The Scouting Report:
Christian Humphreys, 18, has performed well for the US National Team Development Program (USNTDP) while showing a lot of consistency throughout his game. Standing at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, he has shown great improvement as a two-way forward, with a strong frame and the ability to utilize his shot.
Humphreys has struggled in the faceoff dot when regularly facing bigger, older, and stronger centermen with more extensive experience, but that is expected to improve with his overall play. He has effectively added more physicality to his game, which is crucial for Humphreys and his 200-foot game.
In 52 games, Humphreys produced career highs across the board, 23 goals with 35 assists for 58 points. He should see a major improvement in production along with his faceoff percentage as he is committed to the University of Michigan in 2025-26.
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Ranked #51 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #71 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Ranked #77 by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Ranked #74 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #36 by Recruit Scouting
Conrad Jack of Inside The Rink has Christian Humphreys projected at 51st overall
Diving Deeper:
Play Away From The Puck – Two-Way Game:
Although a knock on his report card, Humphreys’ play off the puck is very efficient, most noticeable with how he positions himself in all three zones, which helps to create or prevent high-danger scoring chances. He is a versatile player with a lot of promise but struggles to maximize his talent or showcase his entire arsenal at times, which he is more than capable of.
Utilizing Shot Selection:
Humphreys, undoubtedly, has an excellent shot but needs to work on how to present it and use it to his advantage. Since he has a great shot, it would make sense to find him in those sweet spots, but whether he prefers not to play that game or is a natural passer, it is rare to see him in the slot. He would rather set up his teammates for high-danger scoring chances over scoring himself. His shooting ability is there and production is due to have a major increase with room to grow.
On-Ice Abilities:
He is a deceptive transitional puck carrier, takes long strides with heavy cuts, and can turn on a dime. Humphreys moves extremely well in the neutral zone when weaving through a cycle, around the net, or moving laterally near the blue line to create space and look for a scoring chance.
Humphreys’ forechecking paired with his backchecking is his bread and butter, with silky hands on the offensive side and great vision and awareness on both ends. He has immense hockey IQ on both sides of the puck and has a clear goal in place, whether on the ice or waiting for that next shift.
It is incredible how Humphreys can find teammates in ridiculous passing lanes through the smallest hole he can create a crisp tape-to-tape pass. He is like a hawk with eyes on the back of his head, NHL-level awareness and puck movement.
Prospect Potential:
Humphreys may have some of the greatest upside out of his class when considering the steps he has taken over the last year, it skyrockets his ceiling as an NHL player. It is likely to see him taken in the 45-60 range to a team looking for high-upside in the second round, a team willing to be patient before seeing him turn professional. Teams on the board to keep an eye on: Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
He is a promising prospect who has the potential to exceed expectations and become a steal in the draft. He will likely develop into a middle-six scoring center while contributing to special teams, making him a valuable asset.
ITR 48: Testing…Testing… – Inside The Rink
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