At the NHL Scouting Combine, all of the draft-eligible players competed to make a case for themselves, and several top-ranked prospects strengthened that case with their performances.
Prospects are tested on a wide range of physical exams, displaying their athleticism and competitiveness. It's the final chance to make a good impression headed into the 2025 NHL Draft.
Three players who are ranked towards the bottom of the first round were standouts at the event, and despite the higher-ranked prospects drawing more attention, these skaters could grow into extremely efficient NHLers in the future.
No. 22 - Cullen Potter
A product of Arizona State University, Potter chose to go the NCAA route instead of pursuing U18 in the US National Development Program, and that has proven to be the right decision.
Potter started playing college hockey at age 17 and showed that he was able to keep up with the best of skaters. His point totals may not be as explosive as some of his peers in this draft, with 13 goals and nine helpers in 35 games. But Potter's choice was a testament to his growth and development in an extremely competitive environment.
Known as arguably the best skater in this draft pool, Potter uses his agility and speed to keep pucks in his team's possession. He can shake off defenders with ease thanks to his skating skills, and his offensive insight allows him to create quality scoring chances.
Though he's on the smaller side at 5'10" and 172 lb, Potter is a workhorse and gets involved in all areas of the ice. He is a fast, hard-working forward with the ability to generate strong opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Potter will more than likely spend another season to develop in Arizona, but when he is NHL-ready whenever that may be, he is poised to bring speed and offense with him.
No. 24 - William Horcoff
The sone of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff made some big noise at the Scouting Combine. The 6'4", 181 lb center set a new record in the vertical jump, reaching a whopping 124.75 inches. He also ranked in the top seven of both agility contests, and tenth in right hand grip strength.
The 18-year-old forward had interviews with 31 different NHL teams who are interested in selecting him, and he was the only player to garner that much interest.
Horcoff certainly deserved the attention. He joined the squad at University of Michigan halfway through the season and impressed in his freshman campaign, tallying 10 points in 18 games played. But his value as a player is less in his production and more in the compete level.
He's not as much of a playmaker as his father was, but rather identifies himself as a powerful forward who brings a strong physical element to the game. Horcoff is reliable on the backcheck as well as in the neutral zone, making the kind of plays that lead to rushes for his team.
As a defensive center, you can find Horcoff blocking shots, laying out big hits, putting pressure on the opponent, and springing his teammates for scoring chances. He is not known for being the strongest skater, but improved that significantly during the course of this season and the X-factor he brings would make a strong impact on any NHL lineup.
No. 33 - Shane Vansaghi
Forward Shane Vansaghi jumped from being ranked 36th overall to 33rd during the course of this past season, but his Scouting Combine performance could push him up into the first round.
Measuring at 6'2" and 212 lb, Vansaghi stood out for his performance in some of the tests. The right wing had the best scores in the grip strength category for both right and left hands, finishing with the second-most pull-ups at 15 as well as fifth-best in bench presses.
As a member of Michigan State, Vansaghi is better suited to a bottom-six role on that team, but that has never limited him. He still chipped in with 16 points in 37 games as a freshman playing on a stacked roster, and his game is defined by his energy and drive.
Vansaghi uses his strength to provide a netfront presence that is hard to beat. He is able to create space for himself to carry the puck up ice with efficiency, and Elite Prospects has also commended his overall knowledge of the game which he uses to take quick shots or find an open lane to a teammate.
He won't be a standout top six forward right out of the gates, but Vansaghi brings a unique style of gameplay that would offer a high compete level when he makes the transition to the NHL.