2025 Draft Prospects to watch at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup

The Hlinka Gretzky Cup is a prime stage for young hockey talent to showcase their skills. With the 2025 NHL Draft on the horizon, many eyes will be on this tournament to identify potential future stars. Here are some key prospects in the 2025 Draft to watch for at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Related: 2025 NHL DRAFT: WAY TOO EARLY TOP 5

1. Michael Misa-Center (Canada)

Michael Misa is a highly skilled offensive creator and puck distributor. He had an impressive rookie season with 56 points in 44 games with the Spirit and surpassed that last season with 75 in 67, winning the Memorial Cup in the process. With the Saginaw Spirit this season, Misa had 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) and 31 power-play points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 67 regular-season games. He’s got a very high hockey IQ and always seems to make the right play with the puck — creativity combined with an exceptional skill set and a nose for the net, he skates really well with the patience and poise to make the players around him better. Michael Misa was a standout performer for Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Despite being one of the youngest players in the tournament, he showcased his exceptional talent and offensive abilities. Misa contributed significantly to Canada’s success, demonstrating his skill in creating scoring chances and finishing plays. Even at a young age, Misa displayed leadership on the ice, making smart decisions and driving the play. Michael Misa has all the tools to be a top 5 pick in the NHL draft Already a standout in the OHL, Misa’s dynamic skill set and scoring ability make him a must-watch. At this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Misa has the opportunity to once again establish himself as at top 5 pick, at least heading into the upcoming season.

2. Porter Martone-RW (Canada)

A highly skilled power forward, Porter Martone (6-3, 196), a right-wing with the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, was chosen to be captain for Canada at the U-18 [World Championship], which speaks to his character and the way he plays. He’s a big power forward who plays physical with really soft hands and an exceptional scoring touch. He’s equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, but it’s the combination of his skillset, work ethic, compete level, and ability to be a constant factor offensively that could make him a top-three selection in 2025. Martone can hurt you offensively in a variety of ways, be it attacking and crashing the net for loose pucks, unleashing a powerful shot from far out, or using his slick puck-handling skills and control to deke around players and find the middle of the ice for a shooting opportunity. In addition, he can easily draw in players and find open seams flawlessly in order to connect with his teammates. While he has high-end offensive vision, his size allows him to easily win battles, engage physically, and show the will to constantly fight for possession. Porter Martone is already one of the top ranked prospects before the season, and with a strong performance with Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he can help solidify his position as a lottery pick heading into the season.

3. Anton Frondell (Sweden)

Easily the next best center behind Hagens, Frondell is an extremely versatile two-way pivot with great upside. Frondell has been effective in Sweden’s U-20 league and on the national team, excelling at the Five-Nations tournament and the J20 level with 39 points in 29 games. Frondell is as smooth as they come, both with his skating and with his puck control and stick handling. Given his well-rounded, two-way game, he reminds me of the way that Leo Carlsson played with his confidence, creativity, and ability to adapt at each level. He’s able to easily spot open lanes to attack and when he gets to the high-traffic areas, he’s able to pull off moves at a very quick and accurate pace to get around defenders. When he’s setting up his teammates, it’s as if he has eyes at the back of his head, knowing where they’re going to be. The upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup is an opportunity for him to showcase why he should be one of the top picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. For this reason, Sweden is a team to watch in the tournament, as they have a few interesting prospects to watch for.

4. Jack Ivanovic-Goaltender (Canada)

It is extremely rare to see goaltenders play in their first year eligible in the OHL, but Ivankovic has been able to play and succeed as a 2007-born netminder. He was selected 7th overall in the 1st round of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection by Mississauga, and has been regarded as a top goaltending prospect out of Canada. In recent years, there haven’t been many NHL goaltenders coming up from Canada, especially in Ontario. Ivankovic may just be the change of that, as he has the potential to be a truly great goaltender in this generation. In the crease, Ivankovic has it all. He has the flexibility and agility to make last-minute reaction saves, but he is also disciplined positionally when he needs to be. He doesn’t get himself out of position often, and he never shows a lack of fight. Ivankovic is never down-and-out of a play. He has the foundation and all the tools to be an elite goaltender at the NHL level one day, and the sky’s the limit for the sixteen-year-old. In his draft season next year, he could very well be a top pick and the top goaltender chosen. The Hlinka Gretzky Cup will the first change he gets to showcase his talents in front of scouts against the best talent in his age range the world has to offer. If he has a good tournament, he should be the top goalie taken in the draft and might just get selected in the first round.

5. Jakob Ihs-Wozniak-Right Wing (Sweden)

Wozniak is a compelling player as a 6-foot-3 forward with a clean catch-and-release shot, an ability to handle pucks in tight or protect them out wide, and good sesne on when to slow the game down or play at speed. His actual posture can look a little funky, with a very upright stance from the hips up and legs that can trail behind, but he’s actually pretty fast. The Swedish winger has a good frame and is not afraid to use it. A strong playmaker, he had 50 points in 36 games with Lulea’s U-20 team and even skated in two SHL games, as well. A strong playmaker, he had 50 points in 36 games with Lulea’s U-20 team and even skated in two SHL games, as well. Wozniak is another Swede to watch out for at the Hlinka Gretzky Gup, and with a good performance could find his way into the top 10 or maybe even top 5.

6. Filip Ekberg-Winger (Sweden)

Filip Ekberg is a small, undersized winger playing for Almtuna IS in Sweden, he has spent the majority of the season playing for their J20 team, where he put up 29 points in 33 games. Ekberg also played 19 games in the HockeyAllsvenskan league, though he only scored 2 points. Filip is a comfortable one-touch shooter, he’s got deft hands, he’s got some craft and creativity both on the puck and as a passer. There are questions about small wingers that he’ll have to answer, but I like his work ethic off the puck enough to believe his game might be projectable up levels as a top-nine playmaker. Ekberg played for the U17 team at the WHC, where he was one of their top players, scoring 8 points in 7 games. Despite his young age, Ekberg has shown exceptional talent and is already garnering attention as a potential top-10 pick, and if he has a dominant performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, he could move up the rankings.

7. Logan Hensler-Defense (USA)

One of the top defensive prospects already for 2025, it’s hard to miss the slick-skating, 6-foot-2, 194-pound defender. He moves so well, takes away space, and is a competent puck-mover, even if the numbers seem a bit lackluster. The University of Wisconsin commit uses his agile footwork to take away space, and if he gets beaten, he has the stick work to retrieve the puck. Hensler has also taken positive steps forward with his creativity, allowing him to make more advanced plays under pressure. I see top-four potential in him, but like Zeev Buium before him, I feel like he can advance that with a great run in college because the raw skillset is there. He is going to be a player watch for the US National team and with Team USA during the World Juniors next year. At the NHL level, I see Hensler as a top 4 caliber defenseman, with an upside to be a top pair two-way defenseman. At this moment in team, there is quite a separation between him and the next-best defensive prospect. A good opportunity to watch Logan Hensler will be at the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky cup, where he has the chance to solidify himself as a top defenseman in the draft.

8. Matthew Schaefer-Defense (Canada)

Drafted first overall by the Erie Otters last spring, the 6-foot-1 defender is an incredible skater and is always actively engaged at both ends of the ice. Offensively, Schaefer has real potential, but he’s also positionally sound and aggressive in his own zone. He had a decent first year with Erie, registering 17 points, but there was still a lot of feeling out to be done. The raw talent is there for Schaefer to become a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in the NHL, and this tournament could help him prove why. He’s a heady two-way defenseman who skates well overbalanced and light edges, managing play in front of him. He’s got a good stick and an ability to close out on carriers, be disruptive, and then advance and steer play down the ice. There are some parallels to Brock Faber. Some scouts think he is better than Logan Hensler, but the difference is that Hensler is 6’2/194, while Schaefer is just 6’1/161, which is a huge difference at the NHL level. Matthew Schaefer will be one of the main defenseman to watch at the Hlinka Gretzky cup, and if he has a good tournament, he could become the top ranked defenseman in 2025.

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