2025 NHL Draft Rankings: #14: Kashawn Aitcheson

The top physical defenseman in the draft is ready to add an edge to some NHL team out there

Welcome back to our feature on draft profiles for projected top picks in the upcoming 2025 NHL draft. Catch up with the previous ones here:

No 1: Matthew Schaefer
No 2: Michael Misa
No. 3: Porter Martone
No. 4: Anton Frondell
No. 5: James Hagens
No. 6: Caleb Desnoyers
No. 7: Jake O’Brien
No. 8: Roger McQueen
No. 9: Victor Eklund
No. 10: Jackson Smith
No. 11: Radim Mrtka
No. 12: Brady Martin

For the rankings, we have turned to the venerable Bob McKenzie from TSN for his listing of players. McKenzie’s list is typically in-tune with the NHL, because his rankings are an average that comes from surveying 10 active NHL scouts. As such, the list is set as follows for players we will look to profile in the coming weeks to spread some awareness and knowledge for Pittsburgh NHL fans to get to know some of the top prospects.

No. 14: Kashawn Aitcheson, 6’1” 196 pounds, LHD, Barrie (OHL)

Defensemen typically aren’t thought of as highlight reel players, but Aitcheson breaks the mold. No defender scored more than Aitcheson’s 26 goals this season. He puts the active into “activate” in his willingness to jump up from his point position, coupled with a booming shot.

The highlights don’t stop with goals when it comes to Aitcheson, he’s probably the most physical and aggressive player who will get drafted in the top-half of the first round. He’s always roaming the ice and looking to not just check players but absolutely punish them.

There are not too many players around these days that throw their body around like this in the current game. My goodness.

Aitcheson got on the radar as a big time prospect last year at the U-18 tournament with a strong performance with Team Canada. He followed that up with an excellent 2024-25 with all those goals and highlight reel hits to push his name up to the range of first round pick in the upcoming draft.

But when you think physical defenseman, the common thought is a stay-at-home, defensive dependable player. Brooks Orpik, Hal Gill, Adam Foote, Derian Hatcher, Darius Kasparaitis, those types of players. That’s not a complete accounting of Aitcheson’s style, instincts and tendencies, at least so far. He’s physical, but his defensive base isn’t that solid. His skating stride is wonky and will require some development and work.

Aitcheson’s offensive abilities are there, he’s more a free-flowing defenseman with some tools that just so happens to also deliver devastating big time hits in a throwback type of fashion. Perhaps as he ages he can reign it in to be something of a steady player that has offensive ability but for now Aitcheson is clay that still needs to be molded. He has a very unique and impressive-looking skillset to work with that will make some team out there very excited to call his name of draft night.

They said it

The Athletic (Corey Pronman)

Aitcheson was one of the better defensemen in the OHL this season. He has been a major minutes player for Barrie as he was for Canada’s U18 team last spring. He’s a hyper-competitive defender who doesn’t back down from physical play and likes to agitate. He has the bite NHL teams will love, even if he does go over the line at times. He’s a good skater with strong enough hands and hockey sense to make plays at higher levels and a solid point shot too. Aitcheson won’t run a power play, lacking the natural sense at times with the puck, but he projects to have secondary NHL offense and has put up significant offense this year. Even if his puck play is just decent, with his athletic tools and being a menace to play against, he can be a great top-four defenseman.

The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)

Aitcheson was a big-minutes player for Team Canada at last year’s U18 worlds — where his ice time rose when the games and the shifts mattered most, especially in defensive situations — and has been a big-minutes player for Barrie the last two seasons...He’s a powerful, bullish defender who is hard to play against, defends firmly and commands his ice. He knows who he is and plays with confidence and aggression, often directing his teammates and always talking (to his teammates and opponents). He’s strong on the PK. He’s chippy and extremely physical, looking for every opportunity he can to lay a hit, get in someone’s face or give someone a shot. He’s eager to drop the gloves. He’s a willing shot-blocker. He’s got step-up physicality and likes to knock guys around (I’ve seen him lay some huge hits in visits to Barrie). He’s got a hard shot...and makes a good first pass. He’s a strong enough skater (though his feet can splay and kick a little when he’s in a hurry and he’s still got work to do on his stride mechanics) and a physically mature athlete with some real power and presence about him. He’s got a good stick, so his defending isn’t completely reliant on his physical play. His discipline and decision-making can get him into trouble, and he takes a lot of stick penalties and will make the odd mistake, but he can play in all situations and has a lot of the tools you look for in a hard-nosed two-way type. Aitcheson was named to the OHL’s Second All-Star Team this year. He’s going to have a long career in the NHL as a two-way competitor with some real bite.

EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide

Loving nothing more than seeing attackers approach with their head down, Aitcheson hunts big open ice hits, connecting those every chance he gets. Saying that he makes his presence felt would be underselling it. Like throwback defencemen, Aitcheson is also a spot defender in his zone, forcing attackers to take the long way around to find some space in the slot. He can rotate and follow threats around the ice, but he’s at his best when picking up net-drivers, pushing them back and off the puck, and harassing them on the boards. -

Daily Faceoff (Steven Ellis)

Aitcheson is one of my favorite prospects in the draft. He has the potential to be an intimidating force in the NHL – someone who just gives opponents nothing to work with. His physicality is the best attribute of his game because he’s willing to get involved with just about anyone. Aitcheson finished the regular season with 26 goals and 59 points while registering 88 penalty minutes – making him a brutal player to deal with every time he hit the ice. Aitcheson isn’t an outstanding skater and his playmaking can be a bit of a mixed bag, but I think the raw talent and the pure tenacity are there for any teams looking to get tougher to play against.

Sportsnet (Sam Cosentino)

Plays for keeps on a nightly basis. There’s plenty of passion, energy and nastiness to his game. The big question is whether the elite offence he’s put up at the junior level will translate to the next level. But even if not, his toughness will keep him in a lineup.

Sportsnet (Jason Bukala)

NHL Projection: Middle pairing defenceman. Physical, two-way.

Aitcheson is a bit of a throwback. He’s a very intense, competitive, physical defenceman who plays with a presence. Opponents can’t sleep on him when tracking through the neutral zone with the puck on their stick. Aitcheson gaps up with authority and finishes his checks. He’s also willing to drop the mitts on occasion.

Aitcheson is deployed in all situations for the Colts and averaged an incredible 28:18 in ice time in his last 10 regular season games. His offence spiked considerably this year (26G-33A) but it’s his all-around game that intrigues me the most.

—

Should the Rangers decide to pass along the 12th overall pick to the Penguins this season, you would have to think the chances that Pittsburgh ends up with Aitcheson grows to an extremely high level. He’s right in the range of getting picked in that 11th-12th zone and offers the team a great defensive prospect. Even if the Pens only have their own selection at 11, Aitcheson has to be a strong consideration. It’s no secret that Kyle Dubas has spent a lot of his own time scouting the OHL in person this year. Aitcheson might just be the guy to help build out the future Penguin blueline with a unique skill profile.