Kashawn Aitcheson is a 6-foot-1, 198-pound left-shot defenceman from Toronto, Ontario. Born on September 21st, 2006, Aitcheson narrowly missed the cutoff for the 2024 NHL Draft, and is one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 class. Aitcheson has spent the last three seasons with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. He was also selected to represent Canada at the Kubota CHL vs USA Prospects Challenge. Aitcheson projects to be a mid-first-round pick in the upcoming draft.
Draft Projections:
#19 Inside The Rink
#18 TSN/Bob McKenzie
#21 Daily Faceoff
#9 NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
Diving Deeper:
Through 64 regular-season games with the Barrie Colts, Aitcheson scored 26 goals and added 33 assists for 59 points. Aitcheson led all OHL Draft Eligible Defencemen in goals by 12, and points by 5. The Toronto native rose to the occasion in the playoffs, where he tallied an additional six goals and six assists for 12 points in just 16 games. His strong season earned him a selection to the OHL Top Prospects team for the Eastern Conference, as well as his aforementioned spot on the CHL Top Prospects team for their showcase versus the top draft eligibles from the United States.
Hockey IQ:
On the attack, Aitcheson uses his high-end speed to push the puck up the ice in transition. On the rush, he loves to drive the puck towards the net either on his own or by setting up teammates. Once in the zone, his cycling ability, mobility on the line, vision, and booming shot help keep opposing defenders on their toes. Aitcheson does not shy away from the big moments either, as this year he tallied a league-leading five overtime winners, just one shy of the CHL single-season record. On the defensive side, Aitcheson is one of the most physical defenders in the OHL. He is always looking to punish forwards with his patented big hits. However, his defensive game is more than just laying the body. Aitcheson combines his body and stick to effectively close out attackers and force turnovers. All-in-all, Aitcheson combines his unique skillset to become one of the most electric prospects in the 2025 class.
Areas for Improvement:
Aitcheson’s intense approach can also have its drawbacks, as his physical game sometimes leads to prolonged time in the penalty box. If he is to succeed at the NHL level, he will need to refine his physical game. On the bright side, Aitcheson has taken steps in the right direction this season. Although his 88 penalty minutes still sat in the top-25 of OHL skaters this season, it was a massive improvement from his 126 last year, which was just two shy of leading the league. If Aitcheson is able to fully harness his physical ability, he will be a menace to face at the next level.
Final Thoughts:
In a class that appears to fall off for defenceman behind Matthew Schaefer, Aitcheson is a fairly safe pick as his physicality and two-way presence give him a relatively high floor. With the way teams have been reportedly enamoured by physical stars like Sam Bennett in the 2025 playoffs, the bite in Aitcheson’s game could help him climb draft boards come June.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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