Penguins Draft: Mean Defenseman Aitcheson Shows Promise

There will be a run on centers at the top of the 2025 NHL Draft. Just days away, that probability has become near certainty. A few wins later in the season dropped the Pittsburgh Penguins down in the draft order, and extraordinarily bad luck in the NHL Draft Lottery cost them two more spots all the way to the 11th overall pick.

If not a center, perhaps a physical defenseman who seems to relish thundering open ice hits, can skate well enough to play at the highest level, and knows how to grit his teeth and protect the front of the net. That defenseman is Kashawn Aitcheson.

The 6-foot-1, 198-pound defender from Toronto, who is playing his junior hockey with the Barrie Colts, has not often appeared near the top 10, but he seems to be sneaking upward on mock drafts.

**View all of PHN’s Scouting videos and analysis of the potential Penguins draft picks on the Penguins Prospects Page.

Aitccheson is a left-handed defender unafraid to plow through an unsuspecting forward at center ice, but also looks for the forward who has intentions to drive the net and fights him for that space.

Aitcheson is also not afraid to fight, and will even play to the crowd after a big goal or dropping the gloves. Yes, he’s got plenty of confidence and showed some offensive ability with 59 points, including 26 goals this season.

Craig Button of TSN compared Aitcheson to Ryan McDonagh.

One of the reasons that Aitcheson is ranked no higher than 11th on the scouting boards is the high-floor, lower-ceiling. He won’t be a top-pair defenseman, but projects more to the second or third pairing. However, his physicality and moxy are a cut above the rest of the defensemen in his draft class, and such players become quite valuable later in the season, especially in the playoffs. Just ask the Florida Panthers.

His skating grades as worthy. He lacks obvious flaws in his stride and is quite mobile.

Matt Meagher put together his latest scouting and analysis video for Hockey Now on the defenseman who might prove to be tempting to the Penguins’ scouting staff and general manager Kyle Dubas, as they weigh the lower ceilings of the other defensemen available to them at No. 11 and choose a thumper.