Overview
- Puck drop is 6 p.m. MT on Tuesday in Calgary and Wednesday in Lethbridge, with TSN carrying both games.
- A heavy scouting presence is expected, with an estimated 32 teams sending large contingents; Flames GM Craig Conroy and scouting leaders Tod Button, Fred Parker and Rob Sumner are attending.
- Evaluators are spotlighting CHL standouts Ethan Belchetz, Mathis Preston and J.P. Hurlbert, blue-line candidates Ryan Lin, Xavier Villeneuve and Daxon Rudolph, and NTDP threats Victor Plante, Casey Mutryn and Mikey Berchild.
- Projected top selections Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff are in the NCAA and Ivar Stenberg is in Sweden, so they are not participating, shaping the comparison set for scouts.
- The NTDP looks to rebound after last year’s sweep by the CHL, as teams note the showcase offers only two data points despite a history of producing many first-round picks.