Scott Wheeler
@scottcwheeler.bsky.social
National reporter (NHL Draft/prospects) at The Athletic. Author of On The Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL Draft.
Everyone’s asking about Gavin McKenna’s start at Penn State.
So let’s have the chat. My thoughts from East Lansing: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
So let’s have the chat. My thoughts from East Lansing: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
What to make of Gavin McKenna’s start at Penn State? It’s complicated
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Everyone’s asking about Gavin McKenna’s start at Penn State.
So let’s have the chat. My thoughts from East Lansing: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
So let’s have the chat. My thoughts from East Lansing: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Meet Keaton Verhoeff, former goalie turned top D prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft.
My feature, with insight and background from North Dakota, the kid, his family, his strength coach, and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
My feature, with insight and background from North Dakota, the kid, his family, his strength coach, and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Meet Keaton Verhoeff, the former goalie who became the 2026 NHL Draft’s top defense prospect
The biggest reason Verhoeff made the jump from the CHL to North Dakota was to test himself in his draft year.
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Meet Keaton Verhoeff, former goalie turned top D prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft.
My feature, with insight and background from North Dakota, the kid, his family, his strength coach, and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
My feature, with insight and background from North Dakota, the kid, his family, his strength coach, and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
My preliminary #2026NHLDraft ranking:
1. Gavin McKenna
2. Ivar Stenberg
3. Keaton Verhoeff
4-64 (plus honorable mentions, full reports, tiers, and more):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
1. Gavin McKenna
2. Ivar Stenberg
3. Keaton Verhoeff
4-64 (plus honorable mentions, full reports, tiers, and more):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
2026 NHL Draft ranking: Scott Wheeler’s preliminary top 64 list
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:02 PM
My preliminary #2026NHLDraft ranking:
1. Gavin McKenna
2. Ivar Stenberg
3. Keaton Verhoeff
4-64 (plus honorable mentions, full reports, tiers, and more):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
1. Gavin McKenna
2. Ivar Stenberg
3. Keaton Verhoeff
4-64 (plus honorable mentions, full reports, tiers, and more):
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
🆕 My November #2026NHLDraft ranking is out!
- First top 64
- 28 honorable mentions
- Full reports, tiers and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
- First top 64
- 28 honorable mentions
- Full reports, tiers and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
🆕 My November #2026NHLDraft ranking is out!
- First top 64
- 28 honorable mentions
- Full reports, tiers and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
- First top 64
- 28 honorable mentions
- Full reports, tiers and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
“He’s probably the best practice player that I’ve ever seen.”
“He’s got tons of swagger.”
My feature on #2026NHLDraft prospect Vladimir Dravecky, with insight from Bulldogs staff and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
“He’s got tons of swagger.”
My feature on #2026NHLDraft prospect Vladimir Dravecky, with insight from Bulldogs staff and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
October 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
“He’s probably the best practice player that I’ve ever seen.”
“He’s got tons of swagger.”
My feature on #2026NHLDraft prospect Vladimir Dravecky, with insight from Bulldogs staff and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
“He’s got tons of swagger.”
My feature on #2026NHLDraft prospect Vladimir Dravecky, with insight from Bulldogs staff and more:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
Reposted by Scott Wheeler
I went behind the scenes with the Brantford Bulldogs for a weekend.
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
October 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I went behind the scenes with the Brantford Bulldogs for a weekend.
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
I went behind the scenes with the Brantford Bulldogs for a weekend.
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
October 18, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I went behind the scenes with the Brantford Bulldogs for a weekend.
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Inside the team, as the Hymans, a future NHL coach, and a group of players chase a title and put down roots in a new home:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
🆕: NIL and revenue sharing is beginning to change college hockey.
We spoke to more than a dozen NCAA coaches on money and recruiting. Our feature: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
We spoke to more than a dozen NCAA coaches on money and recruiting. Our feature: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
How money — from NIL to new revenue sharing — is changing college hockey recruiting
The Athletic spoke with more than a dozen Division I men’s college hockey coaches about the new landscape.
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:23 PM
🆕: NIL and revenue sharing is beginning to change college hockey.
We spoke to more than a dozen NCAA coaches on money and recruiting. Our feature: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
We spoke to more than a dozen NCAA coaches on money and recruiting. Our feature: www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
“Wilson’s a player, man.”
My feature on Canucks prospect Wilson Bjorck.
Why he could be a “steal,” with insight from Sweden and Colorado College: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
My feature on Canucks prospect Wilson Bjorck.
Why he could be a “steal,” with insight from Sweden and Colorado College: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
October 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“Wilson’s a player, man.”
My feature on Canucks prospect Wilson Bjorck.
Why he could be a “steal,” with insight from Sweden and Colorado College: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
My feature on Canucks prospect Wilson Bjorck.
Why he could be a “steal,” with insight from Sweden and Colorado College: www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
Meet Will Zellers, the Bruins’ “warrior” new prospect.
My feature, with insight from staff at North Dakota and Shattuck:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
My feature, with insight from staff at North Dakota and Shattuck:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
September 25, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Meet Will Zellers, the Bruins’ “warrior” new prospect.
My feature, with insight from staff at North Dakota and Shattuck:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
My feature, with insight from staff at North Dakota and Shattuck:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...
🆕 The 2025-26 NHL prospects viewing guide.
Previews for every league, from the CHL and NCAA to the SHL, KHL and high school hockey, with links for where to watch and players to keep an eye on.
Bookmark it and thank me later 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Previews for every league, from the CHL and NCAA to the SHL, KHL and high school hockey, with links for where to watch and players to keep an eye on.
Bookmark it and thank me later 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
The 2025-26 NHL prospects viewing guide: How to watch the CHL, NCAA, SHL and more
Bookmark this page as your primer to follow all of the leagues outside the NHL for the 2025-26 season.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🆕 The 2025-26 NHL prospects viewing guide.
Previews for every league, from the CHL and NCAA to the SHL, KHL and high school hockey, with links for where to watch and players to keep an eye on.
Bookmark it and thank me later 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Previews for every league, from the CHL and NCAA to the SHL, KHL and high school hockey, with links for where to watch and players to keep an eye on.
Bookmark it and thank me later 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Haven't done one of these in a while, so let's do a Bluesky AMA.
2026 NHL Draft. Prospects. Scouting. Reporting. Anything else. Fire away.
2026 NHL Draft. Prospects. Scouting. Reporting. Anything else. Fire away.
September 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Haven't done one of these in a while, so let's do a Bluesky AMA.
2026 NHL Draft. Prospects. Scouting. Reporting. Anything else. Fire away.
2026 NHL Draft. Prospects. Scouting. Reporting. Anything else. Fire away.
🆕 The Contention Cycle.
Combining Player Tiers and Prospect Tiers to model where teams are and where they’re going.
With @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
Combining Player Tiers and Prospect Tiers to model where teams are and where they’re going.
With @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
September 17, 2025 at 12:46 PM
🆕 The Contention Cycle.
Combining Player Tiers and Prospect Tiers to model where teams are and where they’re going.
With @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
Combining Player Tiers and Prospect Tiers to model where teams are and where they’re going.
With @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
Meet Shane Lachance, the Devils’ “unicorn” new top prospect.
My feature, with insight from Devils, BU, and Youngstown staff:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
My feature, with insight from Devils, BU, and Youngstown staff:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
The rise of Shane Lachance, the Devils’ ‘unique and impactful’ new top prospect
Lachance has come a long way over the last few years, turning himself from a long shot into an expected NHLer.
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Meet Shane Lachance, the Devils’ “unicorn” new top prospect.
My feature, with insight from Devils, BU, and Youngstown staff:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
My feature, with insight from Devils, BU, and Youngstown staff:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...
Prospect Tiers 📕📗📘📙
The top 122 under-23 players in hockey, as sorted into five distinct tiers by 20~ NHL scouts. ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
The top 122 under-23 players in hockey, as sorted into five distinct tiers by 20~ NHL scouts. ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
NHL Prospect Tiers 2025-26: Scouts rank and project league’s top 122 young players
The goal here is to project where the league's young players and prospects will eventually end up in the Player Tiers.
www.nytimes.com
September 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Prospect Tiers 📕📗📘📙
The top 122 under-23 players in hockey, as sorted into five distinct tiers by 20~ NHL scouts. ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
The top 122 under-23 players in hockey, as sorted into five distinct tiers by 20~ NHL scouts. ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
🆕 The Athletic Hockey Show’s annual U23 Draft.
11 rounds. 44 picks. We built teams.
Podcast: pod.fo/e/3295ea
Article: www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
11 rounds. 44 picks. We built teams.
Podcast: pod.fo/e/3295ea
Article: www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
September 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
🆕 The Athletic Hockey Show’s annual U23 Draft.
11 rounds. 44 picks. We built teams.
Podcast: pod.fo/e/3295ea
Article: www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
11 rounds. 44 picks. We built teams.
Podcast: pod.fo/e/3295ea
Article: www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
My annual fantasy hockey dynasty rankings are out.
The top 100 players 25-and-under for keeper leagues 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
The top 100 players 25-and-under for keeper leagues 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
September 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
My annual fantasy hockey dynasty rankings are out.
The top 100 players 25-and-under for keeper leagues 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
The top 100 players 25-and-under for keeper leagues 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
“He brings so much to the table.”
My feature on Kings top prospect Liam Greentree, with insight from Windsor Spitfires staff 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
My feature on Kings top prospect Liam Greentree, with insight from Windsor Spitfires staff 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Why L.A. Kings’ Liam Greentree is a top prospect: ‘He brings so much to the table’
The No. 26 pick in the 2024 draft took a big step last season, ranking among the highest scorers in the OHL and captaining a playoff team.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
“He brings so much to the table.”
My feature on Kings top prospect Liam Greentree, with insight from Windsor Spitfires staff 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
My feature on Kings top prospect Liam Greentree, with insight from Windsor Spitfires staff 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
🆕 My first mailbag of a new season and draft class:
- Verhoeff vs. Schaefer
- Gavin McKenna at center?
- Hlinka risers
More 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
- Verhoeff vs. Schaefer
- Gavin McKenna at center?
- Hlinka risers
More 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Hlinka risers, Keaton Verhoeff vs. Matthew Schaefer and more: Wheeler’s mailbag
Plus, why not try Gavin McKenna at center? How do the shorter players in this draft compare to 2025?
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
🆕 My first mailbag of a new season and draft class:
- Verhoeff vs. Schaefer
- Gavin McKenna at center?
- Hlinka risers
More 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
- Verhoeff vs. Schaefer
- Gavin McKenna at center?
- Hlinka risers
More 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Reposted by Scott Wheeler
From @theathletic.com: His eye-popping size makes Alexander Karmanov the biggest hockey player in the world. But it is far from the only unique thing about the 17-year-old defenseman.
The biggest hockey player on Earth is a 7-foot-tall teenager from Moldova
The eye-popping size makes Alexander Karmanov a first for his sport. But it is far from the only unique thing about the defenseman.
nyti.ms
August 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
From @theathletic.com: His eye-popping size makes Alexander Karmanov the biggest hockey player in the world. But it is far from the only unique thing about the 17-year-old defenseman.
The incredible real story of the biggest hockey player in the world, a 7-foot, 277-pound teenager from Moldova — a country without a rink.
Meet Alexander ‘Sanya’ Karmanov.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Meet Alexander ‘Sanya’ Karmanov.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
August 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The incredible real story of the biggest hockey player in the world, a 7-foot, 277-pound teenager from Moldova — a country without a rink.
Meet Alexander ‘Sanya’ Karmanov.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Meet Alexander ‘Sanya’ Karmanov.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
I’m taking questions for my first 2026 NHL Draft mailbag here 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Submit your questions for Scott Wheeler’s first 2026 NHL Draft mailbag
Have a question about the 2026 NHL Draft class, prospects or scouting? Send them here!
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I’m taking questions for my first 2026 NHL Draft mailbag here 🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Reposted by Scott Wheeler
🆕 My preseason #2026NHLDraft ranking:
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
August 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🆕 My preseason #2026NHLDraft ranking:
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
🆕 My preseason #2026NHLDraft ranking:
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
August 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🆕 My preseason #2026NHLDraft ranking:
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
- Top 32, with full reports
- 39 honorable mentions
- Tiers, customizable user interface and more
🔗⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
🆕 World Juniors roster projections:
- Lines for 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇪🇫🇮🇨🇿
- Final cuts
- The big debates
More:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
- Lines for 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇪🇫🇮🇨🇿
- Final cuts
- The big debates
More:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
August 5, 2025 at 2:37 PM
🆕 World Juniors roster projections:
- Lines for 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇪🇫🇮🇨🇿
- Final cuts
- The big debates
More:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
- Lines for 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇸🇪🇫🇮🇨🇿
- Final cuts
- The big debates
More:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...