USHL Stock Watch: Carter Amico turning heads early

It’s a wide-open season for the best in the USHL to cement themselves as the league’s true stars. All point-per-game scorers from last season have since graduated, leaving an opening for the next generation of game-breakers.

The season is now a couple of weeks old, and young players are putting their names on the map. Whether it be the suffocating rush defending of Carter Amico, the game-changing pace and skill of Benjamin Kevan, or the dynamism and intelligence of William Zellers, standout performances have not been lacking early in 2024-25.

While the season remains young, here are some notable names from around the USHL who are off to hot starts or are ones to watch to break out further down the road.

Stock Rising 📈

Carter Amico, D, USNTDP U18s (2025 NHL Draft)

Carter Amico won’t appear on any USHL forward’s “favourite defenceman to lead a rush against” list. At 6-foot-5, the right-shot blueliner covers a wide radius of defensive ice, and possesses a keen understanding of how to leverage his range and size to snuff out chances with pace and decisiveness. He’s among the premier rush defenders in the USHL this season.

While his in-motion defending is the most polished aspect of his game, he is exploring his on-puck and breakout capabilities. He’s a deft handler with an unlocked top hand and a reach that makes him unexpectedly difficult to dispossess. He likes to activate through the neutral zone in transition and on the cycle alike and has already shown flashes of puck-carrying skill and intelligence this season that weren’t apparent last year.

While the offensive production is unlikely to pop off the page this season – Amico is sitting at two assists through four games – the towering defenceman is showing his two-way ability and presenting the second-pairing NHL upside. While he won’t singlehandedly make the NTDP a difficult team to score against, you can be sure that teams will keenly attack the opposite flank when he’s on the ice.

Benjamin Kevan, LW, Des Moines Buccaneers (2025 NHL Draft)

The highest 2023-24 USHL scorer to return this season, Benjamin Kevan’s combination of unrelenting pace and on-puck dynamism could give him a big push in contending for the league’s MVP award this year. He’s already shaken off an injury sustained in the second period of a dominant individual performance against Chicago in an ugly tumble into the boards and has returned without missing a beat.

Kevan commands the puck on his stick and is a direct attacker who wastes no time in possession before challenging defences head-on. He manipulates defenders and explodes against the grain once they commit one way, making the most of his speed and acceleration, which are among the league’s best. 

His four points – and pair of tallies – through three games could easily be higher with the amount of chances he’s created for himself and his linemates. This hot start to the season earned him the 32nd spot on our October Top 32 ranking, and with his creativity, intensity, and skill, he could easily rise significantly with such sustained performances.

William Zellers, C/LW, Green Bay Gamblers (Colorado Avalanche)

Following a 3rd round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and a season spent in the Prep circuit for Shattuck St. Mary’s, Will Zellers has made his mark through his first two USHL appearances since a solitary game two seasons ago, with 3 tallies to his name already. 

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound forward is brimming with skill, creativity, and on-puck doggedness; he simply doesn’t give up on plays in dangerous areas. He’s as manipulative with the puck on his stick as he is without it, prodding at defensive structures and floating in between checks with impressive regularity. 

Zellers has the potential to pop as Green Bay’s chief offensive generator. While his NHL projection remains a tad theoretical with his current physical tools, he’s already taken strides since his draft year and is ramping up for a big offensive campaign in 2024-25.

Honourable Mentions: Vasili Zelenov (Buffalo Sabres), Jack Murtagh (2025 NHL Draft), Daniel Schlaine (Undrafted), Ryker Lee (2025 NHL Draft), Louka Cloutier (Colorado Avalanche)

Stock Steady ↔️

Blake Montgomery, LW, Lincoln Stars (Ottawa Senators)

Ottawa’s 117th overall selection in June, Blake Montgomery is returning to the USHL as the go-to offensive creator in Lincoln. The hulking 6-foot-4 power winger is versatile in his impact: driving offence, presenting a consistent goal scoring threat, and providing valuable defensive dedication.

He’s begun the season at a point-per-game pace through four games, pushing the pace for the Stars and providing the rampant – but channelled – physicality that prompted the Senators to swing on him, having already logged 17 PIMs (which remains 32 minutes behind league-leader Coleson Hanrahan).

Montgomery could still take a step to dominate his shifts on a more consistent basis, but has had a strong start to the season, as we’d hoped. The University of Wisconsin commit is among the most skilled power forwards in the league this season, and will play a big role in Lincoln’s push to and through the playoffs.

Adam Benák, C, Youngstown Phantoms (2025 NHL Draft)

A skilled import centreman with an incessant motor, Adam Benák was my pick to win USHL MVP honours this season, and he’s been impactful through four games for Youngstown. The 5-foot-7 pivot sits in second on Youngstown’s scoring list with a handful of points through six appearances.

He’s still getting accustomed to the North American rink size, expecting more space along the boards when he tries to beat defenders to the outside. That said, his lust for initiating contact and strong handling skill in tight has made him a pain to contain for USHL defences so far this season.

He’s been most effective as a forechecker and offensive facilitator to this point – and has yet to dominate his shifts with much consistency – but the flashes of offensive creativity and dynamism have become increasingly apparent with every passing game. While his NHL projection, especially down the middle, remains full of question marks with his diminutive frame, he has all the tools and habits to light up the USHL this season and push for MVP contention this season.

Stock Falling 📉

William Moore, C/LW, USNTDP U18s (2025 NHL Draft)

One of the most purely skilled players in the entire league, William Moore’s tools make him a tantalising player for the 2025 NHL Draft and 2024-25 USHL season alike. At his best, he can change a game all on his own with high-end handling skill, deception integrated in every puck touch, and game-breaking offensive creativity. This just hasn’t been apparent often enough to start the year.

The 6-foot-2 forward still has many habits from his GTHL days that permeate his consistent engagement and pace. He too often sticks in first gear. His two primary helpers in the back leg of the weekend series against Fargo are his only points through four games this season. 

While he entered the season as the prospective primary offensive driver for the Program and a potential Top 10 prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft class, his consistency woes and habit of gliding through most of his on and off-puck actions have left our scouting team, and myself in particular, more skeptical in his ability to be a USHL game-breaker this season now than on opening night. He has almost an entire season to reverse this early downtrend in his stock, however, and with his wide array of dynamic tools, he may very well do so.