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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 5h

Has Gavin McKenna arrived? My video piece breaking down the tape from his first few NHL games: youtu.be/2RuWZTa0y7o?...

youtu.be

Has Gavin McKenna arrived?

YouTube video by The Athletic Hockey Show

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Could Nikita Klepov be this season’s Ben Kindel? “He’s a special talent.” With insight from Anaheim and Saginaw, a joint feature with @iceman-cometh.bsky.social (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...

nytimes.com

Could Anaheim Ducks rookie Nikita Klepov be this season’s Ben Kindel? (Gift Article)

Klepov, the No. 15 pick in the 2026 class, made his NHL debut for the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ranking the top 40 freshmen in college hockey for 2026-27. From Landon DuPont to Victor Plante and everyone in between (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...

nytimes.com

Ranking the top 40 freshmen in NCAA hockey for 2026-27

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

First mailbag of the 2026-27 season: - McKenna vs. DuPont - My Guys for 2027 - Pugachyov vs. Surin - Verhoeff and Lin And more. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...

nytimes.com

McKenna vs. DuPont, early favorites in 2027 NHL Draft, more: Prospects mailbag

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

First mailbag of the 2026-27 season: - McKenna vs. DuPont - My Guys for 2027 - Pugachyov vs. Surin - Verhoeff and Lin And more. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...

nytimes.com

McKenna vs. DuPont, early favorites in 2027 NHL Draft, more: Prospects mailbag

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Have a prospects or NHL Draft question? Submit them here for my mailbag: www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...

nytimes.com

Submit your questions for Scott Wheeler's hockey prospects mailbag

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🆕 at @theathletic.com: The Contention Cycle. Combining Player Tiers and Prospect Tiers to model where teams are and where they’re going. With @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social (unlocked): www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Leafs second-rounder Alexander Bilecki is just scratching the surface of his “huge potential.” My feature, with insight from Kitchener, Toronto, and those around him (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...

nytimes.com

Why Leafs prospect Alexander Bilecki is just scratching the surface of his ‘huge potential’ (Gift Article)

Bilecki logged 11 goals and 43 points in 88 combined regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup games for Kitchner last season.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

nytimes.com

Why Leafs prospect Alexander Bilecki is just scratching the surface of his ‘huge potential’ (Gift Article)

Bilecki logged 11 goals and 43 points in 88 combined regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup games for Kitchner last season.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The Athletic Hockey Show’s annual U23 Draft episode is always a highlight. As usual, I won (obviously). Full episode: youtu.be/acA5ebT4ywc

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Welcome to Prospect Tiers 📕📗📘📙 The top 145 under-23 players in hockey, as sorted into five tiers by 15 NHL scouts. 🎁 Free to read, with insight from the panel of scouts throughout: www.nytimes.com/athletic/751...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ranking the top 20 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2026-27 season. New: www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...

nytimes.com

Ranking the NHL’s top 20 Calder Trophy candidates for the 2026-27 season

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Preseason #2027NHLDraft ranking: - Full top 32 - 36 honorable mentions - Player tiers and more 🎁 Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

nytimes.com

2027 NHL Draft ranking: Landon DuPont leads preseason top 32

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

World Juniors roster projections: - Lines for 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇪🇫🇮🇨🇿 - Final cuts - The big debates 🎁 Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Anthony Romani is an “assassin” — and might be a diamond in the rough for the Canucks. My feature, with insight from MSU staff, his skills and strength coaches, and more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

My annual top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects ranking is out at @theathletic.com! The 2026 edition (🎁 free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

My annual top 100 drafted NHL prospects ranking is out at @theathletic.com! The 2026 edition (🎁 free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Spoke with WHL commissioner Dan Near in a wide-ranging 30-minute interview this morning. Latest on Chilliwack, NCAA, AHL exemptions, a new 3-on-3 rule they’re testing, changes to the schedule and more. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

nytimes.com

WHL commissioner talks Chilliwack expansion, NCAA, rule and travel changes (Gift Article)

The Athletic spoke with WHL commissioner Dan Near on Tuesday ahead of his annual state of the league address.

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Dimitri Filipovic @dimfilipovic.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

New PDOcast with @scottcwheeler.bsky.social: •Takeaways from this year’s draft •Organizational fit for players at the top of the board •The approach teams took •Picks we liked the most open.spotify.com/episode/3J3U...

open.spotify.com

Takeaways From This Year's Draft and What Teams Did With Their Picks

The Hockey PDOcast · Episode

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

My complete #2026NHLDraft review is now out! - All 32 draft classes - Thoughts on *almost* all of the 223 picks - 6,000+ words of analysis - Winners and losers All in one place, only at @TheAthletic.com, and unlocked for all to read 🔓 www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

nytimes.com

Winners and losers of 2026 NHL Draft: Maple Leafs on top, Lightning class looks weak (Gift Article)

Which NHL teams outperformed where they selected, and which underperformed?

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

“He’s just high-end offense, man.” My feature on the rise of JP Hurlbert, with insight from Kamloops, Michigan, the kid and more. Unlocked and free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

My anonymous scouts poll for the #2026NHLDraft is out now! - Ranking the big five D - Does a sixth D belong in that group? - Honest thoughts on Villeneuve and Sokolovskii 13 NHL scouts surveyed. Free to read link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

nytimes.com

2026 NHL Draft scouts survey: Ranking top defenders, making sense of Villeneuve, Sokolovskii (Gift Article)

Thirteen scouts (including multiple directors) answered the same three questions on hot-button topics in the 2026 class.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Can Xavier Villeneuve be the next Hutson? “He’s got a special gift.” My unlocked feature, with insight and anecdotes from the Armada, BU, his skills coach, the kid and more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

2026 NHL Draft player poll (Part 2) I surveyed 65 of the top prospects for their player comps. Their answers and explanations (free to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

nytimes.com

2026 NHL Draft player survey: Top prospects pick their own comparables (Gift Article)

Each prospect's answer provides insight into the way they think about themselves and the style of game they play.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

My annual NHL Draft player poll is out now at @TheAthletic.com! The most talented player? The most underrated? I surveyed 65 of the top prospects in the 2026 class for their answers. 🎁 Gift link: www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

nytimes.com

2026 NHL Draft player survey: Prospects pick most talented, underrated in class (Gift Article)

The Athletic polled 65 of this year's draft prospects and the results were insightful, candid and revealing throughout.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Meet Ethan Belchetz, the #2026NHLDraft’s “freak physical package.” My @theathletic.com feature, with insight from Windsor, Michigan State, and more. Unlocking for all to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

nytimes.com

Meet Ethan Belchetz, the 2026 NHL Draft prospect with a ‘freak physical package’ (Gift Article)

Belchetz, a 6-foot-5 winger, is expected to be selected in the lottery picks of the draft's first round.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Inside the OHL’s return to a centralized draft: - Introducing Kane Cloutier - A notable no-show - An American invasion - The exceptional elephant in the room My unlocked story on a big night, with insight from scouts and execs: www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The Athletic Hockey Show simulated a draft room to come up with a collective top 10 for the #2026NHLDraft. www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

nytimes.com

Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg top "The Athletic Hockey Show" draft ranking

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

It was a “whirlwind” year but Mathis Preston still has things you can’t teach. My feature on the #2026NHLDraft talent, with insight from the Giants, Hockey Canada, scouts, and more, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

nytimes.com

Inside Mathis Preston’s ‘whirlwind’ draft year, and why his skill still stands out (Gift Article)

For a long time, Preston was viewed as one of the very top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft, but scouts aren't as high on him today.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

My final #2026NHLDraft ranking is out @theathletic.com! - Top 100, with full reports - Player tiers, features, and more - Sortable user interface 🎁 Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

My final #2026NHLDraft ranking is out @theathletic.com! - Top 100, with full reports - Player tiers, features, and more - Sortable user interface 🎁 Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

How Chase Reid turned himself into the #2026NHLDraft’s No. 1 D prospect. My feature on his incredible journey, with insight from the Soo, Victory Honda, Michigan State, his longtime skating coach and more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

nytimes.com

How Chase Reid went from Tier 2 junior to the top of the 2026 NHL Draft (Gift Article)

Reid, who's projected to be one of the first defensemen picked at the 2026 NHL Draft, is committed to Michigan State.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

nytimes.com

How Chase Reid went from Tier 2 junior to the top of the 2026 NHL Draft (Gift Article)

Reid, who's projected to be one of the first defensemen picked at the 2026 NHL Draft, is committed to Michigan State.

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Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Memorial Cup news and notes: - What I’m hearing on Landon DuPont’s NCAA decision - Next steps for Cameron Reid, Sam O’Reilly and more - Four draft eligibles finish strong More, unlocked and free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

nytimes.com

What I’m hearing on Landon DuPont, 2026 draft eligibles finish strong, more from Memorial Cup (Gift Article)

The 2026 Memorial Cup is in the books after Kitchener beat Everett in the final on Sunday.

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