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Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?

Inside Wheeler’s Shocking Summer 2025 NHL Prospect Rankings: Who’s the True Future Star?

I’m not in love with his upside and have reservations about whether his game has what it takes to live up to his draft slot (it just lacks a little juice for me), but he should become a really solid No. 3-4. It’s too bad he basically lost his first full season in North America last year as well. He’s a projectable two-way defenseman who looks like how teams want their D to look these days and he’s going to have a long career.

Photo:

Rocket de Laval

MTL

2023

Tier 4

RHD

An incredibly mobile defenseman, Molendyk uses light edges to adjust and shape to coverage with ease in all four directions. He evades pressure and walks the line beautifully and effortlessly, displaying comfort on his heels and inside and outside edges. He’s also a competitive defender on both sides of the puck who plays tight, active gaps to use his feet to be disruptive, step up in transition and kill plays early. In his draft year, he drove results with the Saskatoon Blades, helping them into the third round of the WHL playoffs while playing behind 21-year-old overage defenseman and captain Aidan De La Gorgendiere on the power play. Two years ago, though a couple of injuries impacted his post-draft season and cost him a top-four role on Team Canada at the World Juniors as an 18-year-old, he was one of the best defensemen in junior when healthy and finished with 66 points in 66 combined regular-season and playoff games while playing to a plus-51 rating. Last season, after nearly making the Predators out of camp, Molendyk wore a letter and played on Canada’s first pair at the World Juniors in advance of a trade from Saskatoon to Medicine Hat, and then won a WHL title as the team’s No. 1 defenseman.

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