Minnetian was selected 125th overall by the Stars.

The crop of defensemen out of the USNTDP in 2023 is significantly weaker than in past years, but there is one very intriguing player in that group who could slip under the radar on draft day and fall to the middle rounds. Aram Minnetian is a tremendous skater. The right-shot defenseman has great stride and crossover mechanics, he moves with great fluidity, and he layers deception into every motion with the puck on his stick. The production doesn’t reflect his skill, dynamism, or playmaking ability, but he is poised for a breakout with Boston College next season. His on-puck game has some impressive flashes that are reminiscent of Seamus Casey, but he also has more developmental question marks than Casey did. He has a tendency to rush plays under pressure, which all effective offensive defensemen in the NHL have grown out of, and he will need to do the same. He’s also quite a passive transition defender, his gaps are typically loose and he often gives up zone entries without much contest. His in-zone defending is defined by generally good scanning habits and the very same passiveness that is so visible in his transition defending. Minnetian is far from a sure thing, but his foundation of strong tools and deception gives him a very interesting upside that will likely trump most alternatives as of the third round of the draft. Playing with his entire first line from the USNTDP at Boston College will also help optimize the conditions of his development.

DRAFTPRO – DRAFT DAY HISTORY – LOS ANGELES KINGS

Current day kings have a pretty good mix of forward and defence prospects. However, given that their prospects pool is now beginning to run low on defence it would be better for the Kings to draft focused on the blue line for their first pick in the draft. The Kings have a total of five picks in this year’s draft as follows, 2nd, 3rd (PIT), 4th, 5th, 6th and given their standing in the league at the end of the season, their first selection would end up somewhere between 55-64. The Kings are a fast moving team with some quality forwards up front and some young defence in the back so bringing in a defence who can rush the puck and continue those breakouts would be ideal. A couple players like Etienne Morin or Aram Minnetian could help fit that mood and given that they may be closer to lower second high third round picks the Kings could have their choice of either when they’re up in the second round.

DRAFTPRO – DRAFT DAY HISTORY – DALLAS STARS

But when June arrives and the draft is upon us the Stars will have a draft choice lineup that looks like this: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and for what can make this draft a success for the Stars is if they focus on defence. Their first pick could end up being in the late 50s so we will look to mid second round players to target. For the Stars, some good prospects to target would be Aram Minnetian, Andrew Strathmann, and Etienne Morin. Some mid-size defensemen with speed that can help continue that current offensive threat of the Dallas Stars.

DRAFTPRO – BEST IN CLASS – 2023 TWO-WAY DEFENSEMEN

Aram Minnetian, Boston College, NCAA, #61-71 overall (2nd-3rd Round).

“Minnetian is the most well-rounded defenseman in the NSDP. Called upon to play in big situations and is a commanding presence on the blue line.” – Andrew LeBlanc.

To start off this list, we have a solid late-2nd-round defenseman in the draft, Aram Minnetian. As Andrew said, Minnetian has been building a reputation in the American leagues. Mainly the USHL and NSDP. In the NSDP particularly, he has a very respectful 22 assists and 7 goals. Minnetian is just about what you expect from a second-round two-way D- Man, he’s reliable and will likely fit in anywhere he ends up going.