NHL Draft Notebook: 2025 U18 Worlds Edition
The last major on-ice event of the 2025 NHL Draft scouting series has closed with the end of the 2025 U18 Worlds.
The tournament, which saw several standout performances and some not-so-impressive outings from members of the 2025 draft class, will have significant implications for some prospects hoping to hear their name called at the 2025 draft in June.
With that, we’re cracking open our scouting notebook to look at select reports from participants at the U18 Worlds.
Braeden Cootes | C | Canada | April 27, 2025 | RANK: 21
Scouting report by Kareem Elshafey
Braeden Cootes has all the intangibles you want in a prospect, especially as a center. He plays with grit, battles to the max, and was given the captaincy on the Canadian U18 team, showing the leadership he can provide. Cootes is really strong on his skates and in his lower half, which leads to him going into puck battles along the boards confidently. His skating has improved throughout the year to the point where it’s fair to say he’s a really good skater rather than just average. That has helped him increase his effectiveness in transition, where he’s able to separate from backcheckers and use his playmaking ability to create chances off the rush. While he’s not in the elite category of passers, he’s a better playmaker than a finisher at this point. Cootes does an excellent job of finding teammates when he has the puck in places like along the boards or behind the net, and when you pair that with the way he can win puck battles, it makes him an offensive asset in the cycle game. Additionally, Cootes can make dangerous cross-ice feeds and deft touch passes when his time and space decrease. On the defensive side of the puck, his effort is never in question. He routinely comes back to support his defensemen down low or in front of the net and does so with an intensity that stands out. There are times when his reads and decision-making are somewhat inconsistent during breakouts, but the way he plays suggests he can improve. It took longer than most to confidently project Cootes as a first-round pick due to a perceived limited offensive ceiling, but his evolution as a skater and demonstration of higher-level offensive skill have reached a good enough level. He still needs to show more as a puck handler and shooter. The intangibles and energy he brings are excellent, and it’s easy to envision Cootes as an energetic third-line center at the NHL level who can be trusted defensively and produce offense at a respectable clip. If an NHL team can develop more offensive skill from him, there’s potential for him to become a second-line center, but for now, he’s a mid-to-late first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Lasse Boelius | D | Finland | April 30, 2025 | RANK: 145
Scouting report by Jonathan Cottone
Lasse Boelius really impressed me as a smooth-skating, mobile defenseman who stood out on a relatively weak Finnish team. His poise and puck control are exceptional, and he plays with a level of confidence that’s hard to miss. What stood out most to me was his skating — so fluid and composed — which he combines with great deception and puck skills to consistently create offense. As a power-play quarterback, he uses feints, head fakes and smart movement to generate space for his teammates. I love how he shows where he wants the puck when receiving, making plays easier for those around him. He’s a strong passer with good decision-making, and his ability to execute clean breakouts is a major strength. While he does like to push up offensively, I found his defensive play to be solid; he battles in front of the net and puts real pressure on opponents in the cycle. I see him as a solid 4–5 defenseman with clear power-play upside, and I’d absolutely take him within the first two rounds of the 2025 draft.
Sascha Boumedienne | D | Sweden | April 25, 2025 | RANK: 31
Scouting report by Jocke Andersson
Sascha Boumedienne possesses excellent straight-line speed, allowing him to quickly close gaps and create separation from defenders. His acceleration is particularly impressive, making him a threat during breakouts. He showcases impressive agility, capable of quick pivots and shifts in weight, which enables him to evade defenders and navigate tight spaces effectively. His balance on skates is commendable; he can maintain control in physical situations and navigate through checks without losing puck possession. Boumedienne has a powerful wrist shot and is capable of shooting accurately from various angles. His shot release is quick, making it difficult for goalies to react in time. Skilled with the puck, he often demonstrates dangles and creativity while maintaining control. His vision allows him to see plays unfold, and he is adept at using his slick hands to maneuver around defenders. He has a strong passing game, able to deliver crisp, accurate passes — both on the forehand and backhand. Boumedienne shows great vision and plays the puck to his teammates in high-percentage scoring areas. He exhibits high hockey IQ, demonstrating the ability to read the game well. He anticipates plays and makes smart decisions with the puck, whether it be to take a shot, make a pass or simply cycle the puck effectively. His understanding of positional play is advanced for his age, and he often finds himself in the right place at the right time. In addition to his offensive capabilities, Boumedienne contributes defensively. He shows commitment in the defensive zone, battling for puck possession and supporting his defensemen. His backchecking is proactive, and he does not shy away from physical battles along the boards. He is known for his intense competitive spirit. He works hard on every shift and is not afraid to take on a leadership role when necessary. His relentless pursuit of excellence and desire to improve set a strong example for his teammates. Adding strength will not only help in puck battles but also improve his ability to protect the puck and finish checks. While he shows flashes of brilliance, aiming for more consistent performances throughout games and tournaments will solidify his status as one of the top prospects. Boumedienne’s blend of talent, physical attributes and work ethic suggests a bright future ahead. If he continues to develop and maintain his current trajectory, he is likely to be a high draft pick in the upcoming NHL draft and a potential impact player at the professional level. He will for sure be a first-rounder in the 2025 draft.
Cole McKinney | C | Team USA | April 23, 2025 | RANK: 20
Scouting report by Samuel Tirpak
Cole McKinney is an aggressive, creative, straightforward center who I really enjoy watching play hockey because, to me, his kind of hockey is the best kind of hockey. It’s straight-to-the-point type where he checks hard, creates pressure, uses his speed to get free of defenders and goes straight to the net looking for goals and offense. His backchecking ability might be one of the best in the class this year. In this game, he was on from the get-go. First shift of the game, he was involved in stripping the puck off a defender and creating a scoring chance. That was the story of the whole game for McKinney. Just so involved in everything that happened to the point of maybe being too involved and getting worked up, but it was fun to see him be that guy. First on the backchecking duties, creating offense, being involved in battles, being just an energetic type that does it all, all the time and never stops. I loved his game in this one; he kept wowing me on a shift-by-shift basis by the pace that he kept up and had in the game. Just so good. Overall, strong game from McKinney, who showed us once again that he is the best player in the NTDP this season. To me, he is a top-round player for the 2025 draft, and he has an extremely bright future ahead of him. Not sure where he would end up being ranked, but I like him a ton personally, and I would vouch for him.
Tomas Poletin | C | Czechia | April 24, 2025 | RANK: 58
Scouting report by Kyle Pereira
Tomas Poletin is a two-way forward who plays a mostly simple and responsible game. He always puts himself in the right spots in all three zones. In the offensive end, away from the puck, he understands where to go as support or to be a scoring threat. His timing when attacking the slot shines at times as well, and that aids in creating strong chances in the mid-to-low slot area. With the puck, he plays a straightforward game. Poletin doesn’t push the pace much at all, opting for the simple passing play. As a shooter, he generates hots right at the net front. He shows off his strength by driving hard and through contact to the net front for those chances, but the shots themselves are hard to truly evaluate. Still, his ability to hold his own at the net front and generate deflections is something that can be efficient at the next level. In transition, he definitely takes more of a back seat and is more of a complementary piece when moving up ice. But again, off the rush, he times his net drives well to be an impact player in those moments. Defensively, he shows his smarts and composure. He is in the right spots, does well to pressure shooters, and just makes positive plays. There are some hiccups, though. When he does look to read the rush, he struggles. There are also moments where he doesn’t skate as hard as he probably should to get back or forecheck. Still, he wins puck battles in both ends, which allows his teammates to generate chances — useful to have on your team. He projects as a second- to third-round option in the 2025 class, with very translatable skills.
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