Full Coverage Of The 2025 NHL Draft Talent At The U.S. NTDP
The CHL/NTDP matchup did not highlight the NTDP well at all. So let's give them all a bit more coverage here.
Nov 29, 2024
Conrad Fondrk, C, Alum of Mt. St Charles, Commit to Boston Univ.
Fondrk was a star in AAA. He dominated possession, using a solid frame, strong puck control, and quick give-and-go passing to control transition from the middle lane and set up the offense quickly after breaking in. His successes hinged on strong puck skills and even stronger hockey IQ – but only the latter has translated to the juniors flight. Fondrk is far less of a transition-facilitator for the NTDP – instead spending the bulk of his time on the defensive end of the puck and using the momentum of turnovers or big hits to spark movement up the ice. He’s still incredibly sharp and has become the NTDP’s Swiss Army Knife as a result – successfully playing both special teams and top-line minutes with great defensive acumen and fundamentals. He seems to be missing a wave of offense that I had expected he’d find by now – but even without it, his smart positioning and the extent of his off-puck strength both make him productive in all three zones. I’d bet he’ll be an early pick – a top 50 (or, 40?) lock for me – and a longtime pro because of it.
Jack Murtagh, C/RW, Alum of B.K. Selects, Commit to Boston Univ.
Murtagh is probably the best pick for this year’s ‘NTDP star’. He’s far less ‘do-it-all’ than some previous stars, but has prevailed as an impactful and overwhelming forward on the back of nonstop grit. Murtagh has a strong, strong frame and knack for diving into, and successfully making, hard-fought plays into the corners, on the boards, and in the slot. He’s strong enough on the puck – though far from the best puckhandler on this team – but boasts a rocket shot and heads-up playmaking. It all creates a dynamic power-forward, even if Murtagh is still waiting to pick a defined style (is he a puck-carrier, a strong second-man-in, a net-front presence? Can he be all of the above?). Murtagh is also the third-youngest on the team, an incredibly notable fact given he’s already one of their leading scorers. He’s a young player with tools that are already contributing to success, and the upside to establish himself in a variety of strong pro roles. That should, could, would warrant a first-round selection. I’ll hear that out!
Carter Amico, RHD, Alum of Mt. St. Charles, Commit to Boston Univ.
Amico is done for the year after undergoing surgery on his left leg. He’s expected to be fully healed in time for a freshman year at BU next season. That’s all I know – and the news couldn’t be much worse, because Amico was undeniably the star of this NTDP class by my bill. He’s been the most committed to the monotony of anyone, showing patience and poise in making the easy plays on the breakout, or finding the open passing lane. His size, physicality, and skating made him an incredibly hard beat in the corners or slot – both pieces that Amico used to dominate play in the lower third and spark his team’s move up the ice. He may not have scored much – or even skated over the red line much – but Amico looked to have all the pieces of a translatable pro, and it’s a shame that we’ll have to wait for an extended time to see if those traits really do progress. I’ll keep my faith behind him – and if he were healthy all year long, I would’ve been drafting him very, very high.
Charlie Trethewey, RHD, Alum of Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Commit to Boston Univ.
Another damn BU commit! My Midwest heart can’t take it. Especially when it’s another clear-cut top defender for this NTDP squad. While I’ll dub Amico the best defensive-asset on the roster, it’s hard to deny that Trethewey isn’t the best puck-moving defender. He was a star in AAA because of his ability to jump up the ice with the puck on his stick and easily orchestrate scoring chances. You’re still seeing that control of the neutral zone in juniors, but he’s lost the explosivity that made him a top scorer. Instead, Trethewey is a stout two-way guy – capable of making the right plays to defend the rush and force a turnover, then jumping into his a clearly more-comfotrable role controlling the puck. There’s a common thread in this article that the setting of this NTDP squad has probably limited a few of these kids’ upside. I think Trethewey (or Moore) has felt that the most. And I do think he could still grow into a strong, top-of-the-lineup kind of puck-carrier with the right stride at BU. But if he doesn’t he’ll be better set for a career as a typecast puck-carrying, depth defender. Even then, he’s talented enough to play a lot of pro games. Price him as a very-late First, or early-to-mid Second, on my bill.
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