Scott Wheeler

Toronto

National Reporter, NHL Draft/Prospects at The Athletic

National reporter (NHL Draft/prospects) at @TheAthletic. Author of On The Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL Draft, out now.

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Articles

Matthew Schaefer vs. top 2024 NHL Draft D, Porter Martone vs. Juraj SlavkovskĆ½ and more: Mailbag

5 days ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

On Monday, I released my May 2025 NHL Draft ranking. On Thursday, I released my first mock draft and got more than 100 submissions for the mailbag. Today, I've answered a bunch of the big ones in depth, ranking the top 2025 forwards by potential point production, the 2025 forwards versus the 2024 and 2023 forwards, Matthew Schaefer versus last year's D, taking upside swings outside the top 15, the class' small players, Porter Martone versus Juraj Slafkovský and more.
Submit your questions for Scott Wheeler's 2025 NHL Draft mailbag

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

The Athletic's Scott Wheeler released a new 2025 NHL Draft ranking on Monday and his first 2025 mock draft on Thursday. Have a draft, prospects or scouting question for him? Submit them below for his upcoming mailbag.
Scott Wheeler predicts the entire first round

6 days ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

Welcome to my first mock draft for the 2025 NHL Draft. With the first-round order taking shape following Monday night's draft lottery, and after speaking with agents, scouts, team staff and those around many of the players over the course of the year, this is my first crack at predicting the first round.
Who goes No. 1 and 2, trades, the Rangers' pick and more

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

The conclusion of U18 worlds and the drawing of the NHL Draft Lottery means that draft season is officially upon us. The first-round order is taking shape, the playoff field is shrinking, league finals are underway or around the corner across the CHL and USHL, the men's world championships are starting, the Memorial Cup will follow suit in Rimouski, Quebec, and before we know it we'll be in Buffalo for the NHL Scouting Combine and Los Angeles for a new-look decentralized 2025 NHL Draft.
Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa lead Wheeler's May top 64 list

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

Welcome to my May ranking of the top 64 prospects eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. This post-U18 Worlds top 64 (plus a list of 65 honorable mentions) follows my way-too-early top 28, my preseason top 32, my preliminary top 64, my February top 64 and my March top 64. It's my penultimate ranking and will be followed by my final top 100 (released in June). The 2025 class is led by the twosome of Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer and exceptional status Saginaw Spirit center Michael Misa.
Charting Blake Fiddler's path from skates with his dad to the 2025 NHL Draft

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

FRISCO, Texas - Blake Fiddler is standing inside Comerica Center, a bronze medal around his neck, when he's asked how many times he guesses he has skated at this arena. "Oof," he says, shaking his head and chuckling, "I don't know. It feels like thousands."It's not the medal he came back home to get with Team USA, but he'll still remember these two weeks in Frisco. He'll remember playing tour guide and showing his teammates around the mall and the Cowboys' practice facility.
Martin, Stenberg impress, Frondell falls flat

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

After 29 games in 11 days in Texas, the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship is over. I was in Frisco and Allen all tournament, splitting time between Comerica Center and Credit Union of Texas Event Center. Canada defeated Sweden in Saturday's final, winning their first-ever back-to-back golds at the event. And Switzerland was relegated for the first time in two decades, losing to a Norwegian program on the rise in recent years.
'He stirs the drink'

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

ALLEN, Tex. - Ask Victoria Royals head coach James Patrick or general manager Jake Heisinger about Cole Reschny and they'll both say the same thing. "I will say this: I don't know if a player in our league had a better second half than him. (And) I know there's not one player that I can think of who played better in the playoffs," Patrick said.
William Moore's intellect made him a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect. But he's just getting started

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

FRISCO, Texas - The first thing everyone talks about when they talk about William Moore is just how intelligent he is.
How Ben Kindel, through soccer and sense, has become a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Scott Wheeler

ALLEN, Tex. - Garry Davidson didn't really get introduced to Ben Kindel's game until a breakout performance at the John Reid Memorial Tournament, a big bantam showcase in St. Albert, Alta. It was January 2022, and Davidson, a longtime WHL general manager, was in his first season with the Calgary Hitmen. Back then, Kindel was a "skinny, scrawny 14-year-old" who'd missed the first half of the season with a broken hand.