Within the second installment of the CHL-USA Prospects Problem, america evened the rating — considerably.
The CHL swept the 2024 sequence and took the second recreation of the 2025 sequence. Nevertheless, the primary tremendous time beyond regulation within the occasion’s historical past noticed Victor Plante break the one recreation apiece stalemate and provides the USNTDP the victory.
The 2025 iteration of the sequence was aggressive, with just a few standout performances. Many gamers made a optimistic impression on the NHL world with their performances, and given their previous monitor data, this can probably enhance their draft inventory.
In one of many prime prospect showcases of the 12 months, the talk about the very best defenseman within the draft class had rocket gasoline poured on it. A 2027 draft-eligible participant confirmed why he would probably be a top-10 choose within the 2026 draft, and some goalies did themselves a giant favor with their performances.
Listed below are the most important takeaways from this 12 months’s occasion:
Xavier Villeneuve makes his case
The smaller (5-foot-11) defenseman was sensible for the CHL, and within the opinion of many observers, the CHL’s most impactful participant. He was mentally and bodily engaged from puck drop in Recreation 1, showcasing elite edge work and skating capability. He constantly escaped stress with ease, beat checkers up ice and walked the road with glorious footwork within the offensive zone.
In moments the place the CHL wanted a jolt, Villeneuve supplied it. He was concerned in scrums — the instigator in just a few of them — and received greater than his share of bodily altercations.
With the puck, Villeneuve created offense, together with his head up continuously scanning for threats and alternatives to interrupt protection. He had just a few miscues, which is to be anticipated for a participant that had the puck on his stick as usually as he did.
He has drawn comparisons to Lane Hutson, however his play type extra carefully resembles that of Quinn Hughes if you mix his edgework, capability to flee stress and constant offensive play driving. Like Hughes and Hutson, he is undersized, however he is particular and put himself within the dialog as the very best defenseman within the draft class.
The 12 months of the defenseman?
In case you are a group that wants a standout defenseman, that is the draft to maintain your first-round choose. Past Villeneuve, three defenders showcased why the scouting world may be very excessive on them.
Daxon Rudolph was glorious for the CHL in each video games. He isn’t flash and sprint; he is dependable and glorious defensively. His puck retrievals, each forehand and backhand are easy; he is alert and scanning for forecheckers and makes fast, correct passes to beat protection and begin the transition to offense.
Carson Carels is much like Rudolph in that he does not “wow” you with flashiness, however is environment friendly and extremely efficient in his minutes. Carels makes easy performs, reads rushes and makes use of his skating to create benefits with and with out the puck. Defensively, he and Rudolph have been the very best blueliners within the two-game set.
Chase Reid is being debated as the highest blueliner within the draft class, and it’s straightforward to see why. When he is at his finest, he skates by means of protection with ease, is a one-man scoring probability machine and misleading together with his head and shoulder fakes. He was actually tentative within the first two durations of the sequence, with expensive turnovers and errors that have been very uncharacteristic. Greater than different defensemen, Reid has the rover high quality, the place he jumps into the play like a fourth ahead however picks his spots to not sacrifice defensive duties.
Undersized forwards take over
The “smaller forwards cannot play” crowd took a serious blow over the two-game set, as a result of the vast majority of the standout performances up entrance have been by forwards 6-foot and smaller.
Mikey Berchild, Wyatt Cullen, Victor Plante, JP Hurlbert and Mathis Preston have been glorious within the sequence. Every of them constantly attacked with velocity, wreaking havoc on defenders and scoring.
The road of Berchild, Cullen and Dayne Beuker was just about unimaginable to include within the first recreation, they usually have been rewarded for it. Cullen was glorious in each video games, and I am undecided he misplaced a single puck battle in both recreation, no matter any dimension drawback. He hounded defenders, bodily engaged and created turnovers that led to loads of scoring alternatives. He received harm within the second recreation, however that doesn’t diminish how impactful his play was. He beat checkers together with his velocity, drove the web, completed his scoring probabilities and was a thorn within the aspect of each CHL defender. If dimension was a priority, it should not be anymore.
Cullen’s linemate, Mikey Berchild was glorious for the U.S. within the sequence. He showcased high-end puck talent and playmaking capability. His cross to arrange the primary purpose in Recreation 1 raised various eyebrows. He did not cease there. Regardless of a dimension drawback, he used his puck talent to maneuver round defenders, drive the web and create scoring alternatives. Off the puck, he was constantly in the fitting place on the proper time, anticipating gentle areas and turnovers. He actually seems to be the a part of a possible middle-six ahead.
Plante scored the sequence clincher in tremendous time beyond regulation for the U.S., a justified reward for his play over the course of the sequence. He was a big supply of power for the People, using his velocity, attacking talent and depth. He struggled to win bodily battles however was by no means tentative, forcing hurried passes and turnovers together with his pursuit. He must get stronger and perceive how you can place himself to win battles towards larger opponents, however the offensive instruments and work charge are attractive.
Hurlbert was noticeable in each video games. He opened the scoring early within the second recreation and was a big presence within the offensive zone in each video games. He wasn’t environment friendly together with his puck selections and generally tried to do an excessive amount of, however his toes have been transferring and the trouble to create alternatives was constant. He did not shrink towards harder competitors and might want to proceed producing at an elite stage for the rest of the WHL season to boost his draft inventory.
Preston was constantly efficient over the two-game sequence, notching three factors, together with the sport winner in Recreation 2. He practically tied Recreation 1, in what would have been his second third-period purpose of that recreation. He makes use of his velocity and fast fingers to place himself in advantageous positions and create scoring alternatives. Off the puck, he was a superb forechecker and tracked again with velocity and energy to drive the People to the skin. For a participant who had some questions coming into this showcase, Preston confirmed a well-rounded recreation off the puck and was a big offensive creator with the puck.
Knowling and Boettiger impress within the crease
Brady Knowling and Harrison Boettiger have been actually spectacular in Recreation 1. It’s not a stretch to say Boettiger stored the CHL within the recreation whereas it discovered its legs, and as soon as it did, Knowling was the one purpose the USA received Tuesday’s recreation. Each confirmed high-end athleticism, sharp actions and the flexibility to make tough saves in key moments. Knowling’s rebound management was spectacular, because the CHL generated many grade-A probabilities that may have been tap-ins if Knowling didn’t squeeze the puck to his physique.
Each goalies made robust circumstances for his or her draft inventory and can probably be extremely wanted in June.
Sammy Nelson is one to look at
It’s far too early to be discussing the 2027 draft, however after Sammy Nelson’s efficiency this week, it could be an error to not point out it.
Nelson was in the course of every little thing, whether or not that was on the forecheck, off the puck or engaged bodily. He is an awfully good participant with glorious stick positioning, instincts and skill to establish threats. His work ethic and defensive prowess have been on full show within the second recreation, after a 2-point efficiency within the first recreation the place he routinely outmuscled CHL gamers to achieve a bonus.
If Nelson have been eligible for the upcoming draft, he’d be within the prime 10. He isn’t eligible till 2027, the place he’s prone to garner a ton of consideration for nice particulars, stable two-way play and skill to provide offense.
Malhotra and Di Iorio elevate their inventory
Caleb Malhotra is rightfully getting a ton of consideration for his play to open the season and that continued within the sequence. Many count on Malhotra to be a future captain, and that’s well-earned reward. When the CHL wanted a spark, Malhotra was there with a dominant shift within the offensive zone, a giant defensive play or scoring a shorthanded purpose. He constantly performed in visitors, attacking the center of the ice, bodily partaking and enjoying by means of contact. He is a candidate to skyrocket up group’s draft boards.
Alessandro Di Iorio missed the primary couple of months of the season with harm, and this was a golden alternative to claim himself. When he engaged bodily and guarded the puck, there was not a single American defender who may include him. He discovered the quiet space within the second interval of Wednesday’s recreation and confirmed off his catch and launch, scoring with authority to tie the sport, 3-3. He created alternatives all through the sequence and whereas he did not end, he confirmed his first-round draft standing is effectively earned.
And at last … the U.S. ought to deliver greater than NTDP gamers
A normal takeaway from the sequence is the distinction between the groups. The CHL pulled gamers from all three Canadian leagues to showcase the nation’s finest gamers, no matter birthplace. The CHL had just a few U.S.-born gamers, a Czech and a Russian.
The USA opted to go together with the NTDP group with a few additions. That meant gamers like Tynan Lawrence and Jack Hextall missed out on the chance to participate. A real USHL vs. CHL showcase would permit the very best gamers from every league to participate, and would not penalize USHL gamers for not being a part of the NTDP.
The video games will all the time be aggressive, however the addition of among the USHL’s finest can be helpful to the gamers, the scouts and the followers. One thing to think about for future iterations.