Explosive Start to the Season | 2025 NHL Draft Weekly Report
Like last season, TSLH Prospects will publish a weekly report on the offensive performances of prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. Each week, we will tour the globe to identify players performing in their respective leagues, regardless of the level.
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European NHL Draft Prospect of the Week: Milton Gastrin
Milton Gastrin played very well at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament this summer and continues to build on that momentum, as the Swedish player has recorded 11 points in 8 games. The 6’1″, 183-pound center, who plays for MoDo in the J20 Nationell, impresses with his consistency on the ice. He excels in all areas of the game and showcases an intense motor, making him difficult to counter.
Due to his profile being based on efficiency rather than creativity, we were hoping to see him a bit more active in possession of the puck, and so far, he has delivered. Many will likely keep an eye on him if he continues to perform at this level. If the young player clarifies his offensive potential while adopting a professional style, we may see him in the SHL soon.
Max Westergard
In 6 games with Frolunda in the J20 Nationell, Finnish player Max Westergard has recorded 8 points. This is a promising start for one of the youngest prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft (DOB September 3, 2007). Standing at 5’11 » and 161 pounds, the winger plays a more perimeter-based style.
We often see him sneaking behind defenders or taking advantage of openings to position himself for his teammates. Personally, he reminds me a lot of Filip Mesar at the same age. He’s a player who is never far from the puck but would benefit from changing his approach to confrontations to have a long-term chance in the NHL. It’s still early in the season, so we will see what he brings in the coming months.
North American NHL Draft Prospect of the Week: Roger McQueen
Having just been identified as the 6th best prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft by Bob McKenzie, Roger McQueen is making a strong case to solidify his spot in the top 10. After 2 games, the 6’5″, 190-pound forward has accumulated 4 goals and 2 assists. According to the TSN analyst, the young player even received a first-place vote in the preseason ranking survey.
McQueen has been highly ranked for this year’s draft for some time. However, meeting expectations can be challenging due to the pressure of the first year of draft eligibility. For now, the member of the Brandon Wheat Kings seems to be thriving under that pressure.
Melvin Novotny and Eddie Genborg
Both forwards are attracting attention in Sweden with more than satisfactory production in the J20 Nationell. Melvin Novotny, playing for Leksands, has 9 points in 5 games, while Eddie Genborg has the same total, but in 4 games. The latter was also called up to the SHL, where he played one game without recording a point (he didn’t officially have any shifts in the match). As for Melvin Novotny, he hasn’t played since September 15th, a game in which he scored 3 goals before being ejected following a hit he made to the head. There is no official information on the situation at this time.
Other Performers for the 2025 NHL Draft
We can also highlight the performances of Eric Nilson with Djurgardens in the J20 Nationell (8 points in 6 games), defenseman Kurban Limatov with Dynamo Moscow in the MHL (7 points in 7 games), and Cameron Schmidt with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL (4 goals in 2 games).
Since not all leagues have resumed their activities, this week’s report includes all leagues. However, when hockey is fully underway globally, we will provide a more structured review based on the countries.
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