Hard-Nosed Defenseman Emerges as Likely 2025 First Round Draft Target for the Canucks
Photo credit: OHL/Barrie Colts
A hard-nosed, two-way defenseman has emerged as a potential 2025 first round target for the Vancouver Canucks at the Entry Draft in Los Angeles later this week.
The National Hockey League's 2025 Entry Draft begins in just four days at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California for a one-off decentralized format, which a lot of teams weren't thrilled about when it was announced.
Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks are slated to select 15th overall on Friday evening, if they don't trade the pick, which some believe could happen this week.
Hard-nosed, two-way defenseman could be fit for Vancouver Canucks' system
As the Vancouver Canucks weigh their options with the 15th overall pick, Daniel Wagner of Vancouver Is Awesome has suggested some targets that Patrik Allvin and the team could consider on Friday.
Among the names mentioned by Wagner is defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson of the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts, where he was teammates with a pair of Vancouver Canucks prospects - Riley Patterson and Anthony Romani, the latter of whom off to the NCAA this fall.
"Multiple scouting reports call Aitcheson a throwback defenceman, with his downright mean approach to defending his end of the ice, crushing opponents in the neutral zone, closing off the blue line with authority, and domineering forwards in front of the net.
That throwback approach extends to his shot, as he has an old-school cannon of a slap shot that he likes to unleash at every opportunity." Wagner said about Aitcheson.
That throwback approach extends to his shot, as he has an old-school cannon of a slap shot that he likes to unleash at every opportunity." Wagner said about Aitcheson.
Aitcheson took a big step forward this season with the Barrie Colts, who won the Ontario Hockey League's Central Division title for the first time since 2017-18 thanks to the blueliner.
In 64 games, the Toronto native was seventh among defenseman in points in the entire Ontario Hockey League with 59 and even set a new Barrie Colts franchise record for most goals by a blueliner in a single season with 26, surpassing two-time Stanley Cup champion Aaron Ekblad, Brandt Clarke of the Los Angeles Kings and Andrew Marshall, all of whom had 23.
The 18-year-old wowed scouts in the OHL Playoffs, where he registered 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 16 games, helping Barrie reach the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in nine years.
Aitcheson is expected to play an even bigger role in Barrie next season and could have the 'C' on his chest when the puck drops on the OHL's 2025-26 campaign in mid-September and will likely be on Hockey Canada's radar for the 2026 IIHF World Juniors.
Source: Daniel Wagner/Vancouver is Awesome
13 prospects the Canucks could pick 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
13 prospects the Canucks could pick 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
Previously on CanucksDaily
TRENDING NOW
