Welcome back to The Journey, where we track the development of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push towards stardom.

Watching prospects live adds layers that numbers alone cannot always capture. This week, I attended a WHL matchup to get an in-person look at several notable young players, not just to track boxscore production, but to see how their habits, pace, and instincts translated in real time. It is one thing to examine microstats, model outputs, or various video resources, but seeing how a player arrives at those results, their timing, reads, and body language, often tells a fuller story.

This piece brings together those two worlds, blending live viewing impressions with the context provided by analytics. For some players, the in-person evaluation confirmed what the data has hinted at all along. For others, it revealed nuances, strengths, and areas for growth that do not always show up on the spreadsheet. The goal, as always, is to refine our understanding of who these players are becoming and where their fantasy value may be headed.

Seattle Thunderbirds

Radim Mrtka – RHD, Buffalo Sabres
Mrtka is big, rangy, and covered a lot of ground. He played a solid, safe game and didn't make many, if any, mistakes. His skating stride allowed him to stay in position and close space effectively, and he handled the puck with calm confidence. He ran the power play but mostly moved the puck around without much creativity or shot threat. His decisions were quick and efficient, but nothing particularly stood out as dynamic or game changing. Still, he looked composed and steady throughout, the kind of defender coaches trust in all situations.

His physical engagement and competitiveness were consistent, and he showed smart instincts in transition with good timing on entries and zone exits. The effort level was strong, and his ability to read developing plays made him quietly effective. His pNHLe is a bit inflated, as it often is for defenders in the model, and with limited blocked shots and hits, his fantasy ceiling remains modest. Jay Bouwmeester feels like a fair, comparable, reliable, poised, and capable of logging heavy minutes, but not a major fantasy producer. If Mrtka adds more assertiveness with the puck and develops his shot selection, he could evolve from a dependable complementary piece into a quietly valuable two-way presence.

Braeden Cootes – C, Vancouver Canucks
Cootes offered a polished two-way presence and a professional maturity to his game. He played responsibly in the defensive zone, maintained good posture on retrievals, and supported his teammates through smart positioning and crisp, efficient puck movement. His composure under pressure stood out, particularly when making outlets or calming chaotic situations. He reads developing plays well, and his skating has become more efficient, allowing him to close gaps quickly or transition play with smooth acceleration. Live, he was easily the best player on the ice. His shot already looks NHL ready, and he plays with a gritty edge that makes him tough to knock off the puck.

Offensively, he still needs to generate more shot volume and assert himself as a consistent play driver, but he showed flashes of dynamic ability. He can beat WHL defenders with quick hands and strength, though it remains to be seen how that will translate against professionals. Still, the foundation is strong, with a blend of intelligence, power, and confidence that gives him legitimate upside. His Fantasy Hockey Life player card suggests a solid BASH floor, meaning his physical engagement and shot volume could sustain his value even as he refines the slippery puck control needed for higher levels. With continued development, Cootes could evolve from a steady middle-six projection into a versatile forward with both real and fantasy appeal.

Simon Lovsin – LW/RW, Undrafted
Lovsin showed flashes of skill and creativity, especially in tight spaces, and scored twice in this viewing. However, those goals owed more to Cootes' playmaking than individual brilliance. Now two years past his original draft year, he's on pace for his best season, but still likely to fall short of a point per game. While his skating and awareness remain intriguing, his overall impact and production haven't risen to fantasy relevance. Even in deep formats, he's not a recommended pickup at this stage.

Matej Pekar – C/W, Undrafted
Pekar was one of the youngest players in his class, missing the 2026 draft cutoff by just a week. After posting a half-point-per-game rookie season, he's tracking to exceed that pace this year and could earn mid-round consideration in 2026. He's crafty, skilled, and dangerous with the puck, showing sharp edge work and confident puck protection, but he can be nearly invisible when play shifts away from him. That inconsistency may concern NHL teams, yet his offensive talent is undeniable. In deeper dynasty formats, he's a reasonable speculative add with upside if he rounds out his off-puck game.

Ashton Cumby – LHD, Chicago Blackhawks
Cumby was exactly as advertised, big, physical, and steady in his own zone. He won battles, closed gaps effectively, and showed composure under pressure against the Giants' forecheck. There is not much offense to speak of, but his physical presence and reliability will appeal to real teams. From a fantasy standpoint, his value will come mostly from hits and blocks rather than points.

Vancouver Giants

Ryan Lin – RHD, 2026 Draft Eligible
Lin's speed and confidence with the puck popped right away. He accelerates effortlessly, pushes defenders back, and isn't afraid to attack the middle of the ice. His creativity shines when he carries with pace, using subtle cuts and body fakes to manipulate defenders and create space. Running the power play as a draft eligible player is a huge feather in his cap, and it's much deserved. Lin transitions play on his own with ease and shows growing confidence taking pucks into traffic. He's highly dynamic with the puck, and his motor keeps him involved even when sequences don't develop cleanly. If he had better finishers around him, his production would already look elite.

He is a consensus top ten pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, and if he were over six feet tall, he might be top three. His pNHLe is already extremely high, reflecting both strong underlying numbers and clear NHL tools. Lin's defense is underrated, with a good stick, tight gaps, and the competitiveness to win more board battles than he loses. Comparables like Ryan Merkley or Jake Bean do not quite fit, since Lin defends miles better than Merkley and brings more offense than Bean did at this stage. Ryan Ellis may be the best stylistic match, an intelligent, puck moving defender who can drive play at both ends. Lin looks like a future top pairing defenseman with fantasy relevance built on offense, pace, and competitiveness. If he slides on draft day, be sure to do what you can to get him.

Cameron Schmidt – RW, Dallas Stars
Schmidt is a smaller forward, but he plays with impressive tenacity and balance, making him difficult to knock off the puck. He competes hard in battles, supports the play well, and shows good awareness in all three zones. His effort level and willingness to engage physically help him overcome size limitations, and he rarely takes a shift off. There is not a lot of flash or high-end skill to his game, but his energy and reliability make him an effective complementary piece. While it is hard to project much offensive upside, Schmidt's work ethic and compete level give him a realistic path toward a middle- or bottom-six NHL role in time.

His Fantasy Hockey Life card shows a solid BASH floor, and his transition play and loose puck recovery stand out as clear strengths. While there may not be much offensive upside, his work rate and competitiveness give him a realistic path toward a middle or bottom-six role at the next level, particularly in formats that value hits and blocks.

Burke Hood – G, New York Islanders
Hood was the only drafted goaltender to appear in this game and faced a heavy workload from start to finish. The Thunderbirds generated far more high-danger chances, yet he battled through traffic, tracked pucks well, and stayed composed even when the defensive coverage broke down. His size and positioning helped him absorb rebounds and limit second-chance opportunities, and he showed strong technical fundamentals in a difficult environment.

His Hockey Prospecting model gives him a 39 percent chance of becoming an NHLer, which makes him an intriguing buy-low option for dynasty formats. If that projection holds true, a move to a stronger defensive team or a more stable system next season could lead to a sharp improvement in his numbers. Hood remains a long-term project but one worth monitoring closely as his situation and supporting cast evolve.

Final Thoughts

Live viewing provides a different lens on development, especially in a league where pace and physicality expose both strengths and weaknesses quickly. Lin was the clear riser from this game, showing the dynamic skill and confidence that could make him a steal if he slides in the 2026 draft due to size. Mrtka looked solid and reliable but lacks fantasy upside, while Pekar showed some creativity and scoring touch but still carries a low floor. Cootes remains a steady, high-floor player who could be worth selling while his reputation is strong. Schmidt projects more as a middle or bottom-six forward, Lovsin doesn't look like an NHL-caliber player at this point, Cumby brings physicality but little offense, and Hood might still have some intrigue if he lands on a stronger team.

Thanks for reading! See you next week. For more fantasy hockey analysis, or if there's a prospect, topic, or theme you'd like me to cover, follow and message me on X: https://x.com/VictorNuno12