In the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft, theScore is spotlighting eight of the most intriguing prospects in the class to help you get familiar with the top names before draft night.
Kashawn Aitcheson has earned the label "throwback defenseman," thanks to his on-ice meanness, snarl, and penchant for throwing punishing hits. He also added a scoring touch to his game this season, making him an extremely intriguing prospect.
Opposing teams had a really bad time when they faced Aitcheson and his Barrie Colts in the OHL this season, as evidenced by his 88 penalty minutes. He did a far better job staying out of the box compared to the 126 penalty minutes he racked up in 64 outings in 2023-24.
Discipline isn't the only area in which Aitcheson improved this year. He ranked third among all OHL defensemen in goals and seventh in points while obliterating his previous career highs of eight tallies and 39 points. Aitcheson scored four overtime goals in the regular season, tied for the most among all skaters in the league. He added another in the playoffs, making his five overtime tallies the third most in a single season in the CHL since 2000.
Aitcheson has no issue dropping the gloves, either, as he was credited with six fights during the regular season, plus two in the playoffs. He also chipped in with 12 points in 16 postseason outings as Barrie was swept out of the conference championship by the Oshawa Generals.
"I don't think I'm really intimidated by anyone," Aitcheson said in October, according to The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy. "I have a chip on my shoulder, and I feel I have something to prove every night. I'm not going to shy away from anything, no matter how big or small. I'm going to go at you head-on."
He represented Canada at the IIHF World U18 Championship in 2024, helping the country finish atop the podium with a goal and three points in seven outings. With a Sept. 21 birthday, Aitcheson was only about a week away from being eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft.
Best fits
Aitcheson would be a great fit on any club looking to become harder to play against on a nightly basis.
Assuming the Rangers hang onto their 2025 first-round pick - thus sending their unprotected 2026 first-rounder to the Penguins as part of the J.T. Miller and Marcus Pettersson trades - Aitcheson would be a great fit. Besides, he's drawn comparisons to former New York captain Jacob Trouba, and his compete level would be a breath of fresh air after such an underwhelming, contentious season.
Though there's a strong chance the Blue Jackets trade one of their two first-round picks to immediately upgrade their roster, Aitcheson would be a strong addition to the club if it keeps the 14th overall selection. Columbus is well-stocked up front, and Aitcheson would become its top blue-line prospect following the graduation of Denton Mateychuk.
We'll end with the Red Wings. They undoubtedly need some help up front, but adding a driven, left-handed defenseman who could slot into their future top four might be too tempting to pass up.
What they're saying
"He's a hyper-competitive defender who doesn't back down from physical play and likes to agitate," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote in May. "He has the bite NHL teams will love, even if he does go over the line at times.
"He's a good skater with strong enough hands and hockey sense to make plays at higher levels and a solid point shot too. ... Even if his puck play is just decent, with his athletic tools and being a menace to play against, he can be a great top-four defenseman."
"He brings an entertaining mix of offensive skill and brute strength that makes him a nightmare to play against. ... The left-handed shot was smart with his aggressive style. ... (He also draws) the toughest defensive assignments each game," NHL.com's Adam Kimelman wrote.
