Red Deer Rebels forward Matthew Gard and defenceman Luke Vlooswyk have been named players to watch by NHL Central Scouting.
Each October, NHL Central Scouting releases a preliminary list with A ratings that are considered potential first-round picks for the 2025 NHL Draft. Players with B ratings are considered possible second- or third-round choices. Those with C ratings are potential fourth- or fifth-round candidates and players with a W rating are possible sixth- and seventh-round picks.
Gard, 17, is off to a great start early in the WHL season, tied for the team lead with three goals and five assists in 10 games. He received a B-grade from central scouting.
The six-foot-four, 193-pound centre plays the game with an edge and has shown a nose for the net early in the 2024-25 WHL campaign, with three goals on 18 shots. He has also won 57 per cent of his faceoffs this season. Gard was originally selected by the Rebels in the second round, 39th overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
Vlooswyk, 17, earned a C-rating from central scouting. The six-foot-four and a half, 200-pound blueliner has one goal and two assists so far this season. His first goal of the year came Sunday against the Edmonton Oil Kings, a laser of a wrist shot through traffic. The Calgary product was selected in the first round, 17th overall in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
Sylvan Lake's Spencer Michnik, 18, who plays for the Victoria Royals, was also given a W-rating. Michnik is 3-1 this season with a 21.4 goals against average and a 0.921 save percentage. He was originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the fifth round, 96th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. He was traded from the Thunderbirds to the Royals in May.
Overall, 55 WHL players were named to the NHL Central Scouting preliminary players to watch list.
