Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

The CHL-USA Prospects Challenge: More than just a skills showcase?

This new best-on-best tournament format pitting CHL talent against the USNTDP has me thinking… is this the future of evaluating top draft prospects? Will it become more important than individual league play when projecting NHL potential? I’m curious to see how this head-to-head competition influences the 2025 draft rankings. Players like Martone are already talking about the importance of winning. Does this added pressure reveal more about a player's character and leadership than regular season games?

I’m particularly intrigued by the 3-on-3 overtime and shootout format to decide the series winner if needed. Is this the best way to evaluate talent in a short tournament? Or does it overemphasize individual skill at the expense of team play?

With names like Martone, Moore, and Trethewey already generating buzz, who are you most excited to watch in this tournament? Could a strong showing here significantly impact a player's draft stock? And, perhaps most importantly, will this new format truly identify the best players? Let the debate begin!