Full Coverage Of The 2025 NHL Draft Talent At The U.S. NTDP
The CHL/NTDP matchup did not highlight the NTDP well at all. So let's give them all a bit more coverage here.
I came out with a bit of a thought piece last night on how the NTDP’s stench of pride spoiled the CHL/NTDP matchup. It did. But I’d be hypocritical to point fingers at a lack of inclusivity, then step back and still call myself an expert on USA Hockey or the NTDP. No – the NTDP was not well-represented by the CHL/NTDP games; and yes – they’re still a class worth highlighting. We’ll try to do them more justice here, with my thoughts on every single player on this roster who’s eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft – after watching both their time with the Program, and their growth through AAA. There’s going to be no order to this list – so don’t read too much into who’s above who. We’ll cover ‘em all. Let’s dive in:
As always, rank projections are subject to change; players are subject to improve; and by all means this list is not finite. And before we dive in - like, comment, subscribe… all the usual stuff.
Conrad Fondrk, C, Alum of Mt. St Charles, Commit to Boston Univ.
Fondrk was a star in AAA. He dominated possession, using a solid frame, strong puck control, and quick give-and-go passing to control transition from the middle lane and set up the offense quickly after breaking in. His successes hinged on strong puckskills and even stronger hockey IQ – but only the latter has translated to the juniors flight. Fondrk is far less of a transition-facilitator for the NTDP – instead spending the bulk of his time on the defensive end of the puck and using the momentum of turnovers or big hits to spark movement up the ice. He’s still incredibly sharp and has become the NTDP’s Swiss Army Knife as a result – successfully playing both special teams and top-line minutes with great defensive acumen and fundamentals. He seems to be missing a wave of offense that I had expected he’d find by now – but even without it, his smart positioning and the extent of his off-puck strength both make him productive in all three zones. I’d bet he’ll be an early pick – a top 50 (or, 40?) lock for me – and a longtime pro because of it.
Jack Murtagh, C/RW, Alum of B.K. Selects, Commit to Boston Univ.
Murtagh is probably the best pick for this year’s ‘NTDP star’. He’s far less ‘do-it-all’ than some previous stars, but has prevailed as an impactful and overwhelming forward on the back of nonstop grit. Murtagh has a strong, strong frame and knack for diving into, and successfully making, hard-fought plays into the corners, on the boards, and in the slot. He’s strong enough on the puck – though far from the best puckhandler on this team – but boasts a rocket shot and heads-up playmaking. It all creates a dynamic power-forward, even if Murtagh is still waiting to pick a defined style (is he a puck-carrier, a strong second-man-in, a net-front presence? Can he be all of the above?). Murtagh is also the third-youngest on the team, an incredibly notable fact given he’s already one of their leading scorers. He’s a young player with tools that are already contributing to success, and the upside to establish himself in a variety of strong pro roles. That should, could, would warrant a first-round selection. I’ll hear that out!
Carter Amico, RHD, Alum of Mt. St. Charles, Commit to Boston Univ.
Amico is done for the year after undergoing surgery on his left leg. He’s expected to be fully healed in time for a freshman year at BU next season. That’s all I know – and the news couldn’t be much worse, because Amico was undeniably the star of this NTDP class by my bill. He’s been the most committed to the monotony of anyone, showing patience and poise in making the easy plays on the breakout, or finding the open passing lane. His size, physicality, and skating made him an incredibly hard beat in the corners or slot – both pieces that Amico used to dominate play in the lower third and spark his team’s move up the ice. He may not have scored much – or even skated over the red line much – but Amico looked to have all the pieces of a translatable pro, and it’s a shame that we’ll have to wait for an extended time to see if those traits really do progress. I’ll keep my faith behind him – and if he were healthy all year long, I would’ve been drafting him very, very high.
L.J. Mooney, C/LW, Alum of Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Commit to Univ. of Minnesota
Let’s get this one out of the way early. I can count on one hand the number of players I’ve seen in-person who are technically better than Mooney. I’ve seen him skate circles around Macklin Celebrini, James Hagens, and Michael Hage with just how incredible his puckskills and ability to drive down a lane are. And his finish is second-to-none – Mooney can score from anywhere. But he is small. And on the first hit he faced from a player older than 19 – no matter how dirty it was – he suffered a multi-month injury. I trust Mooney’s raw hockey talent more than virtually any other prospect in America. But his size is simply not translatable to the pro flight. He’ll have a ton to overcome, and could very well be the next Marty St. Louis. But that’s the career path here – and it’ll be a big hill to climb.
Will Belle, RW/LW, Alum of Shattuck St. Mary’s, Commit to Univ. of Notre Dame
You’d forget Belle was 6’4” with how smooth he skates. He’s all over the place, always seeming to find his way into hard-fought board battles or contentious plays in front of either net. And he wins his fights more often than not, strong enough on the puck to control possession after a turnover and find a teammate for a quick play. He’s supporting cast to the best degree, and plays with the right mix of physicality, grit, and tenacity to make an impact in all three zones. Notre Dame is going to be a perfect landing spot for this style – and I expect Belle’s agility in a big frame will earn him a hardy pro chance as well. I’d dub him a top-50 mark, at the absolute least!
Andrew O’Neill, C/RW, Alum of Windy City Storm, Commit to Univ. of North Dakota
Keeping with the theme of overwhelming physicality, O’Neill swaps out Belle’s mix of agility and size for a little more oomph behind everything he does. He’s technically smaller than Belle, but plays just as large – engaging physically more than any other NTDP forward and winning his battles cleanly. It’ll read bad, but O’Neill is the donkey of this team – an absolute workhorse when you need him to be, and a successful cog in the machine when you don’t need him. I’ve hoped he would find a bit more jump as an independent puck carrier, but it’s clear he’s leaning more toward a hardy career as a net-front bruiser. If you trust he can keep up that mantra despite being a few inches shorter than most in that prototype (I do) then I’d reckon he’ll be worth a confident second-to-third round pick.
Richard Gallant, LW/C, Alum of St. Mark’s School, Commit to Harvard Univ.
Gallant holds a strong bill for the most underappreciated player on this year’s squad. He’s been a top-line presence and strong scorer all year long. To put it another way, Gallant has already matched his U17 scoring (15 points) in 17 fewer (and often much harder) games. He’s a safety valve, responsibly monitoring play as the second or third guy in and very quick to jump up to any loose puck or contested battle. Gallant has great stickhandling in-tight and finds teammates quickly, which is usually enough to spark a strong chance or keep a play alive – though Gallant’s overall success rate leaves a bit to be desired. Still, this NTDP would be worse without him. He knows his role in all three zones and knows how to adapt his skillset to that role to grab onto and maintain possession. But – and it’s strong but – Gallant is small. He plays through physicality well – and is stout enough defensively/off-puck to make you forget his size – but his competition will only get bigger and stronger. I have faith he can be one of the few undersized forwards to earn a strong pro role despite not having top-line upside – but he’s nonetheless a player to be wary of, even for bullish scouts. I’d call him a mid-round look.
Asher Barnett, LHD, Alum of Chicago Mission, Commit to Univ. of Michigan
This year’s captain America has been (or, tended to be) lanky defender Barnett – who embodies what it means to be truly two-way. He’s as well-rounded as they come, controlling from slot-to-slot with a strong understanding of how to defend inside-out and not cede too much ground to opponents. He’s not very physical, but makes up for it with strong stick-checking and fundamentals. They’re all solid traits, albeit none so overwhelming that I guarantee he’ll be a pro. In truth, Barnett hasn’t hit the stride of all-three-zones puck management that I expected he would after a dazzling tenure with the Mission. Instead, he’s a defense-first two-way guy – with the smarts, all-around skills, and positioning to adjust to most levels. He’ll need to make sure he can keep up at the next level, but with Barnett’s leadership – I’m confident he’ll find a way. Throw him in the 3rd or 4th for me!
Cole McKinney, C/LW, Alum of Chicago Mission, Commit to Univ. of Michigan
It’s only right to mention Barnett side-by-side with best friend McKinney – who shares a lot of the clear leadership traits and tenacious hard-work that makes Barnett special. McKinney knows how to put in the work off and on the ice to improve his craft, and you see the evidence in just how strong his shot is from a stationery position. Now, transparently – I think his focus on standup, technical traits has limited his ability to control fast-moving plays up the ice. But that’s what he’s been tasked with this year – and he’s showing more-and-more growth and improvement every single game. I trust McKinney’s work ethic and core understanding of how to be a good hockey player. Even if I didn’t, I’d simply want his personality on my team. There are some cries for a first-round Cole McKinney, and while I may not agree with those – I do think he more than deserves to be one of the top names drafted from this team.
Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, Alum of Wayzata High, Commit to Univ. of Minnesota
We’ve brought up tenacity a lot in this article. It’ll come up a lot more later. But no player embodies that word better than Kvasnicka, who made the jump from AA to NTDP less than two seasons apart from one another. You can see why when you watch him play. Kvasnicka is relentless in pursuit of the puck, knowing how to push the bounds of his position to pressure opponents without leaving gaping holes. His first step is strong and fast, even from a complete stand-still, helping him apply immediate and relentless pressure from any spot. He’s feisty in every aspect. That’s the energy – the work ethic – that builds amazing pros, even if Kvasnicka is noticeably lighter than he needs to be to keep this up at higher levels. I bet he’ll add it in waves, and if he can find a scoring piece to boost – he could be a real solid middle-six role-player for a while. Pin him as a third-to-fourth for me, largely because of his lacking size – though don’t let that come off as a sign of lacking confidence, this kid is FUN.
Will Moore, C/RW, Alum of Mississauga Senators, Commit to Boston College
The heap of debate around Will Moore predates his time at the NTDP. He was rooted in a debate between USA Hockey and OHL at 15, and opted for a top-line role on the former. But two years in and I’m not sure his talents weren’t better suited for the latter. Moore is a strong stickhandler, working through and around opponents with ease and driving directly to the net no matter what the context of the play is. His shot is clean, his ability in-tight is consistent, and he’s probably the best holder of the title ‘scorer’ on this squad. But Moore seems to be missing a step. Whether it’s chemistry with teammates or searching for a clear takeover ability, he’s not scoring at the pace of the top-of-the-class forward he was expected to be. There are many who argue that Moore’s two-way game is well-rounded enough to mitigate those concerns (the great Steven Ellis provided some fantastic coverage there) but I have a hard time swallowing that argument. Without his scoring, Moore looks a bit confused – and when he’s not scoring, it’s noticeable. Boston College should be a great place to add back in the offensive boost that an all-time low-scoring NTDP has maybe deprived him of. His talent is still among the best on this roster. But I’m not buying into the first-round, or maybe even the top-50, love that he’s gotten early on. Bid him a late-Second for him.
Charlie Trethewey, RHD, Alum of Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Commit to Boston Univ.
Another damn BU commit! My Midwest heart can’t take it. Especially when it’s another clear-cut top defender for this NTDP squad. While I’ll dub Amico the best defensive-asset on the roster, it’s hard to deny that Trethewey isn’t the best puck-moving defender. He was a star in AAA because of his ability to jump up the ice with the puck on his stick and easily orchestrate scoring chances. You’re still seeing that control of the neutral zone in juniors, but he’s lost the explosivity that made him a top scorer. Instead, Trethewey is a stout two-way guy – capable of making the right plays to defend the rush and force a turnover, then jumping into his a clearly more-comfotrable role controlling the puck. There’s a common thread in this article that the setting of this NTDP squad has probably limited a few of these kids’ upside. I think Trethewey (or Moore) has felt that the most. And I do think he could still grow into a strong, top-of-the-lineup kind of puck-carrier with the right stride at BU. But if he doesn’t he’ll be better set for a career as a typecast puck-carrying, depth defender. Even then, he’s talented enough to play a lot of pro games. Price him as a very-late First, or early-to-mid Second, on my bill.
Maceo Phillips, LHD, Alum of Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, Commit to Univ. of Minnesota
I was in the trenches for Phillips the year before he came to the Program. He showed all the makings of a really special defender, flexing a strong ability to consistently engage opponents in his own corner, or in the low slot; win puck battles with strong stickchecking and physicality; and then quickly jumping up the ice either carrying the puck confidently or making a strong breakout pass and joining the rush. Either way, Phillips was always involved. The tangible skills that made him that impactful have carried to the NTDP, but it doesn’t seem his confidence in jumping into play has. Phillips looks tepid or hesitant more often than not, adhering much closer to his positioning than I’d expect given how he used to play. His decision-making when he is on the puck is also rushed, and wrong more than I’d like it to be. That’s a lot of negative – but it’s important to emphasize that Phillips is still a great puck-carrying defenseman. And at an alarming 6’6”, I’m okay to trust that agile skating and smooth handling will translate while fundamentals and sensing pressure will come. He’ll likely be a guy I rank higher than I should… perhaps a third round name as we stand today.
Drew Schock IV, LHD, Alum of Green Bay Gamblers AAA, Commit to Univ. of Michigan
Schock has worked his way into the de facto role of top-pair left-defender this year, on the back of a motor that rarely quits. He brings impressive, controlled feist to the back-end – excelling at holding his position until just the right moment, then springing into play to shut down opponents against the boards or move up a loose puck. He does that reliably and responsibly enough to handle a lot of minutes, though none of his assets have really jumped off the page. Schock is a diligent, all-situations defender who can handle a lot of responsibility – but a low long-term outlook has him as a mid-to-late-rounder in my list.
Garrett Lindberg, RHD, Alum of Moorhead High, Commit to Univ. of North Dakota
Lindberg is another kid that I’ve had my eye on since AAA. He’s always been strong, energetic, and incredibly capable on the defensive side of the puck. He keeps an active stick and knows when and how to step up to shut down opponents. All of those traits have continued through the NTDP, even if he’s only managed 14 points across 76 games with the Program. Lindberg still ranks among the top of the team in initiative and willingness to make a play, and best of all – the kid knows how to fricken hit, clean or dirty. That’s a rarity nowadays – and it gives Lindberg a notable second layer that the rest of this blue line doesn’t have. He has a lot of drawbacks – namely in controlling and advancing the puck, or generally participating in the offense at all, or not pulling out of position – but where he’s strong, he’s very strong. Lindberg has a lot of refining to do if he wants to make the most of his skillset – but his strengths can lend themselves to solid pro upside. I’d start thinking about him in the third, though it’s a risky pick.
Donny Bracco, LHD, Alum of Long Island Gulls, Commit to Harvard Univ.
Bracco was another top name during ’07 recruitment. He was a pretty safe bet to make the lineup, and entered as potentially one of the highest-upside defenders on the team. But those traits haven’t shined through yet. Bracco has got a great jump – stepping up into play confidently and quickly – but he’s relatively slow after that. That’s both in his overall speed and in his decision making, which limits some fairly decent puckhandling. He keeps an active stick, engages physically, and generally holds his position – but all of that is liable to go out of the window if Bracco sees a potential opening. The issue – he doesn’t get back, often needing forwards to cover his spot defending the rush or help corral a lost puck-battle in the corners. Bracco is an impactful player on the shifts that work, but a confusing player to ice when he’s off his game. Those extremes can swap every shift – making a player that I don’t totally trust, though I can definitely acknowledge his upside. He’d be a late-round flyer for me.
Will Horcoff, C/LW, Alum of Little Caesars, Commit to Univ. of Michigan
How could I leave Will Horcoff so low on this list! I told ya there’d be no order. Because Horcoff is legit. He’s a bit bumbling and directionless, but he’s also a notable big-body who knows where and how to slot himself into plays. He’s strong on the puck, and we saw him really excel at controlling transition through the middle lane in AAA and last year – but he’s fallen a bit short of that this year, instead often serving as the third-man-in and staying set back from play. That’s really limited him this year. We’re not seeing the jump, the long-run playmaking, or the general scoring that I’d expect from a kid that was a superstar in AAA. The upside on this son of a pro is through the roof. I really believe he could be a tenacious, offensive gut-punch in the pros. But he needs to get the wheels moving soon – because this juniors career is not representing him well. I’d take Horcoff early… maybe early third… but you’re banking on upside and a new setting bringing necessary change.
Jake Stuart, C, Alum of Los Angeles Jr. Kings, Commit to Univ. of Denver
The NTDP does not market their bottom-six forwards very well. It’s a persistent issue… maybe a natural one on rosters usually filled with talent… and one I’ve brought up to the Program directly. Stuart is facing the brunt of that fact this year – resigned to a typical role on the fourth-line and penalty-kill despite showing the smarts to really play anywhere. He’s not overwhelmingly-talented, but he is keenly smart, with great fundamentals and positioning keeping him open to strong plays in the defensive end or cleaning up loose pucks offensively. That’s what you’re getting here – a diligent role player who knows how to be in all places at all times, but not one that’s going to drive your lineup. David Carle has shown a special ability to develop just this kind of player at Denver – just look at Sam Harris – but Stuart does need to find an extra gear if he wants to hit that development path. His upside as a pro is high – solely because he looks translatable as a bottom-six stalwart – but growth will need to come soon. Another late round flyer here.
Landon Hafele, Lincoln Kuehne are 2026-eligible and thus not covered. But they’re both very good – looking like picks I’d make in the top-three-rounds!
Patrick Quinlan, G, Alum of Philadelphia Jr. Flyers/B.K. Selects, Commit to Univ. of Notre Dame
Quinlan has served as the starter this season – though it’s seemed a bit obliged. He’s a talented goalie, filling the typical role of cool, calm, and collected through all scenarios. He tracks pucks and angles to shooters well, but falls into the struggles you’d expect from a “well-rounded” style – he can react to quick passes slowly, leave a bit too much room up top, and lose control of heavy-volume. But he’s far from a bad goalie – and he’s stood up to a difficult role relatively well this year. I’d consider him a late round flyer, with the idea that he could quickly earn a role – and plenty of strong development – at Notre Dame.
Joey Slavick, G, Alum of Little Caesars, Uncommitted
Joey Slavick just didn’t get to play at the CHL/NTDP game. He got to watch. The Slavick family, paying the equivalent of college tuition to play at the NTDP, got to watch their son sit on the bench for 120 minutes, in two absolutely meaningless hockey games. And all of this is being said about the only player on the roster not committed to the NCAA! But I digress. Slavick leads the NTDP in save percentage, albeit not by much. He’s an alert, fast goalie who makes small adjustments incredibly well. Slavick goes down quick and locks into the puck, making strong saves with his glove but leaving a bit of a gap on the blocker side. Those traits were strong enough to stand up to a Michigan barrage earlier this season, but haven’t made him a clear-cut star goalie. Frankly, he’s jumpy. That’s made him surprisingly good at defending cross-crease passes, but it also exposes him on long-range shots or plays through traffic. He still looks like a young goaltender, which leads me to think that (should he go NCAA) he’ll need to work up from a #3 spot in the future. But he’s athletic enough to do it, I say – and I’m excited to watch his growth.