John Mustard – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile – Hockey Writers –

admin June 5, 2024

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John Mustard

2023-24 Team: Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Date of Birth: August 16, 2006
Place of Birth: Newmarket, Ontario
Height: 6-feet, Weight: 185 pounds
Shots: Left
Position: C/LW
NHL Draft Eligibility: First year eligible

Levels

THW/Forbes: 45th
THW/Baracchini: 39th
THW/Horn: 42nd
FloHockey/Chris Peters: 39th
NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters): 27th

John Mustard is a high-powered forward who swings incredibly well and produced a ton as a rookie in the USHL this season. Mustard's swing is clearly his best attribute, allowing him to win puck races, put defenders on their heels, and put a lot of pressure on opponents in transition.

John Mustard, Waterloo Black Hawks (Stephanie Lyn/Waterloo Black Hawks/USHL)

He's an athletic kid, especially considering he'll be 17 years old at the time of the game, and that, combined with his competitiveness, makes him a great playmaker at the junior level. Mustard's shooting is also strong, with strength and quickness serving him well as an NHLer.

It's also worth mentioning that Mustard is about a month away from being eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft, and as such is one of the youngest players available on this year's roster. Young players often take a while to develop both physically and mentally, as someone like Carter Yakemchuk has had 11 months of extra time to grow and develop his game at this point.

A big area for growth with Mustard is his hockey sense. His style of play lacks consistency and he is able to chase the puck a little on his forehead and in his zone. However, Mustard's finishing talent and pure speed are a potent combination that will make him difficult to pass up early in this year's Draft.

Related: 2024 NHL Draft Guide

Mustard averaged nearly two points per game on his domestic U16 circuit in the 2022-23 season, then joined the Waterloo Black Hawks this past season where he was part of their offense. In fact, Mustard led the Hawks in scoring as a rookie and finished second on the team in points. His 29 goals and 56 points were the seventh most in the USHL by a U18 player, and he was selected as the USHL's Rookie of the Year for the 2023–24 season.

Mustard has committed to play for Providence College, a program known for its hard-working, relentless style of play. This sounds like a good fit for Mustard who projects as a power forward with scoring potential.

Some THW Draft profiles

John Mustard – NHL Draft Projection

Mustard was on the rise to start the year as his early production attracted a lot of attention. His scoring dropped off a bit in the middle of the season and the hype went down accordingly. He repeated it late in the season, earning Rookie of the Year honors. I expect Mustard to be drafted in the 30-45 overall range, although a team that believes in his hockey sense more than I doworks earlier.

Measurements

“A quick scorer who knows how to make plays, Mustard had a great debut in the USHL last season. A hot start put Mustard on the map, but the offense cooled off as the season went on and deflated all expectations.” – Chris Peters, FloHockey

“He's also shown some skill, a quick release and a strong wrist, and he's just a month away from being eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. His athleticism, swing, competitiveness and overall ability will carry him far.” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic (“2024 NHL Draft rankings: Macklin Celebrini, Ivan Demidov lead Scott Wheeler's final 100”, June 3, 2024)

Power

Good skating (especially high speed)
Tons of finishing talent
High level of competition

Under Construction – Improvements To Be Made

Improve his hockey sense in offensive and defensive areas

NHL Power

Mustard's skating is strong enough that I expect him to see NHL action even if his offense doesn't break out at the pro level. The most favorable outcome in my eyes is for him to be a top 10 goal scorer per year, although his growing sense of the game and ability to anticipate plays could see him develop into a good offensive piece, capable of playing on the second power play and scoring 30+ points a season.