RD Carter Amico - USNTDP, USHL (2025 Draft)

[Hockeyville USA]

Same. Skating didn't look chunky despite being that big and his stick defensively was really noticeable. Hate seeing any of these kids getting waylaid by injury.

Not sure who I'd compare him to, but he's got a bit of prime Tyler Myers (when Myers was really solid in Winnipeg) in him.

 

[BKarchitect]

Same. Skating didn't look chunky despite being that big and his stick defensively was really noticeable. Hate seeing any of these kids getting waylaid by injury.

Well he can fall the Sabres 2nd round pick now. I know it’s foolish to pick for need a teenage draft prospect who won’t be ready for years but a defensively active 6-5 RHD defensemen sounds…rather nice huh?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Definitely will hurt his draft stock. Hard to tell how much.

Can’t help the “getting better at hockey” part. A real shame, but it shouldn’t derail him too much.

 

[Chainshot]

Well he can fall the Sabres 2nd round pick now. I know it’s foolish to pick for need a teenage draft prospect who won’t be ready for years but a defensively active 6-5 RHD defensemen sounds…rather nice huh?

Indeed. That was part of my viewing.

Edit - and yes, Kleber is in the same sort of bucket, but having a couple of guys at different stages of development is a good thing.

 

[jtechkid]

Same. Skating didn't look chunky despite being that big and his stick defensively was really noticeable. Hate seeing any of these kids getting waylaid by injury.

wouldn’t he be better doing another year in juniors - playing 22 min - pp then head to BU after . He’s very raw , has huge upside , miss a year but then goes straight to bu ?

 

[Hockeyville USA]

wouldn’t he be better doing another year in junior - playing 22 min - pp then head to BU after . He’s very raw , has huge upside , miss a year but then goes straight to bu ?

I bet the plan was for him to go to BU next year, but with the injury, you do wonder if BU defers him and tells him to spend another full year in junior before coming in 2026-27.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I bet the plan was for him to go to BU next year, but with the injury, you do wonder if BU defers him and tells him to spend another full year in junior before coming in 2026-27.

I think he's probably too good to be deferred. They usually only do that for guys that are barely drafted or not even drafted, but it might be in his own interest to play another year of USHL.

 

[jtechkid]

I think he's probably too good to be deferred. They usually only do that for guys that are barely drafted or not even drafted, but it might be in his own interest to play another year of USHL.

i think hes guaranteed second round pick based on his potential

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

i think hes guaranteed second round pick based on his potential

Yeah, I can't see him slipping much past late second or third. Teams take players based on potential in that range. The injury makes him more uncertain, but at a certain point teams aren't expecting to get an NHL'er, so they'll take on some risks, including a player who missed most of a season due to injury.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[jtechkid]

I think the tough part with him he was so raw you really have no clue what you get on his sample size. . I didnt really see it from last year but he was trending up a bit this year before he got injured but your reaching at straws comparing him to a very weak NTDP dmen core . I still see second or third round based on potential. i still think it would be best for him to play an extra year in ushl-chl and play 22 min a night .

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I thought he looked good in some of his early season games before the injury. At least one of them he was great. I completely pushback on the idea that he's bad with the puck or raw with his defending. Maybe he was that a year prior, but not anymore. Not saying he's 100% there in being the next Moritz Seider, but I do think he profiles as a likely middle pair NHL DFD with the potential for more. A shame due to the injury, which will only hurt his draft stock (he's an easy first round talent and the best prospect on the 18's this year), but a smart team will likely get him in the second round and reap the rewards, assuming he comes out of the injury okay. Can't teach 6'5 217, very good skating, mean and territorial defensively, and a burgeoning puck game.