USHL Stock Watch: Bruno Idžan’s scoring fueled by clever habits
The USHL playoffs are just over a month away, but the postseason picture is crystallizing by the week. Though just two teams – the Lincoln Stars and Sioux Falls Stampede – have officially qualified for the Clark Cup Playoffs, the bottom of the standings has been mostly entrenched.
With just four USHL teams missing the postseason, a pair of teams from each conference has fallen short of the pack. In the Eastern Conference, the USNTDP and Chicago Steel each sit 10 points back of a playoff spot, whereas in the Western Conference, the Des Moines Buccaneers and Omaha Lancers sit 10 and 33 points behind the playoff line, respectively.
Over the past month of dominant Lincoln performances, improved NTDP U18 displays, and a ramping up in USHL intensity, six of the league’s brightest young talents stood out the most.
Stock Rising 📈
Bruno Idžan, LW, Lincoln (2025 Draft)
Arriving from Sisak in the AlpsHL – where he scored 21 goals in 19 professional games – Bruno Idžan has lit up the scoresheet in the USHL night after night. He had an explosive month of February, leading Lincoln to a 9-1-0 record with 11 goals and 18 points. For a player with a league-high 1.48 points per game, Idžan has fewer puck touches and less possession time than one might expect.
He’s been a specialist for the Lincoln Stars, a role that has made his adjustment to the North American pace significantly smoother. The Stars’ coaching staff have allowed Idžan to play to his strengths. The Croatian winger’s lack of dynamism or quick feet limits him as a puck carrier, so he loses himself in coverage off the puck with impressive regularity, riding defenders' blind spots and finding pockets in the slot. He’s been the definition of “right place at the right time” in Lincoln so far, and being freed from some checking, defensive, and carrying responsibilities has been key to his eye-popping production.
The 19-year-old has compensated for his lack of explosiveness, intense motor, and physicality with tremendous anticipation and off-puck routes that USHL defences have yet to figure out how to contain. While these aspects present some questions for NHL scouts – as he will be considered in the mid-to-late rounds as a re-entry this year – they have done little to restrain his scoring for Lincoln. With improved intensity, physicality, and skating mechanics, Idžan’s cerebral connective playmaking and off-puck goal-scoring habits could lead to a third-line NHL role.
Cole McKinney, C, USNTDP (2025 Draft)
While not coming close to being the most dynamic or innately creative player on the NTDP U18 Team, Cole McKinney leads them in points with 44 in 41 games in all competitions and his 19 goals are just two behind leading-goalscorer William Moore. McKinney sacrifices finesse for an effective and physical brand of hockey that USHL defenders have really struggled against, as he’s potted 10 goals in 13 games in the league.
McKinney was integral to the NTDP’s surging February, as they went unbeaten after a 7-2 loss to Sweden, including back-to-back victories against an excellent Dubuque Fighting Saints team. His scoring led the charge, as he tallied in every single game and logged four goals and six points in his three USHL appearances. McKinney played all the big minutes, won important draws, went to the net-front, and used his body to open space for linemates Jack Murtagh and Richard Gallant.
McKinney isn’t fancy. He’s a simple player who through hard work and ever-improving habits has become the backbone of an NTDP class lacking a superstar. He lacks the skill to project as a top-six NHL player, but he could still get his name called in the first round for his reliable hard-nosed style that should lead to a bottom-six role.
L.J. Mooney, C/RW, USNTDP (2025 Draft)
Since returning from an ugly knee injury in December, L.J. Mooney has been a dynamic spark on most nights for the USNTDP. His motor is among the very best in the 2025 NHL Draft class and has combined with his quick-twitch hands and strong vision for some dynamic downhill playmaking incursions cutting through the middle lane.
Inside-driven dynamic skill lacked consistency in his games earlier this year but is exactly what Mooney is showing with increasing regularity, making him the USNTDP’s most potent power play threat in recent weeks. His value as a forechecker has also reliably overwhelmed opposing defenders on retrievals
While his 5-foot-7, 157-pound frame will count against him at the 2025 NHL Draft, Mooney’s ability – in flashes – to blend an elite motor and checking game with inside-driven dynamic playmaking could pave a road to a top-six NHL role. The odds are stacked against him, the sparkplug could make a team with a late draft pick come out like bandits with time and trust.
Honourable Mentions: Tynan Lawrence (2026 Draft) Lukas Peterson (2025 Draft), Aidan Park (2025), Ivan Ryabkin (2025), Sean Barnhill (2025), Lucas Van Vliet (Vegas Golden Knights), Bobby Cowan (2025)
Stock Steady ↔️
Jacob Rombach, LD, Lincoln (2025 Draft)
The best team in the USHL this regular season, the Lincoln Stars have benefitted not only from Bruno Idžan’s arrival as a mid-season boost, as Jacob Rombach’s continued evolution with the puck on his stick has added control to the Stars’ breakout game and led to increased production from the 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman. Rombach’s mobility, range, and physical aggression have been strengths all year long but continued to cause problems to right wingers league-wide.
He matches footwork comfortably against speedy forwards, controlling his gap and lunging at the first sign of vulnerability. While his ability to turn defence into offence is only just starting to translate into points, his composure and quick precise – for the most part – passing have facilitated breakouts since September. Though he has yet to separate himself as a clear first-round talent, Rombach has a very interesting set of tools and habits and should see top-50 consideration at the draft.
Stock Falling 📉
Teddy Mutryn, RW, Chicago (2025 Draft)
Playing a linear goalscoring and checking game, Teddy Mutryn has lacked the support his approach requires this season on a weak Chicago Steel team. While they went 5-3-2 in February, Mutryn was limited to a goal in the month’s first game and an assist in its last. Sporting a wicked release, a 207-pound frame, and a non-stop motor, Mutryn has qualities that have overwhelmed USHL defenders at times this season.
However, a reliance on reaction over anticipation has left the powerforward chasing the play all too often this season. In his checking routes, Mutryn mostly takes direct runs at the carrier and lacks the agility and edgework to adapt at higher speeds, allowing players to skip past him with good timing. Though he lacks much refinement in his habits and his skating needs work, NHL teams will value Mutryn’s frame, mindset, and potent shot.