Braeden Cootes Goal vs Prince George, Dec 31, 2024 With the end of the regular season quickly approaching, it's time to sneak a peek into the top 10 eligible prospects for the 2025 NHL draft. 1. Carter Bear- Everett Silvertips Bear has been the epitome of a success story this season. Originally given a 'B' rating by NHL Central Scouting in October (2nd/3rd round) and has since shot up the rankings with his high-end playmaking ability and finishing touch. 2. Ben Kindel- Calgary Hitmen Some may say Kindel is a product of his linemates, but one does not go on a 20+ game point streak purely on luck. The Hitmen forward is carving out his path by being the first (and so far only) draft eligible player this season to hit the 30-goal and 50-assist marks. 3. Radim Mrtka- Seattle Thunderbirds Since coming over from Czechia, Mrtka has made his presence known. Currently 18th in scoring among first-year draft eligibles, the dynamic six-foot-six defender has made attacking players' lives quite difficult with his physicality and long reach. 4. Lynden Lakovic- Moose Jaw Warriors Possessing a smooth passing touch as well as a lethal shot, Lakovic is a dual threat in the offensive zone. Since coming back from injury, the Warriors star has five points in three games as well as 12 shots on goal. 5. Jackson Smith- Tri-City Americans Smith will no doubt be a high pick in this year's draft, as his impressive skating and physical touch have brought a significant boost to the Americans' blue line. Already shattering his previous career point total of 29, Smith is one of the best puck-moving defencemen in the class, let alone the WHL. 6. Cameron Schmidt- Vancouver Giants Despite being overlooked at times due to his size, Schmidt could take on the late, great Henri Richard's nickname "Pocket Rocket". Schmidt is a shooter, and while his production has dipped as of late, the mechanics and skill are much on display every game with his speed and agility. 7. Cole Reschny- Victoria Royals In what could only be described as "slippery" Reschny is an elusive skater with a soft passing touch and is a major reason the Royals are as high as they are in the standings. Currently 12th in points among all WHL skaters, Victoria's assistant captain could be in for a big night come June. 8. Blake Fiddler- Edmonton Oil Kings Similar to Mrtka, Fiddler is a big body that can move the puck (oftentimes, himself) and isn't afraid to throw his weight around. Goal scoring and offensive creativity could use a step forward, but he's eating big minutes for the Oil Kings and that will appear quite valuable to a few teams this summer. 9. Joshua Ravensbergen- Prince George Cougars The lone goaltender on this list, Ravensbergen has proven himself time and time again. White hot as of late, the Cougars netminder has a .945 save percentage and a 1.80 goals against average in his last five starts. While a common observation is that he is a "raw" goaltender skills wise, once that gets ironed out he has the potential to be a pro starting goaltender. 10. Braeden Cootes- Seattle Thunderbirds Last but certainly not least, Cootes has taken a major step this season. Named Thunderbirds captain, the Sherwood Park, Alta. native is nearly at a point-per-game pace and willing his team to a playoff position after spending some time in the WHL's basement. The Seattle center is going to look to make an impact at the next level as soon as he can. Honorable Mentions: David Lewandowski (Saskatoon), Will Sharpe (Kelowna) Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/] and add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Chiefs, Royals, And Tigers Clinch 2025 WHL Playoff Berth [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/.preview/cn02f4692470002609?auth=1740076195:753d5ed9eb6aebf549973180fadd790f6d2fec08&nonce=1739989796282] Three Playoff Clinching Situations Highlight Family Day Action [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/.preview/cn02f463b0c0002680?auth=1739925768:c6352ce6a70779440a481ff239a8bdf14697bc28&nonce=1739839368731] Standouts From Week 21 Of The 2024-25 WHL Season [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/.preview/cn02f4628440002680?auth=1739904188:05b1c9cca487fbba2c8e99368cbd46c9f662d95d&nonce=1739817788247] Spokane Chiefs' Andrew Cristall Becomes First Player In 2024-25 To 100 Points [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/latest-news/spokane-chiefs-andrew-cristall-becomes-first-player-in-2024-25-to-100-points] WHL Alumni Spotlight: Seth Jarvis [https://thehockeynews.com/whl/players/whl-alumni-spotlight-seth-jarvis] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA5MjcxNDE2ODY3MDA1NjQ2/subscribe2024-front-banner.jpg]
