C Noah Kosick - Calgary Hitmen, WHL (2026 Draft)

[BKarchitect]

Given his slight frame, it’s hard to envision him as a serious high-end NHL draft prospect at this point given his lack of production and usage in two different leagues and the fact that he’s being passed by so many 2026 eligible prospects.

Low USHL production and usage doesn’t have to be damning, as Zach Morin is proving. But Morin is 6-2 and projectable. Kosick does have an extra year so it’s not fair to write him off as a prospect completely - but seems like this is very much a case of a skilled kid who was able to rack up eye-watering youth stats but simply doesn’t have the physical make-up to excel versus his peers at the major junior level - let alone professionally.

 

[Bubbles]

Given his slight frame, it’s hard to envision him as a serious high-end NHL draft prospect at this point given his lack of production and usage in two different leagues and the fact that he’s being passed by so many 2026 eligible prospects.

Low USHL production and usage doesn’t have to be damning, as Zach Morin is proving. But Morin is 6-2 and projectable. Kosick does have an extra year so it’s not fair to write him off as a prospect completely - but seems like this is very much a case of a skilled kid who was able to rack up eye-watering youth stats but simply doesn’t have the physical make-up to excel versus his peers at the major junior level - let alone professionally.

Hard to assess at the moment, I would say.

He's in a similar situation to tij iginla before the draft. Not the same type of player, but tij was stuck on the bottom 6 of that powerhouse tbirds team, and was not ranked anywhere.

Only when he was traded to Kelowna, had top 6 minutes and pp time, did he rise to eventually 6th overall.

There are a ton of whl teams that he could slot into a top 6 slot. But Calgary is loaded now, especially with the addition of Howe.

 

[TGWL]

Is his early development being ruined?

 

[Mototik]

Is his early development being ruined?

I was actually just about to bump this thread to talk about Kosick from my Hitmen fan perspective.

I don't know if his early development is being ruined per se, but he's on a team right now that doesn't have a spot for his skill set.

It's kind of on one hand where he's basically been playing bottom 6 and even bottom 3 minutes for the entire season with not a lot of offensive skill on his lines but on other hand, he hasn't been able to create much for himself or seemed to have given a reason for the Hitmen coaching staff to put him higher up in the lineup (not that I know what goes on in the locker room or at practice). He was getting some PP2 minutes earlier on in the season but hasn't been there since the Hitmen started making moves in November.

He has also been seemingly passed by the other 16 year old forward in Rylan Ng (great story for him being a 7th round WHL pick) who has more points in more games than Kosick, while also being better suited for bottom 6 play and has even played his way into PK minutes. I would still definitely consider Kosick the more skilled player but Ng is a better fit for the current spot the two fit into.

I will end by saying that I think this year isn't a great benchmark for him. The Hitmen will be losing a lot of top-6 talent going into next year so he should have every opportunity next year put himself in a situation better for his skills. This year could be little blip on his career playing limited minutes on a loaded team or could be a sign of a player peaking in minor hockey.

I do also wonder what happened with him moving around this year. Signing with Sherwood Park in the offseason, showing up in Sioux Falls to start the season and then eventually ending up in Calgary prior to the official announcement about the NCAA rule change.

 

[hockeykid87]

Is his early development being ruined?

I don't have access to InStat see his ice time but I imagine it's pretty low. He's a 16-year-old on a pretty deep roster. I'd save judgement until next season when he'll no doubt be playing more. There are a number of forwards on Calgary's roster who are graduating/likely will be traded by next season, so Kosick should see increased playing time next year.

 

[landy92mack29]

averaging 10:11 per game, he simply isn't good enough for more and probably should've spent this year in the BCHL/USHL instead but lots of entitlement with him/the family. Common theme for BC kids