<p>Call them overagers, call them re-entry prospects, whatever you like.</p>



<p>In recent years, we’ve seen NHL teams more willing to look at older prospects in the draft. That started partly due to the complications of scouting during the COVID period. We’re at the point, though, where players have had enough time since the shutdowns to get their careers back on track.</p>



<p>So, instead, teams are looking at guys they might have paid a little bit of attention to in the past to see where they’ve improved in hopes of getting selected this year. It’s not a bad investment if you think about it. They might be a little further along in their development, which means they could be closer to becoming everyday NHL players. You’re often not finding high-end talent in this market, but you might find some decent hidden gems who could be valuable players for you down the line.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="151"></div>



<p>Here’s a look at 10 players seeking another shot at living their dreams:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Kristian Epperson, LW (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)</h2>



<p>Epperson is the top re-entry prospect in this draft skill-wise, but he might not be the first one taken. The 18-year-old was passed over after falling out of favor with the USNTDP U-18 team and was ultimately loaned to the U-17 team to finish his two-year tenure there. He shifted gears to Saginaw, where he became an 80-point scorer in the team’s top six. He’s a great distributor who plays a smart off-puck game. The University of Denver commit has received criticisms about his attitude but, overall, the skill might be worth it for some teams.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Bryce Pickford, RHD (Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL)</h2>



<p>Pickford had a quiet first two years in the WHL, but a move to Medicine Hat seemed to spark draft interest. Now projected to be a third-rounder, Pickford had 20 goals and 47 points while not sacrificing any physicality. He also had another 13 goals and 24 points in 18 playoff games – incredible numbers to help the Tigers win the WHL title. In fact, he arguably had the most dominant end to the season of any CHLer this year. Pickford isn’t a great skater and that has plagued his career to date. But the overall skill and activation here should allow Pickford to earn some serious NHL love later this month.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="221"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Francesco Dell’Elce, LHD (UMass, NCAA)</h2>



<p>I was surprised Dell’Elce wasn’t drafted initially in 2023 and then again in 2024. Now, after an impressive freshman season at UMass, Dell’Elce looks ready to finally have his name called. The mid-sized defender moves well, has an excellent shot and is able to pinch in and help offensively. Scouts didn’t love his decision-making in the past but it feels like he was able to slow things down at the college level and think plays through more thoroughly. Funny enough, he always seemed better under pressure than when he was all alone. His transition game is solid, and I could see him becoming a third-pairing defenseman one day.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Charlie Cerrato, C (Penn State, NCAA)</h2>



<p>A product of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Cerrato regressed as the 2023 draft season wore on, and he was ultimately demoted to the U-17 squad. Undrafted, Cerrato spent last year in the USHL putting up 50 points in 45 games in a leading role with Youngstown. Cerrato quickly emerged as a top-six center for Penn State this year and finished second in team scoring with 42 points in 38 games. He was a big reason why PSU had a shot at the national title, and he’ll be relied on heavily again next year to help work with all the new talent coming aboard. Cerrato isn’t a great skater and isn’t too dynamic with the puck, but I like his two-way game and he could be a decent depth player one day.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="242"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Benjamin Rautiainen, C (Tappara, Liiga)</h2>



<p>Rautiainen turned some heads for Finland at the recent World juniors. He had four points in seven games, but it was his offensive reads and speed that really stood out. He isn’t a play driver, but he’ll chase you down all game long to try and get the puck back and can be a general nuisance. Rautiainen isn’t big or particularly strong, but he makes up for it with good hockey IQ. Some scouts wonder if he had a good tournament solely because he’s a 19-year-old – and it’s a fair argument, given Rautiainen isn’t a standout prospect in any particular category. But he at least made himself noticeable without the puck, which is a good thing. A team that’s willing to play the long game and hope he improves his skating could come out looking mighty smart in a few years.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="142"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Sam Laurila, LHD (Fargo Force, USHL)</h2>



<p>There wasn’t much to like about Laurila in his draft year last season, but he was one of the youngest defenders in the class. He played a much more significant role with the USHL’s Fargo Force, where he registered 41 points in 57 games while displaying improved decision-making skills. Suddenly, the defensive defenseman was showing an offensive side that he never showcased with the Program, helping to get him back onto the draft radar this year. Laurila’s non-stop motor should help him get selected this year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Petteri Rimpinen, G (Kiekko-Espoo, Liiga)</h2>



<p>Rimpinen became the third straight undrafted prospect to take home top goaltender honors at the World Juniors earlier this year. The only goalie with a better save percentage than Rimpinen (.933) with at least three starts was Canada’s Carter George at .936. The best news? This wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan example of a goaltender coming out of nowhere. Rimpinen was good against men in the second-tier Mestis last year and was one of the Finnish Liiga’s top goalies in 2024-25 – a rare achievement for an 18-year-old. Rimpinen is just six-foot, which could hurt him. But teams love his athleticism, and his results across the board don’t lie – he’s good.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="196"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. Remi Gelinas, C (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, QMJHL)</h2>



<p>Gélinas was passed over twice and will be one of the oldest players in the draft at 20 years old. But after dominating the CCHL early in the year, he moved to the Huskies and put on a goal-scoring clinic. Gélinas was under the radar after playing the past few years in Jr. A (he’s Clarkson University-bound). The move to the QMJHL seemed to really open up some eyes. He moves well and likes to exploit open space, and he has added some muscle over the past two years, too. Gélinas is a late-round pick at best, but he wasn’t on anyone’s radar at the halfway point of the season. Now, a team might look to capitalize on his goal-scoring exploits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. Aidan Park, C (Green Bay Gamblers, USHL)</h2>



<p>Many scouts thought Park was going to get drafted a year ago, but was passed over. He left the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s program to play full-time in the USHL, and he showed how competitive he could be. He had 33 goals and 66 points in 55 regular season games with Green Bay before finishing the season with a three-game playoff stint with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. Park has a decent fame but he’s not strong, and he can be prone to turning the puck over if he isn’t able to beat opponents with pure speed. The University of Michigan commit will likely get taken in the latter half of the draft, but he’s still a bit away from being a legit prospect.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="244"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. Niklas Nykyri, LHD (HIFK, Liiga)</h2>



<p>I didn’t really love his game in his draft year, but he grew on me a bit this year.&nbsp;Nykyri plays a simple, defense-first game and typically keeps things safe. Defensively, he does a solid job of blocking shots and breaking plays in the neutral zone, which is his bread and butter. His skating is still ugly, but he has done a good job of slowing his decisions down and making the right pass as opposed to just getting the puck somewhere for the sake of doing it. He isn’t flashy, but I could see a team hoping he can become a bottom-pairing defenseman one day down the line.</p>



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