Scout Survey: What we learned at the 2025 U18 Worlds

The 2025 U18 Worlds has come to a close.

Not without some memorable moments, and certainly not without some significant performances from the 2025 NHL Draft class in what is the final showcase for eligibles hoping to have made an impact on NHL clubs and scouts.

That was certainly true for some. Not so much for others.

We asked Samuel Tirpak and Kyle Pereira, who were in attendance at the tournament, as well as Aaron Vickers, and Jacob Roth who left an impression — both positively and negatively — at the 2025 U18 Worlds.

WHICH NHL DRAFT ELIGIBLE RAISED HIS STOCK THE MOST AT THE U18 WORLDS?

Tirpak: I think this answer is probably going to be a ‘surprise,’ but to me Brady Martin showed how impactful his playing style could be and I would not be surprised if he is selected very close to the top-10 after this performance.

Pereira: LJ Mooney was consistently the best player on the ice for the Americans from game to game. He was one of the players with the most to gain, and he seized that opportunity. His edge work was simply sensational and it allowed him to dance around opposing defenders all tournament long. That ability allowed him to create openings for himself and teammates, en route to easily leading the US in points.

Vickers: For me, Jack Ivankovic turned in a much-needed performance. He was lights-out for Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last August. That hot start didn’t necessarily continue through his Ontario Hockey League season, but he rebounded in a big way with his effort at the U18 Worlds. He was the tournament’s best goaltender, and looked it in each and every start.

Roth: I’m going to go with Sascha Boumedienne for me. He set the tournament record for points by a defensman, and after spending most of the year on the fringe of the first and second round, I think he’s firmly planted himself as a first-round pick.

WHICH NHL DRAFT ELIGIBLE PERFORMANCE FELL FLAT AT THE U18 WORLDS?

Tirpak: I have to say Radim Mrtka. He was making costly mistakes and playing lackluster hockey from the first game onwards and never really got into it fully like he showed flashes he could throughout this season on multiple levels of competition.

Pereira: Mrtka was incredibly disappointing. I was excited to see his abilities on display and he never delivered. He has the traits, he just never put them together. While he has the size to be a physically imposing presence on his peers, that was almost never on display. Not only that, but he got lit up multiple times by guys like Mooney, who are significantly smaller than he is. Just not a good showing from the Czech defender.

Vickers: I would’ve liked to see more from Mrtka. He has all the tools but wasn’t able to really get his feet under him and use them all in a cohesive manner throughout the tournament. For a blueliner who is, or was, challenging to be a top-10 pick, I think there was something left to be desired.

Roth: Mrtka was a player I thought disappointed in this tournament. Outside of a nice end-to-end goal in game one against Team USA, he was average and didn’t really stand out on either end of the ice. Was he bad enough to knock him out of the first round? No, I would be shocked if he fell that far but I think he may have played himself outside of the top 10.

WHICH NHL DRAFT ELIGIBLE SURPRISED YOU THE MOST WITH HIS PERFORMANCE AT THE U18 WORLDS?

Tirpak: I have to say Mooney. He is very small, but he was an absolute dog this tournament. He was battling out there in every shift, setting his teammates up and pushing offense and pressure every game.

Pereira: Filip Ekberg was unreal all tournament long. He was phenomenal for Sweden and went from a player who didn’t look to be on the draft radar to a lock for being taken. It seems his move to North America has paid off in spades, as he has looked very comfortable on the smaller ice surface than the other Swedes. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, constantly pressuring his opponents both with and without the puck.

Vickers: I think this has to be Ekberg for me. He had the sixth-most productive U18 Worlds in tournament history, and that wasn’t something I would’ve had on the radar coming into the event. The fact he had sort of a middling season in the OHL just adds to his ability to jump off the page for Sweden.

Roth: Vit Zahjesky was a player who really stood out to me at this tournament. He was not on my radar heading in, but he was noticeable in every single game for Czechia. He is an explosive skater with dynamic offensive skill, and if he can learn to play a little more positionally sound on both ends of the ice, I think he could be a steal for a team late in the draft.

WHICH 2026 OR 2027 NHL DRAFT ELIGIBLE CAUGHT YOUR EYE AT THE U18 WORLDS?

Tirpak: Canada’s young defensemen really caught my eye. They brought multiple eligibles for the 2026 draft to this tournament. The best performance has to be Keaton Verhoeff who with his size, skill, on and off puck abilities and smarts really make him a complete defender and early on likely top defender of the 2026 draft. Offensively, defender Xavier Villeneuve showed ultimate skillful play on the blue line, being extremely shifty, productive and just generating ton of scoring chances consistently every shift.

Pereira: Ivar Stenberg was arguably the best player for Sweden all tournament. He easily stood out as one of the best overall players. His dual-threat offensive abilities were fully on display from the jump, with his shot in particular being deadly. He knows where to go and when to be there, and has the puck skills to create room for himself when need be. Just an impactful player who is very likely to be a top-5 pick in next years draft.

Vickers: This is Verhoeff for me. The fact that an underaged defenseman actually led the gold medal-winning squad in average ice time, at 22:52, speaks volumes of the trust he had from the coaching staff. He was on the ice more than Jackson Smith, by comparison, who could be a top-10 pick in the 2025 draft. Albeit early, Verhoeff certainly didn’t do anything that might hurt his claim as the top defenseman next season.

Roth: There were so many good underagers at this tournament, but if I had to pick one, it would be Villenueve. He’s undersized for a defensman but such a dynamic and explosive skater who has a knack for creating space for himself and getting pucks through traffic. He will have to follow up a strong season this year with an even better one next year to overcome size concerns, and I am interested to see if he can.

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