With all USHL teams now at 10 games or more, surprisingly, NHL drafted prospects haven't been leading the charge. 

Instead, undrafted and draft-eligible talents have stepped up and taken the reins offensively. Undrafted defenceman Sam Laurila has given the Fargo Force some fantastic performances, chipping in with an unusually high rate on offence. Luka Radivojevic has brought substantial puck-moving ability and distribution skill to the Muskegon Lumberjacks since making the trip across the Atlantic in October.

Stock Rising 📈

Sam Laurila, LD, Fargo Force (2024, Undrafted)

An undrafted defensive defenceman from last year’s NTDP class, Sam Laurila has blossomed into a strong 200-foot blueliner playing more than 23 minutes on most nights for the Fargo Force. While he still doesn't waste much time on puck, he’s integrated an intelligent activations game and more purposeful and deceptive passing decisions in the offensive zone this season, which have helped him reach the summit of defenceman scoring in the league with a goal and 13 points in as many games. 

His defensive aggression and strong instincts while defending the rush have helped him keep the puck out of his own net, too. His defensive game remains his bread and butter, and expect the point tally to slow its growth as the year progresses, but the added pace and quick decision-making that have marked his game this year compared to last could very well earn him an NHL draft selection a year after he’d have hoped. Laurila has been the big surprise for Fargo this season and has been integral in their current placement at third in the West. 

Andrew O’Neill, C, USNTDP (2025 Draft)

Far from the flashiest player on the NTDP, Andrew O’Neill has a level of pace, efficiency, and consistency that has been rare on his team this season. He’s a mechanically strong skater with a high motor who wastes neither time nor energy, playing with purpose on nearly every shift. His rush game includes a variety of refined habits, ranging from the physical – shielding the puck with his free hand and lowering his shoulder – to the mental – cutting back into space and timing speed shifts well to either get past defenders or slow down to link up with his trailing linemates.

His seven points in twice as many games don’t exactly jump off the page, and he hasn’t shown the dynamism necessary to lead the offensive charge for the program, but he’s played his role effectively. Reliable role players like O’Neill, who bring a dependable and pacy 200-foot game and still have room to develop skill, often rise over the course of their draft campaigns – and O’Neill could be on his way to earning a top-50 NHL Draft selection. 

Stock Steady ↔️

Luka Radivojevič, RD, Muskegon Lumberjacks (2025 Draft)

A big-name transfer early in the season, Luka Radivojevič made the switch from Sweden’s J20 to the USHL and has delivered as advertised in his opening performances, recording several assists through six games. The undersized – 5-foot-10, 165-pound – right-shot defenceman’s game revolves around his skill as a distributor and passer. He’s a confident breakout quarterback, can hit precise stretch passes to launch counter-attacks, and controls play on the cycle.

While his passing ability is strong enough to make a serious impact against USHL competition, his NHL projection remains somewhat uncertain. He’s not an exceptional skater and is often outmuscled by junior competition, so his standout skill and intelligence will need to be complemented by additional compensatory skills and habits to make his style effective against professional competition. He may ultimately face a fate similar to Aron Kiviharju’s in the 2024 Draft, but continued performances like those he’s shown for Muskegon so far could alter that trajectory.

Jack Murtagh, LW, USNTDP (2025 Draft) 

The NTDP’s best player when he’s been healthy, Jack Murtagh is a strong candidate to rise up draft boards once he returns to playing regular minutes – he only played one game against the University of Michigan since late September. When he’s on the ice, Murtagh has shown shades of Ryan Leonard in his combination of lethal finishing talent, ceaseless intensity, and quick reading of the game. 

The late-August birthday is among the program’s youngest 2025-eligible talents and has led the charge offensively with four goals and seven points through five appearances. No other NTDP player with more than a pair of appearances has even hit the point-per-game mark, let alone crossed it.  

The goalscoring sparkplug just needs to get and stay healthy. If he can do that, expect to see him in the “riser” section before too long. 

Stock Falling 📉 

Adam Benák, C, Youngstown Phantoms (2025 Draft)

My preseason 2024-25 USHL MVP favourite has not lived up to the high expectations so far this season. Despite logging over 20 minutes most nights, Benák has struggled to generate offence from anywhere but the periphery, with only two goals and eight points through a dozen games, despite an unrelenting work rate and numerous offensive opportunities.

The 5-foot-7 centre has shown some excellent flashes with the puck on his stick and has decent leverage mechanics, but he’s consistently been pushed to the outside and smothered by USHL defenders. His intensity and moments of dynamism haven’t been enough to break down defences, and he would need to light up the league consistently to have a shot at the first-round selection he was vying for at the start of the season.

Charlie Trethewey, RD, USNTDP (2025 Draft)

A mobile, physically gifted right-shot defenceman with an August birthday is a valuable profile; Charlie Trethewey entered the season as the prospective top name on the NTDP blueline following Logan Hensler’s NCAA commitment. Things haven’t been smooth for the blueliner so far this season, however, with his low panic threshold leading to regular turnovers when pressured on retrievals. 

He’s had good flashes of leveraging his mobility and physicality to shut down play in the defensive zone – especially in single-variable scenarios defending the rush. That said, picking up secondary and tertiary threats has been inconsistent, as Trethewey gets caught fixating on the primary threat in front of him. While his tools are strong across the board apart from his handling, his scanning habits, composure under pressure, and decision-making have held him back from both minutes and impactful 200-foot performances for much of this young season.

Narrowing down the list for the risers part of this article was the toughest in all of the Stock Watches I’ve done to this point. Players like Dmitri Buchelnikov and Arseni Gritsyuk put together incredible months in the KHL, yet missed the cut, and the goaltending displays throughout all three levels of Russian hockey were just as impressive.

We’re about a third of the way through the year already and it seems like just about every drafted prospect has found their level. Whether it be ripping goals like Nikita Artamonov or putting up goose eggs on the scoresheet for the full month, we’re seeing players elevate themselves to be top players and others failing to take the right steps forward to shift from a useful KHL player to true NHL prospect status. 

Stock Rising 📈

Ivan Demidov, LW, SKA St. Petersburg (Montréal Canadiens)

It’s almost wrong to put Ivan Demidov in this category because it seems like his stock can’t get any higher. This month has proven that he may still be getting undersold as a truly elite tier of player. His eleven points only trailed his SKA teammate, Arseni Gritsyuk, for the best production for a drafted prospect in the KHL throughout October.

What’s most impressive about Demidov’s offensive output is that he’s doing it in limited minutes. He remains stapled to the third line with little to no time on the power play and he played less than 10 minutes in half of his games played this past month. The pressure is still on him to not just play well, but play so well that he forces head coach, Roman Rotenberg, to give him a fair crack out there.

[Read More: Despite limited minutes Ivan Demidov is proving himself in the KHL]

Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Utah Hockey Club)

Daniil But’s development over the course of his hockey career has been a spectacle. There were many plays in the first half of his draft-eligible season that led to scratching heads and sighs; however, that turned around in the back half and he hasn’t slowed down since Utah took the swing on him at 12th overall in 2023.

Now, But is a dangerous part of this Lokomotiv team. He puts together insane sequences of puck handling and skating, making you forget that this is a 6-foot-6 behemoth of a hockey player. The sense has improved to a much higher level than where it was when he was drafted. He’s attacking the middle with well-timed handles, generating dangerous chances with his vision, and taking advantage of the space he creates. He’s on pace to double his point total from last season, and it seems entirely possible that he’ll reach that target if he continues to play with this much quality and consistency. 

Nikita Artamonov, LW, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Carolina Hurricanes)

Last year, Nikita Artamonov got off to one of the hottest starts for all draft-eligible prospects and put together one of the most productive seasons for a U20 player in KHL history. After 22 games this year, he’s already nearly matched his 23 points from last season and has shown no signs of slowing down, sitting tied for third for the most goals in Russia’s top league.

Artamonov’s off-puck timing and awareness have always been a strength, garnering him chances on a consistent basis last season, but he only managed to find the back of the net seven times. His finishing ability has taken a clear step forward with a more powerful shot and a quicker release, he’s been able to shift from a player who gets high-quality shots to a lethal finisher. 

There have also been improvements with Artamonov's confidence and creativity. In his MHL days, he was a dangle machine. As he moved into the KHL, he switched to a more conservative approach to his handling. Now, he’s working dynamic puck skills back into his game, which meshes very well with his high pace and high intelligence.

Lavr Gashilov, C, Avto Yekaterinburg (2026 NHL Draft)

Lavr Gashilov was arguably the best player in the MHL over the past month. Avto only played seven games in October, but the 17-year-old came to play in all of them, notching 12 points and five straight multi-point games. 

One word to describe Gashilov is efficient. He utilizes every single touch of the puck to generate plays, whether that be through transitions or sequencing plays through the offensive zone, he brings a strong sense of security and success on a shift by shift basis. With less than 30 MHL games under his belt at this point, he plays like he’s been around the block before. His possession game is incredible, drawing pressure to open up lanes, quick passing, and impressive handling skill to problem solve. 

Honourable Mentions: Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko (2025 NHL Draft), Stepan Gorbunov (Florida Panthers), Artyom Gonchar (2025 NHL Draft), Magomed Sharakanov (2025 NHL Draft), Arseni Gritsyuk (New Jersey Devils)

Stock Steady ↔️

Roman Kantserov, RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Chicago Blackhawks)

Roman Kantserov was one of many players to put his body on the line for playoff hockey, and, as a result, he missed the entirety of the beginning of the year and just played his first game on October 21st.

Luckily, he’s earned his spot with Magnitogorsk, so he was able to slot right back into the lineup to try to pick up where he left off in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs. Through his first three games back, he seems to be doing just that, picking up an assist in his season debut and a goal in the following game against Avangard Omsk. It’s a positive sight to see him get right back into his game after missing valuable training and game time and if he can keep up his scoring rate, he should find his way up to a different spot in this article later on.

Stock Falling 📉

Timur Mukhanov, LW, Severstal Cherepovets (Carolina Hurricanes)

After a promising rookie season with Cherepovets last year, Timur Mukhanov has fallen into a real sophomore slump. Through his first 19 games, he’s registered just two points and failed to get on the scoresheet the entire month of October. This puts him on pace for a meagre eight points if he plays all 46 remaining games.

The bright side of it all is that things aren’t all bad. Mukhanov is playing limited minutes, starting out the year getting about eight minutes a game, before getting bumped up marginally, and now he’s moving back toward where he started. He’s still showing off his high motor and work rate on a consistent basis and displaying more confidence with the puck. At the end of the day, though, this is a player who is already facing tough odds as a 5-foot-9 winger. He’ll need to find positive form to earn a better role with this Severstal team or face the chances of stagnating his development. 

Bogdan Konyushkov, D, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Montréal Canadiens)

Sticking with players who went quiet throughout October, Bogdan Konyushkov failed to record a point in all nine of his matches. Over the last three seasons, he became a prospect to watch due to his big role and production with Torpedo. His current trajectory looks like a step down from his first two seasons with the main club. He has just five points this season, with the majority coming against weak opposition. 

Konyushkov’s path to the NHL is hindered by his very safe and basic brand of hockey. He’s already proven that he has what it takes to be a staple, top-four defenceman at the highest level of Russian hockey, but there’s a missing ‘it factor’ to his game that limits his upside to potentially being just that in the future. This year, he hasn’t taken a step forward in his development and looks like the same player as his past two seasons. His strong production looks like it could be a thing of the past at this point.

The WHL scoring race has been tightly competed through the first couple of months of the season. 17 players are divided by just eight points, but one player is starting to pull ahead: Gavin McKenna, powered by 21 points in 11 games in October. 

In pursuit sit several draft-eligible forwards. Cameron Schmidt and Carter Bear are tied for second with 27 points, while Nathan Behm has already amassed 23 points with games in hand. All three have been breakout stars this season. 

Prince George's Riley Heidt and Terik Parascak are also making up ground, thanks to 20 and 19 points in October, respectively. Gracyn Sawchyn, arguably the most entertaining player in the league after McKenna, is finally enjoying an offensive breakout proportional to his skill. Meanwhile, a fourth draft eligible is climbing the scoring race, Calgary's Benjamin Kindel. 

Let's take a look at some of these exciting scorers.

Stock Rising 📈

Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver Giants (2025 NHL Draft)

After a five-goal weekend, Cameron Schmidt is back atop the WHL’s goalscoring race. He has two more than the second closest with two games in hand, and he’s scoring almost exclusively off high-danger chances. There isn’t a better off-the-pass shooter in the WHL right now, bolstered by his incredible speed and knack for finding openings behind the defence. 

Shooting at 38 percent, expect some regression from Schmidt. Even for a player who generates the highest value looks in the CHL, that’s about 15 percent higher than expected. On the inverse, his continued growth as a playmaker has likely earned him a few extra assists. 

Schmidt has the straight-line speed to outrace defenders to the net over and over, but he prefers to play a more projectable game. He fakes one way to go the other, punishes passive gaps by taking the middle, and subtly changes of pace to freeze defenders. Down low, he draws pressure before advancing the puck, throwing a reverse hit when necessary. No matter the position, he always deceives defenders before setting up a chance. 

Standing at 5-foot-7, Schmidt has to be special to be a top pick in the draft. So far, he looks like that, with high-end skating, scoring, playmaking, and a physical game that will help ease concerns about his size.

Gracyn Sawchyn, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (Florida Panthers)

Gracyn Sawchyn has played just 12 games and already amassed a season’s worth of highlights. Just some of the ways he creates: perfect aerial breakaway passes, high-speed snipes, precision passes through layers, deft in-tight finishes, and, of course, incredible 1-on-1 skill.  

It’s rare to see a player not only challenge defenders as much Sawchyn does – but also complete these plays. He doesn’t need space to pull off his moves, using superior hand speed, a knack for picking up subtle vulnerabilities, and endless creativity to escape multiple defenders. Most of these moves set up something, with Sawchyn beating an opponent to gain access to the cross-slot pass or a high-danger shot, rather than dangling for the sake of it. Even if his moves fail, he’s still getting pucks to the middle and drawing penalties (he’s drawn 11 in 12 games so far). 

With improvements defensively and physically, Sawchyn has also become more of a complete player. He’s always had the motor and skill to create inside contact, but now he’s winning more battles, creating turnovers, and launching defenders through the air. If he keeps this up, he could make the Florida Panthers out of camp next season. 

Harrison Brunicke, RD, Kamloops Blazers (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Though leading blueliners in scoring might not be attainable for Harrison Brunicke this season, there's a real chance he ends up as the WHL’s best defenceman. Since returning from the Pittsburgh Penguins, he's reached new heights in the WHL. 

There isn’t a part of Brunicke’s game that doesn’t look better than last season. Offensively, he’s just as involved while creating even more high-danger offence with his ability to manipulate defenders’ feet and push deeper into the zone. Defensively, he’s not only more punishing, but even better at stopping high-speed attacks. Even the fastest, most creative WHL attackers can’t navigate his suffocating gap, mobility, and precision stick work.

Though Brunicke is still making the odd mistake, particularly on retrievals, his mobility allows him to erase mistakes with ease. If he keeps down this path, he could become a top-four defenceman for the Penguins within a few years.

Ben Kindel, C, Calgary Hitmen (2025 NHL Draft)

A month ago, Benjamin Kindel was sitting at just three points in six games. Now, he has 19 in 15, powered by a seven-game point streak where he amassed eight goals and eight assists. He's only six goals back of last year's total with nearly 80 percent of the season remaining. 

No matter the zone, Kindel is always in the right position. He's a constant factor defensively, on the forecheck, and offensively because of his ability to close lanes, force turnovers, and find open ice. When he gets a puck inside space, he hangs onto possession, draws pressure, and then slips the puck through them to an open teammate. Like other top forward prospects, he's constantly shifting gaps and creating openings, and he has the skill and precision off either side of his blade to connect through the tiniest of lanes. 

Though Kindel doesn't have the size or explosiveness that NHL teams value heavily, his intelligence, vision, and uptick in goalscoring will surely ease concerns about his tools. 

Honourable Mentions: Andrew Cristall (Washington Capitals), Nathan Behm (2025 NHL Draft), Clarke Caswell (Seattle Kraken), Tomas Mrsic (St. Louis Blues), Hunter St. Martin (Florida Panthers), Caden Price (Seattle Kraken), Matthew Gard (2025 NHL Draft), Miroslav Holinka (Toronto Maple Leafs), Kolten Bridgeman (2025 NHL Draft). 

Stock Steady ↔️

Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs (Seattle Kraken)

While most of the league’s top scorers have benefitted from the percentages being in their favour, Berkly Catton sits among the leaders without much shooting luck. If he shot at last year’s rate, he would have 10 goals and 27 points, the latter of which would be tied for second in the WHL. 

Still, this season hasn’t been a significant step for the league’s most dynamic rush attacker. All the same strengths appear nightly: overwhelming pace, high-speed shooting skill, give-and-gos, and flashy playmaking. The same weaknesses are there, with Catton struggling to create offence off the cycle some nights, getting pushed out battles too easily, and lacking some precision as a passer. As a result, he's had some tough nights early in the season. 

Of course, Catton is a special talent. He doesn't need to take a significant step to become an exciting scorer in the NHL – his rush game and dual-threat scoring are just that good. But he will have to keep expanding his game to become the high-end top-line scorer that he has the potential to be. 

Stock Falling 📉 

Reese Hamilton, D, Calgary Hitmen (2025 NHL Draft)

Entering the season, we thought Reese Hamilton was poised for a big-time breakout. The high-end mobility, non-stop involvement in the play, and flashes of advanced defensive details suggested a potential top-15 pick for the 2025 Draft. So far, Hamilton hasn’t replicated last year’s success. 

Hamilton’s production has dropped from 0.74 to 0.21 points per game, while he’s being used as Calgary’s No. 5 at even strength – and his minutes have been trending down lately. While he’s tightened up his rush defence, he’s throwing away more pucks along the end boards, getting overpowered in more wall battles, and having mistakes compound through shifts. At times, it seems like he’s doing things a little bit faster and looser than during his standout draft-minus-one season. 

Of course, there’s still plenty of time. With skating already a high-end tool and plenty of exciting flashes, it’s only a matter of time before he turns it around.