What will the world be like in 2025?
Will there be flying cars? Trains that get someone from Boston to Los Angeles in three hours? Will teleportation exist? Will the McDonald’s ice cream machine always work?
I joke, of course. A year that once seemed far into the future is only two years away.
What there definitely will be in 2025 is strong NHL draft prospects. Here at New England Hockey Journal, we try to get ahead. It’s hard to tell who the definites are yet, but this is a good size watch list of players who are on track to be candidates in 2025.
Carter Amico
Mount Saint Charles 15-O, 3/15/07, D, right shot, 6-4/201
The big word to describe Amico is raw. The other big word to describe him … is big. Pair those two together and Amico has the potential to be a shutdown defenseman NHL teams chase. He’s a good skater for his size but will need to continue improving his puck-moving abilities. He only recently became a defenseman and will be headed to the U.S. NTDP this fall. NHL scouts certainly will be tracking his every move in Plymouth, Mich., given his potential.
Everett Baldwin
St. George’s, 1/15/07, D, right shot, 5-9/146
Baldwin is a really strong two-way defenseman who has a great opportunity to continue progressing at St. George’s this fall. In his first season with the Dragons, Baldwin impressed as an ’07 with his puck-moving abilities, earning two goals and 16 points in 28 games. He was taken in the fourth round (59th overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by Cedar Rapids. If he takes the necessary steps in Year No. 2 at St. George’s, he has a chance to get on NHL radars.
Anthony Bongo
Mid Fairfield 15O, 5/16/07, D, right shot, 5-8/148
Bongo was one of four New Englanders selected for USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp. He’s the most elite offensive defenseman in this group and is a great skater with high skill. It didn’t take long for him to be selected in the USHL Phase 1 Draft — the Ridgefield, Conn., native went in the second round (18th overall) to Sioux Falls.
Cam Caron
New Hampton, 6/21/07, C, left shot, 6-3/180
Well, Caron certainly has the pro build — at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, that alone is enough to send NHL scouts flocking to the rink. The Dracut, Mass., native turned heads this winter at New Hampton, leading all freshmen in the region with 18 goals and 47 points in 34 games. He was taken in the fourth round (51st overall) by Muskegon in the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Gavin Cornforth
Dubuque, 12/15/06, RW, right shot, 5-9/154
NHL scouts typically like players who challenge themselves, and Cornforth more than did that this winter. As a late '06 and after only one season at Thayer Academy, the then-15-year-old made the decision to go to Dubuque. The Milton, Mass., native put up four goals and 10 points in 49 games for the Fighting Saints. Cornforth is fast and has great skill. His offensive creativity is sure to jump in the coming seasons as he becomes more comfortable in the USHL. What does that mean? It means he will be better positioned for the 2025 NHL draft.
BOYS SELECT 17 CAMP: 9 standouts from Massachusetts District | 7 standouts from New England District
Conrad Fondrk
Mount Saint Charles 15O, 6/1/07, C, left shot, 5-10/170
While he’s not from New England, he’s been playing here since he made the move to Mount Saint Charles. Fondrk is a do-it-all center who can score goals just as easily as he can slip around opposing defenses to set up a teammate for a chance. His perfect blend of speed and skill makes him an early favorite to be someone NHL teams target in 2025. Fondrk will spend the 2023-24 season with the U.S. NTDP team and projects to be one of their top forwards. If his development continues, he’s sure to be a high-round pick when his draft comes around.
Richard Gallant
St. Mark’s, 6/12/07, C, left shot, 5-7/140
Gallant is fresh off making the 2023-24 U.S. National Team Development Program U-17 squad, and rightfully so. He’s small, but he more than makes up for it with his skill and even higher compete level. He missed some time due to injury during the prep season with St. Mark’s, but he still averaged almost two points per game. Gallant is an early favorite from this class to get looked at quite a bit by NHL teams.
Shayne Gould
BK Selects 15-U, 4/7/07, D, left shot, 5-7/126
Gould will need to continue growing before he gets NHL eyes on him, but he’s elusive, skates well and is a strong, puck-moving defenseman. Teams clearly think his ceiling his high, as he went in the third round (45th overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft to Chicago.
James Hagens
NTDP U-17, 11/3/06, C, left shot, 5-10/152
What Hagens is not: a New England native. What Hagens probably is: a first-round pick. Hagens did, however, play for Mount Saint Charles for two seasons, where he tore up the competition, which is why he gets looped in with New England. His domination continued with the U.S. NTDP U-17 team this winter. He posted 26 goals and 66 points, which was good for second on the team. His silky skating and deadly hands create offense regularly. His offensive zone sequences are always a must-watch event, and it will be fascinating to see his chemistry with Cole Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) grow as they move into their U-18 season.
Michael Mardula
Mid Fairfield 15-O, 2/21/07, C/RW. right shot, 5-9/160
Mardula is very creative offensively and has great vision. While he’s not from New England, he’s a standout player from the Mid Fairfield Rangers and recently elevated his stock a ton at the New England District Select 16 Festival. He’s an interesting prospect to watch as his NHL draft gets closer.
Teddy Mutryn
St. Sebastian’s, 2/16/07, C/RW, right shot, 6-0/196
Mutryn is fortunate. At 16-years-old, he has a pro build and plays a 200-foot game that NHL teams look for. His quickness helps him sift through the neutral zone and get to loose pucks. He also has a high compete, especially battling in the corners. In his sophomore season at St. Sebastian’s, the Norwell, Mass., native posted eight goals and 34 points in 26 games. That helped him get an invite to USA Hockey’s NTDP Evaluation Camp and, eventually, selected in the second round of the USHL Phase 1 Draft. If Mutryn continues on this development track, he’s likely to hear his name called in the 2025 NHL draft.
Tyler Russo
Cushing, 3/19/07, D, left shot, 6-0/172
While on a Cushing team packed to the brim with talent this winter, Russo still found a way to produce, notching 18 assists. His puck-moving abilities matched with his powerful skating make him an early candidate for the 2025 NHL draft. In May, he was selected in the third round (33rd overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by Cedar Rapids. He will move into a large role on Cushing’s blue line in 2023-24.
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