RD Carter Amico - USNTDP, USHL (2025 Draft)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This is a dude with some potential. He's 6'5 205 already. He skates well enough. His puck game isn't bad, and he plays very physical. He makes too many mistakes right now, but he has some very nice shifts where you see a player who could be a top 4 NHL DFD.

Really impossible to predict a draft range so early on. On one hand, a dude like Brady Cleveland goes 2nd round with this profile having not developed at all during his time at the NTDP. On the other hand, if he doesn't develop much you'd think he'd only be a late rounder. Hard to know. Wide range. Not sure I see first round because there's minimal offense, and little upside for a dude that isn't like an ace defender, but maybe as high as second round.

Carter Amico - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Carter Amico, 2007-03-15 Westbrook, ME, USA USA. Most recently in the NTDP with U.S. National U18 Team. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

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[S E P H]

Just committed to Boston University.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He's the best draft prospect for the 17's. He's becoming a beast as the season has went on.

His game against Muskegon from Saturday (the postponed game) was frightening how he was bullying older junior aged players.

I saw some potential in his games earlier in the season, but he needed to become more consistent. I have to credit Corey Pronman for mentioning him as a potential first rounder months back because when I read that I thought it sounded way too bold, but where he placed him for his initial 2025 rankings is starting to look low.

Obviously there's the potential he doesn't reach his potential, but I'm looking at two tracks for his potential. He could be like a Carlo/Cernak good top 4 (borderline #2) defensive defenseman as his potential with the size, skating, meanness, defensive acumen. Or he could continue to make progress and put himself on a Mo Seider/Seth Jones type of track. I see flashes of that elite track, but it's not yet completely there.

I want to see him get a lot more power play time. He's only starting to get PP minutes, and I think looks effective on the PP. Has gotten essentially no PP time the whole season. He's aggressive with jumping up into the rush and has pretty good hands for 6'5. He'll have no problems moving pucks and skates very well. His hockey sense has gotten a lot better, which I think has unlocked his defensive potential even more.

I think he's tracking as a first rounder. I'm close to saying top 10, but top 15 right now could be more appropriate, and if he doesn't show further progress that might end up closer to late first. But we could also be looking at a top 5 range when all is said and done.

 

[sigx15]

He's the best draft prospect for the 17's. He's becoming a beast as the season has went on.

His game against Muskegon from Saturday (the postponed game) was frightening how he was bullying older junior aged players.

I saw some potential in his games earlier in the season, but he needed to become more consistent. I have to credit Corey Pronman for mentioning him as a potential first rounder months back because when I read that I thought it sounded way too bold, but where he placed him for his initial 2025 rankings is starting to look low.

Obviously there's the potential he doesn't reach his potential, but I'm looking at two tracks for his potential. He could be like a Carlo/Cernak good top 4 (borderline #2) defensive defenseman as his potential with the size, skating, meanness, defensive acumen. Or he could continue to make progress and put himself on a Mo Seider/Seth Jones type of track. I see flashes of that elite track, but it's not yet completely there.

I want to see him get a lot more power play time. He's only starting to get PP minutes, and I think looks effective on the PP. Has gotten essentially no PP time the whole season. He's aggressive with jumping up into the rush and has pretty good hands for 6'5. He'll have no problems moving pucks and skates very well. His hockey sense has gotten a lot better, which I think has unlocked his defensive potential even more.

I think he's tracking as a first rounder. I'm close to saying top 10, but top 15 right now could be more appropriate, and if he doesn't show further progress that might end up closer to late first. But we could also be looking at a top 5 range when all is said and done.

Good to see the development. He was super raw when he first started at MSC but you could see the potential. He kept getting better and better but it's great to see the development continue

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Good to see the development. He was super raw when he first started at MSC but you could see the potential. He kept getting better and better but it's great to see the development continue

I read an interview with him that was from last April, and he was saying something similar. Sounds like he has a good perspective, and that might be part of why he's made such good progress.

"I've gotten better over time. I was always one of the better players. Not the best, but better. A good player. Above-average."

Westbrook teen ready for opportunity with USA Hockey’s U-17 team

Carter Amico, a 6-foot-5 defenseman, is one of just four Mainers in the past quarter century to be chosen to play with the national development squad.

www.pressherald.com

 

[SK94]

Emery was ranked 20-32 according to my assessment a year ago and he went at 30. Amico is in the same places in my papers if I had to guess now.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s also better than Emery I think. Better defensively going into his draft year, two inches taller and 20+ pounds heavier, and shows more offensive instincts.

If he has a big season, he could have a Mo Seider draft range.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

6'5 205 to 6'5 217 in the preseason measurements. He's an absolute unit and also good at hockey.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1836833487514652689

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1838731995272106098

 

[jtechkid]

it’s a massive stretch - he doesn’t translate as a top 4 dmen in the nhl from my stand point - his lack of upside is his puck movement , not great hockey iq - if he’s 6feet he’s not even on this team . for the nhl draft they overvalue size so here you go - what’s next philips second round lol

 

[MichaelFarrell]

it’s a massive stretch - he doesn’t translate as a top 4 dmen in the nhl from my stand point - his lack of upside is his puck movement , not great hockey iq - if he’s 6feet he’s not even on this team . for the nhl draft they overvalue size so here you go - what’s next philips second round lol

I disagree. Amico is certainly not a #1 D. But, he can move the puck fairly well and his decision making is not really that poor. I’ve seen him do a great job at moving the puck up the ice. He certainly makes mistakes, but all junior defenseman are going to make mistakes. It’s all about development. Ultimately, he’s player who generally understands his role. Amico is there to provide physicality and net front presence. I’m sure that Carter Amico will play NHL games and will probably be drafted first round.

Mace’o Phillips is a very similar player. Phillips is raw for sure. But, his athleticism, size, and physicality will definitely have a team take him in the 2nd round. I don’t doubt it.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843689626453827978

 

[Briser la glace]

I disagree. Amico is certainly not a #1 D. But, he can move the puck fairly well and his decision making is not really that poor. I’ve seen him do a great job at moving the puck up the ice. He certainly makes mistakes, but all junior defenseman are going to make mistakes. It’s all about development. Ultimately, he’s player who generally understands his role. Amico is there to provide physicality and net front presence. I’m sure that Carter Amico will play NHL games and will probably be drafted first round.

Mace’o Phillips is a very similar player. Phillips is raw for sure. But, his athleticism, size, and physicality will definitely have a team take him in the 2nd round. I don’t doubt it.

I only have a few viewings of Amico this season, but I like what I've seen so far. I prefer his breakout game compared to the other big guys with a similar profile.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

I only have a few viewings of Amico this season, but I like what I've seen so far. I prefer his breakout game compared to the other big guys with a similar profile.

He’s such a raw player. It’s his decision making in the defensive zone that is definitely his biggest issue. He makes some huge mistakes there that have really cost his team. I love the tools as I mentioned in that post and I think he’s decent on the breakout. But, he’ll definitely need more fine tuning.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think he's raw, but he's made strides since this point last year. He was closer to where Phillips is now at this point last year (with better puck handling and less stupid penalties because those are areas Phillips is uniquely bad at).

 

[Sasso09]

it’s a massive stretch - he doesn’t translate as a top 4 dmen in the nhl from my stand point - his lack of upside is his puck movement , not great hockey iq - if he’s 6feet he’s not even on this team . for the nhl draft they overvalue size so here you go - what’s next philips second round lol

he FOR SURE projects as a potential top 4 defender. His puck movement is pretty good for his size and his IQ is not a weakness either... You're in left field holding a hockey stick on this one.

Sure, he's only a late 1st round grade because of his size, but that's how it always worked.

 

[jtechkid]

wheeler from the Athletic who covers the draft said today he can’t seem to earn any minutes on a weak team which is a red flag .
i stlll see second round for him so does wheeler and most people i read . wheeler has tretheway late first round from that team but not 100% sold on him .

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Wheeler still is claiming Moore is a mid first rounder.

Give me Amico over Moore all day.

 

[jtechkid]

i like to see him go to ushl next year and play first PP and play 22min verse going to BU which better for his development.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1854531236598821076