Kristian Epperson

June—Passed over in 2024 after a poor season for the USNTDP, Epperson immediately found a cushy role in Saginaw supporting Michael Misa’s transcendent season. Epperson’s speed and focused mindset quickly got to work, whether that was driving the net to knock in a rebound or tracking down pucks in the corner.

There was a reason Epperson wasn’t drafted last year. Despite marked improvements, all things being equal, playing on a line with the OHL’s most dangerous man (or, two of them, following Igor Chernyshov’s arrival) is perhaps not the best indication of his true talent. Epperson has speed in spades and a workmanlike mindset, but expecting him to fill a top-6 role like he did this season might be a step too far. A top-9/bottom-6 utility player is a fair expectation.—Luke Sweeney