Charlie Trethewey – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Trethewey plays with a distinct physical edge, delivering crushing hits and being tough to play against in the defensive zone. He effectively clears the crease, making things difficult for opposing forwards trying to screen the goalie or looking for a rebound. He does not rely on his size, but strategically uses his strength to win puck battles and maintain control in tough areas. His physicality is a key asset, but he must balance it with discipline. Ensuring that his open ice hits are well-timed will help him stay effective without putting his team in tough positions by allowing odd-man rushes.

Trethewey is an effective, smooth skater in all directions. Even if he makes a mistake with the puck, he doesn’t panic and can make up for it with good mobility. He possesses strong four-way mobility, allowing him to close gaps quickly, transition smoothly, and navigate play at both ends of the ice. Offensively, his skating allows him to hold the blue line efficiently, using subtle movements to create shooting lanes and distribute the puck. While his overall mobility is a strength, his lateral quickness and backward acceleration are still developing.

Trethewey plays a mature, composed game in his own zone, consistently making intelligent reads and avoiding unnecessary risks. His ability to win puck battles and recover defensive zone rebounds demonstrates a strong hockey IQ and competitiveness in high-pressure situations. He will need to improve his transitions, especially when defending against fast and skilled forwards like he should see while playing for Boston University next season.

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Charlie Trethewey – NHL Draft Projection

Trethewey’s ability to impact the game in all three zones, combined with his physicality and suggested potential for improvement, makes him an enticing prospect with the potential to become a reliable defenseman for an NHL team. He will likely be selected in the second round.

Quotables

“He’s one of the USNTDP’s most mobile players and has an outstanding shot, but we’re not seeing the numbers many thought he’d produce after a great Draft+1 campaign. Still, he has a lot of different skills at his disposal, both with and without the puck.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“He’s a physically capable right-shot defenceman who’s used in all situations for the USNTDP. Trethewey can shoot the puck and has the ability to beat goalies clean from distance. His defensive detail ranges at times. He’s involved in the play, but struggles to take the correct “route” to contain his check at times. Trethewey projects as a two-way defenceman.” – Jason Bakula, Sportsnet

“Trethewey is a defenseman who can contribute offensively but primarily plays a defensive game. He’s not elite in the defensive zone or on the rush, but he’s solid in both areas. On the rush, he’s aggressive in closing down on puck carriers and using his stick to knock the puck away. His ranginess and long reach also contribute to his defensive ability, as he can easily disrupt or block passing lanes.” – Kareem Elshafey, FC Hockey

“Trethewey plays hard, and pairs that with high-end hockey IQ and excellent puck skills. His vision allows for great defensive awareness, and the mobility we see in his skating underpins the rest of his skill set. His decision-making and timing need more consistency.” – Hannah Stuart, Bleacher Report

Strengths

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Tretheway can potentially be a top-four, two-way defenseman in the NHL. He is effective in all three zones and plays the game with great physicality. If he can improve his lateral mobility and offensive consistency, he has the chance for a prominent role on an NHL team.

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk 2/5, Reward 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense 6/10, Defense 7/10

Interviews/Links

Charlie Trethewey Stats

Awards/Achievements

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