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
S6: Jason Bukala, Sportsnet scouting analyst; NHL.com's Top 32 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
Sportsnet scouting analyst Jason Bukala joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss some of the top prospects for the 2024 NHL Draft. Bukala shares his NHL comparisons for consensus No. 1 pick Macklin Celeb…
S6: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets forward; CHL Top Prospects Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:31
NHL Draft Class is on the road in Moncton, New Brunswick for the CHL Top Prospects Game. Hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale talked to Tij Iginla, the No. 11 prospect on NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings and s…
S6: Dan Marr, VP, NHL Central Scouting; Midterm Rankings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
NHL Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr joins hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to discuss Central Scouting's midterm rankings of the top North American and International skaters. Dan goes in-depth on the NHL…
S6: Player to Watch List; Top prospect Artyom Levshunov joins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:31
NHL.com's Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale kick off the sixth season of NHL Draft Class by discussing the release of NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list, including Boston University forward Macklin Ce…
S5: Craig Button, TSN scouting director; Draft recap & analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
Craig Button, TSN scouting director, joins co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to close the books on the 2023 NHL Draft, with his thoughts on the future potential of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson,…
S5: First Round Recap: Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson & Adam Fantilli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
Adam and Mike recap the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft and discuss their favorite moments, biggest surprises and best stories of a memorable night in Nashville. They are joined by Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Adam…
S5: Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet and NHL Network; 2023 NHL Draft Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet and NHL Network joins co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale to preview the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft, including what the Anaheim Ducks could do at No. 2, where Russia-born forward Matvei…
S5: John Williams, NHL Central Scouting; WHL draft prospect analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:14
Connor Bedard is one of many top prospects from the Western Hockey League available for the 2023 NHL Draft, and John Williams from NHL Central Scouting joins NHL Draft Class to provide his expert opinion on several of th…