Aidan Park
2023-24 Team: Shattuck St. Mary’s 18 U Prep
Date of Birth: January 6, 2006
Place of Birth: Hermosa Beach, CA
Ht: 6-Foot Wt: 185 pounds
Shoots: Right
Position: Forward
NHL Draft Eligibility: 2024 first-year eligible
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting: 91st (among NA skaters)
- Peter Baracchini’s March Rankings: 74th
- Logan Horn’s April Rankings: 79th
- Andrew Forbes’ May Rankings: 77th
- Recruit Scouting: 39th
Aidan Park is a forward who hasn’t received much attention this season, but his name is certainly starting to pop up a bit after he joined the Green Bay Gamblers for their playoff run in the United States Hockey League. They were eventually eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinal by the Muskegon Lumberjacks. During his stint with the Gamblers, Park put up a pair of goals and a pair of assists for four points in eight games.
His most notable performance over the last 12 months was at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament over the summer. As a member of the United States U18 team, he was tied for fourth on the team in points with four through five games and was also tied for second on the team in goals with three. In the past, Park’s goal-scoring ability often went unnoticed as he preferred to pass rather than take shots on a regular basis, however, he’s certainly improved over the past few seasons. In the offensive zone, he’s on the road to becoming an all-around threat. With that being said, his biggest challenge will be continuing that trend at the collegiate level next season.
Aidan Park – NHL Draft Projection
Park is going to be a bit of a wildcard in this year’s draft. Based on his rankings, he could come off the board near the middle of the second round or potentially fall into the middle rounds. I wouldn’t expect him to fall past the end of the third round, however, the draft can get wild outside of the first round so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he’s available later than that. In the second or third round, he’s undoubtedly a player who can make whichever general manager takes a chance on him look like a genius.
Quotables
Plays with relentless pacing, stick work, and dominant three zone puck possession that is elite. Consistently patrols through the middle of the ice as a true two way player with relentless tenacity. At times his skating can appear choppy and full of short strides, but his quick feet fuel a high energy cutting game which overwhelms defenders. – Bill Placzek, Lines
Related: THW’s 2024 NHL Draft Guide
“Park is a two-way center who sees the ice very well at both ends of the ice, getting back to support his defensemen while also being able to utilize his teammates well in the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities.” – Brandon Holmes, FC Hockey
Strengths
- Playmaking ability
- Two-Way play
- High hockey IQ
- Strong shot
Under Construction – Improvements to Make
- Shot utilization
- Skating
NHL Potential
Park’s potential is higher than expected at this point in the draft. He could become a strong middle-six forward, however, it’s far from guaranteed. He’s still a bit of a project, but especially as he heads to the University of Michigan, he has every chance of reaching that potential if everything goes perfectly. In the middle rounds, he seems like the type of player who has a fantastic chance to make it to the NHL someday, but he doesn’t have the star upside that is expected of a first-rounder.
Risk-Reward Analysis
Risk – 3/5, Reward – 3/5
Fantasy Hockey Potential
Offense – 5/5, Defense – 4/5
Awards/Achievements
Bronze medalist at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky tournament with Team USA.
Aidan Park Statistics
Videos
