Lloydminster Bobcats goaltender Matthew Kondro has been identified in the NHL Central Scouting 2025-26 Preliminary Players to Watch List released today. The list is a compilation of 2026 draft-eligible prospects from all the major development leagues throughout North America and Europe, which will be updated throughout the season as scouts evaluate players.
The players on the preliminary list with ‘A’ ratings are considered potential first round picks. Players with ‘B’ ratings are considered possible second / third round choices, players with ‘C’ ratings are potential fourth / fifth round picks, and those with ‘W’ ratings indicate a ‘watch’ player for potential sixth / seventh round consideration.
A total of three players from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) were included on the list. Collingwood Blues (OJHL) netminder Maksim Corovic was rated a ‘C’ goaltender while goaltender Matthew Humphries of the Aurora Tigers (OJHL) and Kondro both received a ‘W’ rating.
Since returning from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Kondro (St Albert, AB) has gone 5-2-0 for the Bobcats with a 2.41 GAA and .913 save percentage. He earned the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week in October and has been selected as the Bunge AJHL Player of the Game three times already this season.
A total of 101 players have been drafted directly from the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the 62-year history of the league. Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is the highest-ever drafted player from the AJHL, chosen fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
