2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles: Charlie Trethewey D
Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: American Edition Volume 5
Upside Hockey’s prolific prospect profiler Trevor Curtis’s 2025 NHL draft eligible prospect profiles are all featured on our dedicated page for this with all featured prospects indexed in our table of contents alphabetically by last name. For the 2024 NHL Draft, we had well over 200 prospect profiles completed.
RHD Charlie Trethewey
6'1",190lbs
NTDP: 33gp/ 4g/ 7a/ 11pts, -17, 19 PIM
(Stats up to date as of January 10, 2025)
D Charlie Trethewey's game was on full display for the embattled American team at the CHL-USA Prospects Challenge- both the good, and the cringeworthy. The eye-test told a tale of a highly-involved, physical defenseman, who played an agitating style that at times, gave the Canadians fits- and at first, one watching casually might have come away thinking that Trethewey was one of the best players on the grossly outmatched Team USA. If you were looking for flaws however, it was easy to find them- including several lost physical battles, defensive miscues, and glaring mistakes under pressure. He finished the two-game event with no points, a team-worst -4, and a giveaway (with a screen of his own goalie) that led to the game-winner for the Canadians in Game #2.
At his best, Trethewey is a quality puck-moving, two-way D who plays a rugged physical style, and is known for his high-end defensive awareness, with a specialty in snuffing the other teams' rush. He is adept at angling his prey to the outside using his quickness to match his opponents' footwork, an active stick, and tight gaps, often taking them out along the wall with a stiff jolt. He has an extra-long reach, solid positioning, and keen attention to detail in his own end, highlighted by a bit of a mean streak that aids him in keeping the crease clear, and in eliminating high-danger opportunities. He's not at all afraid to dole out a few hacks and whacks to get the job done, or to dish out a crosscheck or two. Trethewey is an excellent skater in all 4 directions, but there's room to grow when it comes to his top-speed and acceleration. He's strong on his skates, and has good edges to make tight pivots, as well as good small-area quickness.
Unfortunately, Trethewey's reads and decision-making with the puck get mixed reviews. When he has a modicum of time and space, his outlets are high-end, often hitting teammates in stride for breakaways and odd-man rushes through the neutral zone. He's considered to be a good puck-mover and can regularly make a quality first-pass, but under forechecking pressure, he is prone to throw-aways, turnovers, and other egregious errors.
With 14 points through 33 NTDP games in 2023-24, much more was expected of him this season offensively- although there isn't much to work with this year on a weak NTDP squad that lacks elite talent and struggles to score. Trethewey will join the rush occasionally, and he has shown that he can man the point effectively, but he prefers to keep things fairly simple and risk-free; he's not particularly creative or dynamic. There's not much activation from the blueline, unless it's to step up to keep pucks alive, as his pinches can be ill-timed- thus getting him in trouble. He does however, walk the line smoothly and he's got a booming point shot that he can get on net with regularity.
It is said that Trethewey has all the tools of a grade-A prospect, and many believe there's a top-4 NHL defenseman in this package, but he's quite unrefined right now and needs plenty of work on his decision-making. He also desperately needs to get stronger, as he can be outmuscled and sometimes has problems pinning opponents to the boards. It should be added that Trethewey is on the younger side, with an August 2nd birthday. This is definitely one to watch, and he's attending Boston University in 2026-27.
You might also enjoy:
