Scouting the Frozen Four: What we saw and heard about top NHL prospects

By Scott Wheeler, Joe Smith and Jeremy Rutherford ST.

LOUIS The 2025 Frozen Four featured many of the top prospects in college hockey at the Enterprise Center this week.

They included first-rounders like Zeev Buium (Wild), Cole Eiserman (Islanders) and Tom Willander (Canucks), a potential 2025 first-rounder in Sascha Boumedienne, star freshman like Cole Hutson (Capitals), Mikhail Yegorov (Devils) and Hampton Slukynsky (Kings) and top college players like Alex Bump (Flyers), Jack Devine (Panthers) and Eric Pohlkamp (Sharks).

Advertisement Throughout the week, The Athletic s Scott Wheeler, Joe Smith and Jeremy Rutherford were on site and picked the players brains about, well, each other.

Heres what they had to say about their peers and Wheelers game notes on all of the prospects of note.

What Wheeler saw Alex Bump (Flyers): Bump went scoreless in all four tournament games, his first four-game pointless streak of his college career in the last four games of it.

But he had more looks than anyone else in the Frozen Four, registering 12 shots on goal (a game-high nine in the semifinal and three more in the final).

Several of them came from the slot, too, and he could have easily had a couple of goals.

He looked dangerous in puck control/protection, beating guys one-on-one in the guts of the offensive zone and along the wall.

He tried things.

He got to or got open for a lot of pucks and then held them.

He looked strong.

He loves the curl-and-drag wrister.

He hunted and kept his feet moving, major progress since his USHL days.

His average speed was noticeable at times when he couldnt pull away in transition but he also had the puck on a string at times and he worked throughout.

Zachary Nehring (Jets): Nehring played second-line right wing for the Broncos and finished off a bounce-back freshman year after a disappointing season in the USHL a year ago.

He hit a crossbar on a wide-open net about a minute into the semifinal and was more noticeable in that game than in the final.

Joona Vaisanen (Penguins): Vaisanen was named to the All-Tournament Team and played an important role on WMUs first pair with Samuel Sjolund.

I thought he had a little nerves early in the semifinal, uncharacteristically.

There were times when I wanted to see him move the puck quicker on the PP as well.

But he settled in nicely and was effective in moving pucks and steering play for the most part.

Matteo Costantini (Sabres): Costantini centered Bump on the top line and was his usual consistent and hardworking self.

He struggled in the faceoff circle but finished the semi with an assist and four shots, and was better than his pointless stat line in the final indicated.

Hes shifty laterally but not fast going in straight lines, and while his production didnt take a jump this year, he looks like hell have a solid pro career, even if its as more of an AHLer.

Advertisement Ty Henricks (Rangers): WMUs depth was a story all year and the 6-foot-5 Henriks was good in a fourth-line left-wing role, finding ways to contribute on the cycle, the forecheck and around the net.

Theyll need him to take a step next year and I think hes got some more in him, even if his upside may top out as more of a bottom-six AHLer than NHLer.

Hes worth following.

Hampton Slukynsky (Kings): Slukynsky was the goalie named to the All-Tournament Team and played well without needing to steal either of the games this week.

He was square to shots, hitting his spots early.

He was tracking well.

He showcased his good glove.

He needs to get stronger to hold the crease better on jam plays, which seemed to be the one way teams had success on him (crowding the net and poking pucks loose).

With some added strength, I think hes going to be a good NHL goalie.

Tim Washe (free agent): Washe, the Broncos captain, was named to the All-Tournament Team and was a big part of Western Michigans success on and off the ice this season.

Hes a well-rounded center who can play with anyone and do whatevers needed of him.

Owen Michaels (free agent): Michaels was named the national tournaments most outstanding player and he was the clear choice for it.

Michaels was outstanding in both of Western Michigans games in St.

Louis, making plays, driving, playing with speed and intention, and spending his shifts in the offensive zone.

He went from seven points as a freshman to 36 as a sophomore, but staff with the Broncos will tell you he was owed better last year and that this was always who he was as a player.

Hes a true competitor and the kind of player you want on your team.

Theres already NHL interest after his one big year.

Mikhail Yegorov (Devils): Yegorov was one of the stories of college hockey this season.

The five goals he gave up in the final were the most hed surrendered since joining the Terriers for the second semester, but he wasnt the reason they lost and hell bounce back next year.

The talent is all there.

Hes a big, long, lean goalie who should get strong, is super athletic and is quick on his feet and in and out of his butterfly with clear technical skills as well.

Advertisement Cole Hutson (Capitals): I thought Hutson belonged on the All-Tournament Team and was one of the biggest reasons the Terriers made it as far as they did.

The offensive talent and shiftiness always pops but he has really learned to play inside body positioning into contact as well.

He always seems to make things happen and create looks.

He was physically engaged.

He had several big blocks.

He created the bulk of BUs entries and rotations/swing plays inside the offensive zone.

I thought he was better in the semi than the final but he had a huge year, tying Lanes freshman year to the number with 48 points in 39 games.

He was also named the national rookie of the year on Friday.

Sascha Boumedienne (2025): Boumedienne played on BUs second pair with Tom Willander as the youngest player in the tournament and performed well.

His movement is smooth.

He had a couple of timely pinches in the offensive zone.

Hes starting to creep off the line more.

He played tight gaps in the neutral zone.

I dont think he always thinks it fast enough and there are times when hes got the puck and he takes too long to move it, but he made significant progress towards becoming a top-four D for them in the biggest games of the year.

Tom Willander (Canucks): I didnt think Willander was very noticeable in either game, but sometimes thats a good thing in his role and the way he plays.

His defending and mobility will always be his calling card.

His offense doesnt flash but he should be a solid two-way NHL D.

Kamil Bednarik (Islanders): Bednarik was the Terriers 3C as a freshman and only played 13 and 14 minutes at the Frozen Four.

I wanted to see him play with more intensity in the semifinal but I thought he was better in the final.

He had a fine year and is a fine college player but two goals is a little disappointing and hell need to get around offensive plays more next year.

Look for him to be in the mix for USAs thin World Junior team down the middle next year.

Cole Eiserman (Islanders): Eiserman played third-line left wing with Bednarik and Kaplan and was one of BUs standouts in St.

Louis.

He was also their only player named to the All-Tournament Team.

He had a couple of his usual one-and-done, trying-to-do-much moments, but he also scored a couple of big goals, was around the net and going to the net, played with energy, and found ways to make things happen, finishing the tournament with four goals in four games and the season with a team-high 25 goals and a very respectable 36 points in 39 games.

I expect him to challenge for 30 goals next year.

Matt Copponi (Oilers): I thought Copponi, the Terriers 2C, was one of their most consistent forwards in the two games.

He had a couple of dashes off the wall to cut and attack into the middle third.

He picked up an assist and seven shots on goal in the two games.

He had ton of good shifts.

And he was on a lot of pucks and poised when he had it.

Ryan Greene (Blackhawks): The Terriers 1C and captain, Greene played an important all-situations role for them over the last three seasons.

I thought he was underwhelming in St.

Louis and wasnt at his best, turning some pucks over and struggling to create, but his contract with the Blackhawks is well-earned.

Jack Harvey (Lightning): I thought Harvey was good without being a standout on BUs second line.

He scored the empty-netter in the semifinal and had a couple of good looks around the home plate area, playing 20 and 16 minutes in the two games.

Devin Kaplan (Flyers): An alternate captain and third-line winger for the Terriers, Kaplan hasnt taken the steps I hoped he would in college.

Hes a good, strong player at this level.

He works and hes got size.

Hes a competitor.

He had some drives over the weekend and an assist in both games, but I dont find he creates much of his own offense.

Advertisement Shane Lachance (Devils): A first-line forward and co-captain for the Terriers, Lachances size and ability to shield pucks well on the cycle make him consistently impactful and noticeable out there.

I thought he was skating well, too, even if he wasnt able to break through.

Brandon Svoboda (Sharks): Svoboda fits as a 4C at the college level, but Im not sure hell become much more than that.

He needs to work on his hands and poise.

He can be sloppy in control of it.

He certainly has the physical frame and the skating/forechecking down, but I dont see enough skill to project it into a fourth-line NHL role someday.

Jack Hughes (Kings): Hughes is a player I liked in his draft year for his smarts but who never took a step in college to put himself in the conversation for an NHL contract.

He played his best hockey down the stretch for the Terriers, though, and made some plays in the last few weeks on the second line with Copponi and Harvey.

Quinn Hutson (free agent): Hutson was quiet on BUs first line with Lachance and Greene at the Frozen Four but had a big year, hitting 50 points and breaking 20 goals to put himself in line for lots of NHL interest.

Hes a talented 5-foot-11 scorer with legit puck skill and an NHL shot who should be an AHL scorer at minimum.

Gavin McCarthy (Sabres): Hutsons partner on BUs first pair, McCarthy is the same player he has always been: A little chaotic at times but firm and competitive, too.

Zeev Buium (Wild): Buium played a ridiculous 51:41 in a game that ran just over 80 minutes in Denvers semifinal.

As you can imagine, given how much he was out there, there was inevitably some good and some bad.

He turned some pucks over, looked gassed on a few shifts hemmed in and got beat a couple of times.

But he also looked his usual calm walking the line with a guy off him in a dangerous area, made a couple of plays and came alive on a couple of shifts in the third and overtime, helping to set up the game-tying goal and nearly winning it on a dancing moment to the slot in overtime.

All in all, this was a heck of a year from a heck of a player.

I think hes ready for the Wild right now and into the playoffs.

Eric Pohlkamp (Sharks): Pohlkamp was used as Denvers No.

2 D during this stretch run, even though he technically played on a separate pair from Buium, and played almost 40 minutes himself in the semi.

I thought he was excellent.

Hes always decisive with his shot but I thought he was decisive in other ways.

He was physical and on time defensively.

He forechecked when in a couple of sequences for his team.

He attacked.

He side-stepped pressure and skated pucks.

And fittingly, it was his point shot that led to the 2-2 goal.

He had an excellent year after his transfer to Denver and should be one of their top players next year after they lose their best player at every position (Buium on D, Davis in net and Devine up front).

Advertisement Hagen Burrows (Lightning): Burrows was a fourth-line right winger for Denver in his freshman year.

I noticed him working to apply pressure a couple of times early but he didnt play a ton.

Jack Devine (Panthers): I thought Devine, the countrys leading scorer this year, actually had a bit of a quiet game in the semifinal.

He struggled to get to the inside and play-make like he has over the last two seasons.

Still, hes just put together 56- and 57-point junior and senior years and pro hockey is up next for him.

Sam Harris (Canadiens): Harris had a really positive development year but wasnt much of a factor at left wing alongside Samu Salminen and opposite James Reeder on Denvers second line in the semi.

Rieger Lorenz (Wild): Lorenz skated as a third-line left winger for the Pioneers and I thought he played some good hockey down the stretch and into the tournament.

He was on pucks on the cycle throughout the semi but struggled to generate out of his puck protection and battles.

Theyll need him to take a step and become more of an offensive catalyst next year.

James Reeder (Kings): I thought Reeder was OK in the semifinal, if a little vanilla.

He broke 10 goals and 20 points as a teenage freshman this year, though, which is a solid year.

Samu Salminen (Devils): Salminen slotted as the Pioneers 2C and had one great look that just missed the far post in the third period and seemed to be around the net consistently on scrambles.

He took an unnecessary holding penalty in the offensive zone as well, though, and hasnt progressed since the draft like I hoped he would (I was a fan but his pace has never come and he still looks a little stilted out there).

Aidan Thompson (Blackhawks): Thompson was an important part of Denvers impactful top line this season, skating at left wing alongside captain Carter King and Devine.

He had the puck a lot in the semifinal but struggled to break through until he scored in the third period.

He bobbled a couple of pucks but also drove play and played hard and was one of their more noticeable players.

This was a big year for Thompson, who broke 50 points and earned an NHL deal with the Blackhawks out of it.

He plays an up-tempo, driven game and has some skill and quiet competitiveness.

Im not sure hes going to be a full-time NHLer but hes going to be a good top-nine AHLer and probably get some call-ups at some point.

Advertisement Jared Wright (Kings): In a game where the Pioneers forwards by and large struggled to get to the interior and create around the net, Wright was central to the third line having some success doing that and finished with a team-high four shots, scoring on a jam play at the top of the crease to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Garrett Brown (Jets): Brown played more with Boston Buckberger out following an injury against Western Michigan in the conference championship, slotting onto the teams third pair with Tory Pitner.

He skated some pucks up ice and swung deep into the offensive zone a few times.

He can look a little awkward out there at times but hes a strong skater going north when he gets going.

He can create havoc when he gets a head of steam, too, and nearly set up a goal in overtime.

He also turned a couple of pucks over and got caught flat-footed in his own zone a couple of times, though, and got beat one-on-one a couple of times as well.

Aresenii Sergeev (Flames): Sergeev lost the puck on a routine shot into his body off the rush on the 1-0 goal and made a mistake by spinning off it and revealing it to Jack Hughes, but played well the rest of the way.

He covers a lot of the net down low and uses his size well.

Aiden Fink (Predators): Fink was one of the leading scorers in all of college hockey this season, and the big thing I was looking out for in the semifinal was his speed against a quick BU team.

Hes a little winger with tons of individual talent and offense, but his knees have always knocked and his awkward skating stride resulted in him falling to the Preds further than his talent otherwise merited.

I thought his feet looked quicker and his stride looked less wonky, too.

He got out in transition and created off the rush a few times.

Reese Laubach (Sharks): Laubach emerged as the Nittany Lions 1C this year and had a really positive sophomore campaign (though he would sometimes play 16-17 minutes to Cerratos 20), finishing with 30 points in 35 games.

I thought he was just OK in the semifinal but he has progressed well for a kid taken 217th in the draft.

Charlie Cerrato (2025 NHL Draft): Cerrato is an overager with a chance to get picked in 2025 after he became an important 2C.

I thought he protected pucks well in the semifinal and was consistent for them all year, and the 42 points in 38 games are a testament to that.

So is the way he was relied upon by Guy Gadowsky.

Hes an average-sized, average-skill player but Id consider using a late-round pick on him.

He was a very good college center this year.

What we heard BU HC Jay Pandolfo: He just has a confidence about him and he wants the puck on his stick.

Hes really competitive, he sees the game really well, he uses his instincts, and he has the confidence.

He wants to help our team win.

Advertisement Eiserman: Hes so good with the puck, protects it like no other guy Ive been around.

Hes not the biggest guy, but the way he moves and protects the stick.

Super strong with his stick.

When youre on the ice, nobody can really touch him.

Sick passer.

Slukynsky: (Its) just how dynamic he is on the blue line.

You see him out there breaking guys ankles basically, going downhill from there.

I would say those two things, for sure.

Eiserman: Hes one of my good buddies.

Won some games with him.

Great kid.

Unbelievable on the ice.

At Shattuck, he was very good.

He made the program, and that was huge for him, he wasnt necessarily a lock.

When we got to the program, Im like, This kid is legit.

He was playing with Leonard, Smith and Perreault on that power play, so he might have gotten overlooked a little bit.

But he comes to a place like Denver, hes absolutely dominating.

Hes been good, but hes gotten very good.

Slukynsky: (Buiums) similar to Hutson how dynamic he is at the blue line, how good he is at making guys miss and going downhill from there.

C.

Hutson: Hes a really good two-way player, super skilled.

Took a few things from his game to put in mine, learning from him at World Juniors was really cool too.

Pandolfo: Toms a great two-way defender.

I mean, hes an 11 th overall pick, so hes obviously highly touted.

Hes competitive, hes really tough to play against, he ends plays quickly with his stick and his strength, and he transitions really fast.

I mean, hes a tremendous player.

Youre going to see him in the National Hockey League in the not-too-distant future, and hes a big part of our D core.

Slukynsky: You see it every game.

He loves to shoot, too.

You can see his stick bend in real time when hes shooting.

Hes got a really quick release, a really hard shot, and really accurate, too.

Hes tough to stop, for sure.

Advertisement Cole Hutson: I think its more his one-timers, he shoots it so hard and places it so well.

Its similar to Quinns.

Hes a good guy to have on the power play for sure.

Pandolfo: We wanted to strengthen the goaltender position.

In the first half, we just felt like we needed some help there and we thought that he could come in and compete for the starting job.

And we gave him an opportunity and he really never looked back.

That was kind of the thought process behind it: Lets see if he can do it.

Hes a terrific kid.

Hes just got an infectious personality.

And hes really grateful for the opportunity that he has gotten and he has enjoyed every moment.

Theres just a lot of great things about him and were certainly glad to have him.

Eiserman: Very flexible.

We were in the gym stretching before practice and hes doing these crazy splits.

Then you get on the ice with him, hes super competitive.

Super agile on his feet.

Very good goalie, very hard to score against.

Very nice kid, so you really respect him..

Hes so good at being in spots where you think you have him and he makes a crazy save.

Hes never out of it.

C.

Hutson: What I noticed with him is hes really good side to side.

Hes a mobile goalie that can control where pucks go after it hits him.

Western Michigan captain Tim Washe: Nobody can take the puck from him.

Hes big, hes strong, he can skate.

Great shot.

But he wants that puck on his stick and he makes plays with it.

Slukynsky: The way he creates, it looks like he has nothing.

But the way he creates, the way he can finish, its unreal.

Vaisanen: Hes a great, great player, a great leader, and one of those players that is so talented that he can take games over.

And hes just a great goal scorer overall but he also helps his team win.

Hes definitely a huge part of our team and coming in as a freshman, he kind of makes everyone comfortable and just shows the culture and the hard work that everyone needs to bring into this team.

And then during games, hes just trying to get the best out of everyone and he shows the way first.

Advertisement Eiserman: You watch him, hes had a great year.

You see all the goals and points.

A pretty big OT winner for them in their championship, lot of credit to him.

Denver HC David Carle: Eric has been a great addition as a human first.

Its hard to embed yourself into a team as a transfer sometimes with how much he wants to win.

And then hes a hell of a hockey player.

I think it was probably Erics best weekend hes had all year just with keeping pucks in front of him, staying firm, and playing a defense-first game that allows him to play my offense.

Im really happy for him and Im certainly happy that he chose Denver.

Carle: I think he has bought into that power forward type mentality in terms of being first on pucks.

You need good depth and Rieger is really confident that he can play a full 200-foot game and given the chances that they get that hell be able to chip in offensively as well.

Pandolfo: Hes the older brother, not drafted like his two younger brothers are.

He has come a long way as a player for us.

He has always had the ability to score.

I think he has the most goals for our team over the last three seasons.

He can really shoot.

But he has rounded out the rest of his game.

Hes a real good defensive player for us now.

I think hes over plus-20, so that tells you that and hes also out against the other teams top lines a lot.

He plays with Ryan Greene and Shane Lachance and they get tough matchups and not only are they very good defensively but they also chip in offensively and help us that way.

He has come a long way as a player and I think for him, he has shown NHL teams that theyre certainly going to have interest in him and Im certainly pretty sure that hes going to find his way onto an NHL roster at some point.

Hes going to get an NHL contract and he deserves it.

He has earned it, he has worked at it, and its a credit to him.

He has been a great player for us the last three years and hes a big reason why weve been to three Frozen Fours.

C.

Hutson : Hes a goal scorer, can put the puck in the net.

Its not easy to do.

Pandolfo: Hes a really good player, hes got really good skill, but hes also very good defensively.

Hes got a great stick.

Hes really smart.

Hes an intelligent player ...

The first half of the year, we didnt really use him on the penalty kill and I think in the second half that has really helped his overall game.

Hes usually first over the boards on the kill and hes so quick and anticipates the play really well.

He has been tremendous for us.

Hes got really good offensive ability as well and thats starting to show a little bit more too.

Im really happy with where hes at.

Hes a senior but hes only 21 years old and hes really young, he came into college as a 17-year-old, so sometimes it takes a little bit longer but hes really starting to find his game and were really happy for Jack.

(Photo of the Western Michigan University Broncos hoisting the national championship trophy after beating the Boston University Terriers: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.