The final part of our rankings is here. Player number one is once again the Polish Prince, as he was called in Canada.

Players had to be under the age of 23 and at least 16 years old on June 1st, 2025. We are only judging play that occurred before that date as well. Players are evaluated based on a combination of career history, current play, and potential. Skaters must have played at least five games to be considered. While the ranking is only my opinion, numerous coaches, staff, and other players contributed their thoughts. 183 players were considered for the list and reviewed. Fifty players received a ranking. Full explainer on the 2025 rankings.

Rank – Player Name (Position), Age During Next Hockey Season, Team (Ranking in 2024, change in rankings). NR – Not Ranked in 2024

1. Krzysztof Maciaś (F), 21, Moose Jaw Warriors (1,+0) 

For a second year in a row, Macias tops our rankings. It’s deserved for a skater who might be the best Polish prospect of the century so far. When we last left off with Macias, he had just thrown Polish fans into a frenzy at the 2024 World Championship. During this last offseason, he was able to make the Florida Panthers’ development camp roster. He impressed enough there to later earn invites to the Panthers’ prospect camp and then their AHL affiliate’s training camp. In the end, he would return to junior hockey for his overage season in the Western Hockey League (WHL). 

With his return to the WHL, he was returning to a Prince Albert Raiders team that had large ambitions. He got off to a good start putting up 22 points (8G-14A-22PTS) in his first 22 games. His season came to a pause after suffering a minor injury in late December. While on the injured list, the Prince Albert Raiders would ship him to the Moose Jaw Warriors for star forward Rilen Kovacevic. With the move, Macias went from a top WHL contender to a team at the bottom of the standings. In the second half of his season with Moose Jaw, he had 20 points (12G-8A- 20PTS) in 31 games. Macias finished with a final stat line of 42 points (20G-22A-42PTS) in 53 games. This gave him a slightly improved point per game clip of .79. 

After his WHL season finished up, he headed to Poland for national team duties. The former Podhale pupil scored a goal and an assist in six games leading up to the worlds. At the actual event, he would receive a puzzling fourth line assignment for the entire tournament. His ice time in 2025 was lower than his ice time from last year’s tournament in the top division worlds. A puzzling use of one of the best young players in Poland, especially for a team that desperately needed offense. 

When we look at the player, Macias currently projects as a middle-six power forward in the top tier of European hockey. He is a shoot-first and physical player who is extremely strong on the puck. He is going to find his way to the net and put the puck on it. Macias’ relentlessness on the puck is his strongest asset, and we saw it draw penalties versus NHL defenseman in 2024. Initial jump and acceleration on his skating, along with his decision-making in both zones, leave room for improvement. The latter of which should come with experience as he makes the jump into professional hockey. I am excited to see how he performs in Czechia this season as he signed with his former club HC Vítkovice. 

It’s never my place to say where a player should go for development. I’m not privy to all the details on money, offers, priorities, etc. With Macias, I had hope he would take the now-open route going from the Canadian Hockey League to the American college level. I think more time in North America in league more focused on development would have benefited Macias. In the Czech professional level he can develop, but it’s also one where the goal is 100% winning. We have seen promising Polish players struggle to get off to a strong start in the league and then get lost in the shuffle until their contracts expire. 

Every coach, teammate, and writer you talk to about Macias expresses how great a teammate, leader, and hard worker he is. The Extraliga will be a challenge, but one I think Macias can overcome.

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Thumbnail Photo via polskihokej.eu