Giorgos Pantelas
2025-26 Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Date of Birth: April 24, 2008
Place of Birth: Laval, Quebec, Canada
Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 214 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: D
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2026 first-year eligible
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 46th (Among NA skaters)
- Baracchini’s Top 96 March Rankings (THW): 68th
- Forbes’ Top 96 April Rankings (THW): 50th
- Orth’s Top 64 April Rankings (THW): 50th
- Reimer’s Top 64 March Rankings (THW): 63rd
- Craig Button (TSN): 50th
- Daily Faceoff: 42nd
- SMAHT Scouting: 58th
After being known more for his defensive game heading into his draft-year season, Giorgos Pantelas put his developed offensive game with the Brandon Wheat Kings this season. After putting up only 10 points last season, Pantelas tripled that total, with 37 (31 of them in the assist category). He will not blow anyone away with being a player who will make highlight reel plays, but he plays a simplistic game that is very efficient at both ends of the ice.
While playing a simplistic game offensively, Pantelas has solid skating and puck-handling abilities to be strong in transition and lead rushes if need be. Once in the offensive zone, he scans the ice well and has great vision to find teammates, whether it is from the point or when he jumps in low to make a play; he has strong playmaking abilities. The confidence and comfort level he has with the puck on his stick were greatly different in a positive manner this season compared to last.
Where Pantelas’ game excels the most is on the defensive side of the puck. His solid skating and stickwork help him in transition, keeping opponents to the outside of the ice, while also maintaining solid gap control. He not only plays a smart game defensively, but loves to throw his weight around. Standing at 6-foot-2 and over 210 pounds, he has the physicality to make his opponents’ night a nightmare when playing against him.
While the physical play is a good thing, there are times when he does get a bit too aggressive, whether it be pinching in to make a hit in the offensive zone or even in the defensive zone. He has the speed to recover well, but it is still an area of improvement for Pantelas. Overall, Pantelas has the defensive game and potential in his offensive game to be a prospect that NHL teams will certainly be keeping an eye on in June.
Other THW Draft Profiles
Giorgos Pantelas- NHL Draft Projection
With the defensive game that Pantelas has, he should be a prospect that NHL teams will be taking a close look at early on in the second round. He may not have the numbers offensively that some other defensemen prospects do, but he has strong shutdown potential.
Quotables
“Pantelas is a big defender who’ll give you little room to work with on the rush. He loves to get physical, and while that proved to be more difficult on the bigger ice, I thought he made up for it with his own-zone play reads. He plays a simple game – he never tries to outdo himself by playing outside his comfort zone.”- Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff
“After a strong showing in the playoffs last year, the Laval native added more muscle in the offseason, allowing him to improve his physical play. He has an exceptional stick, which, paired with his mobility, makes Pantelas a stalwart in the neutral zone.”- Clint Householder, Inside The Rink
“He moves well enough too and is genuinely something to behold when he gets up to speed and drives at his opponents with the puck up the ice. He also can breakout with solid stretch passes and has been steadily building a two-way element to his game, even if it’s really tipped more to the defensive side as of right now.”- Tom Watson, SMAHT Scouting
Strengths
- Loves to use his size and play physically
- Offensive game has developed very well from last season
- Playmaking ability with strong vision and IQ
- Great defensive play: Gap control and stick work
Under Construction/ Improvements to Make
- Gets overly aggressive physically periodically
- While having solid speed, he could use some work with this aspect of his game
NHL Potential
Pantelas projects to be more of a shutdown defenseman, more than an offensive one, but could end up being a second pair player who plays on the penalty kill and adds a bit of offensive production from the backend of the ice.
Risk- Reward Analysis
Risk: 3/5 Reward: 4/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense: 5/10 Defense: 8/10
Awards/ Achievements
- 2024 U17 WHC Gold Medal (Canada)
- 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze Medal (Canada)
- 2025 CHL/USA Top Prospects Challenge
- 2026 WHL Prospects Game (Team East)
Interviews/Links
Giorgos Pantelas Stats
Videos
The poise. The hands. The roof job. 🚨
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) March 24, 2026
That’s what earns Giorgos Pantelas the @HeritageCoopLtd of the Week.
Goal of the Week is fuelled by Heritage Co-op 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pWFreNaQWr
Currently watching some Giorgos Pantelas tape and this is a player that has so much untapped potential.
— The Prospect Don (@TheProspectDon) December 10, 2025
He calls himself more of a defensive defenseman, but he shows really good puck handling through multiple defenders when he picks up speed. Eliminates opponents when they… pic.twitter.com/irMVMWfzAb
Wheat King royalty is joining Team @CHLHockey!@bdnwheatkings defenceman Giorgos Pantelas is ready to make his presence felt at the 2025 #CHLUSAProspectsChallenge! #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/HCIQNpbHkL
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) November 21, 2025
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