Asher Barnett
2024-25 Team: USA U18 (NTDP)
Date of Birth: May 16, 2007
Place of Birth: Wilmette, IL, USA
Ht: 6-feet Wt: 196 pounds
Shoots: L
Position: D
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2025 first-year eligible
Rankings
The National Development Team didn’t have any high-end upside defenders, though, they have plenty of defenders that can still impact the game positively. Asher Barnett was one of those defenders who surprised and flew under the radar this season. He had 11 goals and 28 points combined with the NTDP program and in the USHL, but it’s his two-way defensive minded presence, that stands out.
Barnett’s a leader on the ice and his play exemplifies that as he does the little things in order to succeed. His work ethic is evident, as he never gives up on plays and has great attention to detail on both sides of the puck.
Asher Barnett, Team USA (Rena Laverty / USA Hockey’s NTDP)
Defensively, Barnett shows great vision and anticipation in his own end. He’s quick on retrieving pucks and has clean breakouts on zone exits. He has good positioning in front of the net and is always pressuring in one-on-one coverage. He excels defending the rush very well with strong gap control and is never giving up the middle of the ice easily. He has an active stick and does a great job of getting into shooting lanes to cut off an opportunity.
He has average height, but under 200 pounds, he shows great strength with his puck protection skills. While he could look to use that to his advantage to play with more of an edge, he can be physical when he needs to at the right moment, not putting himself in a bad spot to get caught.
Barnett’s offensive upside may be limited at the next level, but there are a lot of things that he does well with his offensive game. He sees the ice well to find the open lanes, walk in and get a quality shot off. Either on net or for good placement for a second-chance opportunity or deflection. His head is always up to spot teammates with crisp, cross-ice passes and even on the breakouts, he’s quick and accurate. He has good mobility and speed in the neutral zone to lead a rush and carry a play forward.
Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide
He was productive for USA at the U18 Championship with six points in seven games. If he can elevate his offense from the blueline a little more, then he can be even more effective as a two-way defender.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Asher Barnett- NHL Draft Projection
Barnett is a name that gained some traction thanks to his play at the U18 Championship. Although, there were no dynamic players on the U18 Team on the blueline, he was one of the better standouts. He could easily find himself as a fourth-round selection come June.
Quotables
“He’s as well-rounded as they come, controlling from slot-to-slot with a strong understanding of how to defend inside-out and not cede too much ground to opponents. He’s not very physical, but makes up for it with strong stick-checking and fundamentals.” – Gabe Foley, Recruit Scouting
“He’s the kind of player you trust to start in the defensive zone and close out games. With a strong base, high-end battle habits, and elite defensive stick detail, Barnett projects as a dependable bottom-pairing NHL defenseman who can log tough minutes and kill penalties.” – Neutral Zone
Strengths
Strong attention to detail
Great defensive game
Transitional game on both sides of the puck
Good offensive tendencies and reads
Skating and mobility
Under Construction- Improvements to Make
Limited offensive upside
Could use strength more to be physical
Be more composed with the puck in tight situations
NHL Potential
Barnett has great intangibles as a leader on the ice. He’s competitive, driven and excels within his own end. He’s a defensive-minded presence with a foundation for a steady two-way game. He can be a strong depth option on a bottom pairing while still providing strong play at five-on-five and on the penalty kill.
Risk- Reward Analysis
Risk- 1.5/5, Reward 3/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense- 3/10, Defense 7/10
Awards/ Achievements
Barnett captained Team USA to a bronze medal at the World U18 Championship.
Interviews/Links
Asher Barnett Stats
Videos
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