A monthly installment of players that may go under the radar this season, and are worth checking out.
The 2024-25 WHL season is off to a roaring start, with 81 players at or over a point-per-game. Some are still getting their feet under them, but quickly settling in and stating their cases for next June. Below is the latest installment of underrated 2025 NHL Draft prospects worth keeping an eye on.
This is not a ranking, just a list.
Jett Lajoie- #37 Prince George Cougars
Jett Lajoie has been a significant part of why Prince George is in the postion they are at the moment; that is, sitting second place in the Western Conference. Posting five goals and five assists through 11 games so far this season, he's already matched his point total from last year, in which he played sixty games. Safe to say Lajoie has gotten comfortable in the Cougars lineup.
Spencer Michnik- #35 Victoria Royals
Despite only making three starts so far, Michnik was looking for a bounce back season (finishing 2023-24 with a .868 save percentage and a 4.60 goals against average) and right now he's got it. The Sylvan Lake, Alta. native put up a shutout in just his second start, taking down the Wenatchee Wild, and looks like he could potentially work his way into a starting role by season's end. He's tucked one WHL Goaltender of the Week nod under his belt, what's a couple more?
Lukas Sawchyn- #95 Edmonton Oil Kings
Lukas is not just the younger brother of Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn. They may play on the same line, but the Grande Prairie product is carving his own path through the WHL. Sawchyn has produced a respectable four points in seven games to open his first WHL season, and is developing quite a bit of chemistry alongside Gracyn and St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho.
Aaron Obobaifo- #8 Vancouver Giants
Similar to Sawchyn, there may be concerns Obobaifo is overshadowed by linemate and fellow 2007-born Cameron Schmidt, but the young forward can do more than hold his own. Well on his way to shattering his previous career high of 18 points (he currently has 10, in nine games) Obobaifo has already proven himself with his high work ethic and creativity, leading to plays like this:
Matej Pekar- #88 Seattle Thunderbirds
Coming off a strong showing at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the Czech forward has already acclimated himself quite well to North American ice. Pekar got off to a bit of a slow start on the scoresheet, but collected his first and second points on Saturday against the Portland Winterhawks. The small, shifty forward could turn a few heads for the 2025 NHL Draft if he continues to improve.
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