The 2025 NHL Draft is in less than two weeks. Years and years of scouting these players since they were just starting to take this sport seriously, is all coming to fruition and teams will have to make some tough decisions on June 27 and 28.
And speaking of tough decisions, we decided to make our own top 32 ranking for this draft class. We have spent all season long watching games of these players, writing and comparing them between one another, chatting with other people that have also been doing the same; and now we put it all down on paper — for at least the first round.
Maddie Campbell, Jacob Russell, Cole Keller, and Thomas Williams, who have been writing the community draft board posts for the last six weeks, came together and debated, conversed, and heralded some prospects to come up with this ranking. You can watch that conversation and the making of this ranking on the Broad Street Hockey YouTube channel, or listen to the conversation on our podcast feed, as well.
So, if you don’t want to read through some brief thoughts about these players as we unveil the rankings, you can just watch or listen to it instead.
Let’s get to it. This draft class is a little weird after the first couple of tiers, and while we could have combined more of these tiers, we thought the differences between these prospects were enough to really divide them within this top 32.
Tier 1: The franchise changers
#1 — Matthew Schaefer — LD, Erie Otters (OHL)
A dazzling skater and top-tier puckmover, Schaefer just makes a difference whenever he is on the ice. Schaefer gets the top spot here for being one of the youngest players in the entire class and having that lengthy development runway, while also being able to get you out of your seat on a consistent basis.
#2 — Michael Misa — C/LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Is there anything that Michael Misa does poorly? No. There really is not. He had a historic scoring record for a draft-eligible player in the OHL by just being in the right place at the right time and being better than almost everyone in junior hockey. Misa pushes play to his will and why he isn’t in the top spot is that we find Schaefer has more electrifying moments during the game, despite Misa potentially having an equally (or more) successful NHL career.
Tier 2: The elite skill
#3 — James Hagens — C, Boston College (NCAA)
Hagens is so good and it feels insane that he might slip when it comes to the actual first round happening. He is so agile and elusive and quick in his skating and uses that to be an excellent transition player in college. Hagens gets the puck up the ice and draws defenders to create space for his linemates to take advantage. One of those centers that can make everyone else better around him. The only thing might be a lack of physicality and getting into the high-danger areas of the ice, that holds him back.
#4 — Porter Martone — RW, Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
While we don’t want to overuse the word “elite”, Porter Martone is an elite playmaker in this draft class and probably the best you could get from this group of players. Not the fleetest of foot but he more than makes up for it with his ability to think and read the game as well as anyone his age. Oh, and he has a very, very good shot as well. His lack of ultimate pace of play is the one drawback we can think of.
#5 — Anton Frondell — C, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Anton Frondell is the most likely the physically mature player in the first round and almost certainly has the best shot out of anyone that can compete with him in that category. With those tools in his possession, there is a certain projectability when it comes to Frondell. The question mark is just what his ultimate upside is and if he is more of a support player on a top line, rather than an actual driver.
#6 — Victor Eklund — RW/LW, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Now for basically the opposite of Frondell, it’s Victor Eklund, his linemate. We’re not always blessed with two prospects who should go in the top 10 that played on the same line for most of the season, but Eklund and Frondell were not separated very often. Eklund is that driver and transition player of the two, but considering he is slighter of frame and might not be able to translate his elite forechecking game to the NHL, there feels like slightly more risk when it comes to selecting him. But if he hits, he could be one of the most consistent wingers in the league.
Tier 3: Potential as high-end contributors
#7 — Roger McQueen — C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
He’s massive. We’re sure you have heard all about his reported back injury and that’s why he might not even be taken in the first 10 picks of this draft despite having the game to deserve it. The center has the shooting, stickhandling, and defensive ability of some of the better recent prospects, but also is 6-foot-5. On talent alone, he’s in this range. Now it’s just up to teams wanting to take the risk of a potentially nagging back injury on a teenager who has to gain 20 or more pounds before he plays in the NHL.
#8 — Jake O’Brien — C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
O’Brien is a very good playmaker and is an electric offensive talent that took advantage of the right opportunities in Brantford this season. He’s on the younger side and is already displaying some very, very good deceptive playmaking. Now, he just needs to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame and maybe not depend on the power play to get his points so much.
#9 — Jackson Smith — LD, Tri-City Americans (WHL)
A hypermobile defenseman, Jackson Smith is someone who has immense tools to make it as a first-pairing blueliner in the NHL but just needs to put some more focus on the whole “good hockey sense” thing. There are sometimes where you wonder whether his decision making can make him a pro hockey player, but then he skates up the ice or walks the blue line or makes a great cross-ice pass, to get you to fall in love once again.
#10 — Caleb Desnoyers — C, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
If you want a smart center that plays well in all three zones and you can depend on to do the right thing at the right time, you should fall in love with Caleb Desnoyers. He isn’t flashy at all, except some moments of high-end skill in the offensive zone, but just makes the right decision most of the time. The downside is a lack of high pace in his game and whether or not he can play against stronger and faster defenses than those in the lesser QMJHL.
Tier 4: The foundational hardworkers
#11 — Carter Bear — LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
If you want a player that will do absolutely anything to win back possession and create a scoring chance for his team, just look at Carter Bear. The winger is always trying to make something happen while on the ice and while that trait can sometimes be found later in the draft, he has the high-end skill to take him exceptionally far in his career. An instant fan favorite.
#12 — Brady Martin — C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Now, Martin does a lot of the same things as Bear (that is why they’re in this uniquely small tier together). He loves to throw his body around on the forecheck, is relentless in pursuit of the puck, and can quickly cause some major chaos for the opposing team. He’s only behind because he needs to work on his skating more and develop his offensive game to not just become a third-line checker in the NHL.
Tier 5: More risk, but sizeable upside
#13 — Lynden Lakovic — LW/RW, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Lakovic is a heck of a player. The 6-foot-4 winger has boatloads of skill with a high-level shot and passing sense and is hyperactive in the offensive zone. Lakovic is just a dynamic offense force and on top of all that, he’s 6-foot-4. Now, the one criticism that teams will have is that he does not use that gift of height well on the ice and lacks physicality. And, compared to other top players, he could work on his skating to really take him to the next level. If those two easily teachable attributes are improved, we’re looking at a top-line player.
#14 — Cameron Reid — LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Reid does two things exceptionally well: He can skate as fluid as anyone in the OHL on the blue line, and he can pass the dang puck. Those two tools will take him very far, but to round out his entire game, he might need to up his limited physicality with his 5-foot-11 frame and maybe be more open to shooting the puck to be more of a threat on the power play. But if he puts everything together, there is no reason why Reid won’t be viewed as someone who should have gone way higher in this draft.
#15 — Justin Carbonneau — RW, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
We’re talking about skill and Justin Carbonneau has it. Carbonneau can handle the puck and shoot it up there with the best of the class, and his skating is certainly not a struggle, but to put all of his physical tools together he needs the brain to go with it, and so far that might need just slightly more work to bring him to that top-six potential. We don’t see someone who could become a bottom-six player just in case, so he’s really either going to be someone who scores lots of goals and is a contributor in an NHL top six, or he just doesn’t make it.
#16 — Kashawn Aitcheson — LD, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Aitcheson is FUN. He is going to cause havoc from the blue line by being a throwback kind of threat to just lay out an unsuspecting forward before he enters the zone. The Colts blueliner has so many physical tools and he scored 26 goals this past season. But, it’s just a question whether or not that can translate as he faces better competition.
Tier 6: Players with heaps of tools
#17 — Cole Reschny — C, Victoria Royals (WHL)
If a team doesn’t get an ultra-skilled playmaker like Jake O’Brien earlier in the draft, they shouldn’t complain too much about potentially selecting Cole Reschny later. He’s shorter, listed at 5-foot-10.5, but he sees the ice as well as anyone in this class and has consistently creating scoring plays in almost every single Royals game this season. Plus, he went on a crazy heater since January and that might bump up his stock into the upper half of the first round. There’s just a question mark on his skating and that sets him back, for us considering he is already smaller to begin with.
#18 — Cullen Potter — C/LW, Arizona State University (NCAA)
Speaking about skating, Potter is no doubt the most talented skater in the class and one of the more intriguing players. He’s smaller, listed at 5-foot-10, but he can move around the ice exceptionally well and is a transition machine. Potter left the National Program a year early with all of his schooling done to go play for Arizona State in his draft year. As one of the youngest players in college hockey, playing center — which he didn’t do in the program but did in junior hockey — he still managed to score 22 points in 35 games. And that’s against players much, much older than he would face on the U18 team. Sometimes though, Potter makes poor shooting decisions and passing plays — but if you need someone to rush up the ice and stickhandle his way through obstacles, he’s perfect.
#19 — Braeden Cootes — C, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
A center that is as projectable as anyone. Cootes doesn’t do anything flashy or exceptionally well, but he just rarely makes mistakes while on the ice. Everything is solid and he would make a team super happy to just plop him down in their middle six for years to come. There isn’t the high-end ceiling, but there is predictability.
#20 — Radim Mrtka — RD, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Mrtka is going to be drafted before this because he is a lanky, rangy, 6-foot-5, right-handed defenseman that can skate well enough for his size. But, for us, he just needs to make better decisions more consistently and actually use that size for good. Other than Being Big and being a pretty decent option for the breakout pass, Mrtka just needs to bring more to the table.
#21 — Logan Hensler — RD, University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
Maybe the polar opposite of Mrtka, Hensler is as dependable a defenseman you might find in the draft after Schaefer. He’s older for the class so that might be why, but the Wisconsin Badger skates exceptionally well and is not afraid of using his body to retain possession of the puck for his team. His offensive tools and middle-of-the-road but if you can find a consistent top-four defenseman that brings more defense than offense for your team, you would happily take that.
Tier 7: Mix of soft skill and grinding prospects
#22 — Ben Kindel — C/RW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Since entering the WHL, Kindel has been a scoring threat for the Hitmen. Now he finished his draft year with 99 points in 65 games and he was able to earn that total with his slick passing ability and big ol’ hockey brain. For a smaller player, his skating will need to develop slightly more but he certainly can be a threat throughout his career. A center that consistently stitched plays together.
#23 — Blake Fiddler — RD, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Big defenseman that can shoot the puck really hard. Blake Fiddler is a 6-foot-4, right-handed blueliner that can skate as well as someone who might be 50 pounds lighter. He is an enticing defenseman that could certainly put all of his tools together to explode into the NHL. It will take some training of his hockey sense to get there, but he can certainly get there.
#24 — Cameron Schmidt — LW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
If you need to know anything about Cameron Schmidt is that he can shoot the puck extremely well, is one of the best (if not the best) skater in the whole draft class, and has the major offensive tools taken care of. The only thing that prevents us and potentially NHL teams from wanting him with a top-10 pick is that he is 5-foot-7. The next steps will be important and if he can become the anomaly because of his elite toolset and elusiveness, then he will be a steal and we will be ashamed to have ranked him so low.
#25 — Milton Gastrin — C, MoDo Hockey J20 (J20 Nationell)
Gastrin has the smarts to make it, but doesn’t have one specific skill that puts him above others. The best thing Gastrin will bring to a prospect pool is dependability and projectability to be some team’s bottom-six center for the next decade. A well-rounded player.
#26 — Bill Zonnon — C/LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
If you want to talk about “playoff hockey” we just have to talk about Bill Zonnon. The center with a mix of pace, playmaking, forechecking, determination — everything you need from someone who can take change and set the tone in the bottom half of an NHL lineup. Zonnon has the passing and hockey sense to potentially be higher up in the lineup (and this ranking) but his skating is sometimes too choppy for our own liking. If he fixes that, he will be someone teams hate playing against forever.
#27 — Eric Nilson — C, Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
Nilson drives play. He connects passes and can shoot the puck, and is extremely responsible in all three zones. The Djurgardens center does all of that while also having a relentless motor and skating to propel him up the ice and snag that puck back from a defender. The only thing is he is so skinny. If he is able to fill out — which he should be able to after he committed to Michigan State for next season — then he will be a dangerous threat.
#28 — Shane Vansaghi — RW, Michigan State University (NCAA)
We already talked about some powerful forecheckers, but here’s another one. Vansaghi bulldozed his way through multiple opponents as a freshman this season and he should only get better at doing that. He isn’t the strongest skater, but we could see more development from that end as he gets an increased role for the Spartans next season. He’s violent during play and can make a team pay for not paying attention to where he is on the ice at all times.
Tier 8: Lesser soft skill and grinding prospects
#29 — Jakub Ihs-Wozniak — LW/C, Luleå HF J20 (J20 Nationell)
Ihs-Wozniak is an interesting player. He’s a lanky winger that if standing still, can create plays in the offensive zone but it is in motion where he finds some trouble. He can shoot the puck very well — he scored so many more goals than any other Swedish junior during his journey to where he is now — and can read the zone to make the correct pass most of the time. It’s putting it all together that puts him down this low on our ranking, and the lack of a full impact on all three zones.
#30 — Malcolm Spence — LW, Erie Otters (OHL)
If you were to bet on the player that makes the NHL the fastest out of the players taken after the first 10 picks in this entire draft, you would probably be right to pick Malcolm Spence. He has everything at his fingertips that should translate well to the NHL and that’s why he is a first-round pick, but when it comes to something that sticks out and puts him above the rest, that’s where he might not be able to rise above. Spence can be the best support player in the middle six, but if he’s left alone to drive a line, he might not be able to.
#31 — Gustav Hillstrom — C, Brynäs IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
With pro-level experience already playing 18 games in the SHL, Gustav Hillstrom feels tailor-made for a middle-six center role in the NHL, if his development goes well. He has decent size, can move well on the ice, and has the offensive tools to not look out of place with some scoring wingers. The upside for Hillstrom might be limited unless everything breaks right, but he is a solid bet.
#32 — Ryker Lee — RW, Madison Capitals (USHL)
Ryker Lee oozes skill and highlight reels. The winger can break apart opposing defenses with some deception in his stickhandling and quick-react passing work, but his entire game is a little bit less projectable than others. Lee physically grew a lot (like, he got taller) as the season went on, so he was learning how to use more of his body, but what is holding him back is his skating. It’s not even just a drawback but it is a concern for him to take his talents to the next level. Ultra-skilled player and if he can be just slightly above average in the skating department, he should be an impact top-six winger in the NHL.
