John Williams, NHL Central Scouting; Top Western Hockey League prospects

John Williams, NHL Central Scouting; Top Western Hockey League prospects

Author: National Hockey League May 15, 2026 Duration: 32:23
NHL Draft Class shines the spotlight on the top prospects in the Western Hockey League with NHL Central Scouting senior western scout John Williams joining co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale. What separated a loaded class of defensemen that includes Prince George's Carson Carels and Prince Albert's Daxon Rudolph? John also discusses what he likes about twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck, JP Hurlbert, and Mathis Preston and more.

Ever wonder about the journey from a promising teenager to a name called at the podium? NHL Draft Class, presented by the National Hockey League, pulls back the curtain on that exact process. This isn't just a rundown of rankings; it's a series of conversations that get into the grit and character of the next generation of hockey stars. You'll hear directly from the prospects themselves-their training routines, personal motivations, and the nerves of draft day. The audio goes beyond the stats with analysis from scouts and league insiders who break down what makes each player unique, from a defenseman's hockey IQ to a forward's release. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting a backstage pass to the most pivotal moment in a young athlete's career. It captures the anticipation, the strategy from team war rooms, and the raw emotion of dreams becoming reality. For anyone fascinated by the future of the sport and the human stories behind the jerseys, this series offers a compelling, insider's perspective on how a draft class is built.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

NHL Draft Class
Podcast Episodes
Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting; midterm rankings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr joins co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss Central Scouting's midterm rankings of the top North American and International skaters and goalies. Dan takes us in the…
S7: Chris Peters, FloHockey draft expert; World Juniors preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:37
Merry World Juniors, everyone! NHL Draft Class co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale are joined by FloHockey draft expert Chris Peters to get you ready for everything you need to know for the 2025 IIHF World Junior…
S7: CHL USA Top Prospects Challenge: Porter Martone & Michael Misa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
NHL Draft Class co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale are back for Part 2 from the inaugural CHL USA Top Prospects Challenge in London and Oshawa, featuring some of the top players for the 2025 NHL Draft. Joining t…
S6: Sam Cosentino, NHL Network & Sportsnet; NHL Draft preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:36
The 2024 NHL Draft has finally arrived, and Sam Cosentino of NHL Network and Sportsnet joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to set up the big show at Sphere in Las Vegas. Cosentino gives his opinion on Macklin…
S6: Janne Vuorinen, NHL Central Scouting; Top International prospects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
Janne Vuorinen, chief European scout for NHL Central Scouting, joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top International prospects for the 2024 draft, including Nizhny Novgorod defenseman An…