Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?
He’s a strong and athletic 6-foot-3, 213-pound right-shot defenseman who’s physically advanced and showcases that strength through a strong forward skating stride, a hard and heavy shot (it’s a real weapon) and a presence over pucks and in board battles. He’s a confident puck carrier in transition and is eager to take space off the line to look to make a play. His game does have some notable deficiencies, including the aforementioned decision-making and reads that can let him down, but they’ve started to become fewer with more reps. His game is always going to come with some brain cramps, but you’ll be able to live with it because of his natural talent and the personality of his game on the ice. The hiccups show up with the puck in distribution and/or on carries in dangerous spots on the ice, and without the puck in choices on when and how to close gaps or puck-watching and losing his man in D-zone coverage. He has some sloppy stickwork in man-to-man coverage that can require him to overcompensate by trying to make a hard play on the puck (which can result in some penalties) as well. He’s likely going to have some growing pains once he makes the full-time jump to NHL pace/speed and may never be as buttoned up as you’d like, but the physical tools and talent are going to carry him. His game has some very real upside and some clear plus attributes, even if it’ll come with the odd headache. Though this isn’t a projection and he won’t get there, he has a bit of a Brent Burns look to him out there.
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