Top 10 late-round NHL prospect standouts from the CHL in 2025-26

Mar 23, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 20, 2026, 11:14 EDT

Top 10 late-round NHL prospect standouts from the CHL in 2025-26

Credit: Steven Ellis

The three CHL leagues – OHL, WHL, and QMJHL – concluded their regular seasons over the weekend, with the playoffs set to begin later this week.

For 24 teams, the journey to the Memorial Cup begins shortly. For others, it’s the end of the line, with players either turning pro, focusing on the NHL Draft, or just taking a few weeks off to relax.

Today, we wanted to focus a little bit on some of the later-round prospects – players selected in the fifth round or later the past three years – who played well above their potential this season. It could be something as simple as an offensive outbreak, or maybe a goalie who just couldn’t have a bad night if he tried.

Everyone knows about the top CHL prospects – the Tij Iginlas, the Brady Martins and the Caleb Desnoyers. But it’s time to give some of the more underrated players some time in the spotlight:

Noah Laberge, LHD, Newfoundland Regiment (Buffalo Sabres)

Drafted fifth round, 135th overall in 2025

Laberge is one tough customer. The offensive defender recently broke past the 50-point mark for the first time in his three-year junior career while looking much more engaged with and without the puck than we saw in the past. Laberge is a well-rounded blueliner who isn’t spectacular in any specific category but has often proven himself capable of being one of the best players on the ice during any given shift. He sometimes gets caught trying to hit guys when he should focus on just taking up space, but some pro coaching work will help fix that. I’ve considered myself a Laberge fan for about two years now, and I’m happy he played as well as he did this season.

Christian Humphreys, RW, Kitchener Rangers (Colorado Avalanche)

Drafted seventh round, 215th overall in 2024

Humphreys was one of the USNTDP’s most productive players in 2023-24, but nearly went undrafted. He originally committed early to Michigan State as one of the top 2006-born Americans. But he’d go on to join the University of Michigan in 2024-25, only to leave the program after 10 games following limited ice time and just a single point to show for it. Humphreys found his game again after joining Kitchener and has been one of the league’s more dangerous forwards over the past two years. That’s important, given he had to prove he can play at a consistent pace, something that plagued him throughout his junior career. Humphreys is set to join the University of Minnesota next year, and if all goes well, he could continue to shoot himself up Colorado’s prospect rankings.

Rudy Guimond, G, Moncton Wildcats (Detroit Red Wings)

Drafted sixth round, 169th overall in 2023

The Red Wings have invested quite a bit into goaltending over the past few years. Both Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine are considered to be top netminding prospects, and Michal Pradel was one of the top names available a year ago. And then there’s Guimond, who has gone an insane 54-7-3 over two years with Moncton. They’re a powerhouse team, so expectations are high. But the 6-foot-4 goaltender didn’t lose a single game during the regular season last year en route to helping the Wildcats take home the QMJHL title. The numbers are excellent, the size is nice and the athleticism is top-notch, too. The Wings might have something in Guimond.

Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, Penticton Vees (New York Islanders)

Drafted seventh round, 202nd overall in 2025

What a year for Kvasnicka. At one point, he was tracking for more than 100 points. That didn’t pan out, but he was still a highly productive forward for the upstart Vees team. Kvasnicka was a mid-level producer with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program last year, but he ended the year with an awesome performance at the U-18 World Championship. Kvasnicka plays with a ton of pace, but his lack of physicality and defensive abilities brought him down. Right now, though, he’s looking as confident and skilled as ever, and he could become a steal in an already impressive 2025 draft class for the Islanders. Next up? Trying to win the WHL title with a first-year squad.

Nathan Aspinall, LW, Flint Firebirds (New York Rangers)

Drafted fifth round, 159th overall in 2024

Having a 6-foot-7 forward coming toward you is scary – and it’s even worse when he scores like Aspinall does. The Firebirds captain is an absolute beast, getting himself into scoring lanes and then making it impossible for anyone to move him. He’s strong, smart and plays with a boatload of skill, too. He had 47 points in his Draft+1 year, so nearly doubling that this year was a nice glow-up. Granted, he’s about to turn 20, so you expect that from someone at that age. But after being a low-end prospect in the past, the net-front master is a legit long-term asset the Rangers will want to hold on to. Keep a close eye on him in the AHL next season.

Marco Mignosa, RW, Soo Greyhounds (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Drafted seventh round, 215th overall in 2025

It took him three years, but Migosa was finally selected in 2025, his last year of eligibility. He didn’t let the opportunity go to waste, finishing with more than 80 points for the second straight year. He’s a big-time shooter who loves to fire pucks on net any time he can. He’s also strong defensively, often serving as a third blueliner for the Greyhounds. Seventh-round picks always have to work a bit harder to prove themselves – especially those taken in their third NHL Draft season. But Mignosa has proven he can be a solid scorer at the junior level. If the AHL is next, he’ll have an opportunity to prove himself as a solid depth forward.

Miroslav Holinka, C, Edmonton Oil Kings (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Drafted fifth round, 151st overall in 2024

The Oil Kings are a scary group – and Holinka has been a big reason why. He finished with just less than a point per game a year ago and nearly doubled his offense as a 20-year-old. The Czech forward isn’t flashy, but he’s fully capable of getting the puck where it needs to be. Scouts like him because he’s versatile – on one shift, he’ll make a high-end scoring play. Next, he’ll shut down a team’s top line. Holinka’s game has truly come a long way over the past two years – he just seems more engaged every time he hits the ice. It’s not clear what type of player he’ll be if he ever cracks the NHL, but he moves well, has a solid frame and boasts strong defensive awareness.

Alex Weiermair, C, Portland Winterhawks (Vegas Golden Knights)

Drafted sixth round, 186th overall in 2025

There was a time when Weiermair was one of the most exciting 2005-born players on the planet. Subpar skating and a lack of… anything away from the puck hurt his stock at the time. But he really elevated his game this year. The former USNTDP forward spent parts of two seasons with the University of Denver before changing course and heading to Portland last year. He had a solid 46 points in 41 games in 2024-25 before nearly doubling that this season as the team’s top forward. Weiermair found himself in the top 10 in scoring throughout most of the campaign, dominating the offensive zone while also getting significantly better away from the puck, too. I feel much more confident about his odds of becoming an NHLer now than I was a year ago.

Kieron Walton, C, Peterborough Petes (Winnipeg Jets)

Drafted sixth round, 187th overall in 2024

When a player has a breakout campaign like Walton did in Sudbury last year, you always wonder how legit it is. He finished that season with 38 goals and 92 points in a leading role with Sudbury and even registered his first pro point with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. He didn’t match that OHL total this year, but he came damn close in a split campaign with Sudbury and Peterborough. Walton is a 6-foot-6 center who commands attention, loves spending time around the crease and finding his teammates on the breakout. Combine that altogether and you have an absolute force of nature. Walton isn’t known for being a high-end skater by any means. But, man, could the Jets have their own Tage Thompson on their hands? Many bigger forwards take a longer time to reach their potential, but Walton already looks like a steal two years after getting selected.

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