Shane Vansaghi – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

by

Shane Vansaghi

2024-25 Team: Michigan State University (NCAA)
Date of Birth: Oct. 11, 2006
Place of Birth: St. Louis, MO, USA
Ht: 6-foot-2 Wt: 216 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Right Wing
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2025 first-year eligible

Rankings

A player with tons of upside but on a team stacked full of talent, Shane Vansaghi has shown off his game well as a freshman (and one of the youngest players in the NCAA) at Michigan State University this season. He has found himself in a middle-six role with the Spartans, mainly on the third line. As a third-line player, many expect this kind of player to be more of a grinder and dirty work player, but Vansaghi is much more than that. He can do the dirty work and has done so in his first collegiate season, and he also has the offensive skillset to turn himself into a top-six forward when the time comes.

Shane Vansaghi Michigan State University
Shane Vansaghi, Michigan State University (Photo credit: MSU Athletic Communications)

Vansaghi’s play runs through his energy at both ends of the ice. Offensively, his energy and hardworking play leads to offensive opportunities. When coming through the neutral zone on a rush without the puck, he has no problem with being the player who drives to the net to open up ice for his teammates to make a play or for a screen or redirection himself. If he is leading the rush, which he does well, but his acceleration does need to be worked on, he has the skillset and hands to make a play toward the net when given the lane to do so. Once the play is set up in the offensive zone, he constantly moves around the ice away from the puck to find himself a spot to be open for a pass from a teammate and has the awareness to see a lane and a play to make.

Related: THW’s 2025 NHL Draft Guide

With the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, Vansaghi uses his body well to protect it when making a move to the net. He also has the skill to make a strong pass to a teammate and has a strong shot that, as a freshman, will only improve as he continues to develop and get even stronger. On the defensive side, he plays a positionally sound game, showing a very mature game, knowing when to engage off his man at the point to help support down low. His energy and motor skills translate into his third-line role well, and he throws his body around whenever given a chance. Overall, the young forward will continue to develop and gain even more confidence than he already plays with, and his potential is fairly high.

Other THW Draft Profiles

Shane Vansaghi – NHL Draft Projection

With playing more as a third-line player this season on a deep Michigan State team, Vansaghi has not been able to showcase his game in top-six minutes. Even with that being said, his upside and potential have helped him be placed in a great spot in many pre-draft rankings. He should hear his name being called early on in the second round.

Quotables

“Vansaghi is a big, physical forward who immediately caught my eye with his confident and powerful puck-carrying abilities. He decides where he wants to take the puck, and he confidently uses his hands in combination with his physical strength to power his way through opponents. His heavy shot is another standout feature, making him a real threat when he gets into scoring positions. Vansaghi exudes confidence, which is impressive for an NCAA freshman who never dominated for the USNTDP program or in the USHL.” – Greysen Goudy, Future Considerations

“He’s a young player that I think is just scratching the surface and it was good to see him get rewarded… He’s done a lot of really good things for us, and he’s been a big part of our team.” – Michigan State Head Coach Adam Nightingale

“The strong winger is exactly what you’re looking for from a bottom-six forward: he hits hard, brings energy, and never gives up on a play. We’ve seen him bounce all throughout the MSU lineup this year, and he has always found ways to produce. I think Vansaghi will be an attractive option for an NHL team looking to get tougher to play against deeper in the lineup – he has plenty of pro traits already.” – Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

Strengths

  • High motor
  • His physicality feeds his game at both ends of the ice
  • Constant movement in the offensive zone to find open ice
  • Good hands and puck skills
  • Defensively, he is very sound and has good awareness from the winger spot
  • Strong shot
  • He plays with a ton of confidence at a young age

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

  • Skating mechanics
  • Acceleration
  • East/west movement skating wise
  • Skating speed

NHL Potential

As mentioned before, Vansaghi has plenty of potential for development with an already strong toolbox of skills. With further development, he could carve out a spot on an NHL team in a middle-six role as a power forward type player that brings some secondary offensive production. With his commitment to playing a sound defensive game, he also has the tools to be on the special teams when it comes to the penalty kill.

Risk-Reward Analysis

Risk: 2/5 Reward: 4/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense: 6.5/10 Defense: 7/10

Awards/Achievements

  • 2024 Under-18 World Championship Silver Medal (USA)

Shane Vansaghi Stats

Videos

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO OUR PROSPECT & DRAFT SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER