Nicholas Kempf, USDP
Nick Kempf turned 18 on March 1st, and he’s one of those prospects who brings in adequate size at 6’2, 190 lbs. There is time for him to develop further and gain more muscle, especially if he adds another inch or two, and that’s his overall prevailing trait.
Kempf’s productivity isn’t impressive, but it also wasn’t bad, with an 0.899 save percentage, two shutouts, a 3.05 GAA, and 20 wins across 33 starts. Serviceable may be the right word, but his overall USHL numbers didn’t factor in as well.
Despite 10 wins through 18 games, he failed to record a shutout, amassed a 3.88 GAA, and just an 0.870 save percentage. That said, Kempf’s numbers were a significant improvement over how he fared in 2022-23 when, despite recording a shutout, he still finished with a 5.10 GAA and an 0.834 save percentage.
Kempf is someone who Yzerman could be wise to take if he fell to the fourth round and would be willing to see playing college hockey for the next four seasons. That will occur at the University of Notre Dame, and if Kempf makes the right leaps with the Fighting Irish, there is a good chance he will be in the system long-term.