Cut From The USHL, Now No. 2 Overall: Chase Reid's Rollercoaster Year and Nobody In The NHL Is Ready For It

Alright, listen up, because the NHL Draft is almost here, and if you haven't heard the name Chase Reid yet, you need to catch up, like, yesterday. This kid, a defenceman out of Sault Ste. Marie, has absolutely EXPLODED onto the scene. He's officially the No. 2-ranked North American skater, according to the league's own scouting department. Can you even believe it? The projections and opinions are flying, and honestly, good luck trying to keep your head down when you're that hot! He's heading to Buffalo, N.Y., with the first round set for Friday, and the hype is just insane.

From Cut to Contender: Chase Reid's Unbelievable Journey

It wasn't always this wild ride for Reid. Not even close. You wanna talk about a comeback story? This dude was committed to Michigan State, ready for NCAA hockey, but then got cut from the United States Hockey League, which is the country's top junior circuit, early in the 2024-25 season. Ouch, right? He picked himself up, though, catching on with the second-tier North American Hockey League. He put up 12 points in just 18 games for the Bismarck Bobcats. Then, BAM! Sault Ste. Marie, who had drafted him way back in the 2023 OHL draft, came calling when U.S. college eligibility rules changed for major junior players. Reid himself said it best, "If they didn't give me the opportunity, I don't know where I'm at today." That's real t

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alk right there.

A Modern Blueliner With a Chip On His Shoulder

Ever since he got that chance, Reid hasn't looked back. This six-foot-three, 195-pound, right-shot blueliner just skyrocketed up draft boards. In one season, he racked up an insane 18 goals and 48 points across 45 games! Sault Ste. Marie general manager Kyle Raftis definitely noticed, saying the 18-year-old "does have a chip on his shoulder" and "a blind faith that things are going to work out if he puts that work in and he trusts who's around him." Raftis even recalled the day Reid showed up in December 2024, paperwork getting done hours before a game, and how comfortable he looked immediately. The GM sees him as a modern-day defenceman, comparing him to Zach Werenski. He's "deadly in transition," can "really help the power play," and this year, he made a point of showing he "can play on both sides of the puck." After winning the Canadian Hockey League's top prospect award for 2025-26 and suiting up for the world junior hockey championship, Reid called the last 12 months a "roller-coaster," but vowed he'd "not going to stop working until I achieved my goals." So, where's he going to land? Toronto and San Jose have the first and second overall picks, and the buzz is everywhere. Whatever team drafts Chase Reid on Friday, they're getting a player who fought his way to the top and clearly knows what it means to "just live in the moment." You only get to do it once, right? And what a moment this is going to be!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.