USHL Stock Watch: Jack Hextall catching fire as NHL Draft nears

As the playoffs draw ever nearer and the clock ticks on time for draft-eligible prospects to make a lasting impression on watchful NHL scouts, the action has only kept heating up in the USHL since we last checked in a month ago.

From an undrafted overage USHL rookie lighting up the scoring charts to a big-name and bigger-bodied first round pick catching his footing at a new position, the month of February had a number of notable storylines.

Though we were spoilt for choice for risers, one stood above the rest. We kick things off with Jack Hextall, who was a man on a mission to regain his spot as a unanimously-regarded first-round talent.

Stock Rising 📈

Jack Hextall, C/RW, Youngstown Phantoms (2026 NHL Draft)

After a challenging stretch in late 2025 where he appeared heavy on his feet and ineffective while miscast on the wing, Hextall has officially re-entered the 2026 NHL Draft first-round conversation. The Youngstown Phantoms star hit a new gear in the past six weeks, sparked by a permanent return to his natural centre position, where his vision, timing, and manipulative skills can have the biggest impact.

Hextall’s resurgent month was highlighted by a career-high four-point performance on February 21, which made the difference in a thrilling 6-5 overtime barn burner. As of the time of writing, his 50 points in 50 games have seen him crack the top-10 in league scoring, while leapfrogging teammate Evan Jardine for the lead among first-time draft-eligibles.

Some of the projection concerns that came up for us earlier in the year have since been alleviated. Hextall has grown significantly more engaged, stronger, and more stable on his feet, allowing him to win battles along the boards and inside positioning around the net far more effectively than back in October. He’s always had the smarts, puck skills, and two-way intuition to build the foundation of a potentially second-line centre game, but until recently, that projection lacked cohesion. Not anymore. Look at Hextall to rise on our next board and maybe flirt with a return into our top-32.

Jake Prunty, RD, Sioux Falls Stampede (2027 NHL Draft)

Despite his falling ice time, Jake Prunty nonetheless finds himself among our risers courtesy of his imperious quarterbacking of the Stampede power play, on which he played nearly half of his minutes on some February nights. The 16-year-old puck-mover was featured in this series early in the season, off the back of a dazzling weekend overflowing with assists, and he’s only impressed me more since then. 

He’s an agile stick-first defender whose defensive lapses have come from missed reads rather than any lack of effort and sweat, as he regularly hounds rushers to stay glued to them like a wet blanket. Though a lack of strength has left him to get ragdolled by brawnier forwards, Prunty’s slipperiness, vision, and activation instincts have made him one of – if not the – most dynamic blueliners in the league.

Though undersized defencemen will always have a harder time convincing NHL teams of their merit than most other profiles of players, Prunty’s skill and skating have hit a level this year that will make him tough to ignore if his current momentum carries through to next season.

Thomas Zocco, RW, Sioux Falls Stampede (2026 NHL Draft)

Highlighted by a four-point night against Sioux City on February 6th, Thomas Zocco continued his ascent as one of the league’s most cunning scorers and most instrumental contributors in his team’s dominant 8-2-0 month. 

Increasingly, as the season has worn on, the Stampede have found themselves relying on Zocco to provide the scoring when it matters most, and his clutch ability late in games has been a real asset. His ability to translate his game built on finesse from the BCHL to the faster, more physical USHL has solidified his status as a top incoming NCAA freshman, and will be a valuable addition to Merrimack College next season. 

While not the quickest, most explosive, or strongest player on the ice, Zocco has established himself as a top-five scorer in the USHL by timing his arrival into space and, in particular, at the netfront with potent precision. Improving his power, intensity, and quickness in college could pave a road to a depth NHL role someday, and that very runway could potentially even earn the third-time draft-eligible a selection this June.

Stock Steady ↔️

Mason West, C/RW, Fargo Force (Chicago Blackhawks)

After leading Edina High School to a football state championship as their star quarterback, Mason West has been back with the Fargo Force since late November. Though it took him over a month to fully catch his footing, West has picked up steam, showing strides not only in developing his habits and execution, but positional versatility too.

The defining element of West’s season has been his permanent transition to centre. Previously glued to the right-wing at the high school and junior levels, West’s move to the middle has allowed him to leverage his massive six-foot-six frame and quarterback’s vision to control the pace of play. This positional shift highlights his unique development path; despite being a "project pick" with phenomenal raw tools and miles of developmental runway, West has demonstrated increased flashes of the problem-solving, pace, and vision required to translate to college as a pivot with a rare combination of size and playmaking finesse.

While West still has warts in his game, his commitment to hockey full-time has seen his skating and defensive awareness, among other skills, trend upward… a trajectory we wouldn’t bet against as he heads to an excellent program in Michigan State University in the Fall.

Stock Falling 📉

Muskegon Lumberjacks

Though some level of drop-off was to be expected with the loss of team captain and reigning playoff MVP, Tynan Lawrence, to college, last year’s champions have stumbled with increasing frequency in important games since the new year. 

While a weekend series sweep against Omaha to cap off the month makes the stats look a bit prettier, February was a slog at its worst for the Lumberjacks, boasting a 5-5-0 record. A far cry from the borderline invincible team that began the season.

Lapses in concentration continue to cause headaches in all three zones, while in their own end, the tendency to collapse too soon – giving up space and time in the high slot while blocking the netminder’s sight lines – has shot them in the foot on a few too many occasions. The confidence, pace, and dare with the puck on their stick that made them my early-season favourite to end the year as champions remain in flashes, but haven’t dominated the way that seemingly became the norm in the Fall. While their playoff berth isn’t going to be threatened in all likelihood, they’re going to have to catch their fall and gain momentum before the playoffs begin. The clock is ticking.