Potter’s season ending in January is genuinely hard to stomach, because of what he had accomplished up to that point this season with Arizona State. He hadn’t just been producing – he had won the top line center role for ASU outright with 12 goals in 24 games as a sophomore, first-line minutes, and full trust from the coaching staff. That’s not a depth player getting hot, that’s a guy who had established himself. The injury was a freak accident more than anything else, and the shoulder surgery is a real setback for his timeline. He’ll miss the first part of next season but none of it changes the profile that was on display when healthy. The argument against Potter at the NHL level is size – he’s 5-10 – small forwards typically need something extra to compensate. He has tenacity and a compete level that keeps pushing him up the depth chart on every team he’s played for. This is a buy-low situation for anyone who doesn’t own him. His fantasy value lives in goals and the power play, and he’s shown he can generate both.

One of three 17-year-olds to play in the NCAA last year, Cullen Potter built his game around his fluid skating. His sheer speed, high-end skill, and IQ that keeps up is a foundational edge to his game – one you can’t coach. As one of the youngest rookies in the NCAA, Potter posted 22 points in 35 games – 13 of which were goals. He has proven to be a valuable forward at the NCAA level, and next season should present more opportunities and better deployment for the young centre. If he takes another step, many teams will regret letting him slide to the end of the first round.

Selected 32nd overall, Cullen Potter is now a member of the Calgary Flames.

Potter may be the most singularly skilled player in the draft. His speed and acceleration are ridiculous. His edge work and balance are also both off the charts. Potter can stretch the neutral zone, lug the puck through all three zones, and cut back through traffic and pressure with complete ease. Potter’s hands, vision, and particularly his creativity, are almost unmatched. He hasn’t been able to find the back of the net very frequently so far, but Potter’s wrister, snapshot, and one-timer are also all legitimate weapons. The major concern is his size. Potter is diminutive, coming in at only about 5-9. However, he has a strong defensive motor, definitely more than he gets credit for. Potter also plays with enough tenacity, heart, and energy to leave you feeling like he could improve even further in this area.

Final Rankings – We’re very comfortable being the outlet that consistently has Potter the highest; his skillset is too dynamic to ignore.

Potter’s decision-making/IQ is often cited as a sticking point. I see the concerns. He does often force plays that aren’t there, though I think you could say similar things for McQueen, O’Brien, and Carbonneau, all players who are frequently ranked higher and play against lighter competition. I think that’s some of the natural give-and-take with highly skilled, creative players, which Potter certainly is.

He’s possibly the draft’s best skater thanks to his top-end footspeed, explosiveness, agility, and fluid acceleration. He’s a creative puck-carrier, an elite chance-generator with a powerful shot, and has shown flashes of very strong playmaking ability. I’ve heard criticism about Potter’s work-rate, and while I don’t think he projects as an energy-guy, I don’t get the concerns: he tracks back hard through the middle of the ice, forechecks and finishes his checks, and works hard to make up for his errors.

He’s small, and there are inconsistencies in his game, but if you focus too much on these, you’ll miss one of this draft’s most exciting players.—

June 2025 The Arizona State freshman finished the season by showcasing his speed and skill, which separates him significantly from most of his age group, as he grabbed the bronze medal with Team USA at the WJC18. From a purely individual skill standpoint, Potter is easily a top-ten talent in this draft. His ability to gather speed with the puck on his stick is unmatched. What gives many scouts pause, however, is his lack of size and the question of his hockey sense. Potter occasionally forces plays and doesn’t always see the best option. It’s safe to say Potter is the biggest boom-or-bust player in this class, and the team that calls his name on draft day could be hitting a home run with the pick. Anni Karvinen

While Potter hasn’t been scoring very much—and though he’s been criticized for being too puck-dominant—Potter is clearly due for a massive scoring explosion. The fact that Cullen Potter looks as good as he does as the youngest player in college hockey makes us at DobberProspects confident in our assessment of him as a potential top-six forward.