Colts’ Aitcheson a ‘unicorn’ in this year's 2025 NHL Entry Draft

If anything is close to certain heading into the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Friday night (June 27), it’s which player will be the first to have his name called.

While Erie Otters’ blueliner Matthew Schaefer is the NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked player and the overwhelming consensus pick by draft pundits to be chosen No. 1 overall by the New York Islanders, exactly who the next defenceman expected to be selected is nowhere as clear.

Kashawn Aitcheson is certainly a part of that conversation, and for good reason.  

It’s not often you see a defenceman come along with the particular skill set of the Barrie Colts defender.

“If we go back to the old Colts, he’s almost a mix of the Erik Reitz with size and throw in a bit of Andrew Marshall with the puck,” an NHL Eastern Conference scout told Barrie 360 in an interview.

“You always hear the term he’s a unicorn, but the way he plays it’s hard to put in a comparable or in a box because he does so many things well that tick off a bunch of boxes on your back end.”

Aitcheson simply doesn’t fit the mould of a defenceman, says the NHL scout. You have an offensive guy, a puck mover, that can probably play on the power play, or at least in your top pairing, and then you also see his physicality, his nastiness, and the way he gets on the body and some of the hits he has.

“He has that element of a guy that you talk about that gives you depth and a bunch of minutes,” said the Eastern Conference scout. “This year he showed that he’s almost like that Swiss Army Knife that he can play anyway back there.

“He may not be a first power-play guy at the next level, but he’s probably going to play on the second. He’s going to kill penalties; he’s going to play a ton of minutes against top players and also, he can contribute offensively.”

“The way defencemen now activate and get involved and join the rush, that’s right in his wheelhouse,” continued the NHL scout. “Add in the physical element, and he’s maybe one of the better open-ice hitters in the OHL this year, using his size and speed. He’s a special player that is going to be able to play a bunch of roles at the next level.”

The 18-year-old Toronto native showed his physical side over his first two OHL seasons, but he took his game to a whole other level last season while leading his team to an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals.

The six-foot-one, 198-pound blueliner finished with 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points to finish tied for the team scoring lead while setting a franchise record for goals by a defenceman previously held by two-time Stanley Cup winner Aaron Ekblad and Marshall (23).

He finished tied with Sudbury’s Kieron Walton for overtime winners with four while leading all defencemen with six game-winners.

All packaged with a physical intensity that has made him one of the top open-ice hitters in the OHL, if not the best.

“I wanted to be an all-around defenceman,” Aitcheson said of his focus coming into last season. “I wanted to lay those big, booming hits and be super, super hard to play against. I think it was just rounding out my offensive game.

“Even still trying to find other ways to create offence and being super sound and structured defensively.”

Under the close watch of NHL scouts nightly, Aitcheson put it all together.

“He sure did,” said former head coach and now Colts’ vice-president and general manager Marty Williamson. “I’ve had multiple teams calling me and he’s going to be a wonderful pick. He just brings so much to the table. The fact that he led us in scoring, plays as tough as he does, he’s truly a special breed.

“I just think the world of Aitcheson.”

The spirited defender finished ninth overall on the NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings for North American skaters and while many draft lists have him slotted to go anywhere from 10^th to 20^th overall, some scouts Barrie 360 talked could see him taken in the first 10 selections.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” said the Eastern Conference scout. “I think he’s definitely gone in the first 15 picks. I know with the teams that got a lot of viewing on him down the stretch, he had a lot of good games. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”

Aitcheson’s willingness to lay the big hit is without doubt his calling card. One of his booming collisions knocked Owen Sound Attack forward Mason Wray out of the lineup.

Another knocked Niagara IceDogs forward Ethan Czata out of the playoffs.

That physical style has been a big part of his game since he grew up watching his uncle Chris Aitcheson lay out punishing hits with the Jr. A North York Rangers and NCAA Division III Becker Hawks in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“It’s been a part of my hockey since I grew up watching my uncle. He was my idol,” said Aitcheson. “He kind of played that mean, hard game and I just thought that’s the only way to play.”

That two-way game is what Aitcheson hopes to provide every time he steps on the ice. A vocal player who loves to get into spirited discussions on the ice with his opponents, he says he tries to model his game after Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins.

“He’s just a two-way, physical sound defenceman that shuts down the other team’s top players and also contributes offensively,” he said.

While Aitcheson racked up 88 penalty minutes and showed he’s not afraid to mix it up physically, his punishing hits often never drew penalties.

“In the playoffs against Kingston, he had an open-ice hit tracking back on the play that I remember the refs reviewed because it was such a violent collision and they deemed there was no problem with it,” said the Eastern Conference scout. “There was no penalty. But he does that on a nightly basis. That’s a special skill.”

 While Aitcheson was watched closely this season, dealing with the added attention wasn’t a problem for the Colt. If there was pressure, he says he didn’t feel it.

“To me, it’s really what you play for,” said Aitcheson. “Everything you dreamed of to this point. Everything you worked towards and you’re really not going to let it go to waste because you’re nervous or your nerves are setting in.

“It’s just a motivator and something you keep in the back of your head if you need an extra push or some extra motivation then you always have that.”

Aitcheson will have plenty of support with him down in Los Angeles at the NHL draft. His mom and dad, grandparents, girlfriend, and uncle will all be on hand for the big night.

“It’s been a ton of fun. It’s such a unique experience. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience,” he said of going through the draft process and interviews. “There’s definitely been times where you’re a little nervous. You’re kind of doing things for the first time, so you’re still figuring it out. Learning as you go.

“I think the biggest thing is be yourself, be confident, and be comfortable with who you are. Whatever team wants me will want me for the person I am.”

And being that person means being that same flashy dresser come draft day. Aitcheson is no slouch when it comes to dressing up and he’s never one to be shy when it comes colourful suits.

Just wait and see on draft night, he says.

“I got a new suit,” he said before adding a chuckle. “You know me, so it’s definitely going to be pretty outgoing. A pretty loud suit, so I’m excited for it.”

The NHL draft begins this Friday night (June 27) with the first round starting at 7 p.m. at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Rounds 2 through 7 will be held on Saturday (June 28) beginning at 12 p.m.

Television coverage of the draft in Canada will be on SN360, SportsNet, SportsNet1 and the NHL network. Coverage on Friday of the first round begins at 7 p.m. and then rounds 2 through 7 will begin Saturday at 12 p.m.