The Scouting Report:
Standing at 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, Brodie Ziemer is becoming increasingly adept at using his physicality on the ice. Ziemer has displayed numerous standout performances, outshining his teammates at times and demonstrating his potential to dominate the puck. In the 2023-24 season, Brodie Ziemer played 61 games with the NTDP US National Under-18 Team, where he showcased his skills by scoring 27 goals and providing 43 assists, totaling 70 points for Team USA. Ziemer has committed to playing for the University of Minnesota in the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
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Draft Projections
Ranked #79 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #76 by TSN/Craig Button
Ranked #38 by Sportsnet (Bukala)
Ranked #59 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #59 by Consolidated Ranking
Conrad Jack of Inside The Rink has Brodie Ziemer projected at 79th overall.
I have identified some of Brodie Ziemer’s key characteristics. Now, let’s explore his attributes further and potentially identify areas where he can improve.
Hockey IQ
Ziemer’s exceptional display at the 2024 Five-Nations tournament truly highlighted his playmaking prowess. His consistent and precise delivery of passes from the boards to the slot was truly remarkable, showcasing his exceptional skills on the ice. His talent for manipulating plays, especially during rushes, enabled him to create multiple scoring opportunities. Ziemer’s effectiveness as an offensive threat, combined with his superb passing and puck-handling abilities, stood out against top-tier opponents. Throughout the tournament and with the NTDP team, he consistently exhibited a sharp anticipation of plays, often readying his next move before the puck even landed on his stick. Ziemer exudes confidence in his decisiveness and strong decision-making skills, qualities that further cemented his status as a promising prospect.
On-Ice Abilities/Skating:
While Ziemer’s skating ability may be considered average, he excels in demonstrating strong edge control and balance on the ice. He effectively utilizes his puck-handling skills to have an impact on plays, leveraging his agility and shiftiness to execute quick cuts, evade defenders, and generate scoring chances in open spaces. Ziemer truly shines when he is in possession of the puck, displaying his knack for making smart decisions during transitions and offensive-zone opportunities. Again, it is his anticipation and game reading skills also play a significant role in enhancing his effectiveness on the ice.
In a way that can only be described as tenacious, Ziemer embodies a team-first approach in his style of play that can be daunting for opponents to read and defend. He has been matched up with various teammates, but his partnership with Hagens stands out the most. Hagens, Ziemer, and Stiga are all known for their tireless work ethic, giving their utmost effort during every shift, and this dedication yields positive results. Ziemer possesses the remarkable ability to anticipate the needs of his linemates and often is able to strategically position them for optimal shooting opportunities.
However, he has the ability to execute that play independently and capitalize on such chances. During the IIHF UA18 Men’s Worlds Tournament earlier this spring, Ziemer achieved a 6th place ranking among the top scorers with a total of 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in the tournament. He outperformed his teammates Cole Eiserman, Teddy Stiga, and Max Plante, each of whom had 11 points. He was also 4th in overall assists, tied with Max Plante and Cole Hutson.
“His shot’s huge, the way he works is huge,” Hagens said. “He’s a leader. He’s a guy that we all that should be leading our team, and he always gets it going. He makes plays happen, you’re going to have a hard time knocking him off the puck.”
Leadership
Slightly overshadowed by more prominent players on the team, Brodie Ziemer consistently stands out in every game he plays. Despite being part of the NTDP alongside notable names like Cole Eiserman and 2025 Draft Eligible James Hagens, Ziemer’s role as team captain speaks volumes. Ziemer’s coaches and teammates commend him for his innate leadership abilities
“He always so vocal, he just leads by example and does all the little things right. I think he’s the perfect leader.”
Teddy Stiga, Team USA
Final Thoughts
Ziemer shows no fear when it comes to physical play, consistently delivering checks and battling for the puck in the demanding areas of the ice. His style of play is characterized by a high level of determination and toughness. With a quick and fast-paced approach to the game, he not only generates scoring opportunities during regular play but also excels on the power play. His versatility allows him to adapt to various roles on the team, demonstrating both a strong commitment to the game and a keen hockey sense. These qualities, coupled with his exceptional skating ability, position him as a standout player capable of enhancing any line he joins. Furthermore, his impressive hockey intelligence and leadership skills are likely to see him excel on a top line pairing. Though he is projected to be chosen in a later round compared to some of his NTDP teammates, Ziemer is almost certain to be picked up by a team seeking an all-around talented forward who can contribute significantly during crucial moments, particularly when the pressure is high.
“From a coach’s perspective, he just does so many things right. He can step in and play in so many different roles. You need somebody to go win a faceoff, he’ll go win a faceoff. You need a guy to block a shot, he’ll go block a shot. You need a guy to go stand in front of the net and try to make some plays off the goal line on the power play, he goes and does that. He’s just so versatile.”
– Nick Fohr, Coach, Team USA
