Prospect Michael Misa Silences the Critics | 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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This Week Top North American NHL Draft Prospects for 2025: Michael Misa
For the past few seasons, Michael Misa has been regarded as one of the top prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft. Last year, while playing for the Memorial Cup host team, the Saginaw Spirit, the center didn’t have enough space to produce at the level his talent suggests. He had a good season, but expectations dropped, causing him to slide down in scouting lists.
This year, in 3 games, Misa has already scored 7 goals and tallied 8 points. It’s a blazing start that puts him back in the conversation for a top 3 selection in next June’s draft. He shouldn’t be discounted too quickly. The young player has come to prove he belongs among the elite.
Justin Carbonneau and LJ Mooney
While Émile Guité and Caleb Desnoyers are more often discussed as top QMJHL prospects, Justin Carbonneau has burst into the conversation. The Quebec native has posted 4 goals and 6 assists in 4 games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Everyone knows he’s a highly skilled forward, but now he’s making a strong case to be considered for a first-round selection. It’s refreshing to see that the 2025 NHL Draft will be a good one for the QMJHL, after a bit of a drought.
The US National Team Development Program (NTDP) under-18 squad consistently features top-tier NHL Draft prospects, and this season is no different, with talent spread across all positions. For now, LJ Mooney stands out with 6 points in 6 games. While not an overwhelming total, given that this draft class lacks players with limitless offensive potential, Mooney’s production as a small offensive dynamo is impressive. Other prospects making strong early impressions in the CHL include Cole Reschny (4 GP-1G-5A-6 Pts), Carter Bear (3 GP-2G-4A-6 Pts), Lynden Lakovic (4 GP-2G-4A-6 Pts), and defenseman Jackson Smith (3 GP-0G-5A-5 Pts).
This Week Top European NHL Draft Prospects for 2025: Dustin Willhöft
Dustin Willhöft, along with twins Rihards and Gustavs Griva, currently dominate Germany’s top junior league, with 23, 22, and 17 points respectively in 9 games. While this league is not a favorite among scouts due to weaker programs, if these young players are called up to play in the DEL against men, their performance will be closely monitored for potential NHL Draft selection.
Mikkel Eriksen, Hugo Hallin, and Jere Somervuori
Norwegian Mikkel Eriksen has taken a chance by moving to Sweden for his first NHL Draft-eligible year, and it seems to be paying off. He has scored 9 points in 9 games with Farjestad in the J20 Nationell, making a strong case to catch the eye of scouts. If he continues at this pace, we’ll hear more about him in the coming months. Swedish defenseman Hugo Hallin (10 GP-1G-7A-8 Pts) and Finnish forward Jere Somervuori (8 GP-3G-5A-8 Pts) are also having notable starts among European prospects.
Hidden Gems
While not putting up standout stats, a few prospects are still drawing attention with their play in European pro leagues. Makar Fomin has spent most of his games on Severstal Cherepovets’ top defensive pairing. In 9 games, he hasn’t recorded a point, but he averages 12:46 of ice time and sees power-play minutes. Excluding the 4 games where he played under 10 minutes, his average jumps to 16:50.
Viktor Eklund is currently playing in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan. In 4 games with Djurgardens, he has 3 points, including 2 goals. While not an easy league for a player his age, he’s managing well, with an average ice time of over 13 minutes (over 14 minutes if we exclude the first game of the season).
Following Stian Solberg from last year, Andreas Syversen Pettersen is now the Norwegian defenseman standing out for the 2025 NHL Draft. The left-handed defenseman plays for Lorenskog in Norway’s top league, logging significant ice time and contributing 1 assist in 5 games. He’s played over 12 minutes in 4 of those games, with an average ice time of more than 13:40.
Giant defenseman Radim Mrtka likely won’t accumulate many points, as shown by his zero points in 7 games in the Czech Republic’s top league. However, he is seen as a potential first-round prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft. His mobility, defensive awareness, decision-making, and physicality are all notable traits. Scouts will keep an eye on him, much like the Jiricek brothers in the past. The hope is that his ice time will increase a bit, as he currently averages just under 10 minutes per game for Trinec.
Disappointments
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (7 GP-0G-6A-6 Pts) and Ivan Ryabkin (6 GP-0G-4A-4 Pts) have been two of the biggest disappointments so far for the 2025 NHL Draft. The Swede, playing in the J20 Nationell, has struggled to find the consistency needed to make an impact every shift. Meanwhile, things just aren’t clicking around the net for the Russian in the MHL. Both will need to adjust their approach to simplify their play, which has been too flashy to start the season.
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