flashy, his awareness and anticipation are strong. His 9 takeaways/game is an elite indicator of defensive stick detail and his ability to end plays.
Why Caeden Herrington Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Skating: Still Developing
Herrington moves well enough, but he lacks separation gear and can get caught flat-footed on aggressive forechecks or east-west movement. While his mobility is serviceable, his stride lacks fluidity, especially on pivots and quick directional changes. His agility is a concern when defending high-skill forwards off the rush — and may become more exposed at higher levels.
2) Minimal Power Play Vision
Despite being the quarterback on the PP, Herrington averaged just 0.5 pre-shot passes/game. Meaning he’s not a creator or distributor at the top — rather, he’s functioning as a volume shooter. If that shot doesn’t become a true NHL-level weapon, it’s hard to see power play usage translating to higher levels and beyond. His limited deception, average delay game, and minimal change-of-angle skill will limit his upside as an offensive defenseman.
3) Still Gets Hit Too Often
Herrington still absorbs 0.79 hits/game, a concerning number for a defenseman of his size. It indicates either indecision with the puck or telegraphed movement. That speaks to a processing issue when forechecked aggressively and may get worse at the pro level if not developed now.
Projection and Outlook
Player Projection: Bottom-pairing, shutdown defenseman with secondary special teams ability.
Development Track: 3–5 years — likely full 4 year NCAA route and additional AHL runway before seeing NHL action
Draft Recommendation: Middle 4th–6th Round
Herrington has done what you hope when a player moves on from New England Prep hockey: improve his physicality, clean up his puck movement, and take on more responsibility in all three zones. The growth is evident. He’s a big right-shot defenseman who defends well, eats minutes, shoots a lot, and rarely beats himself. That type of player has value at the pro level — especially if he can further improve his ability to get point shots through to the net and reduce forcing plays in the offensive zone. He may not have top-four upside, but he’s on a solid path toward becoming an NHL option. The arrow is pointing up. Mid-round swing warranted.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling/Hickling Images