The 2025 version of our Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25 countdown list begins with a newly drafted defender with a lot of tools and upside.
Catch up on the previous entries for this year:
Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Quinn Beauchense, RHD
2024 Ranking: unranked
Age: 18 (Mar. 1, 2007)
Acquired Via: 2025 NHL Draft (Round 5 - No. 148 overall)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 185 pounds
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Quinn Beauchesne was ranked 83rd on a compilation of 20 different public scouting rankings heading into the 2025 NHL entry draft, per Sound of Hockey. In a climate where many NHL teams leaned to size
in a major way with early picks, Beauchesne endured something of a fall in the draft to where the Penguins happily scooped him up at 148th overall. Here was the team’s instant reaction via Vice President of Player Personnel Wes Clark:
“National team kid outside of Guelph, right-shot D, two-way guy, makes a really strong pass, defends well, intelligent. We’ll see where that one goes, but Brandon Defazio and Chris Roque, our guys in Ontario, were really passionate about him at that spot.”
Other than size preferences or macro-level issues, there was other factors in Beauchesne’s draft day fall related to him specifically. Beauchesne missed time with an injury last season, playing in only 49 OHL games. He also played for Guelph - a terrible of a team they were (last place in OHL West, 301 goals allowed were worst as well) which doesn’t serve as the best situation for a talented young player to have to fight through in an uphill battle to stand out in a good light individually.
Mixing all that together, it becomes less of a surprise that Beauchesne’s stock wasn’t high in the draft. It wouldn’t be the first time that the collective NHL let a good player slide a little by placing short-term importance on a big picture type of career-wide path.
From Jesse Marshall:
NEW: Quinn Beauchesne prospect profile. Lots of words and 13 minutes worth of video on a defenseman that I think is one of the biggest steals of this year's draft and some unreal work by Dubas & Clarke. Subscribe and enjoy! More to come. https://t.co/9Aup8IGjPH pic.twitter.com/TFg540dQdS
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) July 7, 2025
The first thing that stood out to me about Beauchesne, and I think this is reflected in the video I posted below, is that he’s a highly aggressive defenseman. Not in a primarily physical sense, although you’ll see that element in his tape; I’m speaking more about his use of his stick. Beauchesne has one of the most aggressive and technical sticks among anyone in this draft class, no hyperbole. Beauchesne is violently aggressive in his gap control, making streaking runs downhill at players with his base wide and his stick out, robbing forwards of time and space and dispossessing them with a variety of stick-sweeps and poke checks. He doesn’t wait for forwards to approach him to close his gap; he has a seek-and-destroy mentality when it comes to protecting his blue line. Because he angles himself at these attacks perfectly, forwards have to beat his active stick, as well as his skates. He jams up a lot of plays by getting both skates angled in front of a forward so their pass or dangle goes right into his blades.
Jesse also created this YouTube of Beauchesne’s season:
From NeutralZone.com:
Why He Should Be an NHL Draft Pick:
High-End Skating Foundation
Beauchesne’s feet are elite for his age. His edgework, lateral agility, and ability to activate quickly into offensive or defensive transitions give him NHL-caliber potential. He walks the blue line fluidly, closes space defensively, and recovers when beat due to his stride efficiency. His retrieval-to-breakout transitions are a real strength.
Puck Moving Intelligence and Creativity
He completes 87% of his passes, including 0.74 per game that directly create Grade “A” scoring opportunities—a top-end mark for OHL defensemen in this year’s draft class. He shows vision through layers, can bait forecheckers with shoulder fakes or edge work, and passes crisply with touch or pace depending on the situation. His decisions with the puck in the offensive zone show maturity and intent.
Competitiveness and Grit Under Pressure
Despite not being overly physical, Beauchesne draws 0.46 penalties per game—a very strong number that reflects his willingness to play through contact and hold pucks under pressure. His 2.1 loose puck recoveries after shots and 7 takeaways per game back up that his anticipation, stick positioning, and compete level are major assets. He wins 54% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Strong International Showing at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup
Beauchesne was trusted in a top-four role with penalty killing responsibilities for Team Canada. He flashed mobility, intelligence, and adaptability against high-end international competition. He made multiple standout plays in transition, puck movement under pressure, and defensive reads from the weak side. While he struggled at times with positioning and risk-reward decisions, he bounced back strongly and proved he can handle pace.
Why He Might Not Be an NHL Draft Pick:
Turnover Rate and Puck Management Under Pressure
Beauchesne averages 5.3 giveaways per game, a concerning number—especially when he’s not always clearing the zone under pressure. He sometimes holds the puck too long or tries to make plays through traffic instead of executing the simple, high-percentage outlet. In multiple viewings, this risk has led to extended defensive zone time or odd-man rushes the other way.
Needs to Win More Physical Battles Consistently
At 6’0”, 185 lbs, Beauchesne is not undersized—but his 1.05 hits received per game is high for a player with his feet. Against heavier or more physically mature forecheckers, he can be outmuscled on retrievals. The issue isn’t compete level—it’s owning his ice and physical strength.
Shot Selection and Offensive Refinement
While Beauchesne attempts 3.5 shots per game, only 1.79 hit the net, and 0.81 are blocked—a high rate that must come down. His shot selection from the point needs tightening, and he should be more deceptive at the line to create shooting lanes rather than forcing pucks into shin pads. His 12% scoring rate on Grade “A” chances is good for a defenseman but reinforces his need to get pucks on net more frequently.
Projection:
Beauchesne projects as a middle-pairing puck-moving defenseman with second-unit power play potential and the skating ability to play in a pace-driven NHL system. His NHL floor will depend on how much he simplifies his game under pressure, builds strength, and tightens his decision-making. The tools are there for a transition-focused defenseman who plays a meaningful role every night if developed properly.
Overall, Beauchesne is an 18-year old defenseman. His decision making isn’t always right, he can suffer from trying to do too much or attacking the game a little too hard. A lot of those are seemingly fixes that could come with more experience and can be coachable areas of improvement. With hockey player development, there’s never a guarantee that fixable problems can actually be fixed, but it’s seemingly better than the alternative for matters that can’t be addressed (i.e. better problems to have than the 6’6” guy with irredeemably heavy feet and skating issues or the 5’7” player who doesn’t have the oomph to compete at professional levels).
Beauchesne makes the Top 25, even when some players in his draft class selected higher than him didn’t, due to a projectable ceiling. That comes from a great skillset: Beauchesne can really scoot around the ice. He has good hands and can control the puck or pass it effectively. He’s engaged and though not big or a banger, he will compete and doesn’t look afraid of going for pucks. Being an always coveted right shot defender doesn’t hurt either to add to his value profile.
Beauchesne is a long, long way from a finished product - he only has 82 career OHL games under his belt that could be almost doubled in 2025-26. Beauchesne has a later birthday, he’ll be 18-years old for much of next season (until March 1). He’s got a long runway of development still to go in the OHL in the next couple of years and should be able to push his way into a part of the future in the Pens’ organization one day down the line.
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