NATHAN BEHM A TOP PROSPECT FOR 2025 NHL DRAFT
With the NHL Draft on the horizon in June, Kamloops Blazers forward Nathan Behm is making a strong case for himself as a top prospect and could be the first Blazer taken in the first round of the NHL Draft since Connor Zary went No. 24 overall to the Calgary Flames in 2020.
Kamloops selected Behm No. 13 overall in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft and he would go on to make his WHL debut during the 2022-23 campaign, appearing in six games. He cracked the Blazers lineup full time last season recording 31 points in 68 games.
Behm was listed by NHL Central Scouting as the 36th-ranked North American prospect. Daily Faceoff has Behm ranked No. 27, while Elite Prospects has him ranked No. 31. TSN’s Craig Button listed Behm at No. 36. Overall, the 6-foot-2 forward has been getting a lot of attention from scouts around the league.
One NHL scout told me “His shot is exceptional. NHL calibre release.”
After already doubling his goal total from last season, Behm is showing that his hard work in the offseason is paying off.
“I wanted to work on my shot,” Behm said. “Just making sure I was using it more and finding ways to get it off quicker.” Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis said, “Behm has always been a decent goal-scorer at every level, but he has found a way to put more muscle behind his shot while being better defensively, too.”
That work has translated into success on the ice, as Behm currently sits at 24 goals, a significant improvement from last season when he notched 12 goals. His impressive shot is catching the attention of scouts, but Behm also believes his physicality is an underrated aspect of his game.
“I think my physicality is something I can use pretty well at times,” he said. “But I could probably do it a bit more to create space for myself.”
Growing up in Calgary, Behm was a Flames fan and loved watching the late Johnny Gaudreau during his time with the Flames. As Behm continues to develop, he looks to more two-way and power-forward players with strong shots, such as Vegas Golden Knights assistant captain Jack Eichel, as models for his own game.
Despite the pressure of a draft year, Behm remains focused on his overall growth. “I’m trying to improve in different areas and round out my game overall,” he said.
Unlike some players, Behm doesn’t adhere to strict pregame superstitions. Instead, he prefers to keep things simple, ensuring he gets a solid warm-up and some stickhandling in before each game.