General | 6/20/2025 6:20:17 PM
The calendar has flipped to June and the 2025 NHL Draft is rapidly approaching.
This year’s draft is set for June 27-28 and will be held at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. The first round will be televised on ESPN and ESPN+, followed by rounds 2-7 on NHL Network and ESPN+.
The USHL is expected to produce another strong crop of draft picks after seeing 49 players with league ties get selected last June.
Here’s a look at some of the league’s top prospects at each position, continuing with the forwards.
Adam Benak – Youngstown
Hometown: Plzen, Czechia
Shoots: Left
HT: 5’7
WT: 164
College Commitment: N/A
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 58
Year-In-Review
Benak led the Phantoms with 59 points (17-32-59) over his 56 games, which ranked second among USHL rookies. His 17 goals were also tied for fifth.
Benak came to North America with plenty of hype and got off to a quick start, earning points in six of his first nine games. He finished strong too, earning nine points (2-7-9) over his final five regular-season contests and helped the Phantoms finish atop the Eastern Conference. Some may question his size but there’s no denying his skating and play-making ability, especially on the power play. Benak had 26 points (7-19-26) on the man advantage and his vision is a strength.
“I think Adam is a super competitive, smart player and he sees the ice at a totally different level than his peers,” said Youngstown head coach Ryan Ward. “He’s just a super explosive player and when he makes passes and makes plays with the puck, you’re a little bit in awe. I think it’s easy to forget he had never been away from home before too and he’s still a young kid, but he adjusted really well and settled in nicely. So we’re excited to have him back here next season and see him continue living out his dream of one day playing in the NHL.”
Ben Kevan – Des Moines
Hometown: Fairfield, California
Shoots: Right
HT: 6’0
WT: 173
College Commitment: Arizona State
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 55
Year-In-Review
Kevan lit the lamp 13 times and racked up 43 points over his 51 games this season, which ranked third on the Des Moines roster. The California native played in an additional 13 games for the NTDP U18s too, including seven at the U18 World Championship.
Kevan’s 43 points followed up a 24-goal, 57-point rookie season and the right-shot forward has continued to develop over his two USHL seasons. He’s got the ability to impact games with his speed, vision and creativity, and he’s constantly involved in the offensive zone.
“He’s a young man that believes in himself, he believes in his ability and he believed in the path to come to Des Moines as an underager, and Benny showed so much growth over his two years here on and off the ice,” said now-former head coach Matt Curley. “What he did on the ice was special and everyone can see that, but he keeps that belief through the hard times too, and that really pushes him to be the player he is.”
Ryker Lee – Madison
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Shoots: Right
HT: 6’0
WT: 170
College Commitment: Michigan State
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 28
Year-In-Review
Lee was named the USHL Rookie of the Year and was one of the league’s top forwards from the get-go. Lee scored 31 goals and racked up 68 points over his 58 games. He led USHL rookies in both categories and ranked fourth among all USHL skaters in both as well.
Lee recorded 23 (10-13-23) of his 68 points on the power play and finished the year a plus-9. He averaged 1.17 points per game and also had six points (3-3-6) over six playoff games.
“He’s a special player and that was obvious from the start of the year,” said Madison head coach Andy Brandt. “When you get on the ice every day with him you see the skill, the shot and what all he can do offensively, and you see why he put up the numbers he did in his first (USHL season). But I think when you see the way he approaches every practice and every drill, it’s just different, and there’s such a drive to get better and be at his best. He’s someone that you can tell loves the game and it’s been fun seeing him get rewarded throughout the year for that work.”
Cole McKinney – NTDP
Hometown: Lake Forest, Illinois
Shoots: Right
HT: 6’0
WT: 200
College Commitment: Michigan
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 32
Year-In-Review
McKinney had an NTDP-leading 1.13 points per game in USHL play as the Michigan commit had 26 points (15-11-26) in 23 USHL games, including eight multi-point efforts. McKinney finished the year with 61 points (27-34-61) over 60 total games for the NTDP
“Cole’s a 200-foot forward and he gives you a tremendous amount of responsibility in all three zones,” said NTDP head coach Greg Moore. “He competes hard on and away from the puck, he has a really high hockey IQ and he’s probably one of the most competitive and trustworthy kids I’ve been around.”
Mason Moe – Madison
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Shoots: Left
HT: 6’1
WT: 187
College Commitment: Minnesota
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 53
Year-In-Review
Moe started the season strong with a pair of goals at the Fall Classic, yet he had just four over his next 20 games. However, Moe enjoyed a strong second half and a terrific playoff performance.
The left-shot forward had 17-26-43 over his 51 regular-season contests and 5-1-6 in his six playoff games. He was one of just 12 USHL skaters with five or more playoff goals.
“Mason’s a kid that’s just naturally gifted and uses his size, speed and power to his advantage, but he showed a ton of growth this season,” said Madison head coach Andy Brandt. “I think he continued to grow in a lot of areas as a center – at the faceoff dot, in the defensive zone and supporting his linemates, and he’s someone that can play up and down a lineup. And I give him a lot of credit because he took everything he learned throughout the season and applied it, especially at the end of the season and in the playoffs. He just became a different player.”
William Moore – NTDP
Hometown: Ithaca, New York
Shoots: Left
HT: 6’2
WT: 175
College Commitment: Boston College
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 29
Year-In-Review
Moore had 59 points (27-32-59) over his 64 games this season, including 21 (10-11-21) in 25 USHL contests. He picked up a point in three of his final four USHL games and also scored three power-play tallies. Moore’s 0.84 points per game ranked fourth among NTDP skaters in USHL action.
“He’s got great vision and a ton of skill, but he’s also got a willingness to go to the gritty areas and the front of the net,” said NTDP head coach Greg Moore. “He’s always involved in the offensive zone and does a really good job of protecting the puck and extending plays, and he’s hard to knock off the puck. But he’s really smart defensively as well. I think there’s still a lot of untapped potential there as well and we’re very excited for his future.”
Jack Murtagh – NTDP
Hometown: East Greenbush, New York
Shoots: Left
HT: 6’0
WT: 200
College Commitment: Boston University
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 30
Year-In-Review
Murtagh finished the season with 53 points and was a plus-14. He had a two-goal game at the Fall Classic and lit the lamp 22 times this winter, seven of which came in USHL play. He also earned seven (4-3-7) of his 18 USHL points on the man advantage. The New York native has 90 points over the past two seasons and has shown the ability to drive his line offensively.
“Jack’s biggest strength is his shot, and he’s somebody that always wants to score,” said NTDP head coach Greg Moore. “He’s a powerful, explosive skater, and he’s really got a nose for the net, and he uses that to extend possessions. He plays with a lot of emotion and passion as well and can impact the game when he’s out there.”
Vaclav Nestrasil – Muskegon
Hometown: Praha, Czechia
Shoots: Right
HT: 6’5
WT: 187
College Commitment: UMass
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 36
Year-In-Review
Nestrasil played in 11 games in 2023-24 and did not record a point. However, he blossomed in his first full season, scoring 19 goals, racking up 42 points and helping the Lumberjacks win their first Clark Cup.
Nestrasil was one of Muskegon’s most-dependable forwards all winter and found another level in the playoffs. He had 13 points (7-6-13) over his 14 playoff contests and had three goals in the Clark Cup Final.
“He’s a very unique player – He’s almost 6-foot-6 and when you combine that size with his reach, his shot, his hands and his ability to make plays in-tight and in front of the net, there’s a lot to like,” said now-former Muskegon coach Parker Burgess. “But he also takes a tremendous amount of pride in being a complete player and his play without the puck. You saw that with how well he defends on the penalty kill and in the defensive zone, and he’s someone I trusted in every situation. So I think he has a really great understanding of the type of player he needs to be at the next level and he’s only going to continue to grow and develop into a really solid two-way forward.”
Ivan Ryabkin – Muskegon
Hometown: Balakovo, Russia
Shoots: Left
HT: 5’11
WT: 205
College Commitment: N/A
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 35
Year-In-Review
Ryabkin made his highly-anticipated USHL debut on Jan. 3 and scored a pair of goals, followed by another in his second game. He finished the regular season with 19-11-30 over his 27 games and was also a plus-6. However, found Ryabkin another gear in the playoffs.
The Russian forward ranked second among all USHL skaters with 16 playoff points, including seven goals. He was also a plus-9 in the playoffs and fired 45 shots at opposing goalies, helping the Lumberjacks score 54 playoff goals.
“Ivan went through a lot of adversity and obviously he’s a very high-profile player that was on a lot of people’s radar,” Burgess said. “You think about how much he had to deal with and adjust to both on and off the ice, and it’s not easy. But he trusted our staff and he did a tremendous job, and he helped us win a championship. He’s one of the strongest and most competitive players I’ve been around and he finds himself in the mix a lot, but the way he plays opens up space for his teammates and he’s got so many tools, especially offensively. I think he really played some of his best hockey in the playoffs too and I think he has the ability to be a high-end NHL player.”
Mason West – Fargo
Hometown: Edina, Minnesota
Shoots: Right
HT: 6’5
WT: 215
College Commitment: Michigan State
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 27
Year-In-Review
West made his USHL debut on March 14 and played just 10 games for the Force down the stretch. However, he made an immediate impact and could be one of the USHL’s first players off the draft board.
West had nine points (1-8-9) for the Force after a 27-goal, 49-point high school season at Edina, where he’s also been regarded as a three-star quarterback prospect. The right-shot forward uses his frame to create time and space and gives his opponents fits.
“The first thing that stands out is his physical package at 6-6 and 220, and that alone puts him on the NHL radar. But he’s just such a good athlete and an unbelievable kid too,” said Fargo head coach Brett Skinner. “I think what really separates Mason though is his ability to read the ice. He sees the ice like a quarterback and he makes his linemates and teammates better, and he’s got such a strong work ethic. So he really checks all the boxes.”
Other USHL forwards included on Central Scouting’s Final Draft Rankings
- Conrad Fondrk, NTDP – 45
- Teddy Mutryn, Chicago – 59
- Bruno Idzan, Lincoln – 67
- Cooper Simpson, Tri-City – 74
- Andrew O’Neill, NTDP – 81
- Ashton Schultz, Chicago – 83
- Aidan Park, Green Bay – 94
- Nicholas Sykora, Sioux City – 109
- William Belle, NTDP – 117
- Daniel Shlaine, Lincoln – 129
- Nolan Roed, Tri-City – 135
- Bobby Cowan, Madison – 143
- Brendan McMorrow, Waterloo – 144
- Blake Vanek, Chicago – 146
- Jacob Kvasnicka, NTDP – 152
- Brooks Cullen, Fargo – 164
- Matthew Lansing, Fargo – 175
- Ethan Wyttenbach, Sioux Falls – 185
- Jack Pechar, Lincoln – 192
- Ryan Rucinski, Youngstown – 204
- LJ Mooney, NTDP – 206
- Jackson Crowder, Chicago – 207
- Ritter Combs, Sioux Falls – 218
- Gavin Cornforth, Dubuque – 224
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 member clubs are committed to being the world’s leading 16–20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league’s player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede). More.
