RD Lincoln Kuehne - USNTDP, USHL (2026 Draft)

[Pavel Buchnevich]

One of three NTDP 17's eligible for the 2026 draft. He does have some shifts where you see potential. He's a 6'1 defensemen that isn't like a bad skater or having a weak puck game or a train-wreck defensively. He makes a few too many mistakes, but he's not a train-wreck. I think he's not helped by that his defensive partner is a little bit of that. Probably not going to be a high pick, but probably also a player that gets picked mid/late rounds in 2026. And you never know if he continues to improve he could be round 2 or 3, something like that.

Lincoln Kuehne - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Lincoln Kuehne, 2007-11-28 Fargo, ND, USA USA. Most recently in the USHL with USNTDP Juniors. Complete player biography and stats.

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[Pavel Buchnevich]

He probably plays the least of all the defenseman, but I don't think he's the worst of them.

He's a player that probably is not going to be well served by accepting the NTDP invitation. He's a real NHL draft prospect, but clearly not one of the best players, so he's relegated to fighting it out for minutes lower in the lineup, and right now he's not winning that with the coach.

I could see him get Kaden Muir'ed where he had some potential, but played so little because the competition was too overwhelming for a guy with modest potential. Being a late birthday will probably serve him well. Playing junior his draft season somewhere with less talent hopefully will give him a chance to play more. I doubt he'll do so the rest of this season or next.

A likely late round pick for 2026, but that could get better or worse, depending on how he progresses.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Wonder if he's committing to North Dakota or will look elsewhere

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Kuehne commits to Colorado College. Wonder if that is more because he was guaranteed immediate playing time/be brought in earlier by CC and/or his meh u17 NTDP season meant North Dakota became a little less interested considering their defense pool is pretty stocked for now.

 

[jtechkid]

reminds me of kid lapointe - ntdp dmen but doing extra year at the ushl then heading to arizona state - it will be interesting how many u -18 ntdp kids will do extra year after in ushl - i see a lot

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Measured in at 6'2 200. Has grown an inch and gained 18 pounds. There's a lot of right shot depth, but I'm hoping he can get more exposure and then headed into his draft season be higher on draft radars. 2025-26 will be the big season for him, but he could still help himself this season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He continues to plug along with zero attention. Think he's going to go round 2-4 next year. He's better than the other two late birthdays on the team, Hafele and Boettiger.

He's very average at virtually everything and steady, and that'll result in a decent pro hockey player. Maybe a player who could be a bottom pairing NHL defenseman or merely a good AHL'er, but at 6'2 200 already that's going to be a player NHL teams value. Wouldn't be totally shocked to see his game pop off next season, assuming he doesn't go a year early to CC and plays USHL instead.